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I'm not quite sure what to make of BEYOND THE SUN. At times it feels as though it simply isn't trying very hard, as if it's coasting on a reputation that it hasn't earned. It's certainly not a bad book; I found myself mostly engrossed in its straightforward plot. But it has enough flaws in it that I must reserve myself from fully recommending it. It's fairly unambitious, which isn't a crime unto itself (though personally I do prefer to read about something that's trying to be original), but it constantly seems to think that it's better than it really is. Its occasional attempts at levity and humor are welcome, though not always successful. Ultimately, I did enjoy it, but I doubt I'll be rereading this one any time soon.
The story is based upon an ancient artifact, a long dead civilization, and a deadly weapon, rumored to have powers beyond the sun. Professor Bernice Summerfield with the help of two unwitting students must unravel the mystery (and save her ex-husband's hide) before the dangerous secrets fall into the hands of those evil characters who would no doubt unleash deadly horrors upon the universe, as soon as they finish twirling their mustaches and tying Mr. Jason "Ex-Hubby" Kane to the train-tracks. The back-cover summary gives the impression of a fairly run-of-the-mill adventure, and to be honest, I found that to be an accurate assessment in many places. The plot is fairly entertaining, despite its limitations, and there's a satisfying (if not totally unexpected) little twist at the end to give the conclusion a needed shake-up.
I didn't find any of the characters here to be anything to write home about. They range from those who are adequate and occasionally interesting all the way down to those who are Really Bloody Annoying. And unfortunately, it's Benny's surrogate companions, Tameka and Emile, who fall into the latter category at most times. They do have moments where they become tolerable plot devices, but for the majority of their scenes, they're just whiney and annoying teenagers. It's rare for me to actually wish death upon a fictional creation, but when one of the characters appeared to be finally deceased I was actually pleased that I wouldn't have to read any more of their banal observations and dull thoughts. Imagine my supreme disappointment when that character popped up a few pages later in a distressing state of not-deadness.
And the surprising thing about the cardboard characters that do exist is that they are placed side-by-side with an environment and culture that are absolutely fascinating. Jones managed to pull off something that is usually very difficult to do; create an alien society that thinks and acts differently enough from humans, yet still manages to be logical and believable. Kudos for that. Their biology, their background, and thought-processes all make for fascinating reading. Perhaps Jones made his human characters such shallow creatures to better contrast the alienness of his new creation. If so, I wish he could have found a less annoying way.
Still, BEYOND THE SUN is a good read. It's not exactly demanding, yet it is enjoyable. The plot won't blow your mind, but it probably won't bore you either. The clever way in which Jones paints his alien landscape does make up for some of the failings in other areas. I didn't love it, but at least I didn't hate it.
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