Bova, Ben. Leviathans of Jupiter. Tor, 2011. Grand Tour 14.
In Leviathans of Jupiter Ben Bova returns us to the Jovian ocean. We follow a team of explorers as they learn to communicate with intelligent whale-like aliens. Bova builds a credible planet with some believable beasties. The technical challenges of building a visual language from scratch while suffering from the effects of excessive pressures create a tense plot. Unfortunately, Bova has less luck with his homo saps. Once again, the mission is threatened by human saboteurs whose motives are sketchy. Romance stays PG, and gender issues are embarrassingly old school. 3.5 stars. ( )

[b:Leviathans of Jupiter|8730311|Leviathans of Jupiter (The Grand Tour, #14)|Ben Bova|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1316130496l/8730311._SY75_.jpg|13574702] takes what made [b:Jupiter|267334|Jupiter (The Grand Tour, #9)|Ben Bova|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442052818l/267334._SY75_.jpg|293541] so enjoyable (the exploration of the oceans of Jupiter and interactions with the creatures that live there) and takes another visit. This time around, we have even more content from the Leviathan's perspective and first attempts at actually communicating with them, which is pretty cool.

While the science is cool, the characters and drama isn't quite as strong as Jupiter. Grant Archer is still around and in charge now, which is an interesting point. We also get more of Dorn, finding his way out after the Asteroid War. He's been through quite a lot and it's interesting seeing his point of view, especially since he's fairly unique in this universe in being a cyborg.

Unfortunately, the rest of the characters aren't great. New main character Dierdre Ambrose doesn't seem terribly bright for a scientist. And her miraculous ability at telepathically communicating with dolphins (with SCIENCE!) doesn't end up being nearly as useful as it should have been (especially when that's her reason for being on the mission in the first place). And she ends up being surrounded by a pack of men who follow her around like a gang of teen boys. And then there's the villain Westfall--somewhat stereotypical of Bova in feeling cartoonishly evil, although at least for once she actually has a motivation (revenge!). But seriously. Rabies? Gobblers (again)? Come on.

Overall though, the weak characters don't distract hugely from the book and the Leviathans are really pretty cool. It's kind of a bummer that I don't expect we'll see them again. We got more than in Jupiter at least, but I want more! ( )

Twenty years after a disastrous mission to Jupiter, a new team of specialists attempts to make contact with the colossal, intelligent creatures that inhabit its oceans.

This was such an annoying book to read. The prose and dialogue are maddeningly repetitive, the writing basic and entirely graceless. The characters are equally simplistic: the beautiful young newcomer, the men who hang around her like puppy dogs, and the childish, petulant Scooby Doo villain who tries to sabotage the mission for revenge and personal gain. The heroes get their payoff, but the reader doesn't, because the author gives everything away in the first few chapters. We're just going through the motions for 500 pages. ( )

A sequel (of sorts) to Bova's Jupiter. The character development in this one is not quite as good as Jupiter. The antagonist is a one-dimensional sociopath, and the protagonist lacks any truly admirable qualities. The prose could use a good polish as well. ( )

Recommended by my daughter, after I recommended it to her, after hearing a review of it on NPR. Lived up to my expectations. Some of the characters are rather stereotypical, but over all it is an engaging scientific adventure. ( )