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ccollard58's review
3.0
pretty interesting setting and speculative biology. pretty well developed along the length of the book too. i think it is worth the read just for that.
The characters were fairly interesting too, but the execution of the plot arc was downright weird. some fairly important characters were killed off for no apparent purpose, other just sort of disappeared, never to be heard from again. there were a number of threads that never really got tied off either.
overall the writing was excellent but the pieces just didn't seem to fit together well. I'd be interested in trying future books from Cambias, especially since i loved "Corsair", but this one was a bit of a bust.
The characters were fairly interesting too, but the execution of the plot arc was downright weird. some fairly important characters were killed off for no apparent purpose, other just sort of disappeared, never to be heard from again. there were a number of threads that never really got tied off either.
overall the writing was excellent but the pieces just didn't seem to fit together well. I'd be interested in trying future books from Cambias, especially since i loved "Corsair", but this one was a bit of a bust.
joshhall13's review
4.0
Very fun, quick read.
I loved the exploration of a Ganymede-like world and it's potential inhabitants. So, this was pure imagination candy for me.
I loved the exploration of a Ganymede-like world and it's potential inhabitants. So, this was pure imagination candy for me.
trid_for_kicks's review
4.0
While the plot wasn't SUPER engaging, I liked the main characters, and LOVED the world-building. The author created two different alien species, with cultures, backgrounds, and language/communication styles, and had them (and the humans, too) clash and complement each other in satisfying ways. It came to the point where I wasn't particularly invested in what was happening or how the book would end: I just wanted to know more about the Ilmatarans and the Sholen, and to see more interactions between them and the human race.
So, I may be a nerd, but I had fun, anyway.
So, I may be a nerd, but I had fun, anyway.
brian9teen's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
eklipse219's review
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
radbear76's review
3.0
Pretty good story with some uniqueness to the alien species. The novel is complete but leaves open the possibility of a sequel.
branch_c's review
3.0
This is the kind of book that would have been a favorite of mine many years ago when I first started reading speculative fiction - it’s hard SF with solid science, carefully considered details, and realistic treatments of issues that humans would likely face when attempting to reason with aliens who are thoroughly foreign in terms of biology, communication, and culture. There are throwaway lines demonstrating that Cambias has the knowledge and/or has done the research to write about this type of thing effectively.
On the other hand, the writing style comes across as a bit flat, something that probably wouldn’t have bothered me in those early days. And yes, I see that the dialog is intentionally stilted to portray the differences among the various characters, both human and alien, and the real difficulties in communication that these differences imply. But the narrative is somewhat matter-of-fact, and the relationships come across as a bit artificial, making the overall reading experience less interesting than it should have been.
The stiffness in tone is less noticeable toward the end, when the story becomes fast-moving enough to be more engaging.
On the other hand, the writing style comes across as a bit flat, something that probably wouldn’t have bothered me in those early days. And yes, I see that the dialog is intentionally stilted to portray the differences among the various characters, both human and alien, and the real difficulties in communication that these differences imply. But the narrative is somewhat matter-of-fact, and the relationships come across as a bit artificial, making the overall reading experience less interesting than it should have been.
The stiffness in tone is less noticeable toward the end, when the story becomes fast-moving enough to be more engaging.