Spinneret

Rating:
Summary: Unique, Creative, and a great read!
Review: Spinneret is a great read. If you are bored with the similarities of many SciFi plots, find this book! (I say *find* because it is currently out of print, try Amazon Used book section, Zshops, or online auctions, or the library). Zahn takes a totally ridiculous idea and creates a masterpiece. The premise of the story is that man finally makes it out of the solar system in hopes of colonization, only to find out that we are latecomers to the game. All the worlds in our reach have already been divided up between several species. The United Nation's is able to trade for a planet regarded as useless (no natural resources to speak of and crops can not be grown) and the USA (being the wealthiest and most technologically advanced nation) will bear most of the financial burden and administrative responsibilities. This situation is palatable as long as the colony is a money pit. The US Colonel in charge of the colony has orders to do whatever necessary to make the colony self-sufficient as soon as possible. This proves to be a daunting task, as the workers (many from third world countries) are being rallied by a charismatic anti-American and refuse to work until their demands are met. Amid the turmoil, scientists begin to analyze an enigma threatening the lives of all colonists. The crops won't grow. And to make matters worse, everything made of metal seems to be disappearing. Finding the answer to these problems eventually leads to an amazing discovery that makes this new colony one of the most valuable commodities in the known universe; hidden technology from the original inhabitants. Soon all aliens are fighting to be our best friend and suddenly the UN wants to run the show -- and politics reigns supreme! The colonists still can't grow their own food nor protect their new discovery from the more technologically advanced aliens. The workers are up in arms and want a piece of the new found profits, the US and UN are trying to outmaneuver one another for control of the colony, and the amazing discovery has left more questions than answers (what happened to the inventors and what do we do if they come back?). As usual, Zahn creates believable characters and a page turning plot structure, based on a far-fetched idea that he somehow makes believable. I think what I like the best about reading anything by Timothy Zahn is the flow of the story. He has the innate ability to give enough technical details to further the story, without bogging down the reader with constant interruptions. Many authors write in an annoyingly choppy fashion, constantly stopping the flow of the story to explain technical details (especially in SciFi) or in order to set up the next scene. Zahn's works seem to have a continuous flow with constant action and dialog that are pertinent to the overall story. Spinneret is one of my favorites from Timothy Zahn, and I encourage you to go out of your way to find this book, it will be well worth the effort.

Rating:
Summary: Unique, Creative, and a great read!
Review: Spinneret is a great read. If you are bored with the similarities of many SciFi plots, find this book! (I say *find* because it is currently out of print, try Amazon Used book section, Zshops, or online auctions, or the library). Zahn takes a totally ridiculous idea and creates a masterpiece. The premise of the story is that man finally makes it out of the solar system in hopes of colonization, only to find out that we are latecomers to the game. All the worlds in our reach have already been divided up between several species. The United Nation's is able to trade for a planet regarded as useless (no natural resources to speak of and crops can not be grown) and the USA (being the wealthiest and most technologically advanced nation) will bear most of the financial burden and administrative responsibilities. This situation is palatable as long as the colony is a money pit. The US Colonel in charge of the colony has orders to do whatever necessary to make the colony self-sufficient as soon as possible. This proves to be a daunting task, as the workers (many from third world countries) are being rallied by a charismatic anti-American and refuse to work until their demands are met. Amid the turmoil, scientists begin to analyze an enigma threatening the lives of all colonists. The crops won't grow. And to make matters worse, everything made of metal seems to be disappearing. Finding the answer to these problems eventually leads to an amazing discovery that makes this new colony one of the most valuable commodities in the known universe; hidden technology from the original inhabitants. Soon all aliens are fighting to be our best friend and suddenly the UN wants to run the show -- and politics reigns supreme! The colonists still can't grow their own food nor protect their new discovery from the more technologically advanced aliens. The workers are up in arms and want a piece of the new found profits, the US and UN are trying to outmaneuver one another for control of the colony, and the amazing discovery has left more questions than answers (what happened to the inventors and what do we do if they come back?). As usual, Zahn creates believable characters and a page turning plot structure, based on a far-fetched idea that he somehow makes believable. I think what I like the best about reading anything by Timothy Zahn is the flow of the story. He has the innate ability to give enough technical details to further the story, without bogging down the reader with constant interruptions. Many authors write in an annoyingly choppy fashion, constantly stopping the flow of the story to explain technical details (especially in SciFi) or in order to set up the next scene. Zahn's works seem to have a continuous flow with constant action and dialog that are pertinent to the overall story. Spinneret is one of my favorites from Timothy Zahn, and I encourage you to go out of your way to find this book, it will be well worth the effort.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best first-contact books ever!
Review: This is one of the finest books I've ever read. From the premise to the wrap-up, their's very little to complain about, except a small amount of overly pro-Americanisms. If you can find it, buy it!