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caitcoy's review against another edition
2.0
As an asteroid hurtles toward Earth, dooming the planet's inhabitants, a very wealthy industrialist, Darien Trass, interviews hopefuls for the Titan Project. The goal of the project is to recruit the best and brightest of Earth, 4000 of them, to colonize Titan, a moon of Saturn. As he's finishing the interviews however, things don't go exactly according to plan and the Titan Project's future is in question.
This wasn't as bad as Going Dark but I struggled to maintain interest in it. There's a lot of awkward, unnecessary descriptions of some of the characters that underscore why I often don't read indie authors unless they're recommended by friends. As another reviewer has said, this story felt like a classic sci fi, colonization story and while it wasn't awful, it also wasn't anything I'd particularly recommend.
This wasn't as bad as Going Dark but I struggled to maintain interest in it. There's a lot of awkward, unnecessary descriptions of some of the characters that underscore why I often don't read indie authors unless they're recommended by friends. As another reviewer has said, this story felt like a classic sci fi, colonization story and while it wasn't awful, it also wasn't anything I'd particularly recommend.
villyidol's review
3.0
This prequel to Rhett C. Bruno’s Children of Titan series was nominated for a Nebula Award for Best Short Story.
I’ve not read [b: Titanborn|43621411|Titanborn (Children of Titan, #1)|Rhett C. Bruno|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1547973706l/43621411._SY75_.jpg|47869127] or its follow-ups. So, I was interested to see if this story will be able to stand on its own. The answer to that is a yes.
Will it be more fun if you’re already a fan of the series, though? The answer to that very likely is a yes as well.
I don’t know. From a story that’s about the apocalypse coming by way of an asteroid and that starts with „142 Hours Until Impact“ I was expecting a little more excitement, I guess. I probably might have gotten that if I’d already known the characters.
This is about the selection process for the ark, so to say. Who’s worthy of getting a place aboard the space ship and leave for Titan before disaster strikes? Who’s valuable to the goal of rekindling civilization on another world? How does one make that decision? The narrator is the one that has to decide. And it takes its toll on him. Which is to be expected. As are the riots.
On the whole there are not that many surprises here and I fail to see what makes this story worthy of an award nomination.
Was it entertaining to read, though? Yes, it was. But the big impact didn’t happen for me, emotionally.
3 stars – and some interest in reading the books.
_________________
Best Novel
• The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor)
• [b: The Poppy War|35068705|The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1)|R.F. Kuang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515691735l/35068705._SY75_.jpg|56364137] by R.F. Kuang (Harper Voyager US; Harper Voyager UK)
• [b: Blackfish City|35068768|Blackfish City|Sam J. Miller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498846831l/35068768._SY75_.jpg|56364196] by Sam J. Miller (Ecco; Orbit UK)
• [b: Spinning Silver|36896898|Spinning Silver|Naomi Novik|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513872748l/36896898._SX50_.jpg|58657620] by Naomi Novik (Del Rey; Macmillan)
• [b: Witchmark|36187110|Witchmark (The Kingston Cycle, #1)|C.L. Polk|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505338133l/36187110._SY75_.jpg|57809962] by C.L. Polk (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: Trail of Lightning|36373298|Trail of Lightning (The Sixth World, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515788168l/36373298._SY75_.jpg|52833355] by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)
Best Novella
• [b: Fire Ant|39359011|Fire Ant (The Navy of Humanity Wasp Squadron Book 1)|Jonathan P. Brazee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1521857259l/39359011._SY75_.jpg|61026637] by Jonathan P. Brazee (Semper Fi)
• The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark (Tor.com Publishing)
• The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard (Subterranean)
• [b: Alice Payne Arrives|39332603|Alice Payne Arrives (Alice Payne, #1)|Kate Heartfield|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1528836131l/39332603._SY75_.jpg|60961729] by Kate Heartfield (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach|36187158|Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach|Kelly Robson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506531524l/36187158._SY75_.jpg|57810004] by Kelly Robson (Tor.com Publishing)
• Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing)
Best Novelette
• [b: The Only Harmless Great Thing|34659272|The Only Harmless Great Thing|Brooke Bolander|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518069202l/34659272._SY75_.jpg|55823786] by Brooke Bolander (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections|40381419|The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections|Tina Connolly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555252289l/40381419._SY75_.jpg|62680201] by Tina Connolly (Tor.com 7/11/18)
• [b: An Agent of Utopia|40606635|An Agent of Utopia|Andy Duncan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529627726l/40606635._SY75_.jpg|63072096] by Andy Duncan (An Agent of Utopia)
• The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births by José Pablo Iriarte (Lightspeed 1/18)
• [b: The Rule of Three|43243212|Future Science Fiction Digest Issue 1|Alex Shvartsman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544913470l/43243212._SY75_.jpg|68602299] by Lawrence M. Schoen (Future Science Fiction Digest 12/18)
• Messenger by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne and R.R. Virdi (Expanding Universe, Volume 4)
Best Short Story
• Interview for the End of the World by Rhett C. Bruno (Bridge Across the Stars)
• The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington by Phenderson Djèlí Clark (Fireside 2/18)
• Going Dark by Richard Fox (Backblast Area Clear)
• And Yet by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny 3-4/18)
• A Witch’s Guide To Escape: A Practical Compendium Of Portal Fantasies by Alix E. Harrow (Apex 2/6/18)
• The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed 1/18)
Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy
• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt; Macmillan)
• [b: Aru Shah and the End of Time|36222611|Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava Quartet, #1)|Roshani Chokshi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506615949l/36222611._SX50_.jpg|56242795] by Roshani Chokshi (Rick Riordan Presents)
• [b: A Light in the Dark|40642087|A Light in the Dark (Dark Stars, #2)|A.K. DuBoff|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529941117l/40642087._SY75_.jpg|67703731] by A.K. Du Boff (BDL)
• [b: Tess of the Road|35046472|Tess of the Road (Tess of the Road, #1)|Rachel Hartman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503599285l/35046472._SY75_.jpg|53793345] by Rachel Hartman (Random House)
• [b: Dread Nation|30223025|Dread Nation (Dread Nation, #1)|Justina Ireland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497900615l/30223025._SY75_.jpg|50676909] by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray)
• [b: Peasprout Chen: Future Legend of Skate and Sword|35343338|Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword (Book 1)|Henry Lien|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519050297l/35343338._SY75_.jpg|49856893] by Henry Lien (Henry Holt)
I’ve not read [b: Titanborn|43621411|Titanborn (Children of Titan, #1)|Rhett C. Bruno|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1547973706l/43621411._SY75_.jpg|47869127] or its follow-ups. So, I was interested to see if this story will be able to stand on its own. The answer to that is a yes.
Will it be more fun if you’re already a fan of the series, though? The answer to that very likely is a yes as well.
I don’t know. From a story that’s about the apocalypse coming by way of an asteroid and that starts with „142 Hours Until Impact“ I was expecting a little more excitement, I guess. I probably might have gotten that if I’d already known the characters.
This is about the selection process for the ark, so to say. Who’s worthy of getting a place aboard the space ship and leave for Titan before disaster strikes? Who’s valuable to the goal of rekindling civilization on another world? How does one make that decision? The narrator is the one that has to decide. And it takes its toll on him. Which is to be expected. As are the riots.
On the whole there are not that many surprises here and I fail to see what makes this story worthy of an award nomination.
Was it entertaining to read, though? Yes, it was. But the big impact didn’t happen for me, emotionally.
3 stars – and some interest in reading the books.
_________________
2018 Nebula Award Finalists
Best Novel
• The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor)
• [b: The Poppy War|35068705|The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1)|R.F. Kuang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515691735l/35068705._SY75_.jpg|56364137] by R.F. Kuang (Harper Voyager US; Harper Voyager UK)
• [b: Blackfish City|35068768|Blackfish City|Sam J. Miller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498846831l/35068768._SY75_.jpg|56364196] by Sam J. Miller (Ecco; Orbit UK)
• [b: Spinning Silver|36896898|Spinning Silver|Naomi Novik|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513872748l/36896898._SX50_.jpg|58657620] by Naomi Novik (Del Rey; Macmillan)
• [b: Witchmark|36187110|Witchmark (The Kingston Cycle, #1)|C.L. Polk|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505338133l/36187110._SY75_.jpg|57809962] by C.L. Polk (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: Trail of Lightning|36373298|Trail of Lightning (The Sixth World, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515788168l/36373298._SY75_.jpg|52833355] by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)
Best Novella
• [b: Fire Ant|39359011|Fire Ant (The Navy of Humanity Wasp Squadron Book 1)|Jonathan P. Brazee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1521857259l/39359011._SY75_.jpg|61026637] by Jonathan P. Brazee (Semper Fi)
• The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark (Tor.com Publishing)
• The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard (Subterranean)
• [b: Alice Payne Arrives|39332603|Alice Payne Arrives (Alice Payne, #1)|Kate Heartfield|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1528836131l/39332603._SY75_.jpg|60961729] by Kate Heartfield (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach|36187158|Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach|Kelly Robson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506531524l/36187158._SY75_.jpg|57810004] by Kelly Robson (Tor.com Publishing)
• Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing)
Best Novelette
• [b: The Only Harmless Great Thing|34659272|The Only Harmless Great Thing|Brooke Bolander|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518069202l/34659272._SY75_.jpg|55823786] by Brooke Bolander (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections|40381419|The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections|Tina Connolly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555252289l/40381419._SY75_.jpg|62680201] by Tina Connolly (Tor.com 7/11/18)
• [b: An Agent of Utopia|40606635|An Agent of Utopia|Andy Duncan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529627726l/40606635._SY75_.jpg|63072096] by Andy Duncan (An Agent of Utopia)
• The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births by José Pablo Iriarte (Lightspeed 1/18)
• [b: The Rule of Three|43243212|Future Science Fiction Digest Issue 1|Alex Shvartsman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544913470l/43243212._SY75_.jpg|68602299] by Lawrence M. Schoen (Future Science Fiction Digest 12/18)
• Messenger by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne and R.R. Virdi (Expanding Universe, Volume 4)
Best Short Story
• Interview for the End of the World by Rhett C. Bruno (Bridge Across the Stars)
• The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington by Phenderson Djèlí Clark (Fireside 2/18)
• Going Dark by Richard Fox (Backblast Area Clear)
• And Yet by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny 3-4/18)
• A Witch’s Guide To Escape: A Practical Compendium Of Portal Fantasies by Alix E. Harrow (Apex 2/6/18)
• The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed 1/18)
Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy
• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt; Macmillan)
• [b: Aru Shah and the End of Time|36222611|Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava Quartet, #1)|Roshani Chokshi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506615949l/36222611._SX50_.jpg|56242795] by Roshani Chokshi (Rick Riordan Presents)
• [b: A Light in the Dark|40642087|A Light in the Dark (Dark Stars, #2)|A.K. DuBoff|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529941117l/40642087._SY75_.jpg|67703731] by A.K. Du Boff (BDL)
• [b: Tess of the Road|35046472|Tess of the Road (Tess of the Road, #1)|Rachel Hartman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503599285l/35046472._SY75_.jpg|53793345] by Rachel Hartman (Random House)
• [b: Dread Nation|30223025|Dread Nation (Dread Nation, #1)|Justina Ireland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497900615l/30223025._SY75_.jpg|50676909] by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray)
• [b: Peasprout Chen: Future Legend of Skate and Sword|35343338|Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword (Book 1)|Henry Lien|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519050297l/35343338._SY75_.jpg|49856893] by Henry Lien (Henry Holt)
trish204's review
4.0
So this is the famous Trass, hero of the Titanborn.
Yes, this short story is part of the Titanborn universe. It is a prequel that tells of humanity finding out about the asteroid that's going to strike Earth, leading to the exodus that triggers the colonization of Titan.
We thus follow Mr. Trass, an industrial titan (see what I did there? ;P) and his project to ensure the survival of the human race. It's pretty clear that those staying on Earth have almost zero chance of survival and while several governments apparently attempt to build space stations and habitats on the moon, Mr. Trass also knows that their selection criteria will be different, that there will be overpopulation, and that their plans might therefore fail. The man knows his science.
Nevertheless, the selection process is hard and takes an emotional toll on our MC, as it should.
Considering I'm not too much of a fan of the Titanborn from several generations later as they've degraded into raging terrorists, I was surprised to find out how much I liked Mr. Trass. Sure, people were desperate and therefore didn't understand why only 3000 could go to Titan or why certain applications had been denied, but it did make sense. It's also not too much of a surprise to see the real man as opposed to the legend he has become on Titan, how the differ. I think it's happened with a lot of historical figures over the centuries.
Yes, this short story is part of the Titanborn universe. It is a prequel that tells of humanity finding out about the asteroid that's going to strike Earth, leading to the exodus that triggers the colonization of Titan.
We thus follow Mr. Trass, an industrial titan (see what I did there? ;P) and his project to ensure the survival of the human race. It's pretty clear that those staying on Earth have almost zero chance of survival and while several governments apparently attempt to build space stations and habitats on the moon, Mr. Trass also knows that their selection criteria will be different, that there will be overpopulation, and that their plans might therefore fail. The man knows his science.
Nevertheless, the selection process is hard and takes an emotional toll on our MC, as it should.
Considering I'm not too much of a fan of the Titanborn from several generations later as they've degraded into raging terrorists, I was surprised to find out how much I liked Mr. Trass. Sure, people were desperate and therefore didn't understand why only 3000 could go to Titan or why certain applications had been denied, but it did make sense. It's also not too much of a surprise to see the real man as opposed to the legend he has become on Titan, how the differ. I think it's happened with a lot of historical figures over the centuries.
alexanderp's review
4.0
Not a bad little aside about how various people would deal with staring down the end of the world.
I enjoyed Trass' character, and while the story tended to veer into overt sentimentality and melodrama, it was still well executed and told in a complete arc.
Personally, I love the idea of building ark ships and heading out to colonize another world, so this story was a no-brainer for me to enjoy.
I enjoyed Trass' character, and while the story tended to veer into overt sentimentality and melodrama, it was still well executed and told in a complete arc.
Personally, I love the idea of building ark ships and heading out to colonize another world, so this story was a no-brainer for me to enjoy.
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