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Title: Firstborn
ISBN: 0345491580
Author:
Arthur C. Clarke
Stephen Baxter
Publicate Date: 2008-10-28
Publish: 2008-10-28
List Price: $7.99
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Mass Market Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $3.89
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $3.99
Amazon Merchant Price: $7.99
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Not up to Clarke's HIGH standards
I've read at least nine Arthur C. Clarke novels because I genuinely love his writing. And I actually had a very good time reading this trilogy despite my following complaints. That being said, I threw this book down when I finished because I could not believe I was left with how it ended! After the first two very engaging books that give a realistic perspective of the future, comment on our world politics, and develop appealing characters, Firstborn seems to just race to the end without resolving everything (and the resolutions that we DO get are kind of expected).
Another BIG problem I have with this book (spoiler alert), is that there is a monolith on the cover...and NO monolith makes an appearance in the book. As someone who lost his sci-fi virginity to 2001, I was VERY disappointed here. If someone knows why the monolith was on the cover, please tell me.
I'd say read this if you began the trilogy, and I recommend you read the trilogy because the pros of the first two books seriously outweigh the cons of this one, but just don't expect the kind of ending this trilogy deserves
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2: This is how the series ends? Not with a bang but a whimper?
I share the prevailing opinions of the other reviewers. Both authors can do better than this - and have. I suspect that the problem was Clarke's approaching date with destiny. My speculation is that they agreed to spend the last chapters building up the suspense for a sequel which it would be up to Baxter to write by himself. I'm sure he is up to it. I look forward to his writing it. I do not think he will call it "Last Born" And I think he will have a better explanation for the activities of the First Born than any hinted at in this volume. I also believe that this last book does no real disservice to Sir Clarke. That he wrote any of it at all is a miracle for which we can give thanks. Go Get 'Em Stephen!
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3: He did better alone...
As a lifelong fan of Sir Arthur, I admit to having lost my taste for his work since he collaborated with others. In one of his earlier collaborations, I could easily figure out what lines Clarke wrote, into the story written, obviously, by the other.
This book just didn't...catch me! I tried, I really did. But the first in this series of three struck me as a cross between the themes of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and the old "Time Tunnel" television series. The ideas weren't engaging, and the story not really worth the time it took to read it.
This went downhill from there.
Maybe when I get some time--yeah, that's likely to occur--I'll read all three of them and, wow, I'll have an insight and change my reviews. But for now, I'm awaiting Sir Arthur's last collaboration, of which I read in his Washington Post obituary (and I've ordered but it won't be here for another month or so). And I hope to the heavens that it's better than the last few.
Rest in Peace, Arthur. I'll always remember you for your better work.
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4: Another messy meandering mishmash
I think I have finally figured out what happened to Arthur C. Clarke and his slow but steady literary decline. In an age of biotech, nanotech, artificial intelligence, robotics and other such wonders, Clarke is an infant, still stuck in the orthodox school of rockets, space and First Contact. In light of that, his Earthly futures sound about as realistic as Santa Claus. The Time series can only be described (charitably) as a final ride down a literary roller coaster - an unmitigated mess. This is especially sad because the author of the Rama series, 2001, Childhood's End and other classics deserves a better last hurrah.
The previous novel about protecting Earth from aliens who sent a planet crashing into the sun (yawn) was nearly as bad as it gets but this one surpasses even that. Our old saviors/enemies are back and appear hell-bent of destroying little Earth, this time from sending a quantum machine crashing down. Those critters really love the action. What follows is one of the most boring, predictable pages I've come across in years. There's the usual meetings between folks from different lands - Clarke has always been such a visionary and globalist that he can't help but include Nigeria, Nepal, Bolivia, Sri Lanka and other such scientific luminaries as partners in technological discovery. I don't know if it's sad but it is true - technological progress is not democratic and despite Clarke's planetary viewpoint the overwhelming majority of scientific advances emanate in the U.S. with a scattering in Europe, Israel and China.
Half the book consists of riding a space elevator. Yes, that's correct - a long, boring, reflective vertical journey that seems to move at a snail's pace. Lots of talk about the enemy and his plans, blah blah - some philosophical ruminations - more talk - then suddenly the enemy device swerves and hits Mars!!! Talk about a letdown. No big bang, no nifty solution, just another plot twist.
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5: A Nice Send-Off for Arthur...
Truly sorry to hear about the passing of Arthur C. Clarke - he turned me on to "hard" science fiction - and this third book in the trilogy is great - yet to be completed, but even if the end stinks, the ideas and scientific possibilities these two authors explore are worth the read - and I doubt this will have a poor ending. Then on to read Baxter on his own merits.
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