Part 2 of the series following biologist Mackenzie Connor, who gets caught up in a crisis involving a creepy biological threat to tons of alien worlds and races. Compared to the first book in the trilogy, this was slower, and had far less action or adventure (it takes place entirely on Earth, for instance); but it was better in other respects.For one, the previous book only hinted at a universe teeming with intelligent life, but mostly confined itself to featuring one alien species, alongside humans, in speaking roles. This time however we get a whole slew of interesting species — which are, design-wise, at least a few steps above lazy Star-Trek-style species thanks to the author's background in biology. They're well thought out biologically, and full of personality. The alien characters are some of the best parts of the book. Also hilarious: the running joke amongst non-human species that humans are the sexual deviants of the galaxy.I mentioned it's a slow read, and it is, to the point where it might turn off some readers. A good way I can think to describe it is this: You know in the Mass Effect games how you, as Commander Shepard, often come across research bases full of scientists (often made up of multiple species) and you briefly converse with them about their research, before charging off to battle somewhere else? This book is like it's told from the perspective of those scientists. They're aware of the galaxy-scale threats out there, but they spend most of their time working away at their research and meetings. The character Nik in this book is a bit like Shepard, in that he's the man of action, but we don't follow him when he steps out of frame to go do his dashing spy work.The thing is, this worked for me because as a biologist and a fan of optimistic SF, I love reading about how scientific research is conducted in the future. I love the hi-tech bases and gadgets they get to use on a daily basis. I also enjoyed reading about the politics and diplomacy of a (mostly) peaceful multi-species future.The series is rather like Mass Effect, if you subtract the endless shooting at things (also if you replace the big bad machine threat with a big bad organic one). Low on action, heavy on conversation and politics, but just a nice absorbing read set in a bright, bustling SF future.
Normally the second book in a trilogy is the best; you don't have to spend a lot of time with either set up or typing up loose ends, and you can devote most of the book to action and moving the plot. While this book definitely moves the plot arc forward, it seemed like it took too long to get there. The opening chapters contain some important set up, and it is true that life doesn't always move at a breakneck pace, so it was realistic, but I found myself at times going "Oh come on, get to the action!" This was a solid installment in the series and definitely had some good parts, but I am somewhat ambivalent to it; I'll have to see how the third book goes to really process this one. It pains me to not be able to give a ringing review to one of her books, and I suspect it will go better on repeated reading when I know the pace and won't try to get ahead of myself.
Do You like book Migration (2006)?
Second book in the series. I found this one stronger, in that the plot didn't fly about nearly as much and wasn't quite as sidetracked by the necessary description of what just makes the aliens alien. (being as most of it was covered in the first book) This story is far more contained. There is excellent coverage of the emotional backlash and follow through for the events in the first book.I am grateful that the author has a realistic understanding of injuries and wounds and the sorts of stresses that weird science can place on a person's body. Enjoyable with a cup of coffee and a bit of pie. :P
—Speedtribes
Czerneda sure knows how to keep a girl reading - I'm basically DYING for a proper Mac/Nik getaway here. Got to read on to find out if it ever happens. It better, 'cause if it doesn't I will have to swear off all Czerneda books forever more. ;)I love this story. In general I really enjoy the interactions between Mac and various aliens. This time my favourite was Fourteen with his "Idiot!" and his "Irrelevant." hehe. I found myself saying "Irrelevant!" at various times in my own day to day life, for no particular reason, just 'cause it made me smile.Nik is just plain sexy and a great hero. Whooo-boy, my imagination works overtime when anticipating what could be between those two. I love that there's an alien who has a crush on him, too. heheI continued to feel sad for Brymn and miss him, but I could see Parymn becoming a bit of a substitute for him. Particularly after he became the Vessel. Also, the Emily storyline was pretty darn creepy. But I really love how the book ended. :)This book was another that took quite a while to get to the action, but I didn't really mind 'cause the whole thing kept me interested. Now, time to move onto #3.
—Trisha
Like the first book in the series, Survival: Species Imperative #1, this is very much the sort of thing Alan Dean Foster would have written 30 years ago--but he would have done it at half the length. While I enjoyed spending time with these characters, I didn't need to spend 7.5 hours for this amount of "story" (i.e., not much happens plotwise). There's a climax in the middle that had more impact than the one at the end; as with the previous book, the end felt a bit predictable.Since I'm traveling, I bought the third book to read on the trip. I'll read something else before turning to it, though.(Finished 2007-11-08 8:05EST)
—Raja99
