Grasp the Stars

Rating:
Summary: Solid first novel.
Review: OK, Wingert shares a credit for "Spirit Fox" with Mickey Reichert from 2000 but this is her first solo credit/effort. And since it reads like a first novel I will treat it as such.

I need to say that I read this book just after finishing another first novel (Lorna Freeman's Covenants). This is important because "Covenants" was such a polished first novel, reading "Grasp the Stars" right after tended to highlight its' first novel symptoms.

Wingert has created an universe, populated it with aliens and humans all of which are interesting. But the bones/mechanics of the novel tends, in places, to really stand out. And sometimes moving the story in the direction the author wants to go requires the characters to act stupidly - guaranteed to drive me nuts.

Now I do not want to go into any real story detail as it would/could tend to ruin the story for any readers of this review. I will say that having read the novel, I am not sure that the writer of the back cover blurb and I read the same book.

Still, I read the novel from start to finish. And I found the fact that there were threads left unfinished - suggesting future visits to this universe and its' inhabitants - promising. It will give the author the chance to fill in the detail(s) lacking in the broad strokes she used to begin her painting of this universe. And as she gains experience the 'first novel' rough spots should be polished away.

This is a solid first effort. Wingert has created a reality that is interesting and has lots of potential. And the best recommendation I can give it is the fact that it was good enough that I look forward to buying and reading Wingerts' next novel. So, if you are like me and enjoy trying out new voices in the field, this is SF worth the read.