Customer Reviews

Rift

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

 

 

Contrary to one reviewer, I find the writing in this book to be quite good . . . something I don't often find, as I am a published writer myself (with 7 books under my belt) and a long time reader of SF. It's rare that I'm able to look forward to returning to a book just for pleasure. I'm utterly caught up in the many-layered stories of the several characters, and have no trouble keeping them separate in my mind. I'm quite envious of the author's grasp of any number of concepts, and the sheer scope of this book. I look forward to reading her other books as well.

Lithia is a planet which humans have tried to terraform but have failed; it is now reverting to its original state. What's left of the colonists live now in 'claves' (enclaves) who are slowly drifting towards primitivism and are consumed by illnesses; only a small number have remained on the former space station, not losing the scientific knowledge. A spaceship is coming to Lithia, interested in reterraforming it, only the colonists still on the space station only want to escape the planet and thus devise a plan to geologically 'attack' Lithia so the ship will not stay. Add to this a strange decadent alien race, the orthong, who have also chosen Lithia as their home.

The book follows the treks of several characters.

First, a young man, Reeve Calder, together with a middle-aged woman named Marie, leave the space station in order to try to stop the plan to destroy Lithia. On the way, they meet a courageous claver named Spar with a no-nonsense attitude who is accompanying a strange girl named Loon. This girl seems to be adapting to Lithia in ways nobody understands and may hold the key to the survival of humanity.

Second, we see the team that plans to destroy the planet at work, through the eyes of a young boy who doesn't quite know what's happening around him. (This is the least interesting part of the book.)

And third, we follow a claver woman named Nerys who seeks the help of the orthong in order to survive. This story did not start quite so engaging, but looking back on it I think it was the most interesting of all. She slowly learns to communicate with the orthong (a very secretive race who think humans are a lower species) and even struggingly becomes friends with one of them, rising from her position as a child-bearer to that of a quasi-adviser.

There are not so many original ideas in this book, certainly nothing that would come as a breakthrough; but still, the story is told nicely, with a good rhythm, and is well put together. I followed the adventures of all characters with much interest; I cannot say I was unable to put down the book, though.

What I enjoyed most were the characters. They are all very distinct and complex personalities, and you can sympathize with each of them, understand what motivates and drives them. There is not one unjustified action or thought on their part, even when the decisions they make are not always for the best. They are all very human...

This book was pretty different in style from 'The Seeds Of Time'. That book had great SF ideas, but the writing style and the characters were not so good. This is the writing of an author who has evolved and is more sure about herself. I will certainly continue to read her books.

I wish people would recognise how great a writer kay kenyon is,i voted for her in the locus poll for one of the best authors of the 90s despite only having 3 books out,along with kay kenyon give a try to amy thomson and julie czernada .you have to try these new authors they are putting out fantastic books that dont get the press of the older well known authors that are putting out books that are not as good-as these-KAY KENYON is the best but try AMY THOMSON and JULIE CZERNADA also -you wont be sorry

RIFT is a complicated, exciting, heartrending, satisfying page-turner. This is a terrific novel, with characters you won't forget, and spiced by real honest-to-goodness science. The images of a terraformed planet reverting are fantastic, and there are both aliens and humans to care about. Don't miss this great read.

This book is as usual (Thank You Kay Kenyon) top notch. It follows the story of several characters on a planet that terraforming has failed on and their journey's, trial's and tribulation's to the excellent conclusion. I find it exciting the way the story can follow all the characters so well with such definition between them. I also do not know how the author keeps all the layers of this story seperate with such seemingly little effort.
I find that many good stories when laying a foundation to follow sometimes may be hard to comprehend at the start but when you reach a certain point everything falls into place and the reward for working your way through the start of the story is well worth it with all the delights that follow it. I would advise any true reader of Fantasy or Science Fiction to stick with all good authors work (and this author is one of the best there is) because the end result is a very satisfying story and a nagging desire to get to the next story this writer has published.

Great romp, highly recommended, can see why this won the Hugo. High adventure on a planet where centuries of terraforming has failed and most of the human civilization has reverted to barbarism. Pirates and princes, genetics and geology, aliens and alienation, a real page turner.

I found the first one hundred pages of this book to be extremely disjointed and choppy in its writing style. I am finding the characters are confusing in the simularity of personality. Also the sudden shifts in location to characters of simular names leaves me reading for several pages until I can figure out who I am reading about and where they are again. It may be a matter of personal taste but I like a book that flows. I won't be finishing this book.