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A review by this_one_is_blue
Kitra by Gideon Marcus
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The world of Kitra is rich and lively, filled with small moments that matter. The cast comes together to solve problems with the creativity of people who have to work around limited means. (Imagine being college students going on a roadtrip, and getting extra credit if the RV they retrofitted can make it through the whole adventure - then add the perils of space!)
The detail that goes into the ship and flying are engaging without over-wordy explanations. I was left curious to know more, but not confused or wondering if I missed something.
Kitra has strong opinions on coffee, and immense drive. She has worked to make her dreams a reality, and so long as her friends are onboard, those plans are on track. I fell in love with Pinky, an alien who lives among humans, best friend to Kitra. He handles being different with humor and good grace, and balances out his friends when they get too stressed. Marta and Kitra are dear friends, and used to be together, which adds friction now that Marta and Peter are a pair. Fareedh takes on the computing systems while Peter works on physical engineering, and Marta's biology skills are key for the air scrubbers. Kitra wants to - maybe - romance Fareedh (and I want to borrow his fashion)
The book plays with sci-fi concepts in a genre-saavy and affectionate way, exploring some commonly appearing things from a less common angle.
The crew use the material printer in the best of ways, because really, if you can recycle matter, why not enjoy a colorful outfit? Have you ever been irritated by the lack of seatbelts on a spaceship, or wanted the pilot to not be shaken out of their chair by turbulence when there's artificial gravity? "Kitra" nudges the genre conventions in a way that only an author who loves and is deeply familiar with the source can do.
There's also a lovely (and refreshing!) inclusion of various cultures and languages. Humanity isn't homogenized into one unit. This helps to build up the world, and enhances the ways tech and development are influenced by the cultures they grew from.
"Kitra" includes illustrations, one of my favorite being where we first see Kitra, Pinky, Fareedh, Marta, and Peter.
The detail that goes into the ship and flying are engaging without over-wordy explanations. I was left curious to know more, but not confused or wondering if I missed something.
Kitra has strong opinions on coffee, and immense drive. She has worked to make her dreams a reality, and so long as her friends are onboard, those plans are on track. I fell in love with Pinky, an alien who lives among humans, best friend to Kitra. He handles being different with humor and good grace, and balances out his friends when they get too stressed. Marta and Kitra are dear friends, and used to be together, which adds friction now that Marta and Peter are a pair. Fareedh takes on the computing systems while Peter works on physical engineering, and Marta's biology skills are key for the air scrubbers. Kitra wants to - maybe - romance Fareedh (and I want to borrow his fashion)
The book plays with sci-fi concepts in a genre-saavy and affectionate way, exploring some commonly appearing things from a less common angle.
The crew use the material printer in the best of ways, because really, if you can recycle matter, why not enjoy a colorful outfit? Have you ever been irritated by the lack of seatbelts on a spaceship, or wanted the pilot to not be shaken out of their chair by turbulence when there's artificial gravity? "Kitra" nudges the genre conventions in a way that only an author who loves and is deeply familiar with the source can do.
There's also a lovely (and refreshing!) inclusion of various cultures and languages. Humanity isn't homogenized into one unit. This helps to build up the world, and enhances the ways tech and development are influenced by the cultures they grew from.
"Kitra" includes illustrations, one of my favorite being where we first see Kitra, Pinky, Fareedh, Marta, and Peter.