Ship of Fools

Richard Paul Russo

Dec 2001 · Sold by Penguin

About this eBook

“[Russo] is not afraid to take on the question of evil in a divinely ordered universe...This is an ambitious novel of ideas that generates considerable suspense while respecting its sources, its characters, and most important, the reader.”—The New York Times

Home to generations of humans, the starship Argonos has wandered aimlessly throughout the galaxy for hundreds of years, desperately searching for other signs of life. Now, a steady, unidentified transmission lures them toward a nearby planet, where the grisly remains of a former colony await the crew.

Haunted by what they have seen, the crew has no choice but to follow when another signal beckons the Argonos into deep space—and into the dark heart of an alien mystery...
 

Ratings and reviews

I thought that the plot in "Ship of Fools" was fascinating and very interesting and the story moved along at a brisk pace with lots of twists and turns. The author's did a terrific job of creating the environment for this group of characters that are on this lonely ship and the adventure is riding on a high wave of suspense throughout the entire book. The characters are likable but flawed, and the science is better than most. Mr. Russo seems to have a deep understanding of the human spirit and clearly reflects it in the dialogues between the characters. I would gladly recommend this book to all my friends.

This is a modern extension of a conceit from antiquity. It bolsters the contemplations about governing and civility from the original Platonian metaphor, "Ship of Fools", with drama incited by a poignant and concise writing approach and effectively developed character profiles that interact exquisitely with the sci-fi plot. .

It's an entertaining read but don't expect a big payoff! I didn't find it particularly scary or thrilling but I was curious enough to find out what happens next to keep reading all the way to the end.

About the author

Richard Paul Russo is the author of the Philip K. Dick Award-winning novel, Ship of Fools, and the critically-acclaimed Carlucci series, including Destroying Angel, Carlucci's Edge, and Carlucci's Heart.