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djryan's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thymrman's review against another edition
4.0
This book ended up being more of a collection of short stories, than a fully cohesive story for me. Jumping between recollections of events from over the years, you learn about the characters relationships with each other and how they came to work together. But my issue comes with how the main character was dealt with and built over the chapters. By the end you know the side characters building up to getting a complete picture of who the main story is actually about. By in this trip I feel like the investigator who you are viewing these stories with ends up being very under-developed since they are just listening and not participating in the stories.
Now that isn’t to say I didn’t like this book, I really did. I found myself invested in the characters heavily and wanted to see what methods were being used. It constantly kept my attention the entire way through. One issue I would have to mention is I just couldn’t visualize any of the locations very well. It seemed like many of the scenes could have taken place in a white chamber because the setting and layouts wasn’t well described for me. In some books I don’t find it to be an issue, but a realistic science journey where your trying to piece together details to form opinions I feel really needed it.
Now that isn’t to say I didn’t like this book, I really did. I found myself invested in the characters heavily and wanted to see what methods were being used. It constantly kept my attention the entire way through. One issue I would have to mention is I just couldn’t visualize any of the locations very well. It seemed like many of the scenes could have taken place in a white chamber because the setting and layouts wasn’t well described for me. In some books I don’t find it to be an issue, but a realistic science journey where your trying to piece together details to form opinions I feel really needed it.
banjax451's review
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sambrowning92's review against another edition
5.0
All my reviews can be found at https://sffbgreview.com
As always I aim to make this review as spoiler free as possible.
The Last Dance is a Sci-fi set in the near future after the colonisation of Luna and Mars. Following Inspector General Park as she investigates a case against the Captain of the spacecraft Aldrin. At the start of the book the case itself is unclear we do not know what happened or why. This simple premise allows the author to explore the world he's created in a much more open way. We know the captain is respected and trusted by his crew whilst his superiors think he's a dissident and troublemaker.
From the very beginning of the book we know that IG Park is quite self conscious, and is young for the posting. Which throughout the story is developed and built upon slowly so that by the end of the story we see a more rounded and confident character, and know how she got there, as we see it develop so slowly that it's hard to notice until it's obvious.
The author also changes narrators throughout the story, so that we uncover events of the past that led to this situation whilst IG Park is trying to unravel the case to come up with an accurate conclusion to the matter. Each new point of view chapter adds to the story of Captain Aames and his personality and character. Whilst also building the universe that Shoemaker is creating. This way of developing story and character also allows the universe to feel authentic and real, as it's not just giving background its building up block by block story by story.
Shoemaker also does a good job of making each new point of view character's voice feel slightly different, such as Park's insecurity or the Medical Officers no nonsense approach. The use of scientific language, theories and such is well contemplated it's not too heavy but it is enough that gives us the impression that the technology has been well researched and thought out again adding to the credibility of the plot.
I particularly liked the way the short stories fill in the gaps and develop these characters through out. The fact that they were not in a specific chronological order I felt really added to plot. As something that was brought up in early chapters as having already occurred are revealed in later chapters, and vice versa. It was a good way of spider webbing the story leaving crumbs and letting the reader try to decide what would or did happen before revealing it. I particularly enjoyed the Q&A deposition chapter as it was a story telling device I'd not encountered in a fiction novel before and whilst the idea was novel (sorry for the pun, I couldn't resist) it worked really well for me.
Overall I really enjoyed the read I felt the conclusion to the story was really well done, I found it quite surprising, which I also enjoy. All the characters felt real and human, they had imperfections and flaws but most had redeeming qualities that allow you to feel empathetic and grow attached to them. I really felt that the short story approach to world and plot building was fantastic. I'm usually not a fan of short stories at all but for me they worked really well here, that's probably because it was all tied together by the underlying plot of the IG's case. My only complaint about the plot would be that all these people who are so dedicated to their captain would be willing to talk off the record to a stranger about personal histories. It is somewhat explained a way as the story develops, I personally found it a little unbelievable but overall it did not detract from what was otherwise an excellent read.
As always I aim to make this review as spoiler free as possible.
The Last Dance is a Sci-fi set in the near future after the colonisation of Luna and Mars. Following Inspector General Park as she investigates a case against the Captain of the spacecraft Aldrin. At the start of the book the case itself is unclear we do not know what happened or why. This simple premise allows the author to explore the world he's created in a much more open way. We know the captain is respected and trusted by his crew whilst his superiors think he's a dissident and troublemaker.
From the very beginning of the book we know that IG Park is quite self conscious, and is young for the posting. Which throughout the story is developed and built upon slowly so that by the end of the story we see a more rounded and confident character, and know how she got there, as we see it develop so slowly that it's hard to notice until it's obvious.
The author also changes narrators throughout the story, so that we uncover events of the past that led to this situation whilst IG Park is trying to unravel the case to come up with an accurate conclusion to the matter. Each new point of view chapter adds to the story of Captain Aames and his personality and character. Whilst also building the universe that Shoemaker is creating. This way of developing story and character also allows the universe to feel authentic and real, as it's not just giving background its building up block by block story by story.
Shoemaker also does a good job of making each new point of view character's voice feel slightly different, such as Park's insecurity or the Medical Officers no nonsense approach. The use of scientific language, theories and such is well contemplated it's not too heavy but it is enough that gives us the impression that the technology has been well researched and thought out again adding to the credibility of the plot.
I particularly liked the way the short stories fill in the gaps and develop these characters through out. The fact that they were not in a specific chronological order I felt really added to plot. As something that was brought up in early chapters as having already occurred are revealed in later chapters, and vice versa. It was a good way of spider webbing the story leaving crumbs and letting the reader try to decide what would or did happen before revealing it. I particularly enjoyed the Q&A deposition chapter as it was a story telling device I'd not encountered in a fiction novel before and whilst the idea was novel (sorry for the pun, I couldn't resist) it worked really well for me.
Overall I really enjoyed the read I felt the conclusion to the story was really well done, I found it quite surprising, which I also enjoy. All the characters felt real and human, they had imperfections and flaws but most had redeeming qualities that allow you to feel empathetic and grow attached to them. I really felt that the short story approach to world and plot building was fantastic. I'm usually not a fan of short stories at all but for me they worked really well here, that's probably because it was all tied together by the underlying plot of the IG's case. My only complaint about the plot would be that all these people who are so dedicated to their captain would be willing to talk off the record to a stranger about personal histories. It is somewhat explained a way as the story develops, I personally found it a little unbelievable but overall it did not detract from what was otherwise an excellent read.
branwynnemay's review against another edition
3.0
A good story
I was happy to finish this one, though the dialogue felt inorganic fairly often and the characters could have used more development. Just a nice story.
I was happy to finish this one, though the dialogue felt inorganic fairly often and the characters could have used more development. Just a nice story.
dockie's review against another edition
5.0
So interesting
My first book to read from this author and now I want more. Very well written, interesting characters, quite real and kept me turning the pages.
My first book to read from this author and now I want more. Very well written, interesting characters, quite real and kept me turning the pages.
mirel's review against another edition
4.0
Not my usual reading
...but the story was interesting. Nonetheless, although the story is as told from various viewpoints, the voices all sounded the same, so that reading, it was hard to distinguish who was talking. Also, some things seemed stretched: like a wedding couple spending their reception and first dance telling a story about someone else. But on the whole, it held my interest even though space sagas are not my usual cup of tea...
...but the story was interesting. Nonetheless, although the story is as told from various viewpoints, the voices all sounded the same, so that reading, it was hard to distinguish who was talking. Also, some things seemed stretched: like a wedding couple spending their reception and first dance telling a story about someone else. But on the whole, it held my interest even though space sagas are not my usual cup of tea...
cjazzlee's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars. The story was like a legal courtroom drama but taking place in space. General Yerin Park is investigating a mutiny that took place aboard at the Aldrin, a space vessel and needs to record the perspectives and conversations with all the players involved in the event. The best thing about this book for me was the characters - all very interesting and with distinct voices. The author made me care about the cast and their motives - not only in the events of this book, but for their chosen professions and. their presence on the Aldrin. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
christygoldberg's review against another edition
2.0
UGH. This was not a good book. I gave it a two because I finished it, but I literally don't know why. The characters could have been likeable, but they were so unbelievable that I couldn't. The set of up the book is such that there are interviews throughout. In these interviews, there are "remembered conversations". These conversations are so detailed that they become ridiculous. The characters remember things such as the type of blouse someone was wearing in someone else's memory. Right. I feel like the author wanted to hit 450 pages for some reason, and he made it to 451. I will NOT be reading the second in the series.
robinwalter's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A very enjoyable hard SF mystery.