Neptune Crossing (edition 1995)

Again, a good story line without any conclusions. I am really tired of authors who are only interested in selling their next book instead of writing a 'good' book. ( )

Bizarrely psychological Space Opera. But an interesting premise fairly well carried out.

John Bandicut is a nethead and a pilot. When a freak accident and poor nanotech destroys his nethead links, he's demoted to shuttle driver for the mining company he works for. They are searching (and finding) the ice of Triton (Neptune's moon) for remnants of alien metallurgy. However losing his nethead links has left John a little spaced out at times - lost in remorse for his missing universe, and without any family or personal ties to keep him grounded. So far he's managed to avoid the authorities finding out about his problem. Until it manifests mid survey, and he comes round, several miles off route, with his rover about to sink through Triton's ice into a cavern underneath. Here John meets the Translator. An odd super advanced alien machine capable of many localised miracles. It's purpose is to provide help to upcoming sentients in case of major crisis. John finds he has about fifty days to try and save Earth from an impact with a really major comet. And he's gained more mental problems from the encounter - Charlie, also alien now speaks to him inside his head.

The pacing was pretty slow with a rushed conclusion, but all the psychological conversations allowed little time for much world building. I'd have liked to know a bit more about John's world, and technologies, especially the 'net. Instead a very slow beginning expands with all John's debates with Charlie, before a quick clunky romance and a decision - stay with the new crush or fly and save the world. The duex et machina of a really powerful alien artefact seems to be handled quite well. Although it's never explained why it didn't act earlier.

Unfortunetly we also don't get much interaction with the other characters, it's all about John, his thoughts feelings and problems. And while I like single viewpoint narratives, it is possible to develop other characters too. The formatting works very well for distinguishing Charlie's mental voice from John's.

You do eventually start to build some empathy with John who never asked to be a hero. The ending neatly sets up the sequel, which I will read. The author has the books available for free download from his website. It’s worth a donation. ( )

While I thought the premise of an alien symbiont was interesting, it was just not well executed. The alien(s?) were just too human too quick. You know a killer asteroid is good, but killer aliens is better. I could just not get into this book.

Cannot recommend. ( )

I found this book frustrating because not enough happens in it to justify its total number of pages, let alone a sequel! Carver had an interesting idea and then stretched it out into a series. This malady is almost common in modern science fiction. ( )