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vkshiro's review against another edition
3.0
I give this 3.5 stars. I'm not really a fan of fantasy (yes, it's different from scifi!!) but don't mind the alchemy stuff that much. (Dragons, wizards, etc. are not my bag.) It has two stories that alternate--one is fantasy in late 1700s with frigates sailing through space through alchemy and the other is scifi 100+ years in the future on a Mars mining base. The fantasy storyline does make up most of the book though.
I found myself frustrated with the main character in the scifi story. Why was she acting so stupid?!?! She's supposed to be an intelligent officer yet she completely disregards the chain of command among other things. I just didn't get it.
It is interesting though and if you enjoy books with alchemy or scifi, I recommend it.
I found myself frustrated with the main character in the scifi story. Why was she acting so stupid?!?! She's supposed to be an intelligent officer yet she completely disregards the chain of command among other things. I just didn't get it.
It is interesting though and if you enjoy books with alchemy or scifi, I recommend it.
branch_c's review against another edition
2.0
First I want to mention that I applaud the author's attitude toward reviews, as he describes here: http://michaeljmartinez.net/2014/10/21/how-to-respond-to-bad-reviews-hint-dont/
I'm not giving this book a one star review, but it's nice to know that if I did, he wouldn't try to track me down to dispute it!
The thing is, a bad review doesn't have to be a "rant" - unless the writer is somehow trying to be funny. A review should describe what the reader liked and didn't like about the book, and if other readers (or the writer) find the feedback helpful, so much the better.
So what did I like about this book? Certainly the concept: 18th century wooden ships sailing among the planets - I mean, you have to give a writer credit for thinking "hey, that would be cool," and then going ahead and writing it! And there are definitely cool aspects to the book - I particularly liked the brilliant idea and description of the space station/town of Elizabeth Mercuris.
However, I have to say there were a few more things that didn't work for me than things that did. The big one for me was simply the vagueness about how things function in this alternate 1700s. I liked the touch about the ships using the auroras for planetary take offs and landings and the use of lodestones to maintain air and gravity, but beyond that, the details were a bit lacking. Yes, you could say that when you have wooden ships flying in space, all bets are off and anything is possible, but I find it more satisfying when the physical rules are a bit more clear. For example, what are the limits of the alchemy practiced by Finch and the others? Couldn't they have used it to allow for a soft landing on Mars?
The 22nd century side of the story I found less thrilling, mostly because there was less going on, and the resolution of this part was less satisfactory because the various strange events the astronauts experienced were not really ever explained except in a very general way
Involving the overlapping realities.
The characters were serviceable, both in the 22nd and 18th centuries, with Finch and Weatherby probably the most interesting, though I found it hard to sympathize with Weatherby's issues with Anne, and with women in general. Yes, I understand this may have been a prevailing attitude, I just didn't see it following from the way his character was presented.
The writing style was maybe not as polished as I'd expect, with phrases like "she hopped, one-legged" (really?) (p. 156) and "those on the beach watched Daedalus tack in sheets and weigh anchor" (p. 90). Non-sailors should always get someone familiar with sailing terminology as an early reader to remind them that weighing anchor is what you do when you're starting, not stopping, and tacking in sheets is... not actually a thing. I was also glad that the main alien bad guy had relatively few lines, since the choice to have him speak in all caps was a bit clumsy.
The ending, although somewhat predictable, was nevertheless well done and fun to read.
All in all, I liked the concept better than the execution, but the thought and effort that went into constructing this world and this plot were evident.
I'm not giving this book a one star review, but it's nice to know that if I did, he wouldn't try to track me down to dispute it!
The thing is, a bad review doesn't have to be a "rant" - unless the writer is somehow trying to be funny. A review should describe what the reader liked and didn't like about the book, and if other readers (or the writer) find the feedback helpful, so much the better.
So what did I like about this book? Certainly the concept: 18th century wooden ships sailing among the planets - I mean, you have to give a writer credit for thinking "hey, that would be cool," and then going ahead and writing it! And there are definitely cool aspects to the book - I particularly liked the brilliant idea and description of the space station/town of Elizabeth Mercuris.
However, I have to say there were a few more things that didn't work for me than things that did. The big one for me was simply the vagueness about how things function in this alternate 1700s. I liked the touch about the ships using the auroras for planetary take offs and landings and the use of lodestones to maintain air and gravity, but beyond that, the details were a bit lacking. Yes, you could say that when you have wooden ships flying in space, all bets are off and anything is possible, but I find it more satisfying when the physical rules are a bit more clear. For example, what are the limits of the alchemy practiced by Finch and the others? Couldn't they have used it to allow for a soft landing on Mars?
The 22nd century side of the story I found less thrilling, mostly because there was less going on, and the resolution of this part was less satisfactory because the various strange events the astronauts experienced were not really ever explained except in a very general way
Involving the overlapping realities.
The characters were serviceable, both in the 22nd and 18th centuries, with Finch and Weatherby probably the most interesting, though I found it hard to sympathize with Weatherby's issues with Anne, and with women in general. Yes, I understand this may have been a prevailing attitude, I just didn't see it following from the way his character was presented.
The writing style was maybe not as polished as I'd expect, with phrases like "she hopped, one-legged" (really?) (p. 156) and "those on the beach watched Daedalus tack in sheets and weigh anchor" (p. 90). Non-sailors should always get someone familiar with sailing terminology as an early reader to remind them that weighing anchor is what you do when you're starting, not stopping, and tacking in sheets is... not actually a thing. I was also glad that the main alien bad guy had relatively few lines, since the choice to have him speak in all caps was a bit clumsy.
The ending, although somewhat predictable, was nevertheless well done and fun to read.
All in all, I liked the concept better than the execution, but the thought and effort that went into constructing this world and this plot were evident.
ianl1963's review against another edition
4.0
Audibook read by Kristin Kalbli, Bernard Clark; excellent combination.
Rather strange mash up, but worked for me, very enjoyable listen; maybe for the jaded listener.
Sometimes wonder if people understand the term fiction, it's the authors world and the authors rules.
Summer starts in December or frigates firing broadsides in space, their rules.
Hopefully not one off piquancy, will continue with the series.
Rather strange mash up, but worked for me, very enjoyable listen; maybe for the jaded listener.
Sometimes wonder if people understand the term fiction, it's the authors world and the authors rules.
Summer starts in December or frigates firing broadsides in space, their rules.
Hopefully not one off piquancy, will continue with the series.
david_agranoff's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty cool alternate universe/history swashbuckling adventure that that takes place in the 22nd century and 17th century through out the solar system with lots alternate universe historical figures. Liked it full review coming.
bookmason's review against another edition
3.0
Very strange, steampunk, scifi, fantasy novel.
A blend modern scifi and pulp that mostly works but falls apart in the final act.
First in a series of three, not sure that I'll try to read the two others as I think the concept is a bit of a stretch beyond the first book.
Loved the fantasy element of the alchemy allowing wooden ships to fly through space, but the story was best before the two elements collide at the ending in a weird rushed finish.
A blend modern scifi and pulp that mostly works but falls apart in the final act.
First in a series of three, not sure that I'll try to read the two others as I think the concept is a bit of a stretch beyond the first book.
Loved the fantasy element of the alchemy allowing wooden ships to fly through space, but the story was best before the two elements collide at the ending in a weird rushed finish.
gallusgallus's review against another edition
3.0
Solid, fun spec fic adventure - the cross between historical fantasy and sci-fi is great, it's like getting two books in one.
bmahaffy's review against another edition
3.0
It took awhile for this book to really catch my interest. I'm not really sure why; not enough tension across the length of the book to really hook me into it. The bringing together of two entirely separate story arcs was clever and made for a good ending.
sashas_books's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
theartolater's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure if it's just that I've picked up a lot of books that are going along the "two plots are seemingly unrelated, but end up intertwining in unpredictable and interesting ways" theme, but we can add The Daedalus Incident to that list regardless
On one hand, you have an alternate late-1700s where spacebound pirate/merchant ships exist and there's a lot of political and interstellar strife. On the other, you have the future 400 years later regarding a Mars expedition that has a lot of mysteries happening on the uninhabited red planet.
As usually happens with these books, I felt really invested in the future story while finding the alternate history lacking until things started to make sense. With that said, the payoff was such where I didn't feel my time in the story I was less into was a waste. There's a lot of fun elements in all areas here, and the ending was really interesting.
This won't be for everyone, but it's worth your time if you're looking for something a little different.
On one hand, you have an alternate late-1700s where spacebound pirate/merchant ships exist and there's a lot of political and interstellar strife. On the other, you have the future 400 years later regarding a Mars expedition that has a lot of mysteries happening on the uninhabited red planet.
As usually happens with these books, I felt really invested in the future story while finding the alternate history lacking until things started to make sense. With that said, the payoff was such where I didn't feel my time in the story I was less into was a waste. There's a lot of fun elements in all areas here, and the ending was really interesting.
This won't be for everyone, but it's worth your time if you're looking for something a little different.