Footfall

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: Footfall is a wonderful science-fiction novel that explores both the human and alien side of Earth under fire. Niven and Pournelle together show that they can provide depth to characters, (human and alien) as well as a flowing plot with a fine set of questions brought up by the clash of cultures. The snouts were shown to be a civilization though the initial reaction was to think of them barbarians. Humans, brought together under pressure of annihilation show that they can be rogues as well defenders. The authors managed to close up the book with a huge climax that complimented the great story. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves science-fiction.

Rating:
Summary: War of the Worlds Meets Dumbo! (NOT!)
Review: If someone were to describe this book to you in just a few words, you might think it absurd. The "Snouts" invade earth? But don't be fooled for a minute! The Niven/Pournelle team is famous for imaginative insights into the alien perspective and fabulous character development. This novel could have been about giant slugs invading earth and you'd be interested in learning what they were thinking and what the human characters were going to do about it. Niven/Pournelle do what Stephen King does so well, - create characters that reflect so many aspects of human nature, and plunges them into a crisis so that we can watch regular guys and gals become heroes. Interesting, inspiring, and different.

Rating:
Summary: Invading Herd Stomps The Earth!
Review: Excellent invasion story with good character interaction and detailed analysis of the aliens and their technology. The ending is rather abrupt, but that should not detract from a superior story that is hard to put down. Please don't compare this to the B grade (or C grade) "Independence Day" movie. Unlike the movie, Footfall has a plot, interesting characters, and sympathetic (though misguided) aliens.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible!!!
Review: Being a european(swedish)reader I was a bit disturb by the clichelike portrayal of Russian/Soviet society and the gloryfying of USA.Maybe it takes someone from outside of US to notice this "twisted" and totally wrong portayal of Russia.But after the first 62 pages the good (US) and bad (Russia) became a bit greyish.I still recent the way the Russian characters were the "bad" and the stubborn and good old congressman was the "good" guy.The world is not according to the US.There are more faults and incoherents in the US than in the Euroean countrys combined.Other than that it was a great book.The aliens were believable,plot likewise but the end were a bit abrupt so I hope a sequel is on the way

Rating:
Summary: Exciting Portrayal of "Aliens Take Over The World" Theme
Review: I loved the fast-paced presentation of this book! A sucker for "aliens destroy the world" stories, I found this one of the best because of it's deep characterization of the main players on both sides of the war. This book had unexpected heroes, great disasters, and even humor (the X-rated video tape scenario). The only problem I had with the story, is that I felt it would have been nice to even hint at, if not fully address, some of the issues that are left at the end. For example, how deeply is the world governmental balance changed due to the aliens' attack? Anyway, this is a very minor annoyance, and I fully recommend this for a great read

Rating:
Summary: The best alien-invasion story I've ever read.
Review: This book is the best alien-invasion story I've ever read. Niven and Pournelle present thoroughly rich characters on both sides, human and alien. The alien culture is well thought out and fully developed. They have their own language and customs, both of which have a direct, visceral impact upon the story. Essentially, an alien vessel has been observed heading through the solar system toward earth. Not knowing what to expect but acquiescing to the probability of superior technology, earth awaits to establish greetings. Instead, they are greeted with destruction of the space station, destructive raids upon strategic installations earthside, and demands for surrender. How humanity assesses the situation and unites to fight for it's survival manages to induce feelings of pride and global patriotism within the reader. The human characters are multi-national, multi-ethnic, and brilliantly develop a means to thwart and eventually repel the invasion. The human culture and method of attack is sufficiently different from that of the aliens to completely throw the alien's attack methodology askew. Using present, cutting-edge human technology (no warp drives, phasers, or non-existent futuristic weaponry), with space-shuttles, chemical rockets, and ingenuity born of desperation, the humans successfully repel the invasion. The alien technology, although superior, is also plausibly explained in such a manner that makes it understandible as to why they were able to be defeated. Again, the story is in the characters and their participation in the events that give structure and life to the story. The physical appearance of the aliens is both outlandish and surprising, and meshes well with the cultural aspects of the story. The story is involved, exciting, visual, an excellent read, and impossible to put down once started. If a movie could be made adhering strictly to the book and it's storyline and events, it would make Independence Day seem like a Dick and Jane cartoon. Counting the original Foundation trilogy as one, this book is one of my five (5) favorite science books, all time, ever. I recommend it to any science fiction fan, anytime

Rating:
Summary: Knockout intelligently written sci-fi thriller
Review: "Independance Day" is said to have ripped off this book. Whether you agree or not, you will have to admit that this book is MORE exciting than the movie. This is an epic story of an alien invasion of earth and our struggle to fight back. There is earth-shattering catastrophies, incredible battles and great human drama. I found myself sitting bolt upright in bed, furiously turning page after page through the entire last third of this book.

Rating:
Summary: Three enthusiastic Motie thumbs up for Footfall!
Review: This novel is one of Niven&Pournelle's best. It is a book about how humanity's ingenuity is the reason for its survival and not the level of technology itself. I highly recomend i

Rating:
Summary: Fun sci-fi potboiler
Review: "Footfall" is a big old potboiler of a "hard" science fiction novel, in which "hard" science fiction writers are among the heroes when aliens come to invade the earth.

The human characters are thinner than the science; sometimes it seems as if the humans are lifted from a '70s disaster movie to they crisscross each others' paths here to conveniently provide drama and unconvincing sexual tension.

It's the aliens and their culture who are the stars here. Niven and Pournelle create an alien race whose "inexplicable" behavior turns out to be perfectly logical, given how they think. And the humans, in turn, are at least as inexplicable to these elephant-like aliens. It's the difference in culture that creates inevitable war.

The book is sprinkled with pro-space program messages and maybe some conservative political messages, too, as well as cult hero-status for "hard" science fiction writers.

Its handling of human affairs, though, is weak. Many hundreds of millions of men, women and children die at the hands of these aliens, and we see little of the chaos, bloodshed, violence, suffering and pain that must result. Likewise, we see little of the reaction we'd expect (PANIC! FEAR!) among the survivors as they await an unknown fate and lose contact with relatives and friends in other places. People just calmly cope. (Could the same book have been written AFTER the L.A. riots, for example?)

The ending is neatly done: there's enough complexity and ambiguity in the final events that it's hard to say exactly which of the characters were "right" and which were "wrong." A denoument is entirely lacking, though. What happens next, and what challenges are faced after the war -- these things deserve at least a hint.

In sum, there are plenty of shortcomings in this ambitious novel. The people here don't ring entirely true, the science seems unrealistic(that's a helluva space ship construction program!), and the plot is peppered with too many coincidences. And some of the science is unavoidably dated, considering the book was written in the 1980s and set in the more recent past -- there never was a moon base built, for example, and the space shuttle Challenger (which flies again in "Footfall") regrettably didn't make it to the 1990s.

But "Footfall" is still a fun and exciting read.

Rating:
Summary: A Alien Invasion Classic
Review: I found this book at a local used book store, and the owner said that if I liked Scifi I had to read this one. I have to say that he was right.
This is a alien invasion classic. It is a little dated but that wont matter once your start reading. I couldnt put it down.

I think what the aliens looked like was one of my favorite aspects of the book. They look like Elephants. The ending was heart pounding and clever also.

I highley recommend this book to anyone thats into Science Fiction.