Masters of Everon - Gordon R. Dickson - cover artist Mike Hinge

            comments by CR:
I found Master of Everon (1979) by Gordon R. Dickson to be an exceptionally interesting novel. The author has taken a standard science-fiction plot theme – colonist from Earth settle on a alien planet and “terraform” it’s ecology to be habitable – and pumps enough life and interesting ideas and plot twist to keep you up at night turning pages. I should not be surprised because Dickson is a master writer in the SF field.  

The plot outline is as follows: Humans from earth are migrating to habitable planets. Prior to allowing colonist to homestead the Ecology Corps evaluates the planet for dangerous flora and fauna and them decided which earth based plants and animals can be introduced without destroying the local ecology. 

  Jef Robini travels to the planet Everon with a native animal, a malot, he has raised from a pup. His brother Wil – an Ecology Corps employee, gave the malot –described as a large tiger-like beast – to Jef 8 years ago. Jef is a trained anthropologist and is studying the effects of introducing the malot to its native habitat. Jef is also looking for answers to his brother’s death – his suspect foul play.

The plot is reasonably interesting but the charm of this book is the author’s ability to convince the reader that we are on an alien planet and that nothing can be taken for granted and mysteries abound- even with the most commonplace things. For example Jef runs out of rations he carried from Earth and is offered a meal of bacon, eggs, toast and coffee from a group of settlers. He notices every eye is upon him as he takes the first bite. The food looks fine but it was raised on Everon – grown in its soil, warmed by its sun. Jef remarks that yes it’s good but different – the most common has been transformed its strange, different.
 
Gordon R. Dickson (1923-2001) was one of the most prolific science fiction authors of the 20th century. During his lifetime his contemporaries generally overshadowed him. Now several years after his passing you cannot find any of his titles in brick and mortar bookstores or for that matter in your local library. If you are interested in well-crafted stories with a seasoning of thoughtful science fiction ideas and concepts I recommend you search out titles by Mr. Dickson.

Taken on: February 26, 2010

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Sets appears in: • Gordon R. Dickson 1923-2001

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