On My Way to Paradise By Dave Wolverton Bantam, 1989. Paperback. ISBN: 0-55327-610-7 Suggested retail price: $4.95 (US)
Serpent Catch By Dave Wolverton Bantam (New York), 1991. Paperback: 418 pages. ISBN: 0-55356-129-4 Suggested retail price: $4.99 (US)
Reviewed by: Andrew R. Hall

I have picked up many of Wolverton's novels in used books stores over the years after reading his praises from the list's many SF fans and writers, and I have enjoyed a few short stories of his I have come across. I am finally getting around to reading the novels, and I am glad I did.

Except, however, for his first novel, On My Way to Paradise. In it, Wolverton amply demonstrates his ability at world-building, creating complex characters that I come to care about, and telling a good tale. But the balance is off. It kind of feels like he threw in everything that he had in his bag of tricks at the time. The opening is strong, but by half way through the story feels like it is getting longer than the material warrants. Three quarters through I am begging him to end the thing. A good chunk of the last quarter involves a long voyage over an alien planet, with lots of descriptions of the exotic creatures they encounter. The creatures are interesting, but it feels like an exercise from a "creating alien creatures" unit in a science fiction writing class. It doesn�t move the story ahead at all. As I say, there are good parts, and Wolverton's favorite theme -- the struggle to act morally in a violent, immoral world -- is clearly presented. But all the parts don't add up to a satisfying whole. I'd advise readers to skip it, and move on to his second novel, Serpent Catch, where things start getting good.

Serpent Catch is set in the future, on an alien planet which humans have cleaned out and used as a zoo for reconstructed species from Earth's past, including humanoid species like the Neanderthal. The planet has been cut off from the rest of humanity, and technology seems to have reverted to an early modern (about 1700) level. Despite the outer space setting, Wolverton follows the tropes of fantasy more than science fiction. In particular Wolverton seems to use the quest from Lord of the Rings as a model. A small, motley group of humanoids from different races depart their happy (but threatened) home to enter a territory they greatly fear in order to steal something precious from under the noses of the evil realm's leaders. There is even a Gandalf-like character, the last of the original starfarers, who wears a special suit that gives him superhuman power and extends his life span greatly. There is lots of sword play, and lots of violence.

But then Wolverton does interesting things with this basic premise. First of all, he does a great job at creating the other humanoid species, giving them rich and intriguing cultures and characteristics, which the reader comes to understand little by little. And unlike On My Way to Paradise, where his ability to create seems more like a game, this time the unique aspects of the different species are used in fascinating ways to advance the plot. Also, unlike Tolkien, the characters' sexual lives are an important aspect of the novel. His portrayal of the different sexual practices of the different races and individuals is both fascinating and (in my opinion) tastefully done. Wolverton delves into the subject about as well as any Mormon author I have read.

And lots of other good stuff. There is a sequel, Path of the Hero, which is next on my list of reading material. I look forward to starting his Runelords series as well.

Andrew Hall
Wenatchee, WA