mferrante83's review
3.0
Evan Currie’s military science fiction space opera novel Into the Black: Odyssey One, originally self-published, was released by Amazon’s new imprint 47north back in March. The novel centers around the exploration crew of the titular Odyssey One, Earth’s first interstellar spaceship, as they embark on the first manned journey beyond the bounds of the Milky Way. The discovery of the new Transition Drive and the creation of the Odyssey One finally saw the end to a decades long war. Of course it isn’t long into this journey that the Odyssey stumbles into a new and more dangerous threat, and that is where the novel’s story truly kicks off.
Into the Black is very traditional sort of military science fiction that definitely falls in line with it brothers and sisters in the military sci-fi/space opera genres. You have a humanity that has grown achingly familiar with war that, when faced with peace, must struggle to find something to do with the droves of soldiers it has left on its hands. Similarly you are also given a society with no experience with the organisational structure necessary for deep space travel. As a result unlike many other novels with a similar premise Into the Black reveals a ship whose crew is still growing used to the unique difficulties of a military force operating in deep space. This would be a fascinating aspect on its own but Currie uses it only as a background element to the more overt notions of duty and honor that drive the rest of the plot forward.
In a bit of an eye-rolling coincidence the crew of the Odyssey are quick to encounter a race of alien humanoids whose society has strayed far from the violent and war-like tendencies of humans. Thus there are many moments in Into the Black where our various human characters are forced to toll the virtues of service and the willingness to do violence in order to protect the greater good. Unfortunately, all these monologues are precisely that: monologues. The reaction to humanity’s violent tendencies is never given more than a cursory examination and the perspective of these aliens, their belief structure and social customs, are mostly glossed over in the name action and excitement.
To be completely fair all of that still manages to remain an entertaining and engaging read but there are many bits of information and hints that Currie drops which could have been used to give the novel a more well-rounded feel as well as some greater depth. This comes to fore especially when you meet the mysterious and enigmatic “Central” during a scene which offers the most engaging discussion in the entire novel and marks one of the few moments when the military fades to background in favor of the science fiction. This instance is fleeting and it isn’t long before readers are thrust back into the action once more.
The characters of Into the Black are defined by what they do rather than who they are. In the end we are left with a group of characters that are all too similar to feel completely unique. There are flashes here and there of potential but again Currie backs away from those moments in keeping the plot pushing forward. Other than their roles aboard the Odyssey or elsewhere there is very little to help differentiate characters from one another. Truth be told with as large a cast as the novel has there is just too little time spent behind the eyes of any single character to really get a handle on them beyond the basics.
While the elements of Into the Black might be familiar, while the characters feel underdeveloped and while the argument regarding the military’s essential role in fighting for the greater good is particularly one-sided that isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy this novel. Thanks in part to Currie’s solid prose and Benjamin Darcie’s solid narration I was able to enjoy this novel for what it is. The sparks of creativity the Currie manages to achieve throughout the novel kept me pushing forwards and the mysteries he poses over the course of the novel will keep me coming back for future volumes.
Into the Black is very traditional sort of military science fiction that definitely falls in line with it brothers and sisters in the military sci-fi/space opera genres. You have a humanity that has grown achingly familiar with war that, when faced with peace, must struggle to find something to do with the droves of soldiers it has left on its hands. Similarly you are also given a society with no experience with the organisational structure necessary for deep space travel. As a result unlike many other novels with a similar premise Into the Black reveals a ship whose crew is still growing used to the unique difficulties of a military force operating in deep space. This would be a fascinating aspect on its own but Currie uses it only as a background element to the more overt notions of duty and honor that drive the rest of the plot forward.
In a bit of an eye-rolling coincidence the crew of the Odyssey are quick to encounter a race of alien humanoids whose society has strayed far from the violent and war-like tendencies of humans. Thus there are many moments in Into the Black where our various human characters are forced to toll the virtues of service and the willingness to do violence in order to protect the greater good. Unfortunately, all these monologues are precisely that: monologues. The reaction to humanity’s violent tendencies is never given more than a cursory examination and the perspective of these aliens, their belief structure and social customs, are mostly glossed over in the name action and excitement.
To be completely fair all of that still manages to remain an entertaining and engaging read but there are many bits of information and hints that Currie drops which could have been used to give the novel a more well-rounded feel as well as some greater depth. This comes to fore especially when you meet the mysterious and enigmatic “Central” during a scene which offers the most engaging discussion in the entire novel and marks one of the few moments when the military fades to background in favor of the science fiction. This instance is fleeting and it isn’t long before readers are thrust back into the action once more.
The characters of Into the Black are defined by what they do rather than who they are. In the end we are left with a group of characters that are all too similar to feel completely unique. There are flashes here and there of potential but again Currie backs away from those moments in keeping the plot pushing forward. Other than their roles aboard the Odyssey or elsewhere there is very little to help differentiate characters from one another. Truth be told with as large a cast as the novel has there is just too little time spent behind the eyes of any single character to really get a handle on them beyond the basics.
While the elements of Into the Black might be familiar, while the characters feel underdeveloped and while the argument regarding the military’s essential role in fighting for the greater good is particularly one-sided that isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy this novel. Thanks in part to Currie’s solid prose and Benjamin Darcie’s solid narration I was able to enjoy this novel for what it is. The sparks of creativity the Currie manages to achieve throughout the novel kept me pushing forwards and the mysteries he poses over the course of the novel will keep me coming back for future volumes.
mikiher's review against another edition
3.0
An okay space opera. Mildly enjoyable read, nothing more. Characters are shallow and one dimensional, and plot is a little bit contrived. Nevertheless, I'll give the next installment a chance.
majkia's review
3.0
Interesting and pretty well done military SF, with the first starship into space from Earth immediately running into an interstellar war.
Barring the idea that the first shot out of the gate we'd run into such a thing, it was a well done space battle book, with some interesting hints of what is to come, and what sort of universe the crew of the Odyssey and Earth is going to be dealing with.
Pretty good characterization for this particular sub-genre as well.
Barring the idea that the first shot out of the gate we'd run into such a thing, it was a well done space battle book, with some interesting hints of what is to come, and what sort of universe the crew of the Odyssey and Earth is going to be dealing with.
Pretty good characterization for this particular sub-genre as well.
wynnz's review against another edition
1.0
"I think it would have been a better book if it were shorter, by say... 300 pages. At nearly 600 pages, it was too long. It was a very laborious and tedious read. John H. Arnold once said, 'War is sometimes described as long periods of boredom punctuated by short moments of excitement.' This quote perfectly describes this book!
The narrative focuses heavily on naval and militaristic procedures, with many explanations for said procedures, and just about everything else as well. If naval and tech speak is your thing, then this book will float your boat (pun intended). Unfortunately, there is nothing new to see here. It's an average, generic, bread-and-butter military science fiction, and a bit fantastical at times.
Overall, it is underwhelming and arduous."
The narrative focuses heavily on naval and militaristic procedures, with many explanations for said procedures, and just about everything else as well. If naval and tech speak is your thing, then this book will float your boat (pun intended). Unfortunately, there is nothing new to see here. It's an average, generic, bread-and-butter military science fiction, and a bit fantastical at times.
Overall, it is underwhelming and arduous."
marriott's review against another edition
5.0
Liked this a lot and really looking forward to the next part. I just hope we get to hear more about the current characters as there is a great line-up here!
blarue's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cwirka11's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
It is just borning. The storyline is basic and has no interesting plot twists or anything tbh. The characters are so plain and uninteresting that I couldn't remember their names during reading. This book was a waste of time for me.
sidetracked's review
5.0
I must admit it was an impulsive acquisition made possible by the discount offered through the Kindle daily deals. Never before had I heard or read anything by author Evan Currie, but something made me press that "buy with one click button". And, boy, am I glad I followed my instinct.
The first feeling I had after 30 or so pages was that I was back in time 8-9 years ago, watching the tv show Stargate SG1. It gave me a similar sense of wonder and desire to keep turning the pages that I didn't think I would have after the end of Stargate Atlantis and with it the end of the true Stargate shows, in my opinion. It also brought back memories of Tom Clancy's [b:Red Storm Rising|318525|Red Storm Rising|Tom Clancy|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1173729031s/318525.jpg|5054712] by how the action was handled in multiple places at once.
Packed with a host of newly imagined technologies (at least it was the first time I heard of them), a good story and loads of action, this book made for a perfect read at the start of 2013.
The action takes place after the end of World War 3 with the starship Odyssey being the first Earth vessel to use the newly designed "transition drive" (a system that basically teleported the ship from one place to another over several dozens of light years) and departing Sol system for its maiden voyage. From here on till the end it's all military science fiction at its best, featuring both space based and ground based combat scenes, thoroughly described with a good amount of military slang used to get you into the atmosphere.
Albeit exaggerated here and there I had no problems pushing that aside and enjoying the experience. The author really tried his best to explain why and how the severely underpowered Terran vessel managed to inflict such terrible destruction to its alien counterparts and I have to say that in my eyes he acquitted himself laudably of this task.
The characters didn't seem to be that well constructed, beside the minimal information required to make sense of their actions, or at least they didn't have time to be developed enough, although by the end of the book I can't say I grew indifferent to their destinies. I have high hopes for Ithan Chans, Captain Weston and Commander Stephanos to be better developed in the following books, as I am looking forward to learning where Evan Currie decides to head with the story: what's the history of the Colonies, who are the Others and most of all who are the Drasins and why do they want to exterminate the human population of the Colonies?
In conclusion, I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes military science fiction. You will not be disappointed.
The first feeling I had after 30 or so pages was that I was back in time 8-9 years ago, watching the tv show Stargate SG1. It gave me a similar sense of wonder and desire to keep turning the pages that I didn't think I would have after the end of Stargate Atlantis and with it the end of the true Stargate shows, in my opinion. It also brought back memories of Tom Clancy's [b:Red Storm Rising|318525|Red Storm Rising|Tom Clancy|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1173729031s/318525.jpg|5054712] by how the action was handled in multiple places at once.
Packed with a host of newly imagined technologies (at least it was the first time I heard of them), a good story and loads of action, this book made for a perfect read at the start of 2013.
The action takes place after the end of World War 3 with the starship Odyssey being the first Earth vessel to use the newly designed "transition drive" (a system that basically teleported the ship from one place to another over several dozens of light years) and departing Sol system for its maiden voyage. From here on till the end it's all military science fiction at its best, featuring both space based and ground based combat scenes, thoroughly described with a good amount of military slang used to get you into the atmosphere.
Albeit exaggerated here and there I had no problems pushing that aside and enjoying the experience. The author really tried his best to explain why and how the severely underpowered Terran vessel managed to inflict such terrible destruction to its alien counterparts and I have to say that in my eyes he acquitted himself laudably of this task.
The characters didn't seem to be that well constructed, beside the minimal information required to make sense of their actions, or at least they didn't have time to be developed enough, although by the end of the book I can't say I grew indifferent to their destinies. I have high hopes for Ithan Chans, Captain Weston and Commander Stephanos to be better developed in the following books, as I am looking forward to learning where Evan Currie decides to head with the story: what's the history of the Colonies, who are the Others and most of all who are the Drasins and why do they want to exterminate the human population of the Colonies?
In conclusion, I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes military science fiction. You will not be disappointed.
duesenklipper's review against another edition
4.0
So, you're the captain of a newly built spaceship, some years after the world emerged from World War 3. The big powers all have some sort of local space navy. Your new ship is supposed to test a new shiny FTL drive (called the translation drive here). Yet for some reason your ship is equipped with an impressive array of weapons and a full crew of several hundred - engineers, fighter pilots complete with space-and-air-capable fighters and ground troops in exoskeletons.
So at least you're getting to go on your supposedly short trip with a complete box of toys, which is nice.
It's also awfully convenient. This being military SF, *of course* your ship jumps right in the middle of a debris field, consisting exclusively of very alien looking spaceship parts. And there's a distress call too, which conveniently you can decipher since you happen to have a language genius on board.
If you can stomach these very neat coincidences, then you are in for quite an enjoyable ride with this book. You have a alien-yet-familiar culture in need of help, an ancient-yet-mysterious-and-merciless enemy, and lots of action. You don't really learn that much about who these warring powers are because most of the book is concerned with space battles. Those are excellent though. The author comes up with very interesting battle scenarios involving the very different capabilities of the two big alien factions and the Earth ship, and the resulting differences in tactics.
If you enjoy what is basically Submarines In Space with a side dish of Fighter Planes In Space, then this book is for you.
It also becomes very clear that the author is aiming for a series of books, because what you learn about the two alien cultures is not a lot, but just enough to make you want to read the next book, where you hopefully find out just what the hell they are fighting over.
I'm aware I listed a lot of potential drawbacks, but overall I found this book to be enjoyable based on the action alone, with a few interesting ideas thrown in for good measure. So if you like military SF, go for it.
So at least you're getting to go on your supposedly short trip with a complete box of toys, which is nice.
It's also awfully convenient. This being military SF, *of course* your ship jumps right in the middle of a debris field, consisting exclusively of very alien looking spaceship parts. And there's a distress call too, which conveniently you can decipher since you happen to have a language genius on board.
If you can stomach these very neat coincidences, then you are in for quite an enjoyable ride with this book. You have a alien-yet-familiar culture in need of help, an ancient-yet-mysterious-and-merciless enemy, and lots of action. You don't really learn that much about who these warring powers are because most of the book is concerned with space battles. Those are excellent though. The author comes up with very interesting battle scenarios involving the very different capabilities of the two big alien factions and the Earth ship, and the resulting differences in tactics.
If you enjoy what is basically Submarines In Space with a side dish of Fighter Planes In Space, then this book is for you.
It also becomes very clear that the author is aiming for a series of books, because what you learn about the two alien cultures is not a lot, but just enough to make you want to read the next book, where you hopefully find out just what the hell they are fighting over.
I'm aware I listed a lot of potential drawbacks, but overall I found this book to be enjoyable based on the action alone, with a few interesting ideas thrown in for good measure. So if you like military SF, go for it.
smartflutist661's review against another edition
adventurous
4.5
Chock-full of space-navy goodness, and a strong instance of divergent tech trees. Great if you're looking for "pew-pew lasers" that doesn't let up.