I'm here with a review of George R.R. Martin's latest book that was released in our country

Here are some more or less related stories about the "Eco-Engineer" Haviland Tuff.

The book is solid Sci-Fi with vivid worldbuilding. Martin's style is predictably exciting and fluid. However, his greatest strength, the deep and ambivalent characters, is less evident in this book. Instead, the book focuses more on interesting plots and unexpected twists. Although Tuff, as the main character, has some special properties, his backgrounds remain somewhat on the surface.

Also, how the almost godlike power he obtains through biotechnology changes him as a person is rather briefly touched upon than explored in depth. Nevertheless, "Planetenwanderer" is a lot of fun and is definitely recommended for all Sci-Fi and/or Martin fans.

So I made an attempt to like this. After all, I have a passion for science fiction and I'm a die-hard fan of George R. R. Martin.

However, it's rather a pity that it really didn't work out for me.

The book is a compilation of the Haviland Tuf short-stories. Tuf, a former space-trader, after consenting to transport a diverse and untrustworthy crew to an archaeological discovery of a lifetime, finds himself in command of the most potent ship in the universe - the last seedship of the long-lost Ecological Engineer Corps.

And here lies the crux of the problem.

The essence of Tuf is that he's not supposed to be the typical space-opera hero. He's a chalk-white, bald, obese giant instead of a dashing ship's captain. He has no crew of jovial misfits; rather, he prefers the sole company of his beloved cats. He's overly polite and eloquent to the point of being parodic, instead of being a witty quipster or a deadpan snarker. He loathes violence (and physical contact in general), is scrupulously honest, and prevails through his intellect and the power of his seedship.

Yet, he's also unlikable. Not in the sense that he's an anti-hero or a despicable character, but in the sense that there's no genuine reason to like him other than the fact that he's the protagonist. His personality is dull and one-dimensional, he's borderline emotionless, he's constantly arrogant and aloof, and has very little to recommend him other than being the living embodiment of "lawful neutral". You never feel any empathy for him; the closest you come is when tragedy strikes in the first story... but even then, it's presented so matter-of-factly that it's difficult to believe he cares at all. We know he does because the story tells us... but it surely doesn't show us.

It doesn't help matters that his ship is almost a literal Deus-Ex-Machina. The seedship might as well be named The Plot Device because there's never a moment when he can't effortlessly solve any problem. Whatever he requires - gene-spliced plants to nourish an overpopulated planet, exotic monsters for a fighting arena, even a telepathic cat - he obtains without any hassle. There's never any conflict or a sense of real danger; every time a problem emerges, he simply conjures up yet another miracle from the seedship.

Tuf transitions from being a humble trader to being a god, with almost no in-between, and the stories suffer as a result of this lack in the middle.

I started this book with a bit of suspicion. It was the first thing I was reading from the author after having read "A Song of Ice and Fire". I hadn't heard anything about this book until recently, and besides, it was a George R. R. Martin science fiction instead of fantasy, so I had my doubts. Well, nothing, because the "Mr. Pasta Gander And Give It To My Readers" has more than fulfilled.

I have really enjoyed the book. It's over 500 pages and I devoured it. It didn't seem heavy to me at all, quite the contrary. The more you read, the more you want to continue. I would say that it doesn't lack or have too much of anything.

Undoubtedly, apart from the very good story, the strength of the book lies in the character of Tuf, a unique and very original character with a curious way of solving things. I could define him as the typical person who pretends to be stupid and when you realize that he isn't, he has already messed things up for you :D

The format of the book is "chapter-adventure, chapter-adventure....", and although at first I thought it might get a bit tiresome, in the end it wasn't like that. And the fact that despite having several different adventures, it also has a more central and recurrent plot helps in that regard.

And up to here I can read without spoiling the book. I can only recommend it to those who like "space opera", with spaceships, their wars, their different planets, worlds, races and very original species (in that regard the author is a genius). And all of it told very well.... and without fear of having to wait for a continuation u_u

Tuf voyaging

I first read this when it was published in the mid-1980s and really enjoyed it. Now, some 37 years later, after rereading it, I find that I like it even more.

This is a collection of short stories about Haviland Tuf and his cats. They discover a thousand-year-old “seedship” that is an impressive 30 kilometers long, 5 wide, and 3 tall. Designed to wage biological war, it can clone and genetically engineer everything from viruses to T. rex and even bigger, nastier things. Each story stands alone, but Martin has skillfully crafted them to tell an overarching tale about power and its corrupting influence.

Haviland Tuf is a unique character. He's a hairless giant of a man, corpulent bordering on obese, standing at 2.5 meters tall (that's 8 feet and a bit more for Americans). He's an asexual introvert who doesn't like to be touched, except by the occasional cat rubbing against his foot. I'm not sure if Martin had a specific person in mind as a model for Tuf, but I suspect it might have been someone like the actor Sydney Greenstreet, who has a similar look but is a much shorter 5’9”.

Sidetrack: Stay with me here. Greenstreet, famous for his role in Casablanca, was the model for two Marvel comics characters. The first is Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, and the second is Amahl Farouk, a powerful psychic. Martin is a big comic book fan. His first published writing was a letter to Marvel comics in 1963. He and his friends created their own superhero universe in 1987 with Wild Cards, which is still going strong. In the story “Second Helpings”, he references the X-Men and its writer, Chris Claremont.

Back on track - the stories:

The Plague Star (1985) - 4 stars. This is the origin story where we meet Haviland Tuf and his cats. They reluctantly investigate a suspected millennia-old starship. They discover the damaged Ark with active defenses. Greed and powerlust lead to a gruesome adventure-ending, leaving only Tuf.

Loaves and Fishes (1985) - 4 stars. Tuf arrives at a space station to get the Ark repaired. The planet's religion causes overpopulation and ecological disaster. Tuf offers a solution, but the rulers try to commandeer the ship. Hijinks ensue, and Tuf owes them money and has to find work.

Guardians (1981) - 3 stars. The humans on Namor are plagued by giant monsters. Tuf offers aid for a price. It turns out the creatures they've been eating are sentient and were defending themselves. Tuf brokers a peace.

Second Helpings (1985) - 4 stars. Tuf returns to S’uthlam to repay his debt and discovers Tolly Mune has made a hit holoscreenplay about them. Tuf's previous actions have caused a baby boom and an even worse impending apocalypse.

A Beast for Norn (1976) - 3.5 stars. The first story, with Martin not yet settled on Tuf's voice. The plot is about an entire planet's entertainment based on animal fighting. It's disturbing for those in animal rescue, but Tuf's solution is great.

Call Him Moses (1978) - 2 stars. The weakest story, with Tuf being churlish and nasty at times and heavy on religious references.

Manna from Heaven (1985) - 4.5 stars. Tuf returns to S’ultham, which is in even worse shape and on the verge of war. Tuf uses his cleverness to play god and solve the problem, providing a satisfying conclusion to the collection.

This collection would make a great TV series, with room for more stories. Martin planned more about Tuf but never got around to it. I picture Stephen Fry playing Tuf, as he can pull off the deadpan snark. It would be a shame if we never get to see more of Tuf's adventures.

First things first. Those who are waiting for something similar to Game of Thrones will be disappointed. There is no relation, except perhaps for a certain brutality and the terrible humor. So, The Tomb is a cat lover, a vegetarian, a friend of good food and beer - and generally a very curious and interesting character - formerly a merchant who found himself to be the owner and operator of a huge and extremely powerful spaceship, a relic of another era. Along with his cats, he travels through the galaxy offering his services where they are needed, but not always in the way that is expected.

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\\"The sad truth of history has always been that the unreasoning masses follow the powerful, and not the wise.\\"

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The book is divided into parts, each part a different journey, but almost all are connected to each other. In a clever way, it touches on ecological issues, the rights of animals, overpopulation, human ethics, the political scene. In some places it meanders, but generally it is a \\"pleasant\\" read. It offers a unique perspective on various aspects of our world and the universe, making the reader think about the choices we make and the consequences they bring. It's not a typical science fiction story, but rather a blend of different genres that manages to create an engaging and thought-provoking narrative.

Heveland Tuff is not an especially successful trader, but this is only in the first of a total of seven adventures in the book. Equipped with a unique spaceship of its kind, he will discover his calling as an ecological engineer and will embark on a rather successful, yet stressful career. Tuff is an incredibly interesting character - two and a half meters tall, a lover of beer, vegetarianism, and cats.

It is a wonderful book, with a generous dose of humor and huge compliments for the addressee!

The adventures of this character are pleasant to read, both because of the smooth plot and the humor that pervades it.

This likable ecologist always finds a way to outwit his counterparts (all above board).

The story unfolds in a series of entertaining episodes, with the protagonist facing various challenges and coming up with clever solutions.

His humorous approach to life and the situations he encounters adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the narrative.

Whether it's dealing with environmental issues or interacting with other characters, he always manages to bring a smile to the reader's face.

The book is a great read for anyone who enjoys a lighthearted and engaging story with a touch of humor.

If you haven't tried "Tuf Voyaging," you really should. It is a 1986 fixup 'novel' composed of earlier stories. Haviland Tuf, the protagonist, is an "honest space-trader who likes cats." He is quite a character, and the setup is truly engaging. I've read it twice, and both times I found great pleasure in it. Amazingly, it hasn't dated a bit. I would rate it 4+ stars.

Here's a full-size scan of the gloriously lurid Baen cover: http://www.isfdb.org/wiki/images/d/dd... Cats in Spaaace! The art is by David Willson.

The reliable Althea Ann has an excellent review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This was published long before GRRM became a celebrity. Back then, he was just another hardworking writer in the midlists of SF/F. He was toiling away, creating wonderful stories like "Tuf Voyaging" that would eventually gain recognition and acclaim. It's interesting to look back and see how far he has come.

It is not a true book but a collection of stories that are nevertheless connected to each other and thus form large chapters, even though each one has an independent ending. At the beginning, I found the book interesting. However, then it starts to become repetitive precisely because of the self-conclusive pattern of each chapter. Nevertheless, it is an original book where the "hero" is anything but the classic hero that we can expect. In short, it is cute but not overwhelming.

Moreover, the author's writing style is quite unique. He manages to create a vivid and engaging world within these short stories. The characters are well-developed and have their own distinct personalities. Despite the repetitiveness in the chapter structure, the individual stories still hold some charm and can keep the reader's attention to a certain extent.

Overall, this book is a decent read. It may not be a masterpiece that will leave a lasting impression, but it can provide some entertainment and a different perspective on the concept of a hero. If you are looking for something a little different and don't mind a bit of repetition, this book might be worth checking out.

Los viajes de Tuf is a science fiction fix-up that consists of seven stories. Through these tales, we get to know Tuf, a fat, pale, vegetarian, and cat-loving merchant. After finding an ancient ship called the Ark, which is filled with samples of animal and plant species from thousands of planets, Tuf decides to change his profession and become an ecological engineer.

My expectations for this book were not entirely met. I had hoped that Tuf's adventures would be related to his attempts to protect endangered ecosystems or bring them back to life. However, that is not the case. The stories begin with human problems that Tuf will solve (in his peculiar way) thanks to the species stored in the Ark and that the ship can clone. Of course, Tuf will do this in exchange for a good stipend, because another characteristic of this self-proclaimed ecological engineer is that he does not know the concept of ad honorem work.

The problems that Tuf has to solve are a small sample of the ones we currently have with our planet and the ethical dilemmas derived from them: human overpopulation, depletion of resources, treatment of other species, and so on. Besides these themes, another one that Martin presents to us is that of power: its use and abuse, the corruption that surrounds those who hold it, and the moral responsibility that comes with it.

I took my time to decide if I was satisfied with this reading. It wasn't just because it wasn't exactly what I expected, but also because of Tuf. Despite seemingly being a one-dimensional character (and perhaps he is), he is quite complex. He is not a hero, nor an anti-hero, nor a villain. He is an honest and intelligent man, whose most outstanding characteristic (besides his sarcasm and indolence) is his arrogance. For most of the book, I didn't know if I was facing an arrogant, intelligent, and greedy merchant who thought he was a god and had no scruples, or an arrogant, intelligent, and greedy merchant who thought he was a god and had a particular idiosyncrasy. After thinking about his actions, plans, and words, I lean towards the second option. If there are more adventures of Tuf in the future, I will read them.

The title I saw was "Yes, I have to have it."

Yes, I loved it at first sight, but after seeing Azimov's review, I was even more inspired to buy this book and immerse myself completely. And oh yes, I never regretted it for a moment. Tafas is in an unusual situation. He is big, unkempt, loves cats, and has no emotions, or rather, this is not reflected on his face. "Fuzzball" Tafas, together with his cats, embarks on an expedition to find the ship's pilot. And everything turns out in such a way that he becomes its owner. The "Ark" brings a significant responsibility and a sense of divinity that can corrupt any person. And how will it turn out for Tafas? That will have to be figured out by reading each wonderful page.

This story seems to be full of mystery and adventure, making readers eager to know what will happen next. It's like a hidden treasure chest waiting to be opened and explored. I can't wait to continue reading and discover all the secrets and surprises that lie within these pages.