Scan barcode
oleksandr's review against another edition
3.0
This is SF space opera/first contact novel. It was a Philip K. Dick Award Nominee (2002). I read is as a part of monthly reading in January 2020 at The Sword and Laser group.
The book starts very interesting: a couple flies to an unregistered terraformed world. The wife is about to give birth, when she find out that her husband is a grandson of the terraformer, who changed this world (which is great) and that the terraformer’s name was Susan Witts (which is very bad), who, it assumed, infected the terraformed worlds with the Quill, which killed all humans there and also lead to other problems, like all colony ships had to dock to space stations (which never assumed such population density) or try to return to Earth (and be destroyed due to the fear of contamination). The wife gives birth and a baby boy in named Pardell to honor the name of the world to which they fly and husband’s father. So, in a very brief intro we are made aware of the setting and then the couple dies (?) during the landing, for the Quill are on this planet as well.
Then we fast forward two decades to the real story that starts at the Thromberg Station, one of a few that received a great number of former colonists. Our main protagonists there are Aaron Pardell (see above) and his friend, a giant of a man, Hugh Malley. We, the readers get accustomed with how the situation of extreme population density affected the station (sleeping in shifts, re-using everything they have, a barter-like economy, etc). There are newcomers: a research ship from Earth. The third and maybe most interesting protagonist is introduced: Gail Smith, a born diplomat (and manipulator) who decided instead to become a scientist and reconquer the terraformed worlds from the Quill.
The setup is very promising even if it sometimes doesn’t hold water, like the idea that all terraformed worlds were ready for colonist at the same moment (and terraforming was extremely fast, like years). The true problem of the novel is that it started to re-iterate and prolong the story unnecessary, often with short chapters, each ending with a cliff-hanger. So, what started as a 4-star read ended up 3-star story, which an interesting and unusual ending.
The book starts very interesting: a couple flies to an unregistered terraformed world. The wife is about to give birth, when she find out that her husband is a grandson of the terraformer, who changed this world (which is great) and that the terraformer’s name was Susan Witts (which is very bad), who, it assumed, infected the terraformed worlds with the Quill, which killed all humans there and also lead to other problems, like all colony ships had to dock to space stations (which never assumed such population density) or try to return to Earth (and be destroyed due to the fear of contamination). The wife gives birth and a baby boy in named Pardell to honor the name of the world to which they fly and husband’s father. So, in a very brief intro we are made aware of the setting and then the couple dies (?) during the landing, for the Quill are on this planet as well.
Then we fast forward two decades to the real story that starts at the Thromberg Station, one of a few that received a great number of former colonists. Our main protagonists there are Aaron Pardell (see above) and his friend, a giant of a man, Hugh Malley. We, the readers get accustomed with how the situation of extreme population density affected the station (sleeping in shifts, re-using everything they have, a barter-like economy, etc). There are newcomers: a research ship from Earth. The third and maybe most interesting protagonist is introduced: Gail Smith, a born diplomat (and manipulator) who decided instead to become a scientist and reconquer the terraformed worlds from the Quill.
The setup is very promising even if it sometimes doesn’t hold water, like the idea that all terraformed worlds were ready for colonist at the same moment (and terraforming was extremely fast, like years). The true problem of the novel is that it started to re-iterate and prolong the story unnecessary, often with short chapters, each ending with a cliff-hanger. So, what started as a 4-star read ended up 3-star story, which an interesting and unusual ending.
heregrim's review against another edition
4.0
Great story of first contact and humanities attempts at survival in the face of an unknown human killer in that contact. The drive of the scientists to solve the problem and the attempts by those trapped on the stations to survive was what hooked me in the story. The love angle bothered me as too much, too soon...but with it being the background to the story I can see why it happened off screen.
silvani's review against another edition
4.0
A really solid, science-minded first contact book. This was extremely suspenseful and kept the pages turning. It started a bit slow but after it got going I didn't want to put it down.
The ending was a little bit of a letdown for me. There was a romance subplot I found a little cliche and didn't think the MC had that much chemistry with the love interest. I actually kind of shipped the MC with a different character. That said all of the characters, even the ones that were only mentioned a few times, seemed very real with their own internal motivations and stories. I really appreciated that depth of writing.
Oh, I did want to mention - this doesn't affect my rating but may affect someone who wants to buy this book or another book from this publisher. I borrowed the mass market paperback from the library. The stamp on the book indicated I was the first person to read the book since they bought it right before I borrowed it (probably because I requested it). The paperback was practically falling apart in my hands by the time I was done reading it. I am used to reading mass market paperbacks and this was unusual. Additionally I noticed chapter 36 is misnumbered as 35 (so it goes 34, 35, 35, 37). This is more about the publisher than the author but thought it might be relevant to someone.
The ending was a little bit of a letdown for me. There was a romance subplot I found a little cliche and didn't think the MC had that much chemistry with the love interest. I actually kind of shipped the MC with a different character. That said all of the characters, even the ones that were only mentioned a few times, seemed very real with their own internal motivations and stories. I really appreciated that depth of writing.
Oh, I did want to mention - this doesn't affect my rating but may affect someone who wants to buy this book or another book from this publisher. I borrowed the mass market paperback from the library. The stamp on the book indicated I was the first person to read the book since they bought it right before I borrowed it (probably because I requested it). The paperback was practically falling apart in my hands by the time I was done reading it. I am used to reading mass market paperbacks and this was unusual. Additionally I noticed chapter 36 is misnumbered as 35 (so it goes 34, 35, 35, 37). This is more about the publisher than the author but thought it might be relevant to someone.
gmrickel's review
2.0
I thought the Quill were cool, and how they related to Aaron was interesting. But damn did this book move slow! The romance that evolves is pretty much insta-love, but it seems like it takes WAY longer to develop than it truly does because of the book’s pacing. Let’s not forget the choices the author made to refer to the only prominent character of color (a woman) as “exotic” (within a sexual context, in the thoughts of a white man considering how his friends would react). Just because I’m reading this book in 2020 doesn’t mean that shit wasn’t racist in 2001 when the book was published. There is also a moment when people are horrified at wha someone with a mental illness “could do” and they are described as monsters. What utter, ableist trash! Ugh, these two moments in the book really took me out of enjoying the story.
cindywho's review against another edition
4.0
It took time to get into the crowded confusing world of the overpopulated space station, but once it got going, the story was a lot of fun. Earth's terraforming projects have gone disastrously awry and too many people have been waiting on space stations - no safe planets to emigrate to and Earth won't take them back. 20 odd years later, an ambitious scientist shows up, ready to save humanity, but she must first deal with station culture and politics. The romance does get a bit goofy by the end, but I enjoyed it thoroughly.
dentarthurdent's review
1.0
Stilted, corny dialogue. Characters I didn't want to root for. Long long periods during which nothing happens.
ghostmuppet's review
3.0
This is the first group read of the year for the Sword and Laser group. Never heard of this author before as it falls in an area that i am not really bothered about - space opera.
The story is fine, but the characters felt a little flat to me and i didn't form a strong connection with any of them. The story pacing was sometimes a little slow - then suddenly jumped to the next segment of the story.
This is a stand alone book, which is a plus in my book. Too many times the author want (or is persuaded) to write a trilogy, then the basic story will not support it. This is self contained and doesn't need a sequel.
The story is fine, but the characters felt a little flat to me and i didn't form a strong connection with any of them. The story pacing was sometimes a little slow - then suddenly jumped to the next segment of the story.
This is a stand alone book, which is a plus in my book. Too many times the author want (or is persuaded) to write a trilogy, then the basic story will not support it. This is self contained and doesn't need a sequel.
bethmitcham's review
4.0
This book worked as more than the sum of its parts. I thought the romance inauthentic, some of the characters were more type than individual, and the science seemed suspect, but somehow it all came together into an emotional satisfying work that look at the nature of individuality and the weight of moral responsibility.
raitalle's review
3.0
I generally enjoyed this, although I think the pacing could have been better. It felt like it took a long time to really get the story going, and even then there were a couple of places where it felt like the brakes were put on a bit. I enjoyed the characters, and felt like everyone's motivations were pretty clear and consistent (to the reader at least; there were definitely misunderstandings between them but those communication issues fit well with the environments everyone has lived in). I did find the 'Siders incredibly aggravating - they kind of reminded me of climate change deniers/other science deniers? I'm not sure if that was any sort of purposeful connection, especially at the time this book was written, and it is important to note that these are the people in the most precarious situation, so they do at least have some explanation for desperate recklessness.
chessakat's review
5.0
Really great book! I would have given it 4.5 stars if possible, just because a few things felt a little contrived (the love story was a little weird and I felt like the revelation of the 'siders on the space station was kind of confusing - like, so what about it? The mystery/combustible nature of that secret was not clear to me for quite a while, I just couldn't understand why it was such a secret/revelation). But overall, this was just a really solidly written SF story. The characters are clearly drawn and sympathetic despite their diverging goals. Czerneda does a great job slowly unravelling various mysteries throughout. Lots of great action, especially toward the end. A satisfying conclusion. So glad I found this author!