The year is 2152. What started as a normal work day for BJ Armstrong (debugging the latest faulty AI), quickly turned to the adventure of a lifetime. Join Armstrong on his all-expenses-paid 30-day cruise through the solar system on board the maiden voyage of the latest pleasure ship (complete with a beauty pageant and scientific symposium), as he tries to unravel an assassination plot and foil … plot and foil the biggest heist in history.
The author has done his research in presenting this offering. The travels of the protagonist–BJ–on his solar system holiday provide a vehicle, not only for his adventure/mystery/romance storyline but also to impart a huge amount of historical/technological information and speculation on the future possibilities of science, including the fascinating terraforming our neighbouring worlds. This follows a style of classic sci-fi where imparting information is at least as important as story.
Exposition on this scale is not for the light reader. To make the most of this book you’ll need to be prepared to take your time and absorb the data provided, possibly referring to the extensive resources in the appendices as you go.
For me, I found the plot a bit simplistic–more of a space-romp–but I think this may have been an intentional homage to the specific sub-type of the genre. The attention to detail in the factual sections overflowed into the narrative, making the delivery dry at times and hampering the pace.
I recommend this for any hard-core sci-fi fans out there whose hearts quicken when presented with detailed technical schematics.
This is a near-future, solar-system adventure-story in the style of golden-age science fiction. It reminded me very much of the SciFi I grew up on by such giants as Heinlien, Asimov, and Clarke. The book also gives a gentle nod to them, with many (many!) bits of homage and pop-culture Easter eggs to get any sci-fi nerd squealing with joy.
*** What to expect
Expect a review of possibilities in the near future (well, in 150 years) for colonisation of the solar system. Klein does a wonderful job of researching current technologies and extrapolating what conditions would be like. And we’re not taking just dry descriptions of settlement technology, but of the socio-economic implications of it as well.
In a sense this combines the golden-age classic look at predicting the future, but adapting it to what we know the main drivers are today: artificial intelligence, solar system travel and communications options, terraforming and agriculture on distant planets, etc.
A story, however, is more than that. In terms of characters, the story is told through the eyes of BJ Armstrong, the protagonist. An IT nerd specialising in AI, we are treated to his views and commentary on his first trip outside of Earth. There are are sub-plots with intrigue and mystery (accidents, murder attempts, jumpy security guards), but I would say they are not the focus.
Overall, I was engrossed by the story progression. It’s a breath of fresh air to read a story that takes its time rather than constantly hit you with plot twists; written by an author who knows what they’re talking about in terms of cause and effect of technology; set in a world that shows what humanity can rise to rather than the current dystopian craze about what it might sink to; and generally explore what life could realistically look like for our grandchildren on a micro and macro level.
*** What to be aware of
This isn’t a thriller, nor is it a colonisation story. It’s an adventure story with elements of intrigue, as our protagonist cruises across the solar system. This is a quick read (not a novella, just a short novel), that serves a lot of world-building for future stories in the same universe.
Character interactions and themes match those of earlier science fiction works as well (with a good reason). This isn’t your modern angsty, young-adult, touchy-feely characters type of novel, but one for more cerebral inclinations.
*** Summary
If you’re a sci-fi geek who grew up on the golden age classics, I have no doubt you’ll enjoy this novel.
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Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: Togas, Daggers, and Magic – for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.