Customer Reviews

The Infinite Sea (Chaos Chronicles)

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

 

 

I like to read a series like The Chaos Chronicles in a reasonably short time span order to keep closely in mind the character development and the story line(s). I usually aggregate all the books in a series before I start the first book. Over a 3 week period, I first read Neptune Crossing (4 stars), then Strange Attractors (3 stars), and finally The Infinite Sea (4 stars, but could have been 5 stars). Unfortunately, I discovered at the very end of The Infinite Sea more Chronicles were planned, however, they were never written/published. As a result readers are left (now six years after the last Chronicle was written) with a cliff hanger with several story lines developed but not concluded. I can not reward the author for leaving the readers without tying up loose ends, nor would I be impressed with new Chronicles to appear in the future when most readers will be hard pressed to remember charater development and story lines several years forgotten. Unlike another reveiwer, I feel the sexual uncertainity/tension between Antares and John was a valuable story line to the last two books in the series.

The Infinite Sea is not my favorite of the three to date but it is still a good book.

Carver changes scenery a bit and builds a lovely underwater civilization. The concept of an engineered species used to exploit the ocean's resources is interesting and gave a good twist to the story.

The one thing that nagged at me as I read this book was why the aliens who had crash-landed on this world and were living amongst the above-water cities (ruins) never found any evidence or information about the engineered civilization in the ruins of their creators. BUT... I ignored that and kept reading.

So, while waiting on the next three books to come I'll go back and familarize myself with the Star Rigger universe.

not really much to say here...just great reading, i read this before i read the first 2, i loved it, you really get attached to the characters, and it has a brilliant plot, this is easily the best book i have ever read.

I gave the two preceding books in this series four-star ratings and, to be fair, THE INFINITE SEA is comparable to them. The main characters have become somewhat engaging, the plot moved along and held my interest, and the undersea focus was a nice change. For me, though, certain things are beginning to wear a little thin. One is the steady progression of new "Charlies". Maybe this device has some purpose to it in the future that hasn't become clear yet, but it seems unnecessary and overdone. Another problem for me is Carver's inability to create some really alien aliens. Every major species is essentially humanoid (except Charlie, who's ephemeral) in a situation that seems ideal for some distinctly different beings.

Beyond the above complaints, I also found the idea of sex between John Bandicutt and an alien character ludicrous and unnecessary. This is, perhaps, just an aspect of the need for more original alien species, but the idea that an alien and a human would have anything even remotely approaching either physical or emotional sexual compatibility is silly. Again, maybe this has implications for future installments in the series, but that isn't in evidence at this point.

The bottom line: if you liked the other two books in this series, you'll enjoy this one as well. It's nothing special, though. In fact, as scifi goes, it's pretty ordinary. If you haven't read any of the other books in this series, you should go back and start with the first one. Not that THE INFINITE SEA can't stand alone, but you lose a lot of background and there's no compelling reason to start here. This one doesn't stand out from the others.

Having given the others four stars, it's possible I'm low-balling this one a bit, but I don't feel that the broader story has advanced much in this installment. In the absence of some discernible progress in the bigger picture, my interest is beginning to wane.

A reluctant hero, but one that someone, somewhere keeps tabs on to do the right thing. Between the Quarx and the daughter stones and the translator there is something happening with every page.

This was another great book from Jeffery Carver. Be sure to read the first two books in the series. The universe he creates and the characters that inhabit the universe are interesting. I have bought these books for others as gifts (for those who like sci-fi) and no one has been disappointed.

I think that the infinite sea is a extremly good book. I think its better than the first two volumes. I thought the plot of the book was great. I can't wait until the fourth volume comes out. TIGERGOLFER2001@yahoo.com(16 years old)

This book is one of the best books I have ever read. I could not put it down. Because of its many plots that eventually came together I would read for 2 -3 hours strait. The charactors were very interesting and strange with so many different personalities. I would recamend this book to EVERYONE.

I am not an aficianado (sp?) of science fiction, so I can not compare this book to others with any depth. However, after reading several bleak views of the future (Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Gibson), I found this sci-fi mystery/adventure a joy to read. I loved the characters and Mr. Carver's way of bringing them to life. The use of intuitive and life-saving "stones" was very unique and intriguing. I'm not sure to what extent Mr. Carver uses real physics or extrapola- tions thereof to tell his stories, and I'm not sure if such is necessary to make a good sci-fi story, but I enjoyed reading about this heroic team led by Bandicut, and about the "people" they served. Now I have to go back and read the first two volumes of the Chaos chornicles. Compared to the writers I've mentioned, I found Mr. Carver's book much lighter reading. Nevertheless, I had more interest in the in the characters, and I liked the optimism that informed the story. I gave it a "7" because the one story did not have the epic feel that I'm used to in the science fiction and speculative fiction I have read in the past. I do recommend it.

I am not an aficianado (sp?) of science fiction, so I can not compare this book to others with any depth. However, after reading several bleak views of the future (Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Gibson), I found this sci-fi mystery/adventure a joy to read. I loved the characters and Mr. Carver's way of bringing them to life. The use of intuitive and life-saving "stones" was very unique and intriguing. I'm not sure to what extent Mr. Carver uses real physics or extrapola- tions thereof to tell his stories, and I'm not sure if such is necessary to make a good sci-fi story, but I enjoyed reading about this heroic team led by Bandicut, and about the "people" they served. Now I have to go back and read the first two volumes of the Chaos chornicles. Compared to the writers I've mentioned, I found Mr. Carver's book much lighter reading. Nevertheless, I had more interest in the in the characters, and I liked the optimism that informed the story. I gave it a "7" because the one story did not have the epic feel that I'm used to in the science fiction and speculative fiction I have read in the past. I do recommend it.