Mark W. Tiedemann

Because I didn't read the second book in the series--and don't remember that I read the first book 5 years ago--I found it difficult getting into the story for several chapters. But when I finally was able to sort out the characters, and a bit of their history with each other, the plot became much more accessible/comprehensible. It was worth the effort as the excitement builds to a .... not so dramatic ending. I still recommend reading "Aurora", but I also recommend reading the other two stories first. As for the kind-of-dramatic ending...I can't sympathize, or accept, the final robotic solution to the multiple-human puzzle. It's my opinion that Tiedemann (and maybe others) have been struggling to tie all of the various Foundation plot lines into a nice neat package and don't quite make it. The "result" is 'consistent' and 'plausible'...but not emotionally satisfying. And yet, I must applaud the effort--for Asimov's sake; and because Tiedemann is such a good writer.… (more)

I happen to have read the existing Secantis books in order of publication. Each volume is excellent on its own. Taken together, they each add detail to the divided future of humanity that Tiedemann imagines.

Peace & Memory picks up long after the events of Metal of Night. The Pan Humana and The C.R., (Commonwealth Republic), co-exist on their respective sides of the Secant - the dividing line in space that separates the two cultures. It's easy to compare the Secant to the current (September, 2012) border situation between Mexico and the USA. The wrinkle that Tiedemann adds is that the Pan Humana is in the role of the USA in that they are insular and resist 'contamination' by alien influence. On the other hand, they are also in the role of Mexico in that they have less wealth, commerce and technological advancement than The Commonwealth Republic. It's an interesting parallel.

The challenge of this book, like other Secantis books, is that there are almost too many characters that are bit players. But then, isn't that just like real life? You meet someone somewhere. Maybe you see them again or maybe you don't. That's the thing about Tiedemann's writing. It's very realistic. He grounds his stories in the bits and pieces we all see in our daily endeavors. At the same time, he paints a huge tapestry in the background that these little details play upon. He does this so elegantly that you may not notice it happening if you are not paying attention.

I give Peace & Memory a solid recommendation. Pick up a copy now - you won't be disappointed!… (more)

This second book in The Secantis Sequence picks up after the events in Compass Reach with a whole new group of characters. Metal of Night can easily be read as a stand-alone as there is very little overlap with the proceedings in the first book.

- Space battle? Check.
- Ground-based conflicts? Check.
- Political intrigue? Check.
- 'splosions? Check.
- Some gore? Check.
- Aliens? Double and triple-check.

And yet... this story is not really about any of those things. They are just the back-drop.

The writing style is sparse and rich at the same time. Almost every sentence in this tightly constructed novel serves to move the story forward. Tiedemann does a great job of shifting the viewpoint through the cast of characters leaving you the reader to figure out what is happening by listening to their dialogue and hearing about their memories and experiences.

I give this sophomore installment a solid 4 stars as I look forward to the next book.… (more)