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.

The book was neither bad nor good - it just was. The pace was far too slow and the storyline was a bit juvenile at times. I did not find it very interesting, I simply read it because I like to finish what I start. The storytelling was often flat in places which made it very hard for me to get into the world Cooper created. I found the snippets about the world the colonists came from much more interesting than the story being told. Again, it was neither bad nor good. I cannot recommend it to other readers, but at the same time I will not discourage other readers, either.

I have been reading SF for over 40 years, and it is still good when you can find a new author whose work you cannot put down, and look forwards to their next book. The characters are all well developed individuals, and the story is compelling. I gave it a four and not a five as I had some trouble getting over the initial plot that would have two groups of interstellar colonists fighting a war when they could have a continent each and never have seen one another.

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.

This is at least the third time I have read this book. I enjoyed it as much this time as I did the first time.

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!