Early 80s SF generation ship book
July 26, 2008 5:08 AM   Subscribe

I'm trying to remember the name of an SF novel I read back in the early 80s. It took place on a generation ship that has lost its way.

The main character, a teenage boy, I think he was named "link" or "linc" is part of the ship community which is failing because after so much time everyone has forgotten where they are or what the true purpose of the ship is.

He goes into the forbidden 0 gravity area of the ship looking for the old man who is the only one who remembers the true purpose of their journey. He's in the 0g area because he has a heart condition. That's all I've got - thanks.
posted by Dag Maggot to Media & Arts (10 answers total)
 
Wikipedia has an article on generation ships, maybe you'll recognize the title?
posted by Foci for Analysis at 5:24 AM on July 26, 2008


Sounds like Heinlein's Orphans of the Sky.
posted by ulotrichous at 5:33 AM on July 26, 2008


Response by poster: Orphans of the Sky sounds close - and I think I've read that one, so maybe I'm mixing up a couple.

But I'm almost sure there was a character named "Link" and the old guy they find in the 0g hub is a disappointment because he's fat and frail.
posted by Dag Maggot at 5:37 AM on July 26, 2008


Best answer: It sounds like End of Exile by Ben Bova. The boy is named Linc and the old man is named Jerlet.
posted by iconomy at 7:11 AM on July 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


I second iconomy. Loved it when I was younger.
posted by Seamus at 7:49 AM on July 26, 2008


The interior 0g part doesn't match, but the boy protagonist does. First SF book I ever read, from 1953: The Star Seekers by Milton Lesser (cover). Just added it to the Wiki list.
posted by Rash at 9:06 AM on July 26, 2008


Non Stop might be a candidate. IIRC it's got the 0g bit.
posted by Artw at 1:14 PM on July 26, 2008


iconomy has it. All three books are available in a single volume.
posted by Mitheral at 1:14 PM on July 26, 2008


Working link
posted by Artw at 1:14 PM on July 26, 2008


Response by poster: Thanks Iconomy, that was it! I'm going to get it now, I hope it is as much fun as I remember.
posted by Dag Maggot at 3:19 PM on July 26, 2008


« Older Resort wanted in Costa Rica for extended family...   |   Auckland? More like Awkward. Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.