Jem (1979) (edit title/settings)

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Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It Rated 4 stars “1st reading: Interesting aliens, and a good storyline. I like how life on Jem is incompatible from Earth life (can’t be eaten, triggers allergies, etc.). It just seems more realistic this way. 2nd reading: I vaguely remember reading it years ago… doesn’t matter, it seemed new to me...” see full review » see other reviews »

Didn’t Like It Rated 2 stars “An OK book that I didn't really enjoy, but didn't date either. It's about travelling to a new planet, first contact, and the stupidity of mankind. The Earth isn't in good shape from the most recent war. Ships are out to find and colonize new planets. "Jem" is settled and earthlings have 1st...” see full review » see other reviews »

Newest Reviews

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  • Rated 4 stars

  “1st reading: Interesting aliens, and a good storyline. I like how life on Jem is incompatible from Earth life (can’t be eaten, triggers allergies, etc.). It just seems more realistic this way.
  
  2nd reading: I vaguely remember reading it years ago… doesn’t matter, it seemed new to me anyway. Good enough to read twice, I guess!”

  Katrina R wrote this review Thursday, September 2, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 2 stars

  “An OK book that I didn't really enjoy, but didn't date either. It's about travelling to a new planet, first contact, and the stupidity of mankind. The Earth isn't in good shape from the most recent war. Ships are out to find and colonize new planets. "Jem" is settled and earthlings have 1st contact with 3 different species. The humans get all warlike vs other settlements and the indigenous species get caught in the shrapnel. When the Earthlings pretty much destroy their planet and civilization, the people on Jem do the same on a lesser scale. I never really got with the characters and didn't feel too much sympathy or empathy, even when Earth is nuked to death. The plot was a "downer" and showed how stupid mankind can be..... I guess I prefer the StarTrek happy future vision.”

  *Jeff* wrote this review Wednesday, June 9, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 4 stars

  “An excellent first contact novel. The humans aren't shown in the best light, as they try to exploit and use the various aliens to aid their own agendas.”

  Kevin H wrote this review Sunday, February 21, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 3 stars

  “Interesting Story about a futuristic Cold War era world colonizing a new planet. Reminded me of European colonialism, extrapolated into SciFi of course.”

  Unseen wrote this review Friday, October 2, 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 2 stars

  “Personally, I didn't like this one so much. As I went along, I ended up hating almost every character for one reason or another. Don't get me wrong, the book was well written, and the alien races were excellent creations, but the overall theme of the book was simply not my cup of tea.
  
  It is dated and depressing, and in the end I would have rather been on Alpha Centauri.”

  Martin-Ingham wrote this review Saturday, November 1, 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 4 stars

  “Classic Pohl with solid rationale pushed through a very entertaining storyline.”

  MÍcheál Ó Foghlú wrote this review Sunday, November 4, 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 5 stars

  “Not a single review on this gem of a book. If you ever wondered about how life would be on another planet, read this book. This and A Man Plus... and maybe The Forever War”

  joeydaninja wrote this review Thursday, September 20, 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No