Grasp the Stars [Paperback]

Jennifer Wingert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 2004

Pursued by members of every species, Meris-the most ancient and legendary of the Jadamiin-is a stowaway on a ship bound for the Port Earth space station. But the pursuit isn't over-and suddenly Port Earth is embroiled in high level intrigue that could annihilate the entire station.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: DAW (July 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756402204
• ISBN-13: 978-0756402204
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,390,957 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid first novel., July 7, 2004

By 

"read_er" (Vancouver, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grasp the Stars (Paperback)

OK, Wingert shares a credit for "Spirit Fox" with Mickey Reichert from 2000 but this is her first solo credit/effort. And since it reads like a first novel I will treat it as such.

I need to say that I read this book just after finishing another first novel (Lorna Freeman's Covenants). This is important because "Covenants" was such a polished first novel, reading "Grasp the Stars" right after tended to highlight its' first novel symptoms.

Wingert has created an universe, populated it with aliens and humans all of which are interesting. But the bones/mechanics of the novel tends, in places, to really stand out. And sometimes moving the story in the direction the author wants to go requires the characters to act stupidly - guaranteed to drive me nuts.

Now I do not want to go into any real story detail as it would/could tend to ruin the story for any readers of this review. I will say that having read the novel, I am not sure that the writer of the back cover blurb and I read the same book.

Still, I read the novel from start to finish. And I found the fact that there were threads left unfinished - suggesting future visits to this universe and its' inhabitants - promising. It will give the author the chance to fill in the detail(s) lacking in the broad strokes she used to begin her painting of this universe. And as she gains experience the 'first novel' rough spots should be polished away.

This is a solid first effort. Wingert has created a reality that is interesting and has lots of potential. And the best recommendation I can give it is the fact that it was good enough that I look forward to buying and reading Wingerts' next novel. So, if you are like me and enjoy trying out new voices in the field, this is SF worth the read.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm sad this is a first book...., February 3, 2005

By 

north woods "North woods" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grasp the Stars (Paperback)

The reason I'm sad this is a first book is that I just finished it, and came here to Amazon to find other books by the same author, only to find out that she hasn't written anything else yet.
I was an early fan of Lois McMaster Bujold, and I think that Ms. Wingert has the potential to create a universe as complex in intrigue and character as the Vorkosigan milieu has become.
Let's just pray that she isn't a one hit wonder.

21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, August 9, 2004

By 

M. L. Robinson "Voracious Reader" (Denver, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grasp the Stars (Paperback)

For the first time in too long, a book kept me reading until the last page, all in one day. What a refreshing change to some of the science fiction coming out today. There wasn't a focus on just one character. The author told each character point of view so clearly and in detail that I forgot other characters were just waiting to tell me what they thought. I thought the aspect of a non-violent human race was a nice switch as well as an older female character, one that you can see in a commanding position because she worked her way into it. From the first paragraph, I was hooked. Wu Jackson is a character of which I can't wait to read more.