Starfarers [Mass Market Paperback]

Vonda McIntyre (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1994

In the first in the Starfarers series of novels, the commander of the Starfarer spacecraft, scientist Victoria MacKenzie, must battle her own commanders on Earth to keep on her mission to find extraterrestrial life. Reissue.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 326 pages
• Publisher: Spectra (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553563416
• ISBN-13: 978-0553563412
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,250,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Appealing but not as good as her earlier books, January 27, 2007

By 

Fantab (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starfarers (Mass Market Paperback)

I absolutely adore Vonda McIntyre's earlier books (esp. Dreamsnake, Exile Waiting). This series has a very different feel and I didn't enjoy it as much. Each book covers only a few days of time, so every moment of every character's life during that time is told in the tiniest detail (right down to meal and bathroom breaks). Their double-cylinder spaceship is intriguing and many of the characters are interesting as they prepare for their journey, and I did enjoy spending time with them... just not *that* much time.

There are some interesting sci-fi ideas scattered throughout the book, but it does lack one big idea or focus. The goal of the "crew" (the huge ship is set up more like a university campus) is to search for alien life, which is not a compelling hook in my opinion. When they find it, it's just not that interesting. The scenes of first contact (in later books) lack a sense of importance and so I wasn't left feeling awestruck. Maybe I was expecting too much or missing the point... I simply didn't get that sense of wonder that I got with Dreamsnake.

But I'm currently re-reading the series... so there's no doubt it's retained some appeal through the years.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best is yet to come, March 26, 2002

By 

E. Marin "voracious reader" (Palo Alto, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Starfarers (Mass Market Paperback)

Admittedly not the strongest start, but recommended regardless as the first volume of one of my favorite science fiction series of all time. Vonda McIntyre tends to incorporate a few favorite elements into many of her short stories and novels, and I consider this series to be the culmination of her imaginings, even if it didn't get the same kind of critical attention as "Dreamsnake" or "The Moon and the Sun." "Starfarers" is a bit slow, used mainly to introduce the principals and really only hinting at the adventures to come, but the payoff in the next three novels is more than worth it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Disappointed - an exciting, intriguing tale, April 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Starfarers (Mass Market Paperback)

Layer upon layer of juicy speculative detail about Earth in the near-future, particularly North America, and the events leading up to the launch of a space exploration habitat. Not your thing if you're into alien shoot-em-ups--the excitement here is more subtle, emotional and intellectual. Excellent political suspense, fascinating scientific ideas, interpersonal and sexual tension. People I cared about. I was particularly impressed with the way the writer tied all of her diverse storylines together, and spoke authentically from the perspectives of very different characters. I loved this book!