Not only is this an offensive novel, but the writing, the dialogue, the language is stupid and unbelievable. I had read plenty of criticisms of this novel for its rape scenes and the murders and the like, and I thought I could deal with that -- if it were still a good story. But in the first chapter, the protagonist -- Hope Hubris, a 15 year old Hispanic male -- is sexually turned on by seeing his virginal older sister raped by space pirates, up close and personal. It is a bit shocking, let me tell you. But that's not why I'm refusing to finish this book. It's the damn writing. Let me write a few examples of Hope's diary entries (on which the book is based) and you tell me if it sounds like a 15 year old Hispanic male!"Faith, eighteen years old, resented this; she claimed her social life was inhibited by the presence of a skinny fifteen-year-old little sibling. The vernacular term she was wont to employ was less kind, and I think not completely fair, and does not become her, so I shall not render it here."She was wont to employ? I shall not render it here? Seriously? Do you know ANY teen who talks like this, particularly a teen of the future who's first language is not English? It literally makes no sense and it detracts mightily from the novel.Again -- "Faith was not really intelligent, as I define the concept, though she did well enough in scholastics. It was said that a single look at her was enough to raise her grade before any given class commenced, and that may not have been entirely in jest."Really? Piers Anthony -- what kind of dumb shit are you to write in this manner??? No one talks like this; they haven't for decades and probably centuries. Are we to believe that people of the future -- Spanish speakers -- will be using centuries' old antiquated language in their space ventures??? It boggles the mind.I can't finish this book. I can't stomach unrealistic dialogue in novels. Roger Zelazny does this too and it's why I can't or won't finish his books either. What is it with some of these sci fi hacks? Did they not take enough English classes in school? Who taught them to write this way? My favorite sci fi writer is Philip K Dick, with Frederik Pohl running behind at second, and while some of their notions from the 1950s are a bit outdated, their dialogue never seems to be. Why can't people write normally, with normal voices? It was bad enough that I was going to have to endure numerous rape and murder scenes to work my way through this book, but the language won't let me do it. Now I know why it was less than a dollar at the used bookstore. Not recommended.
Many who have read this have had to make the obligatory "This is not your Xanthianish Piers Anthony type of novel" comment. You should know that by now, so I won't bore you with that. With that out of the way, I will say that this is not your Xanthianish Piers Anthony type of novel. Certainly a bit darker, but in its darkness is it's weakness.I have read a number of other "dark" sci-fi stories -- Donaldson's "Gap" series among the best -- and "Refugee" compares somewhat ill-favorably. Now, I am fully aware that "Refugee" is but the first of this series, and I will say that it is certainly good enough to continue reading onward, but I will say that it was somewhat predictable and (dare I say) repetitive. Imagine the worst possible thing to happen at the worst possible moment. You may get it wrong the first couple of times, but Mr. Anthony will graciously show you the way by the time you're mid-way through, and you'll be able to safely navigate the waters of this novel with a healthy dose of: "Oh yeah, and here's where (insert appropriate bad person reference here) will (insert appropriately bad thing for aforementioned bad person to do here) and (concoct entirely unrealistic outcome here)."You are supposed to be able to suspend your disbelief in novels, yes. But in order to do that, there must be some semblance of "reality" for you to lull your disbelief into suspension. This novel was leading me to that promised land, but it never got me there. The final straw for me came at the end, when it is revealed "when" the pages you've just read where composed. That was just a bit too much, and wholly inconsistent with the tone and tenor of the work itself. It was the catalyst that kept my disbelief epoxied in the fore, as it were.All of that said, it was a good read, actually. And given that it only cost me a couple of bucks on my Kindle, and was done in three sittings, I have already picked up the second book and added it to my queue.I'm looking forward to seeing the transformation of a "Refugee" to a Space Tyrant. I just hope I can disbelieve my way through it......don't we all?
What do You think about Refugee (2000)?
I actually liked a lot of Piers Anthony's books when I was younger. This one, however, was one of those that made me realize just what a foul, hack writer he is.One of Anthony's many flaws is his sexual hangups, and rather like Heinlein, sometimes he lets them all hang out in an ugly, ruinous way. The ending to Heinlein's Friday is justifiably viewed with revulsion by many fans -- I can't describe it without spoiling that novel. However, in Bio of a Space Tyrant, Anthony's ugliness comes to the fore in the first part of the book, where the main character describes being turned on as he watches his sister being gang-raped by pirates.It's not just that bit of ugliness (which, if handled with a defter writing hand, might have made us sympathize with such a twisted, damaged character). It's the fact that Anthony uses rape the way all writers nowadays are taught not to: need us to instantly sympathize with a character? Need to stir reader emotions? Need to show us how evil the villains are? Rape a few female characters, that's what they're there for! Although of course he treats rape as a Very Bad Thing, you can tell that he's taking a lascivious delight in writing about it.I'll admit the one-star review is probably harsh, because this book was otherwise typical Piers Anthony; decent schlock sci-fi entertainment. However, the brother-turned-on-by-his-sister's-rape is just one of those things that makes me unable to remember much else about the story.
—David
I started collecting the books in this series about 20 years ago and yesterday finally found book 1 in a second hand bookshop and so, finally, have started to read them. This is act one of a classic space opera. Our (anti?)hero is a boy. He loses everything and is tested repeatedly. He suffers horribly as does pretty much everyone he encounters. The brutal rape of his sister at the very start sets the scene for the horrors that unfold. It's interesting to read this book, written as it was in the late 70s and published on the early 80s. The plight of the refugees, while set in hostile space, may as well be the plight of modern day refugees that risk life and more to come to counties like my own. I'm looking forward to getting home to start the second book.
—Dave
I usually give a fair reading to science fiction series, because I like science fiction. And, for the most part, I've enjoyed most of the Piers Anthony books I've read (although most seem somewhat juvenile these days.)I read this one years ago, and, quite frankly, it horrified me. It was not the subject matter which I've seen written about in science fiction, mystery and non-fiction genres, but the constant repetition of violence and pretty much everything offensive. Most of the characters are passive and, quite frankly, do not inspire sympathy, let alone empathy.I understand the author was trying to make the trip a metaphor and draw parallels to things that were happening in the current day, but it was an ill-conceived idea from the start, and, quite frankly, the writing was uneven at best.I forced myself to read this book all the way through (although, I could not get myself to even try to get the rest of the series.)I would not recommend this book at all, in fact, I would go so far as to say, if you see it, run, do not walk, away and DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY.
—A.G. Lindsay
