Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 17, 2026

Involution Ocean

Involution Ocean is a science-fiction novel by American writer Bruce Sterling, published in 1977.

Last revised
Jul 17, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
273 w
Citations
8
Source
First edition (publ. Jove Books) source ↗

Involution Ocean is a science-fiction novel by American writer Bruce Sterling, published in 1977.

Plot summary

Involution Ocean is a novel about a drug addict who joins the crew of a whaling ship on the planet Nullaqua when the drug is outlawed, to get near the whales which are the source of the drug.1 The premise is influenced by Moby Dick by Herman Melville.2

Reception

Howard Thompson reviewed Involution Ocean in The Space Gamer No. 15.1 Thompson commented that "Sterling's plot and world hang together in believable fashion if you ignore science."1

Reviews

  • Review by Larry Niven (1978) in Science Fiction Review, May 19783
  • Review by Richard E. Geis (1978) in Science Fiction Review, July 19784
  • Review by Tom Hosty (1979) in Foundation, #15 January 19795
  • Review by Joseph Nicholas (1979) in Paperback Parlour, December 1979
  • Review [French] by Roger Bozzetto (1980) in Fiction, #306
  • Review [German] by Joachim Körber? (1981) in SF Perry Rhodan Magazin, 1/81
  • Review [German] by Heinz J. Baldowé? (1981) in Science Fiction Times, #150 September/Oktober 1981
  • Review [German] by uncredited (1982) in Reclams Science Fiction Führer
  • Review by Martyn Taylor (1989) in Paperback Inferno, #77
  • Review by Stephen E. Andrews and Nick Rennison (2006) in 100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels
  • Kliatt6
References

References

  1. Thompson, Howard (January–February 1978). "Books". The Space Gamer (15). Metagaming: 23.
  2. Hosty, Tom (1979). "Involution Ocean by Bruce Sterling (Book Review)". Foundation: 107. ProQuest 1312039880.
  3. "Science Fiction Review #25v07n02 (1978 05)".
  4. "Science Fiction Review 26 (July 1978)". 1978.
  5. "Title: Involution Ocean". www.isfdb.org.
  6. "Kliatt Young Adult Paperback Book Guide Spring 1978: Vol 12 Iss 3". Kliatt Paperback Book Guide. 1978.