Category Archives: Space Opera

Calamity’s Child : A Novel of the Frontier

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41khi+k8SxLReturn to the days of serialized space operas from the golden era of science fiction with Calamity’s Child: A Novel of the Frontier by M. Keaton.

Do you remember reading space adventures when you were a kid? Alien creatures that interacted with human counterparts? Bounty hunters on the frontier? Keaton uses those concepts to create his novel (from serials) Calamity’s Child: A Novel of the Frontier.

This book is enjoyable. I will not say it is great – but it is on the edge of enjoyable. Could I put it down? Yes, but that was more because each chapter read like a short story. This isn’t surprising since it is a reworked series of shorts.

The characters are as colorful as you would expect – House, the boss man; Red Dog, the alien; Ivan Steponovich, the bounty hunter; and a cast of other frontier-typical characters. This book is not original in its concept or execution, yet it feels fresh while reading it.

This book, Calamity’s Child: A Novel of the Frontier, deserves a cautious “thumbs up” for the general science fiction reader, but a deserved “thumbs up” for those who miss the adventure serials of their youth.

Ministry of Space

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Warning: Spoiler-heavy review.51EnH+ttlZL

Ministry Of Space by Ellis, Weston, and Martin is an alternative history where the United Kingdom uses duplicity, explosions, and deceit to become the space power. As far as alternate history goes, it is just “ok.”

I know that this book is considered a classic by many comic book readers, but, well, as someone familiar with the sub-genre of alternate history, it was very derivative and not as well-formed as most. I’ve seen better in Romance, Science Fiction, Mystery and Fantasy, as well as those books that wind up on the general fiction shelves.

With visual media there should have been better cues of the “stuck in the pre-Civil Rights” mentality that just were not there. There were not cues for the reader to pick up on to indicate the social divisions were anything more than the normal British class divisions. As a matter of fact, the idea that any minority would be a pilot would have been anathema to most pre-Civil Rights era mentalities.

As a student of history, I didn’t find it surprising or all that appalling that an Allied Power used the ill-gotten gains of the Germans to power the Ministry of Space. No one with any sense thinks that victors don’t take the spoils of war. Yes, they may go through the motions of giving some compensation to victims, but the majority of bounty will always go to the government holding victory.

Honestly, I was disappointed. I did not find the final frame all that worthy. I did not find the story all that shocking. Perhaps I am just too old and cynical, but I expect governments to act in this way. The only shocking part was that the Parliament and Prime Minister were as cooperative as they were. Even successful programs become targets in political battles.

Maybe I just expect more from the particular team who did this graphic novel.

In summation, the art work is gorgeous, the dialogue is quite well written, the overall story is just silly and derivative. If you want to read a light alternative history with pretty pictures, Ministry Of Space is worth getting from your library.

National Infertility Awareness Week 2008 – Some Non-Traditional Reading

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National Infertility Awareness Week LogoOctober 19 to October 25, 2008 is National Infertility Awareness Week in the USA. Last year I wrote Some Hard Facts on Infertility. This year I would like to recommend some lighter reading on possible futures where, maybe some societies aren’t comfortable with reproductive health and technology – but others are.

Lois McMaster’s Bujold – Miles Vorkosigan Universe

51qfyOP2-GLAt the top of my list are the Lois McMaster’s Bujold Miles Vorkosigan series. It starts with Cordelia’s Honor – actually two novellas Shards of Honor and Barrayar (won the Hugo in 1992). One of the best space opera series ever written starts before the birth of the main character – with his mother and her struggles to come to terms with a backwards world (to her eyes) after coming from a cutting edge technological world where not only is reproductive technology taken for granted, but people regularly reassign themselves to a new sex. Beta Colony is Cordelia’s homeworld. Barrayar, her new husband’s homeworld believes even such basic medical technology as uterine replicators are an abomination.

Bujold worked in a hospital when she heard all the horror stories that many folks used to argue against IVF and other helpful technologies. Her response? Put the reproductive technology in the background of her stories with the occassional culture clashes between the Beta Colony native and her Barrayaran cohorts. This is just one part of this masterful space opera where modern ideas conflict with and merge with the feudalistic Barrayaran monarchy.

Of course, she did do one whole book on clones and how, well, they are people to the characters in the book. Perhaps reading her books, and knowing the people I know, I find the fear of reproductive cloning absolutely incomprehensible. Now, I don’t think it should be done without solving the cell aging issue that seems to be plaguing mammalian clones, but I don’t think there should be an outright ban. This, to me, just speaks of fear.

Now, Bujold does not doubt the realities of greed and what can happen if there is no recognition of the humanity of those who result from genetic manipulation. In the 1988 Nebula Award for Best Novel, Falling Free (Vorkosigan Saga), Bujold writes what happens when the interests of industry outweigh the rights of those who result from genetic manipulation. She revisits this issue in other Vorkosigan books by showing the various ways in which a society can – and can choose not to – regulate cloning and other other reproductive technology.

I’m going to look through my notes to find what else I can find where reproductive technology is “just part of the story” and not just as a horror element!

Primary Inversion (Audiobook)

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Primary Inversion
Primary Inversion (The Saga of the Skolian Empire) by Catherine Asaro is a solid romantic space opera with a hard science fiction twist. Ms. Asaro is a chemical physicist, and knows here science. The story follows Sauscony Valdoria, a cyber-enhanced empathic warrior, who just happens to be the heir to the Skolian Empire. Sauscony, “Soz”, is not keen on becoming one of the triumvirate within her family that controls the interconnected web that allows for their advanced society.

We find Soz with her little group of comrades in arms at a neutral world where they happen on one Jabrol Qox. Jabrol Qox’s existence is impossible. He is an empath, possibly as strong as Soz who belongs to a non-empathic group of humans who are the sworn enemies of the Skolians, Eubians. The Eubians are a cruel trader race of humans who enjoy feeding off of the torment of others – especially empaths. The existence of an empath in the Eubian empire – especially in the direct heir to the empire – turns Soz’s world upside down.

Soz has a history with the Eubians, and not a pleasant one. Her defenses are up when she meets with Jabrol the first time, but an immediate connection comes into place between the two as their empathic powers seem to mesh into a greater, complementary whole.

The book is somewhat predictable as a romance, but it is also quite enjoyable. The added science fiction elements enhance, rather than detract from, the overall story.

Reader, Anna Fields does a good job of differentiating the characters and making the story move through her narration.

This audiobook is definitely worth a listen – and I’m looking forward to listening to the next book in the series.

The Eternals

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The Eternals

Eternals is an interesting take on integrating Jack Kirby’s Eternals into the main Marvel Universe.

Normally, I don’t care much for Neil Gaiman’s books. He is an excellent author – just not my cup of tea. Eternals grabbed my attention. I liked the way he held them above the (abomination called) the Civil War in the Marvel Universe. Calling the lot of them nothing more than children playing at war.

Now, the read is interesting and quick, but the logic does not hold water. I discussed this with my Comic Book Geek version of Husband. The suspension of disbelief needed to create a group of creatures, the Deviants, that no one had noticed in all of Marvel’s pseudohistory is, well, silly. It just wouldn’t happen. Also, why would Galactus try and eat a prison planet of someone more powerful than him? It just doesn’t add up. (Comic book folks are just as bad as any fan group, and all of us do get tied to our continuities.)

Sprite may be a powerful Eternal, but could he really erase Sersi’s memory of all her various conquests? Gaiman also chooses to ignore that there are Eternals who are mortal living on one of the moon’s of Jupiter. Remember them from She-Hulk? (If you are interested in Marvel Comics, you really need to read the current crop of She-Hulks.)

The story is loosely based off of the Erich Von Daniken’s Chariots of the Gods with a heavy dosing of the Cthulhu mythos. The Sleeping Celestial? C’mon, that is mighty Lovecraftian. Not that there is anything wrong with using Lovecraft’s imagery, but make up your mind.

Take it as a standalone, outside of canon Marvel Universe, and it is an enjoyable read. Just don’t try and retrofit Eternals into the Marvel Universe.

She-Hulk Volume 4: Laws Of Attraction TPB

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21qbxx6ckvl_aa_.jpgVol. 4: Laws of Attraction

Ok, I know it is a comic book – or more properly, a Graphic Novel – but it is really well written with romance in a type of supernatural setting. This is the fourth book in the series and it follows Jennifer Walters, cousin of the Hulk’s, David Banner, and top notch lawyer. We all want to be a super-strong, high-powered, green attorney, don’t we? Ok, maybe not, but this is a hero a woman can be proud of being associated with her sex. Dan Slott can write convincing female characters. And she can be powerful sexually while remaining just as vulnerable as any person – and those around her all have quirky personalities as well. Oh, and did I mention She Hulk has been drafted by a group of interdimensional / intergalactic justices who work to make sure justice prevails in whatever form. This has led to some interesting storylines that actually end up being important to her love life as well as those around her. I know this isn’t typical romance fare, but you just might enjoy it. I highly recommend getting your hands on the other books in the series:

Vegging Out for the Weekend

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So I wasted another perfectly good weekend where I could have gone through and thrown out stuff from my basement and kitchen and bedroom and office – well you get the idea – and read trashy (but good) novels. I also went to a housewarming party for some friends of DH and mine. It was good to see folks.

The books I read?

Plague of Memories by S.L. Viehl. This is part of the StarDoc series she has been working on for many years. It is a very nice space opera with Jarn as the main character. I highly recommend the entire series so I don’t want to give too much away. That is, other than to say that it is an interesting look at society’s memories of people.

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs is a wonderful romp with Mercedes Thompson, the shapeshifting mechanic / coyote. This is in the horror romance genre with fae, werewolves, vampires, and demons. Now, this might seem a little crowded to try and make a good yarn, but Briggs pulls it off with the poor little walker, Mercedes, stuck between all the big players. They all seem to know more about what she is than she does.

I also read the Catwoman graphic novel my DH had out from the library – but between cooking, going to the party, and, well watching the movie Idiocracy (next post), I didn’t have a lot of time. I guess I could have gave up some of the sleeping? Nah, not gonna happen.