Space-Time Challenge Update and SF Review: Cassastar
The SpaceTime Reading Challenge #spacetimereads
- You can read any book that is from the science fiction/time-travel genres. Any sub-genres are welcome as long as they incorporate one of these genres. Non-fiction is not included in this challenge.
- You don’t need a blog to participate but you do need a place to post your reviews (even one-liners) to link up. (blog, Goodreads, booklikes, shelfari, etc.)
- Make a goal post and link it back here with your goal for this challenge.
- Books need to be novellas or novels, although anthologies count if they meet the page guideline. (At least 100 pages +)
- You may count books that you do not want to finish if you have read at least 25%, or 100 pages, whichever is MORE. If you have read enough to give a fair mini-review that’s fine.
- Crossovers into other challenges are fine.
- The Challenge runs from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st.
The Targets
There are 4 levels to aim for (or achieve):
- 5 books: Planet hopper
- 10 books: Interstellar explorer
- 20 books: Galactic navigator
- 40 books: To Infinity and Beyond
I signed up as a Planet Hopper, and have actually made a good start. In fact, if I can finish the collection of SF short stories I've mostly been ignoring at the head of my bed, I'll make my target!
1. A World Out of Time, by Larry Niven
2. Callahan's Secret, by Spider Robinson
3. The Callahan Touch also by Spider Robinson. These two were re-reads so maybe shouldn't count.
And now, #4, Cassastar, by Alex J. Cavenaugh
Title: CassaStar
Author: Alex J. Cavanaugh
Publication Info: Dancing Lemur Press, 2010. 246 pages
Source: Purchased
Publisher's Blurb:
To pilot the fleet's finest ship...
Few
options remain for Byron. A talented but stubborn young man with a
troubled past and rebellious attitude, his cockpit skills are his only
hope. Slated to train as a Cosbolt fighter pilot, Byron is determined to
prove his worth and begin a new life as he sets off for the moon base
of Guaard.
Much to Byron's chagrin the toughest instructor in
the fleet takes notice of the young pilot. Haunted by a past tragedy,
Bassa eventually sees through Byron's tough exterior and insolence. When
a secret talent is revealed during training, Bassa feels compelled to
help Byron achieve his full potential.
As war brews on the edge
of space, time is running short. Byron requires a navigator of
exceptional quality to survive, and Bassa must make a decision that
could well decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as
they embark on a mission that may stretch their abilities to the limit?
My Review:
This is space opera as it should be! Is the book great literature? No. Does it have some issues? Yes (more on that in a moment). But is it great fun to read? Heck, yeah!
As a classic story of a wild young man willing to put his life on the line for the sake of his people, this story pretty much punches all the right buttons, with some surprises in there, particularly in the relationship between Bassa and Byron. (For me, one of the surprises was the author's to me very convincing presentation of some powerful emotions). The mixing-in of telepathy and teleportation with pure ship-handling may have been influenced by an early acquaintance with Star Wars, but the author presents in a way that stands on its own.
My biggest gripe with this was the absolute lack of female characters. This is wholly in keeping with the classics of SF (DID Isaac Asimov even know there were women?), but in a book published in the 21st Century I would have expected some female pilots in there. I hear that Cavenaugh remedied that in the following books, which I look forward to reading.
My Recommendation:
A very promising series for anyone who loves a good space-opera adventure with maybe some genuine relationships in there as well (even if not of the romantic variety). It is very much in keeping with that genre of lit, perhaps particularly British, that glories in death-and-glory charges, hopeless last stands, and the like. In other words, rather tasty brain candy.
Thanks for the shoutout and also a great review. I've made it to Interstellar Explorer and beyond, this year, but I don't think I'll be going way beyond!
ReplyDeleteYour blog emails have returned to being assigned to my junk folder. It's very annoying. I keep taking them out, the PTB keep putting them back. Why can't they put a decent AI on it?
I've been signing up for several years, but this is the first time I've come close to hitting my target. And that's only with a bit of re-reading, though there is definitely time travel involved with those!
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