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Strings
The first novel from “one of the leading masters of epic fantasy”—a tale of a place where death holds no sway and heroes are born (Publishers Weekly). Alya has an almost magical talent. Her hunches are never wrong. The scientists of planet 4‑I want to use her talent and promise her a spot on the next off-world colonization team in return for her assessment of the potential of the latest worlds they have discovered. But Alya meets Cedric, the grandson of the brilliant and tyrannical director of 4‑I, and she begins to doubt her own intuition. Cedric has dreamed of becoming a scout and exploring new worlds, and when he meets Alya, he is more determined than ever to leave 4‑I with her. His grandmother needs him on 4‑I, though, because she has schemes afoot to protect her planet and to cover up a murder, and she does not intend to let him go. However, she has underestimated her grandson—and the young woman whose intuition is strong and whose destiny is linked to Cedric’s.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 1990
10 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Dave Duncan
134 books583 followersOriginally from Scotland, Dave Duncan lived all his adult life in Western Canada, having enjoyed a long career as a petroleum geologist before taking up writing. Since discovering that imaginary worlds were more satisfying than the real one, he published more than 60 novels, mostly in the fantasy genre, but also young adult, science fiction, and historical.
He wrote at times under the pseudonym Sarah B. Franklin (but only for literary purposes) and Ken Hood (which is short for "D'ye Ken Whodunit?")
His most successful works were fantasy series: The Seventh Sword, A Man of His Word and its sequel, A Handful of Men, and seven books about The King’s Blades. His books have been translated into 15 languages, and of late have been appearing in audiobook format as well.
He and Janet were married in 1959. He is survived by her, one son and two daughters, as well as four grandchildren.
He was both a founding and honorary lifetime member of SFCanada, and a member of the CSFFA Hall of Fame.
He wrote at times under the pseudonym Sarah B. Franklin (but only for literary purposes) and Ken Hood (which is short for "D'ye Ken Whodunit?")
His most successful works were fantasy series: The Seventh Sword, A Man of His Word and its sequel, A Handful of Men, and seven books about The King’s Blades. His books have been translated into 15 languages, and of late have been appearing in audiobook format as well.
He and Janet were married in 1959. He is survived by her, one son and two daughters, as well as four grandchildren.
He was both a founding and honorary lifetime member of SFCanada, and a member of the CSFFA Hall of Fame.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 15, 2022
“Need anything?” “Liberty. Explanations. I’d like to be treated with a little consideration for my feelings once in a while.” “So would we all, son. So would we all.”
An ingenious hard science fiction involving then-cutting-edge theory. Duncan posits a novel means of interplanetary travel without faster-than-light propulsion. Surprises abound. Even casual events early in the story pop up later as major plot points.
“Even if ends justify means, the means don’t have to like it!”
First published in 1990, the story weathers the intervening scientific revolution well. Most of Duncan’s canon is fantasy, but he handles science fiction with equal ease.
"She let that one go, but her conscience was squirming: He had saved her life, and paid for it with a smashed nose and all-over bruises. Injury deserved compensation."
Casual sex as the “price” of a desired outcome is off putting. Love—or even lust—at first sight is better handled than this cold calculus of paying with one’s body. Walks close to making people into commodities. Of course, Duncan raises that very issue with a plot thread which any reference to will spoil the surprise. Still, cost him a star.
“Everyone does it. Accountants did it to bookkeeping, lawyers did it to the law, teachers to education.” “Did what?” “Tangled it all up so it became meaningless.”
An ingenious hard science fiction involving then-cutting-edge theory. Duncan posits a novel means of interplanetary travel without faster-than-light propulsion. Surprises abound. Even casual events early in the story pop up later as major plot points.
“Even if ends justify means, the means don’t have to like it!”
First published in 1990, the story weathers the intervening scientific revolution well. Most of Duncan’s canon is fantasy, but he handles science fiction with equal ease.
"She let that one go, but her conscience was squirming: He had saved her life, and paid for it with a smashed nose and all-over bruises. Injury deserved compensation."
Casual sex as the “price” of a desired outcome is off putting. Love—or even lust—at first sight is better handled than this cold calculus of paying with one’s body. Walks close to making people into commodities. Of course, Duncan raises that very issue with a plot thread which any reference to will spoil the surprise. Still, cost him a star.
“Everyone does it. Accountants did it to bookkeeping, lawyers did it to the law, teachers to education.” “Did what?” “Tangled it all up so it became meaningless.”
July 4, 2012
Review from 1990
Once started, I had real trouble tearing myself away from Dave Duncan's lastest novel. Strings is an intriguing thriller which keeps the reader guessing right up to the last page.
"Strings" refers to the windows to other worlds opened by a technology based on superstring theory. The catch is that these windows are openned strictly at random, and once a string is broken, it can never be recaptured. Consequently, Earth has a very limited period in which to explore each new world, decide whether it's habitable, and to take the necessary steps to establish a colony which will have to be self-sustaining once this initial contact is lost. The central problem of the book is that even the very few worlds which appear suitable for settlement usually have a hidden flaw, such as too high a concentration of heavy metals, or an erratic orbit.
"Strings" is also the central metaphor of the book, and reoccurs constantly. The heroine's psychic abilities, for example, are likened to tugging on the separate strings of potential future timelines that meet at the present where they are braided into the rope of the past. The heroine's national symbol is a double helix formed by a cobra and a silk string. The hero is linked to various powerful world figures by virture of their shared strings of chromosones. These powerbrokers are in turn constantly pulling strings: calling in favours, extorting, and bribing their way to the top; and they are constantly seeking new strings with which to bind allies to them. Our hopelessly niave (though resiliant) hero is a mere puppet, jerked around as others yank his rope, controlling his every move.
Of course the major string is the complicated plotline itself. Just about everything anybody says or does in this book is the exact opposite of what they really mean, and Duncan obviously enjoys stringing the reader along through this machaivellian tangle of lies, half-truths, disinformation, and incorrect assumptions. There are enough twists and turns in this novel to tie even the sharpest reader in knots.
Strings is unquestionably Duncan's best book yet. Highly recommended.
Once started, I had real trouble tearing myself away from Dave Duncan's lastest novel. Strings is an intriguing thriller which keeps the reader guessing right up to the last page.
"Strings" refers to the windows to other worlds opened by a technology based on superstring theory. The catch is that these windows are openned strictly at random, and once a string is broken, it can never be recaptured. Consequently, Earth has a very limited period in which to explore each new world, decide whether it's habitable, and to take the necessary steps to establish a colony which will have to be self-sustaining once this initial contact is lost. The central problem of the book is that even the very few worlds which appear suitable for settlement usually have a hidden flaw, such as too high a concentration of heavy metals, or an erratic orbit.
"Strings" is also the central metaphor of the book, and reoccurs constantly. The heroine's psychic abilities, for example, are likened to tugging on the separate strings of potential future timelines that meet at the present where they are braided into the rope of the past. The heroine's national symbol is a double helix formed by a cobra and a silk string. The hero is linked to various powerful world figures by virture of their shared strings of chromosones. These powerbrokers are in turn constantly pulling strings: calling in favours, extorting, and bribing their way to the top; and they are constantly seeking new strings with which to bind allies to them. Our hopelessly niave (though resiliant) hero is a mere puppet, jerked around as others yank his rope, controlling his every move.
Of course the major string is the complicated plotline itself. Just about everything anybody says or does in this book is the exact opposite of what they really mean, and Duncan obviously enjoys stringing the reader along through this machaivellian tangle of lies, half-truths, disinformation, and incorrect assumptions. There are enough twists and turns in this novel to tie even the sharpest reader in knots.
Strings is unquestionably Duncan's best book yet. Highly recommended.
July 29, 2017
I was surprised by how much I liked Dave Duncan's "Strings." It takes about 15% of the book to figure out what in the world is going on, and the two main characters are both 19 years old (and act like it quite a bit). But, the universe is well done (though a bit heavy-handed on the global warming), the science is good, the characters diverse, and the plot is filled with all kinds of twists. I'm rating it at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5.
February 15, 2022
The first 80 pages were quite tedious at times, and took me determined weeks to creep through. But it was DD, and only 300ish pages, so I was determined to finish it. However, hitting page 80, the rest was a downhill ski & I tore through it ravenously over the course of an evening.
The buddhi/satori concept was 10/10, perfectly described & nuanced as though it were truly experienced firsthand. We were at 5 stars for that.
Cedric’s tenacity was endearing. Alya was pretty slick.
I found the self-recrimination and outrage of certain characters compelled to “murder” utterly terrible, actual monstrous murderers to be a bit tiresome & goody-two-shoes. The lawful good alignment can be fairly irritating.
Alya is a brown girl, the cover made her obviously white. Just a side note, not the author’s doing! But the cover image got other things right, so what the hell?
Duty sex…not sure exactly what I think about that. But what I will say is that a lot of the sex dynamics in this felt dated. Felt like 1988 (when it was written - by a generally progressive, egalitarian, conscientious author influenced by some of the assumptions of his era/context like any of us).
Then again, looking at the characters’ ages, the fact in it’s in another time, none of those things are that shocking.
As an aside, DD writes excellent women & there are great women in this book.
Except Alya does change gears on her feelings prettttty quickly, without any clear external catalyst. All the “darling”ing got a bit cloying.
Got a little annoyed, admittedly, over 2 things toward the end, in short succession of one another - 1) all the needless guilt-ridden melodrama over certain dead people, and 2) the jovial tone with which a protagonist reflected on using live animals as target practice, setting them on fire with lasers (gopher, magpie, coyote). Those factors in combination shaved off 2 stars in what was otherwise a good book, and one of those was just for the brief animal line, in particular because it was so clearly seen as wrong to kill homicidal maniacs, but setting a chill bird on fire was totally fine with this guy?? Enough to laugh about in hindsight?
The ending felt a little pollyanna, sappy and slightly rushed, but I would almost never take off a star for that, and definitely not in this case. I would have been more thrilled at the happy ending if I hadn’t started to get irritated with certain morally tedious, anthropocentric characters toward the end, and for this reason, I’m unlikely to read it again.
But Dave Duncan was a damned good writer, and this was still quite an entertaining story.
I really loved the political intrigue & machinations that he is just dazzling at contriving, on par with George RR.
The buddhi/satori concept was 10/10, perfectly described & nuanced as though it were truly experienced firsthand. We were at 5 stars for that.
Cedric’s tenacity was endearing. Alya was pretty slick.
I found the self-recrimination and outrage of certain characters compelled to “murder” utterly terrible, actual monstrous murderers to be a bit tiresome & goody-two-shoes. The lawful good alignment can be fairly irritating.
Alya is a brown girl, the cover made her obviously white. Just a side note, not the author’s doing! But the cover image got other things right, so what the hell?
Duty sex…not sure exactly what I think about that. But what I will say is that a lot of the sex dynamics in this felt dated. Felt like 1988 (when it was written - by a generally progressive, egalitarian, conscientious author influenced by some of the assumptions of his era/context like any of us).
Then again, looking at the characters’ ages, the fact in it’s in another time, none of those things are that shocking.
As an aside, DD writes excellent women & there are great women in this book.
Except Alya does change gears on her feelings prettttty quickly, without any clear external catalyst. All the “darling”ing got a bit cloying.
Got a little annoyed, admittedly, over 2 things toward the end, in short succession of one another - 1) all the needless guilt-ridden melodrama over certain dead people, and 2) the jovial tone with which a protagonist reflected on using live animals as target practice, setting them on fire with lasers (gopher, magpie, coyote). Those factors in combination shaved off 2 stars in what was otherwise a good book, and one of those was just for the brief animal line, in particular because it was so clearly seen as wrong to kill homicidal maniacs, but setting a chill bird on fire was totally fine with this guy?? Enough to laugh about in hindsight?
The ending felt a little pollyanna, sappy and slightly rushed, but I would almost never take off a star for that, and definitely not in this case. I would have been more thrilled at the happy ending if I hadn’t started to get irritated with certain morally tedious, anthropocentric characters toward the end, and for this reason, I’m unlikely to read it again.
But Dave Duncan was a damned good writer, and this was still quite an entertaining story.
I really loved the political intrigue & machinations that he is just dazzling at contriving, on par with George RR.
May 27, 2013
I love the way Duncan gives you a young character and so expertly hurls them into these breathtaking situations. he's been doing it well for a quarter of a century and I'm hoping he shows no sign of letting up; I read Strings to commemorate the fact that I put in a pre-order for his next work out in September.
I think chapter 15 was one of my favourites of the book, it sizzled along brilliantly. I did find that Alya was a bit too quick to change gears, that got me a bit, but that's the only niggle in what was truly a story well up there with some of his best.
I think chapter 15 was one of my favourites of the book, it sizzled along brilliantly. I did find that Alya was a bit too quick to change gears, that got me a bit, but that's the only niggle in what was truly a story well up there with some of his best.
March 14, 2007
Ancient weird SF
October 7, 2017
A fun Sci-fi read with more emphasis on the characters than sci-fi. Mr. Duncan makes the near future scenario somewhere between believable and plausible. Lots of interesting sci-fi terminology.
December 23, 2019
Interesting concept of the Satori that gives a person intense feelings where to go or not to go to avoid danger.
June 29, 2020
Excellent, fun, fast, action, minimal violence, balanced male/female roles and great character development. Author had amazing insight into the future in 1990.
March 10, 2017
Good read
Enjoyed reading. Good sci-fi/suspence combination
***SPOILER****
I couldn't figure out why the princess is made tho go into the new world... isn't she much more valuable staying put, identify new places?
Enjoyed reading. Good sci-fi/suspence combination
***SPOILER****
I couldn't figure out why the princess is made tho go into the new world... isn't she much more valuable staying put, identify new places?
August 6, 2022
Cedric Hubbard was brought up on a body part farm run by a country which is polluted and diseased. When his grandmother called for him, he ventured into the city and met Alya, one of the princesses who through telepathic ability might be able to guess which one of the strings might lead to a viable planet. There are many 'Cedric' clones out there and baker Abel is a clone of Hubbard John Hastings, who was a Ranger and Cedric's father. Very interesting.
November 8, 2021
2021.02.15: When I read this the first two times, it seemed an OK story. Starting it this evening, I found it tedious and not worth continuing past the first few pages. This will be going to the used book store or I'll donate it to the local public library.
April 16, 2014
Interesting with some depth and complexity.
Read
March 1, 2016to-read
August 27, 2016
A good evening read, but the ending was disappointing...just didn't fit or make sense with the story as a whole, felt super rushed & unfinished.
August 2, 2014
not too bad underrated write
December 14, 2018
Was reading along, rather interested, and then encountered the most racist caricature of a black woman I've ever read: "Huge and black and voluptuous, she had conveyed to every man she had ever met the understanding that she wanted to rape him as soon as possible."
So much DNF.
So much DNF.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews