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Alex Benedict #6
Firebird
A new Alex Benedict novel from "a master of describing otherworldly grandeur." (Denver Post)
Forty-one years ago the renowned physicist Chris Robin vanished. Before his disappearance, his fringe science theories about the existence of endless alternate universes had earned him both admirers and enemies.
Alex Benedict and Chase Kolpath discover that Robin had several interstellar yachts flown far outside the planetary system where they too vanished. And following Robin's trail into the unknown puts Benedict and Kolpath in danger...
375 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2011
72 people are currently reading
1159 people want to read
About the author
Jack McDevitt
185 books1,351 followersJack McDevitt is a former English teacher, naval officer, Philadelphia taxi driver, customs officer and motivational trainer. His work has been on the final ballot for the Nebula Awards for 12 of the past 13 years. His first novel, The Hercules Text, was published in the celebrated Ace Specials series and won the Philip K. Dick Special Award. In 1991, McDevitt won the first $10,000 UPC International Prize for his novella, "Ships in the Night." The Engines of God was a finalist for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and his novella, "Time Travelers Never Die," was nominated for both the Hugo and the Nebula awards.
McDevitt lives in Georgia with his wife, Maureen, where he plays chess, reads mysteries and eats lunch regularly with his cronies.
McDevitt lives in Georgia with his wife, Maureen, where he plays chess, reads mysteries and eats lunch regularly with his cronies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
February 9, 2017
I think this was a solid entry, but it didn't quite spark my imagination quite as much as the previous book in the series. This is is kinda surprising. I'd have thought that Alex mysteriously championing some spooky fringe science and parading it around as an unsolved mystery, much to Chase's annoyance, would be right up my alley, and as a matter of fact, it was.
What it actually became was also interesting even if it was kind of an old hat in the SF world, but never mind... any discussion of alternate universes or even colliding universes can make me and the characters in these novels laugh. But a pattern to missing spaceships? Well, now, there's something that people need to take seriously, and Alex does, and again he's proven right. Again.
I cannot say how much I approve of Chase being the narrator. Without her, these books might be pretty unbearable. :) BUT, on the other hand, this novel is pretty much riding on the coattails of the previous books in the series, relying on the things we already know to carry the characters, and I'm not complaining. It just proves that the fans are respected.
But what about the subplot? The AI rights? Well this one was pretty cool. I think the AI's have a really good case against humanity when it comes to criminal negligence. Over 7 thousand years of being left Home Alone might turn any Macaulay Culkin AI rather insane. Still, the resolution gives me a happy glow. :)
What it actually became was also interesting even if it was kind of an old hat in the SF world, but never mind... any discussion of alternate universes or even colliding universes can make me and the characters in these novels laugh. But a pattern to missing spaceships? Well, now, there's something that people need to take seriously, and Alex does, and again he's proven right. Again.
I cannot say how much I approve of Chase being the narrator. Without her, these books might be pretty unbearable. :) BUT, on the other hand, this novel is pretty much riding on the coattails of the previous books in the series, relying on the things we already know to carry the characters, and I'm not complaining. It just proves that the fans are respected.
But what about the subplot? The AI rights? Well this one was pretty cool. I think the AI's have a really good case against humanity when it comes to criminal negligence. Over 7 thousand years of being left Home Alone might turn any Macaulay Culkin AI rather insane. Still, the resolution gives me a happy glow. :)
July 30, 2024
Firebird is a story with a lot of heart. It also happens to be a great palate cleanser (I read this after two fairly challenging (for me, that is) Hard SF novels, and it was a breath of fresh air).
We waited. I looked out through the wraparound, as if I might be able to pick the thing out of the darkness with the naked eye. Of course there was nothing.
One of the interesting things about McDevitt’s books is how relatable everything is. Consider: the Alex Benedict novels appear to take place between 9,000 - 10,000 years in the future, but there is nothing really outrageous going on here. Usually, this could be construed as a complaint, but for some reason this restraint works remarkably well in McDevitt’s Alex Benedict books (which are mystery novels, but in a far future setting).
Admittedly, Firebird is a bit more adventurous in terms of future tech than some of the other entries. Example: a planet where Artificial Intelligence has been evolving unchecked after an extinction event in the distant past (in the context of the novel’s timeline).
Now, this isn’t really a review, to be honest. I always maintain that with something like this (book six in a series) readers have probably already made their mind up whether they will be reading it or not. Having said that, it is entirely possible to read this as a stand-alone, the only real downside being that you would miss out on some of the more intricate character development moments and you won’t know the back story of Gabriel Benedict and the Capella. In fact, this isn’t the worst jump-in place at all, come to think of it, since this story seems to also be setting up the plot for Coming Home
I stared at the auxiliary screen. The marker continued to blink. On and off. On and off.
What are you?
A very solid entry. 5 stars.
We waited. I looked out through the wraparound, as if I might be able to pick the thing out of the darkness with the naked eye. Of course there was nothing.
One of the interesting things about McDevitt’s books is how relatable everything is. Consider: the Alex Benedict novels appear to take place between 9,000 - 10,000 years in the future, but there is nothing really outrageous going on here. Usually, this could be construed as a complaint, but for some reason this restraint works remarkably well in McDevitt’s Alex Benedict books (which are mystery novels, but in a far future setting).
Admittedly, Firebird is a bit more adventurous in terms of future tech than some of the other entries. Example: a planet where Artificial Intelligence has been evolving unchecked after an extinction event in the distant past (in the context of the novel’s timeline).
Now, this isn’t really a review, to be honest. I always maintain that with something like this (book six in a series) readers have probably already made their mind up whether they will be reading it or not. Having said that, it is entirely possible to read this as a stand-alone, the only real downside being that you would miss out on some of the more intricate character development moments and you won’t know the back story of Gabriel Benedict and the Capella. In fact, this isn’t the worst jump-in place at all, come to think of it, since this story seems to also be setting up the plot for Coming Home
I stared at the auxiliary screen. The marker continued to blink. On and off. On and off.
What are you?
A very solid entry. 5 stars.
January 13, 2026
Jack McDevitt has been one of my favorite SF authors for awhile now, ever since I read his "Ancient Shores." This one is the sixth in his "Alex Benedict" series, published in 2011. While I have read the first and second books in the series, I skipped ahead to this one, as I was able to pick up a copy of it when it was withdrawn from my local library and sold for a dollar. I certainly got my dollar's worth, as I like McDevitt's writing, characters, stories and the ideas he plays with.
The Alex Benedict books all seem to be mysteries. Alex is a dealer in antiquities and, in this case, he is asked to handle the auction of a missing physicist's artifacts. As Alex knows very well, the fact that Dr. Chris Robin vanished without a trace only adds to the value of the artifacts. However, Alex and his assistant, Chase Kolpath, get caught up in an investigation to uncover the truth of what happened to the missing scientist.
One problem I have with the story is that it's set thousands of years in the future--but it feels more like the 1950s than the far future. Humanity has spread out to other star systems, as there is a Faster than Light (FtL) drive. Contact has been made with at least one alien species--the Mutes. And society depends on AIs.
An interesting subplot involves the movement to have AIs accepted as sentient beings with civil rights. It seems that society as a whole only sees the AIs as machines, acting only according to their programming. As an animal lover, I wonder if animal rights have made any advancement! Anyway, I would think there would be more changes in society and in the technology than we are shown. But, then, from the viewpoint of a kid growing up in the 60s, the way the 21st Century has turned out looks like a major disappointment to me. Where are the jetpacks? Where are the bases on the Moon and Mars? And where are the robots to do all the housework?
My conclusion is that the story is a good mystery set in space and which kept me turning the pages to the end. I like hard science in my SF stories and there was definitely that, hard science which also wasn't too hard!
Will I read other books in this series? Most definitely.
The Alex Benedict books all seem to be mysteries. Alex is a dealer in antiquities and, in this case, he is asked to handle the auction of a missing physicist's artifacts. As Alex knows very well, the fact that Dr. Chris Robin vanished without a trace only adds to the value of the artifacts. However, Alex and his assistant, Chase Kolpath, get caught up in an investigation to uncover the truth of what happened to the missing scientist.
One problem I have with the story is that it's set thousands of years in the future--but it feels more like the 1950s than the far future. Humanity has spread out to other star systems, as there is a Faster than Light (FtL) drive. Contact has been made with at least one alien species--the Mutes. And society depends on AIs.
An interesting subplot involves the movement to have AIs accepted as sentient beings with civil rights. It seems that society as a whole only sees the AIs as machines, acting only according to their programming. As an animal lover, I wonder if animal rights have made any advancement! Anyway, I would think there would be more changes in society and in the technology than we are shown. But, then, from the viewpoint of a kid growing up in the 60s, the way the 21st Century has turned out looks like a major disappointment to me. Where are the jetpacks? Where are the bases on the Moon and Mars? And where are the robots to do all the housework?
My conclusion is that the story is a good mystery set in space and which kept me turning the pages to the end. I like hard science in my SF stories and there was definitely that, hard science which also wasn't too hard!
Will I read other books in this series? Most definitely.
May 1, 2019
Rereading via audio. This is the regular narrator but I have to admit that I preferred the different narrator from the last book.
Mostly am surprised at how Chase is written so that she seems as if she never went on an investigation/adventure with Alex. Annoying. However, still very enjoyable.
===========
I am reading this more out of a sense of duty and completion than of eager anticipation. That's surprising because I usually have no trouble jettisoning a series once it has become stale. I put it down to Will Duquette's comment that he liked this book so I'm willing to give it a chance.
I found the last couple of books in Jack McDevitt's mystery series to be rather formulaic although good enough for those who like Chase Kolpath and Alex Benedict. It is easy enough to read although perhaps it is my jaundiced eye which makes me think, "Really, Chase? Can't understand why you have to go spend time dilly dallying around that island? You're a slow learner then." And I am not sure why McDevitt only has them investigating the "vanished into thin air, never heard of again" mysteries. Surely there are other intriguing archaeological style mysteries that these two could pursue.
However, "much of a muchness" complaints aside, it is a somewhat interesting mystery and one that will be entertaining as far as I can tell with a fourth of it under my belt. Sometimes entertainment is all that is needed. We shall see.
UPDATE
I have to admit that I'm impressed by the Villanueva inhabitants, both for moving the plot in an unexpected direction and for engaging my attention. Imaginative and definitely different ...
2nd UPDATE
I have to admit that my friend Will's opinion is vindicated. I like this book much better than the last two. I am back in for the next book.
Mostly am surprised at how Chase is written so that she seems as if she never went on an investigation/adventure with Alex. Annoying. However, still very enjoyable.
===========
I am reading this more out of a sense of duty and completion than of eager anticipation. That's surprising because I usually have no trouble jettisoning a series once it has become stale. I put it down to Will Duquette's comment that he liked this book so I'm willing to give it a chance.
I found the last couple of books in Jack McDevitt's mystery series to be rather formulaic although good enough for those who like Chase Kolpath and Alex Benedict. It is easy enough to read although perhaps it is my jaundiced eye which makes me think, "Really, Chase? Can't understand why you have to go spend time dilly dallying around that island? You're a slow learner then." And I am not sure why McDevitt only has them investigating the "vanished into thin air, never heard of again" mysteries. Surely there are other intriguing archaeological style mysteries that these two could pursue.
However, "much of a muchness" complaints aside, it is a somewhat interesting mystery and one that will be entertaining as far as I can tell with a fourth of it under my belt. Sometimes entertainment is all that is needed. We shall see.
UPDATE
I have to admit that I'm impressed by the Villanueva inhabitants, both for moving the plot in an unexpected direction and for engaging my attention. Imaginative and definitely different ...
2nd UPDATE
I have to admit that my friend Will's opinion is vindicated. I like this book much better than the last two. I am back in for the next book.
November 16, 2011
The stakes have never been higher for Benedict Enterprises when Alex puts his reputation on the line in stubborn pursuit of the mysteries surrounding Chris Robin’s death.
Firebird the newest Alex Benedict novel by Jack McDevitt is a terrific read full of exciting scientific revelations, social intrigues, and fascinating looks into the past from the historical perspective of a man with a talent for finding valuable objects and dangerous answers. Antiquarian Alex Benedict and his assistant Chase Kolpath find themselves in the center of a scientific mystery that has put uncounted lives at risk over thousands of years, bringing them face-to-face with impossible relics from the past.
For diehard Alex Benedict fans, Firebird maintains the elements of suspense, intrigue, history, and exploration that are staples of the series. However, Firebird goes a step further, incorporating topical social and ethical issues that have been lingering on the edge of the previous novels without getting much attention–until now. While Alex may have opened a can of worms for himself in his attempt to raise interest in Robin’s possessions, he has also raised public awareness about the status of AIs in society as well as the mysterious interstellar ships that have been swept under the proverbial rug for centuries.
Given the intense personal and professional pressure they are under in Firebird, it’s not surprising that Alex and Chase find themselves in situations that reveal (at least to readers) how close these two have become over the years. This development creates potential for their relationship to deepen in the future. They are a natural fit in every sense of the word, and McDevitt deftly creates a subtle sense of expectation in Firebird that will leave readers waiting for Alex and Chase to discover what we already know–they are perfect for each other. The question is, will they ever get together? Whatever happens you can be sure that their relationship will be the spice on top of a superbly told story about a clever antiquarian and his savvy assistant.
With his fiction set thousands of years into the future, McDevitt makes future tech seem like everyday technology. Even better, he never stops the action to admire the fabulous ideas and plots that fill his novels. Firebird is full of intriguing plots about missing spaceships and abandoned planets that will keep readers turning the page to see what happens next. As a non-scientist reading Firebird, I found the physics well explained, leaving out all of the technical jargon and theories that would have bogged down the story in difficult to parse exposition. At no point will you find yourself wishing for more technical detail nor will you find yourself struggling to keep up with Alex and Chase as they sort through the clues and possibilities surrounding each new mystery. Instead, McDevitt keeps us focused on the characters through exciting new twists and turns that take us closer to understanding what Robin was up to and what really happened on the night he disappeared.
One of the most interesting developments in Firebird, if not in the entire series, is the idea that the AIs might be sentient lifeforms. Over the last few books, it has been increasingly apparent that AIs act, respond, and feel like living beings. However, the people living within McDevitt’s world have been unable to acknowledge AIs as a conscious and evolved species. People have become comfortably complacent in their beliefs that AIs are little more than interactive software/holographic programs created or deleted as the pleasure of their human owners. At least that’s the case until Alex and Chase uncover an ancient AI who makes people begin thinking differently about what really “lives” inside of their little black boxes.
Science fiction and mystery fans are sure to love Firebird. It’s not necessary to read the previous novels in the series before reading Firebird. However, I can guarantee you that once you finish Firebird, you will find yourself searching for the earlier books–all of which I highly recommend. McDevitt’s Firebird was a true pleasure to read, and I look forward to the next installment in the series. I just wish it weren’t a year away.
Firebird the newest Alex Benedict novel by Jack McDevitt is a terrific read full of exciting scientific revelations, social intrigues, and fascinating looks into the past from the historical perspective of a man with a talent for finding valuable objects and dangerous answers. Antiquarian Alex Benedict and his assistant Chase Kolpath find themselves in the center of a scientific mystery that has put uncounted lives at risk over thousands of years, bringing them face-to-face with impossible relics from the past.
For diehard Alex Benedict fans, Firebird maintains the elements of suspense, intrigue, history, and exploration that are staples of the series. However, Firebird goes a step further, incorporating topical social and ethical issues that have been lingering on the edge of the previous novels without getting much attention–until now. While Alex may have opened a can of worms for himself in his attempt to raise interest in Robin’s possessions, he has also raised public awareness about the status of AIs in society as well as the mysterious interstellar ships that have been swept under the proverbial rug for centuries.
Given the intense personal and professional pressure they are under in Firebird, it’s not surprising that Alex and Chase find themselves in situations that reveal (at least to readers) how close these two have become over the years. This development creates potential for their relationship to deepen in the future. They are a natural fit in every sense of the word, and McDevitt deftly creates a subtle sense of expectation in Firebird that will leave readers waiting for Alex and Chase to discover what we already know–they are perfect for each other. The question is, will they ever get together? Whatever happens you can be sure that their relationship will be the spice on top of a superbly told story about a clever antiquarian and his savvy assistant.
With his fiction set thousands of years into the future, McDevitt makes future tech seem like everyday technology. Even better, he never stops the action to admire the fabulous ideas and plots that fill his novels. Firebird is full of intriguing plots about missing spaceships and abandoned planets that will keep readers turning the page to see what happens next. As a non-scientist reading Firebird, I found the physics well explained, leaving out all of the technical jargon and theories that would have bogged down the story in difficult to parse exposition. At no point will you find yourself wishing for more technical detail nor will you find yourself struggling to keep up with Alex and Chase as they sort through the clues and possibilities surrounding each new mystery. Instead, McDevitt keeps us focused on the characters through exciting new twists and turns that take us closer to understanding what Robin was up to and what really happened on the night he disappeared.
One of the most interesting developments in Firebird, if not in the entire series, is the idea that the AIs might be sentient lifeforms. Over the last few books, it has been increasingly apparent that AIs act, respond, and feel like living beings. However, the people living within McDevitt’s world have been unable to acknowledge AIs as a conscious and evolved species. People have become comfortably complacent in their beliefs that AIs are little more than interactive software/holographic programs created or deleted as the pleasure of their human owners. At least that’s the case until Alex and Chase uncover an ancient AI who makes people begin thinking differently about what really “lives” inside of their little black boxes.
Science fiction and mystery fans are sure to love Firebird. It’s not necessary to read the previous novels in the series before reading Firebird. However, I can guarantee you that once you finish Firebird, you will find yourself searching for the earlier books–all of which I highly recommend. McDevitt’s Firebird was a true pleasure to read, and I look forward to the next installment in the series. I just wish it weren’t a year away.
December 4, 2011
This is the sixth Alex Benedict Novel. I’ve read them all so obviously I find them entertaining. This one is no exception. Chase Kolpath again plays Watson to Alex Benedict’s Holmes. He’s not a detective though. He’s an antiquities dealer. His critics have less kind descriptions for him. He actually seems to be is a seeker of facts with a distinct reluctance to leave unanswered questions. I like him.
When it comes to science fiction, I don’t think I’m hard to please. Present a hopeful and believable future world with likeable characters doing admirable things and chances are I’ll like the story. Unfortunately much of the recent trend, at least in traditionally published science fiction, has been to move to the dark side with apocalyptic tales often featuring vampires, zombies, demons, or angels. Such books seem to try to shock the reader with graphic accounts of violence or sex rather than entertain them or prompt them to think. Fortunately Jack McDevitt does not follow this trend. His stories are more reminiscent of the golden age of science fiction (e.g. Asimov, Clarke, and Heinlein).
I won’t try to summarize the plot in this short review, partly because other reviewers have already done so, and partly to avoid spoilers. I’ll just tell you what I especially liked and disliked about the story.
I tend to like works of speculative fiction that explore “big” issues. This book does. The most obvious are: What is sentience? Can artificial intelligences be sentient? Do they have rights? Or to put it in more mystical religious terms, can machines have souls?
I like the characters. They are presented in such a way that they have a “real” feel to them with both strengths and shortcomings. A case in point is the central character. Alex’s critics often accuse him of being a profiteering grave robber and it is not an entirely inaccurate description. But he is also a man of high intelligence and integrity. When he feels something is right, he puts his effort, his money and his reputation on the line to support it.
I also like speculative fiction that steps back and looks at mankind from a “big picture” perspective. You get that with these books. The setting is about 9,000 years in our future and we see that humanity is exploring the galaxy and is thriving. Many of the things we find so meaningful or important today such as nations, politicians, wars, and fashions simply don’t matter anymore. Many have been totally forgotten. From this broad perspective, we can see that these are footnotes to human history, not the drivers of it.
I also like the positive image of mankind in general that it presents. There is one scene in which an AI points out humanity’s flaws, its penchant toward intolerance and violence. Chase silently acknowledges these facts but reminds us that, despite these things, humanity has progressed both technologically and culturally. In another scene when resources are needed to mount a risky rescue mission, Chase has little trouble finding volunteers willing to spend their time and even risk their lives to accomplish it. (Sorry for the lack of details but I want to avoid spoilers.)
So what didn’t I like? Not much really but there is one thing that seems anomalous about the setting. The human culture 9,000 years in the future almost feels old fashioned. There have been obvious technological advances. There are starships capable of superluminal flight. People have much longer life spans. But there is also a mildly sexist attitude exhibited in some of the character interactions. There are also things that are very much like television shows and celebrities that are more reminiscent of the 1950’s than even the social media and on demand content available today. The religious institutions of today are also shown to survive with seemingly little change. One would think that the distant future would be a little more different given how much such things have changed in the previous 9,000 years.
That’s pretty much it. I enjoyed the book. It kept me reading until very late at night. I recommend it with the qualification that you read the other five first.
When it comes to science fiction, I don’t think I’m hard to please. Present a hopeful and believable future world with likeable characters doing admirable things and chances are I’ll like the story. Unfortunately much of the recent trend, at least in traditionally published science fiction, has been to move to the dark side with apocalyptic tales often featuring vampires, zombies, demons, or angels. Such books seem to try to shock the reader with graphic accounts of violence or sex rather than entertain them or prompt them to think. Fortunately Jack McDevitt does not follow this trend. His stories are more reminiscent of the golden age of science fiction (e.g. Asimov, Clarke, and Heinlein).
I won’t try to summarize the plot in this short review, partly because other reviewers have already done so, and partly to avoid spoilers. I’ll just tell you what I especially liked and disliked about the story.
I tend to like works of speculative fiction that explore “big” issues. This book does. The most obvious are: What is sentience? Can artificial intelligences be sentient? Do they have rights? Or to put it in more mystical religious terms, can machines have souls?
I like the characters. They are presented in such a way that they have a “real” feel to them with both strengths and shortcomings. A case in point is the central character. Alex’s critics often accuse him of being a profiteering grave robber and it is not an entirely inaccurate description. But he is also a man of high intelligence and integrity. When he feels something is right, he puts his effort, his money and his reputation on the line to support it.
I also like speculative fiction that steps back and looks at mankind from a “big picture” perspective. You get that with these books. The setting is about 9,000 years in our future and we see that humanity is exploring the galaxy and is thriving. Many of the things we find so meaningful or important today such as nations, politicians, wars, and fashions simply don’t matter anymore. Many have been totally forgotten. From this broad perspective, we can see that these are footnotes to human history, not the drivers of it.
I also like the positive image of mankind in general that it presents. There is one scene in which an AI points out humanity’s flaws, its penchant toward intolerance and violence. Chase silently acknowledges these facts but reminds us that, despite these things, humanity has progressed both technologically and culturally. In another scene when resources are needed to mount a risky rescue mission, Chase has little trouble finding volunteers willing to spend their time and even risk their lives to accomplish it. (Sorry for the lack of details but I want to avoid spoilers.)
So what didn’t I like? Not much really but there is one thing that seems anomalous about the setting. The human culture 9,000 years in the future almost feels old fashioned. There have been obvious technological advances. There are starships capable of superluminal flight. People have much longer life spans. But there is also a mildly sexist attitude exhibited in some of the character interactions. There are also things that are very much like television shows and celebrities that are more reminiscent of the 1950’s than even the social media and on demand content available today. The religious institutions of today are also shown to survive with seemingly little change. One would think that the distant future would be a little more different given how much such things have changed in the previous 9,000 years.
That’s pretty much it. I enjoyed the book. It kept me reading until very late at night. I recommend it with the qualification that you read the other five first.
July 21, 2012
McDevitt writes in a monotone, with too many short sentences and an uninspired vocabulary. So, no big numbers of stars from me, despite the fact that this novel has lots of theoretical physics, a really interesting plot about disappearing starships, and an equally-interesting subplot (briefly masquerading as the main plot) about artificial intelligences.
I'm also not sure how to take a setting that's literally thousands of years in the future but in which so little appears to have changed. Even sexism is alive and well, though subtly. Although, come to think of it, maybe it's just that I've gotten used to the cyberpunk and singularity-focused SF that's been more the thing, both of which posit major changes in how humans and technology interrelate. I guess McDevitt didn't want to hop onto that bandwagon, but usually it's space opera that takes that tack, and this is definitely not space opera.
Anyway, I think I've read a previous novel about Alex Benedict and Chase Kolpath, dealers in historical artifacts and investigators of anything related to same. And had a similar reaction to it: probably worth reading, but only just manages to hold my interest.
I'm also not sure how to take a setting that's literally thousands of years in the future but in which so little appears to have changed. Even sexism is alive and well, though subtly. Although, come to think of it, maybe it's just that I've gotten used to the cyberpunk and singularity-focused SF that's been more the thing, both of which posit major changes in how humans and technology interrelate. I guess McDevitt didn't want to hop onto that bandwagon, but usually it's space opera that takes that tack, and this is definitely not space opera.
Anyway, I think I've read a previous novel about Alex Benedict and Chase Kolpath, dealers in historical artifacts and investigators of anything related to same. And had a similar reaction to it: probably worth reading, but only just manages to hold my interest.
December 22, 2024
Another voyage into the unknown for Alex and Chase. This one was less formulaic than the two or three before: we learn a bit more about their world and through Chase's eyes live another adventure that probably sets up a family reunion for Alex in the next book. Well, that is what I expect from the title, Coming Home. Good series, we'll see if I go all the way to the end after this next book, the 7th.
March 28, 2012
As I have alluded to in past McDevitt book reviews, many of the Chase Kolpath/Alex Benedict series novels are starting to be "much of a muchness", ergo, they are all comprised of elements that have worked for McDevitt before. As a writer, McDevitt is unabashedly not shy about reusing things that worked pretty well the first time. As a reader, I have said that this doesn't matter to me much, a day with the worst McDevitt novel is better than a day without any McDevitt novels. FIREBIRD is far from his worst book-- in fact, it is a stunning return to form for the series, which had reverted to the same plot device of: 1) visitor shows up with a mysterious artifact and story. 2) Something doesn't seem right, investigation is done 3) this requires visiting a lot of places, and interviewing a lot of old people. Chase muses on her life and many ex-boyfriends 4) breakthrough 5) denouement, where somebody's life is briefly in danger, and 6) everything is happily resolved, Alex is a hero, Chase is a wiser and richer woman, and haven't we all learned a little something about ourselves?
What makes FIREBIRD so interesting is that the standard payoff isn't present. The plot meanders around, dodges down an interesting blind alley having to do with a deadly planet with sentinent computers running the place, and the conclusion is somewhat anti-climactic. The central mystery, about the disappearance of an enigmatic Physics Professor doing some really interesting work with research, is not conclusively resolved. I mean, we get an IDEA of what transpires but we'll never really know. And the payoff that does occur is not the standard denouement where Alex is lauded after arriving home and then pilloried for being a Tomb raider. If it were another author, I would have been a little annoyed, having him create a buildup for very little like that. But with McDevitt, a little goes a long way, and I found myself enjoying FIREBIRD better than the last two Alex Benedict books.
Well done, Mr. McDevitt, and I appreciate you injecting new life into your star characters.
What makes FIREBIRD so interesting is that the standard payoff isn't present. The plot meanders around, dodges down an interesting blind alley having to do with a deadly planet with sentinent computers running the place, and the conclusion is somewhat anti-climactic. The central mystery, about the disappearance of an enigmatic Physics Professor doing some really interesting work with research, is not conclusively resolved. I mean, we get an IDEA of what transpires but we'll never really know. And the payoff that does occur is not the standard denouement where Alex is lauded after arriving home and then pilloried for being a Tomb raider. If it were another author, I would have been a little annoyed, having him create a buildup for very little like that. But with McDevitt, a little goes a long way, and I found myself enjoying FIREBIRD better than the last two Alex Benedict books.
Well done, Mr. McDevitt, and I appreciate you injecting new life into your star characters.
May 28, 2019
A well-done science fiction/mystery tale that includes many of the standard aspects of modern SF: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Faster Than Light (FTL) starships, black holes, time travel (maybe), and some barely-mentioned aliens.
It's mostly a slow to moderately paced ride. The mystery itself -- a famous scientist who vanished decades ago -- becomes even stranger as the two protagonists investigate the past. There is a tense scene on a deserted (haunted?) planet, and reported sightings of mystery starships. The story wraps up pretty well, without any cliffhangers or huge questions left unanswered.
Along the way we get a subplot involving AIs; it was pretty good, but seemed a mite convenient. Also, the AIs seemed very human (which was surely the point), but I find it more fascinating when AIs are portrayed as something human-like (sentience-wise), yet decidedly different/unique.
This would seem to be a 5-star SF ride, but there was something nebulous missing here. Perhaps it's the fact that in this far future, humans and humanity seem little changed; they go on talk shows, they take stupid risks, they find their politicians all but useless. Perhaps that is the point (the more things change, the more they stay the same?), but a future with more "wow" would have impressed more. Still, there is plenty of tech to enjoy, and McDevitt keeps it more soft than hard/technical.
VERDICT: 4 suns. An intriguiging SF/mystery mashup with plenty to satisfy the average SF reader. Nothing brain-melting here, but the mystery is a unsual (and a bit creepy), and the AI subplot is adequate. This isn't a strangely unrecognizable future, but I think you'll like watching the protagonists attempt to uncover the slippery -- and sometimes dangerous -- truths of the past.
RECOMMENDED, unless you only like your SF with constant explosions, bug-eyed aliens, and lots of technical jargon.
It's mostly a slow to moderately paced ride. The mystery itself -- a famous scientist who vanished decades ago -- becomes even stranger as the two protagonists investigate the past. There is a tense scene on a deserted (haunted?) planet, and reported sightings of mystery starships. The story wraps up pretty well, without any cliffhangers or huge questions left unanswered.
Along the way we get a subplot involving AIs; it was pretty good, but seemed a mite convenient. Also, the AIs seemed very human (which was surely the point), but I find it more fascinating when AIs are portrayed as something human-like (sentience-wise), yet decidedly different/unique.
This would seem to be a 5-star SF ride, but there was something nebulous missing here. Perhaps it's the fact that in this far future, humans and humanity seem little changed; they go on talk shows, they take stupid risks, they find their politicians all but useless. Perhaps that is the point (the more things change, the more they stay the same?), but a future with more "wow" would have impressed more. Still, there is plenty of tech to enjoy, and McDevitt keeps it more soft than hard/technical.
VERDICT: 4 suns. An intriguiging SF/mystery mashup with plenty to satisfy the average SF reader. Nothing brain-melting here, but the mystery is a unsual (and a bit creepy), and the AI subplot is adequate. This isn't a strangely unrecognizable future, but I think you'll like watching the protagonists attempt to uncover the slippery -- and sometimes dangerous -- truths of the past.
RECOMMENDED, unless you only like your SF with constant explosions, bug-eyed aliens, and lots of technical jargon.
April 5, 2021
It's been a while since I have read any of the Alex Benedict and Chase Kolpath novels and it was fun coming home to one (I read the one before this, book 5 in the series, _Echo_, it seems in August 2012 but alone among the series for whatever reason never wrote a review). I have always enjoyed their mixture of what starts out almost as a cozy mystery and then becomes one filled with action and galaxy-changing discoveries. A setting that seems comfortable, again, cozy, with people going to plays or drinking coffee or watching talk shows or going to the beach, in a temperate climate world, not some sort of strange dystopian high-tech far far future setting where everyone communicates by some sort of Matrix-like mental internet or cities are filled with clearly alien aliens – relatable, a life except for flying cars and a house A.I. to help out, feels a lot like today – and then over time realize that its relatable trappings aside, the setting really is science fiction. A setting where interstellar, faster than light travel is not only a reality but has been a reality for thousands and thousands of years (Earth is in this novel in the year 11,321 C.E. and there are extrasolar colony worlds over 7,000, even 9,000 years old, I believe space stations over 3,000 years old), that there is a sentient, space-faring alien species, the Mutes or Ashiyyureans, that are quite well known, that A.I. are pretty much indistinguishable from talking to a human being and are commonplace, and that the setting, no matter how Earth-like it feels, is in fact a distant planet, Rimway, far, far from Earth (at least that is where I think all of the books begin).
Also as in previous installments of the series, the author is quite skilled at taking some made up, fictional, far future mystery, one that likely never existed in any format except in some notes before this book was written, and layer in more and more details, building up anticipation in the reader’s mind, of making some historical mystery, vanished celebratory, what have you from “what is that?” to “oh my gosh I hope they find it!” that as Chase and Alex dig out more and more details on the mystery – a lost colony, a missing spaceship, a war hero or scientist that went missing, some famous artwork – the anticipation for solving the mystery and a sense of the importance of it builds as well. It really is some skillful writing, all without info dumps. Nicely done in this book as it has been done in previous installments.
In this particular book the mystery begins when someone brings in artifacts relating to a famed physicist, Dr. Christopher Robin, for Alex to sell in his capacity as an antiques dealer. Robin was famous on talk shows and in the public eye, with a great stage presence and famous for his discussing some of the more blue sky areas of physics research, black holes and parallel universes, two topics still even in this far distant future are poorly understood and both passions of Robin in his research. Add to that the man disappeared without a trace forty-one years ago, his death tangentially connected to the Great Kolandra Earthquake (but as far as anyone can tell not caused by it), a disappearance that was never solved, and well, Alex and Chase are on the case.
At first a combination of mild curiosity on the part of Alex and Chase and wanting also to get the best price for their client (by putting Christopher Robin back in the public eye), soon the two protagonists fall down a rabbit hole investigating the earthquake, the pilot who had flown Robin home the night he vanished (Eliot Cermak, who died in the earthquake rescuing people), Robin’s deceased wife, Elizabeth (who died years after Robin’s disappearance), things Robin was researching, a death of a colleague in an off world research project on a trip Robin was on…it is a deep and intriguing rabbit hole that I loved falling down, one that involves all sort of amazing science fiction elements.
I liked how in this story that though there were some distinctly human elements to the mystery involving schemes and intrigue, there was also distinctly science fiction elements involving black holes and parallel universes. I also like that there was a side plot of sorts, that though it definitely connected to the main plot again and again it was its own story, one involving A.I.
Just nicely done all around. If you like the series I think you will like this book. So far _The Devi’s Eye_ is still my favorite but there are no bad entries in this series. Though there is the occasional mention of the events of previous novels in the series, one does not really have to read any of the previous installments to jump into any Alex Benedict and Chase Kolpath novel.
Also as in previous installments of the series, the author is quite skilled at taking some made up, fictional, far future mystery, one that likely never existed in any format except in some notes before this book was written, and layer in more and more details, building up anticipation in the reader’s mind, of making some historical mystery, vanished celebratory, what have you from “what is that?” to “oh my gosh I hope they find it!” that as Chase and Alex dig out more and more details on the mystery – a lost colony, a missing spaceship, a war hero or scientist that went missing, some famous artwork – the anticipation for solving the mystery and a sense of the importance of it builds as well. It really is some skillful writing, all without info dumps. Nicely done in this book as it has been done in previous installments.
In this particular book the mystery begins when someone brings in artifacts relating to a famed physicist, Dr. Christopher Robin, for Alex to sell in his capacity as an antiques dealer. Robin was famous on talk shows and in the public eye, with a great stage presence and famous for his discussing some of the more blue sky areas of physics research, black holes and parallel universes, two topics still even in this far distant future are poorly understood and both passions of Robin in his research. Add to that the man disappeared without a trace forty-one years ago, his death tangentially connected to the Great Kolandra Earthquake (but as far as anyone can tell not caused by it), a disappearance that was never solved, and well, Alex and Chase are on the case.
At first a combination of mild curiosity on the part of Alex and Chase and wanting also to get the best price for their client (by putting Christopher Robin back in the public eye), soon the two protagonists fall down a rabbit hole investigating the earthquake, the pilot who had flown Robin home the night he vanished (Eliot Cermak, who died in the earthquake rescuing people), Robin’s deceased wife, Elizabeth (who died years after Robin’s disappearance), things Robin was researching, a death of a colleague in an off world research project on a trip Robin was on…it is a deep and intriguing rabbit hole that I loved falling down, one that involves all sort of amazing science fiction elements.
I liked how in this story that though there were some distinctly human elements to the mystery involving schemes and intrigue, there was also distinctly science fiction elements involving black holes and parallel universes. I also like that there was a side plot of sorts, that though it definitely connected to the main plot again and again it was its own story, one involving A.I.
Just nicely done all around. If you like the series I think you will like this book. So far _The Devi’s Eye_ is still my favorite but there are no bad entries in this series. Though there is the occasional mention of the events of previous novels in the series, one does not really have to read any of the previous installments to jump into any Alex Benedict and Chase Kolpath novel.
October 25, 2021
Notes:
Love the concepts, but wish the core ideas are explored more than they were within the book. This is more like two different stories pinned together. Looking forward to the next book.
Love the concepts, but wish the core ideas are explored more than they were within the book. This is more like two different stories pinned together. Looking forward to the next book.
July 27, 2013
Firebird is the sixth novel in what is called "The Alex Benedict Series" by Jack McDevitt. This isn't strictly speaking a series as the story doesn't really move forward from one novel to another. However, they are sequential and therefore it is best to read them in order. Each book is a mystery and can be read independently if the reader prefers, but there are references in each book to previous novels and Alex's celebrity increases as his career advances.
Alex Benedict is an antiquities dealer 9,000 years in the future. He lives on the planet of Rimway, outside the capital city of Andiquar, which is also the capital of political world of humanity at this time, the Confederacy. His Girl Friday is Chase Kolpath, a deep space pilot, secretary, office manager, public relations, and just about everything else that Alex needs. He is handsome and debonair and she is beautiful and empathetic.
While most of the novels involve Alex solving some mystery that is usually centered around the recovery of some artifact (and consequently, evading attempts on their lives), Firebird deals with the mystery of a man who has disappeared 40 years earlier, a physicist who believed that multiple universes not only exist, but overlap. This novel benefits greatly from the absence of a villain. In most of the other novels in the series, it seemed like McDevitt almost had to insert a bad guy to create a foil for Alex's efforts to solve the mystery, but at times, it really felt forced, as if it didn't belong, and that made the novel more difficult to read. In Firebird, the mystery itself functions as the antagonist and it really adds to the drama. The book builds steadily to a really tense ending that leaves one wishing for more. Fortunately, McDevitt gives us a very moving Afterward that ends the book as it should.
This is quite a beautiful science fiction book, complex, layered, asking some deep questions about life and time. Extremely well written. I highly recommend this novel and give it four stars.
Alex Benedict is an antiquities dealer 9,000 years in the future. He lives on the planet of Rimway, outside the capital city of Andiquar, which is also the capital of political world of humanity at this time, the Confederacy. His Girl Friday is Chase Kolpath, a deep space pilot, secretary, office manager, public relations, and just about everything else that Alex needs. He is handsome and debonair and she is beautiful and empathetic.
While most of the novels involve Alex solving some mystery that is usually centered around the recovery of some artifact (and consequently, evading attempts on their lives), Firebird deals with the mystery of a man who has disappeared 40 years earlier, a physicist who believed that multiple universes not only exist, but overlap. This novel benefits greatly from the absence of a villain. In most of the other novels in the series, it seemed like McDevitt almost had to insert a bad guy to create a foil for Alex's efforts to solve the mystery, but at times, it really felt forced, as if it didn't belong, and that made the novel more difficult to read. In Firebird, the mystery itself functions as the antagonist and it really adds to the drama. The book builds steadily to a really tense ending that leaves one wishing for more. Fortunately, McDevitt gives us a very moving Afterward that ends the book as it should.
This is quite a beautiful science fiction book, complex, layered, asking some deep questions about life and time. Extremely well written. I highly recommend this novel and give it four stars.
August 13, 2012
At the beginning of this novel, a client offers Alex Benedict a number of items that once belonged to a physicist named Christopher Robin. Robin worked on the fringes of science, concerned particularly with the existence of alternate realities, and the possibility of travel between them. But he's almost more famous for having vanished without trace on the night before a disastrous earthquake. Alex, of course, cannot resist a mystery, and newly generated public interest is likely to raise the value of the items. Not really expecting to find anything, he nonetheless embarks on his own investigation.
All the books in this series are great reads individually, but after reading the fifth one I did start to think they were feeling a bit samey, formulaic. For instance, you knew that at some point there was going to be at least one attempt on Alex's (and/or his assistant's) life when they started to find out too much. In this story, no one is hiding anything, so nobody tries to kill them. No one human, at least. Just eliminating that one plot element really makes a big difference. The series feels fresh again.
As always, I enjoy the real (or at least real-theoretical, in this case) science on which McDevitt bases his stories. While these are essentially mystery novels, and somewhat lighter than his Academy series (for me they qualify as comfort reads), there is plenty of thought-provoking substance in them.
(Oh, and the author also seems to obliquely address a criticism I've seen in some reviews: that people 9000 years from now speak the way we do. They don't, of course, but in deference to the reader's sanity, it is "translated" for us.)
If you thought you were getting tired of this series, I'd recommend giving this installment a try. It's a step up...and forward.
All the books in this series are great reads individually, but after reading the fifth one I did start to think they were feeling a bit samey, formulaic. For instance, you knew that at some point there was going to be at least one attempt on Alex's (and/or his assistant's) life when they started to find out too much. In this story, no one is hiding anything, so nobody tries to kill them. No one human, at least. Just eliminating that one plot element really makes a big difference. The series feels fresh again.
As always, I enjoy the real (or at least real-theoretical, in this case) science on which McDevitt bases his stories. While these are essentially mystery novels, and somewhat lighter than his Academy series (for me they qualify as comfort reads), there is plenty of thought-provoking substance in them.
(Oh, and the author also seems to obliquely address a criticism I've seen in some reviews: that people 9000 years from now speak the way we do. They don't, of course, but in deference to the reader's sanity, it is "translated" for us.)
If you thought you were getting tired of this series, I'd recommend giving this installment a try. It's a step up...and forward.
December 4, 2013
I never thought I'd rate a book by Jack McDevitt this low. (Okay. Time Travelers Never Die was a real dog.) I don't like the Alex Benedict books nearly as much as the Priscilla Hutchins series, but that aside, Firebird was still kind of a mess. There are two stories in this plot: one is the mystery of space ships appearing and then disappearing without warning; the other deals with the question of whether AIs are sentient. The two are barely related to one another--the AI thing arises as Benedict and Chase Kolpath are investigating the mystery ships and plays out as a separate storyline McDevitt occasionally comes back to. Since neither story is sufficient to support an entire novel, the book comes across as limp, especially since it takes over one hundred pages for anything to start happening. Dull, uninspired, and if you really want a good example of why Jack McDevitt is worth reading, pick up Seeker or Chindi instead.
July 27, 2018
Firebird is one of those novels by Jack McDevitt that require serious masochistic inclinations to be appreciated.
This book lacks nerve, suspense, rhythm, in short everything that makes a book enjoyable to read. This is probably one of McDevitt's most annoying stories. Not because it is not interesting (it is, and not only a little!) but because its treatment is so slow and soporific.
Fortunately, the end of the novel offers some nice rewards to the reader exhausted by the philosophical discussions, talk show descriptions, Rimway's socialities, appointments unrelated to the investigation ...
As is often the case with this series, the book is only interesting once Chase and Alex leave Rimway aboard their ship. (Which only happens once every 100 pages ...)
As is often the case with McDevitt, the prologue and the epilogue are wonderful.
As always there are one or two great ideas that justify reading the book to the end.
For McDevitt fans or atypical SciFi fans who are not afraid of slow books.
This book lacks nerve, suspense, rhythm, in short everything that makes a book enjoyable to read. This is probably one of McDevitt's most annoying stories. Not because it is not interesting (it is, and not only a little!) but because its treatment is so slow and soporific.
Fortunately, the end of the novel offers some nice rewards to the reader exhausted by the philosophical discussions, talk show descriptions, Rimway's socialities, appointments unrelated to the investigation ...
As is often the case with this series, the book is only interesting once Chase and Alex leave Rimway aboard their ship. (Which only happens once every 100 pages ...)
As is often the case with McDevitt, the prologue and the epilogue are wonderful.
As always there are one or two great ideas that justify reading the book to the end.
For McDevitt fans or atypical SciFi fans who are not afraid of slow books.
November 7, 2018
About midway through this book, I started thinking that McDevitt had maybe squeezed a fast book out to fulfill a contract. It just didn't seem up to his usual standard. However, the book really took an upturn about 3/4 of the way through and finished strongly. I've always said his novels were really "who dunnits" just set in the future and among the stars, so they're classified as sci-fi. This book was a little less oriented that way, and more in line with the typical sci-fi books. I gave it 4 stars because of the strong finish, but probably closer to a 3 1/2.
December 3, 2011
FBC Mini Review:
Since I have read A Talent for War in the early 90's I have been a big Jack McDevitt fan and his subsequent novels mostly worked out very well for me with the Academy series being a huge highlight opened by the superb The Engines of God which alongside A Talent for War still ranks in my highly recommended list of A++ sf novels.
Here are the opening lines of A Talent for War that made my list of memorable first lines and note the mystery and sense of history they exude:
THE AIR WAS heavy with incense and the sweet odor of hot wax.
Cam Chulohn loved the plain stone chapel. He knelt on the hard bench and watched the crystal water dribble across Father Curry's fingers into the silver bowl held by the postulant. The timeless symbol of man's effort to evade responsibility, it had always seemed to Chulohn the most significant of all the ancient rituals. There, he thought, is the essence of our nature, displayed endlessly throughout the ages for all who can see.
His gaze lingered in turn on the Virgin's Alcove (illuminated by a few flickering candles) and the Stations of the Cross, on the simple altar, on the hewn pulpit with its ponderous Bible. It was modest by the opulent standards of Rimway and Rigel III and Taramingo. But somehow the magnificence of the architecture in those sprawling cathedrals, the exquisite quality of the stained glass windows, the satisfying bulk of marble columns, the sheer angelic power of the big organs, the sweeping choir lofts: it all got in the way. Here, halfway up a mountainside, he could look out over the river valley that the early fathers, in a burst of enthusiasm, had dedicated to St. Anthony of Toxicon. There was only the river, and the ridges, and the Creator.
So when Mr. McDevitt returned to the world of Alex Benedict and Chase Kolpath in Polaris, I was quite apprehensive as the mysterious far future of A Talent for War did not quite seem suitable for too much exploration. Still in Polaris, Seeker and The Devil's Eye (FBC Rv) the superb storytelling skills of the author managed to suspend my disbelief in an universe that while set some 10 thousand years in the future, looked not unlike the homogenous middle class US of the 50's with a few - but not that many either - new gadgets around. A sort of retro future sf which I heartily dislike in general as I think it has had its expiration date a long time ago.
When the author turned his hand to a light but ultra-fun time travel story in Time Travelers Never Die (FBC Rv), I hoped that Alex and Chase have been retired at the top, but it was not to be and last year's Echo just brought my suspension of disbelief to a crash in a novel that while readable - again as a testimony to how mesmerizing the author can be - was utterly laughable in world building from beginning to almost the end.
So this year's Firebird has been a very low expectation novel for me but I opened it and this time the story took over from maybe page 50 on and I turned the pages and enjoyed it till the end.
There are the usual McDevitt touches - Alex and Chase investigating, the blind alleys, the mysterious enemies, the stunning discovery - but this time the big picture of the universe is involved and it works much better than in Echo; the ending made me hope that Firebird is the last novel in this series since the author is way too good a storyteller not to have a better and more up-to-date tale to regale us with.
Since I have read A Talent for War in the early 90's I have been a big Jack McDevitt fan and his subsequent novels mostly worked out very well for me with the Academy series being a huge highlight opened by the superb The Engines of God which alongside A Talent for War still ranks in my highly recommended list of A++ sf novels.
Here are the opening lines of A Talent for War that made my list of memorable first lines and note the mystery and sense of history they exude:
THE AIR WAS heavy with incense and the sweet odor of hot wax.
Cam Chulohn loved the plain stone chapel. He knelt on the hard bench and watched the crystal water dribble across Father Curry's fingers into the silver bowl held by the postulant. The timeless symbol of man's effort to evade responsibility, it had always seemed to Chulohn the most significant of all the ancient rituals. There, he thought, is the essence of our nature, displayed endlessly throughout the ages for all who can see.
His gaze lingered in turn on the Virgin's Alcove (illuminated by a few flickering candles) and the Stations of the Cross, on the simple altar, on the hewn pulpit with its ponderous Bible. It was modest by the opulent standards of Rimway and Rigel III and Taramingo. But somehow the magnificence of the architecture in those sprawling cathedrals, the exquisite quality of the stained glass windows, the satisfying bulk of marble columns, the sheer angelic power of the big organs, the sweeping choir lofts: it all got in the way. Here, halfway up a mountainside, he could look out over the river valley that the early fathers, in a burst of enthusiasm, had dedicated to St. Anthony of Toxicon. There was only the river, and the ridges, and the Creator.
So when Mr. McDevitt returned to the world of Alex Benedict and Chase Kolpath in Polaris, I was quite apprehensive as the mysterious far future of A Talent for War did not quite seem suitable for too much exploration. Still in Polaris, Seeker and The Devil's Eye (FBC Rv) the superb storytelling skills of the author managed to suspend my disbelief in an universe that while set some 10 thousand years in the future, looked not unlike the homogenous middle class US of the 50's with a few - but not that many either - new gadgets around. A sort of retro future sf which I heartily dislike in general as I think it has had its expiration date a long time ago.
When the author turned his hand to a light but ultra-fun time travel story in Time Travelers Never Die (FBC Rv), I hoped that Alex and Chase have been retired at the top, but it was not to be and last year's Echo just brought my suspension of disbelief to a crash in a novel that while readable - again as a testimony to how mesmerizing the author can be - was utterly laughable in world building from beginning to almost the end.
So this year's Firebird has been a very low expectation novel for me but I opened it and this time the story took over from maybe page 50 on and I turned the pages and enjoyed it till the end.
There are the usual McDevitt touches - Alex and Chase investigating, the blind alleys, the mysterious enemies, the stunning discovery - but this time the big picture of the universe is involved and it works much better than in Echo; the ending made me hope that Firebird is the last novel in this series since the author is way too good a storyteller not to have a better and more up-to-date tale to regale us with.
April 1, 2012
‘Firebird’ by Jack McDevitt starts in much the same way most ‘Alex Benedict’ novels do. Alex and his assistant, Chase Kolpath, come into possession of some artefacts and prepare to sell them. Alex Benedict is no ordinary antiquities dealer, however. He has an insatiable curiosity and he’s a salesman. While investigating the estate of the renowned physicist Chris Robin, Alex stirs up the mystery surrounding the man’s disappearance. This has two predictable effects. One, the price of the modest collection of books and artefacts climbs, which is good for business. Two, Alex gets involved, which is not so good for business. Without Alex Benedict’s propensity for getting involved, however, we’d have nothing to read.
Accompanied by Chase, who again issues warnings regarding his involvement and the danger to himself and his reputation, Alex chases clues in an attempt to unravel the mystery for himself. He and Chase visit Villanueva, a planet occupied only by abandoned and arguably sentient AIs, and rescue one. This act kicks off a chain of events that both demonise and humanise Alex Benedict in the eyes of the public and perhaps the reader. The true sentience of AIs is brought into question and explored from many angles, from cult-like groups bent on proving machine intelligences are real beings and should have all the rights and privileges of humans to the other end of the spectrum, the non-believers. In the midst of this, treasure hunters flock to Villanueva to attempt their own rescues and many of them die at the hands of psychotic AIs.
Separately, the mystery of Chris Robin’s disappearance deepens. The notoriety gained by previous events hinders Alex’s effectiveness, however. Basically, many who previously respected Alex now blame him for the deaths of idiots. They refuse to help him when help is needed and an important mission all but fails. A humanist to the core, Alex is deeply affected by all of this. But he perseveres, because finding Chris Robin might help him find Gabe, his long lost uncle.
Either plot could have carried the book, yet they work better together. Jack McDevitt made each relevant to the other as different aspects of the same mystery. Also, the matter of the AIs affected Alex in a way we’ve not seen before. We see a more driven and emotional Alex Benedict in this novel.
As always, I enjoyed the interplay between Alex and his assistant, Chase. If you’ve never read an ‘Alex Benedict’ novel, the majority of them are written from Chase’s point of view. She’s the perfect foil for Alex and is usually the one to add emotion and drama to a story. It was nice to see more of that from Alex, himself, in ‘Firebird’.
While the plot of ‘Firebird’ is wrapped up neatly, there is a mystery left unsolved at the end which guarantees I will be buying the next book. I would have bought it anyway, I’m a devoted fan. But, I don’t think I’ll be alone in hoping the next entry in the ‘Alex Benedict’ series re-visits the events of the first. I really enjoy his world, characters and his ability to write far-future Science Fiction with awesome scientific concepts in a manner in I can grasp.
Written for and originally published by SFCrowsnest.com
Accompanied by Chase, who again issues warnings regarding his involvement and the danger to himself and his reputation, Alex chases clues in an attempt to unravel the mystery for himself. He and Chase visit Villanueva, a planet occupied only by abandoned and arguably sentient AIs, and rescue one. This act kicks off a chain of events that both demonise and humanise Alex Benedict in the eyes of the public and perhaps the reader. The true sentience of AIs is brought into question and explored from many angles, from cult-like groups bent on proving machine intelligences are real beings and should have all the rights and privileges of humans to the other end of the spectrum, the non-believers. In the midst of this, treasure hunters flock to Villanueva to attempt their own rescues and many of them die at the hands of psychotic AIs.
Separately, the mystery of Chris Robin’s disappearance deepens. The notoriety gained by previous events hinders Alex’s effectiveness, however. Basically, many who previously respected Alex now blame him for the deaths of idiots. They refuse to help him when help is needed and an important mission all but fails. A humanist to the core, Alex is deeply affected by all of this. But he perseveres, because finding Chris Robin might help him find Gabe, his long lost uncle.
Either plot could have carried the book, yet they work better together. Jack McDevitt made each relevant to the other as different aspects of the same mystery. Also, the matter of the AIs affected Alex in a way we’ve not seen before. We see a more driven and emotional Alex Benedict in this novel.
As always, I enjoyed the interplay between Alex and his assistant, Chase. If you’ve never read an ‘Alex Benedict’ novel, the majority of them are written from Chase’s point of view. She’s the perfect foil for Alex and is usually the one to add emotion and drama to a story. It was nice to see more of that from Alex, himself, in ‘Firebird’.
While the plot of ‘Firebird’ is wrapped up neatly, there is a mystery left unsolved at the end which guarantees I will be buying the next book. I would have bought it anyway, I’m a devoted fan. But, I don’t think I’ll be alone in hoping the next entry in the ‘Alex Benedict’ series re-visits the events of the first. I really enjoy his world, characters and his ability to write far-future Science Fiction with awesome scientific concepts in a manner in I can grasp.
Written for and originally published by SFCrowsnest.com
February 26, 2012
I've been looking at other Goodreads user reviews, and I'm afraid I have to cast a dissenting vote on Jack McDevitt's Firebird. I thought, based on the jacket blurb, this novel would deliver some hard science fiction, but the science wasn't there and the fiction was below average.
Firebird opens with an interstellar ship inexplicably failing to arrive at its destination, then introduces the mysterious disappearance of a physicist who had been researching the disappearance of other interstellar ships and who may have found a way to move between long-suspected alternate universes. The action occurs in a far distant future, some 15,000 or more years from now, when mankind inhabits several planets. It's a promising start.
But then the science fiction fizzles out. Disappointingly, nothing about the society of the distant future is in any way different from today. Male/female relationships and roles are the same. Popular media, astoundingly, apparently hasn't advanced beyond television, with the same familiar hosts and talk show formats. Government, politics, military, religion, and commerce are those of any current western democracy. People live in communities we'd find familiar and comfortable. Science and knowledge ... the pursuit of a unified field theory, attempts to prove the existence of parallel universes, the science of quantum physics and black holes ... has advanced not one inch from today. Nothing has changed in 15,000 plus years except for the unexplained development of hyperspace drives, anti-gravity, and artificial intelligence. The story itself is pop detective fiction, more concerned with making us like the antiquities dealer cum detective Alex and his female space pilot sidekick Chase. Reading Firebird is like watching an episode of The Rockford Files filmed on the bridge of the USS Enterprise.
So forget the science fiction, which in this book is nothing more than a backdrop. How's the detective story? It's okay, but unnecessarily padded and plodding, taking way too long to get to the point and drifting off into sub-plots that don't directly bear on the main plot and are generally unresolved. And the characterization? Jack McDevitt's characters are as undeveloped as, and indistinguishable from, the various AI systems they talk to in their homes, offices, and spacecraft. There are several human and AI characters in the novel, but it's hard to keep them straight because they're all pretty much the same, with few distinguishing mannerisms. When it comes to the two main characters, Alex and Chase, I never came to know them at all. I can't even conjure up a mental image of what they might have looked like.
Firebird pretends to be science fiction, but really it's comfort food, undemanding and familiar. I suppose there's an audience for this sort of thing, but I am not among their number.
Firebird opens with an interstellar ship inexplicably failing to arrive at its destination, then introduces the mysterious disappearance of a physicist who had been researching the disappearance of other interstellar ships and who may have found a way to move between long-suspected alternate universes. The action occurs in a far distant future, some 15,000 or more years from now, when mankind inhabits several planets. It's a promising start.
But then the science fiction fizzles out. Disappointingly, nothing about the society of the distant future is in any way different from today. Male/female relationships and roles are the same. Popular media, astoundingly, apparently hasn't advanced beyond television, with the same familiar hosts and talk show formats. Government, politics, military, religion, and commerce are those of any current western democracy. People live in communities we'd find familiar and comfortable. Science and knowledge ... the pursuit of a unified field theory, attempts to prove the existence of parallel universes, the science of quantum physics and black holes ... has advanced not one inch from today. Nothing has changed in 15,000 plus years except for the unexplained development of hyperspace drives, anti-gravity, and artificial intelligence. The story itself is pop detective fiction, more concerned with making us like the antiquities dealer cum detective Alex and his female space pilot sidekick Chase. Reading Firebird is like watching an episode of The Rockford Files filmed on the bridge of the USS Enterprise.
So forget the science fiction, which in this book is nothing more than a backdrop. How's the detective story? It's okay, but unnecessarily padded and plodding, taking way too long to get to the point and drifting off into sub-plots that don't directly bear on the main plot and are generally unresolved. And the characterization? Jack McDevitt's characters are as undeveloped as, and indistinguishable from, the various AI systems they talk to in their homes, offices, and spacecraft. There are several human and AI characters in the novel, but it's hard to keep them straight because they're all pretty much the same, with few distinguishing mannerisms. When it comes to the two main characters, Alex and Chase, I never came to know them at all. I can't even conjure up a mental image of what they might have looked like.
Firebird pretends to be science fiction, but really it's comfort food, undemanding and familiar. I suppose there's an audience for this sort of thing, but I am not among their number.
July 4, 2019
Encore une fois cette série à réussi à me faire passer un excellent moment de lecture.
Il y a 40 ans, le physicien Christopher Robin disparaissait mystérieusement alors qu'il venait d’échapper à la mort lors d'un énorme tremblement de terre sur son lieu de résidence.
Il était connu pour ses travaux très controversés destinés à essayer de prouver qu'il existe des mondes parallèles au notre, et était en pleine phase de tests au moment de sa disparition.
Maintenant sa veuve est morte et Alex se retrouve avec toute une collection d'objets lui appartenant à vendre au plus offrant pour son client.
Bien entendu en vendeur confirmé il va tout faire pour soulever à nouveau l’intérêt sur la disparition du Dr Robin histoire de faire monter les prix.
Et pour cela rien de tel qu'une enquête menée par Chase et lui pour essayer d'en savoir plus et ramener des éléments nouveaux sur ce qu'il c'est réellement passé à cette époque.
Firebord était le nom du vaisseau principal du Dr Robin lors de sa disparition, vaisseau qui a lui aussi disparu à peu près au même moment.
Ce tome ci m'a vraiment beaucoup plu. Rien que d'en parler la me donne l'envie de me jeter sur la suite.
Je pense que c'est sans doute un de mes préférés dans la série, voir le préféré.
Encore une fois les investigations d'Alex vont le mener vers des découvertes fabuleuses le tout dans une intrigue bien menée et pleine de rebondissements.
Les idées développées ici sont vraiment grandioses et c'est exactement ce que j'aime dans ce genre de livres. Le tout sans nous donner l'impression de nous perdre dans le coté scientifique ou autre (on est très loin de la hard SF, on est plus sur du policier/enquête dans un univers de SF)
Univers parallèles, AI conscientes, avancée drastique de tout l'univers, on en a vraiment pour notre argent dans ce tome et c'était génial.
17/20
Il y a 40 ans, le physicien Christopher Robin disparaissait mystérieusement alors qu'il venait d’échapper à la mort lors d'un énorme tremblement de terre sur son lieu de résidence.
Il était connu pour ses travaux très controversés destinés à essayer de prouver qu'il existe des mondes parallèles au notre, et était en pleine phase de tests au moment de sa disparition.
Maintenant sa veuve est morte et Alex se retrouve avec toute une collection d'objets lui appartenant à vendre au plus offrant pour son client.
Bien entendu en vendeur confirmé il va tout faire pour soulever à nouveau l’intérêt sur la disparition du Dr Robin histoire de faire monter les prix.
Et pour cela rien de tel qu'une enquête menée par Chase et lui pour essayer d'en savoir plus et ramener des éléments nouveaux sur ce qu'il c'est réellement passé à cette époque.
Firebord était le nom du vaisseau principal du Dr Robin lors de sa disparition, vaisseau qui a lui aussi disparu à peu près au même moment.
Ce tome ci m'a vraiment beaucoup plu. Rien que d'en parler la me donne l'envie de me jeter sur la suite.
Je pense que c'est sans doute un de mes préférés dans la série, voir le préféré.
Encore une fois les investigations d'Alex vont le mener vers des découvertes fabuleuses le tout dans une intrigue bien menée et pleine de rebondissements.
Les idées développées ici sont vraiment grandioses et c'est exactement ce que j'aime dans ce genre de livres. Le tout sans nous donner l'impression de nous perdre dans le coté scientifique ou autre (on est très loin de la hard SF, on est plus sur du policier/enquête dans un univers de SF)
Univers parallèles, AI conscientes, avancée drastique de tout l'univers, on en a vraiment pour notre argent dans ce tome et c'était génial.
17/20
November 19, 2014
Firebird
Another cool Alex Benedict novel by Jack McDevitt.
Plots and Points:
In this one, McDevitt breaks away from formula for a bit. He has Chase meet a client who has an artifact (yeah, that part of the formula is the same!). She is the sister-in-law of Christopher Robin (no relation to Winnie the Pooh) who is a physicist who mysteriously disappeared years ago. She wants to sell his stuff.
Chase never heard of the guy and wants to blow her off. Alex though has other ideas.
Interesting how the tale leads to other digressions that I thought we did not need for the book to move along:
- an abandoned planet with old technology including old Artificial Intelligences with an orbiting talking satellite that warns people off. Alex and Chase of course have to go down to the planet to investigate it. It’s possible Chris Robin visited!
- a visit to Chris Robin’s wife and Chase walking around his home town, playing tourist and interviewing people at random. Do we know if there was a conspiracy? Did Chris’ wife fool around with the taxi driver who apparently died in an earthquake? (yeah, goes convoluted sometimes).
- a rescue, a plea to recognize AI’s as sentient beings has some merit, but really filled too many pages before we discover what Firebird is, and the aspect of transwarp dimensions.
- disappearing spaceships that reappear for no apparent reason. Was Chris Robin investigating these? What is the connection?
Bottom Line: Interesting connections, some quite convoluted, to see what happened to Chris, the value of artifacts on the universal market, some smattering of dubious physics and more love lost with Chase and her boyfriends. Recommended.
Another cool Alex Benedict novel by Jack McDevitt.
Plots and Points:
In this one, McDevitt breaks away from formula for a bit. He has Chase meet a client who has an artifact (yeah, that part of the formula is the same!). She is the sister-in-law of Christopher Robin (no relation to Winnie the Pooh) who is a physicist who mysteriously disappeared years ago. She wants to sell his stuff.
Chase never heard of the guy and wants to blow her off. Alex though has other ideas.
Interesting how the tale leads to other digressions that I thought we did not need for the book to move along:
- an abandoned planet with old technology including old Artificial Intelligences with an orbiting talking satellite that warns people off. Alex and Chase of course have to go down to the planet to investigate it. It’s possible Chris Robin visited!
- a visit to Chris Robin’s wife and Chase walking around his home town, playing tourist and interviewing people at random. Do we know if there was a conspiracy? Did Chris’ wife fool around with the taxi driver who apparently died in an earthquake? (yeah, goes convoluted sometimes).
- a rescue, a plea to recognize AI’s as sentient beings has some merit, but really filled too many pages before we discover what Firebird is, and the aspect of transwarp dimensions.
- disappearing spaceships that reappear for no apparent reason. Was Chris Robin investigating these? What is the connection?
Bottom Line: Interesting connections, some quite convoluted, to see what happened to Chris, the value of artifacts on the universal market, some smattering of dubious physics and more love lost with Chase and her boyfriends. Recommended.
January 25, 2013
This is the most recent volume in the Chase Kolpath/Alex Benedict series of far-future archaeological mysteries. There are two main subjects alternately examined, artificial intelligence and a black-hole/physics McGuffin, along with some religious rumination and McDevitt's trademark habit of spinning off throw-away topics simply to engage the reader. The a.i. portion didn't work for me, but the black hole line was fascinating. After all that Chase and Alex have accomplished over the previous books, they're still not completely accepted by the governing bodies, and as a result Alex seems depressed and almost sullen through some of this volume... but one has to remember that we're just getting Chase's viewpoint. This is another classic hard-sf page-turner, and I enjoyed it very much, even when I found myself disagreeing here and there. (And it's got the best last-line I've encountered in a long time!)
January 15, 2012
pg 43/375: Very comfortable read, like putting on an old shoe. Concerns a missing 'alternate universe' physicist.
All done. Just kind of a medium burn all the way through. It's the perfect series book. There's this other subplot about AI's and their rights (Charlie is a weasel), but it doesn't figure into the conclusion. I suppose the end could be moving. The female audiobook narrator I think would match more with military scifi, like one of Elizabeth Moon's Graphicaudio books. I think of Chase as more urbane. The Firebird ship itself is actually a luxury ship, not quite James Rockford's sporty Firebird. I did finish it though. McDevitt is good with characters. I still like Engines of God and Seeker the best from him.
All done. Just kind of a medium burn all the way through. It's the perfect series book. There's this other subplot about AI's and their rights (Charlie is a weasel), but it doesn't figure into the conclusion. I suppose the end could be moving. The female audiobook narrator I think would match more with military scifi, like one of Elizabeth Moon's Graphicaudio books. I think of Chase as more urbane. The Firebird ship itself is actually a luxury ship, not quite James Rockford's sporty Firebird. I did finish it though. McDevitt is good with characters. I still like Engines of God and Seeker the best from him.
March 3, 2013
This is the sixth Alex Benedict Novel. The Alex Benedict novels are always entertaining. Benedict is an antiquities dealer in the far, far future—14 000 years far future—that ends up investigating some sort of mystery surrounding an artifact that comes into his possession. After six of these, the conceit may become trite and repetitive, but they don’t. This is a testament to McDevitt’s skill and imagination. This book has two story plots going at the same time and either one of them alone would make a great read but both together are simply great! All of these things add up to the best of the Alex Benedict novels. Do not miss this one.
March 27, 2019
I'm not exactly sure how to rate this. In many parts of the book I was confused about who was providing the main view point. But if you just look at the story it is interesting. It talks about a lot of things, like are AI really self aware. I'm sure this will be a discussion we will have at some point in the future. The other major storyline is the discovery of how black holes are affecting the interstellar drives and putting some ships in a time warp. That is interesting, assuming that such things can actually exist. At this point in time of course this is all speculation, but it makes for a good story.
February 6, 2018
I'm abandoning this one, about a third of the way in. Nothing much has happened, which makes for really dull reading. Plus I don't like Alex Benedict.
This is one of the three weakest McDevitts I've read (or attempted). All three of these are Alex Benedict books. A pattern emerges.....
OK, slow learner. I like McDevitt, especially the Academy/Priscilla Hutchins books, but not this series.
This is one of the three weakest McDevitts I've read (or attempted). All three of these are Alex Benedict books. A pattern emerges.....
OK, slow learner. I like McDevitt, especially the Academy/Priscilla Hutchins books, but not this series.
March 29, 2018
Another strong instalment in the series, which just gets better and better.
The series lives with it’s capability to create and maintain the feeling of living in the far future and discovering things from The legendary past, which is still in the future for us.
McDevitt masterfully describes a future which in many ways are similar to our time, only far out in the galaxy. Talk shows on television, politics and the press are still the same and that recognition is probably the reason it’s so easy to connect with the characters.
Unfortunately there is only one volume left and another one rumoured to be published soon.
The series lives with it’s capability to create and maintain the feeling of living in the far future and discovering things from The legendary past, which is still in the future for us.
McDevitt masterfully describes a future which in many ways are similar to our time, only far out in the galaxy. Talk shows on television, politics and the press are still the same and that recognition is probably the reason it’s so easy to connect with the characters.
Unfortunately there is only one volume left and another one rumoured to be published soon.
April 30, 2012
Firebird, the sixth outing of Alex Benedict and his partner/starship pilot Chase Kolpath, is probably on of the best novels Jack McDevitt has written. The Alex Benedict novels are always entertaining, and for those out there who are not familiar with them, think Indiana Jones meets Sherlock Holmes in Star Trek (although with less action). Benedict is an antiquities dealer in the far, far future—14 000 years far future—that ends up investigating some sort of mystery surrounding an artifact that comes into his possession. After six of these, the conceit may become trite and repetitive, but they don't. This is a testament to McDevitt's skill and imagination.
In this outing, Alex and Chase investigate a mystery surrounding a physicist that vanished several decades before, and uncover an even greater mystery concerning missing starships that might be thousands of years old, or even from another universe. While the centre conceit may not be very scientific is is very science fictional and quite intriguing. Along the way the pair uncover an abandoned colony, rescue an Artificial Intelligence several thousands of years old and inadvertently cause minor social upheaval.
I said earlier that Alex Benedict is Indian Jones meets Sherlock Holmes, and indeed he is. All of the stories are told through the agency of Chase Kolpath, the Watson to Benedict's Holmes. In this McDevitt is pitch perfect; he captures the very essence of the Holmes mysteries and puts sets them in the far future. Both of the protagonists are by turns likeable, manic, disagreeable, frustrating and heroic. They are real, living people with all of their flaws and virtues. They grow over the span of the series, changing in response to the actions of the novels, becoming ever more real. The mysteries also become more intricate and devious, although not to the point of incredulity (if such a thing can be said about a science fiction novel). In many ways, McDevitt out-Doyles Doyle.
But there is more going on in Firebird than just the chase. The 'B-plot' actually ends up becoming an interesting discourse on how a society views artificial intelligence, whether or not they are 'alive' and should count as people. Are they sentient? Should they be granted the same rights as humans? Is the sacrifice of a human life to save an AI a valid choice, a heroic choice? Heady stuff. McDevitt never comes down on either side, and never becomes didactic, choosing to have the characters hash it out, ambiguity and all.
The 'A-plot' is actually really great, even if the reader can puzzle it out before the characters do. In fact, I would say the McDevitt does this on purpose so that there is a delicious frisson as the reader watches the protagonists put the clues together. The central mystery also has a large measure of gravitas: the consequences of it are not just important to the civilization of Benedict and Kolpath, but fundamental to their way of travel. There is more than a touch of the horrific as well. Once the impact of what is happening, the reader can't help but be moved to both pity and fear at the fate of the unfortunate spacefarers at the novel's heart.
All of these things add up to the best of the Alex Benedict novels. Do not miss this one.
May 17, 2012
I'm not a hard-core sci-fi fan... but I do love stories about the future, time travel and parallel universes :) This book has several of those components
Alex and Chase work together in the FAR future - some nine thousand years from now, Alex makes a profit getting buyers and sellers of rare artifacts together. Sometimes he finds, and sells, his own treasures. His detractors, especially the archeologists, call him a tomb robber. The name-calling, and attacks on his integrity, can be a little hard to bear, especially when Alex doesn't see that he's doing anything wrong. Chase has more misgivings, but can never quite bring herself to leave him.
According to the old Earth calendar, it's now the year 11,321. A woman named Karen Howard has inherited some items belonging to a famous physicist and songwriter, Christopher Robin. She asks Alex to set up an auction, and he agrees. Now, there's an art to doing this and maximizing the proceeds: Chris Robin disappeared under very mysterious circumstances, so Alex decides to launch an investigation. It's supposed to be mainly just for show, to drum up interest in this 41-year-old case. Some people think that Dr. Robin stepped right out of this universe, right in his bedroom closet. Then again, maybe his wife was just having an affair and offed him, dumping him in the ocean. Everyone has an opinion.
Tied in with this is the matter of vanishing ships. The prologue of "Firebird" features a ship vanishing in flight and never being found again. Alex's uncle, Gabe, whose ship, the Capella, vanished in a previous novel. It's not just the occasional disappearances that spook people, though. It's the mysterious sightings of ghost ships which, for thousands of years, have appeared, refused to answer any attempts at communication, and then, after a few hours, have faded out. Some witnesses even talk, in hushed tones, about seeing passengers pounding on the windows, desperate to escape. The authorities deny this, of course.
One other theme which becomes important is the nature of AIs, or Artificial Intelligences ... who like to be called "Beta's". These very sophisticated computer programs manage houses, ships and space stations, and are recurring characters as important as Alex and Chase. Some people come to treat AIs as close friends and confidents. It's almost like they're self aware. But, are they? Some people, including a few religious leaders, think so, but others mock the idea.
There were so many great quotes and ideas that I can use in my psychology classes - about consciousness, beliefs, artificial intelligence.
I think my favorite McDevitt book has been Ancient Shores - I just may have to go read it ")
Alex and Chase work together in the FAR future - some nine thousand years from now, Alex makes a profit getting buyers and sellers of rare artifacts together. Sometimes he finds, and sells, his own treasures. His detractors, especially the archeologists, call him a tomb robber. The name-calling, and attacks on his integrity, can be a little hard to bear, especially when Alex doesn't see that he's doing anything wrong. Chase has more misgivings, but can never quite bring herself to leave him.
According to the old Earth calendar, it's now the year 11,321. A woman named Karen Howard has inherited some items belonging to a famous physicist and songwriter, Christopher Robin. She asks Alex to set up an auction, and he agrees. Now, there's an art to doing this and maximizing the proceeds: Chris Robin disappeared under very mysterious circumstances, so Alex decides to launch an investigation. It's supposed to be mainly just for show, to drum up interest in this 41-year-old case. Some people think that Dr. Robin stepped right out of this universe, right in his bedroom closet. Then again, maybe his wife was just having an affair and offed him, dumping him in the ocean. Everyone has an opinion.
Tied in with this is the matter of vanishing ships. The prologue of "Firebird" features a ship vanishing in flight and never being found again. Alex's uncle, Gabe, whose ship, the Capella, vanished in a previous novel. It's not just the occasional disappearances that spook people, though. It's the mysterious sightings of ghost ships which, for thousands of years, have appeared, refused to answer any attempts at communication, and then, after a few hours, have faded out. Some witnesses even talk, in hushed tones, about seeing passengers pounding on the windows, desperate to escape. The authorities deny this, of course.
One other theme which becomes important is the nature of AIs, or Artificial Intelligences ... who like to be called "Beta's". These very sophisticated computer programs manage houses, ships and space stations, and are recurring characters as important as Alex and Chase. Some people come to treat AIs as close friends and confidents. It's almost like they're self aware. But, are they? Some people, including a few religious leaders, think so, but others mock the idea.
There were so many great quotes and ideas that I can use in my psychology classes - about consciousness, beliefs, artificial intelligence.
I think my favorite McDevitt book has been Ancient Shores - I just may have to go read it ")
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