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A review by prationality
The Web of Titan by Dom Testa
4.0
In my review of the first book, The Comet’s Curse, I mentioned wanting to be shown more of what life on the Galahad was like and wanting less of the author telling us about it. Guess who delivered?
Four months after the incident with the stowaway, the crew of the Galahad is preparing for a last-minute addition to their schedule. As they jet past Saturn, they’re to pick up a pod sent planet-side from a team of scientists studying the planet for signs of life. Sounds routine enough. Of course, that doesn’t account for the mysterious message that Lita, who’s in charge of Medical, receives from Earth. Or the lack of tangible data about what the group of 30 scientists were studying. Or even the strange illness affecting a couple dozen crew members, including Bon.
By this point the crew has fallen into a sense of normalcy. There is no longer a collective feeling of grief settling on their shoulders, but one of determination. The Council members–Lita, Bon, Gap, Triana and Channy–have worked hard to keep things running smoothly for the ship. And as predicted, interpersonal relationships have developed, which is perfectly normal in any group of teenagers, let alone those who will be living together in relatively small space for five years.
I had definite moments of irritation with Triana; she would begin to worry over a new threat to the ship and then just begin brooding over Bon. Since their emotional embrace four months earlier, the two have avoided each other in every way but the most professional. This upsets her and makes her feel at a loss. Add to it Gap has put a distance to her as well (though she doesn’t know he saw her and Bon hugging), and she’s all over the place in terms of emotional need.
Lita and Channy are given more to do in this book than the last; Lita is busy trying to figure out the mysterious illness that has sprung up for no logical reason, while Channy is busy trying to keep the Council together as a whole. I don’t know whether it’s a conscious thing or not for her, but she doesn’t like seeing tensions and does her best to mitigate those moments with humor and chatter.
Adding to the mix is Hannah, a girl from Alaska who is a genius (literally) with science. She’s the one who first notices the strange correlations between the events on board and the events on Saturn with the scientists. She notices that more is happening to the ill crew members than simple space sickness. She also gives them a solution. I liked her immensely; in a quiet way she insinuated herself in the group and became a real asset.
The ramifications of what happens in this book are hinted at by Roc, the AI who runs the ship’s computer and autonomic functions, in his commentaries. Testa cut back on his observations quite a bit from the first book, but Roc stills makes his presence known and supplies hints and details in a clever, amusing way.
The next book due out is The Cassini Code in November, and book four is due out next March, currently titled The Dark Zone (I’m sure it has no relation whatsoever with the Canadian sci-fi comedy romp Lexx). From the descriptions it sounds as if there’s a reckoning and tough decisions ahead that could make or break this troop.
Four months after the incident with the stowaway, the crew of the Galahad is preparing for a last-minute addition to their schedule. As they jet past Saturn, they’re to pick up a pod sent planet-side from a team of scientists studying the planet for signs of life. Sounds routine enough. Of course, that doesn’t account for the mysterious message that Lita, who’s in charge of Medical, receives from Earth. Or the lack of tangible data about what the group of 30 scientists were studying. Or even the strange illness affecting a couple dozen crew members, including Bon.
By this point the crew has fallen into a sense of normalcy. There is no longer a collective feeling of grief settling on their shoulders, but one of determination. The Council members–Lita, Bon, Gap, Triana and Channy–have worked hard to keep things running smoothly for the ship. And as predicted, interpersonal relationships have developed, which is perfectly normal in any group of teenagers, let alone those who will be living together in relatively small space for five years.
I had definite moments of irritation with Triana; she would begin to worry over a new threat to the ship and then just begin brooding over Bon. Since their emotional embrace four months earlier, the two have avoided each other in every way but the most professional. This upsets her and makes her feel at a loss. Add to it Gap has put a distance to her as well (though she doesn’t know he saw her and Bon hugging), and she’s all over the place in terms of emotional need.
Lita and Channy are given more to do in this book than the last; Lita is busy trying to figure out the mysterious illness that has sprung up for no logical reason, while Channy is busy trying to keep the Council together as a whole. I don’t know whether it’s a conscious thing or not for her, but she doesn’t like seeing tensions and does her best to mitigate those moments with humor and chatter.
Adding to the mix is Hannah, a girl from Alaska who is a genius (literally) with science. She’s the one who first notices the strange correlations between the events on board and the events on Saturn with the scientists. She notices that more is happening to the ill crew members than simple space sickness. She also gives them a solution. I liked her immensely; in a quiet way she insinuated herself in the group and became a real asset.
The ramifications of what happens in this book are hinted at by Roc, the AI who runs the ship’s computer and autonomic functions, in his commentaries. Testa cut back on his observations quite a bit from the first book, but Roc stills makes his presence known and supplies hints and details in a clever, amusing way.
The next book due out is The Cassini Code in November, and book four is due out next March, currently titled The Dark Zone (I’m sure it has no relation whatsoever with the Canadian sci-fi comedy romp Lexx). From the descriptions it sounds as if there’s a reckoning and tough decisions ahead that could make or break this troop.