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‘The Precipice’ Keeps Readers On The Edge

The Precipice (2001) by Ben Bova is a hard SF thriller that reads like a Hollywood blockbuster. Layering corporate intrigues and cerebral action against the backdrop of a collapsing world, Bova searches for hope. The Precipice is a ripping adventure where science and technology are both hero and villain.

The Precipice is the kind of SF story that I like best. One where terrible problems are tackled with intelligence and energy. However, Bova doesn’t just rely on technical details. He infuses his story with emotional anchors that add weight to his words.

The protagonist of The Precipice is Dan Randolph, who has been seen in previous works of Bova’s Grand Tour series. While there are references to Randolph’s previous exploits, there is no need to read the previous works to fully enjoy this one. It helps that Randolph doesn’t rest on his laurels and is very proactive.

The world of The Precipice is a future that is all too possible if not actual. Global warming is out of control killing or displacing millions, food is becoming scarce, and a far right fundamental religious sect is gaining control of the government. And these are the minor problems Dan Randolph faces.

The plot revolves around Randolph and his crusade to help Earth and its people survive and overcome their problems. To Randolph the only way is to begin exploiting the resources of the asteroid belt. This sort of idea has been used by SF writers for decades. However, Bova does it much better than most.

Again, Bova doesn’t focus on the technical details and instead chooses the human details. Randolph’s company is on the verge of bankruptcy, however aid comes from an unlikely source. His rival Martin Humphries. Randolph is suspicious and rightly so.

The story follows Randolph and his struggle to get a ship to the asteroid belt fast enough and cheaply enough to make the work profitable. Given the state of the world it makes a certain sense that businesses and governments would be reluctant to waste resources on a long shot. However, it soon become apparent that there are other forces at work against Randolph.

This is what is so compelling about The Precipice. Dan Randolph’s resolute determination to what is right regardless of the obsticale or cost to himself. This is also a large part of what makes The Precipice so entertaining. Seeing how Randolph overcomes, sidesteps, or overwhelms his enemies.

Ben Bova (1932-2020)

The writing of The Precipice is typical of Bova. The prose is tight and economical, yet it carries more than enough detail to convey both technical and emotional content with ease. Bova treats his readers with respect by not relying on needless exposition. Instead, he gives precisely what readers need, no more, no less.

Bova’s characters are interesting. They seem to be stereotypical, at first, but then he gives them life and personality. Sometimes their development takes strange turns but never illogically.

As much as I enjoyed The Precipice overall there is one element that Bova could never have anticipated. Bova is overly optimistic about the intents and actions of the ultra-wealthy. Bova envisions a world where there are some wealthy people who put the needs of the world before their own. We know this to be false. Bova can be forgiven this oversight I think.

Regardless of any baseline errors, The Precipice is a difficult book to put aside. It is a story of hope. Hope in science and hope in ourselves. And we are in need of as much hope as we can get right now.

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