Customer Reviews

Starship Down

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

 

 

The dedication and opening of Starship Down got my attention, and the combination of characters and an organic plot kept my attention. While this book has enough stereotyping to keep me from awarding that fifth star, it is a really good read. My favorite science fiction yarns involve space travel, an element of suspense, exotic worlds and beings, and characters who must overcome the odds, and by so doing, become greater than they were when introduced during the exposition phase of the story. Romance is always welcome, if appropriate to the characters. Bain does manage to hit the marks on my checklist. Starship Down is a good read by an author who has produced quite a number of other entertaining stories.

A few too many cliche's and obvious plot twists and a little stilted with the romantic issues. A decent overall effort and a building block on which the writer should look back in 10 years with a little pride and a little horror.

I always love reading Darrell Bain's books. This was the first one that I couldn't finish, and it certainly wasn't Mr. Bain's fault. Despite trying to download this book by Whispernet and also by PC (USB cable), the book has a lot of formatting errors, including quite a few ampersands, carats and other odd things that were randomly placed in there, making it more or less unreadable.

Since Im such a big fan of Darrell Bain, I'll let him keep my money even though I didn't read this book past 20 pages. Still looking forward to his next book. Hopefully the ebook version of it will be error free and readable.

The formatting errors reported by one reader have been repaired. You may download and read this book with no problem now. I gave it four stars because I had to put something down in order to tell readers the book is okay. I suggest Amazon allow authors to make notes in the review column when something is wrong with the formatting of a book to tell readers when it has been repaired. It isn't fair for the author to have to rate it by stars. I gave it four because i do think it is one of my better ones.
Darrell Bain

I like stories of stranded people on islands or planets. Especially when a group of people land on an alien planet and have to figure how to survive before being consumed by the alien environment. This book falls into that category. But some aspects of this story just didn't make sense to me. Like they have a space-faring ship, but only one computer on the whole damn ship that can run calculations?! I have more computers in my kitchen than this space ship seemed to have. Then they can travel between the stars, but they can't map the stars and figure out where in the galaxy they are?

Then there's the rape and sexual assault. It went a little overboard for me.

The story is kind of thin, the writing, the descriptions, the characters even the tech is minimalist but it is an okay read.

This is the best book I have read in a long time. Is there a sequel out there, or in the works? I sure hope so. I love his writing style, very easy to read and entertaining. Highly recommended.

Bain is like Sean Connery - you can count on him to be absolutely himself, which is terrific, every time out. This is no exception. Other Bain greats are the pet plague books, the sex gate books, and -- well. Read the list and buy them all, electronic or paper.

Based in the reviews and the preview I took a chance that this would be a readable adventure story. It isn't, in my opinion.

In the face of a serious emergency, sex, booze and an Islamic enemy seem to be the focus of interest. Most conversations are at best sophomoric.

Sentences like the following made the book difficult for me to continue...
--- "Right," Travis confirmed with hidden mirth at the opposite man's hillbilly accent, reflecting his Appalachian Mountain origin. If didn't fit his stern features nor the worry he sensed in Grindstaff's countenance. ---

Is this `hidden mirth' about a hillbilly accent supposed to help define Travis or Grindstaff?

--- ... Major Grindstaff thinks Captain Gordon is a lightweight and a left wingnut besides." ---

Now, what does that mean? The story to that point portrayed Gordon as incompetent, insecure and in his position because of family influence. Not usually the formula for any kind of political activist or even someone who shows strong, or even mild, 'leftist' leanings (whatever those are meant to be in this book). And if he's not some kind of political activist what does such a statement have to do with anything, other that to appeal to certain prejudices?

My opinion, without even wanting to finish chapter two is that this book is formulaic. Perhaps it gets better after chapter two ...