During the 2 years of Covid, I did a lot of reading. Discovered plenty of author’s I had never read before. One of those authors, whose work I fell in love with, was Philip E. High.
Philip Empson High (28 April 1914 – 9 August 2006) was an English science fiction author whose career spanned more than 50 years.
He published more than a dozen novels, many of which I found great comfort in during those lockdown years. I’ll likely post dhort reviews on several of those books I enjoyed in the coming months.
To begin with, one of the books I really liked is the 1971 novel ‘The Butterfly Planet.’ While not the peak of his game, it’s a harder to find book of his that I wanted to highlight.
The story takes place in a future where man has taken to the stars. An ordinary technician and honest man named Maynard is approached by a shadowy group of individuals who offer him a high paying job if they come work them. He is left with no choice and quickly finds himself in the middle of a century old civil war, hidden from the majority of the population.
I seem to never tire of the whole “pulling the curtain back” storyline where the main character gets a glimpse of what’s really going on just below the surface of society.
“It’s a disease one grows out of,” said one of the humans who appeared to be reading his thoughts. “When we had nations, each one thought itself better, freer and more impartial, nobler, more advanced technically and ethically than all the rest. It was not true, of course, but the nations believed it. They believed it until the change began.”
Butterfly Planet (1971)
Like many authors, High has a handful of formulaic themes and ideas that run through his books.
In Butterfly Planet you have alien invaders, dreamscapes, cloak and dagger action, resistance fighters, and awakening psi abilities. I rather enjoy the stories about the little guy who turns the tables on the big bad which is why I enjoy High’s library of work.
In this world, there is law enforcement, there are criminals, and there are the ordinary people just trying to survive. So much like in our own world, there is a constant struggle for both polarized sides to struggle over power, leaving the ordinary people to duck or get pulled one way or the other.
“Butterfly Planet” is simple, fast paced fun. It’s comfort reading that’s easy to pick up and jump back in. Not too heavy with just enough characterization to keep the story engaging and leave you with thought provoking ideas. It also has a hopeful and important message about change that is still relevant today. The world is always changing and so are people.
Give it a read if that sounds like your thing. I hope you enjoy it!
Cinematic Point Of View 
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