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From: marotta%lezah.DEC@decwrl.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Generation Ships
Message-ID: <3006@topaz.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 30-Jul-85 17:03:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: topaz.3006
Posted: Tue Jul 30 17:03:27 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Aug-85 05:03:19 EDT
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Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
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From: marotta%lezah.DEC@decwrl.ARPA  (MARY MAROTTA)


So far, the response to the request for SF references about "Generation Ships"
has not been extensive.  I imagine there must be several novels dealing
with space ships that take so long to reach their destinations, but the
first that springs to mind is STARBURST, by Fred Pohl.  This is the best
example of his writing that I've seen, and is an interesting way to deal 
with the topic, as well.  

In STARBURST, we put a shipload of colonists (only 8 members!?) onto a ship
destined for a planet revolving around Alpha Centauri.  This planet 
is the figment of the imagination of Dr. Knefhausen, and the mission to
colonize this planet is doomed to fail.  The good Doctor is much more 
interested in the effects of deep-space travel on the Unlucky Eight (my own
appellation), and on their descendants.  The four couples chosen for this
mission are certainly above average intelligence, and seem to have
unlimited resources and libraries on board.  I can't tell you more than
that -- it's worth reading, at least once. 

In fact, I'll read it again as soon as I've finished FOUR THOUSAND
IN GEHENNA, by C. J. Cherryh.  I'm halfway through this novel, the
first I've read by Cherryh, and I can hardly put it down...keep
bumping into walls, and calibans.... :-)


					MJM, Soft. Pub's, DEC