REVIEW: The Devil's Nebula (Weird Space) by Eric Brown

Title: The Devil's Nebula
Author: Eric Brown
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Abaddon Books (29 May 2012)
ISBN 10: 1781080232
ISBN 13: 978-1781080238
Copy: Sent by the publisher
Reviewer: Yagiz

Starship Captain Ed Carew leads a carefree life of smuggling, gun-running and other illicit pursuits in a far future ruled by the fascistic Expansion Authority. But when an Expansion judiciary ship captures Carew leaving the planet of Hesperides, an out-of-bounds world now governed by the fearsome Vetch extraterrestrials, Carew and his crew are sentenced to death...

Unless they agree to travel through Vetch territory in pursuit of a human vessel that set off for the Devil’s Nebula one hundred years ago. Why are the Expansion authorities so eager to track down the ship? Will Carew and co. survive the journey through Vetch territory? And what might they find when they arrive at the Devil’s Nebula?

The blend of science-fiction and horror/the unknown/the weird is one of my favourite subgenres in fiction books. Even in cinema, give me a movie like Ridley Scott's Alien or John Carpenter's The Thing and I would be glued to the screen. That's why I had been looking forward to Eric Brown's The Devil's Nebula. Not only because I love Eric Brown's work in general but also because The Devil's Nebula is the first book of a new series called Weird Space. This whole package offered a great promise.

The Devil's Nebula's setting is not revolutionary. You're definitely not going to need an advanced physics degree to grasp the concepts that Brown put in place. Two main parallel story threads tell us about The Paradoxical Poet's crew's adventures and the life on a distant planet focussed on a young girl called Maatja. I was glad that the author included various alien races in his book. There are also many points that are left underdeveloped. I'm hoping that those are extension points of Weird Space's shared world.

The main characters are the three-man crew of The Paradoxical Poet (with an emphasis on Captain Ed Carew and Pilot Lania Takiomar) and a young girl called Maatja. And not surprisingly, two main parallel story threads follow the trio and Maatja separately. To tell you the truth I was not fully satisfied with the character development. Definitely not to the extend to dislike the book but I expected that Brown would (and I know he could) develop some parts better.

Maybe my previous complaint is also related to the size of the book. The Devil's Nebula is a short book. I would have enjoyed more if the book were thicker. The reader is left with the impression that the setting allowed much more, which is a good thing for the series. However I admit that a book slightly less than 300 pages is also a good fit for someone looking for a quick and captivating read.

One of the special points of the story is the connection bdtween the pilot and her spaceship. The author makes allusions to (or at least I was reminded of) one of his earlier books called Engineman. I remember that, when I was reading Engineman, I was impressed with the connection Brown imagined between a human being and an intelligent ship. The connection was so overwhelming that it was the most important thing in a pilot's life. In The Devil's Nebula, a pilot's experience is not at the level of reaching Nirvana however I still loved the idea of a pilot's conscience becoming part of the ship. Furthermore I find it much more realistic than a pilot holding a joystick.

Another interesting point of this series is that Weird Space is a shared world created by Eric Brown. I am really curious to see who will be contributing to the series and where they will take us. We already know about the second instalment of the series. It is written by Eric Brown as well and it is called Satan's Reach. It is due for release in the summer of 2013. And it sounds like we are going to know more about the Vetch Empire. Here's what the author said about his upcoming book:

"I'm excited about doing the second book in the Weird Space series - a seat-of-the-pants adventure entitled Satan’s Reach about a telepath on the run from the Expansion authorities and the bounty hunter who will stop at nothing to get him - and what they find on a far-flung planet in the badlands of Satan's Reach. It's space opera with the emphasis on starships, aliens, exotic worlds - and the perennial threat from the Weird."

And here's some blurb:

Den Harper is a telepath on the run from the Expansion authorities, and Sharl Janaker the bounty hunter chasing him across badlands of Satan’s Reach.
On a far-flung planet in the reach they must set aside their mutual enmity and face a foe that threatens not only the colonists of the Reach, but the entirety of the Expansion beyond.

On the one hand, I'm a little disappointed that Ed and Lania won't have a place (at least not a central one) in Satan's Reach. On the other hand, it is important for the future of the series to create a setting that goes beyond the stories of a few people.

To tell you the truth, I had high expectations about Eric Brown's new book The Devil's Nebula, the first book of the Weird Space series. And starting a book with high expectations is something that I've been trying to avoid. But fortunately The Devil's Nebula lived up to my expectations. I really liked its story and the way it is delivered. I'm looking forward to Satan's Reach. 

Plot: ............. 8
Characters: ... 7
Style: ............ 8

Overall: ....... 8.5/10

REVIEW: Forever War by Joe Haldeman

Forever War by Joe Haldeman
Publishing Information: Kindle; 292 pages
Publisher: Ridan Publishing; 6 July 2011
ISBN 10: 0312536631
ISBN 13: 978-0312536633
ASIN: B005BVM9YI
Standalone
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "The Earth's leaders have drawn a line in the interstellar sand--despite the fact that the fierce alien enemy they would oppose is inscrutable, unconquerable, and very far away. A reluctant conscript drafted into an elite Military unit, Private William Mandella has been propelled through space and time to fight in the distant thousand-year conflict; to perform his duties and do whatever it takes to survive the ordeal and return home. But "home" may be even more terrifying than battle, because, thanks to the time dilation caused by space travel, Mandella is aging months while the Earth he left behind is aging centuries...."

The Forever War has been on my must read list for quite some time. It one of those timeless classics that any science fiction reader should take the time to read. While not exactly a epic science fiction book, it does deal with some "hard science." For instance, the character doesn't age much with the aid of faster than light travel. As Mandella moves from conflict to conflict he rarely ages while the people he is fighting for back home age at a normal rate. I actually enjoyed this concept in the story and it did a great job of showing how segregated soldiers are from civilians. Their lives are different and just a small change such as this causes problems in a soldiers personal life.

Then there is Mandella himself. He is an ordinary man, certainly lucky, but an average Joe thrust into a situation greater than himself and he comes out both better and worse for his adventures. However, since this book was written after Haldeman's own experiences in the Vietnam war there is a much more negative look at war and its impact on those who fight in the trenches.

Forever War is a classic of that there is no denying. However, it is not the end all, be all that the book is usually touted as being. It is definitely worth checking out and forming your own opinion on, but if you are looking for the ultimate military sci-fi, you may have to dig deeper than this title. Recommended.

Plot 7.5/10
Characters 7/10
Style 7.5/10

Overall 7/10

REVIEW: The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi

The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
Publishing Information: Kindle
Publisher: Tor; 1 May 2007
ISBN 10: 0765354063
ISBN 13: 9780765354068
ASIN: B001QS9TSE
Series: Book #2 of Old Man's War
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopisis:"The Ghost Brigades are the Special Forces of the Colonial Defense Forces, elite troops created from the DNA of the dead and turned into the perfect soldiers for the CDF's toughest operations. They're young, they're fast and strong, and they're totally without normal human qualms.

The universe is a dangerous place for humanity--and it's about to become far more dangerous. Three races that humans have clashed with before have allied to halt our expansion into space. Their linchpin: the turncoat military scientist Charles Boutin, who knows the CDF's biggest military secrets. To prevail, the CDF must find out why Boutin did what he did.

Jared Dirac is the only human who can provide answers -- a superhuman hybrid, created from Boutin's DNA, Jared's brain should be able to access Boutin's electronic memories. But when the memory transplant appears to fail, Jared is given to the Ghost Brigades.

At first, Jared is a perfect soldier, but as Boutin's memories slowly surface, Jared begins to intuit the reason's for Boutin's betrayal. As Jared desperately hunts for his "father," he must also come to grips with his own choices. Time is running out: The alliance is preparing its offensive, and some of them plan worse things than humanity's mere military defeat…"

It has been a while since I have read Old Man's War. But I do remember it quite well and when it came time to find an incomplete series I have read it went to the top of the list. As we return to the universe Scalzi has created we are quickly drawn into an evil plot where one of the top scientists has apparently betrayed humanity. With the technology of the time allowing the CDF to clone the scientist and with luck uncover just why he did it and what plans he has for leaving.

A few characters return to the story but overall this has the feel of a completely different book. The fact that you have a background does help as there are very few info-dumps and Scalzi is allowed to tell a story and get down to business. It is quite a good rtory too. Just enough action and intrigue for anyone who is a fan of the original novel.

At the heart of the story is a story of personal growth. Because Jared is a clone of the scientist that betrayed the CDF he has repressed memories and as the story progresses they begin to surface and tell the other side of the story. It is a rather inventive way to tell the story.

Overall, a great second foray into the Old Man series. Recommended.

Plot 8/10
Characters 7/10
Style 8/10

Overall 7.5/10

REVIEW: Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi

Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi
Publishing Information: Kindle
Publisher: Tor; 10 May 2011
ISBN 10: 0765328542
ISBN 13: 978-0765328540
ASIN: B004OA63YO
Standalone
Copy: Out of pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis:""Jack Holloway works alone. Hundreds of miles from ZaraCorp’s headquarters on planet, 178 light-years from the corporation’s headquarters on Earth, Jack is content as an independent contractor. As for his past, that’s not up for discussion.

Then, in the wake of an accidental cliff collapse, Jack discovers a seam of unimaginably valuable jewels, to which he manages to lay legal claim just as ZaraCorp is cancelling their contract with him for his part in causing the collapse. Briefly in the catbird seat, legally speaking, Jack pressures ZaraCorp into recognizing his claim, and cuts them in as partners to help extract the wealth.

But there’s another wrinkle to ZaraCorp’s relationship with the planet Zarathustra. Their entire legal right to exploit the verdant Earth-like planet is based on being able to certify to the authorities on Earth that Zarathustra is home to no sentient species.

Then a small furry biped—trusting, appealing, and ridiculously cute—shows up at Jack’s outback home. Followed by its family. As it dawns on Jack that despite their stature, these are people, he begins to suspect that ZaraCorp’s claim to a planet’s worth of wealth is very flimsy indeed…and that ZaraCorp may stop at nothing to eliminate the “fuzzys” before their existence becomes more widely known."

There are very few authors that you can always count on to entertain you and also tell a darn good tale. John Scalzi is one of those authors. Fuzzy Nation was originally conceived by an author named H. Beam Piper in a three book series entitled Fuzzy. The first novel Little Fuzzy and its two sequels were the inspiration for Scalzi's novel. A side project that benefits fans of the author. While I have not read the original series and cannot comment on it, I am told that this story is as much similar to the original as it is different.

Fuzzy Nation tells the story of Jack Holloway is somewhat of a loner working as a speculator on the planet Zarathustra that is for all intents and purposes going to be stripped mined for its various precious elements. That is until a a little creature comes into his shed/house and changes his life and the status of the planet. As with all of Scalzi's work the story is infused with lots of humor and interesting situations. Which in the case of this novel, usually deal with either the Fuzzies or Holloway's dog. There are several other interesting characters and of a greedy corporation that is the pain in Holloway's side.

I think the reason I enjoyed the novel so much is that it is really paced well and the humor is in all of the right places. Add to the fact that the story is not far-fetched and you have a lovable group of aliens make for a great book. Holloway is also someone that you can sympathize with. Anyone who has read and enjoyed any of Scalzi's previous work will love this one as well.

Plot 9/10
Characters 9/10
Style 9/10

Overall 9/10