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Space Relations Mass Market Paperback – January 1, 1975

by Donald Barr (Author)

3.4 16 ratings

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1 POCKET-SIZE SOFTCOVER BOOK

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Fawcett Publications, Inc.
Publication date

January 1, 1975
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Alex Jones
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Julie K. Brown
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000PCAEWC
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fawcett Publications, Inc. (January 1, 1975)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces

Best Sellers Rank: #3,390,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #10,668 in Exploration Science Fiction

Customer Reviews:
3.4 16 ratings

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Customer reviews

3.4 out of 5

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David Humphries

Thanks

Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2020

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Very pleased! Thank you!

5 people found this helpful

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Christian

Really badly written

Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2019

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I have a copy of this book. It is a really badly written book whose only excuse seems to be to refer to human trafficking and sex slavery either as an appeal to prurient interests - in which case it fails, or to relate reminiscences in fiction, or possibly as a payoff, because the dialogue and connecting thoughts are lacking, as well as any real plot even after half the book is read.

The writer seems to like putting everything in terms of girls, and boys, and children, even when the scenes do not necessarily (but often do) involve kids. So while for instance the 14 year old girl getting raped in the first few chapters is really supposed to be 14, the hero of the book in danger of being sodomized - 'bend down kid and make it good' (sic) is not supposed to be a kid. It is that way throughout the book. They are either labeled like they are children (the queen was a 'child'), or actually boys or girls. So it pretty much starts with the word "naked" and goes down from there.

It is pretty shocking a headmaster of a school would write this junk. It's not the only low grade sf story out there with this non-writing in it - but they are always bad reads. exploitation novel at best, says something about the writer regardless.

261 people found this helpful

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drakkard

Enjoyed it!

Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2014

Verified Purchase

Great story! You can feel the influence of some of the great sci-fi writers of our time! Definitely a good read!

8 people found this helpful

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J. Shurin

A ponderous exploration of a sensitive topic

Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2008

Donald Barr's Space Relations is a character-driven space opera from 1975. Despite the seemingly-humorous subtitle, it is a deadly earnest novel that attempts to tackle weighty issues with ostentatiously "literary" prose.

It tells the story of John Craig, the ambassador from Earth to the planet Kossar. Craig represents an intergalactic human empire, currently at war with a sinister bug people. Kossar, although human, is not part of the empire - mostly because the ruling aristocrats refuse to abolish the slave trade that is the foundation of their class system and economy.

The narrative is split in two. Initially (and ultimately) it tells the story of Craig's official visit to Kossar. In between, it recounts Craig's previous visit to the planet - two years spent as a slave of the fulsome Lady Morgan.

The war with the bug aliens is, although occasionally referenced, merely a MacGuffin to make Kossar (otherwise a backwater world in dire need of sterilization) important. Similarly, the complex, Machiavellian politics of the future - both in Kossar and on Earth - are often, tantalizingly, cited, but never fully explored.

Instead, the plot focuses on the torrid romance between John Craig (slave) and Lady Morgan (his owner). The author also explores (crashes through the underbrush, really) the issues of slavery and domination.

The result is a frustrating and ponderous read. Barr aggressively pursues character development instead of world-building, but since his characters neither grow nor change, it is merely a prolonged sketch of two fairly obnoxious people.

His exploration of slavery is neither sensitive nor telling. Despite repeatedly and officiously informing the reader that slavery is wrong at every turn (go figure), Barr creates two openly "superior" characters as his leads. Craig and Morgan freely kill, torture, seduce and make sweeping political decisions on behalf of thousands of people - but this is acceptable, because they're somehow imbued with "natural heroism". Slavery and oppression are wrong, unless you're someone as wise and talented as Craig or Morgan, in which you're perfectly justified in forcing decisions on other people.

An expression of this natural superiority is Craig's unbelievably irritating habit of composing poetry. Clearly intended to add to the depth of the novel, what begins as an annoying, occasional snippet soon becomes a field of lyrical land-mines. This practice is especially painful in the middle of the book, as the reader is forced to plow through sonnets on every other page. As a result, Space Relations is one of the most picture-perfect expressions of Tolkien's Law ("Always skip the poetry") that I've ever read.

Space Relations is a laborious read. Although I always appreciate an attempt at character-building instead of world-building, the novel managed to avoid everything of possible merit.

166 people found this helpful

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Constant Reader

a swashbuckling gothic romance set in space

Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2022

I read this book back in the 70s and thought I'd track it down to re-read. I was taken aback by the one-star reviews that seemed to have nothing to do with the actual novel -- then saw, from a reference in one, that the author had the bad luck to be the father of a recent political figure. It's a good thing he's dead and can't read what people are saying here.

Given the current prices listed, and with the author's death no e-book in sight, I'm not sure anyone will be buying this novel any more. But fairness compels me to say that this is simply the same sort of adventure you might find in a tale of heroics set in the 1800s -- a diplomat captured by pirates and sold as a slave has an ambiguous relationship with the noblewoman who buys him, escapes, and returns later under his own identity to set things right. But instead of taking place in foreign lands during, say, the Napoleonic Wars, this is done as space opera -- well-written, and with a satisfying ending.

After 40 years, I still recall bits of the two sonnets the hero writes, and remembering that tonight, I thought I'd come and see if the book was available. Sadly, the prices have given me pause.

6 people found this helpful

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Taylor Watson

interesting

Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2022

It is important to note that this was written by former US attorney general Bill Barr's father- who at one point was Epstein's boss. Bill Barr who was the AG while Epstein "killed" himself none the less. Very interesting given Epstein loved children and sex slavery.

81 people found this helpful

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Novel Reader

Fiction about Communities on other planets

Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2019

Diplomat John Craig is captured into slavery on planet Kosser, by Lady Morgan. After escaping he devises a plan to return to Kosser and END slavery. The book was light, a quick read.

5 people found this helpful

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Braunshay Pertile

Jeffrey learned well from the headmaster

Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2019

Epstein's fictional inspiration for a non-space sex slave ring. What a time.

226 people found this helpful

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