What do Ben Bova & Space Opera have in common? This book!, May 24, 2001
Reviewer: A reader from United Kingdom This book is really the compilation of Ben Bova's two Star Watchmen books- `The Watchmen' & `The Duelling Machine' Ben Bova gives us a vast sweep of future history in his first book in which humanity has reached the stars and its last gaurdians are the Watchmen. Men (and women) who's duty it is to see that ethical conduct is played out on the interstellar scene. In the second book he focusses on the means by which disputes are settled in this far flung era. We have the wise old scientist, a klutzy star watchman, and an assasin from a domineering empire. The battlefield of this far flung era is `The Duelling Machine' a machine whereby two individuals fight in computer simulated environments, totally harmless and non-lethal. Or so it's inventor thought now people are dying. If you want to find out the rest read the book, I can thoroughly recommend it.