On other occasions where I have read hard science fiction books that have included scientific data, both real and postulated, it feels like chunks of a test book have just been copied and pasted into the story. Not only does Mac's occupation as a biologist lend itself to the natural introduction of these topics, they sound like they're coming out of the mouths of humans, not regurgitated from an encyclopaedia.
Not only does this make for ease of reading, it ensures a level of credibility that up until now I have not experienced in this style of book. Czerneda's description of the means employed for travelling light years in no time at all is an example of that human touch that is too often lacking in other books of this type.
Of course, no matter how approachable the science, believable the circumstances, or acceptable the characters, none of it matters if the plot isn't worth the pages its written on. Thankfully Czerneda's abilities don't fall apart at this most important of junctions. Within the context of the world she has created, everything that happens is completely credible. From the means of transportation, to the events that occur on Haven, the home planet of the Dhryn, and here on earth, she never pushes the envelope so far that we fall short of believing that the events depicted could be happening.
If the tone set by Survival, the first book in the Species Imperative series, is maintained by the remaining two books, then they are more then a cut above the standard hard science, Science Fiction. Wonderfully written and with moments of great humour, fear, sadness, love and anger, the journey experienced in Survival by Mac, both metaphorically and literally, is a joy to share.
Hitch a ride on Species Imperative and sit back and enjoy the tour of the universe and the amazing beings that populate it.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States. Nice work!