Empire Star

This novella was published in 1966 and I don't think I've ever read it until now (2022), although [b:Babel-17 1199688 Babel-17 Samuel R. Delany https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1257546421l/1199688.SY75.jpg 13612561], published by the same author in the same year, is an old favourite of mine.Now that I've finally read this one, I'm disappointed. I don't particularly dislike it; it's OK; but I find nothing about it that I particularly like. I read it with some interest but without real enjoyment.Would I have liked it better if I'd read it back in the 1970s, when I first read [b:Babel-17 1199688 Babel-17 Samuel R. Delany https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1257546421l/1199688.SY75.jpg 13612561]? I suppose it's possible; but I rather doubt it.The complex story reminds me somehow of [b:The Sirens of Titan 4982 The Sirens of Titan Kurt Vonnegut Jr. https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1419363185l/4982.SY75.jpg 905970], but I haven't read that book recently, so I can't compare them in any detail.