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From: jps@rayssd.UUCP (John P. Schroeder)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers,net.books
Subject: "Night of Power" by Spider Robinson (Berkley '85)
Message-ID: <1736@rayssd.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 24-Dec-85 12:51:58 EST
Article-I.D.: rayssd.1736
Posted: Tue Dec 24 12:51:58 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 24-Dec-85 22:20:54 EST
Sender: jps@rayssd.UUCP (John P. Schroeder @ Raytheon Co., Portsmouth RI)
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Organization: Raytheon Co., Portsmouth RI
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Xref: linus net.sf-lovers:10537 net.books:2590


	I've just finished reading Spider Robinsons latest "Night of
	Power".  "Oh how the mighty have fallen".  A recent posting
	to the net told how Mr. Robinson was selling stories, auto-
	graphs, and MacIntosh to keep his wifes dance company alive.
	This book looks like a rush job to get some quick cash.

	The story is about a interracial Canadian couple that come to
	NYC in the late '90's to give the aging black dancer (sound 
	familiar) wife a last chance to perform in the big time. The
	brilliant designer (entrepreneur engineer) and genius daughter
	by previous marriage tag along.  While there, an intricately
	contrived race riot starts.  The people that have started the
	riot intend to hold Manhatten hostage until the U.S. cedes a
	black homeland.  The family is caught in the middle, of the
	whole thing and their love and loyalties are tested.

	Technically, I thought the book was very good.  Spider, writes
	some excellent scenes.  The detail in certain points makes
	for some good reading.  Unfortunately, his themes are getting
	stale.  "Night of Power" has to many elements of "Star Dancer"
	and "Mindkiller" to be really interesting overall.  Maybe
	somebody who reads less of the author will find it better. 
	In addition, the story rushes to a lame conclusion.  After
	chapters on American urban decay, and racism, the author (or
	editor) realizes he's on top of the 300 page paperback limit,
	and then wraps it up.  The detail that marks the earlier
	chapters is wasted, as the main characters soliloquize, and
	third person narration tries to fill in the gaps.   Its really
	to bad, that a book that started off so well, turns into
	just another "pulp" novel.