Customer Reviews

The Miocene Arrow

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sean McMullen is really one of the best new Science Fiction writers, and The Miocene Arrow confirms this. His unusual settings, interesting plots, and rich and 3 dimensional charachters make his books very enjoyable to read.

This book is set in North America in the 40th century, following the downfall of our modern culture in the 21st. He illustrates small enclaves of an intersting culture emerging in small pockets that are isolated from the same forces that caused the destruction of our civilization. Elements from the Australica groups from the first book in this series are involved in schemes to subvert the American enclaves to their own nefarious purposes. For more details, read the book!

It has elements of good epic science fiction, action, and a detailed setting that is interesting and intriguing. He brings full life to his charachters, and spends an appropriate amount of time on each.

The Miocene Arrow is the sequel to Souls in the Great Machine, but would be enjoyable enough without reading the first. The plots are independent, yet TMA is continues with some of the events and charachters from the first book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

If you are like me, and have been looking for an exciting, original and interesting Sci-Fi series for quite some time now, then I whole heartedly encourage you to read this book and the others in this series as well. If you are a fan of the various Star Wars books and other soft Sci-Fi, you best go back to scraping your pennies together so you can buy the next Harry Potter book or something as this book won't be up your alley.

The second book of the Great Winter Trilogy should not be read without reading the first, if only for the fact that you will have deprived yourself of some of the character development and the background for this novel. I don't see how this book can stand on it's own. Read, "Souls in the Great Machine" first and you'll enjoy this one all the better.

These books are original, interesting and have a way of hooking you into them. It's been a long time since I've read a Sci Fi book that has been this much FUN to read. Like other reviewers, I don't know why this book is not getting the attention it deserves. Both books are certainly better then anything that has won the Hugo or Nebula in the past 10 years and I encourage anyone with a love of Science Fiction to read McMullen's work. Don't let the fact that he's Australian stop you, which is the only conceivable reason that I can think of that has stopped this series from getting the praise it richly deserves. Oh, that and the fact that most book stores only stock Star Wars and Star Trek knock offs and people who love those books probably wouldn't get McMullen. Read and enjoy.

This is a very good sequel to McMullen's Souls in the Great Machine. That book, set in a very interesting post-apocalypse world, is one of the more imaginative future histories of recent years. This book is a logical continuation of the prior story. Because it builds on the prior book, without introducing any new major aspects of this future history, The Miocene Arrow does not have the same imaginative impact as Souls in the Great Machine. McMullen's ability to construct an interesting and distinctly different future world remains impressive. This is not just a copy of the first book. He is a very competent writer, able to handle multiple plot lines well and good at developing characters. He even handles humor quite well. This book is not a completely self contained story. To really understand this book, you have to read Souls in the Great Machine first. This is not a major defect as both books are very worthwhile. The concluding section of this book implies another book in this series. I look forward to the next installment with anticipation.

Once again, Sean McMullen proves that he can accomplish both character development, fantastic world-making, and still tell an excellent story filled with romance, loyalty, betrayal, chivalry, civil rights, death, life, and decision. The focus characters, Serjon Feydamor, unlikely hero of a tragic war, and Bronlar, Serjon's misplaced love, are developed so richly that the reader can not help but be moved when something unfortunate comes between the two. The story drew me in so deeply that I did not want to leave the fantasy. I felt like I owed something to the characters, to their lives, to keep on reading, and watch as teh beautiful story unfolds.

The book is satisfying in every respect. McMullen is an author who should be hailed as one of the top Science Fiction writers of our time. Let McMullen take you on a romance through the skies in "The Miocene Arrow" - buy and read this book!

Sean McMullen is perhaps the most innovative scifi-adventure writer to come onto the shelves (in the U.S.) in the last decade. Souls In the Great Machine was incredibly innovative, with some very creative and realistic ways of dealing with his postapocalyptic nightmare world. This novel, the sequel to Souls, did not quite reach that level of creativity and innovation, but nonetheless was still very creative and interesting. His obvious knowledge of early industrial revolution technology and culture makes this series very fun to read, and he continues to find interesting ways to re-create lost or impossible technology, including airplanes in this new installment to the series.

The feudal society that he develops for the peoples of the Rocky Mountain region of the former U.S.A. is an interesting counterpoint to the protodemocratic Greek and Chinese influenced civilization he envisions in Australia. To some extent the characters that carry over from one book to the next seem rather artificial, as if he had written these books separately at one point and then decided to make them a series (he may have -- several books published in Australia have similar names, and I suspect are what became this series.) Nonetheless, I was amused by the continued antics of everyone's favourite lady's ..., and his Lady the former abbess.

Overall, this series is highly entertaining and full of interesting concepts. Don't expect the level of innovation he has in Souls, but nonetheless expect a very creative and fun story with some deeper meanings and philosophical experiments throughout. Would interest a fan of John Barnes, Iain Banks, or even Larry Niven.

McMullen's sequel to Souls in the Great Machine is even more enjoyable than its predecessor (although you should read Souls first to fully enjoy this one). Although Souls is higher in "ideas content", The Miocene Arrow is better written and more focused.

The central theme of Arrow is the vast changes wrought by the indroduction of foreign agents and ideas into a carefully regulated society. In the enclave of Mounthaven, nobles fly modest gas-powered vehicles, and wars are fought by duels between nobles. When infiltrators from Australica introduce the idea of total war into this society, everything changes forever, and the side which adapts fastest and surest is most likely to survive the resulting power struggle. (In a sense, this is exactly the same theme which drives the film Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, except Arrow is a much better story.) We're introduced to Mounthaven as it's existed for centuries, and then we follow the evolution of several states in the enclave as they come to grips with the changing world around them, and see the leaders grapple with the conflict between their traditions and ideals, and the practical necessities of what the new world means to them and their people. (Fans of H. Beam Piper's novel Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen in particular might enjoy this novel.)

McMullen tells the story through the experiences of his key characters, who are major players in the central conflict in different ways. McMullen's biting and often witty dialogue is sharply honed in the book, and his plotting is much stronger than in Souls, without some of the hiccups which hampered segments of that book. Better yet, McMullen sets up a dramatic and painfully star-crossed relationship between two of the protagonists which makes for some of the most moving moments in the story.

If there's a flaw in the book, it's that the title is not perhaps the most appropriate given the story, and the climax a little too obviously sets up the potential for another installment. Still, if McMullen continues to develop as a writer, a sequel to this one would be more than welcome.

Disappointing sequel to the excellent "Souls in the Great Machine." The book goes on and on, repeating the same themes again and again (to wit, jealousy, boredom, greed). The book has the same flaws as its predecessor - too much pointless sex, random and totally absurd behavior by some characters - but few of the virtues. In particular, the book doesn't have much in the way of exciting new ideas. It reminds me a bit of latter-day X-files (I stopped watching years ago), in that the story has run out of steam and is getting by with lots of conspiracies, illogical developments, and supposedly exciting intrigue. I was happy when one of the main characters died, for I would no longer be forced to listen to his tiresome chatter.

Still, the author knows how to keep the story moving, and there is plenty of action and interesting world-building. If you're looking to fill a few hours in a mostly pleasant way, this book will fit the bill. But I would certainly recommend that you read "Souls..." first.

i read this book *before* having read the first one
in the series. after 150 pages or so, i loved it,
but was getting a bit lost with all of the geography and
characters, so i quickly reskimmed from the beginning.
then it all started to make sense again, and i enjoyed the
rest of the book a lot.
i'd say this book stands on its own quite well, though
perhaps someone who read the first book might have an easier
time keeping up with all of the characters.

'The Miocene Arrow' is the next step in what should be a burgeoning career for Australian Sean McMullen. McMullen is relatively new to U.S. audiences, this being only his third U.S.-published novel. Each of his books have been winners with his previous effort, 'Souls in the Great Machine' garnering a nomination for one of science fiction's most prestigious awards. 'The Miocene Arrow' is a loose sequel to 'Souls..' It takes place several years in the future set in a separate locale.

In 'Souls..' we're introduced to a fascinating future where technology has been effectively eliminated and humanity's ranks have been culled by The Call, a mysterious emanation that compels all in its range to march mindlessly into the sea. Thousands of years earlier, scientists discovered that birds were immune to the call and experimented with combining avian and human DNA. The resulting hybrids call themselves 'aviads' and are uneffected by The Call.

Now the aviads have moved from their native Australia to the U.S. where they're hoping to steal the North American flying technology and use it to further their goal of eliminating all humans.

'The Miocene Arrow' is a tremendously fun read. McMullen presents readers with equal doses of fun technology, exciting battle scenes and twisted love quadrangles. My only complaint with this novel is the large cast of characters. Many characters have such bland names that it's difficult to remember which character is involved in which plotline. I found myself flipping for a non-existent character guide several times. Other than that, 'The Miocene Arrow' is a fantastic book. Hands down, my favorite SF novel of 2000 (so far). Highly recommended.

By the middle of the fortieth century, the Call continues its domination of animal life in North America by hypnotizing humans to die like lemurs into the oceans. Few spots remain that can deal with the Call's mysterious siren. Over the centuries, Mounthaven has formed a chivalrous society to survive more than just the passing Call. Air duels between honorable men is how disputes are settled.

The relationships between the Mouthaven kingdom changes when a group arrives that can resist the Call. These genetically engineered Aviads want to destroy the humans. Their plan is to use the pettiness of the users of the kingdoms to fight one another outside the acceptable code of honor. Ultimately this group of invaders hopes to raise the level of the Call to penetrate even the oasis that allow some survivability. A small group led by John Glasken must save the world before Mounthaven becomes overwhelmed with a disastrous civil war.

THE MIOCENE ARROW continues with the same post-apocalyptic world originally established in the SOULS IN THE GREAT MACHINE. The story line is as complex as science fiction seems to get and needs time to form, but once it does the plot never looks back. John and his weird band of heroes are a wonderful team while the villainous but clever Machiavellian invaders are treated more like cannon fodder by author Sean McMullen. Still his latest tale is an entertaining look at a frightening future that science fiction readers and some fantasy fans will find quite intriguing.

Harriet Klausner