Search the Sky

By: C.M. Kornbluth, Frederik Pohl, Andrew Gibson

Narrated by: James C. Gibson

Length: 5 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Search the Sky is a satirical science fiction novel set in the far future, at a time when humanity has long since colonized the stars. It begins on a planet called Halsey's, which is in a state of decline. When a Longliner generation ship arrives, having failed to make contact with at least six other colonised planets, Ross (the main protagonist in the story) is sent to investigate what is going on at the other colonies. He is given access to a faster than light spacecraft that can make each journey almost instantly. It transpires that this technology had been shrouded in secrecy and hidden away behind a secret code, due to the risk of interstellar war. However, the isolated colonies that Ross and his crew encounter are affected by their own lack of genetic diversity in different ways from Halsey's planet, resulting in a decline in their uniquely strange societies.

Search the Sky is the second novel that Fredrik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth produced using their extreme endurance form of creative collaboration.

©2021 Mr. Andrew G. Gibson (P)2021 Mr. Andrew G. Gibson

Dark Sci-fi Satire by Kornbluth and Pohl

Search the Sky is a dark satire, a science fiction descendent of Gulliver’s Travels with a hint of the Wizard of Oz. The plot is fast moving and the story very entertaining. Andrew Gibson gives us an informative introduction. James Gibson’s narration is a perfect fit for the main character, Ross, and he is a very energetic story teller. If you like the writing duo of Pohl and Kornbluth, then you will enjoy Search the Sky.

A fun listen

I've long been a fan of C.M. Kornbluth, a great science fiction writer who was lost to us far too young more than 60 years ago now. Search the Sky, written with what would be become his longtime collaborator Frederick Pohl, shows much of the sense of humor and sarcastic spoofing that can be found in other of their works. I don't want to give away more of the plot than there is in the blurb, but there is a a puzzle here to be solved, upon which the survival of humanity itself depends, and our heroes are going to have to go across the galaxy to solve it. Or not, you're going to have to read it yourself. Andrew Gibson does an informative introduction to the book.

This Audible version is a fun listen. I was at first somewhat skeptical of the narrator's accent, but very shortly became accustomed to it, and concentrated on the plot, which is actually quite good and quite funny. James C Gibson, who I believe is Andrew's brother, does a great job with various characters' parts, both male and female, and seemed to switch almost effortlessly between them. It can't be easy switching back and forth like that, and my hats off to him. Nice job.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Quirky, fun sci fi

This story is such a blast. It's sci fi without the mental weight that sometimes brings along. Appropriate for any age, lots of fun, very fast-moving and super exciting, A HIGHLY original idea. I don't want to spoil the plot, but if you have any sense of humor and enjoy sci fi at all, grab this book and enjoy the ride.
Great narrator! James C. Gibson kept the excitement going and with his immense energy, this book just flew by.
This book was a true joy from start to finish and the playfulness of the authors and narrator shines through. I'd happily grab another book by either the authors or the narrator.

Thought provoking

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I like that the characters travel to the different colonized planets and get to experience what happened on each planet with the culture as they try to discover what happened to the satellite that kept them in communication with earth. It very thought provoking as to what could happen with the different cultures and colonies of the people of earth left to colonize other planets.
This book particularly was not my cup of tea. But it was an interesting book nonetheless. If you like space adventures, learning about cultures then this is the book for you.

A good listen

I read this book a long time ago so when I saw it was available in audible I thought I would give it a listen. It is a good book, not ground breaking but a good way to pass some time. Not as funny as I remembered but I was a lot younger when I first read it. I enjoyed the narration, very well done. I recommend this audio book if you have never listened or read it before, I think it is a lot better the first time around. Well worth a credit and a good time filler. But not much more, but isn’t that enough.. was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.