Dragon Sun

Rating:
Summary: A decent continuation
Review: Lady Deidre Skye finds herself under physical and political attack by the other leaders on the planet Chiron. Across the sea, the heretofore hidden (and presumed dead) Chairman Yang is battling rebels while he plots to make a spectacular return to his former shipmates.

This was a decent continuation of the first book. Most of the characters from the game make an appearance as well as a few from the first book. The new characters added a little more depth to the story; instead of commanding a lot of the plot as the new characters in the first book did, these characters were wisely kept as nothing more than minor characters. The only problem that I had with the first book is that the new characters had a feeling of disposability, that doesn't exist in this story.

The pacing of the story was a little fast, but nowhere near as fast as the first book.

If you are a fan of the game and/or the first book, then I recommend that you pick this one up. This is not a good starting point if you aren't familiar with the characters or the technologies involved.

Rating:
Summary: A decent continuation
Review: Lady Deidre Skye finds herself under physical and political attack by the other leaders on the planet Chiron. Across the sea, the heretofore hidden (and presumed dead) Chairman Yang is battling rebels while he plots to make a spectacular return to his former shipmates.

This was a decent continuation of the first book. Most of the characters from the game make an appearance as well as a few from the first book. The new characters added a little more depth to the story; instead of commanding a lot of the plot as the new characters in the first book did, these characters were wisely kept as nothing more than minor characters. The only problem that I had with the first book is that the new characters had a feeling of disposability, that doesn't exist in this story.

The pacing of the story was a little fast, but nowhere near as fast as the first book.

If you are a fan of the game and/or the first book, then I recommend that you pick this one up. This is not a good starting point if you aren't familiar with the characters or the technologies involved.

Rating:
Summary: Better than its predecessor but still weak
Review: The author continues the series with his fondness for setting up an interesting situation and then letting it drop into chaos.

This book was definitely better than the last one, primarily because of the supporting characters. Planet acts as a regulator to the character's worst behavior patterns and offers insights into the author's view that humans are a pretty petty and contenious bunch.

My basic problems with the series continue. I like to think that humanity has improved over the last few thousand years and is capable of further improvement. The author seems to disagree, if he is correct, we are all doomed to be short-sighted, nasty, brutish, and a menace to ourselves, our neighbors, and our planet.

Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff!!!
Review: This book is deeper and richer than Centauri Dawn (which was good in its own right, but not quite as polished). There are more interesting characters, more intrigue, and the scope is bigger. The use of Planet as an agent of redemption and a balance to the chaotic world of the computer game is very cool as well.

Once I got it I finished the book in a day. Good entertainment!

Rating:
Summary: Much better than "Dawn"
Review: This is the second book of the Alpha Centauri series and it improves much over the first one.
The story concentrates more on the leaders of the factions from the game and this time most of the factions have a more definite role in the story than a brief reference. The characters are more complex, contradictory, and fleshed out.
Mainly, the best part of the book is the fact that it deals more with what I feel are the more interesting aspects of the Alpha Centauri game: diplomatic intrigue, desperate alliances, and secret dealings that affect the lives of thousands. Whereas the first book concentrated on building and battles, this one offers a more in-depth look on the Alpha Centauri world.