Spindrift (Paperback)

by Allen Steele (Author)

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. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ace (March 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441015824
• ISBN-13: 978-0441015825
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #611,737 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Homage to Arthur Clarke, August 5, 2007

By	R. Kelly Wagner "[e-mail]" (MD, United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Spindrift (Hardcover)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Mysterious Object in Space, March 7, 2009

By	Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "OLD TIME SCI-FI", August 8, 2008

By	Alan Little "ALAMO52194" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!