Scan barcode
A review by beth_dawkins
Grail by Elizabeth Bear
4.0
4.5
This is the third and last book of the series. The generation ship Jacob’s Ladder has found a planet. The ship might not be able to last trying to find another planet. They take to calling the planet Grail, but its name is actually Fortune. In the midst of discovery, and deciding if the planet is occupied someone close to Captain Perceval is killed.
It introduces new characters to the story from Grail. They, like the people on Jacob’s Ladder, are originally from earth. Their leader, Premier Danilaw, and Captain Amanda make first contact with the members of the generation ship. They find people who look more like aliens than human. The people on Jacob’s Ladder have changed themselves through some strange engineering, and have something called colonies. Colonies help them to regulated body functions to survive or adapt in harsh conditions. It causes a change in appearance, and also can connect with the ship’s AI or Angel.
Colonies of the dead can be transferred into people, or even placed in bodies. Because of this an old enemy comes back with the help of a reverent or seed of a past angel.
While all of that is developing, the reader gets to explore the humans from Grail as they come aboard the ship. Danilaw understands that the ship needs refuge, but is worried about his own people. He is trying to come to a peaceful solution, but humans have changed. There are no wars because of ‘Right-Minding,’ a surgical process that takes out the human impulse to compete. It also seems to have drained some creative impulses.
I really enjoyed the differences between the people from Grail and the ship. Danilaw was a very interesting character, and the right-minding process made this reader think. I did wish he had more questions for the people on the ship, his reactions to things seemed right on.
The story comes ahead when Perceval and Tristen venture to Grail. I wouldn’t have minded seeing more of the planet. The book does an excellent job of describing the surroundings. The trip to Grail is no different. For Perceval and Tristen, who have never been on a planet, everything is new.
The end is something I never expect, but was more than pleasantly surprised. The story has an excellent pay off that I am sure will stay with me. The first book in the series, Dust, I thought was amazing. I didn’t enjoy the second as much, but I felt Grail made up for it.
If you are looking for a space opera that has a lot of depth, I recommend this series. The environments are beautiful, and altogether wonderfully strange. The story blends together mythology, ecology, and technology, with an unforgettable cast of characters. It is not light reading, but is one that will stay with me for plenty of time to come.
This is the third and last book of the series. The generation ship Jacob’s Ladder has found a planet. The ship might not be able to last trying to find another planet. They take to calling the planet Grail, but its name is actually Fortune. In the midst of discovery, and deciding if the planet is occupied someone close to Captain Perceval is killed.
It introduces new characters to the story from Grail. They, like the people on Jacob’s Ladder, are originally from earth. Their leader, Premier Danilaw, and Captain Amanda make first contact with the members of the generation ship. They find people who look more like aliens than human. The people on Jacob’s Ladder have changed themselves through some strange engineering, and have something called colonies. Colonies help them to regulated body functions to survive or adapt in harsh conditions. It causes a change in appearance, and also can connect with the ship’s AI or Angel.
Colonies of the dead can be transferred into people, or even placed in bodies. Because of this an old enemy comes back with the help of a reverent or seed of a past angel.
While all of that is developing, the reader gets to explore the humans from Grail as they come aboard the ship. Danilaw understands that the ship needs refuge, but is worried about his own people. He is trying to come to a peaceful solution, but humans have changed. There are no wars because of ‘Right-Minding,’ a surgical process that takes out the human impulse to compete. It also seems to have drained some creative impulses.
I really enjoyed the differences between the people from Grail and the ship. Danilaw was a very interesting character, and the right-minding process made this reader think. I did wish he had more questions for the people on the ship, his reactions to things seemed right on.
The story comes ahead when Perceval and Tristen venture to Grail. I wouldn’t have minded seeing more of the planet. The book does an excellent job of describing the surroundings. The trip to Grail is no different. For Perceval and Tristen, who have never been on a planet, everything is new.
The end is something I never expect, but was more than pleasantly surprised. The story has an excellent pay off that I am sure will stay with me. The first book in the series, Dust, I thought was amazing. I didn’t enjoy the second as much, but I felt Grail made up for it.
If you are looking for a space opera that has a lot of depth, I recommend this series. The environments are beautiful, and altogether wonderfully strange. The story blends together mythology, ecology, and technology, with an unforgettable cast of characters. It is not light reading, but is one that will stay with me for plenty of time to come.