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wildflowerz76's review
2.0
Yikes. Where to begin? First, this book is listed as YA at my library, but the writing is definitely more on par with Juvenile fiction. The plot contains nothing too scandalous either, so I'm wondering if it's just the age of the characters that stuck it in YA? Because the writing here is more on par with stuff my 11yo daughter used to read.
Next, the science. Really? I'm not a big science person. I appreciate it, but I don't understand it. So if you've even got me second guessing your science, then you know you've got a problem. So they adults expect that by putting these kids on this ship, they'll escape this virus. There's no mention of the science behind that. What is it in their body that makes the virus not hit him until they're 18 or 19? Why wouldn't they explore the possibility that the virus IS in them, but it's not active until certain changes in their body occur. In which case, putting them on a ship isn't going to save them.
The ship. Again, really? A big ship capable of housing 251 teenagers for a 5 year space voyage is designed and built in 3 years? Sure. And what are they doing for protein? They've got gardens, but there's no mention of animals. Also, why are there no cameras anywhere? Surely they'd need to have cameras at least in the common areas of the ship?
The AI. Could Roc be more annoying? I get trying to make it more human and relatable, but does EVERY single thing he says have to be some stupid sarcastic comment? I mean, every once in a while, yeah, it's funny. But EVERY time? And why does the AI not know the contents of emails that's sent through his system? Why would he have to be copies on an email as if he were a real person? Gah! And if he can see and "spy" on the kids as we get him saying in his narrative, then there must be cameras, right? Grr!
This entire book frustrated me. In the end, it was readable enough, but the plot had so many holes in it, I could use it for a colander.
Next, the science. Really? I'm not a big science person. I appreciate it, but I don't understand it. So if you've even got me second guessing your science, then you know you've got a problem. So they adults expect that by putting these kids on this ship, they'll escape this virus. There's no mention of the science behind that. What is it in their body that makes the virus not hit him until they're 18 or 19? Why wouldn't they explore the possibility that the virus IS in them, but it's not active until certain changes in their body occur. In which case, putting them on a ship isn't going to save them.
The ship. Again, really? A big ship capable of housing 251 teenagers for a 5 year space voyage is designed and built in 3 years? Sure. And what are they doing for protein? They've got gardens, but there's no mention of animals. Also, why are there no cameras anywhere? Surely they'd need to have cameras at least in the common areas of the ship?
The AI. Could Roc be more annoying? I get trying to make it more human and relatable, but does EVERY single thing he says have to be some stupid sarcastic comment? I mean, every once in a while, yeah, it's funny. But EVERY time? And why does the AI not know the contents of emails that's sent through his system? Why would he have to be copies on an email as if he were a real person? Gah! And if he can see and "spy" on the kids as we get him saying in his narrative, then there must be cameras, right? Grr!
This entire book frustrated me. In the end, it was readable enough, but the plot had so many holes in it, I could use it for a colander.
kmc3050's review against another edition
3.0
This book kept my attention and would have received more stars if it had not been for the ending. Mr. Testa could have gone out on solid ground instead of teasing us into the rest of the series. Shame on him!
sangloup's review
5.0
2020 Book Nerd Your Way ... Book #39.
Did not fit an available category for the EBN Challenge.
Well... just found another new series I plan to read. Take one of humankinds biggest fears, global extinction, and the throw in 'the children are our future' and then toss the kids into space and hope for the best while those left on earth die. I was worried when I first started it, but I really like the way the author worked out the characters (include the comic relief artificial crew member, ROC).
Can't wait to see where he takes it.
Did not fit an available category for the EBN Challenge.
Well... just found another new series I plan to read. Take one of humankinds biggest fears, global extinction, and the throw in 'the children are our future' and then toss the kids into space and hope for the best while those left on earth die. I was worried when I first started it, but I really like the way the author worked out the characters (include the comic relief artificial crew member, ROC).
Can't wait to see where he takes it.
buuboobaby's review
3.0
3.5 stars
It took a while for me to become engaged in the story, but once I was, I couldn't put the book down. I thought that the flashback chapters bogged things down - I was much more interested in Trianna and the other kids on the spaceship. Hopefully the setup is over and the next books in the series will focus more on what I want to read about - the kids and their journey to Eos.
Full review soon at www.mangamaniaccafe.com
It took a while for me to become engaged in the story, but once I was, I couldn't put the book down. I thought that the flashback chapters bogged things down - I was much more interested in Trianna and the other kids on the spaceship. Hopefully the setup is over and the next books in the series will focus more on what I want to read about - the kids and their journey to Eos.
Full review soon at www.mangamaniaccafe.com
ifthebook's review against another edition
4.0
A good set-up for this series, it seems to me. 251 teens set off in a space ship to preserve something of the human race, very much like the Remnants series by K. A. Applegate. Hopefully, though, this series will have less of the weirdness factor that I found hard to deal with in Applegate's series. Right now, it seems much more about the interactions between the teens, what it feels like to be in charge, etc. I was slightly annoyed by the computer that continually butted in to the narrative, but other than that I enjoyed the book.
mapleleaf_emily's review
3.0
I've read this series before, but I decided to go back to it. My favorite genre is, by far, historical fiction, though it interests me that I love science fiction as well.
This book follows the journey of 251 teens on a ship headed for an earth-like planet that hopefully can sustain life. They are lead by the Council: Triana, Bon, Gap, Lita, and Channey. The points of view in this book follow Triana and Gap. Additionally, there are flashbacks as to how the journey began and developed before the launch, with the perspective of Dr. Zimmer.
I thought this book felt realistic, not too forced or fantastical. There isn't too much time for the characters to be developed, as this was the first book in the series, but there was growth in the focused characters.
This book follows the journey of 251 teens on a ship headed for an earth-like planet that hopefully can sustain life. They are lead by the Council: Triana, Bon, Gap, Lita, and Channey. The points of view in this book follow Triana and Gap. Additionally, there are flashbacks as to how the journey began and developed before the launch, with the perspective of Dr. Zimmer.
I thought this book felt realistic, not too forced or fantastical. There isn't too much time for the characters to be developed, as this was the first book in the series, but there was growth in the focused characters.
Spoiler
There is a love triangle developed between Triana, Gap, and Bon, which is predictable, but not unpleasantly so. However, the only "action" was a hand-clasp and embrace, which felt like the characters were making too much or reacting too heavily, based on such mundane actions.camillejoy's review
2.0
I didn't finish it-- the plot seemed too obvious and I didn't like the amount of time spent flashing back to the development of the rocket. Also, there were a lot of characters to keep track of. It just wasn't my thing.
mkschoen's review
3.0
The sci-fi novel takes place in the not-so-distant future, after the tail of Comet Bhaktul has passed through Earth's atmosphere. Particles from the comet are killing off everyone over 18 on Earth, so a decision is made to blast 251 teenagers into space, as a last hope that humanity will survive. But once they've taken off, it becomes clear that there's a saboteur on board.
Testa intersperses the scenes on board with flashbacks to the discovery of the comet and the decision to launch the ship. This helps explain the big reveal comes at the end, but slows the action down as the book begins. And while it's not a new sci-fi premise, it is an intriguing one. Once the pace picked up, you do get caught up the hunt for the stowaway, and concerned for the fate of the mission. The book is the first in a series, and I confess wanting to check out the next few to see what happens.
The idea of teens running their own society will certainly be appealing to YA readers - there are no adults here to tell you what to do. And the issues of leaving home, losing loved ones, having to make friends in a new situation are universal.
I did have a few issues with the novel. One thing that started to grate was that I didn't feel like these kids were actually acting like teenagers - - they're all happy to go to school, do their work on board, get regular exercise so they stay healthy. No one resents that 5 of the 251 are fixed to be leaders while everybody else has to rotate duty shifts. No one says "I want to sleep late, and not go to work." No one is sneaking off to have sex in the dark corridors. When they suspect the stowaway is hiding in the secret storage compartments the kids aren't allowed to enter, they reject the idea of breaking in, because, well, they're not supposed to enter them. It's a function of the plot that these are the most reliable, mature teenagers in the world, that's why they were chosen, but it started to seem a bit unrealistic.
The writing is also a bit weak in several places, mainly because Testa has ignored the classic "show don't tell" rule. When the leader Tree is stressed over a crisis, the on-board computer (which acts as a parental figure and teacher to the passengers) tells her that by the end of the voyage "you’ll hardly recognize the person you are now. And you'll find that friendships will change, too. People you are very close to now will not be so close down the road. On the other hand, some people that you barely know now will turn out to be your best friends. That's not unique to Galahad. It happens to every young person as they mature." (page 54). Excellent advice. But lying just flat out like that makes the book sound like an after-school special.
What to Read Next: Kids who like this will probably want to check out the other books in the series. I could also see a match with Ender's Game, or Asimov's Foundation Series.
Book talk: The comet Bhaktul has flown past the Earth, splashing its tail into the planet's atmosphere. And that's what caused the problem: a disease that's quickly killing off the population, at least everyone over 18. A ship with 251 teenagers on board is shot into space - humanity's last hope for a future. But now there are disturbing signs that something, or someone, doesn't want the mission to succeed.
Testa intersperses the scenes on board with flashbacks to the discovery of the comet and the decision to launch the ship. This helps explain the big reveal comes at the end, but slows the action down as the book begins. And while it's not a new sci-fi premise, it is an intriguing one. Once the pace picked up, you do get caught up the hunt for the stowaway, and concerned for the fate of the mission. The book is the first in a series, and I confess wanting to check out the next few to see what happens.
The idea of teens running their own society will certainly be appealing to YA readers - there are no adults here to tell you what to do. And the issues of leaving home, losing loved ones, having to make friends in a new situation are universal.
I did have a few issues with the novel. One thing that started to grate was that I didn't feel like these kids were actually acting like teenagers - - they're all happy to go to school, do their work on board, get regular exercise so they stay healthy. No one resents that 5 of the 251 are fixed to be leaders while everybody else has to rotate duty shifts. No one says "I want to sleep late, and not go to work." No one is sneaking off to have sex in the dark corridors. When they suspect the stowaway is hiding in the secret storage compartments the kids aren't allowed to enter, they reject the idea of breaking in, because, well, they're not supposed to enter them. It's a function of the plot that these are the most reliable, mature teenagers in the world, that's why they were chosen, but it started to seem a bit unrealistic.
The writing is also a bit weak in several places, mainly because Testa has ignored the classic "show don't tell" rule. When the leader Tree is stressed over a crisis, the on-board computer (which acts as a parental figure and teacher to the passengers) tells her that by the end of the voyage "you’ll hardly recognize the person you are now. And you'll find that friendships will change, too. People you are very close to now will not be so close down the road. On the other hand, some people that you barely know now will turn out to be your best friends. That's not unique to Galahad. It happens to every young person as they mature." (page 54). Excellent advice. But lying just flat out like that makes the book sound like an after-school special.
What to Read Next: Kids who like this will probably want to check out the other books in the series. I could also see a match with Ender's Game, or Asimov's Foundation Series.
Book talk: The comet Bhaktul has flown past the Earth, splashing its tail into the planet's atmosphere. And that's what caused the problem: a disease that's quickly killing off the population, at least everyone over 18. A ship with 251 teenagers on board is shot into space - humanity's last hope for a future. But now there are disturbing signs that something, or someone, doesn't want the mission to succeed.
theartolater's review
2.0
Closer to a 1.5.
Sometimes, if you don't have a lot of nice things to say about a book, you don't say much at all. I'm going to be quick about this one: The Comet's Curse is a poorly-edited attempt at an Ender's Game-style space survival tale that has limited stakes, characters that don't act their ages, and a plot idea that would be interesting if the book ever got to it.
I did get to the sequel, and it's markedly better, but wow, this book is pretty rough. I can't recommend it unless you're willing to power through to the second one, and even that's not something I can necessarily recommend doing.
Sometimes, if you don't have a lot of nice things to say about a book, you don't say much at all. I'm going to be quick about this one: The Comet's Curse is a poorly-edited attempt at an Ender's Game-style space survival tale that has limited stakes, characters that don't act their ages, and a plot idea that would be interesting if the book ever got to it.
I did get to the sequel, and it's markedly better, but wow, this book is pretty rough. I can't recommend it unless you're willing to power through to the second one, and even that's not something I can necessarily recommend doing.
devafagan's review
Enjoyed this! Though it felt more like just the start of a story. But I am a big fan of "teens in space" (see also EARTHSEED and the EARTH STAR VOYAGER tv show) and this fit that bill admirably. Nice to see a diverse cast of characters too!
I look forward to reading more in the series.
I look forward to reading more in the series.