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Zero-Option
Zero-Option
Book Excerpt
he began.
"You can't be serious," said Wethers, the first officer. "Even doing skip jumps involves an element of risk. And they're only short distances. You're talking about light-years of phase-shifting outside of the Matrix. Two hundred and fifty light-years beyond the Fringes, as a matter-of-fact."
"I agree."
Imbrahim glanced over at the navigation officer, Seria Talud.
"In the Matrix we're pretty well guaranteed safe passage," she continued. "The use of transit points has made interstellar travel much more efficient and safe. There's little fear of passing through a planet or a sun or dropping out into one. The lines we use are generally clear of mass and debris. Blind phase-shifting doesn't guarantee that."
"But it was practiced for more than two centuries after the development of the Pearson FTL," Imbrahim reminded them all. "I grant you that use of transit points is preferable, but the only two points that connect to the sector we need to jump to are suspect."
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3.8
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I enjoyed this book and thought it was very well written. It kept me on the edge of my chair.
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The author spends 1/3 of the story explaining how wonderful and awe-inspiring Jhordel is. It's a good thing she does, because I really though the character was ane egomaniac, selfish and quite stupid strategist. Ibrahim is a Navy Intelligence commander and still seems completely unfamiliar with protocol, spacecrafts or history or anything at all. He spends half the time feeling the "odd man out", the other half with a "knot in his stomach" because he is intimidated -and uncomfortable- by Jhordel, the circumstances, the unkown enemy, the Red Christians... and even the recycled food.
I found the whole thing irritating (from the author's preface to her last lines encouraging readers to make a donation), the story was slow and repetitive, the charactes inmatures and depth-less (despite the constant references to dark pasts that hide a lot), and I never managed to feel interested in the characters' fates (although I ended wishing Inbrahim got curt-martialed and Jhordel murdered in a mutiny just to have some excitement in the read). Disappointing.
I found the whole thing irritating (from the author's preface to her last lines encouraging readers to make a donation), the story was slow and repetitive, the charactes inmatures and depth-less (despite the constant references to dark pasts that hide a lot), and I never managed to feel interested in the characters' fates (although I ended wishing Inbrahim got curt-martialed and Jhordel murdered in a mutiny just to have some excitement in the read). Disappointing.
12/21/2009
Fantastic read, couldn't put it down. Also love that the author gave a bit of history of how it was written on a C64. The only diaappointing thing is the In Darkness Bound is only available in mobipocket and not pdf.
12/01/2009
Firstly, please disregard Paul W's comments. Anyone unwilling to suspend their disbelief long enough to get past his complaints really has no business reading a story like this. I mean, we're talking about hyperspace, and light years, and huge spacefaring craft and first contact and he's whinging about "respect for a commanding officer". Please.
Anyway, I found this to be very compelling and quick moving. In the end I wanted to know much much more about the story and the characters, and that is a good thing. A very quick read that won't bog you down but will intrigue.
Anyway, I found this to be very compelling and quick moving. In the end I wanted to know much much more about the story and the characters, and that is a good thing. A very quick read that won't bog you down but will intrigue.
07/13/2009
This book was in serious need of an editor.
The character interaction was lame and improbable - a senior inteligence officer would know the authority that a ship caption has over their ship, and would not be questioning it at every turn.
The musing of the officer were unending - on the same subect you could tell the author was throwing out all the different ways to convey an idea, where just one of them would have sufficed. It sets one's teeth on edge after a while - just get on with it already!
The character interaction was lame and improbable - a senior inteligence officer would know the authority that a ship caption has over their ship, and would not be questioning it at every turn.
The musing of the officer were unending - on the same subect you could tell the author was throwing out all the different ways to convey an idea, where just one of them would have sufficed. It sets one's teeth on edge after a while - just get on with it already!
05/10/2009
This book simply blew me away. Hands down one of the best i have read. Jhordel is a masterpiece.
04/25/2009
Great story well put together, proving my theory that the 'special effects' are better in a book.
I will look out for more books by this guy
I will look out for more books by this guy
03/18/2009
a sci-fi read with a bit of fantasy - not fully developed with the empaths and latents - am anxious to read more of her work
04/05/2008
Half military SF, half contact story, exploring the Zero option (alien is unfriendly and technically superior). Strategically accurate and worth a read.
07/18/2007
The story doesn't take long to read but it is pretty good. The tight spots they get into and out of are interesting up to the end. I found the commander a little irritating, but in the end it seems true to his character. The captain was very interesting. And the mystery that develops has me wanting to read more of the authors books.
It was an enjoyable read.
It was an enjoyable read.
04/24/2007