Gravity Dreams [Import] [Paperback]

Jr. L. E. Modesitt (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Orbit; paperback / softback edition (2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857239741
• ISBN-13: 978-1857239744
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,208,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After spending years writing poetry, political speeches and analyses, as well as economic and technical reports on extraordinarily detailed and often boring subjects, I finally got around to writing my first short story, which was published in 1973. I kept submitting and occasionally having published stories until an editor indicated he'd refuse to buy any more until I wrote a novel. So I did, and it was published in 1982, and I've been writing novels -- along with a few short stories -- ever since.

If you want to know more, you can visit my website at www.lemodesittjr.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, November 5, 2000

By 

Daniel M. Nugent (Babylon, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gravity Dreams (Mass Market Paperback)

I loved this book. Well, now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me go on to say that I'm impressed by that Tyndel reacted to each new situation he was in. He is definitly not a static charachter as you can tell by the end of the book. Each individual section of the book was unbelievably well though out, from Dorcha, to the station, and especially the way Overspace was represented. You could see all the places and things in this book with vivid definition.

I especially liked the way Nano-tech was used. It was just another part of life. Like Televisions and radios are to us, Nanites are to the Rykhashans.

A few things I didn't like though: Just why was Tyndel more perceptive, and able to handle Overspace, than normal demons? Also, as previously noted, why doesn't Tyndel have any male friends?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thats almost the way I like it :), January 3, 2001

By 

Johs Sondrup "Balhirath" (Denmark, Europe) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gravity Dreams (Mass Market Paperback)

The first time I read this book, I found it good, but nothing special. More like an addition to both the Recluse and the Eco series. The major drawback of the book is that the plot is dragging as there is simply not enough action. Especially not when compared with The Parafaith War, which I had read a few weeks before this one (If you haven't read the Parafaith War yet DO IT).

Two weeks ago I read Gravity Dreams again and, being prepared for the lack of action, I loved it. It's extremely wellwritten with characters that really comes to life.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A nice setup, but flabby execution, September 12, 2005

By 

Peter D. Tillman (Taos, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gravity Dreams (Hardcover)

______________________________________________

Rating: "B-" -- interesting backstory, but a slow, bloated novel.

The best thing about Gravity Dreams is the backstory. Set 5,000 years from now, a post-collapse Earth supports static "mite" cultures, secretly dominated by the spacegoing nanotech Rykasha "demons". Modesitt's themes include (surprise!) ecology, personal responsibility; and passive, fatalistic ("eastern") vs. dynamic ("western") culture.

A nice setup, but flabby execution: Gravity Dreams starts out so slowly that I almost gave up (and kinda wish I had). About 75 pages in ("Sciamachy"), the pace picks up, but once the protag enters starpilot flight school... well, I learned far more about needleship [note 1] flight training than I'd *ever* want to know. "It's a sin to waste the reader's time" -- LvC Niven.

Gravity Dreams would have made a nice novella, but there just isn't enough substance here to fill 400 pages. For diehard Modesitt fans only -- and they'll want to skim.

Modesitt's previous five SF outings -- Parafaith War, Ecolitan Enigma, Adiamante, Of Tangible Ghosts & Ghosts of the Revelator (reviewed, and recommended, at site below) -- were all good to excellent, so I can forgive one clunker. If you haven't tried Modesitt's SF, don't start with Gravity Dreams!

___________

(1) -- one nice touch is a needleship named "Costigan".

review copyright 1999 by Peter D. Tillman