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hawkeyegough's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the tech, and the plot got interesting toward the end. I also found the author's prose to be really expansive and creative. That was great for descriptive portions of the book, but sometimes got tedious when we were following characters' internal monologues. There were some interesting perspectives on the priorities of science and scientists (some of which I disagree with but still found intriguing). I sometimes found myself wondering why NASA would've continued choosing the main character for their missions when the author even says something along the lines of "younger, faster, better-trained" astronauts are available. Plus, Nigel (main character) has some serious trauma he's not gotten over and a history of insubordination. I guess it seems pretty unbelievable to me that he'd continue to be the focal point of all the space activity, and it's never sufficiently explained except to say that he's famous/infamous. Additionally, some parts of this book did not age well. I'm looking forward to seeing where the plot goes in book 2, but will probably give it a few months before returning to this series.
countessjess's review against another edition
5.0
My favourite thing about this book has got to be Nigel Walmsley. He's probably one of my favourite characters in fiction, ever. He's such a fun main character: very passionate but at the same time extremely cynical, which makes for a lot of amusing scenes. The storyline of this book is a very interesting one and I enjoyed the other characters too: Mr Ichino and Nikka are fun, and I was surprised at the emotional depth that was involved with Alexandria's storyline. I didn't really expect emotions in this book. Learning about the Snark was fascinating, and I really enjoyed the scenes with it.
Every scene that involves Nigel coming in contact with someone of the New Suns is pure gold.
I'll definitely be checking out the rest of the series.
Every scene that involves Nigel coming in contact with someone of the New Suns is pure gold.
I'll definitely be checking out the rest of the series.
buer's review against another edition
1.0
Really bad. It starts off being really masochistic and then at the end it completely derails and Benford can't decide if he's writing sci-fi or fantasy or just rehashing every conspiracy theory he's every heard. It's confusing and awful and he gives Sasquatch an alien blaster gun. I also probably could have died happy without reading an anti-gravity sex scene between a super has been and a young astronaut who has so much going for her. Like, seriously, Benford? That is what you spend your time thinking about? Dudes be trippin.
furicle's review against another edition
2.0
Ick.
It's not poorly written and has lots of interesting bits and pieces, but the book of the whole has no focus.
Over and over it sets up a typical hard sf setting and problem, then resolves it with very soft sci-fi hand waving. Neither fish or fowl, it's just a lumpy dogs breakfast.
The climax is an honest to god (pun intended) deus ex machina that left me wondering if I should be smoking the stuff the main characters seem to enjoy so much.
It's book one of a series, at least I can give up on the lot without spending any more time.
It's not poorly written and has lots of interesting bits and pieces, but the book of the whole has no focus.
Over and over it sets up a typical hard sf setting and problem, then resolves it with very soft sci-fi hand waving. Neither fish or fowl, it's just a lumpy dogs breakfast.
The climax is an honest to god (pun intended) deus ex machina that left me wondering if I should be smoking the stuff the main characters seem to enjoy so much.
It's book one of a series, at least I can give up on the lot without spending any more time.
regnarenol's review against another edition
2.0
Poor. I don't know if it's just me or are - on average - 'hard' fantasy novels better than hard science fiction novels? I've been trying and trying to find *good*, unpretentious hard SF authors who don't try to bend over backwards to put in unnecessary drama into the story to accommodate critics, and I haven't moved beyond Stephen Baxter yet. Baxter too, while spectacular in his vision, had no idea how to do humour, so most of his books were filled with brooding prose.
The back cover summary suggested nothing more than that 'In the Ocean of Night' was a 'first contact' SF novel - a fairly safe bet, right? What the summary doesn't tell you is that little of the book is devoted to the science and speculation. Oh - whenever they're brought out - the ideas are grand - I'll grant Benford that; unfortunately though, most of these ideas are revealed through fast forwarded exposition - and worse, often delivered as stream of consciousness prose. (Let me go off on a tangent here and just put on record how much I *hate* stream of consciousness delivery in literature. It's as painful to read as it's fun to write, judging from my own experience.)
Anyway, our protagonist, a rebellious British astronaut-superscientist called Nigel Walmsley is 'possessed' by alien entities on two separate occasions, and it is only during those periods that the ideas advance. That's what is frustrating because as I said, the ideas Benford has are grand. I hope you don't find my mention of 'alien entities' tantalizing; it's nowhere as cool in the book as it sounds here. Beyond the typical first contact scenario - strange spacecraft appears - communication is attempted - crazy military try to bomb it down, there's no real development of the 'aliens', except through jarring exposition.
A major chunk of the book is given to utterly mundane conversation - wait let me correct that, because mundane is all right. The dialogue in this book is mundane *and* artificial which makes it unpalatable. There's a lot of Archer-esque sex (you've been warned, kids, Benford pulls no punches) and weird futuristic (read: kinky) relationships, and sadly, Benford seems better at writing those bits than he is at writing science.
The prose is poor - it's obvious that Benford is what you'd call a tortured writer who finds it hard to put that perfectly formed image in his head into words. I think the poor writing is the primary reason I didn't like this book, despite the ideas.
The characters, despite the heavy amount of development, have an element of Mary Sue-esque author-fantasy-insertion to them that leaves a sour taste. Walmsley is especially irritating; I have no idea how he does what he does and gets away with it. Nikka, Walmsley's partner in the second half of the book seems to be nothing more than an author fantasy construction; Walmsley's two partners in the first half of the book were better sketched out, but were frustratingly irrelevant to the story's development.
As the story progresses, a fringe cult religious group called 'the New Sons' grows to take over the role of primary antagonist. I love religion bashing as much as your average Dawkins, but even I felt that the treatment of the New Sons in this book was rather one-sided. I found myself in the strange situation of nearly, but not quite, supporting the obvious villains in the piece. (Walmsley's crusty rebelliousness didn't help either.)
In summary, poor writing, poor characters, poor story development, but there're still some great ideas in this book that push it to two stars. I won't be picking up the next book in this series any time soon, though.
The back cover summary suggested nothing more than that 'In the Ocean of Night' was a 'first contact' SF novel - a fairly safe bet, right? What the summary doesn't tell you is that little of the book is devoted to the science and speculation. Oh - whenever they're brought out - the ideas are grand - I'll grant Benford that; unfortunately though, most of these ideas are revealed through fast forwarded exposition - and worse, often delivered as stream of consciousness prose. (Let me go off on a tangent here and just put on record how much I *hate* stream of consciousness delivery in literature. It's as painful to read as it's fun to write, judging from my own experience.)
Anyway, our protagonist, a rebellious British astronaut-superscientist called Nigel Walmsley is 'possessed' by alien entities on two separate occasions, and it is only during those periods that the ideas advance. That's what is frustrating because as I said, the ideas Benford has are grand. I hope you don't find my mention of 'alien entities' tantalizing; it's nowhere as cool in the book as it sounds here. Beyond the typical first contact scenario - strange spacecraft appears - communication is attempted - crazy military try to bomb it down, there's no real development of the 'aliens', except through jarring exposition.
A major chunk of the book is given to utterly mundane conversation - wait let me correct that, because mundane is all right. The dialogue in this book is mundane *and* artificial which makes it unpalatable. There's a lot of Archer-esque sex (you've been warned, kids, Benford pulls no punches) and weird futuristic (read: kinky) relationships, and sadly, Benford seems better at writing those bits than he is at writing science.
The prose is poor - it's obvious that Benford is what you'd call a tortured writer who finds it hard to put that perfectly formed image in his head into words. I think the poor writing is the primary reason I didn't like this book, despite the ideas.
The characters, despite the heavy amount of development, have an element of Mary Sue-esque author-fantasy-insertion to them that leaves a sour taste. Walmsley is especially irritating; I have no idea how he does what he does and gets away with it. Nikka, Walmsley's partner in the second half of the book seems to be nothing more than an author fantasy construction; Walmsley's two partners in the first half of the book were better sketched out, but were frustratingly irrelevant to the story's development.
As the story progresses, a fringe cult religious group called 'the New Sons' grows to take over the role of primary antagonist. I love religion bashing as much as your average Dawkins, but even I felt that the treatment of the New Sons in this book was rather one-sided. I found myself in the strange situation of nearly, but not quite, supporting the obvious villains in the piece. (Walmsley's crusty rebelliousness didn't help either.)
In summary, poor writing, poor characters, poor story development, but there're still some great ideas in this book that push it to two stars. I won't be picking up the next book in this series any time soon, though.
mostlywicked's review against another edition
2.0
I guess there's an interesting scifi story in there somewhere, in between the lackluster prose, the bland romantic relationship that contributes nothing to the story while taking up about a solid half of the book, and the tedious, pointless poetry randomly strewn around.
The science, technology and sociology are also incredibly outdated, given this was written in the seventies. The writer seems to have an obsession with sex and sexuality, describing (badly) multiple sex scenes, futuristic fashion is apparently being "tastefully naked", etc, which feels really unnatural in a novel that is trying to explore (or maybe *should* be trying to explore) a bit more heady themes.
The dialogues feel incredibly unnatural. People don't talk like that!
There are some good bits, exploring alien wrecks, communicating with a machine intelligence, getting a glimpse at a solution to the Fermi paradox, and more. But these moments are not worth the slug through the mud that is the rest of the book.
Overall I would describe the book as needlessly tedious. An interesting concept, a lackluster and badly outdated implementation.
The science, technology and sociology are also incredibly outdated, given this was written in the seventies. The writer seems to have an obsession with sex and sexuality, describing (badly) multiple sex scenes, futuristic fashion is apparently being "tastefully naked", etc, which feels really unnatural in a novel that is trying to explore (or maybe *should* be trying to explore) a bit more heady themes.
The dialogues feel incredibly unnatural. People don't talk like that!
There are some good bits, exploring alien wrecks, communicating with a machine intelligence, getting a glimpse at a solution to the Fermi paradox, and more. But these moments are not worth the slug through the mud that is the rest of the book.
Overall I would describe the book as needlessly tedious. An interesting concept, a lackluster and badly outdated implementation.
ncrabb's review against another edition
1.0
Not worth a review here or on my list. Stupid, trippy, ridiculous. Religious zelots and Bigfoot? Never read this author before; if they're all this ridiculous, I won't bother.
astroneatly's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
tlockney's review against another edition
3.0
I've waffled back and forth on this one. Parts of it are great, other parts left me just waiting to get to the next part. I almost rated it four stars, but the fact is I probably won't ever read it again (my benchmark for a 4-star rating).