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Reviewed
By: Dr Bob Rich
I feel grumpy today. The reason is lack of sleep. Yesterday evening, I started
to read Terra Nova by Tom Williams, and next thing, it was the small hours.
The plot is intriguing and thought-provoking. When you have finished the
book, you will find that serious philosophical questions are addressed in
a format that at first seems to be a mixture of space opera and a medieval
quest. The adventure gets you in, so that the important questions are presented
without a boring lecture.
Humanity has expanded into the Galaxy, and along the way, met a mysterious
Enemy. An effective truce has reigned for a long time, but, as the book
starts, Lieutenant Mikael Svensson suddenly finds his reconnaisance ship
under attack. He visits the human worlds one after the other, and to his
despair discovers that they have been cruelly destroyed. He has seen them
all, except for the newest, Terra Nova. He is on the way there, when he
is attacked once more, and his ship is damaged. After this, he is unable
to achieve faster than light travel.
He has nothing to live for, and is an immense distance from Terra Nova.
He puts himself in suspended animation. Two thousand years later, he awakes
at Terra Nova, which is still under siege from the Enemy. The planet's Central
Computer creates a hole for his ship, and he crash-lands into the sea.
Here is the start of the medieval adventure. The people of Terra Nova have
regressed to an Iron Age culture. A warrior with mysterious connections
and two young lads escort Mikael towards the King's court. A lovely maiden
joins them, and the small group needs to surmount determined enemies and
harrowing adventures. Mikael and the boys need to reach what to the locals
is the Oracle of the Godess and to Mikael the site of the planet's Central
Computer. Otherwise, all people on Terra Nova will die a terrible death
at the hands of the Enemy. And they are the last remaining humans in the
universe. Clearly, this is a book aimed at young adults. Well, I am a young
adult aged 57, and I enjoyed it.
_________________
ABOUT THE REVIEWER:
Dr Bob Rich writes science fiction too. Three of his books
are EPPIE 2001 finalists, and this includes his SF title, 'Sleeper, Awake'.
He also writes historical fiction, set in 700 BC, and is involved in so
many other activities that sometimes he loses count. He is handicapped by
a twisted sense of humor, a compassion for the underdog and a passionate
concern for the future. Suffering is said to be good for the soul. Bob doesn't
know if this is true or not, but his hobbyhorses certainly make his writing
different. Check it out at http://bobswriting.com/
or write to him at bobrich@web.solutions.net.au.
Non-Fiction
and Fiction Book Reviews
Read two of Dr. Bob Rich's short stories at dowse Fiction
Hub
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