Customer Reviews

The Devil and Deep Space (Roc Science Fiction)

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"The Devil in Deep Space" is the fifth in in Susan R. Matthews' "judiciary" series ("Prisoner of Conscience," "An Exchange of Hostages," "Hour of Judgment," "Angel of Destruction"), and maybe it's the strongest, most complicated yet. Those who've read the previous books will probably be delighted by this one. As always Matthews' descriptive prose pulls you right in. You can almost taste the bad rations and the cramped quarters aboard a spaceship in need of supplies.

You'll reencounter characters from before and meet a few new ones as well (among them Andrej's wife), but newcomers to the series would be advised to read them in the order they're written. Matthews doesn't bother to back up much, which helps keep the book to reasonable length.

This time out Inquisitor Andrej Koscuisko gets a chance to go home to his family, and hopes to leave his position as Inquisitor. In his assignment as ship's surgeon aboard the space ship Ragnarok, he's also required to torture suspects, but now at last he's offered a way out.

Things of course go wrong almost immediately and we see in a series of cynical (and psychological) portraits how nearly every facet of Matthews' universe involves corruption. (It's so widespread the corrupt are described as "reasonable people.")

Things proceed eerily but stately, impressionistically. Nothing is quite what it seems; nothing is fully revealed. There are ancient hostilities between cultures not fully explained, or perhaps not yet. Clearly there are more novels to come in the series, and if the existing five are a guide, in each one another layer of Matthews' onion-verse will be pulled back.

Great concept, great execution.

If you haven't read previous books in this series, you may miss the emotional build up that this entry will surely give those who have been with the pleasantly strange and heroic torturer, Andrej. He's on leave at last, going home to see his wife and meet a son for the first time, who is now eight years old. But bad things happen just before his holiday begins. He has to switch security teams in order to protect his bonds (slave like prisoners assigned to serve him) from an investigation following an explosion. And then there's that nasty woman who wants him dead. AND the papers that a government agent brings telling him he can walk out of the military and stay home. Of course nothing is EVER quite so simple in Judicary. New readers may find the intricate political, and military intrigue afoot confusing and to enter here without the history of Andrej and other characters softens the impact of what happens here.
My advice is buy this book and hold onto it. Read "An exchange of hostages,' 'Prisoner of Conscience' and 'Hour of Judgment.' Koscuisko will be a man you will not soon forget. Ms. Matthews has invented a dynamic universe with love and violence, pleasure and pain vivid enough to touch your heart or trouble your mind. I truly loved it and can't wait to see what's next.

The Devil and Deep Space is a complicated, emotionally charged science fiction novel, which instead of using overwrought morality tales, gets down to the heart of whether or not any of us is a good person deep down inside. This is a story of redemption and making up for past sins, in addition to continuing the evolution of the Jurisdiction political situation. Those looking for bugs to zap will be disappointed, but those who appreciate complex character development and classic adventure will enjoy Matthews' many plot twists and romantic (or Romantic!) spirit.

The homeworld of the prodigal Andrej Koscuisko is a realm with which people in our frequently self-indulgent times are hard-pressed to understand - a world where the wealthy are benevolent overseers who are responsible for those under their protection. Koscuisko has always been conflicted over his duties at home and his duties in Fleet, finding them completely at odds with each other and driving him further and further over the edge of sanity. Is it any surprise that eventually, something's got to give? Responsibility and love are what drive Koscuisko to take surprising, radical actions in this book, to the point where nothing under Jurisdiction - or in the life of the Ragnarok crew - will ever be the same again.

That said, the primary reason that I enjoyed this novel so much is how much fun I had reading it! Matthews' eye for detail is impeccable, from yes, the materials of clothing (critical information in a society whose livelihood and religion are based on textiles) to the digestive issues of sentient bat-like creatures, to the warm rekindling of dormant relationships. Characters that we've never before encountered are brought brilliantly to life, and we feel as though we're beside them as they struggle through difficult decisions that will alter the fabric of their reality forever. The author also has an appealingly dark sense of humor that meshes with the profound challenges her characters face. The plot twists and turns enough to keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning, right down to the last few pages. When it's over, you realize that Matthews has subtly led you to the edge of a revolution.

If you're a fan of the series, the book brings you a fuller understanding of Koscuisko's struggle and what he has had to sacrifice for his duty thus far - and what he will be giving up in the future, as the further destabilization of life under Jurisdiction continues. If you've never read any of the other books, then this might be a good opportunity to get to know Koscuisko the man before getting to know his demons, although some of the story's more shocking plot twists will not have quite the same impact for you. Even so, this book is complex, and thought-provoking, and I was eagerly awaiting the next installment from the moment I read the final sentence.

This book is the latest in the series that began with the stunning An Exchange of Hostages. Unfortunately, while I enjoyed The Devil and Deep Space a lot as a fan of the series, it doesn't have quite the same originality or impact as the earlier books.

On the plus side, Andrej Koscuisko returns to center stage here. The last book, Angel of Destruction, was not helped by making him mostly absent. But Matthews' characterization of Koscuisko seems to be getting less daring. I've enjoyed the characterization of Koscuisko as a man in a real moral dilemma, caught up in a sadism that his moral and rational self despises even as a darker part of him enjoys it. Now, though, he seems to be morphing into a straightforward hero--even an action hero. He's relatively sane throughout the book (in contrast to the trend of the previous books, where he seemed to be increasingly out of control) and never even has to torture anybody. In fact, Matthews's overall focus seems to be turning from characterization and ethical exploration into a more typically science fiction approach with lots of action. Some may like this--I don't.

The originality of language and atmosphere that made the first couple of books so wonderful is lessened here. Matthews makes less use of the chillingly militaristic, restrictive terminology of the Standard language. There's less of the atmospheric, rather swooning eroticism too--perhaps because the bond-involuntaries (some of my favorite characters) aren't a presence in this book.

But there are some enjoyable new things here too. We see much more of the Malcontent than before, and I hope further books will tell us even more about this "scandalous" group. The character of Stildyne also gets a lot of development--and he even gets to have a bit of a life in this book. The slightly more hopeful tone of The Devil and Deep Space will probably appeal to a lot of people too.

The Devil and Deep Space (2002) is a story of moral and political conflict in a very exotic culture. The First Judge is dead and Chilleau Judiciary prepares itself for the Selection of his successor. Koscuisko finally gets to visit his family and to meet his son Anton for the first time. All is not well, however, back on the Ragnorok and Mergau Noycannir is a lurking presence.

The fifth in the Judiciary series, this novel is itself an engrossing work that riveted my attention throughout and left me wanting more. It expands the richness and complexity of the Judiciary society through this glimpse of the Dolgorukij Combine, reminding me in various ways of the works of Donald Kingsbury and Ursula LeGuin.

Although still centered on Andrej Kowcuisko, the story continues to extend to other viewpoints and situations. Remember when Dune was the just the story of Paul Atreides, but then bloomed into an interstellar scope? Matthews could be following in Herbert's footsteps.

-Arthur W. Jordin

A party observing a training exercise of Ragnarok crew is accidentally killed in a way that threatens to expose high-up corruption. Meanwhile, Andrej is hoping to finally go home. . .

As with Matthews' other works, this is a complex work of science fiction, incorporating tangled politics with dramatic personal interaction. Here and there I thought I saw a hole in the plot (could Noycannir really be *that* dumb?), and some of the situations didn't get exploited for all of their dramatic potential, I thought. Still, I found this to be a strong novel and I enjoyed it. It is less grim than some of the earlier books, livened with the occasional touch of humor, but the edge is still there.

After nine long years Fleet Ship Inquisitor Andrej Koscuisko of the Ragnarok is going home but he is not the same man that left years ago. He is very good at his job torturing people into confessions and inflicting pain. He enjoys it, but being an honorable man he also feels stained and corrupt. The only reason he has come home is to legitimize his son and make his son's mother his first wife.

After he accomplishes his objectives he intends to find out who has falsified a bench warrant with his name on it that orders his execution. Mergau Noycannir is obsessed with destroying Andrej using any means at her disposal and she thinks his loyalty to the crew of the Ragnarok is his Achilles' Heal. When a corrupt admiral, egged on by Mergau tries to blame the Ragnarok for crimes against the state, Andrej finds himself torn between loyalty to his family and to the men on his ship.

Susan R. Matthews sets her space opera far into the future and shows the corruption that permeates the space command and the politicians who use it to advance their own purposes. The hero is a man at war with himself, a decent person who cannot understand why he enjoys afflicting pain on others. This flaw, terrible as it is, humanizes him and allows the reader to empathize with his problem without condoning it. Fans of space opera and military science fiction will enjoy THE DEVIL & DEEP SPACE.

Harriet Klausner

More fun than any three spy novels. Vivid prose. Detailed characters. Plot twists that will leave you dizzy. This story has everything: political intrigue, technical thrills, love, duty, honor, sacrifice, mystic steel, paternal pride and the civics lesson all too relevant to our post 9-11 world, Does the Rule of Law justify torture?

How can a man who has benefited by his participation in a corrupt society hope to redeem himself?

I had a blast discovering the answer for myself.

I've enjoyed Ms. Matthews other works for their superb literary qualities and sober emotion, so I did not expect that my adrenal glands rather than my lachrymal glands would be stimulated. I haven't had this much fun a long time. At last, ... kicked and names taken. Well worth the wait for any Koscuisko fan.

I've got over 1,000 Sci-Fi books in my collection - I inherited many from my parents, and started building my own in college in the mid-80's when I'd hang out in a bookstore sampling "new" authors (and bought MANY of them).

I picked this book up a couple weeks ago, since I have several Phillip K Dick books (books said author was an award finalist). When I started to read it, I felt like the entire first chapter was missing. No, I did not know this was in a series (but if I had, I probably would have given up instead).

To start with: Not even a slight 1-pager "intro" to the political spectrum. Jumps in with Judiciaries, Bench officers, then onto "Security 5.1" and "Security 5.3" -- it wasn't until half-way through the book we learned the command-sequence (1=captain... 5=medical officer) that explained the number. No - my first thought was Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound.

Then, it is as if the author went OUT OF HER WAY to twist the universe - "eighths" instead of hours (?) or other time blocks, yet a couple of mentions of "minutes" (must have been accidental clarity), convoluted societies, twistingly "formal" speech not seen since Shakespeare's time (ie, NOBODY would speak, ever).

I *REALLY* wanted to like the book. I forced myself to finish it (though I've quit better books) because I felt it *COULD* be a good story. Had she mixed her bizarre universe into comfortable terms such as "hours" or "minutes" or "kilometers" (no, though American, I don't need miles/yards/feet). It was already alien enough with hominoids that had anywhere from 4-6 fingers. I'm fine with that.

*SPOILER* the book doesn't end. It merely goes to where it should, then "disaster struck, they were screwed and would have to wait for a later time".

Sorry, I'm DONE. I realize I also bought "Angel Of Destruction" with the batch of 20 I picked up from a bookstore (no indication of order, or that they were related) - but I won't read it. Not worth the headache of having to re-read many paragraphs more than once.

How can such technologically advanced beings (space travel - magically with no mention of what "fuel" they use, hover mode on aircraft, FTL communications) be literally in the English Medieval Stone Ages socially? Sorry, but that society could not develop high technology... and any integrated society that came along would overrun a society focused on color of clothing, rote-memorization of volumes of "formal charades of communication" (literally scripts they all know they must recite to move to the next step of "can I sit down, I'm tired?"

I apologize for such a negative review, but this was one of the most cumbersome books I've ever encountered. And I even sat through the entire movies of "Hitch-Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy", and "Battlefield Earth" because I enjoyed those novels and wanted to find redeeming qualities of the movies.

I like good techno-real science fiction or at least a good space opera, fantasy scifi is not what I like to read. Unfortunately this novel goes off into drivel about princes and princlings wearing red and gold outfits and even has people riding horses and harvesting crops.
This latest in the Andrej Koscuisko series from Ms. Matthews is the weakest of the series. Previous novels in the series were at times gruesome but also exciting and well written. The writing in this one is difficult to read requiring that I read a paragraph over a time or two to get it. The sentence structure is awkward and not always just to try to convey the strange world and language of the planet where the story is set.
This novel does not stand alone. One must have read the previous novels in the series to enjoy this one and one must have read them recently enough to remember all about Dormitt Prison, and why what's-her-name hates Andrej so much or much of the story in this novel makes little sense.