Customer Reviews

Dying Light (Evergence)

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

 

 

So many times today I read new sci fi, only to find it consumed with either rather juvenile descriptions of interpersonal intimacy or numbingly offensive instances of gory description. It seems to be a challenge some weeks to find a good future history story which is neither hopelessly dated, hopelessly violent, or hopelessly obsessed with adoloscent views of human relationships.

Evergence: The Dying Light is an exception to these dreary rules. Although it is the second in a series of which I had not read the first, I found it quite easy to follow. Although the story has some violence, and the characters are discernibly adult, it is neither a gore-fest nor a teen fantasy quest. Instead, it is serious sci fi, in the future history mold, with good plot and good characterization.

The plot involves a female protagonist in a distant future, with a diverse and sympathetic crew, facing challenges both mundane and devastating under circumstances in which the powers that be know the value of a lot of cards, but they ain't showing their hands. In other words, it's the "quest among uncertain forces" motif, but done in a fairly fresh, if not quite novel, setting.

I instinctively shy away from two-author works because so many either have an unsatisfying "compromise" feel to the narrative voice or have chapters written in different hands so divergent that they barely plot in together. This book raises no such concerns. It is well-written, consistent, and holds together.

This is not a perfect book. The future universe created has its interesting aspects, but seems largely synthesized from what has gone before. There is little of the "oh,wow" about the future extrapolations that result, and I am small-minded enough to confess that I want a little "oh, wow" in my sci fi. But I recommend this book nonetheless....a solid, good day's read, well done.

This book is light reading SciFi; excellent for passing time, but, you will be able to put it down to eat, see your family, etc.

Pluses: A story line that kept you involved and wondering; interesting character; the pages turned themselves.

Minuses: Nothing in the story was a new idea that inspired awe. Also, although the characters were interesting, they were not really explored in too much depth.

This trio is one the best stories I've read, the pace moves along, the characters are great and very real. There are so many twists you never know who's behind any given event. I loved the stories within stories, the doubt of loyalty of a main character and the heroine's dilemma of figuring out whom to trust. The AI known as "box" is a super idea, and one that just keeps the reader guessing.
I will read the entire story again. Great job Sean and Shane!!! Lets have MORE!

This story is a rollercoaster of a ride and I loved every minute of it. The first book takes right off and immerses you into a vivid universe of plot twists and rich characters and leaves you dying for more. The Dying Light satifies you that Dix and Williams will be around to tell us the whole story and leaves you frantically aching for the conclusion. If you liked Prodigal sun, you will love this book. If you have not read any of them, you might as well save your self the shipping and handling and buy all 3 together right now! Everyone I told about the books devoured them with delight.

Big ships, big settings, larger than life characters! Out of the 3 books this was the one I didn't think was as strong as the others, but it still out strips virtually everything else I've read this year in the way of sci fi. All 3 books tell a story, but they each have their own big stories taking place between the covers! The finale to this book is a bang big enough to please any space opera fan! And one that would look incredible on the big screen! Williams and Dix are just awesome writers. For pure escapism written intelligently, you can't go past this series.

I can't begin to describe just how good this read was for me. The plot twists occur from the very beginning to the very end. The are no real "bad guys" and there are no real "good guys". You have no idea who the real enemy is or what the real agenda is beyond the basic general antagonism between races. I didn't know if I wanted humanity to survive or get what's coming to it. Even now, after years of having read this story, I'm still enjoying tasty bits in the back of my mind.

Williams is evolving this three book series from a straight adventure chase story to something more philosophical, and towards something most definitely creepier. Her companions are starting to be other than what they seem, and a possible war looms.

With enigmatic and a sometimes decidedly unhelpful artificial intelligence along for the ride, Roche must work out what the hell she should do.

Morgan Roche, ex-Commonwealth of Empires intelligence officer, now travels to Palasian system in an effort to learn more about the mysterious clone warriors now seemingly threatning all of humanity.

Palasian system has apparently been destroyed by a clone warrior, along with the space around it - the nearby stars are closer together than they should be, and Palasian system is basically not where it should be.

This second book in the Evergence trilogy has a somewhat darker feel to it than the first, as if Williams and Dix are writing in some elements of suspense as well. A reader learns new things about the Evergence universe with each book. I started the Evergence trilogy with this book by mistake, and I was most certainly confused for a while. Nevertheless, this is a great book, and a must-read for those who liked the first one.