Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Adventure
Review: 'The Miocene Arrow' is the next step in what should be a burgeoning career for Australian Sean McMullen. McMullen is relatively new to U.S. audiences, this being only his third U.S.-published novel. Each of his books have been winners with his previous effort, 'Souls in the Great Machine' garnering a nomination for one of science fiction's most prestigious awards. 'The Miocene Arrow' is a loose sequel to 'Souls..' It takes place several years in the future set in a separate locale.In 'Souls..' we're introduced to a fascinating future where technology has been effectively eliminated and humanity's ranks have been culled by The Call, a mysterious emanation that compels all in its range to march mindlessly into the sea. Thousands of years earlier, scientists discovered that birds were immune to the call and experimented with combining avian and human DNA. The resulting hybrids call themselves 'aviads' and are uneffected by The Call. Now the aviads have moved from their native Australia to the U.S. where they're hoping to steal the North American flying technology and use it to further their goal of eliminating all humans. 'The Miocene Arrow' is a tremendously fun read. McMullen presents readers with equal doses of fun technology, exciting battle scenes and twisted love quadrangles. My only complaint with this novel is the large cast of characters. Many characters have such bland names that it's difficult to remember which character is involved in which plotline. I found myself flipping for a non-existent character guide several times. Other than that, 'The Miocene Arrow' is a fantastic book. Hands down, my favorite SF novel of 2000 (so far). Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Adventure
Review: 'The Miocene Arrow' is the next step in what should be a burgeoning career for Australian Sean McMullen. McMullen is relatively new to U.S. audiences, this being only his third U.S.-published novel. Each of his books have been winners with his previous effort, 'Souls in the Great Machine' garnering a nomination for one of science fiction's most prestigious awards. 'The Miocene Arrow' is a loose sequel to 'Souls..' It takes place several years in the future set in a separate locale. In 'Souls..' we're introduced to a fascinating future where technology has been effectively eliminated and humanity's ranks have been culled by The Call, a mysterious emanation that compels all in its range to march mindlessly into the sea. Thousands of years earlier, scientists discovered that birds were immune to the call and experimented with combining avian and human DNA. The resulting hybrids call themselves 'aviads' and are uneffected by The Call. Now the aviads have moved from their native Australia to the U.S. where they're hoping to steal the North American flying technology and use it to further their goal of eliminating all humans. 'The Miocene Arrow' is a tremendously fun read. McMullen presents readers with equal doses of fun technology, exciting battle scenes and twisted love quadrangles. My only complaint with this novel is the large cast of characters. Many characters have such bland names that it's difficult to remember which character is involved in which plotline. I found myself flipping for a non-existent character guide several times. Other than that, 'The Miocene Arrow' is a fantastic book. Hands down, my favorite SF novel of 2000 (so far). Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: An absorbing sf action saga
Review: By the middle of the fortieth century, the Call continues its domination of animal life in North America by hypnotizing humans to die like lemurs into the oceans. Few spots remain that can deal with the Call's mysterious siren. Over the centuries, Mounthaven has formed a chivalrous society to survive more than just the passing Call. Air duels between honorable men is how disputes are settled. The relationships between the Mouthaven kingdom changes when a group arrives that can resist the Call. These genetically engineered Aviads want to destroy the humans. Their plan is to use the pettiness of the users of the kingdoms to fight one another outside the acceptable code of honor. Ultimately this group of invaders hopes to raise the level of the Call to penetrate even the oasis that allow some survivability. A small group led by John Glasken must save the world before Mounthaven becomes overwhelmed with a disastrous civil war. THE MIOCENE ARROW continues with the same post-apocalyptic world originally established in the SOULS IN THE GREAT MACHINE. The story line is as complex as science fiction seems to get and needs time to form, but once it does the plot never looks back. John and his weird band of heroes are a wonderful team while the villainous but clever Machiavellian invaders are treated more like cannon fodder by author Sean McMullen. Still his latest tale is an entertaining look at a frightening future that science fiction readers and some fantasy fans will find quite intriguing. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: An absorbing sf action saga
Review: By the middle of the fortieth century, the Call continues its domination of animal life in North America by hypnotizing humans to die like lemurs into the oceans. Few spots remain that can deal with the Call's mysterious siren. Over the centuries, Mounthaven has formed a chivalrous society to survive more than just the passing Call. Air duels between honorable men is how disputes are settled. The relationships between the Mouthaven kingdom changes when a group arrives that can resist the Call. These genetically engineered Aviads want to destroy the humans. Their plan is to use the pettiness of the users of the kingdoms to fight one another outside the acceptable code of honor. Ultimately this group of invaders hopes to raise the level of the Call to penetrate even the oasis that allow some survivability. A small group led by John Glasken must save the world before Mounthaven becomes overwhelmed with a disastrous civil war. THE MIOCENE ARROW continues with the same post-apocalyptic world originally established in the SOULS IN THE GREAT MACHINE. The story line is as complex as science fiction seems to get and needs time to form, but once it does the plot never looks back. John and his weird band of heroes are a wonderful team while the villainous but clever Machiavellian invaders are treated more like cannon fodder by author Sean McMullen. Still his latest tale is an entertaining look at a frightening future that science fiction readers and some fantasy fans will find quite intriguing. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Moderately enjoyable
Review: Disappointing sequel to the excellent "Souls in the Great Machine." The book goes on and on, repeating the same themes again and again (to wit, jealousy, boredom, greed). The book has the same flaws as its predecessor - too much pointless sex, random and totally absurd behavior by some characters - but few of the virtues. In particular, the book doesn't have much in the way of exciting new ideas. It reminds me a bit of latter-day X-files (I stopped watching years ago), in that the story has run out of steam and is getting by with lots of conspiracies, illogical developments, and supposedly exciting intrigue. I was happy when one of the main characters died, for I would no longer be forced to listen to his tiresome chatter. Still, the author knows how to keep the story moving, and there is plenty of action and interesting world-building. If you're looking to fill a few hours in a mostly pleasant way, this book will fit the bill. But I would certainly recommend that you read "Souls..." first.
Rating:
Summary: The Miocene Arrow
Review: During the last two weeks I have read both this book and it's predecessor in this series. I appreciated that the author incorporated technology which was both plausible and central to the theme of the story. The principle characters in the story are not one-dimensional individuals, but like most humans have strengths and weaknesses ... everything does not work out perfectly for them all the time. A very good story, I'm glad my son discovered this series for us to enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: better than precursor
Review: I read the second book based on the concepts (rather than the characterization, plot or other properties) of the first in the series. I liked the second book much better than the first; the characters and plot were often less than predictable but kept my interest. The call and other organic/technical ideas presented in the first book were meticulously explained and elaborated upon in this volume.
Rating:
Summary: About Time!!!
Review: If you are like me, and have been looking for an exciting, original and interesting Sci-Fi series for quite some time now, then I whole heartedly encourage you to read this book and the others in this series as well. If you are a fan of the various Star Wars books and other soft Sci-Fi, you best go back to scraping your pennies together so you can buy the next Harry Potter book or something as this book won't be up your alley. The second book of the Great Winter Trilogy should not be read without reading the first, if only for the fact that you will have deprived yourself of some of the character development and the background for this novel. I don't see how this book can stand on it's own. Read, "Souls in the Great Machine" first and you'll enjoy this one all the better. These books are original, interesting and have a way of hooking you into them. It's been a long time since I've read a Sci Fi book that has been this much FUN to read. Like other reviewers, I don't know why this book is not getting the attention it deserves. Both books are certainly better then anything that has won the Hugo or Nebula in the past 10 years and I encourage anyone with a love of Science Fiction to read McMullen's work. Don't let the fact that he's Australian stop you, which is the only conceivable reason that I can think of that has stopped this series from getting the praise it richly deserves. Oh, that and the fact that most book stores only stock Star Wars and Star Trek knock offs and people who love those books probably wouldn't get McMullen. Read and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: The Call in North America.
Review: In The Miocene Arrow, McMullen shifts focus from Australia to North America. The political situation on this continent is significantly different and with a few exceptions the characters and issues are also different. As a result, Souls and Arrow read like related books rather than a sequence. While you may get a richer experience from reading them in order, it would be safe to read this on its own and go back to Souls later.
I missed the librarians and the calculator and the other great stuff from the first book-- some of the grand inventiveness is missing here. But at the same time, I thought that the character development was a lot stronger and deeper. Serjon, Alion and Bronlar are complex and fascinating characters who offer a personal level that should appeal to most readers. This book may well have a wider potential audience than the first specifically because of the personal and political fulness.
The Aviads stayed opaque enough in this book that there's a lot of room left over for further development in a subsequent book. I can only hope, and run out and buy Eyes of the Calculator to see what he does.
Rating:
Summary: Even better than its precursor!
Review: McMullen's sequel to Souls in the Great Machine is even more enjoyable than its predecessor (although you should read Souls first to fully enjoy this one). Although Souls is higher in "ideas content", The Miocene Arrow is better written and more focused. The central theme of Arrow is the vast changes wrought by the indroduction of foreign agents and ideas into a carefully regulated society. In the enclave of Mounthaven, nobles fly modest gas-powered vehicles, and wars are fought by duels between nobles. When infiltrators from Australica introduce the idea of total war into this society, everything changes forever, and the side which adapts fastest and surest is most likely to survive the resulting power struggle. (In a sense, this is exactly the same theme which drives the film Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, except Arrow is a much better story.) We're introduced to Mounthaven as it's existed for centuries, and then we follow the evolution of several states in the enclave as they come to grips with the changing world around them, and see the leaders grapple with the conflict between their traditions and ideals, and the practical necessities of what the new world means to them and their people. (Fans of H. Beam Piper's novel Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen in particular might enjoy this novel.) McMullen tells the story through the experiences of his key characters, who are major players in the central conflict in different ways. McMullen's biting and often witty dialogue is sharply honed in the book, and his plotting is much stronger than in Souls, without some of the hiccups which hampered segments of that book. Better yet, McMullen sets up a dramatic and painfully star-crossed relationship between two of the protagonists which makes for some of the most moving moments in the story. If there's a flaw in the book, it's that the title is not perhaps the most appropriate given the story, and the climax a little too obviously sets up the potential for another installment. Still, if McMullen continues to develop as a writer, a sequel to this one would be more than welcome.
| 
