Ryk E. Spoor

Ok, it's fluff - space opera. But it is _excellent_ space opera. I'd tried before and quit, but this time I was utterly hooked - every time I had a minute I'd go back to reading. There are major holes in the science I understand (paleontology), and I suspect equally major holes in the ones I don't (physics, engineering, astronomy...) - but while the holes bother me they don't slow down the story noticeably. Coincidence plays a _major_ part - only two years between the finding of the fossil show more and the greater discovery? And three of those present at the first are also present at the latter? Yeah, right. But keeping space opera in mind - this is a fun read, with _great_ characters - each has a quirk, and each is much deeper than just that quirk. And a good bit of romance, with only a bit of "I am not worthy" as obstacles. I _like_ these people, and am delighted I had the next books as well. Worth reading, and I suspect one I'll reread frequently. show less

Not really the sequel to Portal - this is the beginning of an entirely new arc in the same universe, with quite a different flavor. A.J. is mentioned once, but the story is set about 150 years later (about a lifespan, with medical advances, we're told). An entirely new set of characters, most of whom - including the primary viewpoint character - are young (the primary is a 14-year-old girl). I don't see it as particularly YA, though. And one character is a Bemmie - from Europa, but show more genetically modified to be amphibious rather than purely aquatic. I see a _lot_ of Swiss Family Robinson here, and love it. A small family - father, mother, and four children, all girls - plus the Bemmie, who is the best friend of one of the girls - are separated from their colony ship in a lifeboat and manage to make it to a new planet, unknown to Earth. With very limited resources, they have to survive on this _very_ strange planet - which isn't generally or actively hostile, but between the predators and environment there are plenty of threats. Again, although there's plenty of action, it's the characters that make it worth reading for me. It does end in a cliffhanger, though - a hopeful but rather confusing one. Next, please! show less

Good read with good characters that takes a fun and unique look at some classic monsters.

Fair warning: about halfway through the book, Ryk turns your understanding of the book's world completely upside down. Took me several reads to get past the "What the fuck just happened here?!" moment. The hints and build up for what he springs on you are all there, but if you don't see them and realize they're import, the book seriously blindsides you. For some people, that makes it even better, for show more others it's a "throw the book across the room" moment.

(I originally read this as a ebook bought on the Baen website. It has been re-released in an updated and expanded version as Paradigm's Lost) show less

Swiss Family Robinson, but with Daughters and Bug-Eyed Monster (BEM)

Castaway Planet, by Eric Flint and Ryk E. Spoor, is an adventurous story focussing on family values, self-reliance, the uses of a natural world, and the heroism of four girls and an alien. There are two main characters - Sakura Kimei, a small and skinny 14 year old girl and student pilot and her Best Friend Forever, "Whips", an engineering student more formally named "Harratrer," a Bemmie ( Bemmius novus sapiens - a show more genetically engineered amphibious being derived from an intelligent aquatic species found on Europa, a moon of Jupiter.) Sakura and Whips are accompanied by the rest of Sakura's family - Laura, mother and physician; Akira, father and biologist; Hitomi, a very focused 7 year old video game lover; Melody, a very put-upon ten-year-old; and Caroline, a well-organized and precise young woman of 17 and an aspiring geologist. They are heading, along with over a thousand other would-be colonists, to a planet in the Tantalus system when the Kimei family and Whips are cast away from the mother ship in a disastrous event.

The steps they take to survive on the planet on which they are marooned, the flora, fauna and physical aspects of the planet and how they are used, the cooperation exhibited by the family members and especially the heroism of the daughters and the Bemmie are featured. The science behind it all is also a critical part of the story telling, as each of the characters lectures the others, explaining the physical, chemical, medical, biological or geological aspects of the phenomena they encounter.

The story isn't all hard science, however. There are encounters with terrifying animals and the unusual make-up of the planet, itself, exudes the possibility of disaster. The characters are deftly envisioned, with each acting appropriately to their age and role and developing the reader's respect. This is a well-imagined and dangerous world, populated by likable characters that the reader grows to care about.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. show less