book review
Dec. 8th, 2004 16:31![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
piranhawil mccarthy -- aggressor six.
this is mccarthy's first novel.the plot concerns itself with an alien invasion of human-inhabited space (which extends all the way out to sirius, about 8.8 lightyears). the aliens called "waisters" come from a system in the waist of orion at 0.9c, so they're quite a while on their way before they destroy the first human colony, which seems to make them no less determined. billions of humans die. the aliens' power is utterly overwhelming. i was a little confused at first as to what was happening and where, because his time lines intertwine, but the background exposition seems to lag behind.
little is known about the aliens, except for what could be garnered from one ship the humans managed to capture partly intact. in a desparate effort to prepare somehow, a group is formed called "aggressor six", consisting of 5 humans and a genetically enhanced dog, emulating a waister social unit consisting of a queen, two drones, two workers, and a doglike creature. they try to learn and think like the waisters, try to "become the enemy" to figure out some way to thwart the invaders. one participant in this unit was involved in the operation to capture the alien vessel, an event that has left him traumatised.
all this is very promising, but doesn't quite live up to it, alas. we learn incredibly little about the waisters, and i never for one moment believed that "aggressor six" was even remotely close to becoming the enemy (i don't want to spoil this; you may guess for yourself whether or not they succeed and mankind survives). the characters have promise too, but all too maddeningly don't go there. there is some nice plot twisting towards the end, and i liked the resolution.
so, yeah. first novel. it sucked me in, and i enjoyed it, but was left with a slightly empty feeling in my reading stomach. it could be so much more. i sometimes wish authors would go back and rewrite their early works when they have learned a lot more, *heh*.
this is mccarthy's first novel.the plot concerns itself with an alien invasion of human-inhabited space (which extends all the way out to sirius, about 8.8 lightyears). the aliens called "waisters" come from a system in the waist of orion at 0.9c, so they're quite a while on their way before they destroy the first human colony, which seems to make them no less determined. billions of humans die. the aliens' power is utterly overwhelming. i was a little confused at first as to what was happening and where, because his time lines intertwine, but the background exposition seems to lag behind.
little is known about the aliens, except for what could be garnered from one ship the humans managed to capture partly intact. in a desparate effort to prepare somehow, a group is formed called "aggressor six", consisting of 5 humans and a genetically enhanced dog, emulating a waister social unit consisting of a queen, two drones, two workers, and a doglike creature. they try to learn and think like the waisters, try to "become the enemy" to figure out some way to thwart the invaders. one participant in this unit was involved in the operation to capture the alien vessel, an event that has left him traumatised.
all this is very promising, but doesn't quite live up to it, alas. we learn incredibly little about the waisters, and i never for one moment believed that "aggressor six" was even remotely close to becoming the enemy (i don't want to spoil this; you may guess for yourself whether or not they succeed and mankind survives). the characters have promise too, but all too maddeningly don't go there. there is some nice plot twisting towards the end, and i liked the resolution.
so, yeah. first novel. it sucked me in, and i enjoyed it, but was left with a slightly empty feeling in my reading stomach. it could be so much more. i sometimes wish authors would go back and rewrite their early works when they have learned a lot more, *heh*.