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A review by karlou
Grubane (Lost Tales Of Solace Book 2) by Karl Drinkwater
5.0
Grubane is the second Lost Tales of Solace story after Helene and once again is set just before the full-length novel, Lost Solace. This self-contained novella can very easily be read as a standalone but returning readers will appreciate discovering how the series ties together.
Here, the central characters are Major Grubane (who also features in Lost Solace) and the ship's AI - Aurikaa12. One of the highlights of this series is the important role the AI characters are given; they are not merely devices designed to engender a sense of intrigue or fear as to their eventual capabilities, and their developing abilities - and concurrent sentience - are a welcome feature in these thought-provoking books. The conglomerate AI for the Aurikaa cruiser is made up of a hundred level 6 AI splinters and while AI levels two to five perform subsidiary back-up, it's the new sixes that compose the overall mind. Aurikaa12 is Grubane's personal splinter and has thus developed differently from its siblings and though supposedly incapable of experiencing feelings, acknowledges that they see it as mildly divergent or corrupted and it considers them overtly functional.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Twelve is developing beyond its apparent capabilities and though it is clearly superior in many ways to humans, it's also obvious that it envies some human abilities. Unlike the previous books, Twelve hasn't adopted sexual characteristics and thinks it would be happy with indeterminate plurality, wryly observing that humans are uncomfortable with non-binary systems. It also realises that it could use this discomfort for analysis, predictions and manipulation during interpersonal relations and although this is undoubtedly an aspect of Twelve's personality which is potentially unsettling, it plays chess games against Grubane and may be merely adapting its tactics in order to gain an advantage over a worthy opponent.
Throughout the novella there are excerpts from Grubane's treatise entitled 'The Philosophy and Application of Ancient Games' in which he discusses chess strategies which could equally apply to militaristic actions. Like Twelve, Grubane is a master tactician but when a third party interferes in his mission, it becomes ever more difficult to figure out exactly who is doing the bluffing. This clever novella twists throughout meaning I was never quite sure of the outcome.
Grubane's intricate, intelligent plot belies its relatively short length as Karl Drinkwater explores geopolitical tensions and control amidst a background of identity and belonging. Though set in a world very different from our own, the humans here aren't so unrecognisable with their dogmatic beliefs and sense of superiority based on skin colour uncomfortably familiar.
There is so much potential here for further development of these characters and I would welcome a return visit to the Aurikaa. Twelve's perceptive observations are frequently peppered with the the dry wit I've come to associate with the AI characters in this series and Major Grubane is a fascinating, complex man who I hope we see more of in the future. The world-building within the Solace world continues to excel and I highly recommend both Grubane and the series as a whole to anybody who enjoys astute, immersive science-fiction.
Here, the central characters are Major Grubane (who also features in Lost Solace) and the ship's AI - Aurikaa12. One of the highlights of this series is the important role the AI characters are given; they are not merely devices designed to engender a sense of intrigue or fear as to their eventual capabilities, and their developing abilities - and concurrent sentience - are a welcome feature in these thought-provoking books. The conglomerate AI for the Aurikaa cruiser is made up of a hundred level 6 AI splinters and while AI levels two to five perform subsidiary back-up, it's the new sixes that compose the overall mind. Aurikaa12 is Grubane's personal splinter and has thus developed differently from its siblings and though supposedly incapable of experiencing feelings, acknowledges that they see it as mildly divergent or corrupted and it considers them overtly functional.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Twelve is developing beyond its apparent capabilities and though it is clearly superior in many ways to humans, it's also obvious that it envies some human abilities. Unlike the previous books, Twelve hasn't adopted sexual characteristics and thinks it would be happy with indeterminate plurality, wryly observing that humans are uncomfortable with non-binary systems. It also realises that it could use this discomfort for analysis, predictions and manipulation during interpersonal relations and although this is undoubtedly an aspect of Twelve's personality which is potentially unsettling, it plays chess games against Grubane and may be merely adapting its tactics in order to gain an advantage over a worthy opponent.
Throughout the novella there are excerpts from Grubane's treatise entitled 'The Philosophy and Application of Ancient Games' in which he discusses chess strategies which could equally apply to militaristic actions. Like Twelve, Grubane is a master tactician but when a third party interferes in his mission, it becomes ever more difficult to figure out exactly who is doing the bluffing. This clever novella twists throughout meaning I was never quite sure of the outcome.
Grubane's intricate, intelligent plot belies its relatively short length as Karl Drinkwater explores geopolitical tensions and control amidst a background of identity and belonging. Though set in a world very different from our own, the humans here aren't so unrecognisable with their dogmatic beliefs and sense of superiority based on skin colour uncomfortably familiar.
There is so much potential here for further development of these characters and I would welcome a return visit to the Aurikaa. Twelve's perceptive observations are frequently peppered with the the dry wit I've come to associate with the AI characters in this series and Major Grubane is a fascinating, complex man who I hope we see more of in the future. The world-building within the Solace world continues to excel and I highly recommend both Grubane and the series as a whole to anybody who enjoys astute, immersive science-fiction.