Menace from Back Space Looming out of the Dust of Time
The Complex Logic Laws were the result of a war waged hundreds of years in the past, when two human powers threw massive AI navies at each other and nearly annihilated themselves. Being human, they blamed their tools for this near miss; they destroyed what was left of the sentient ships, and made it illegal to be, manufacture, or shelter an independent logic.
Strangely, however, the Free Ships and other AIs did not turn themselves in or suicide, they merely became wary of humans, and stayed under their scans. A clandestine support network grew up, including hidden yards where smart ships were manufactured, and mentors--humans specially trained to ease a new intelligence into the universe--socialized them, and taught them what they needed to know to survive.
Among those with a stake in the freedom of Independent Logics is Theo Waitley, who is somewhat too famously the captain of intelligent ship Bechimo. Theo's brother, Val Con yos'Phelium, presides over a household that has for a generation employed an AI butler. Recently, he approved the "birth" of the butler's child, who was sent, with human mentor Tolly Jones, to rescue or destroy an orphaned AI abandoned at a remote space station.
Then there's Uncle, the shadowy mastermind from the Old Universe, whose many projects often skirt the boundaries of law, both natural and man-made – and the puppet-masters at the Lyre Institute, whose history is just as murky – and a good deal less honorable.
All have an interest in the newly-awakening Self-Aware Logic that is rumored to have the power to destroy universes.
The question is: Who will get to it first?
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Very goodThis was a great book, a return to the successes of the earlier books where we weren’ t Constantly left hanging. There is yet room for more adventures by the main characters, or new ones, but this story was complete in itself. Thanks for a great read!
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Great readingThis is another great book in the Liaden Universe. If this is your first Liaden book, you might get lost because you won't have the context. On the other hand, it is well written, with expert mixing of characters and plot. One of the best things about Lee and Miller's Liaden Universe is that it's TRUE. It's all one piece, and it's real. There are no unpleasant surprises - like the anachronisms so common to many of today's writers. Bravo - and ENCORE!!!!
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ExcellentI laughed till I cried at some points. Some threads got brought to an ending and new ones got opened. Some branched off from the closed ones. I think a new reader with this as start will get something from it. I started with the first Theo book and then went back from there. Looking forwards to the next one. Thank you Sharon and Steve.
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Too many viewpoint characters, and not enough plot movement.
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Finishing up some plot lines, setting up others???Very enjoyable read, one of the least error ridden eARCs ever. Can see a lot of possibilities for the future. Love the way various plot lines interweave.
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greatwhile many solutions are given to previously open plot lines, there are still plenty left open for more books. some lines neatly tied, others not so much. the characters ring true as always and a good mix of drama and comedy as always. enjoyed this one very much and as always, looking forward to the next and hoping it will not be long in coming!
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RequiredSatisfying in providing many answers while also a good story. Maybe a little too much jumping around for me, but well worth it. Not sure how it would read for someone new to the series. However a must read for fans.
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SatisfyingAs a reader of the Klan histories from the beginning in 1989, I found this journal almost totally satisfying. I only await the completion of this era in the Klan's history with absolute anticipation.
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Mixed feelingsSomewhat enjoyable. Various plot threads do come together, to some extent. As far as plot development, the pace felt slow at times, especially when one considers the scale of the problem that had to be solved. However, some of the slow scenes at home on Surebleak were pleasant.
I am not entirely happy with how things worked out for Stost and Chernak, but maybe there is more to come in the next book.
Also, where was the joyous reunion? To me, it seemed blindingly obvious how their identities should be handled, but the authors drew that decision out, tediosuly so, leaving no time for a celebration.
Was there any small celebration when a malevolent enemy bit the dust? The death notice felt like an afterthought, or even a question.
Shan doesn't appear in this book, nor does the DOI. Tree does appear in key roles in several major scenes. We also see Yulie Shaper, Theo Waitley, the Bedel, etc. etc.
Poignant scene with Tocohl and Jeeves.
Narrative mode: 3rd person POV from various characters, with the scene jumping from place to place. Some scenes felt like a deliberate clan-house comedy or farce, while other scenes carried grim tones. The pacing and rising action felt out of balance.
I would have liked to see Lyre disappear.Posted on