For a hot minute there I was worried that the whole hard-fought peace from the previous books would be shattered. (Damn that title.) Fortunately, it'sFor a hot minute there I was worried that the whole hard-fought peace from the previous books would be shattered. (Damn that title.) Fortunately, it's okay. It's OKAY. We can blame all our troubles on someone else. Thank goodness. Gigantic super-smart aliens wanting to "fix" all the lower species. That's FINE. I just hate it when the crunchy peacemakers break down and let everything go to shit because they can't keep their colonies in their pants.
That being said, it IS a fun book. Snarky in the way the others were also snarky. Considerate in the way all these books are considerate. And ultimately--peaceful.
That's a strange thing to say about war stuff. But it's true, nevertheless.
I will say one thing, tho: it feels like a book out of another age. One where we are all working TOWARD a more positive future. It's an odd one for that. No? ...more
The second Lensman book definitely hits all the classic Buck Rogers feel (while also predating Buck).
Notably, however, is the fact that this is where The second Lensman book definitely hits all the classic Buck Rogers feel (while also predating Buck).
Notably, however, is the fact that this is where they go to the mysterious planet where they get the mysterious wristwatch that gives them mysterious powers.
It's funny. I kept wanting the book to SPELL OUT the powers. I'm so spoiled by today's fantasy with all its highfalutin rules and strict limitations. And it's even worse for SF, or rather, hard SF, which often tries to limit itself by its own rule-set!
But I digress. This is simply pure adventure. High adventure, complete with wars, vast attempts to understand strange creatures and cultures, and even politics at its most high-minded.
It definitely FEELS like Golden Age SF. Complete with that vaunted optimism.
I can't say I dislike it, either. Whatever else it is, it's high-minded and hopeful.
To be honest, I was hoping to continue with the characters I'd grown to love in the first book, but these mostly just have the feel of dirtside warfarTo be honest, I was hoping to continue with the characters I'd grown to love in the first book, but these mostly just have the feel of dirtside warfare, more MilSF, and some more MilSF without the charm that I'd grown to love in the first book.
As a short story collection, I won't say that they were all bad. Indeed, some were fairly entertaining, but as a whole, I hope this isn't just a way to tease the plot threads for the second book--that may be nothing but new characters.
I WAS invested in the rest. I hope this is just a one-off....more
My primary takeaway from this space opera is how much I appreciate the scope of the SF and the focus on characters. I get a very SF Paolini and ChambeMy primary takeaway from this space opera is how much I appreciate the scope of the SF and the focus on characters. I get a very SF Paolini and Chambers vibe, but more importantly, the SCOPE is quite excellent.
What is strangest to me is how few people make the DIRECT comparison to Mass Effect and its universe. Indeed, it feels like a complete fan-fiction treatment of Mass Effect.
Or perhaps the game franchise is now so old, that its players are getting so old, that this whole storyline is now ancient and unknown to modern story-consumers? Kinda like how Saberhagen was forgotten by the time Mass Effect came into being?
*sad, depressed noises*
But at least we DO have this, a revival of sorts, of a story that should be celebrated.
I MISS SF like this. There's so little of it out there, now.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
The final book in this duology lives up to its hard-sf roots, featuring hard-scrabble dynasties on Venus, corporations and banks making bank on the baThe final book in this duology lives up to its hard-sf roots, featuring hard-scrabble dynasties on Venus, corporations and banks making bank on the backs of the poor, and the ramp-up to a full diaspora.
Pretty cool stuff, all told. Worth it if you're into the common-folk grasp their freedom kind of story.
The only thing I didn't quite connect with was a few of the characters, but fortunately, there are a lot of characters. Nothing too onerous. It's a sprawling tale of survival, adaptability, and even a bit of a revolution.
Think the rash of Mars books from the '90s and now give Venus, with its extremely inhospitable environment, a try.
Honestly, I love the idea better than the execution, but I don't really have many complaints. It's ambitious.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
I want to say that I wanted this to be a truly break-out space opera that just keeps going with sharp characters and sharper plot, but in the end, it I want to say that I wanted this to be a truly break-out space opera that just keeps going with sharp characters and sharper plot, but in the end, it was simply a solid story with serviceable characters.
It kept me going well enough, but I was psyched up by others more than should have been warranted.
I've read brilliant space operas and a lot of mediocre or above average types. This one is theoretically character-focused, but certain characters that should have blown me away with intelligence-oddities, such as the spaceship, simply seemed a bit--dull.
I suppose, at least for certain readers who want a post-Chambers read with slightly more meat, this will satisfy you. But I, for one, REALLY prefer cleverer premises, sharper dialogue, and stakes like jet fuel (even if the stakes are close to the chest and limited).
The alternative would be to stick to a cookie-cutter plot, of course, and this doesn't go there. This is a double-edged sword, of course. But in the end? Perhaps I simply never fell in love with any of the characters. Alas.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Decent conclusion to the 7 book series. Many of the core SFnal concerns that had been building up (fates of main characters, rejuvenation drugs impactDecent conclusion to the 7 book series. Many of the core SFnal concerns that had been building up (fates of main characters, rejuvenation drugs impact on society, politics) were pretty much resolved.
All in all, I just thought this was a pretty decent SF series on the spectrum of light adventure erring on simplicity, competence, and a few reasonable space battles to spice up a character-driven thread.
I won't call it brilliant, but I will call it fairly entertaining. In other words: Not Bad.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Characters are fleshing out and there's a more diverse plot than before. But really? It's pretty average and not unpleasant. It's certainly not what iCharacters are fleshing out and there's a more diverse plot than before. But really? It's pretty average and not unpleasant. It's certainly not what it began as, and my original fascination for the series has had to undergo a massive transformation.
Still, it's decent. Space opera, social conditions, the question of immortality, control, etc.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Sometimes you just have to have a book that hates on fundamentalist assholes. Sometimes it's even better when you have space opera involved.
Of course,Sometimes you just have to have a book that hates on fundamentalist assholes. Sometimes it's even better when you have space opera involved.
Of course, for all the massive cliches involved, it's always dicey but RATHER clear. My only compliant is that there wasn't a lot of death and destruction. But there WAS a reckoning. I'm just sad that all that had to happen to Bunny. I never disliked her.
Decent installment. Light read even for the subject material.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
The "Serrano" bit is a bit stretched in this book. Sure, it's a glance-off from the third book's events and it has a pretty heavy hint that this poor The "Serrano" bit is a bit stretched in this book. Sure, it's a glance-off from the third book's events and it has a pretty heavy hint that this poor fish-out-of-water hero will MARRY into the Serrano family (thanks to her gumption and heroism), but I can't help but see this as rather a fundamentally DIFFERENT novel from the others.
I didn't hate it, however. If I hadn't expected a continuation of the core Serrano from the first three, I probably wouldn't have had a single gripe.
Either way, these are all fluffy space opera competence-porns designed to make you feel good. In that respect, it works just fine. Space military can-do attitude!
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
I truly didn't know I needed this in my life, but here I am, chuckling after a neat read.
It's PART Chambers-cozy, but that's only later on. Mostly, itI truly didn't know I needed this in my life, but here I am, chuckling after a neat read.
It's PART Chambers-cozy, but that's only later on. Mostly, it's an outright creature-feature movie from the lowest budget B days where Abbot and Costello meet the mummy, Dracula and the werewolf.
Of course... with a very sharp space-opera supercomputer AI PoV twist.
Me, I was just hoping it'd turn out to be a cool hacking meets survival horror type book, but it became something really delightful and more complex than that.
Ghost ship, indeed. :)
I can't say I'd want to see a bunch of knock-off novels in this vein, mind you, because it MIGHT get really old in the wrong hands. But in Truelove's hands? If she wrote a whole SERIES of this, with these wonderful characters, I'd gobble them up until we hit two dozen of them... AT LEAST.
As it is, I'm STILL enjoying some light-hearted chuckles in memory of quite a few of the events in the novel. That's precious to me.
This book's synesthesia would have to be a bit of rough but comfortable fur under my fingers and a bit of ozone in the air.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
I'm on the record for having issues with the first novel, it feeling rather derivative as a straight SF title, but afterWhat a wild, impressive ride.
I'm on the record for having issues with the first novel, it feeling rather derivative as a straight SF title, but after a few books in, it establishes itself as a monumentally good SF series. Not only great characters and plotting and SFnal ideas in a grand panoramic worldbuilding backdrop, but an adventure both deep, varied, and genuinely fascinating.
A few more books in, and it just gets deeper and mythical and even god-like in scope and adventure.
And then, by this book, the last, it managed to floor me.
This is a great SF series. Period. I can easily ignore the shades of the greats that were on full display in the first book--because Ruocchio twisted it all into his very own beautiful creation by the end.
And this is a genuine end. Full circle from where it began, with ALL the glory it promised and so much more.
And the tragedy.
Damn it. I really hate the tragic parts. I know it makes for a deeper story, but if only I could have stopped at the right point... I wouldn't have such a heavy heart.
It's like stopping Dune at book one. You could ignore the deeper tragedy and sit in the dark glory. But life and good art is never really that clean. And neither is this. Indeed, we were always warned what kind of story it would be, and yet we find the true heights and lows, nevertheless.
Sigh.
Truly delicious. It has just about everything SF has to offer, too. A full course meal with desert. :)
There's very little I can say now that doesn't repudiate most of my previous opinions of this series. My initial impression has given way to a deep anThere's very little I can say now that doesn't repudiate most of my previous opinions of this series. My initial impression has given way to a deep and profound respect for the directions this has taken, the depth of storytelling, the enjoyment I've stolen from each new twist and turn.
But more than all of that is the respect I have for the constantly unfolding story, the feel of its scope, all the way to the end of the universe and beyond, and back to the core conflict that strives to preserve the Quiet.
What can I even say? So much happens and I've been sucked in for the entire time. Great emotions, fantastic action, depth of worldbuilding that goes well beyond the obvious trappings and namings (my original issue, feeling like a total crib of Dune and some Star Wars and some more) to the point where it has fully come into its own.
Book 6 simply flies.
Extremely enjoyable.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
I don't think I'll ever get over how much I got annoyed by the first book in this series. All the name-swiping and nods to other big SF properties simI don't think I'll ever get over how much I got annoyed by the first book in this series. All the name-swiping and nods to other big SF properties simply drove me OUT of the enjoyment of what, in the end, IS a proper good SF in its own right.
Fast forward to book 5, a good 3 books in where I've been grooving to the tale and characters, and I can hardly believe how much I love it NOW versus THEN.
Yes, I love it now. The pain, the reluctant heroism, the sheer scope of DUTY, memory, and loss, just makes this tale shine. I may have even teared up a little.
And the wonderful collection of baddies, of alien or mechanoid races or even proto-gods, also makes this SF shine in a different way. The action sequences are top-notch, but that's like icing to the delicious cake that carries the epic space-opera scope. Oh, the sorrow...
So yeah, I recommend. Wholeheartedly--with that other caveat.
This book's synesthesia is the sense of a deep void filled with awe and tiny pieces of cake.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
I'm now finally a solid fan of the series, but it took me two whole novels to push through before I got there. Fortunately, Kingdoms of Death was pretI'm now finally a solid fan of the series, but it took me two whole novels to push through before I got there. Fortunately, Kingdoms of Death was pretty great.
And yes, even if a lot of it comes close to torture porn, there IS a reason for it and why it's necessary. It's obviously a huge turning point for Marlow and it underscores much of what all of human space is going through. So, yeah, I'm on board. Emotionally, even.
As for the rest, expect Hard SF goodness mixed with epic fantasy sensibilities and you won't be disappointed. It's worth getting to this point.
My synesthesia made me feel cold and amazingly uncomfortable, which shouldn't surprise anyone, considering the heart of darkness vibes.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Much better than I thought it might be after reading the (1.5). Indeed, it's a great space opera full of mystery, action, rising through the ranks, anMuch better than I thought it might be after reading the (1.5). Indeed, it's a great space opera full of mystery, action, rising through the ranks, and learning. And let's not forget the overarching plot and how it makes me worry. :)
It's an all-rounder of a story. A little merchanting, a little war, a little romance, a little first contact, a lot of OP spoilery stuff that I won't mention here for the sake of future readers' enjoyment. All said, I had a great time. And I really can't wait for the next.
One thing I'll mention, however. I do NOT recommend reading the Beyond the Fringe: An Arcana Imperii Collection book until AFTER reading this second book. Very little is necessary in it to enjoy book 2 and indeed, I probably would have gotten a LOT more out of it after reading this book first. Your mileage might vary, but I'm serious. :)
This really was pretty much perfect if you're looking for a merchant marine space opera. It has all the best aspects of keeping secrets, investigationThis really was pretty much perfect if you're looking for a merchant marine space opera. It has all the best aspects of keeping secrets, investigation, battle, and, of course, making good with your ranks.
The best part is that it's a bit more detailed and has slightly better characterizations than, say, Honor Harrington. Or maybe that's just me. I think I'd put this on the same level, or even above, Elizabeth Moon.
Make no mistake, this is absolutely a MilSF, but the focus is more on a grand sweep of ship life than rah rah rah. It's there, of course, and I even felt the pressure of Battlestar Galactica later on in the novel, but I'm honestly really happy with the balance.
People said this book was better than the first two, and my first reaction was: so I have to wade through a lot before it gets good? Hmmm.
So, let me bPeople said this book was better than the first two, and my first reaction was: so I have to wade through a lot before it gets good? Hmmm.
So, let me back up. My impression of the first was... not so great. It wasn't bad, I was seriously annoyed by the outright and obvious riffs to other IPs, to how it outright rode those IP coattails, and the ideas were all pretty common in good space operas. The whole thing was written to draw out a lot of words, like an epic fantasy, but house it in far future SF a-la W-40k and Dune. I even blew off reading the second for a long time until I kept hearing--yet again--that they all get great by book 3.
Fast forward to now.
So, the writing is better, the characters seem more fluid and the pacing is definitely MUCH better. And beyond that, the story gripped me--even getting me super thrilled by the half way mark. I want my mind challenged with creative options, after all, and the idea of where all this might be headed, at long last, got me pumped.
The action nearing the end, the epic battle, wasn't anything to sneeze at, either.
So, I guess I'll have to jump on the bandwagon, or even make a heretical digression, and say, "Hey, hardcore SF enthusiasts: if you don't want to mess around, just go ahead and read the third book. You won't be dissatisfied."
It's not like I need an epic SF that reads like an epic Fantasy. What I really want is an epic SF that reads like an EPIC SF. I don't need endless battles. I want EVERYTHING. Mystery, character development, massive amounts of worldbuilding in service to entertainment, and all the twists and turns that I could ever desire.
We're getting there now.
My synesthesia finally gave me a lightshow before, during, and after an outdoor concert after I was reading this. I'm thinking it's more like a Pink Floyd than anything else. All the softer, louder, and quirky moments included. And yes, this is high praise.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
