Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This incredibly long (too long in places) novel is set around the year 3000. Around 2000 Earth was invaded by the Pscyhlos, the dominate species in the 16 universes, who destroyed most of humanity. One brave young man among humanity's remnant sets out from a village hidden in the Rockies to explore. This is his adventure as he encounters the Psychlos and then crafts a new future for humanity.

Hubbard can write incredibly well-paced action plots, filled with suspense, which keep you on the edge of your seat and unable to put the book down. The book can also drag and get bogged down in details.

It also could have been four books in a series. When I basically finished what could have been book one, I was really satisfied and would have been really happy with the book up till that point. Some of the later sections are not as interesting, they also become over-complicated, more implausible (admitting surrendering disbelief for all of this of course), and more filled with what seem to be Hubbard's personal views on government and religion (which I could have done without). I also found it to be misogynistic in the way the very few and minor female characters are presented.

But if you like sci fi and a good story with fun characters, then I think you'll enjoy this.

I never saw the film which was overwhelming reviewed as among the very worst films ever made. I can't imagine packing all this plot into a movie. Maybe a multi-seasoned TV series.

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