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Updated Sunday 15 May, 2011 12:18 PM |
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This Day in Alternate History Blog
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Book Review – The Gatekeepers The Gatekeepers is not strictly alternate history, but with
the recent disasters to the space program, it might as well be.
The book, which David will love, is the story of the first attempt to
create an independent company, which provides space services, including space
transport through an experimental SSTO spacecraft and power supply though an
solar power satellite. Rolf
Bernard, our hero, has this chance, the last, best, chance, to place humanity in
space, but there are powerful forces in the American government that want to
stop him. So Rolf comes up with a daring plan.
Using experimental ‘Brilliant Peebles’ technology, Rolf decides to
hold space access to ransom, charging governments and companies for access to
space. Setting up shop in
Australia, Rolf’s actions soon threaten the planet with global war…. This book, sadly, promises more than it delivers.
The ending is dramatic, but leaves us hanging.
We get hints that Rolf pulled final victory out of a stalemate, but we
know nothing about what happens afterwards.
We learn that a coalition of Arab nations is trying to sabotage Rolf, so
that the ‘great Satan’ would be denied space access.
We also see Israel painted as a hero nation with vast resources, although
I personally doubt that Israel could have paid the money that they offered Rolf.
It would be nice to think that Israel helped out because they too
believed in the space dream, but even their representative freely admits that
they are acting in their self-interest. I also question Rolf’s claims to be a patriotic American
citizen. He threatens America with
complete and total ruin. Rolf’s
outburst likening government to organized crime, an interesting comparison I
have occasionally entertained myself, moves the political component from
implicit to explicit. We learn very little about the alternate world.
We learn that Iran (and possibly Iraq) have Nuclear weapons and missiles.
We learn that China, North Korea and Russia are still building nukes and
that America is worried about the future. The sub-plot, that of Rolf’s estranged wife, is
completely superfluous. It’s
unnecessary to the plot. My
recommendation, read this book, but skip those chapters. Seven out of Ten.
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