From Publishers Weekly
Ten years after breaking the Russian Federation's monopoly on space travel, 21st-century swashbuckler Dan Randolph returns in this third-rate sequel to Privateers . Now an industrialist, Randolph is suddenly arrested and his billion-dollar lunar mining corporation confiscated by the corrupt and bureaucratic Global Economic Council--which happens to be headed by his archnemesis, Vasily Malik. Randolph escapes, and learns that his misfortune is linked to an impending global environmental disaster which the G.E.C. is using as an excuse to seize control of the world's economy--starting with his company. He also learns that organized crime has infiltrated the G.E.C. and is looking forward to a handsome profit from the seizure. With enemies chasing him between Earth and the moon, Randolph works to stop these schemes and save the earth without compromising its people's freedom. In a hackneyed, predictable plot and bad B-movie dialogue, Bova combines familiar environmental doomsaying with dewy-eyed capitalist optimism. Presumably a lovable rake, the totally unsympathetic Randolph acts more like an insensitive lecher; although Bova makes many careful gestures toward gender egalitarianism in his casting, the major female characters are inevitably sexually harassed, manipulated and victimized. Bova can do better than this childishly macho, feeble and unoriginal attempt at space adventure. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Imagine that the economics of the world is determined by seven major companies, and scientists have recently discovered that the greenhouse effect is not just a theory but a "cliff" ready to overwhelm the coastal cities with a tidal wave of undreamed proportions. A global economic cartel is desperate to keep this information from the public, since it could hurt their attempts to gain control of the seven influential industrial powers. In addition, the Mafia wants a piece of the action. Enter Dan Randolph, whose job it is to keep Earth from destroying itself. Unfortunately, nearly everyone is out to keep Dan quiet. Herein lies the plot and all the action. Robert Lawrence reads this sf tale with a clear voice and a moderate amount of characterization. His fine narration brings the characters to life and keeps the frantic action flowing to the very end. For sf collections.- Miriam Kahn, Columbus, OhioCopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
The plot of Empire Builders, a rugged individualist against a corrupt bureaucracy could take place in almost any era. However, the twenty-first century setting allows the action to sweep all the way to the moon. Though they never dominate the story, technical details are presented with enough rigor to fully merit the label "hard" science fiction. Robert Lawrence delivers this fast-moving adventure with flair and a nice array of character voices. At times his pacing is almost breathless, lacking pauses even at the ends of chapters. This is a solid offering for fans of a widely popular genre. J.N. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine


From Kirkus Reviews
Sequel to Privateers (1985), Bova's near-future saga of swashbuckling capitalist Dan Randolph's efforts to save the world from communism. This time out, he will save the world from falling over a global-warming cliff. Dan's old enemy, the ice-cold Vasily Malik, is now head of the Global Economic Council and, apparently, still intent on putting the aging Dan out of business. Dan's scientists have determined that, in ten years or so, the Earth is doomed to a climatological meltdown (rising seas, climate changes, monster storms, the works) unless immediate heroic remedial efforts are made. But Dan, betrayed by his lawyer, loses his grip on his business empire, then is lured to a remote island by his ex-wife, former president Jane Scanwell, and Vasily; the latter, unwittingly, has become a tool of the Mafia. Dan escapes to the moon, using Jane as his hostage, and disappears into skid row. Later, once recaptured, Dan convinces Jane of his ecological good faith. And Vasily, it emerges, knows about the crisis, but his priority is to unite the global factions (industrialists, politicians, scientists, and so forth) before taking overt action. Dan, Jane, and Vasily are all on the same side--but the Mafia have infiltrated everywhere, and intend to manipulate the crisis to their own ends. Solid action-adventure/politicking/consciousness-raising from a veteran pro who knows how to spin an agreeable yarn from standard, unsurprising material. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Review
"Solid action/adventure/politking/consciousness-raising from a veteran pro."--Kirkus Reviews

"A rollicking good read!"--Starlog

"I believe that by far the science fiction author who will have the greatest effect on the science fiction world, and the world as a whole, is Ben Bova."--Ray Bradbury



Review
"Solid action/adventure/politking/consciousness-raising from a veteran pro."--Kirkus Reviews

"A rollicking good read!"--Starlog

"I believe that by far the science fiction author who will have the greatest effect on the science fiction world, and the world as a whole, is Ben Bova."--Ray Bradbury



Book Description
Dan Randolph never plays by the rules. A hell-raising maverick with no patience for fools, he is admired by his friends, feared by his enemies, and desired by the world's loveliest women. Acting as a twenty-first privateer, Randolph broke the political strangle-hold on space exploration, and became one of the world's richest men in the bargain.

Now an ecological crisis threatens Earth--and the same politicians that Randolph outwitted the first time want to impose a world dictatorship to deal with it.

Dan Randolph knows that the answer lies in more human freedom, not less--and in the boundless resources of space. But can he stay free long enough to give the world that chance?



From the Publisher
"I believe that by far the science fiction author who will have the greatest effect on the science fiction world, and the world as a whole, is Ben Bova." --Ray Bradbury

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Dan Randolph never plays by the rules. A hell-raising maverick with no patience for fools, he is admired by his friends, feared by his enemies, and desired by the world's loveliest women. Acting as a twenty-first century privateer, Randolph broke the stranglehold on space exploration, and opened the solar system to all mankind, becoming one of the world's wealthiest men in the bargain. Now a greater crisis threatens humanity. An ecological catastrophe looms that will exterminate billions in a few short years if it continues unchecked. Randolph knows that only the combined energies of business and government can avert the disaster. But Earth's ruling elite wants to impose a virtual dictatorship on the planet, and bring the world's industrial giants to their knees. They set a trap to deprive Randolph of his fortune, baited with the beautiful politician who once was his lover. A wanted man, Randolph escapes into the Lunar underground, and engages in a daring plan to regain his empire and save the planet from certain destruction. But there are forces at work who intend to use the chaos for their own profit, and will stop at nothing to get their way. A daring tale of one man's struggle against overwhelming odds, EMPIRE BUILDERS is a stunning near-future thriller by one of the most acclaimed science fiction writers of our time.

FROM THE CRITICS

Starlog

A rollicking good read!

Library Journal

Imagine that the economics of the world is determined by seven major companies, and scientists have recently discovered that the greenhouse effect is not just a theory but a ``cliff'' ready to overwhelm the coastal cities with a tidal wave of undreamed proportions. A global economic cartel is desperate to keep this information from the public, since it could hurt their attempts to gain control of the seven influential industrial powers. In addition, the Mafia wants a piece of the action. Enter Dan Randolph, whose job it is to keep Earth from destroying itself. Unfortunately, nearly everyone is out to keep Dan quiet. Herein lies the plot and all the action. Robert Lawrence reads this sf tale with a clear voice and a moderate amount of characterization. His fine narration brings the characters to life and keeps the frantic action flowing to the very end. For sf collections.-- Miriam Kahn, Columbus, Ohio

AudioFile - John Niessink

The plot of Empire Builders, a rugged individualist against a corrupt bureaucracy could take place in almost any era. However, the twenty-first century setting allows the action to sweep all the way to the moon. Though they never dominate the story, technical details are presented with enough rigor to fully merit the label hard science fiction. Robert Lawrence delivers this fast-moving adventure with flair and a nice array of character voices. At times his pacing is almost breathless, lacking pauses even at the ends of chapters. This is a solid offering for fans of a widely popular genre. J.N. ￯﾿ﾽAudioFile, Portland, Maine

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