FACT SF Reading Group

August 2002

August 6: Deepsix by Jack McDevitt

Sixteen people attended this discussion at the home of Charles and Willie. The topic, Deepsix by Jack McDevitt, is a hard sf novel about a group of scientists who rush to explore a mysterious planet before it is destroyed in a cosmic collision. All of us had read prior books by McDevitt. Eleven of us started Deepsix, and seven finished it.

We enjoyed reading a traditional sf novel. The story got off to an interesting start, and we enjoyed discovering strange things on the planet. We loved the alien species, particularly the cool "cricket people." The prose style was clear and told the story well. We appreciated how the author skillfully kept the pace of the plot going throughout. A couple of people called the story a "thoroughly enjoyable ride."

We did find problems. One annoying character seemed like a cross between Dr. Smith (from Lost in Space) and Rush Limbaugh (from talk radio), and we kept hoping that he'd either reform or get killed off. One person said there were so many characters that she had to keep a checklist. Many of us felt the last half of the book turned into a routine rescue story that "seemed like something on the Lifetime Channel."

Overall we'd give Deepsix a mild recommendation. It has a lot of neat ideas but the story and characters didn't grab many of us. Our group has read and enjoyed several of McDevitt's books and did not think Deepsix was in the same league with has best books like Moonfall and Ancient Shores. After the meeting, we had dinner at The Olive Garden.

August 20: The Quiet Invasion by Sarah Zettel

Thirteen people attended this discussion at Lori and A. T.'s house, including one first-time visitor. Also, one person submitted comments by email. Our topic was The Quiet Invasion, a sf novel set on Venus featuring noble scientists, academic dishonesty, flying aliens, and politics. Eight of us had started the book, and five finished it.

We thought this book had cool aliens. They were nonhumanoid flying creatures with strange biology, but they had distinct personalities and were well-drawn sympathetic characters. The structure of their society and its interpersonal relationships were well thought-out, and Zettel described this so well that we understood the aliens' actions. The book alternated points of view between humans and aliens, and most of us looked forward to the alien sequences. The exciting plot kept us turning the pages.

There were some problems. We felt the visual descriptions in the book were unclear, so we had trouble visualizing the aliens and their environment. A few of us found it unlikely that all the political leaders in this book, both human and alien, were female. Several people found the ending of the story was a letdown.

We think The Quiet Invasion is a book full of interesting ideas and characters, and we think Sarah Zettel is a writer with a great deal of promise. After the meeting, most of us went to a nice dinner at North and South Chinese Buffet.

-- A. T. Campbell, III