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1reading_fox
Heavy Time by CJ Cherryh
My review:
Short but gripping. CJC's afterword explains that the story grew out of her initial astronomy interests, looking for, and simulating asteroid paths. While there is no astronomy in it at all, the pervading sense of gravity and a real appreciation of the difficulties of mass and momentum, make this an easily believable tale. Heavy time refers both to when things get serious, and to the time miners have to spend at dock under g (rather than weightless) for health reasons. This is the first of the Alliance Union series; a self-contained story in its own right, the sequel is Hellburner. All the other stories can be read as standalones.
It's set in 2323, around the Asteroid belt near Jupiter. Mankind has spread to the stars and the distant colonies are rebelling. Hence there's a Hurry up on the miners looking for iron rich rock to be processed into the first military starships, but the operating company is also under budget constraints, looking for shortcuts. None of this is explicitly mentioned but it all becomes apparent background for the real story.
The story opens with two freerunners (independent miners who sell rock to the company) coming across a rescue signal, and discovering a battered mining ship far from it's operation, with one Paul Dekker, still barely alive inside it. Dek, as he's known, is almost insensible and claims a company ship crashed into him, and killed his partner. the long run back to base is hard on Ben and Bird, as Dekker's ravings don't improve. But Ben is contented with the thought of a salvage claim on Dek's ship - something that grates against Bird's oldtimer blue-sky sensibilities, who feels that they shouldn't exploit someone else's weakness. It's quickly clear that Dek's maybe provable claims of Company malpractice are going to strike sparks in an already charged atmosphere. Belter and Earther, corporate drone, independent operator and the military, who you are, where you came from and what you expect from life are all called into question.
The style isn't yet the single character tight third person that CJC uses in some of her later books, we bounce around a bit between Dek and Ben, and sometimes Bird, which does occasionally get a little confusing until you've worked out who is speaking. The characters are distinct and the politics confusing - for those at the sharp end only their personal lives matter to them. CJC conveys very well the struggle of the workmen against and with the ruling corporate elite.
Well worth (re)reading a great beginning to a great series
Comments, thoughts and discussions welcome.
My review:
Short but gripping. CJC's afterword explains that the story grew out of her initial astronomy interests, looking for, and simulating asteroid paths. While there is no astronomy in it at all, the pervading sense of gravity and a real appreciation of the difficulties of mass and momentum, make this an easily believable tale. Heavy time refers both to when things get serious, and to the time miners have to spend at dock under g (rather than weightless) for health reasons. This is the first of the Alliance Union series; a self-contained story in its own right, the sequel is Hellburner. All the other stories can be read as standalones.
It's set in 2323, around the Asteroid belt near Jupiter. Mankind has spread to the stars and the distant colonies are rebelling. Hence there's a Hurry up on the miners looking for iron rich rock to be processed into the first military starships, but the operating company is also under budget constraints, looking for shortcuts. None of this is explicitly mentioned but it all becomes apparent background for the real story.
The story opens with two freerunners (independent miners who sell rock to the company) coming across a rescue signal, and discovering a battered mining ship far from it's operation, with one Paul Dekker, still barely alive inside it. Dek, as he's known, is almost insensible and claims a company ship crashed into him, and killed his partner. the long run back to base is hard on Ben and Bird, as Dekker's ravings don't improve. But Ben is contented with the thought of a salvage claim on Dek's ship - something that grates against Bird's oldtimer blue-sky sensibilities, who feels that they shouldn't exploit someone else's weakness. It's quickly clear that Dek's maybe provable claims of Company malpractice are going to strike sparks in an already charged atmosphere. Belter and Earther, corporate drone, independent operator and the military, who you are, where you came from and what you expect from life are all called into question.
The style isn't yet the single character tight third person that CJC uses in some of her later books, we bounce around a bit between Dek and Ben, and sometimes Bird, which does occasionally get a little confusing until you've worked out who is speaking. The characters are distinct and the politics confusing - for those at the sharp end only their personal lives matter to them. CJC conveys very well the struggle of the workmen against and with the ruling corporate elite.
Well worth (re)reading a great beginning to a great series
Comments, thoughts and discussions welcome.
