Stuff I've read lately

"The Wreck of the River of Stars" (Michael Flynn) - The first book I read by Flynn ("Fallen Angels") left me full of meh.

It was a strange set of circumstances that led me back to Flynn.

Imonk had a post about aliens and Christianity (what with all the talk r.e. Gliese 581g). There, someone had a comment about dogheads, and linked to Flynn's blog. His blog interested me enough to try another of his books.

"Wreck" is a tragedy. It seems like a lot of current SF is depressing, Wreck still manages to be enjoyable.

The story entails the series of accidents which lead to the loss of the River of Stars (a hybrid magsail/fusion torch ship headed into Jupiter). It is very much like the old story of the man who sells his watch to buy a braid for his wife's hair - while the wife sells her hair to buy a new band for the watch.

Many people think SF is all about technology and science. Really, it is about people. The science and far future settings allow the author to strip away the conventions that the reader is accustomed to and reveal aspects of raw human nature.

Flynn excels at this. The wreck is due to the conflicts of human nature; the science behind the events are secondary. The ruined careers, the last chance for glory, the longing for the good old days, interpersonal squabbles, simple hatred and jealousy.

A sad story, but well done.

I particularly like Flynn's snarky comments:
Twenty-four DeCant (to the sail master): "Then, if you're staying... I'm staying."
Captain Gorgas: "We don't seem to have gotten this 'abandon ship' thing quite right."