If he fixes the robot, will he break his world? In a future ruled by sharia law machines are managed by debuggers, who in turn are owned by masters. Sandfly is a level 12 debugger. He is sent into Earth orbit to repair a robot-a robot that went on an experimental flight into deep space... And tore itself apart. As Sandfly digs into the mystery aboard the space station, he discovers what the bot heard around that distant star. He discovers that the bot heard...singing. As Sandfly pieces together the clues, the masters spread the trap before his feet. Everyone is racing to the same conclusion, but only one side welcomes what the singing represents. *** Kerry Nietz is a refugee of the soft ware industry. He spent more than a decade of his life fl ipping bits-fi rst as one of the principal developers of the database product FoxPro for the now mythical Fox Soft ware, and then as one of Bill Gates's minions at Microsoft . He is a husband, a father, a technophile and a movie buff . He has one previously published book, a memoir enti tled FoxTales: Behind the Scenes at Fox Soft ware. A Star Curiously Singing is his fi rst novel.
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Kerry Nietz is a refugee of the software industry. He spent more than a decade of his life flipping bits, first as one of the principal developers of the database product FoxPro for the now mythical Fox Software, and then as one of Bill Gates's minions at Microsoft. He is a husband, a father, a technophile and a movie buff. He has one non-fiction book, a memoir entitled FoxTales: Behind the Scenes at Fox Software. His first novel, A Star Curiously Singing, was published in October of 2009.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Unique Tale You'll Never Forget! 5-Stars all the way!,
By Ellen C. Maze "author of Rabbit: Chasing Beth... (Montgomery, AL United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
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This review is from: A Star Curiously Singing (Paperback)
In a futuristic world where sharia law is in place and mankind relies on technology to perform the simplest task, DR63 "SandFly" is about to find his life turned upside down. A `Chosen One', SandFly was chosen as a youth to be implanted with a device that would allow him to speak to all of the machines that run the planet. Even though this would seem to give him incredible, unstoppable power, it does not because those in charge who `chose him' hold a controller that zaps him if disobeys. SandFly is a tool who belongs to a master, no more, no less. So how can he change the world? And what's wrong with the world anyway?
I'll leave that up to you to find out. Let me just tell you how fun this book was to read. As an author myself, I read lots and lots of books. Some I enjoy, some not so much. This book, A STAR CURIOUSLY SINGING, is one that I hated to put down and I couldn't get it out of my mind. Because of my work load, I was only able to pick it up an hour at a time, but every time I set it down to go back to work, I thought about it all day. I sympathized and fell in love with the lead character immediately and worried for him as I longed to get back to the book. I can easily say that this is one of the best books I have ever read, and this is my very first sci-fi novel. A review would not be complete without mentioning the technical aspects of Nietz's method and style of writing. SandFly speaks in first person, and he speaks often to me, the reader. He calls me a `freehead' (I have no implant, you see!) and through his point of view, I know him very intimately--and I like him! He is such a well-rounded, three-dimensional character that I felt often that that if I released just a little bit, I could imagine he is real and this book is true. I am looking forward to reading the sequel to this story THE SUPERLATIVE STREAM. Bravo Mr. Nietz and God bless, Ellen C Maze Author of Curiously Spiritual Vampire Tales
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Striking and chilling,
By
This review is from: A Star Curiously Singing (Paperback)
Meet Sandfly, a debugger controlled by his masters through an implant in his head. He is surprised when he is sent to an orbiting space station to cary out repairs on a robot - don't they have any fix-it people up there already?
In any case there is more to it than meets the eye, and a tangled web of concealments and intentions grows up around the young man as he tries to solve the impossible problem. The cynical control practiced by the masters is chilling to say the least. The culture is described carefully and circumspectly, not naming any names, although its nature is obvious from the first glance. A wonderfully creative touch comes by way of Sandfly's bizarre dreams, caused by a lack of proper sleep on the space station. The story's told from inside Sandfly's head, in arresting real-time style. When it turns out that the robot has learned something new and vital and dangerous about the nature of the universe, we see that the story is just beginning. Sandfly's life is going to change forever. But the book ends in a good place with all the strands wrapped up in a satisfying ending. This may be one of the most unusual books I've picked up this year. Events proceed surely and steadily, but are absolutely gripping. Who could have imagined that a story about fixing a robot could be so completely engrossing?
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clarke and crichton!,
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This review is from: A Star Curiously Singing (Paperback)
I almost feel like what I'm about to write should be read by Don LaFontaine. But here we go . . .
In a world where Shari'a law is the rule and norm, SandFly is a debugger. He has an implant in his brain that allows him to access computer systems and robots, fixing and reprogramming them from within. But the implant also inhibits him, blocking "bad" thoughts and actions from ever forming. His master sends him out on a mission to work on a robot that was part of the first interstellar flight to an alien star. On the trip, something caused the robot to tear itself to pieces. SandFly's job is to find out what that was. The problem is, if he does, he puts himself and the whole world in jeopardy. That's the plot of A Star Curiously Singing by Kerry Nietz. I really enjoyed this book. Nietz puts together a very intricate world with its own terminology, rules, and mores and employs it effectively. At first, I had a little bit of trouble digesting it all. We dive in with both feet into SandFly's world, which has a lot of flash and jargon to it. Getting used to the ideas of debuggers, the stream, downriders, and so on and so forth. But once I got into it, everything flowed quite nicely. I especially appreciated Nietz's made up "cursing." Crichton and clarke! The dystopian feel to it worked as well. Neitz's posited future, one where a certain monotheistic religion basically conquers the world, felt plausible and fully realized. The only thing that bothered me about that was referring to people as "Abduls." It was so constant it almost felt unnecessarily disrespectful. I understood the reasoning toward the end when Neitz explained it, but by then, I wonder if other readers might not be turned off. The interesting thing is that if you read the backcover copy of the book (which I did not summarize completely in my "Mr. Movie Voice" business above), you pretty much will know the whole plot. It doesn't stray that much from it. But the really cool thing is that Neitz keeps you going. It's a fun read and a wild ride through the future. I'm looking forward to what I assume will be a series following the further adventures of SandFly.
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