As indicated Miquel Barcelo in the prologue of Tuf's Travels, we are faced with a book that is actually a compilation of short stories interrelated with each other and filled with some bridging story that gives it meaning. This does not make the book any less interesting, of course. Tuf's Travels It is a book that can be read in a moment and is very entertaining.
The book tells the story of a curious human named Haviland Tuf, an independent merchant, a large man (more than two and a half meters tall), bald, with white skin, a vegetarian and a great lover of cats.
Note: Haviland Tuf does not look anything like the character on the book cover… I think whoever designed it had another book in mind or only read the first page of this one. … I wish the publisher would pay a little more attention to these details.
Anyway… back to the review…
Haviland Tuf manages to possess a huge spaceship (30 km) built with Old Earth technology and far superior to the current technology of the universe that George R.R. Martin narrates, especially in terms of biological engineering and ecology. The ship contains a vast biological library and gigantic cloning stations.
Throughout seven stories we discover how Haviland Tuf obtained the ship, what its characteristics are, what it is used for, why it is such a feared weapon and how it can "help" worlds in need. Each story takes place on a specific planet and with a specific problem, which the author uses to describe picturesque societies and customs that the protagonist of this story will have to deal with.
Haviland Tuf, the main character described so well by the author, ends up being endearing, especially for his love of cats and his curious personality. I suppose also because I read the book with my cat next to me, purring gratefully for my attentions.
The book is also fun because in all the stories, the author plays with the names of the cats, which go with the situations the protagonist finds himself in. This results in some cats being called "Chaos", "Doubt", "Disorder", "Stupidity", and many other names along those lines.
In short… a highly recommended book, with situations that lend themselves to thinking for a long time about them and how to resolve them.
2 responses
Thanks Jordi! (Now it's vast 😉
About what you say about the collection,
Everything seems to indicate that it is a reissue of the book published in Nova Ed. B, but now under Nova Ed. Z (and with another logo for Nova).
I don't know if they are changing Nova de Ediciones B, or if they are reissuing certain titles. I'll have to ask at the bookstore the next day when I go to get more material.
We talk to each other.
A hug
Hello Montse,
The library would be rather 'vast'.
I see that the collection is being republished. Is it in the hands of a different publisher than the original? I read and reread the book a long time ago but I really liked it. A surprising protagonist.
A hug.