Battlefield Earth is an awesome science fiction adventure. I read this book a long time ago but remember enjoying it immensely. It’s action packed and sheer escapism. It’s the kind of book that you miss once it is over.
Sure it has its flaws. It takes a while to get started and lags a bit in the middle. Many of the characters are also either stock or unbelievable. Take the hero, Jonnie Goodboy Taylor, for example. He is both a tough guy and a genius capable of both advanced scientific and economic calculations. There is nothing that Jonnie cannot do, which makes his character somewhat unrealistic. Nonetheless you find yourself rooting for him.
The science in Battlefield Earth is also deeply flawed. Battlefield Earth is not hard science fiction. It is a space opera and should be read as such. People don’t go watch Stars Wars for scientific explanations of how everything in the movie works. They watch it for the spectacle of it and because it is fun, something Battlefield Earth certainly is.
Battlefield Earth’s strengths are its story, world building and sense of adventure. Battlefield Earth is epic and inspiring. It’s about the freedom of mankind. There is also, as with most of L.Ron Hubbard’s novels, a good helping of humour. For years I’ve been trying to find other an epic science fiction novel like Battlefield Earth. Sadly I have yet to find one. I’d say avoid the movie (which is horrible) and read the book. If you are into space opera, you won’t regret it.
