Jupiter

By: Ben Bova

Narrated by: Christian Noble, David Warner

Grant Archer merely wanted to study astrophysics, to work quietly as an astronomer on the far side of the Moon. But the forces of the "New Morality", the coalition of censorious do-gooders who run 21st-century America, have other plans for him. To his distress, Grant is torn from his young bride and sent to a research station in orbit around Jupiter, charged with the task of spying on the scientists who work there. What they don't know is that his loyalty to science may be greater than his loyalty to "The New Morality". But that loyalty will be tested in a mission as dangerous as any ever undertaken.©2001 Ben Bova (P)2005 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

Critic reviews

"Solid action and wonder with credible alien life forms and inspired technology....Jupiter is a new favorite destination for sci-fi exploration, and Bova's take on the planet is unique and enticing." (Publishers Weekly)
"Noble and Warren's pace helps create a roller coaster of suspense and clear distinction amongst varying dialects....Easy-to-follow and entertaining deliveries." (AudioFile)

Captivating and enjoyable

I did not know what to expect but I really enjoyed this story. The characterization and storyline kept me wanting to listen to more. I especially liked the mixture of the science with the fictional story.

Anti-religion sci-fi. Not Bova's best but solid.

Anti-religion sci-fi. Not Bova's best but solid. The New Morality is such a ridiculous bundle of stereotypes that it becomes annoying. Also the eventual leader of the "sub" is such a terrible leader it seems impossible that they would agree to go into Jupiter with her. In spite of this it has some good moments and I don't feel like I completely wasted my time listening. The performance is fine and mich better the the three headed monster used in the previous book.

Pack your swimsuit and your imagination for this!

What did you like best about Jupiter? What did you like least?

Some of the interpersonal issues ( which Bova seems to take special pride in ) can detract from the core story, but are tolerable. On the flip side, the internal dialogues of the Leviathans are fascinating, esp. given the reading by the inimitable David Warner.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jupiter?

As in most of Bova's stories, they kind of flow ( versus have high points/low points ) so looking for a specific moment may not be helpful. That said, I did like the "resolution" per se.

Which character – as performed by Christian Noble and David Warner – was your favorite?

The Leviathans by Mr. Warner are highly compelling.

Could you see Jupiter being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Gosh, I am not a casting agent. A big story to be told , that is for sure.

Any additional comments?

The Solar System series continues to fascinate and grow on me. This one is notable in that it is not narrated by Stefan R. and so we have a fresh view on Bova's storytelling. On balance this is a very entertaining audio performance, is a good stand alone story ( as opposed to be a continuance of previous stories ) and is well worth the credit for fans of this series, and for any true speculative fiction fans.

Humanity and science

There is love, hate, sadness, and happiness- like Earth. There is a talking gorilla…not like earth. I liked the book very much. Good story and good science.I’m halfway thru Ben Bova’s Grand Tour…. Onward!

Amazing

Like any SF junkie, I've heard of Ben Bova for a very long time. Unfortunately I've never got around to reading/listening to his stories, till now. I picked Jupiter for one my membership books and didn't know what to expect. Well, I'm glad I picked it, because this is great SF! A captivating story and interesting ideas.