Rating: 
Summary: Since the gods are coming, proper socialism is critical
Review: A group of ancient cosmonauts from Earth itself squabble amongst themselves and with multiple sapient races on a planet ten thousand light years from Earth. Obscure debates about the virtues of anarchy and socialism and whether a republican form of government is a step away from true democracy seem to interest them almost as much as the true meaning of the 'gods' among the asteroid belts. Yet the gods are real--if not truly gods. They pursue their own motives and bicker amongst themselves, even as the humans squable on the planet below. They rain gifts on some, but Matt and his fellow cosmonauts wonder whether those gifts have strings attached--strings that may involve yanking occasional light-speed ships into far-distant wars. And suddenly the type of government on this obscure planet matters a great deal. Because if the gods can send humans on a far journey to war on other species, they could also send another species to war on the humans. Author Ken Macleod has created an interesting world with a seemingly stable coexistence between multiple sapient species and between stone age and early industrial human societies. The space-travelling families who visit worlds once every couple of centuries provide a destablizing yet progress-rich catalyst to the planet dwellers below. Fans of political fiction may enjoy Macleod's concern for the battles between socialist causes. I suspect, however, that many U.S. readers, at least, will find this portion of the novel to be slow going without any unexpected insights.
Rating: 
Summary: 10% SciFi, 50% politics, 40% gender identity crisis
Review: I enjoyed Cosmonaut Keep, the predecessor to this book, and I thought the ideas presented to be provocative and engrossing. Dark Light, however, adds very little to the previous story. Yes, the same characters exist in the book (although Gregor and Elizabeth have merely bit parts), and it's in the same universe, but the story is droll and not-at-all sci-fi. If you're interested in how socialism works or the benefits of different styles of democracy, read this book. If you are looking for characters confused by their gender identity (are you a man or a woman? It depends on your actions), you may like this book. If you want interesting SCI FI, however, steer clear. I found myself actually skimming paragraphs and daydreaming through far-too-long treatises on formation of political parties, all the while waiting for something interesting to happen. There is a very small payoff that continues the story when they visit "the gods", but it is a paltry fraction of the book's text. I don't know if the next book will deliver a more interesting, but I won't be rushing out to buy it. Disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat disjointed
Review: Let me start off this review by saying that I really enjoyed "Cosmonaut Keep" both for the political intrigue typical of Macleod, and because of the fascinating circumstances in which it took place. It is therefore with some regret that I can only give the sequel, "Dark Light", three stars. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a bad book, and by the standards of most science fiction it was a great book, but it really wasn't up to Macleod's usual high standards. The plot picks up where "Cosmonaut Keep" left off: with the familiar cast of characters traveling to the planet Mingulay. Unfortunately, right off the bat the writing gets awkward. Gregor and Elizabeth, the two main characters from the first novel, have a role in the first twenty pages, and then completely disappear for the next 150. Now, I understand that Macleod is looking for an epic feel, with a large cast of characters, but it really interrupts the flow of the novel when two important characters fall completely off the radar. As the novel continues, we learn of Matt Cairn's quest to solve the mystery behind the origination of the Second Sphere, and later, having received his answer, engaging in political-military intrigue to equip Mingulay to meet its fate. Unfortunately, Macleod's touch isn't as deft as it usually is in this area. The machinations of the characters seem more contrived than meaningful, and I was frequently left wondering why they were even bothering. Motivations in this novel are muddy to say the least. Also, Macleod on several occasions seems to be on the verge of delving into the nature of faith, but then he backs away, leaving interesting, but half formed, ideas on the page. As I stated earlier, "Dark Light" is not a bad novel, and if you enjoyed "Cosmonaut Keep" you will definitely want to read it (if you haven't don't even attempt to start with this book, you'll be lost from the get go). However, it falls short of Macleod's previous writings, and is somewhat disappointing as a result. Still, it is does have some remarkable moments of adventure and imagination, and if you're looking for a quick, smart read, you won't go wrong with "Dark Light".
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat disjointed
Review: Let me start off this review by saying that I really enjoyed "Cosmonaut Keep" both for the political intrigue typical of Macleod, and because of the fascinating circumstances in which it took place. It is therefore with some regret that I can only give the sequel, "Dark Light", three stars. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a bad book, and by the standards of most science fiction it was a great book, but it really wasn't up to Macleod's usual high standards. The plot picks up where "Cosmonaut Keep" left off: with the familiar cast of characters traveling to the planet Mingulay. Unfortunately, right off the bat the writing gets awkward. Gregor and Elizabeth, the two main characters from the first novel, have a role in the first twenty pages, and then completely disappear for the next 150. Now, I understand that Macleod is looking for an epic feel, with a large cast of characters, but it really interrupts the flow of the novel when two important characters fall completely off the radar. As the novel continues, we learn of Matt Cairn's quest to solve the mystery behind the origination of the Second Sphere, and later, having received his answer, engaging in political-military intrigue to equip Mingulay to meet its fate. Unfortunately, Macleod's touch isn't as deft as it usually is in this area. The machinations of the characters seem more contrived than meaningful, and I was frequently left wondering why they were even bothering. Motivations in this novel are muddy to say the least. Also, Macleod on several occasions seems to be on the verge of delving into the nature of faith, but then he backs away, leaving interesting, but half formed, ideas on the page. As I stated earlier, "Dark Light" is not a bad novel, and if you enjoyed "Cosmonaut Keep" you will definitely want to read it (if you haven't don't even attempt to start with this book, you'll be lost from the get go). However, it falls short of Macleod's previous writings, and is somewhat disappointing as a result. Still, it is does have some remarkable moments of adventure and imagination, and if you're looking for a quick, smart read, you won't go wrong with "Dark Light".
Rating: 
Summary: Motivation is the key...
Review: Matt Cairns, Gregor Cairns and the rest of the crew of the Bright Star have left Mingulay and visited their nearest star system, right next door. But they all have different reasons for going. Not everybody is doing it for the trade.
This second book in a the series is about motivation. What IS Matt after? What are Volkov's plans? What do the saur's want? What are the motivations of the krakens and, more importantly, what do the gods want?
And what happens when Matt decides to go and ask the gods themselves?
Rating:
Summary: Motivation is the key...
Review: Matt Cairns, Gregor Cairns and the rest of the crew of the Bright Star have left Mingulay and visited their nearest star system, right next door. But they all have different reasons for going. Not everybody is doing it for the trade.
This second book in a the series is about motivation. What IS Matt after? What are Volkov's plans? What do the saur's want? What are the motivations of the krakens and, more importantly, what do the gods want?
And what happens when Matt decides to go and ask the gods themselves?
Rating: 
Summary: Will the real socialist please stand up?
Review: Oh, those Brits! Having to contend with Banks, Reynolds and Mielville isn't enough. We must have this bloke inflicted on us as well. Surprisingly, unlike his earlier work, I have found 'Cosmosnaut Keep' and this volume, the first two in this series to be 'the real thing'. This is surprising as it is very heavily flavoured with the dead hand of (gasp!) Socialism, the conflict between the classes, the worker's ownership of the means of production and all that. Mind you, the terrain of these two books is so cluttered with all sorts of oddities, a second sphere of worlds seeded by 'ancient Gods', lightspeed travel, dinosaurs, saurs descended from dinosaurs, fun and games with sexuality and relatiosnhips, real live Neandethals. Hang on to your hat and open that volume. Remember 'A female man', 'The dispossessed'? Welcome to the world of immortal cosmonauts and spam in a can. Welcome to the darkness of light.
Rating:
Summary: Will the real socialist please stand up?
Review: Oh, those Brits! Having to contend with Banks, Reynolds and Mielville isn't enough. We must have this bloke inflicted on us as well. Surprisingly, unlike his earlier work, I have found 'Cosmosnaut Keep' and this volume, the first two in this series to be 'the real thing'. This is surprising as it is very heavily flavoured with the dead hand of (gasp!) Socialism, the conflict between the classes, the worker's ownership of the means of production and all that. Mind you, the terrain of these two books is so cluttered with all sorts of oddities, a second sphere of worlds seeded by 'ancient Gods', lightspeed travel, dinosaurs, saurs descended from dinosaurs, fun and games with sexuality and relatiosnhips, real live Neandethals. Hang on to your hat and open that volume. Remember 'A female man', 'The dispossessed'? Welcome to the world of immortal cosmonauts and spam in a can. Welcome to the darkness of light.
Rating:
Summary: deep cerebral science fiction
Review: The most powerful sentient beings known in the universe have been relocating humans, Saurs, and other intelligent species from one star system to another for at last several millennium. In the twenty-third century (local earth time), Gregor Cairns decides to use the interstellar technology invented two centuries ago by his ancestors to open up interstellar trade routes.
However, when Matt and crew arrive at planet Croatan, the local Port Authority impounds their ship. It will take a diplomatic warrior to navigate the political land mines in order for Matt to regain the vessel. However, as long as the bureaucrats think this is a trade mission he has a chance though somewhat remote. However, if the ruling officials ever learn about Matt's hidden agenda to confront the Powers Above on why the various races were moved a staggering one-hundred thousand light-years from Earth, they will lock him up and throw away the key.
DARK LIGHT, the sequel to COSMONAUT KEEP, is a deep cerebral science fiction tale that contains plenty of action, but leaves the reader pondering about humanity's place in the universe. The complex story line is loaded with adventure and a deep cast of which not all are human, but all are fully developed so that readers appreciate the intelligence of each species. Still, the bottom line of Ken MacLeod's futurist outer space enterprise is the philosophical question of mankind's place in a diverse universe in which God-like beings play puppeteer to humanity the puppets. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: deep cerebral science fiction
Review: The most powerful sentient beings known in the universe have been relocating humans, Saurs, and other intelligent species from one star system to another for at last several millennium. In the twenty-third century (local earth time), Gregor Cairns decides to use the interstellar technology invented two centuries ago by his ancestors to open up interstellar trade routes.
However, when Matt and crew arrive at planet Croatan, the local Port Authority impounds their ship. It will take a diplomatic warrior to navigate the political land mines in order for Matt to regain the vessel. However, as long as the bureaucrats think this is a trade mission he has a chance though somewhat remote. However, if the ruling officials ever learn about Matt's hidden agenda to confront the Powers Above on why the various races were moved a staggering one-hundred thousand light-years from Earth, they will lock him up and throw away the key.
DARK LIGHT, the sequel to COSMONAUT KEEP, is a deep cerebral science fiction tale that contains plenty of action, but leaves the reader pondering about humanity's place in the universe. The complex story line is loaded with adventure and a deep cast of which not all are human, but all are fully developed so that readers appreciate the intelligence of each species. Still, the bottom line of Ken MacLeod's futurist outer space enterprise is the philosophical question of mankind's place in a diverse universe in which God-like beings play puppeteer to humanity the puppets. Harriet Klausner
|
