Author:	James P. Hogan
Copyright:	1982
Date Reviewed:	7/8/84
Rating:	7.0

Synopsis: On the eve of Earth's destruction, three powerful nations send out colony ships to the planet Chiron. The first is American and their mission is to dominate the Chironian population before the next ship arrives. The Chironians were "born" 50 years ago when a colony from Earth, carrying the DNA patterns for thousands of people, arrived there. Without the hostility inherent in Earth societies, the Chironians evolved a culture devoid of arbitrary hate, and racism. There is no money; a persons worth is the amount of his or her capabilities. Their society is a truly utopian anarchy. Although the Americans don't know it, the Chironians are waging a subtle war with them. While the Americans plan to dominate the Chironians, the Chironians convert most of the ships' population to their way of life. When only a small core of diehards are left, the Chironians destroy them in self defense.

Review: "Voyage from Yesteryear" is an adequate novel but suffers from some of the same problems that Hogan's last novel had ("The Two Faces of Tomorrow"). It is very long, a lot longer than it needs to be. There are three distinct parts. In the first, the Americans head for Chiron and promote their propaganda against them. We hear a lot about what the Chironians might be like ("They are almost human and we should feel sorry for their childlike ways"). The suspense that is built up before the first contact is very well done, and the initial contact is exciting. In the second part, we are given a too detailed explanation of Chironian culture, mores and morals. Although interesting, the same points are made over and over again. In the third part, we are once again treated to some action as a renegade congressman stages a coup which is eventually thwarted. As with most of Hogan's novels, "Voyage from Yesteryear" is well written and (except for the second part), it was very hard to put down.