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bea_reads78's review
3.25
Fun murder mystery on a space ship that also raises some classic sci fi questions abt the human race and surveillance states, but it never gets very deep into those issues. Protag doesn’t enthrall me, and the writing of his lady love is not my fav (she never does anything??)
jasonbatt's review against another edition
5.0
This is the story I wish I had written. Generation ship. Detective story. Tomlinson takes such discordant elements and weaves them into a fascinating story: a Manet painting, advanced probes, exoplanet imaging, and more. There are echoes of Robert Sawyer's Red Planet Blues here and I'm hoping that this is the start of a new subgenre: detectives in space!
Tomlinson takes us through a generational ship from the ground-level view of Bryan. This is first and foremost a crime drama but don't make the assumption that he leaves the science out of science fiction. Tomlinson has crafted a work that builds on decades of thought and speculation on the construction of generation ships and on the very recent explosion in exoplanet research. The precarious balance of a worldship (and this is a generation ship that deserves to be in that category) is critically reflected upon. The external tension of the ship's overall biome balance is felt as they near Tau Ceti G (which happens to be a currently uncatalogued exoplanet)! Tomlinson also brings the social considerations into perspective. This is a population constrained by numerous regulations and they're about to be let loose on a planet. The threat of freedom is also a shadow and serious consideration that Tomlinson explores.
This is speculative fiction at its best: exploration of a world that we can only imagine. On the generational ship, the world has changed. The stakes are higher. And Tomlinson navigates the changes in reality with ease.
Adam Roberts in The History of Science Fiction says that "stories of journeying through space form the core of the genre . . . the trunk, as it were, from which the various other modes of SF branch off." Tomlinson has returned us to the core of SF. Again, this isn't rockets and ray guns. The Ark reminds us that one of the most difficult challenges of a generation ship will be the human element. Even if we can solve propulsion and we can solve food production, human beings are persistently unpredictable. Tomlinson reminds us that who we are here on Earth is likely who we will be there traveling to another world. While Star Trek would have us believe that star travel necessarily raises the social standards of a civilization, The Ark questions that assumption. Star travel is just another tool in the hands of a wild society and Tomlinson dives deep into those ramifications.
Pick up The Ark. Read it and get captured in the adventure that detective Bryan takes. When you're done, pause and reflect on the serious questions and challenges that Tomlinson raises. He's crafted a book that is quite sly. The detective yarn is engaging but the engagement with serious questions of social systems on a generation ship are remarkably poignant and worthy of our attention.
So when's the next book come out? I reached "The End" far too quickly!
Tomlinson takes us through a generational ship from the ground-level view of Bryan. This is first and foremost a crime drama but don't make the assumption that he leaves the science out of science fiction. Tomlinson has crafted a work that builds on decades of thought and speculation on the construction of generation ships and on the very recent explosion in exoplanet research. The precarious balance of a worldship (and this is a generation ship that deserves to be in that category) is critically reflected upon. The external tension of the ship's overall biome balance is felt as they near Tau Ceti G (which happens to be a currently uncatalogued exoplanet)! Tomlinson also brings the social considerations into perspective. This is a population constrained by numerous regulations and they're about to be let loose on a planet. The threat of freedom is also a shadow and serious consideration that Tomlinson explores.
This is speculative fiction at its best: exploration of a world that we can only imagine. On the generational ship, the world has changed. The stakes are higher. And Tomlinson navigates the changes in reality with ease.
Adam Roberts in The History of Science Fiction says that "stories of journeying through space form the core of the genre . . . the trunk, as it were, from which the various other modes of SF branch off." Tomlinson has returned us to the core of SF. Again, this isn't rockets and ray guns. The Ark reminds us that one of the most difficult challenges of a generation ship will be the human element. Even if we can solve propulsion and we can solve food production, human beings are persistently unpredictable. Tomlinson reminds us that who we are here on Earth is likely who we will be there traveling to another world. While Star Trek would have us believe that star travel necessarily raises the social standards of a civilization, The Ark questions that assumption. Star travel is just another tool in the hands of a wild society and Tomlinson dives deep into those ramifications.
Pick up The Ark. Read it and get captured in the adventure that detective Bryan takes. When you're done, pause and reflect on the serious questions and challenges that Tomlinson raises. He's crafted a book that is quite sly. The detective yarn is engaging but the engagement with serious questions of social systems on a generation ship are remarkably poignant and worthy of our attention.
So when's the next book come out? I reached "The End" far too quickly!
eastofthesunwestofthemoon's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars. This was an intriguing cross-genre thriller type book; a good SciFi-Detective blend with plenty of action and a few twists and puzzles. I will probably read the next in series.
tmleblanc's review against another edition
2.0
A fast-paced detective mystery set in space. Well-written and a page turner. The reveal felt a little underwhelming because there weren't many clues throughout the story that led me to believe the who-dun-it.
bibliophilicjester's review
adventurous
medium-paced
2.75
This is a fun time! As long as you're willing to just accept that the characters are a bit eye roll worthy 😅
Most important for me though...I didn't figure out who did it!!!! Or why!! Even when the pieces started fitting together! I'm pretty good at figuring stuff out usually but damn this author got me. V exciting haha ALSO I was iffy about the sequel while reading, but the way it ended/knowing what comes next...yeah, I might check it out.
So this is basically a murder mystery on a generation ship, which works really well for me. I think I saw this cheap for Kindle and for whatever reason decided to preview the sample...and was hooked. Again, for me, I love this type of story no matter how many times it's done. I think this one has enough to set it apart and make it memorable.
Unfortunately, my problems were kind of large problems, hence the meh rating. The way people from different countries are defined and separated despite no one really caring about that anymore (allegedly) and intermingling...it just felt like saying you're a badass assassin and then not actually assassinating anyone on page. There are even characters speaking broken English, which felt not only offensive but really out of place.
The main character is a whole issue as well. He's a retired athlete who was handed this cushy police type job, which is apparently a thing that happens often on the ark. He ends up taking the murder very seriously and doing his job well, which is a point in his favor. But between the coworker romance and everything that involved and the doctor he slept with in the past who clearly still has a thing for him ..eh. I just didn't like the character interactions overall when it was MC and pretty much any woman. Except the museum lady lol she was great. But still went out of her way for our MC.
And the last thing I have to note is that span is NOT the past tense of spin. If you write "he span around" I WILL picture him throwing a wrench (spanner) at someone. Every time. It was used properly I think two times in one chapter toward the end, but in the rest of the book, everyone span around repeatedly. I guess it's nitpicky, but it took me out of the story and made me question some of the other editing.
Still though, overall a fun story if you don't mind a voluptuous female love interest with a questionable power dynamic, some cringe dialogue and interactions, and a bit of drawing things out. If you go into it expecting fun, I think you'll like this one ☺️
Most important for me though...I didn't figure out who did it!!!! Or why!! Even when the pieces started fitting together! I'm pretty good at figuring stuff out usually but damn this author got me. V exciting haha ALSO I was iffy about the sequel while reading, but the way it ended/knowing what comes next...yeah, I might check it out.
So this is basically a murder mystery on a generation ship, which works really well for me. I think I saw this cheap for Kindle and for whatever reason decided to preview the sample...and was hooked. Again, for me, I love this type of story no matter how many times it's done. I think this one has enough to set it apart and make it memorable.
Unfortunately, my problems were kind of large problems, hence the meh rating. The way people from different countries are defined and separated despite no one really caring about that anymore (allegedly) and intermingling...it just felt like saying you're a badass assassin and then not actually assassinating anyone on page. There are even characters speaking broken English, which felt not only offensive but really out of place.
The main character is a whole issue as well. He's a retired athlete who was handed this cushy police type job, which is apparently a thing that happens often on the ark. He ends up taking the murder very seriously and doing his job well, which is a point in his favor. But between the coworker romance and everything that involved and the doctor he slept with in the past who clearly still has a thing for him ..eh. I just didn't like the character interactions overall when it was MC and pretty much any woman. Except the museum lady lol she was great. But still went out of her way for our MC.
And the last thing I have to note is that span is NOT the past tense of spin. If you write "he span around" I WILL picture him throwing a wrench (spanner) at someone. Every time. It was used properly I think two times in one chapter toward the end, but in the rest of the book, everyone span around repeatedly. I guess it's nitpicky, but it took me out of the story and made me question some of the other editing.
Still though, overall a fun story if you don't mind a voluptuous female love interest with a questionable power dynamic, some cringe dialogue and interactions, and a bit of drawing things out. If you go into it expecting fun, I think you'll like this one ☺️
jmy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
felinity's review
4.0
In short, it's a mystery set in space. The last and best of humanity is on the Ark, along with the best of its history, and after over two centuries of travel is finally nearing its destination when Benson finds himself embroiled in something far worse than anything he's previously encountered, something inexplicable that has far-reaching consequences.
It's more space opera than science fiction: there's plenty of tech, from the ship's complex systems to the implants ("plant") each person has, and although I felt forcibly exposed to the tech rather than intuitively understanding it, I only floundered for a short while, so although the beginning feels more like Blade Runner it thankfully becomes more like Star Trek.
I just discovered there's a second book, that this is the first of a series. Do not read the summary or description of book 2 before reading this one! Here ends your spoiler warning.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's more space opera than science fiction: there's plenty of tech, from the ship's complex systems to the implants ("plant") each person has, and although I felt forcibly exposed to the tech rather than intuitively understanding it, I only floundered for a short while, so although the beginning feels more like Blade Runner it thankfully becomes more like Star Trek.
Spoiler
I never saw an explanation of what the Flip was, or why it was needed, so if I just missed that, someone else let me know! I have a theory, but it may well be wrong.I just discovered there's a second book, that this is the first of a series. Do not read the summary or description of book 2 before reading this one! Here ends your spoiler warning.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
m_is_for_awesome's review
4.0
I liked this by the end a lot more than I thought I would after chapter one. Initially I found it a bit clunky - aging ex sport star turned police chief, having affair with subordinate, doesn’t like e-readers…lives on an arc in space at the end of a two hundred year mission to bring the last of humanity to a new home.
I quickly forgot my raised eyebrows a The story found its feet and found lots to enjoy as mysterious vanishing turns into murder and then a threat to all of what remains of humanity.
The world building is fun, the secondary characters enjoyable, and the main character grows a lot.
I quickly forgot my raised eyebrows a The story found its feet and found lots to enjoy as mysterious vanishing turns into murder and then a threat to all of what remains of humanity.
The world building is fun, the secondary characters enjoyable, and the main character grows a lot.