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wealhtheow's review
3.0
Buckell's writing is exuberant, his plot choices audacious. There is a fantastic energy to his books, as though anything might happen. Each book has been better than the last, without ever losing the adrenaline rush or interesting world-building with which Buckell first burst onto the scene.
For generations, a race of mind-controlling aliens calling themselves the Benevolent Satrapi enslaved the human race. Small bands fought back, and finally defeated their overlords in [b:Ragamuffin|173526|The Ragamuffin Gospel Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out|Brennan Manning|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266488592s/173526.jpg|863196]. But the victory against the Satrapi did not mean an end to all pain--humans have once again splintered into a number of warring factions. The humans-only League of Human Affairs and the inclusive Ragamuffins have fought to a tense stand-still, while smaller cultures like the totally democractic Aelions (who decide everything--everything by popular vote) or the Aztec-descended Yatapek, carve out what little they can for themselves.
When the story begins, a man has just jumped out of a spaceship and is falling toward a planet. This is Pepper--one of the most notorious of the Ragamuffins' Mongoose Men. He's gruff, he's well-nigh immortal, and he's spent hundreds of years travelling the stars, fighting anything and everything that menaces humanity. And after he burns through the atmosphere and crash-lands on a city, he finds that his suspicions were correct. But this time, humans aren't the only prey--all sentient life is in danger.
This is a fantastic adventure, told with a brisk, tight energy. But there's far more to it than just space monsters: there's a lot in here about privilege, pragmatism, sacrifice, being part of a community...It reads like a cross between Watt's [b:Blindsight|48484|Blindsight|Peter Watts|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170355970s/48484.jpg|47428] and an X-men comic, with all the good points of both.
For generations, a race of mind-controlling aliens calling themselves the Benevolent Satrapi enslaved the human race. Small bands fought back, and finally defeated their overlords in [b:Ragamuffin|173526|The Ragamuffin Gospel Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out|Brennan Manning|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266488592s/173526.jpg|863196]. But the victory against the Satrapi did not mean an end to all pain--humans have once again splintered into a number of warring factions. The humans-only League of Human Affairs and the inclusive Ragamuffins have fought to a tense stand-still, while smaller cultures like the totally democractic Aelions (who decide everything--everything by popular vote) or the Aztec-descended Yatapek, carve out what little they can for themselves.
When the story begins, a man has just jumped out of a spaceship and is falling toward a planet. This is Pepper--one of the most notorious of the Ragamuffins' Mongoose Men. He's gruff, he's well-nigh immortal, and he's spent hundreds of years travelling the stars, fighting anything and everything that menaces humanity. And after he burns through the atmosphere and crash-lands on a city, he finds that his suspicions were correct. But this time, humans aren't the only prey--all sentient life is in danger.
This is a fantastic adventure, told with a brisk, tight energy. But there's far more to it than just space monsters: there's a lot in here about privilege, pragmatism, sacrifice, being part of a community...It reads like a cross between Watt's [b:Blindsight|48484|Blindsight|Peter Watts|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170355970s/48484.jpg|47428] and an X-men comic, with all the good points of both.
allisonthurman's review
4.0
Memorable for the floating city above a gas giant, and the selected few who go to the surface to face the awesome pressure. Pepper is back!
weirdtea's review
3.0
I had a good time reading this. The setting is very well done--the planet's conditions shaped the cities in interesting ways. The characters were engaging and there were quite thoughtful explorations of how the forces of responsibility, status, and the past can affect a person. All this and solid action is yours if you read.
I do wish I had read the previous novels. This story can stand on its own, but I'm happier when I have context and connection. It's not the book's fault at all--I should be more aware of my own quirks.
Finally, the space zombies. I groaned when they showed up because I'm pretty tired of the whole zombie thing in general. So it is a real testament to the story and its writer that I wanted to hang in there. My faith paid off. He does interesting things with the zombies without losing what might appeal to a fan.
Good read.
I do wish I had read the previous novels. This story can stand on its own, but I'm happier when I have context and connection. It's not the book's fault at all--I should be more aware of my own quirks.
Finally, the space zombies. I groaned when they showed up because I'm pretty tired of the whole zombie thing in general. So it is a real testament to the story and its writer that I wanted to hang in there. My faith paid off. He does interesting things with the zombies without losing what might appeal to a fan.
Good read.
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