Customer Reviews

ARAPETA

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A great story that was very hard to put down. I found the language a bit odd in the first few pages but then the story took over and I was very sorry when it came to an end. Great sci-fi concepts with good action and sound underlying themes. Highly recommended

Arapeta is a brilliant book that is part science fiction, part fantasy, part politics and part romanticized Maori history and culture. It is a great reflection of human nature and a very good portrayal of our greed for obtaining more than we rightfully deserve. The multitudes of characters are fantastic and very well developed.

It is not very often that a book of this caliber come along and I hope that there will be more stories of Arapeta. Peter has written a brilliant book and I hope to read more from him soon.

I finished reading Arapeta last week - but chapters keep re-running in my mind as even after putting the paperback on the bookshelf I realise the many different levels this story works at! On the surface, Arapeta is war story, science fiction, history and romance (well, just a little).

The writing is visual and both contrasts and melds a wonderful natural world that is recognisably NZ with edgy space-age technology that stretches the pictorial imagination. Added to this is a huge cast of characters who demonstrate the entire gamut of human qualities and vices, each with their own tale to tell. As more characters arrive the story gets rather complex - but somehow always kept me right there "in the moment". Riki reminded me of Gollum in LoTR and sent exactly the same shivers of revulsion down my spine!

As I read, and upon reflection, I realise the stories in Arapeta tell us about family, community, culture and identity. The story as a whole reminds me of the delicate balance in which our own modern-day life hangs - personally, environmentally, politically - and how quickly the world as we know it will change.

But rest easy, there's a happy ending with scope for more adventures and lessons..... In the meantime, Arapeta demands another reading.