Customer Reviews

Gravity Dreams

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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?

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.

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


review copyright 1999 by Peter D. Tillman

The plot of this book is almost indistinguishable from that of "The Parafaith War". Once again, a strong man who is alienated from the society in which he finds himself is helped by a stronger woman to come to terms with it and is rewarded by being made immortal. What makes the book attractive despite this is, as usual, the well thought-out society and the convincing detail.

I'm sorry, but I sort of hated this book. I genuinely found it frustrating. It's well written, and I see that many people enjoyed it and I respect that, but this book is not for everyone. Hundreds of pages go by with virtually nothing happening, other than long repetitive philosphical dual-ogues between the main character and his various handlers. Detail? Yes, I suppose if you like to know the color and shape of everyone's outfit, the color of every room and building and rock and tree, then you'll be happy. There must be forty or fifty different times when we get to hear what these people are having to eat in various cafeterias as they gently argue about what's important in society. There must be five or six hundred redundant references to the importance of honesty in a relationship. I get the feeling the author had a real personal breakthrough in his relationship with "Carol" (to whom the book is dedicated) and it seems clear "Cerrelle" is based on her. That's beatiful and I certainly support it. But frankly, I got tired of reading the same dicussion over and over again. I don't want to be a killjoy, and clearly many will disagree with me, but I feel I should warn those that like books that move on from new idea to new idea, with at least a little action: this is probably not the book for you.

I have always loved a book that isn't afraid to talk about philosophy. Modesitt is not only not afriad, but any of his science fiction books could serve as a final paper in a philosopy 101 class. Kind of like an action book for an acedmic, the plot of this book is really just meant to set up the main character's discussions with himself and other people around him.
I liked this book for the fact that was kind of a comeing of age story. I brought up issues such as honesty, and had some very good comentary about a man who is forced to come and live a socity that is different, and technoligly more advanced than his own.
The problem with the book is that the philosophy and the main character quickly becomes very self centered and arrogant. Many parts of this book brought me back to my high school days, where I would have arguments with friends that were more about being clever that being right. By the end of the book the character has a very contrived philosophical conversion that is a the best example of intelectual flatulence that I had seen written outside of a university.

Modesitt turns out another solid book in Gravity Dreams. Those of you who read Parafaith War will find some plot elements to be similar.

In Gravity Dreams, Tyndel finds himself sunk into a technology he was taught to believe was "demon's work." Tyndel's learning to deal with his new reality covers 98% of the book. The final section where he has to meet a god-like being was a bit contrived, but emphasized just how far Tyndel progressed in understanding himself.

IMAGINE AN EARTH SO DEVASTATED BY OVERPOPLULATION AND POLUTION THAT THE REMNANTS OF THE SOCIETIES OF THE PLANET HAVE TURNED AWAY FROM ALL BUT THE MOST NECESSARY TECHNOLOGY. TYNDEL, A TEACHER, AND JUNIOR MASTER OF THE DZIN, FINDS HIMSELF INFECTED WITH NANOTECHOLOGY. HE IS STRONGER, FASTER, AND SMARTER. HE IS ALSO IN BIG TROUBLE, SINCE HIS OWN PEOPLE NOW CONSIDER HIM A DEMON. HE FLEES ACROSS THE BORDER TO THE LAND OF DEMONS. AND FINDS HIMSELF IN A LAND WHERE MAN STILLS SPANS THE GALAXY AND COLONIZES PLANET IN OTHER STAR SYSTEMS. THE STORY OF TYNDELS STRUGGLE TO ADAPT HIMSELF TO A PEOPLE WHOM HE HAS BEEN TAUGHT TO CONSIDER DEMONS AND HIS TRANSITION FROM BACKWARD DZIN MASTER TO STAR PILOT MESMERISES THE READER IN A MANNER THAT FANS OF MR. MODESITT WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH.

After reading 'The Parafaith War' and the great sci-fi in it and seeing how Modesitt dealt with the different arguments for religion- and science-based societies I had to read something more like it, specially in the context of sci-fi and hopefully from Modesitt, and luckily 'Gravity Dreams' came along and I found it most enjoyable.

Again, the sci-fi was great and thoroughly enjoyable and the arguments presented about truth and honesty were awesome. Though the way he deals with nanotechnology is kind of simplistic and quaint, but it's understandable given that insterest in nanotech applications and development is just starting to spark people's minds.

While in Norway, and traveling all over the country, I had a lot of time on my hands, visiting the few good book stores in Oslo, i found a limited selection(but still impressive for a non english speaking country) of books in english, among them was Gravity Dreams, I decide to give it a shot, mainly because of lack of other good choices. I have to say that I am a action junkie, I often feel cheated if someone doesn't die in at least the first twenty pages of the book. After reading this book, I was glad I picked it up, this was one of the best books I have ever read. The book is more about self-discovering and how someone from a backwatar society blends in with a advanced space faring society. The book presents some very great ideas on how a futuristic society should be. Overall the book concentrates on the development of the main character and his struggles to come to terms with his new life. For your average action fans this book my seem bit dry, but for anyone who wants some really good plot and character development then this is a the book for you.