Fremen
MathyotterTimeweb/The Web and The Stars
July 16th 2009 22:41
I read both of these books recently.
Timeweb Website:
Really Long Link
The Web and the Stars:
Really Long Link
Both are by Brian Herbert and I don't think they came out in paperback yet (otherwise I'd probably own them). I loved his prequels to Dune (I read the two trilogies) with Kevin Anderson and I wanted to see how his solo book was. I was quite pleased. He created a complete world that seemed very, well, I don't want to say realistic, but plausible would be a good word for this.
All in all it's very interesting, but the only critique I had of it was the use of the word Galaxy. Trust me, it pops up often enough to be EXTREMELY annoying.
He uses the word Galaxy like it meant that it was the only one. I think he mixes it up with the concept of the Universe. In a world with nearly instantaneous transportation, I don't understand why everyone would be confined in one Galaxy. Also, the implied potential for sentient life in one galaxy is seriously overestimated. Granted, we don't know how often exactly life occurs in a galaxy, I think we can safely assume that it wouldn't be more than once per system.
Moving on, there were a lot of concepts that I liked in this series:
1) Faster than Light Travel: Instead of making it some sort of ability that we're just supposed to take for granted, it's given to humans and other species by a mysterious race of "podships". I think it's still a bit weird and taken for granted within the series, but at least it's not some sort of mysterious "hyperdrive" like in Star Trek or Star Wars. This kind of travel is organic, which is a cool concept.
2) Multiple Species: This is done differently in this book since we actually get to see from the perspective of the grotesque Mutatis (enemy of the Human Race). We also see that other, enlightened species have different world views, and perspectives, as well as natural abilities and technologies. The only thing that I have a problem with in this respect is that psychologically, all the species are so similar, insinuating that all sentient species would have to evolve in similar ways psychologically, which could or could not be true. We'd need to see life from other planets to actually confirm something like this.
3) Immortality: It's just cool in most books (like Watchmen). This is no exception. I like books that discuss the possible effects that immortality can have on someone.
4) Subterfuge: The multiple plot lines keep the reader on his toes and makes this a very interesting read.
Altogether, I'd totally suggest this series (or at least the first two) to most science fiction readers, although I think it would appeal more to people who like newer science fiction.
Timeweb Website:
Really Long Link
The Web and the Stars:
Really Long Link
Both are by Brian Herbert and I don't think they came out in paperback yet (otherwise I'd probably own them). I loved his prequels to Dune (I read the two trilogies) with Kevin Anderson and I wanted to see how his solo book was. I was quite pleased. He created a complete world that seemed very, well, I don't want to say realistic, but plausible would be a good word for this.
All in all it's very interesting, but the only critique I had of it was the use of the word Galaxy. Trust me, it pops up often enough to be EXTREMELY annoying.
He uses the word Galaxy like it meant that it was the only one. I think he mixes it up with the concept of the Universe. In a world with nearly instantaneous transportation, I don't understand why everyone would be confined in one Galaxy. Also, the implied potential for sentient life in one galaxy is seriously overestimated. Granted, we don't know how often exactly life occurs in a galaxy, I think we can safely assume that it wouldn't be more than once per system.
Moving on, there were a lot of concepts that I liked in this series:
1) Faster than Light Travel: Instead of making it some sort of ability that we're just supposed to take for granted, it's given to humans and other species by a mysterious race of "podships". I think it's still a bit weird and taken for granted within the series, but at least it's not some sort of mysterious "hyperdrive" like in Star Trek or Star Wars. This kind of travel is organic, which is a cool concept.
2) Multiple Species: This is done differently in this book since we actually get to see from the perspective of the grotesque Mutatis (enemy of the Human Race). We also see that other, enlightened species have different world views, and perspectives, as well as natural abilities and technologies. The only thing that I have a problem with in this respect is that psychologically, all the species are so similar, insinuating that all sentient species would have to evolve in similar ways psychologically, which could or could not be true. We'd need to see life from other planets to actually confirm something like this.
3) Immortality: It's just cool in most books (like Watchmen). This is no exception. I like books that discuss the possible effects that immortality can have on someone.
4) Subterfuge: The multiple plot lines keep the reader on his toes and makes this a very interesting read.
Altogether, I'd totally suggest this series (or at least the first two) to most science fiction readers, although I think it would appeal more to people who like newer science fiction.
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