Helpful Score: 5
The Premise: Mikhail Volkov is a clone of Peter the Great and heir apparent to the great Novaya Rus Empire. He's captain of the warship the Svobada, and helping the United Colonies fight off the alien Nefarim when it's requested that he investigate the sudden appearance of a warp drive from the long lost Fenrir. With the drive being covered in coral and sea life, it's apparently come from some body of water, but according to it's data, it's last jump was a misjump to location zero. Mikhail accepts the mission, jumps to the same location and crashes. His adopted brother Turk becomes separated from him in a world where they are surrounded by aliens and humans in the same situation and who never escaped.
Overall: I really liked this one. At almost 500 pages long, it's a clunker, but it's a standalone with well written characters, and I thought it was worth the read. Recommend this one to space opera fans and fans of science fiction romance (although I'd say the romance is a secondary plot), with the warning that there's some complex plotting and ideas going on, but if you're willing to deal with a little thinking, you'll be rewarded.
Overall: I really liked this one. At almost 500 pages long, it's a clunker, but it's a standalone with well written characters, and I thought it was worth the read. Recommend this one to space opera fans and fans of science fiction romance (although I'd say the romance is a secondary plot), with the warning that there's some complex plotting and ideas going on, but if you're willing to deal with a little thinking, you'll be rewarded.
Helpful Score: 1
8/21/08 In the far future, Captain Mikhail Volkhov of the Svoboda, his brother Turk who is and commands the Reds on the ship, -- people designed as super- warriors, but Mikhail is the clone of Peter the Great and will be Tsar of New Russia -- are ordered to discover what happened to the ship Fenrir, which disappeared, and has reappeared encased in coral. They wind up in Saragasso, a sea without a planet, where ships go when they cant or dont make their jump.
Time, physics and many other things dont obey the laws we know. Turk meets Paige who runs a fishing boat with many family members and is an amazing linguist and translator. She makes Turk feel like the man he is. Mikhail, whos lost a lot of ship, his crew, he thinks Turk, was never terribly sane and takes a bad turn. Turk and Mikhail are re- united and together are able to complete their mission.
A very unusual first contact novel, space exploration, military sf, with some romance included and character-driven hard science fiction. A mix of things that are rarely successfully mixed, but this is a keeper.
Time, physics and many other things dont obey the laws we know. Turk meets Paige who runs a fishing boat with many family members and is an amazing linguist and translator. She makes Turk feel like the man he is. Mikhail, whos lost a lot of ship, his crew, he thinks Turk, was never terribly sane and takes a bad turn. Turk and Mikhail are re- united and together are able to complete their mission.
A very unusual first contact novel, space exploration, military sf, with some romance included and character-driven hard science fiction. A mix of things that are rarely successfully mixed, but this is a keeper.
