Customer Reviews

Second Star (Star Svensdotter, Book 1)

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

 

 

This is the first book of Dana's that I read and, as a Sci-Fi reader and an Alakan, it was fabulous! I've gone on to read the Kate Shugak and Liam Campbell series (since Dana and Sue Henry talked me into buying the first books of their mystery series at the Barnes & Noble in Anchorage) but Star will always be my favorite. For the non-Sci Fi readers out there, this is not a book with the unpronouncable names and unrealistic settings. Also, Star seems to be a decendant of one of the characters in the Kate Shugak series (re: the story knife). So, if you can find a copy of this well-written, plausible and enjoyable book,with a strong female protagonist, I highly recommend it!

Her first book and it shows but she is a competent and interesting writer . The Sci-Fi came first [ a labor of love for the genre I think { I love it too } ] She continues to grow and try new forms . If you are a fan of her mystries her sci-fi trilogy will show another side of the writer .

One of the best things I ever did was pick up this book when it first came out in hard copy. It was a great trip into space that had everything - conflicts, wonder, romance. I loved it and I am now enjoying re-reading it on my Kindle. All I can say is why are there not more in this series?!

Of course, this book was also the reason that I picked up A Cold Day for Murder because I thought the author's name sounded familiar. I have never looked back. If Dana Stabenow writes it, I read it AND enjoy it. Highly recommend this and all her books.

I found this book on one of my searches for free Kindle downloads. I put off reading it, because I just have so many Kindle books on my phone!

One I started, I had a really difficult time stopping for little things like eating, and I did not go to sleep until I finished it.

This is hard science-fiction, no fantasy here. Wonderful characters about whom it was easy to care - I cried in at least two places, so much did I care about the characters. Even though much of the book is basically "a day in the life," it was far from mundane. When the story heated up and the real action got started, it was even more fascinating.

Polished writing and professional editing. I did not find a single editable error in the entire book. Considering the state of many of my Kindle reads lately, I'd almost give an extra star just for that, if I could. :)

My two regrets: I did not find this book, or its sequels in the 90s, and the two Kindle sequels are completely out of my budget.

Suitable for about 13 and up. There are a couple of sexual situations alluded to, but not actually put on paper (so to speak).

My wife read this book (yes, I am lucky, she likes SF too) and recommended it to me. The writer admits that she didn't know how to write SF, but she does know how to write, and it shows. It is a story of " what might have happened " if NASA got its act together in the 80s and built a real space station like we thought we should have.
Hard science fiction from a writer who knew she didn't know enough science, a thoroughly enjoyable trip.

reluctant heroine who doesn't want to be needed. She tries to heal from her wounds in solitude but other's needs come to her. Alaska is another charcter very present in the story.

This is a compelling story, as I expect from Stabenow. Sort of a Kate Shugak in space. The ending is intensely memorable. The story contains straightforward and intense relationships, and a plot that draws one in. But then the story slams into an almost impenetrable morass of technical description, explaining in eye-crossing detail how the physical plant is designed and functions. This may be fascinating to the theoretical science buffs, but for me it was a repeated and annoying delay in the action. Perhaps, having fully set up her world, in the next book she will not find the need to go into such detail.

While not a new idea, large self sustained crafts that can be used for space habitats is a very Interesting concept.
Arthur C Clark hit on this in Rendezvous with Rama and the subsequent stories that followed (as did many other authors)
The book is well written and the story flows very smoothly.
The author's style reminds me of Arthur Haley Hotel - - - The leader of a large project, overworked and constantly bombarded with problems while trying to juggle her own personal life.
I really can't find anything negative to say about the book.
So why only 4 stars instead of 5?
I am not sure but for some reason I just could not bring myself to hit that 5th star.
I can honestly say I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series.

I will come back to this review later after I have read the rest of the series and will either give it the 5th star or explain why I am leaving it at 4.

I just wanted to say that this is a great book where you care about the people in it.I love the fact that I could get this for the kindle as I have already bought it in paperback and the next 2 in the series. Give it a try and you will want to follow all the books

I found this book to be too boring to even finish. Although free, it is not worth downloading. It has no new ideas or plots to offer.