The Silver Ship and the Sea

I have been reading SF for over 40 years, and it is still good when you can find a new author whose work you cannot put down, and look forwards to their next book. The characters are all well developed individuals, and the story is compelling. I gave it a four and not a five as I had some trouble getting over the initial plot that would have two groups of interstellar colonists fighting a war when they could have a continent each and never have seen one another.

I thought the story moved a little slowly, but I enjoyed the imagery and language. The characters were likeable and the problems seemed very real and applicable to any society.

Well defined characters, descriptive flora and fauna, and refreshing story. The author captured my attention and I could hardly put the book down. I truly enjoyed.

I read the authors preferred version and enjoyed this book. I found the characters well developed and interesting. The pacing and tension were on point for me; I flew through the story, excited to see what came next. Even though its billed as hard science fiction, the book wasnt techy and read more like a character-driven science fantasy than hard science fiction.

Tor published this, who ever made the decision to publish this book needs to be fired because they arent doing their job. This is a bad book. Its poorly written and dull. The characters are life less and flat and the action, well it simply isnt. I bought it, I read most of it, I always enjoyed putting it down more that I enjoyed reading it.

The planet Fremont was considered a dangerous place for colonization due to its odd lethal flora and fauna as much as from the meteorites that crash on its surface and its volcanic and quake activity. However, in spite of a need to cooperate twelve years ago war exploded between the original human settlers and the second group bioengineered to fit the orb. Near Artistos, the only town on the planet, is the deadly Grass Plains and in its center lays the single silver spaceship that humans fear. Six altered children left orphaned by the hostilities and unwanted by the purebreds except as slaves, dream of freedom. Abetting their hopes is the last altered adult Jenna the crazy woman as Chelo Lee leads the other five on a quest to find either escape from the planet via the abandoned ship or establish a new home where they can live free. This coming of age science fiction is a fun lighthearted read. The story line focuses on the children as they seek their own way in hostile environs made worse by rampant prejudice towards their kind. However, though fun to follow their exploits in search of freedom, Chelo and her comrades fail to show the impact of being raised by people who fear them while wanting to use (and abuse) their altered gifts. Still this is a fine tale of six courageous youths on a quest for freedom. Harriet Klausner