Nova War - Gary Gibson

by Harbinger

First things first, I would like to thank Hagelrat, who despite my not entirely fair jibes about her age allowed me to review this book. In all fairness I hope I look that good when I am 90. So I had better get this review finished and leave the country before I am murdered by her!

Now this book does break one of my rules, that I don't read something part the way through a series as generally my tiny mind gets confused. However two things sold me on the book from the first page. Firstly one of the group of aliens in the book, the Shoal are fish! In all the sci-fi books I have ever read I have never encountered fish aliens, with a kind of child like wonder I became enthralled. The second thing was the absolutely ludicrous names many of the aliens have. The best being Trader in the Faecal Matter of Animals, I almost fell out of my chair reading that one. So much more interesting than Zog, Zarchon and Zephod (or any other name with too many Zs in it!).

Dakota Merrick is a woman with implants in her head,which allow her to communicate with and control a ship called the Piri Reis and by extension an ancient powerful derelict vessel that used to belong to a now extinct race, the Magi. She along with her former lover an now rival Lucas Corso are captured by the insectoid Bandati (with equally silly names) who want control of the ship themselves. Meanwhile in the background a war is going on between two hyper advanced races, the Shoal Hegemony (WOOO! For the Fish) against the brutish Emissaries. Neither the Shoal or the Emissaries is beyond committing genocide to achieve their ends and the Shoal in particular seem determined to keep technology, out of the hands of 'lesser' species.

What interests me about this book is the personality element, every one of the main characters has their own separate interests and on occasion are forced to work together reluctantly to achieve something. This gives an extra layer of complexity to the plot, and makes the story more believable as real people seldom have the same motives.

Dakota Merrick is tough, cynical and tired of being used. She has been tortured forced to murder and steal and as such wants to make sure the technology of Magi is kept away from others particularly the Shoal. Feminists (you know who you are!) will love this character as she is no shrinking violet. However like many of the other characters she still remains satisfyingly cerebral. She also has a disturbing liking for life sized robotic sex toys...

Lucas Corso is not really one of life's fighters, survival is what he is best at and what he is most intrested in. He is not above betraying Dakota to ensure his survival, however his personality is not so cut and dried. He can at times act to do what the thinks is right, but he gets very much lost in everyone else's plans.

Trader in the Faecal Matter of Animals (*snigger*). Interested only in protecting the Shoal from the Emissaries and keeping technology out of the hands of lesser species. He is a brilliant foil for Dakota being intelligent, single minded ruthless, and a master liar (does anyone else think he sounds like Lord Mandelson). However his single mindedness and arrogance can make him blind to the consequences of his own actions, and how they might destroy the Shoal.

'Days of Wine and Roses' and 'Scent of Honeydew, Distant Rumble of Summer Storms' (lol I mean come on!!) Two Bandati agents working for rival hives, one aligned with the Shoal and one with the Emissaries. Both trying to gain the technology that the Shoal is concealing from them, and for that they need Dakota. Both of them are loyal to their Queen's and will do what ever it takes to get her co-operation.

Hugh Moss, a dangerous assassin with a mysterious past single minded working to punish Dakota and if he can the Shoal.

Anyway I recommend this book whole hearted, and am now going to get the earlier book, 'Stealing Light' and also when it comes out the final book in the series 'Empire of Light'. Now I am off to South America with a poncho, oversized mustache and a sombrero to live a new life away from Haglerat' wrath.

TTFN Un:bound fans