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A review by konain
Into the Black by Evan Currie
2.0
Kind of difficult book to review. The premise was great, but it needed a better writer than Currie to pull it off. Writing was dull, characterization was zilch and dialogues looked artificial. The only saving grace was space battles but even they were marred by inconsistencies. Currie couldn't create the tension required in space battles. Even the characters didn't seem serious enough especially considering that it was the first time in human history that somebody is indulging in space battles with aliens.
In fact on that topic, just imagine....humanity comes across intelligent life for the first time and that too and is anyone surprised? No. It's just like they are used to having a cup of tea with aliens everyday! Amidst a battle of (supposedly) epic proportions, view is shifted to fighter pilots playing poker! A couple of alien ships arrive for collecting refugees and Currie starts explaining their crafts and their arrival, even making the Captain leave the bridge and come down to greet them! Come on! The first spaceship put together by humanity may very well be annihilated in a few moments and what do you want to do?.....check out the alien designed civilian crafts!
*Minor spoilers ahead*
Then there are other inconsistencies. Many equipment in the ship are dismantled to make it invisible and yet at the flip of a switch everything is undone and the ship is again back to normal. How, is never explained. The alien humans are peaceful for a millennia so much so that they abhor war and yet within days they are able to manufacture a humongous warship, just explained away that some "Forge" took ancient designs and did it. Even if that is so, one would imagine that running and using such a huge craft would need some training, but still the alien crew manning the ship seem so conversant with its functions. This is disrespectful to your readers' intelligence, Mr Currie.
Further, halfway into the book Currie decides that the characters should start swearing. More importantly from plot point of view, three quarters into the book Currie decides to give the aliens some theological moorings and they start voicing prayers to their "Maker". Even episodic books have less inconsistencies that this.
Nevertheless, just to see if the writing improves I'll give the next book a shot.
In fact on that topic, just imagine....humanity comes across intelligent life for the first time and that too
Spoiler
humans*Minor spoilers ahead*
Then there are other inconsistencies. Many equipment in the ship are dismantled to make it invisible and yet at the flip of a switch everything is undone and the ship is again back to normal. How, is never explained. The alien humans are peaceful for a millennia so much so that they abhor war and yet within days they are able to manufacture a humongous warship, just explained away that some "Forge" took ancient designs and did it. Even if that is so, one would imagine that running and using such a huge craft would need some training, but still the alien crew manning the ship seem so conversant with its functions. This is disrespectful to your readers' intelligence, Mr Currie.
Further, halfway into the book Currie decides that the characters should start swearing. More importantly from plot point of view, three quarters into the book Currie decides to give the aliens some theological moorings and they start voicing prayers to their "Maker". Even episodic books have less inconsistencies that this.
Nevertheless, just to see if the writing improves I'll give the next book a shot.