I read the first half of this on the private jet flight to and from Yuma. Private jets are much more romantic in description than in practice. Think tube of toilet paper. Think hamster habi-trail. Think sucky air conditioning in muggy 109 degree Yuma. Good thing I had a good book.
This one is stuffed with tight plotting and gobs of delicious science fiction, plus a sixty year old genetic-designer woman named Lilo, plus a passel of “death squad” goons, both male and female versions, all named Vaffa. The Hotline is a stream of technical information that has flowed for 400 years, from an alien race. It was a creative and frightening story up until the end, which was disappointing because the ending made no sense and was not satisfying in any way.
Of course, I know endings are hard to write, and this was Mr. Varley’s first publication...
Background both grounds and deepens a story. I know that seems like a very obvious lesson, but this story elucidated it in two remarkable ways. First, Vaffa started off as a goon, but the revealing of what makes a “death squad goon” tick was fascinating, and actually created a sympathetic character. Second, because the explanation of The Invaders – aliens who kicked humans off all arable planets – was completely lacking despite being pivotal to the plot on several levels, it was hard to get involved in that portion of the story.
This one is stuffed with tight plotting and gobs of delicious science fiction, plus a sixty year old genetic-designer woman named Lilo, plus a passel of “death squad” goons, both male and female versions, all named Vaffa. The Hotline is a stream of technical information that has flowed for 400 years, from an alien race. It was a creative and frightening story up until the end, which was disappointing because the ending made no sense and was not satisfying in any way.
Of course, I know endings are hard to write, and this was Mr. Varley’s first publication...
Background both grounds and deepens a story. I know that seems like a very obvious lesson, but this story elucidated it in two remarkable ways. First, Vaffa started off as a goon, but the revealing of what makes a “death squad goon” tick was fascinating, and actually created a sympathetic character. Second, because the explanation of The Invaders – aliens who kicked humans off all arable planets – was completely lacking despite being pivotal to the plot on several levels, it was hard to get involved in that portion of the story.
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