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A review by graff_fuller
Death Wave by Ben Bova
4.0
3.5 Stars
Well, I finally started my trek through a few books by Ben Bova. I started the Star Quest Trilogy, which seems to have FOUR books in it, and the three my wife bought me are (by Goodreads standards) books 2, 3, and 4. I was thoroughly confused.
I then wrote Ben Bova via his website and got his editor (who was truly very kind). He told me that Ben Bova had recently passed (November of 2020), but he told me it was safe for me to read that trilogy the way it is...for the books are fairly self-contained, though they tell an overarcing story (Grand Tour).
The main question was why Goodreads says that New Earth was the first book in the trilogy, but my wife bought three books in the trilogy starting with #1 Death Wave, #2 Apes and Angels and #3 Survival.
I've just finished Death Wave...and I can see that there is a portion of information that would've been nice to have experienced before reading Death Wave, but the editor is correct, Mr. Bova writes a fairly self-contained story...that was fun and easily understood within the parameters of the book.
I really enjoyed the main protagonist, Jorden Kell and his alien wife (from New Earth). I presume the previous book recounts their first meetings and the building of their relationship...and their eventual return to Earth.
We have a crisis on Earth that has needed a strong governmental hand...and the main antagonist is up for the challenge.
Intrigue and fumbles are fun to read. I was frustrated a few times where it seemed to convenient to have actually happened OR the main characters or the antagonists were during truly stupid things (that seemed uncharacteristic for their position).
With minor problems like that, I really did enjoy this story. I will definitely read on...and will eventually go back and read New Earth...to understand the precursor to this trilogy.
I am a child of the late 60's and have grown up in the Star Wars (1977) movie that was Episode IV. We don't always have to have the story told to us in chronological order. Also, I grew up on C. S. Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia...which were not told (or published) in chronological order.
I'm okay with it. Now, on to Apes and Angels, the second book in the trilogy.
Well, I finally started my trek through a few books by Ben Bova. I started the Star Quest Trilogy, which seems to have FOUR books in it, and the three my wife bought me are (by Goodreads standards) books 2, 3, and 4. I was thoroughly confused.
I then wrote Ben Bova via his website and got his editor (who was truly very kind). He told me that Ben Bova had recently passed (November of 2020), but he told me it was safe for me to read that trilogy the way it is...for the books are fairly self-contained, though they tell an overarcing story (Grand Tour).
The main question was why Goodreads says that New Earth was the first book in the trilogy, but my wife bought three books in the trilogy starting with #1 Death Wave, #2 Apes and Angels and #3 Survival.
I've just finished Death Wave...and I can see that there is a portion of information that would've been nice to have experienced before reading Death Wave, but the editor is correct, Mr. Bova writes a fairly self-contained story...that was fun and easily understood within the parameters of the book.
I really enjoyed the main protagonist, Jorden Kell and his alien wife (from New Earth). I presume the previous book recounts their first meetings and the building of their relationship...and their eventual return to Earth.
We have a crisis on Earth that has needed a strong governmental hand...and the main antagonist is up for the challenge.
Intrigue and fumbles are fun to read. I was frustrated a few times where it seemed to convenient to have actually happened OR the main characters or the antagonists were during truly stupid things (that seemed uncharacteristic for their position).
With minor problems like that, I really did enjoy this story. I will definitely read on...and will eventually go back and read New Earth...to understand the precursor to this trilogy.
I am a child of the late 60's and have grown up in the Star Wars (1977) movie that was Episode IV. We don't always have to have the story told to us in chronological order. Also, I grew up on C. S. Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia...which were not told (or published) in chronological order.
I'm okay with it. Now, on to Apes and Angels, the second book in the trilogy.