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amalia12's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mferrante83's review
4.0
I won’t lie, this is precisely the kind of book for me. I love derelict spaceships. It also so happens I love science fiction that incorporates both historical and mysterious elements. The discovery of ancient alien civilizations, the uncovering of here-to-fore unknown knowledge, and the recovery of lost technological wonders are all elements of story that I get consistently excited about. In a sense Diving Into the Wreck manages to cover all those bases (well, the “alien” bit requires a bit of sideways thinking) with a certain deft aplomb and brevity that is at once immanently readable and, unfortunately, occasionally disappointing.
The first thing I noticed is the almost anti-Faulknerian sentence and paragraph structure. Told in the first person perspective paragraphs rarely hit anything more then five sentences and more frequently are only one are two sentences in length. This gives the narrator, to my recollection given no other name but Boss, something of an odd voice. Though given her self-possessed predilection towards solitude the conversational tone and clipped narrative makes sense. It is really only distracting for the first couple of chapters after which I managed to adjust quite nicely.
The fast paced narrative structure segues into a fast-paced plot that pays only bare attention to Rusch’s world in favor of telling a fast action-packed tale instead. As a result Diving Into the Wreck doesn’t delve too deeply into the scientific aspects of Rusch’s world instead spending more time focusing on history and particularly history as pertains to both science and government. W hat we do learn of the of the universe that Rusch’s characters inhabit is almost exclusively limited to that which is necessary to advance the plot. We get glimpses of a recent planet spanning conflict that split the galaxy and are shown an uneasy peace that now exists between the two aggressors but it is only enough information to underscore how the conflict and underlying tensions affect Boss and her decisions. Inevitably more time is spent on the titular wreck and its own history but even the revelations of its own origin deal explicitly with their implications to the plot on hand.
The novel is divided into three, mostly complete, interlocked stories that together form a cohesive narrative that examines the dangers of shining light into the darker aspects of history and asks whether or not some knowledge should remain buried under the detritus of the past. At the same time I occasionally found that the end of one of these sections occurred right after something really exciting happened and I found the change of narrative direction pulled me out of the story. Was never disoriented for long but the sudden changes felt a little rough. As with many first person narratives you never form any kind of tie with characters outside the narrator and Boss, not necessarily a social butterfly herself, means that other character’s motivations remain opaque throughout the whole of the story. Even Boss herself remains at an emotional arms length always her narration taking on at least some of the same businesslike tone and facade she presents to the other characters in the story.
The plot is thoroughly engrossing. Even before the connections between the first two sections of the novel become obvious you can’t but help being drawn in by the mysteries that show up and the enthusiasm Boss shows for uncovering the history behind them. Diving Into the Wreck shifts into high gear in its final third; the triumphs and tragedies from earlier in the novel converging into a satisfying, though somewhat bittersweet, ending. The ending of course is also a beginning and while all the loose ends are more or less tied up, we are left with the possibility of more in the future. While the distinct narrative voice of Diving Into the Wreck might not be right for some readers I found it a wonderfully engaging read that had me longing to be exploring the silent, frozen hallways of long abandoned spaceships right alongside Boss and her crew. I’ll be keeping an eye for for future work by Rusch that will hopefully further explore the universe glimpsed in Diving Into the Wreck. This is space adventure done right and I can’t wait for more.
The first thing I noticed is the almost anti-Faulknerian sentence and paragraph structure. Told in the first person perspective paragraphs rarely hit anything more then five sentences and more frequently are only one are two sentences in length. This gives the narrator, to my recollection given no other name but Boss, something of an odd voice. Though given her self-possessed predilection towards solitude the conversational tone and clipped narrative makes sense. It is really only distracting for the first couple of chapters after which I managed to adjust quite nicely.
The fast paced narrative structure segues into a fast-paced plot that pays only bare attention to Rusch’s world in favor of telling a fast action-packed tale instead. As a result Diving Into the Wreck doesn’t delve too deeply into the scientific aspects of Rusch’s world instead spending more time focusing on history and particularly history as pertains to both science and government. W hat we do learn of the of the universe that Rusch’s characters inhabit is almost exclusively limited to that which is necessary to advance the plot. We get glimpses of a recent planet spanning conflict that split the galaxy and are shown an uneasy peace that now exists between the two aggressors but it is only enough information to underscore how the conflict and underlying tensions affect Boss and her decisions. Inevitably more time is spent on the titular wreck and its own history but even the revelations of its own origin deal explicitly with their implications to the plot on hand.
The novel is divided into three, mostly complete, interlocked stories that together form a cohesive narrative that examines the dangers of shining light into the darker aspects of history and asks whether or not some knowledge should remain buried under the detritus of the past. At the same time I occasionally found that the end of one of these sections occurred right after something really exciting happened and I found the change of narrative direction pulled me out of the story. Was never disoriented for long but the sudden changes felt a little rough. As with many first person narratives you never form any kind of tie with characters outside the narrator and Boss, not necessarily a social butterfly herself, means that other character’s motivations remain opaque throughout the whole of the story. Even Boss herself remains at an emotional arms length always her narration taking on at least some of the same businesslike tone and facade she presents to the other characters in the story.
The plot is thoroughly engrossing. Even before the connections between the first two sections of the novel become obvious you can’t but help being drawn in by the mysteries that show up and the enthusiasm Boss shows for uncovering the history behind them. Diving Into the Wreck shifts into high gear in its final third; the triumphs and tragedies from earlier in the novel converging into a satisfying, though somewhat bittersweet, ending. The ending of course is also a beginning and while all the loose ends are more or less tied up, we are left with the possibility of more in the future. While the distinct narrative voice of Diving Into the Wreck might not be right for some readers I found it a wonderfully engaging read that had me longing to be exploring the silent, frozen hallways of long abandoned spaceships right alongside Boss and her crew. I’ll be keeping an eye for for future work by Rusch that will hopefully further explore the universe glimpsed in Diving Into the Wreck. This is space adventure done right and I can’t wait for more.
itabar's review
4.0
I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed KKR's books. I was really annoyed by the last Retrieval Artist book of hers I read several years ago. The ending had no resolution and I didn't realize that it was the beginning of another story arc. So I've been kind of avoiding her.
I really liked this book. It starts with an immediate mystery and the plot rolls along at a fast-paced clip. The MC character is a complicated, competent, intelligent, and interesting person, as are the crew she surrounds herself with. The world is easily accessible.
I really liked this book. It starts with an immediate mystery and the plot rolls along at a fast-paced clip. The MC character is a complicated, competent, intelligent, and interesting person, as are the crew she surrounds herself with. The world is easily accessible.
gmvader's review
4.0
I first encountered Kristine Kathryn Rusch as part of the writing team (with Dean Wesley Smith) that wrote so many Star Trek novels when I was younger. Later she wrote a gripping, if somewhat forgettable Star Wars novel that made me curious about her work.
Years later I got a subscription to Asimov’s magazine for a birthday gift. In one of those pulpy, paperback sized publications was a story by Kristine Kathryn Rusch about a team of divers that salvage wrecks in space. The story was fascinating and terrifying and full of great tension and wonderful mystery.
Then I stumbled upon this book. Diving into the Wreck is that short story that I read and two others that are sequels to it. This is the story of Boss, an experienced wreck diver who has built a career around finding abandoned wrecks in space and diving them for tidbits of long lost technology or other valuable goods. She discovers a wreck from a long lost empire that was apparently using some kind of secret stealth tech. She puts together a team to dive it.
That’s when things go horribly wrong. Because there’s a reason that stealth tech is secret and no longer around. There’s a reason the ship wasn’t found for so long. The secrets are terrifying and almost painful to read.
Boss is an amazingly personal character, especially for one who does not have a name. The three stories in this book explore the history of that lost empire and the technology that apparently drove it, and possibly ruined it.
My memory of this book is one of non-stop action and edge-of-the-seat suspense. However, it pulls off an interesting compromise. The action does not devolve into fight scenes, and in fact, many times happens in slow motion, as is necessary in a low gravity environment. Most of the suspense is personal peril. Boss is careful, she doesn’t like to take risks but there always comes a point in any dive where risks have to be taken. Where people take the risks in order to make a discovery, or when foolish actions have to be corrected.
What Rusch had done beautifully is show me characters that I learn to care about on the same level as the empathic Boss. These are people and when they are diving an abandoned wreck in space and suddenly the comm goes dead I feel just as frantic and helpless as Boss while she waits for a response as she calls them over and over.
I understand that Rusch based some of the techniques of the space wreck divers on actual wreck divers here on earth and the parallels are pretty similar. If you puncture a suit or snag an oxygen line on a sharp piece of metal or get trapped behind a shifting bulkhead you will die just as quickly at the bottom of the ocean as you will in space. The details added enough to the story that it felt real.
It also felt like there was a great history behind it and I found that to be fascinating. One of the things that I have always loved about Tolkien is the vast feeling of history that his stoies evoke with the hidden and abandoned cities and the old watchtowers. This book gives me that same sense of wonder with ancient derelicts that suddenly appear in space, abandoned and thousands of years old bearing forgotten, rumored technology. The history is alive and it feels so much deeper for it.
Years later I got a subscription to Asimov’s magazine for a birthday gift. In one of those pulpy, paperback sized publications was a story by Kristine Kathryn Rusch about a team of divers that salvage wrecks in space. The story was fascinating and terrifying and full of great tension and wonderful mystery.
Then I stumbled upon this book. Diving into the Wreck is that short story that I read and two others that are sequels to it. This is the story of Boss, an experienced wreck diver who has built a career around finding abandoned wrecks in space and diving them for tidbits of long lost technology or other valuable goods. She discovers a wreck from a long lost empire that was apparently using some kind of secret stealth tech. She puts together a team to dive it.
That’s when things go horribly wrong. Because there’s a reason that stealth tech is secret and no longer around. There’s a reason the ship wasn’t found for so long. The secrets are terrifying and almost painful to read.
Boss is an amazingly personal character, especially for one who does not have a name. The three stories in this book explore the history of that lost empire and the technology that apparently drove it, and possibly ruined it.
My memory of this book is one of non-stop action and edge-of-the-seat suspense. However, it pulls off an interesting compromise. The action does not devolve into fight scenes, and in fact, many times happens in slow motion, as is necessary in a low gravity environment. Most of the suspense is personal peril. Boss is careful, she doesn’t like to take risks but there always comes a point in any dive where risks have to be taken. Where people take the risks in order to make a discovery, or when foolish actions have to be corrected.
What Rusch had done beautifully is show me characters that I learn to care about on the same level as the empathic Boss. These are people and when they are diving an abandoned wreck in space and suddenly the comm goes dead I feel just as frantic and helpless as Boss while she waits for a response as she calls them over and over.
I understand that Rusch based some of the techniques of the space wreck divers on actual wreck divers here on earth and the parallels are pretty similar. If you puncture a suit or snag an oxygen line on a sharp piece of metal or get trapped behind a shifting bulkhead you will die just as quickly at the bottom of the ocean as you will in space. The details added enough to the story that it felt real.
It also felt like there was a great history behind it and I found that to be fascinating. One of the things that I have always loved about Tolkien is the vast feeling of history that his stoies evoke with the hidden and abandoned cities and the old watchtowers. This book gives me that same sense of wonder with ancient derelicts that suddenly appear in space, abandoned and thousands of years old bearing forgotten, rumored technology. The history is alive and it feels so much deeper for it.
donnagrayce's review
3.0
Interesting and layered. Plot and character development kept jigging off into territory I didn't see coming, which is so nice after decades of reading sci fi.
...Um, does the main character have a NAME and I missed it?
...Um, does the main character have a NAME and I missed it?
thinde's review
3.0
One of my common criticisms of fiction is the lack of planning. I really don't feel it's realistic to simply decide to fight the big-bad and immediately charge in. In this book, however, things may have swung too far the other way. There's a LOT of talking about risks and what-ifs and how-tos and what-thens. At least it lends an air of realism.
My biggest problem with the story was character motivation. The protagonist takes a 180 degree turn when she decides to oppose the galactic power under which she lives, simply because she fears they will misuse a mythical technology. Can't she just leak it to the press? After all, she has a lot of digital evidence. She also has enough money to hire a mercenary company to bombard the ship with kinetics or any of a dozen other saner options.
And she manages to gather a large crew who are all willing to throw away their lives, or at least become outlaws, for fairly weak reasons. It just seemed that the author was driving the plot, not the characters.
Then there's her father, who wants to develop said technology and can't take five minutes to explain why he is willing to invest his life in that project. Sure it's a central mystery, but at one point it is clearly in his vital interest to explain, but no. Daddy knows best, I guess.
My biggest problem with the story was character motivation. The protagonist takes a 180 degree turn when she decides to oppose the galactic power under which she lives, simply because she fears they will misuse a mythical technology. Can't she just leak it to the press? After all, she has a lot of digital evidence. She also has enough money to hire a mercenary company to bombard the ship with kinetics or any of a dozen other saner options.
And she manages to gather a large crew who are all willing to throw away their lives, or at least become outlaws, for fairly weak reasons. It just seemed that the author was driving the plot, not the characters.
Then there's her father, who wants to develop said technology and can't take five minutes to explain why he is willing to invest his life in that project. Sure it's a central mystery, but at one point it is clearly in his vital interest to explain, but no. Daddy knows best, I guess.
squishies's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Really enjoyed the world building (though wonder why the spacesuits' robustness and requirement of breathers were so limited in their use 5000 years in the future - part of what she mentioned of tech being lost and having to be reinvented?) and the storyline - it kept me intrigued on what will happen next.
A good array of different characters, though I didn't get emotionally invested in anyone, least of all Boss. Not that I didn't think they weren't well-written, just didn't catch me that way, I suppose.
Really enjoyed the world building (though wonder why the spacesuits' robustness and requirement of breathers were so limited in their use 5000 years in the future - part of what she mentioned of tech being lost and having to be reinvented?) and the storyline - it kept me intrigued on what will happen next.
A good array of different characters, though I didn't get emotionally invested in anyone, least of all Boss. Not that I didn't think they weren't well-written, just didn't catch me that way, I suppose.
majkia's review
4.0
interesting take on folks who have a passion for searching out old tech in the far future.
widgets_reading's review
4.0
Short book but interesting. It was weird how much the author kept referring to everything as though they were diving into a sunken wreck at the bottom of the ocean rather than a spaceship wreck in space.