The Game of Stars and Comets: The X Factor
Andre Norton

The son of two prolific planetary scouts, Diskan is expected by the Service who bred him to follow in his father’s footsteps; instead, he proves to be slow and clumsy and no match at all for the demanding life of a scout. Thus is he relegated to menial labor with no promise for a future. Diskan’s situation is only made worse by the people around him: the quick-witted, graceful, polite, and elegant Vaan whose perfection only alienates him further. His only reprise is in his natural ability with animals, a talent that he keeps to himself but treasures.

And from this life of bitterness and loneliness he flees to the planet Mimir, a place of mysteries that offers him the chance to be himself.

Andre Norton’s stories are often about “outsiders” (people who are mistreated for being different in some fashion) who grow from weakness into strength as they learn to make the best of their unusual characteristics. In this case, her main character Diskan is a slow thinker (although once relying on his own wits on Mimir he certainly seems to do alright) and exceedingly clumsy. While these novels do tend to be formulaic, I really enjoy them. I almost always like Norton’s characters, her women moreso than her men, and her plots are often campy (in a fun, Star Wars kind of way), interesting, and full of adventure. All of this holds true for The X Factor.

I think that this novel is probably one of her stronger ones outside of her famous Witch World series, since Mimir is an interesting world and Diskan a very naturally written character. The pacing is good and there is a lot of action. The ending is a bit abrupt, but holds a lot of promise.

“Yes, the X factor—that which comes of itself to throw askew equations, speculations, lives, history, that unknown twist or turn of small events that changes a man’s personal future, the work he would do, or the future of a people and an empire from one possibility track to another. One may have a problem close to smooth solving. Then the X factor arises to make the simple complex, all calculations wrong. Thus, to Mimir you may be the X factor, and to you Mimir may be the same. So I believe.” pg. 99

Stealing the Elf-King’s Roses
Diane Duane

Diane Duane has such a natural, absorbing writing style that makes her fiction so easy to escape into. In this novel, Justice is an entity that can be invoked, and Truth wants to be sought out; partners Lee and Gelert use their Sight of these virtues to investigate crime scenes. In an interesting and very well-executed blend of mythology, fantasy, and science fiction Diane Duane has her characters exploring a “sheaf of universes” to uncover the truth behind the murder of an elf.

This is a fast-paced, exciting novel with a very realistically portrayed sense of urgency—from the anxiety of the characters as they rush to expose monumental lies to the risky choices they make as they race against the clock—that makes it very difficult to put down. The characters are natural and consistent, their relationships true to form. Lee, for example, has just come out of a relationship in which she found her boyfriend cheating on her with a younger, prettier woman. Lee’s feelings in the aftermath are all so nuanced and thoughtful, angry but also sad and insecure. Throughout the novel, Lee has to deal with these feelings and come to terms with her relationship.

However, the most fascinating part of the novel is definitely the blend of sci-fi and mythology that only a writer like Diane Duane could pull off so well. Those who have read Diane Duane before are familiar with her worldgating concept, although here it is given a much more detailed look—from the structure required to maintain a worldgate to the actual physical components required to build it, as well as how the necessity of these physical components impacts inter-universe commerce and economy. Yet alongside this technical, speculative portion of the novel, imagine a more fantastic world with immortal Elves, so beautiful as to alienate themselves from all other races, with artifacts powerful enough to change the operation of the world around them. A world where the Elf-King lives, in balance with his earth, with the power to make living things grow and the ability to preserve his love in a rose.

The language of this novel remains simple and beautiful without becoming too wandering or prosy. It hits that great mix of poignancy and realism.

I enjoyed this novel and, as a long time Diane Duane fan, have no idea why it took me so long to finally read this. I’m glad I did.

Purchased through Half-Price Books
ISBN: 0-446-60983-8 | Format: Paperback
Date Acquired: March, 2012

Species Imperative: Regeneration
Julie E. Czerneda

Is it enough to say that the final novel of this series, following Survival and Migration, is so good that I didn’t want it to end? I’ve been shying away from series (especially series that involve the same characters) for most of my adult life because it’s rare for me to find one with the right blend of personal interest, character development, plot, and speculation. Species Imperative as a whole provides all that in generous doses. I finished this final novel with that perfect blend of satisfaction and desire for more that every reader loves. I was both sad to say good bye to Mac and all the others, but happy with how invested I was in the outcome, how well it all played out. [spoilers] And that ‘Oversight’ survived! I actually shrieked a bit when he made his return.[/spoilers]

My opinions on this novel follow those I developed over reading its predecessors, so I haven’t a whole lot to add. I was incredibly satisfied not just with the execution, but also with the ending to the book and the series. (Although, I would love another trilogy featuring Mac…just sayin’….) Czerneda took a scenario familiar to science fiction—especially in the pulp or politically speculative context—and gave it a firm biological root. Instead of aliens randomly wanting to blow up the Earth (or vice versa?), Czerneda offers a terrifying and far more realistic possibility: what happens when the main imperative of any species—the undeniable, pervasive need to survive at the cost of anything else—is in direct conflict with another species’ ability to survive? It cuts right to the heart of what the science fiction genre is really all about: what if? It makes the reader consider this possible future, about how to communicate with other intelligence, and to question how trustworthy is that communication could be; how a misunderstanding—even made accidentally or among friends—can change lives. After all, we humans have such a hard time understand other humans…how will it be with others?

Yet, the tone is optimistic, adaptable, far more believable than so much of the doom and gloom in so much fiction. I like Czerneda’s portrayal of humans; that there are heroes, and people who try to do good but make mistakes, and people who are greedy, too.

I thoroughly enjoyed this series and highly recommend it to science fiction fans. Or any one interested in salmon. ;)

Purchased through Amazon.com
ASIN: B000SEH510 | Format: Kindle
Date Acquired: April, 2012