| Title | : | The Ark |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0439219175 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780439219174 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 459 |
| Publication | : | First published December 11, 1998 |
The Ark Reviews
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This is title which for me has some small personal history. I saw it in paperback about ten years ago. I read the first chapter or so and thought it was interesting. Unfortunately since I was an impoverished student at the time, I didn't buy it. Which since I didn't see it again I sort of regretted. So when I came across it for the Kindle I had to buy it and finally see if ten years on it lived up to the memory.
The short answer is YES.
First off this is pretty hard science fiction. There are no shields, or transporters and inertial compensator is a funny name for seat belts. The story opens a short time after humanity is contacted by an alien race calling itself First Breed. They wish to share with humanity a colony world and the nations of Earth are being invited to make tender to join this colony.
During the course of the story there really is everything, political intrigue, misdirection and probably a very accurate take on space combat. The writer has pulled off the trick of making aliens actually 'alien' not merely the written equivalent of Star Treks bumpy headed aliens of the week.
It isn't too say it is perfect. The story mentions Earth and you are left with a sense that it is a pretty Balkanised place, it would have better I think if the writer had worked in a bit of background. Particularly in the case of the UK1. But this is a minor point.
In short this is an disregarded classic. -
Quite a dragging narrative. Lots of Independence Day X Dunkirk diplomacy talk just to have a predictable ending of power and control between countries ("ships"). It's somewhat like the Arrival narrative where all countries collaborate but at the end take their own measures once discovering the alien species hold power that cannot be unnoticed. But ofc, it takes a WW ending instead as all countries battle each other again. World domination, blah blah. Ending was anticlimactic.
What's great about this novel though is Ben acknowledging Indians. India has gained supremacy, a solid world power, and actually hold sway over political matters such as the US/China in today's time. Introducing India as a future Soviet in terms of power and influence, it's a fresh breath of air and a great direction towards Indian exposure. -
One surprise piles atop another, so each feels smaller, loses significance. Gilmore is hero, saves day more than once.
Manhattan 2149. "The First Breed" short four-legged aliens who hang box translators from their necks are secretly nicknamed 'Rusties' for their flaking red-brown 'skin'. In 2148, they asked Earthlings to join them, spaceships of delegates, to settle a planet, free from the mistakes both have made ravishing the resources of their original worlds. Whoever wins their 'Convocation' Competition will rule the planet.
Captain Michael Gilmore is given command of the Ark Royal for his knack to "take a bad situation and make it work .. flexible" p 48 by King Richard Windsor "thickset .. in his early sixties" p 37, ruler over "biggest ship yet built" p 46, "a kingdom of 7437 subjects. Of course everyone thinks I'm mad" p 40 but does "know exactly what you're doing" p 40.
King Richard assigns heir James, Prince of Wales "my son is an excellent negotiator" p 49 as diplomat. With "best quality AIs on board .. funds left for six crew" to be chosen in a fortnight already include Gilmore, "Hannah Dereshev .. first officer" requires husband "Samad Loonat as chief engineer" p 49. I thought the crew would have more effect on plot; they didn't.
Krishnamurthy is the villain. He leads a suspicious group from India who for five hours torture 'rescued' occupant of downed alien flyer to death, for possible real purposes of the invitation.
Rusties are hermaphrodites who don't care whether called he, she, or it, confusing that they are often called it. Arm Wild is the Rustie aboard Ark. I thought their ability to communicate without humans hearing would have more impact, but there is no big effect. Scenes with Julia, music that aliens cannot comprehend and offer to try, "the human mind may be just what is required" p 117 have no purpose, go nowhere.
To move "step-through" space, Rusties have found small tubules they expand, and expect humans to follow the invention eventually.
When Martian Peter Kirton is faced with turning off snarky AI Plantagenet, emotion is almost deeper than during a big ship battle. Names from India, and names from all ships gathered to fight, were too many, too confusing for me.
A small difference, whether the King is called Majesty or Highness, proves vital, as in life-or-death. What should be a big reveal, who is behind the Competition, doesn't really go anywhere. -
From an adult point of view I would rate this book with 3 stars, but 4 stars for young people. My son bought this book through Scholastic Books and his school. I read it because I was curious. I liked it and it has a number of virtues for a young person's reading.
NOTE: I corresponded in email with the author many years ago. I was impressed that he responded and I think it was a productive exchange. It had to do with the use of the Hebrew word "Ad-o-nai" as the name for an Israeli space ship. I thought it would never happen because it means "My Lord". Can you imagine the headline, "My Lord was destroyed today in a big space battle" or perhaps, "My Lord has become obsolete and will be replaced soon?" I suggested that the author look up the names of Israeli submarines in the future.
The Story: Michael Gilmore is a competent captain. but due to his previous bouts with mental illness he has risen about as far as he can in the Royal Space Fleet. Then he is selected by the King himself to captain the Ark Royal on its historic journey to a new world. The point is to convince the aliens (called Rusties) to allow the UK in exile (UK-1) to mange the new planet in partnership with the aliens. But the UK-1 is not the only nation competing for this position. and these other nations might do anything to win... including using force.
OK, Any problems with this story? I thought the emphasis of Captain Gilmore's self-doubt was over done. Not bad, but it made me think that there must have been a whole lot of other captains who might have be chosen instead. In the end it was clear that there was a reason for choosing Gilmore. I'm not sure it was a good enough reason. Perhaps I misunderstood.
Next, the space battle that occurred was exciting, but sort of lame. However, after further reflection I think that such a space battle was reasonable given the technology they had at the time. They learned lessons to apply in the future.
Finally, I didn't like the name "Rusties" for the aliens. While it was accurate because of the way the aliens looked, it seemed too silly. The name was supposed to be derogatory and not to be spoken in front of the aliens themselves, yet hardly a page went by without using the term.
Any modesty issues? I don't recall any foul language. Sex was discussed, but only between husband and wife. No sex took place in the book.
There was a happy ending. It was reasonably believable. It tied up the majority of the open threads introduced in the beginning of the book and it left a large opening for the sequel, "
The Xenocide Mission". No cliffhanger.
This is my second reading of this book. I might read this book again. -
OK, I'll own up and admit my rating is partly induced by a good helping of nostalgia: this is the book that not only convinced me there was more to science fiction in general, and Space Opera in particular, than Star Trek/Star Wars, but also that printed science fiction was out there. In the same way that cannabis serves as a gateway drug, this was my Gateway Book to Space Opera in all its many and various forms.
As for the book itself, what makes it interesting is that not only is a first contact situation with one of the most, well, alien races I've seen in fiction, it also shows the beginning of human interstellar travel. We see the contrast between the realistic human vessels - centrifugal "gravty" have to make carefully calculated acceleration burns,etc- and the fantastic alien ships. And we see the best and worst of humanity, as well as how our idiosyncratic tendencies may appear to outsiders.
All in all, a thorough recommendation from me. -
For the longest time in High-School, this book sat in the back of my English teachers classroom, on a bookcase filled with books she thought that might appeal to her students. I do not think she had read all of them. On one occasion I had glanced at it with a critical eye, and deemed it beneath my reading level. I'm glad for second glances, for if I hadn't, I'd have missed out on a unique book not likely to be matched by many others.
Jeapes provides a scenario not often found in science fiction; seeing through an aliens eyes. Some might say that this happens in other works, but I must maintain that this book explores the idea of alien aspects, be it their society, or their physique, or their POV... Logically,and yet uniquely.
This book isn't like star wars, nor like Star Trek, nor like starship troopers. It is unique, it fits it's own genre. And I think it deserves a bit more notice... -
Finally, finally, the one library in my library system to own this book delivered it. Was it worth the wait? I thought it was pretty good—although the author had a tendency to come up with human equivalents willy-nilly. Apart from wishing that Jeapes had discussed the ramifications of artificial intelligence a little bit more, I enjoyed the book and will read the next in the series.
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http://nhw.livejournal.com/282609.html[return][return]Various factions of humans dealing with aliens. All good fun, if the hero is a little too admirable to be true.
