This was the first science fiction novel I ever read (at about age 9 or 10 I suppose), our school librarian recommended it to me. I loved it and I've loved science fiction ever since although I will read almost anything. Since it was a library book and I've never re-read it as an adult I don't know how it stands up but I do recall it with great fondness. ( )

I read this book several times when I was 11 years old...I thought it was a great adventure story. I found a 50¢ copy in a used book store and gave it a shot. Unfortunately for me, it didn't hold up to an adult reading as well as some other childhood favorites.

The aliens who knocked 20th century Earth back to the Middle Ages are incompetent bumblers now unable to mount even a minimal defense against the sword-wielding humans. The "hero" is a rather unpleasant, amoral young man bent on becoming the top dog in the seafarers-preying-on-city-folks trade. Everyone else is cardboard. It heads downhill from there.

Oh well. At least it was only about an hour of reading. :-) ( )