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Spindrift (Hardcover)

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3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)


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  Kindle Edition, March 25, 2008 $6.39 -- --
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  Paperback, March 24, 2008 $7.99 $3.85 $0.36
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Set in the same universe as Hugo-winner Steele's popular trilogy that began with Coyote (2002), this fascinating supplement concentrates on events that happen offstage after Coyote Rising (2004). When Earth detected a large alien artifact drifting past a distant star, a hastily organized and fractious expedition was sent to investigate. Communication failed just after the Earth crew arrived on the scene and began exploring, so everyone was presumed lost—until decades later, when three survivors and an alien envoy turned up at the end of Coyote Frontier (2005). This latest installment describes what the ill-fated expedition discovers, what goes wrong and how a few people save themselves by recognizing their ignorance and isolation, then resolving to work past those limitations. Though readers of the trilogy already know the basic story—and the novel's opening also gives away most of the outcome—Steele delivers a gripping saga of humanity on the verge of exploring the larger universe. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Booklist

Coyote Universe, book 1, flashes back to the Ranch (i.e., Earth) under its very modestly successful socialist rulers, with whom Steele only very modestly sympathizes. The manned expedition Galileo is sent to study an apparent UFO named pindrift, which turns out to be an alien probe, which in turn brings the alileo crew back with the secret of faster-than-light drive--and knowledge of Earth's prospective involvement in the insterstellar war of Coyote Trilogy (Coyote, 2002; Coyote Rising, 2004; Coyote Frontier, 2005). Steele's still working at high-performance levels in space-advocacy, alien-contact, and human-evolution fiction. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Ace Hardcover (April 3, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0441014712
  • ISBN-13: 978-0441014712
  • Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #849,542 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Average Customer Review
3.6 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Homage to Arthur Clarke, August 5, 2007
What some see as formulaic, I read as being homage to the old-fashioned, straight-ahead plotting and style of Arthur C. Clarke, with echoes also of Heinlein and Asimov. Yes, it's slightly old-fashioned to have a plot that's this straightforward, and not darkly disturbed, and not cluttered up with a lot of sexual scenes and/or gigantic battle scenes - but it is refreshing to read such a book every once in a while.

Steele's appreciation of Clarke has shown up before - one of his older novels is, after all, "Clarke County, Space" (Clarke County, Space). This newest novel is clearly an homage to "Rendezvous with Rama" (Rendezvous with Rama) in particular, in the major plot line, which is to investigate a mysterious object in space.

As I was reading, besides recognizing the plotting style of Clarke and other golden-age writers, I also found myself comparing it to another book I read not that long ago, Harry Turtledove's "Homeward Bound" (Homeward Bound). Both books are strong on characters, both include a character on the long interstellar journey who is, for one reason or another, infamous and an outcast on Earth; both involve the aftermath of first contact with aliens.

There are several factors to weigh in judging a science fiction book - plot, character development, as in any novel, original ideas, presence/absence of hard-science extrapolation, writing style, writing competence. While this book glosses lightly over the science of space travel, its plot, though not very original, is well done - and it wasn't supposed to be original, it is SUPPOSED to be like older first-contact stories. The characters are interesting, and some of them grow and develop over the course of the plot in a believable manner. Steele's writing style is always pleasant, and the book is well edited and copy-edited.

The book can be read and enjoyed even if you haven't read the Coyote Trilogy, but would probably be enjoyed more if you have. The back of the book includes a complete timeline for the events of the Coyote trilogy and this book, to show how they overlap. Likewise, you could enjoy this book if you haven't ever read any Arthur C. Clarke, but you'd probably enjoy it more if you do like Clarke's fiction.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A Mysterious Object in Space, March 7, 2009
This review is from: Spindrift (Paperback)
Spindrift (2007) is an SF novel in the Coyote Universe, following Coyote Frontier. In the previous series, the Coyote Federation gained a starship and firm control of Starbridge Coyote. Susan Montero and Jon Parson were married. Then a shuttle from the EASS Galileo landed on Coyote with a strange story.

In this novel, Jared Ramirez is a former astrobiologist. Now he is an inmate at the Dolland Centre Penal Colony. He was convicted of crimes against humanity for his role in the Savant Genocide and will be imprisoned for the rest of his life.

Ted Harker is a Commander in the European Space Agency, He is First Officer of the EASS Galileo, the first starship build by ESA. His captain -- Ian Lawrence -- is his superior only in rank.

Emily Collins is an ESA Lieutenant. She is a very good smallcraft pilot. Her command on the Galileo is the shuttle Maria Celeste.

In this story, the Director General of the ESA makes a deal with the Western Hemisphere Union to free Ramirez for a voyage on the EASS Galileo. A transit-object has been detected near Proxima Centauri and it will pass within two and a half light years of the Solar System.

Naturally, the interstellar object is extremely interesting to members of the astronautical community. A telescopic array that detected the object used the nearby radio telescope array to send a first contact message to the object and recently a reply was received.

The object -- called Spindrift -- is a round body approximately twelve hundred kilometers in diameter. It is orbited by a much smaller torus. The ring seems to be artificial.

The EASS Galileo intercepts the object at its nearest point to the Solar System. The torus is found to have emissions similar to a starbridge. Of course, the scientists are most interested in the clearly artificial object.

Ramirez, however, is convinced that Spindrift itself is a spaceship. The other scientists disbelieve his arguments, but Commander Harker suggests that a small party land on Spindrift to check out the suggestive features. Harker, Collins, Ramirez and a WHU astrogeologist named Jorge Cruz take the shuttle down to the planetoid.

This tale takes the four explorers into a natural object that has been converted into a spaceship. Collins is left in the shuttle to maintain contact with the Galileo. Then the others check out a nearby carbon dioxide vent.

The story starts with a prologue about the return of Harker, Collins and Ramirez to Earth orbit. Then it flashes back to the events described above. Eventually, the story ends in an epilogue relating the fate of the three explorers.

This book overlaps the Coyote Trilogy. Indeed, the author had foreshadowed these events in Coyote. The voyage of the EASS Galileo and the return of the shuttle Maria Celeste is also mentioned in Coyote Frontier.

One aspect of this story is puzzling. Why would the Spindrift -- an interstellar spacecraft -- vent carbon dioxide into space? Surely the gas could be processed or stored for future use.

This novel is followed by Coyote Horizon, which continues the story of the aliens who appeared at Spindrift. Read and enjoy!

Recommended for Steele fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of interstellar adventure, alien contact, and personal relationships.

-Arthur W. Jordin
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars "OLD TIME SCI-FI", August 8, 2008
This review is from: Spindrift (Paperback)
I have read some of the other reviews for this book and I agree. The basic story is straight forward old fashioned Science Fiction: "Find Alien artifact,Go to investigate, Meet Omnipotent Alien race. Whom may wipe us out if we don't behave!" (OUCH!!) But I am not criticizing this plot. I love this type of story. As other reviews mention, this is a lot like Sir Clarkes'style. (We all miss him!) Some may argue that it has been overdone and maybe it has. Just about every idea imaginable in Science Fiction has been hit on by many authors. Am I saying there are no "NEW CONCEPTS" in the S.F. world?? Not at all! Some of the older ideas still make a good story. There are a lot of newer authors doing the Posthuman/Nano-tech thing. I have no problem with that. We need fresh ideas. All I am saying is that I do not think "ANY!" Science Fiction concept or idea has been totally worn out. There is always someone with a different twist on an old idea.

This is the first book I have read by Steele. There are three more books in the "Coyote" series and I am considering reading them,,but do not let that turn you off. You don't need to read the other books to enjoy this story.

Good ""OLD FASHION"" Science Fiction! Turn off the critical mind and enjoy! Nothing too thought provoking,,but a whole lot of entertainment!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars If You Are A Coyote Trilogy Fan Then A Worthy Read-But Not Steele's Best Work
If you are like me, a fan of Allen Steele as well as one who enjoyed the Coyote Trilogy, then you might find yourself searching for stories that continue the "Coyote Saga" (much... Read more
Published 11 months ago by medi

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Free SF Reader
Compared to the rest of the Coyote series that I have read, this book is rather on the bland side.

A competent enough story of a first contact situation, and yet... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Blue Tyson

4.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining
Found this at my library and decided to give it a try. I don't normally read sci-fi, maybe 1 or 2 books a year. Spindrift was very entertaining. Read more
Published 16 months ago by xcopx

4.0 out of 5 stars Time Killer
This isn't bad for a free book. I haven't read any other book by this author, and coming in on the middle of the story didn't really put me out. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mathew D. Burch

3.0 out of 5 stars Off and Into
A pleasant story to read in spite of caricatured characters plus very advanced aliens with very basic techniques and very human reactions. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Michel

4.0 out of 5 stars Good yarn.
This was my first exposure to this author, and it looks like I'll be reading more. He's got my interest piqued, so I'll be looking for his Coyote trilogy next. Read more
Published 22 months ago by FredM

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent addition to the Coyote Universe
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, it gave me a sense of wonder that I felt back when I was reading "Rendezvous with Rama" by A.C.Clarke about 30 years ago. Read more
Published on September 19, 2007 by N. Gurnagul

5.0 out of 5 stars Great continuation
I really enjoyed the Coyote series and was overjoyed to learn of this books release. It had a similar feel to the previous novel. Read more
Published on August 7, 2007 by Charles Nicolosi

2.0 out of 5 stars It Fills The Time!
So why read this book? The plot is predictable, the characters the stereotypical dudes you come to expect in any science fiction novel written in the sixties (incompetent leader... Read more
Published on July 16, 2007 by YankeeChick

1.0 out of 5 stars Abysmal - simultaneously predictable and awful
There's sci-fi and there's sci-fi. We all know the top tier - Stranger in a Strange Land, Dune, Altered Carbon, Revelation Space, Accelerando. Read more
Published on June 5, 2007 by Avid Reader

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