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A review by richardrbecker
Cauldron by Jack McDevitt
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I picked up Cauldron (The Academy #6) as my first foray into the work of Jack McDevitt. I somewhat enjoyed what I read, even if the story feels uneven over three district parts — the intriguing pursuit of technological advancement and society's pushback on whether it's needed; the lull, which reads a bit like our protagonists' experience during transdimensional faster-than-light speed (a.k.a. boredom); and then some quick and somewhat quirky Star Trek episodes.
As one might imagine, these early Star Trek-like explorations (with a ship nowhere near as elaborate as any Enterprise) involve the crew (the reader, too) spending a few months suffering from cabin fever before making a few stops on their way to the center of the solar system. When the small crew does stop, they sometimes meet technologically advanced alien races that are very humanoid, including one race that is nearly identical to humans (except they are bugs living in the American suburbs, complete with slapstick television shows). The meetings don't amount to much.
Overall, the book is largely plot-driven. And while McDevitt does a decent job with character interactions, they tend to lack any real depth. The end result is something akin to cheap and accessible SciFi channel movies. You get some SciFi, but it never really sticks. And while that might be fine for a lazy Saturday afternoon, deep down, you also know that there is probably something better to watch somewhere or maybe anywhere. You'd even change the channel if not for the fact that craving the genre is what made you tune in the first place. But, you stick with it for some reason, never truly satisfied or disappointed.
And therein is how I felt after reading Cauldron: not really disappointed, not really satisfied. I was just strangely cured of craving SciFi but longing for something with more depth, like a peeled potato.
As one might imagine, these early Star Trek-like explorations (with a ship nowhere near as elaborate as any Enterprise) involve the crew (the reader, too) spending a few months suffering from cabin fever before making a few stops on their way to the center of the solar system. When the small crew does stop, they sometimes meet technologically advanced alien races that are very humanoid, including one race that is nearly identical to humans (except they are bugs living in the American suburbs, complete with slapstick television shows). The meetings don't amount to much.
Overall, the book is largely plot-driven. And while McDevitt does a decent job with character interactions, they tend to lack any real depth. The end result is something akin to cheap and accessible SciFi channel movies. You get some SciFi, but it never really sticks. And while that might be fine for a lazy Saturday afternoon, deep down, you also know that there is probably something better to watch somewhere or maybe anywhere. You'd even change the channel if not for the fact that craving the genre is what made you tune in the first place. But, you stick with it for some reason, never truly satisfied or disappointed.
And therein is how I felt after reading Cauldron: not really disappointed, not really satisfied. I was just strangely cured of craving SciFi but longing for something with more depth, like a peeled potato.