A dated adventure, with superficial characters and unlikely technology, this novel is notable for the amount of invention for its time.
Reviewed by David on June 15, 2002
Genre: Science Fiction (Time Travel, Aliens)
Synopsis: William Kenlon, an officer on a 1940's US submarine is startled to see a winged man—not a man with mechanical wings but a light-boned, bird-like flying human. Before the winged man could be captured, he attached strange devices to the submarine. Rather than limpet mines, the devices transport the vessel to the far future, where a city of the mutated flying men need help in a struggle with their water-dwelling cousins. Among a menagerie of vessels collected for the purpose from different eras, the technically unsophisticated sailors try to survive, and to determine their right place in the struggle.
Full Review: Very dated, this colorful novel is full of stereotypes, unlikely technology, and superficial descision-making. Nonetheless, the action moves swiftly, and, for its time, the novel shines with invention in both unusual human societies and their technology, and some almost disarmingly self-interested aliens.
Provifing an couple of hours of nostalgic diversion, this novel is mostly valuable as a historical curiosity.
Overall: 4; Plot: 4; Characters: 4; Style: 5; World-building: 5.5; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 1944, Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley Medallion), November 1970, Mass market paperback, 159 pages
Order from: Amazon.com