Rating: 
Summary: War is such an ugly business
Review: Miocene Arrow has a smaller scope than Souls, and much better focus, so you don't feel adrift half way through. The Mounthaven culture is described well, and you get a real sense of the rigid class levels that everyone seems to support. However, there are inconsistencies. McMullen toys with making the horrors of war real, like the massacre at Opal, then writes about a thousand dead at Condelor like it was a lost football game. If the good guys kill hundreds, its daring and brave. If Bronliar beats an unarmed man and sanctions his horrific death, she's just a little wacky. McMullen must really like her to make her sound so normal, but she's a nutcase. By that time, so is Serjon, so they're perfect for each other. Few characters are rounded at all. Alion and Ramsdel are cartoons, one's a plot device and the other is comic relief. Why rip out Glasken half way through the book unless he was pointless to begin with? Oh, sorry, now he can do "ghost in the machine" cameos so this plot can climax abruptly and leave you wondering what Theresla will do next. Dead? Ha!
Rating: 
Summary: Spellblinding Sequel to Masterpiece Souls
Review: Once again, Sean McMullen proves that he can accomplish both character development, fantastic world-making, and still tell an excellent story filled with romance, loyalty, betrayal, chivalry, civil rights, death, life, and decision. The focus characters, Serjon Feydamor, unlikely hero of a tragic war, and Bronlar, Serjon's misplaced love, are developed so richly that the reader can not help but be moved when something unfortunate comes between the two. The story drew me in so deeply that I did not want to leave the fantasy. I felt like I owed something to the characters, to their lives, to keep on reading, and watch as teh beautiful story unfolds.The book is satisfying in every respect. McMullen is an author who should be hailed as one of the top Science Fiction writers of our time. Let McMullen take you on a romance through the skies in "The Miocene Arrow" - buy and read this book!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent sequel, more interesting ideas
Review: Sean McMullen is perhaps the most innovative scifi-adventure writer to come onto the shelves (in the U.S.) in the last decade. Souls In the Great Machine was incredibly innovative, with some very creative and realistic ways of dealing with his postapocalyptic nightmare world. This novel, the sequel to Souls, did not quite reach that level of creativity and innovation, but nonetheless was still very creative and interesting. His obvious knowledge of early industrial revolution technology and culture makes this series very fun to read, and he continues to find interesting ways to re-create lost or impossible technology, including airplanes in this new installment to the series. The feudal society that he develops for the peoples of the Rocky Mountain region of the former U.S.A. is an interesting counterpoint to the protodemocratic Greek and Chinese influenced civilization he envisions in Australia. To some extent the characters that carry over from one book to the next seem rather artificial, as if he had written these books separately at one point and then decided to make them a series (he may have -- several books published in Australia have similar names, and I suspect are what became this series.) Nonetheless, I was amused by the continued antics of everyone's favourite lady's ..., and his Lady the former abbess. Overall, this series is highly entertaining and full of interesting concepts. Don't expect the level of innovation he has in Souls, but nonetheless expect a very creative and fun story with some deeper meanings and philosophical experiments throughout. Would interest a fan of John Barnes, Iain Banks, or even Larry Niven.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent sequel, more interesting ideas
Review: Sean McMullen is perhaps the most innovative scifi-adventure writer to come onto the shelves (in the U.S.) in the last decade. Souls In the Great Machine was incredibly innovative, with some very creative and realistic ways of dealing with his postapocalyptic nightmare world. This novel, the sequel to Souls, did not quite reach that level of creativity and innovation, but nonetheless was still very creative and interesting. His obvious knowledge of early industrial revolution technology and culture makes this series very fun to read, and he continues to find interesting ways to re-create lost or impossible technology, including airplanes in this new installment to the series. The feudal society that he develops for the peoples of the Rocky Mountain region of the former U.S.A. is an interesting counterpoint to the protodemocratic Greek and Chinese influenced civilization he envisions in Australia. To some extent the characters that carry over from one book to the next seem rather artificial, as if he had written these books separately at one point and then decided to make them a series (he may have -- several books published in Australia have similar names, and I suspect are what became this series.) Nonetheless, I was amused by the continued antics of everyone's favourite lady's ..., and his Lady the former abbess. Overall, this series is highly entertaining and full of interesting concepts. Don't expect the level of innovation he has in Souls, but nonetheless expect a very creative and fun story with some deeper meanings and philosophical experiments throughout. Would interest a fan of John Barnes, Iain Banks, or even Larry Niven.
Rating:
Summary: Sean McMullen-one of the best new SF writers
Review: Sean McMullen is really one of the best new Science Fiction writers, and The Miocene Arrow confirms this. His unusual settings, interesting plots, and rich and 3 dimensional charachters make his books very enjoyable to read. This book is set in North America in the 40th century, following the downfall of our modern culture in the 21st. He illustrates small enclaves of an intersting culture emerging in small pockets that are isolated from the same forces that caused the destruction of our civilization. Elements from the Australica groups from the first book in this series are involved in schemes to subvert the American enclaves to their own nefarious purposes. For more details, read the book! It has elements of good epic science fiction, action, and a detailed setting that is interesting and intriguing. He brings full life to his charachters, and spends an appropriate amount of time on each. The Miocene Arrow is the sequel to Souls in the Great Machine, but would be enjoyable enough without reading the first. The plots are independent, yet TMA is continues with some of the events and charachters from the first book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Rating: 
Summary: The Miocene Arrow
Review: Sean McMullen, winner of 3 Ditmars and an Aurealis award for Best SF novel in his home Australia, is definitely one of the best and brightest new stars in the field of today's SF. He writes on an epic scale with boundless and energetic imagination, and 'The Miocene Arrow' is tough and taut, darkly prophetic and wildly innovative, compelling and, at times, humanly warm and compassionate, the way SF ought to be... Gary S. Potter Author/Poet.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Future History
Review: This is a very good sequel to McMullen's Souls in the Great Machine. That book, set in a very interesting post-apocalypse world, is one of the more imaginative future histories of recent years. This book is a logical continuation of the prior story. Because it builds on the prior book, without introducing any new major aspects of this future history, The Miocene Arrow does not have the same imaginative impact as Souls in the Great Machine. McMullen's ability to construct an interesting and distinctly different future world remains impressive. This is not just a copy of the first book. He is a very competent writer, able to handle multiple plot lines well and good at developing characters. He even handles humor quite well. This book is not a completely self contained story. To really understand this book, you have to read Souls in the Great Machine first. This is not a major defect as both books are very worthwhile. The concluding section of this book implies another book in this series. I look forward to the next installment with anticipation.
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