A review by essinink
A Darkling Sea by James L. Cambias
2.0
Meh... it was okay, I suppose.
Here's the thing, I like that it was a first contact novel, and the author has some great ideas. His actual writing has potential, he just needs to refine it.
For me, this book falls short on a number of levels.
The worldbuilding is a bit sloppy. There's a lot of great concepts here (Blind high-pressure evolved lobster people! Six-limbed sex-crazed space otters!) that just aren't followed through. The absurdity of the Ilmatarans behavior (which came across as humans in lobster suits) made it seem far more like being blind was a side feature, not an actual function of their species. Their behavior just didn't fit their body type. The Sholen have a similar problem.
In addition, for all the events of the book, it really didn't feel like it was tied to any sort of wider universe. What's with human-sholen relations? Why didn't the humans tell them to back off? Why is this outpost important? Why didn't anyone attempt to call for help? Etc.
It's not a bad book, but if the author really wanted to spend as much time as he did setting the stage for the actual story, he might have spent his words more wisely. Should he release another book, I look forward to seeing how he grows as a writer.
2.5/5. Won't be rereading, but I won't actively discourage anyone from trying it out. And if James Cambias feels like releasing another novel, I'd be willing to give it a chance.
Here's the thing, I like that it was a first contact novel, and the author has some great ideas. His actual writing has potential, he just needs to refine it.
For me, this book falls short on a number of levels.
The worldbuilding is a bit sloppy. There's a lot of great concepts here (Blind high-pressure evolved lobster people! Six-limbed sex-crazed space otters!) that just aren't followed through. The absurdity of the Ilmatarans behavior (which came across as humans in lobster suits) made it seem far more like being blind was a side feature, not an actual function of their species. Their behavior just didn't fit their body type. The Sholen have a similar problem.
In addition, for all the events of the book, it really didn't feel like it was tied to any sort of wider universe. What's with human-sholen relations? Why didn't the humans tell them to back off? Why is this outpost important? Why didn't anyone attempt to call for help? Etc.
It's not a bad book, but if the author really wanted to spend as much time as he did setting the stage for the actual story, he might have spent his words more wisely. Should he release another book, I look forward to seeing how he grows as a writer.
2.5/5. Won't be rereading, but I won't actively discourage anyone from trying it out. And if James Cambias feels like releasing another novel, I'd be willing to give it a chance.