The Silver Ship and the Sea

I grabbed this book off the shelf of my local library right before going on vacation. I was engrossed with the book once I determined what was happening and if it plodded, I didnt notice it. The story is mainly about Chelo, who was genetically engineered to be a leader and has her work cut out for her as she negotiates the environment she grew up in and her own background which has her painted as an enemy even though she is 17. I enjoyed the tension with the normal colonists and the physically and intellectually superior altereds and how they dealt with various issues. They are sworn enemies in a sense, but both need the other. We see all that is good with humanity and all that is wrong in a thoroughly enjoyable story.

Well defined characters, descriptive flora and fauna, and refreshing story. The author captured my attention and I could hardly put the book down. I truly enjoyed.

Brenda Cooper has written a strong and engaging book. I found her characterizations credible because she used no blatant archetypes: I probably know someone like almost everyone in the book, including the altered teens. There is no arch-villain, instead the teens face prejudice from influential adults. She deftly handles the questions of who do you trust, who do you love, and who do you tolerate. I found the pacing of the story kept me reading. There is very little physical violence, as in real life the question of how one survives is much more complicated than that. It is no wonder the book won the 2008 Endeavour Award for science fiction literature.

My reason for buying this book was that I read the excellent novel (Building Harlequins Moon) A project between Brenda Cooper and Larry Niven. Larry Niven is one of the greatest S.F. authors of all time. I cant say I have read EVERYTHING he has ever written,,but it is on my list of things to do before I die! Brenda Cooper is an author to watch! I expect great things from her. As great as Larry? (Maybe!) This novel is her first solo effort. It is a solid one! If I could write a novel half as good as this I could die a happy man! (Now For some criticism!) The character development is a bit off. There are too many characters to keep track of in the beginning. That is one thing that bothers me,,25 characters all introduced in the first 2 pages that you have to keep track of or you will become lost! Or at least you will have to flip back and find out where you read that name before! I had to flip back a few times! I agree with some of the other reviews that the story is a bit Slow/Flat at times. Overall it is a good story. It has a lot of emotion. I think Cooper has a lot of potential. I am looking forward to her next book!

The planet Fremont was considered a dangerous place for colonization due to its odd lethal flora and fauna as much as from the meteorites that crash on its surface and its volcanic and quake activity. However, in spite of a need to cooperate twelve years ago war exploded between the original human settlers and the second group bioengineered to fit the orb. Near Artistos, the only town on the planet, is the deadly Grass Plains and in its center lays the single silver spaceship that humans fear. Six altered children left orphaned by the hostilities and unwanted by the purebreds except as slaves, dream of freedom. Abetting their hopes is the last altered adult Jenna the crazy woman as Chelo Lee leads the other five on a quest to find either escape from the planet via the abandoned ship or establish a new home where they can live free. This coming of age science fiction is a fun lighthearted read. The story line focuses on the children as they seek their own way in hostile environs made worse by rampant prejudice towards their kind. However, though fun to follow their exploits in search of freedom, Chelo and her comrades fail to show the impact of being raised by people who fear them while wanting to use (and abuse) their altered gifts. Still this is a fine tale of six courageous youths on a quest for freedom. Harriet Klausner

Tor published this, who ever made the decision to publish this book needs to be fired because they arent doing their job. This is a bad book. Its poorly written and dull. The characters are life less and flat and the action, well it simply isnt. I bought it, I read most of it, I always enjoyed putting it down more that I enjoyed reading it.

Enjoyed this book....

I really enjoyed this book

Wow, this is her first full length book, I am very impressed. And the main character was very real to me - love science fiction that focus on the impact of advanced science on society, not on guns and gadgets.

Just a very good story that is well developed from cover to cover. Six young adults must cope with being different in hostile society. Sound familiar?