Wednesday, November 11, 2015

By Frogsled and Lizardback to Outcast Venusian Lepers, by Garth Nix

Old Venus, 2015; ~17,600 words
Rating: 3, Good, ordinary, read  Recommended By:   SFRevu:4

Fifty-year-old Kelvin has a nice business flying shuttle runs on Venus, but the Terran Navy calls him back to service for a rescue mission in the heart of the Roar, the most dangerous place on Venus. A fun, uncomplicated read.

Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)

Pro: The author's Old Venus belongs to a very complex world, with power centers on Earth, Mars, and Mercury. Even the local structure, from Venusport to Venus Above, to the Roar itself seems very logical, and very well-thought-out.

The adventure itself is straightforward but complete. Once Kelvin has escaped the Roar and called off the Rotarua the story is over. Whatever other problems the ship has, we're sure he'll handle them.

Con: The only plot complication is the realization that the Navy only wants to destroy the Jumping Jehosaphat and that there are no rich teenagers to rescue. Not really a fault per se, it points to the fact that for all its length, this is a simple, linear story.

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