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themanfromdelmonte's review against another edition
2.0
The love child of Clifford Simak and Fred Pohl
The thing that grates is that this supposed to be set 350 years in the future. Sure there's some rockets and stuff but otherwise 2370 just feels like contemporary America. Try winding the clock 350 years in the other direction and you get to 1670. Bit different from 2020. There's nothing in this tale to indicate that three and a half centuries have passed.
The opening third of the book just about drowns in folksiness but the tempo picks up a bit after that, and it reads smoothly enough to the end, but it's all just scene setting for the inevitable sequel(s)
This was also suggested to me as space opera. "Zirn left unguarded …" (Robert Sheckley) is space opera, "In Ashes Born" is not.
The thing that grates is that this supposed to be set 350 years in the future. Sure there's some rockets and stuff but otherwise 2370 just feels like contemporary America. Try winding the clock 350 years in the other direction and you get to 1670. Bit different from 2020. There's nothing in this tale to indicate that three and a half centuries have passed.
The opening third of the book just about drowns in folksiness but the tempo picks up a bit after that, and it reads smoothly enough to the end, but it's all just scene setting for the inevitable sequel(s)
This was also suggested to me as space opera. "Zirn left unguarded …" (Robert Sheckley) is space opera, "In Ashes Born" is not.
janeanv's review against another edition
5.0
Another hit
Lowell continues to have me captivated with the adventures of Ish. Eagerly awaiting the smuggler series and continuing the storyline.
Lowell continues to have me captivated with the adventures of Ish. Eagerly awaiting the smuggler series and continuing the storyline.
tenthrow's review against another edition
2.0
What in the hell did I just read!?
360 pages and no plot. No conflict. Why does this book have an average rating of 4.5 stars? Did we get different versions of the book? 3/4 of the way through the book and there are 3 chapters on designing a logo. A. Logo. I've never experienced a book like this. Endless conversations about beer and coffee. Not like interesting conversations... Conversations about cleaning coffee urns and how much coffee you'll need for a whole crew. Pages and pages and pages. And when something does happen ( and I mean barely ) it doesn't even make sense. Why is any of this happening? This book only has one antagonist. And he only appears in the last quarter of the book. And he doesn't really do anything. And he's defeated easily. That's the only source of conflict in the entire book. I guess I just don't get it. You people who are rating this 4 and 5 stars. Why? What do you see in this book? What am I missing? The prose is fine, except for the extremely irritating affection of the word sir (sar). I even actually liked the characters, as they walked around doing nothing. This book could have been 60 pages and covered everything in a more appropriate amount of detail, and functioned as the first act of the actual story; which never came.
360 pages and no plot. No conflict. Why does this book have an average rating of 4.5 stars? Did we get different versions of the book? 3/4 of the way through the book and there are 3 chapters on designing a logo. A. Logo. I've never experienced a book like this. Endless conversations about beer and coffee. Not like interesting conversations... Conversations about cleaning coffee urns and how much coffee you'll need for a whole crew. Pages and pages and pages. And when something does happen ( and I mean barely ) it doesn't even make sense. Why is any of this happening? This book only has one antagonist. And he only appears in the last quarter of the book. And he doesn't really do anything. And he's defeated easily. That's the only source of conflict in the entire book. I guess I just don't get it. You people who are rating this 4 and 5 stars. Why? What do you see in this book? What am I missing? The prose is fine, except for the extremely irritating affection of the word sir (sar). I even actually liked the characters, as they walked around doing nothing. This book could have been 60 pages and covered everything in a more appropriate amount of detail, and functioned as the first act of the actual story; which never came.
85aggie's review against another edition
4.0
Nice to have a new story line with old characters. Book was fantastic, if you like the "Share" series, this is a great continuation. One note, and it doesn't take away from the book, but I have "read" all via audio books and I love the way Mr Lowell reads his own books (back in the podiobook days); this book I purchased from audible and it has a different reader. It didn't take away from the story but it was somewhat disappointing as I had to get used to new character voices.
ajeffree's review against another edition
5.0
The prodigal son returns!
This is really fantastic. I'm so excited that Ishmael Wong is back! I think the only bad thing I can say is now I have wait for the next one and I don't like waiting.
This is really fantastic. I'm so excited that Ishmael Wong is back! I think the only bad thing I can say is now I have wait for the next one and I don't like waiting.
smallish_bear's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hteph's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
deb_entwistle's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
bunnerz's review
4.0
This book follows Ishmael Wang after his adventure in the series Golden Age of the Solar Clipper.
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Ratings - completed series:
#1 In Ashes Born (this book): ★★★★☆
#2 To Fire Called: ★★★★☆
#3 By Darkness Forged: ★★★★☆
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Ratings - completed series:
#1 In Ashes Born (this book): ★★★★☆
#2 To Fire Called: ★★★★☆
#3 By Darkness Forged: ★★★★☆