Firebird (An Alex Benedict Novel) [Hardcover]

Jack McDevitt (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 1, 2011 | Series: An Alex Benedict Novel (Book 6)

A new Alex Benedict novel from "a master of describing otherworldly grandeur." (Denver Post)

Forty-one years ago the renowned physicist Chris Robin vanished. Before his disappearance, his fringe science theories about the existence of endless alternate universes had earned him both admirers and enemies.

Alex Benedict and Chase Kolpath discover that Robin had several interstellar yachts flown far outside the planetary system where they too vanished. And following Robin's trail into the unknown puts Benedict and Kolpath in danger...

Editorial Reviews

Review

 Praise for Jack McDevitt
“The Alex Benedict series is reminiscent of some of the work of Isaac Asimov.” —SFRevu

“The logical heir to Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke.”—Stephen King

“McDevitt hit a grand slam with this one…I’m still shaking my head and wondering how he pulled it off.”—Wired.com

“An intriguing mystery.”—SF Site

“A fast-paced thriller.”—Midwest Book Review

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

About the Author

Jack McDevitt is a former naval officer, taxi driver, English teacher, customs officer, and motivational trainer, and is now a full- time writer. He lives in Georgia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Ace Hardcover; First Edition edition (November 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441020739
• ISBN-13: 978-0441020737
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #508,176 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars YAY! More Alex Benedict November 1, 2011

By Kevin Bayer

Format:Hardcover

Firebird, by Jack McDevitt, hits all the right notes in this sixth book of the series.

Chase Kolpath and Alex Benedict, antiquities dealers of a sort in the far future, come in to the belongings of a scientist that studied fringe topics and disappeared one day shortly before a terrible earthquake. That disappearance lead some to believe a conspiracy surrounds his death/disappearance. Alex decides to stir up the mysteries surrounding the scientist to enhance the value of those items before selling.

As is his MO, Alex needs to find out what really happened. On the way, Chase and Alex find a planet abandoned by humanity but with still functioning AIs, some that have been running since the humans left seven thousand years ago. Alex starts a movement to rescue some of the AIs and reintegrate them into society. As they seek out the answers to what happened to the scientist, they also discover a solution to a problem that was plaguing space travel for millenia.

This installment in the Alex Benedict series is much better than it's predecessor, Echo. Echo was dark, and kind of depressing. Alex and Chase are growing older and their attitudes and sensibilities are changing with them. That theme continues in Firebird, but it's not nearly as dark. Alex continues to be a sort of Don Quixote, frequently finding new causes célèbres that he feels necessary to represent or help promote or help solve. That usually goes well for him in the end, but lately has been causing some strife between Alex and Chase.

It's that strife that made me not really enjoy Echo as much, but seemed to work better in this book. Chase still doesn't like Alex putting his career (and hers) on the line for controversial causes, but she knows that's how Alex leads his life - and so far it's worked for him. They've lost some clients, but more often than not, earn them back in the end. Chase feels an attachment to Alex, she originally worked for his uncle. It seems to be that common thread that keeps them together. They're not lovers, but Chase and Alex are like an old married couple, comfortable in their relationship. Their love for each other is the love of old dear friends.

The planet with the AIs, some running amok, reminded me vaguely of Asimov's Robot City series. And of Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive. Some of the AIs wanted to kill them, others just wanted to be rescued from the monotony of their existence. What's an AI, programmed to serve humanity, to do when humanity has abandoned it yet left it operating for thousands of years? Keep on going, or become resentful and eventually go crazy? On a side note: this plot-line would make a great off-shoot story where these AIs band together, build their own starships, leave the planet and start a war with the humans. Someone should write that. I'd read it!

My only complaint with Firebird is that the prologue teaser didn't get a resolution or a revisit at the end. It gets mentioned in passing a couple of times during the book, mostly just a name on a list; but I would have liked to maybe see a different prologue featured that would have been easier to incorporate into the ending. The ending itself was perfectly executed... in fact, I think the entire novel was just about perfectly executed.

Reading this book, I found myself comparing Alex and Chase with the Boss character in Krisine Kathryn Rusch's Diving the Wreck and City of Ruins. I could see these series taking place in the same universe.(I'd read that too!)

Chase and Alex live in a far flung future, some nine thousand or so years hence. Humanity seems comfortable with itself. Their world seems like a nice place to live. It's definitely a great place to visit - every year in a new adventure!

My rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.

Firebird, by Jack McDevitt, was provided to me by the publisher for review.

This review originally appeared at SporadicReviews.com

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid and reliable entertainment, if not memorable November 22, 2011

By Tactitles VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

This is not my first McDevitt book, and not my first Benedict novel. Like the others, this was easy to read and held my interest. The main idea behind the novel is intriguing, despite the lack of convincing explanations. This succeeds as adventure/suspense sci-fi, when the main story is being revealed. Some of the extras, particularly the AI secondary story, fell flat for me. The argument for giving artificially intelligent machines some human rights and recognition is well-worn ground, and nothing memorable is added to it here. Benedict's guilt over supporting a cause that results in harm to some others who are swayed by his views, seemed forced and unconvincing. And the repeated media incidents and interviews became a bit annoying and unnecessary. One in particular, perhaps intentionally, hints at a formula similar to Jerry Springer's old shows. This story takes place thousands of years in the future, and yet our species still finds that interesting? The media of the future still relies on strategies that old? Thankfully that scene is short.

There's plenty to like about the story, despite the aspects that don't work. The ending is easily predicted, but it still works. The writing and the characters are okay. This one will not take long to read, because McDevitt can tell a good story. It is like many of his books. You will probably enjoy it, and you'll remember that you enjoyed it, but you'll not likely remember why.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hooray, Jack Does it Again! December 30, 2011

By David Bower TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

How gratifying, a book that was fun to read; I really enjoyed this one and found it entertaining and intriguing. Jack answers some important questions posed as far back as "A Talent for War" which opens Chapter 1 with the disappearance of the Capella.

In this book an answer is discovered which promises to change things for a lot of people. The book held my attention and thoroughly entertained me all the way through.

This is a must have for the McDevitt collector and I recommend it highly!