Customer Reviews

Starfarers

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

 

 

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.

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.

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!

This story looked like it was going to be about a group of people on a journey to the stars to find other life but instead we get all the politics and preparations and junk preceding the journey. The real search for other life only starts on the 4th-to-last-page of the book. The only things making this book barely worth reading are the characters -- but even they aren't like the author's other books' characters in terms of richness and depth.