What do you think?
Rate this book
Spinneret
We are not alone in the universe. As Earth vessels ventured out to explore near interstellar space, they found not one alien race, but many. There were no planets that hadn't already been colonized or inhabited by some space faring race other than our own. Until finally we humans discovered Astra. Elation was short lived, however, when it was realized that this habitable world contained no real metals.
So Astra became a planet to be used as a minor experiment. A group of Americans under UN charter set out to make a colony on Astra, eager to make a home where they could live in peace and without the fear of terrestrial wars. All was fairly routine, until the planet began to play tricks on the colonists.
First there were magnetic-field shifts; then all metal in contact with the ground disappeared. Colonel Merideth, in charge of the colony, was having enough trouble with unrest among farmers without the specter of bizarre planetary characteristics. But when the first metal cable erupted from what had appeared to be a dormant volcano, Merideth realized that Astra was not merely a metal-poor planet. An unknown race, dubbed the Spinners, had left a working artifact behind. Suddenly, he was in charge of a hot property, one fervently desired by all who had ignored it before: the UN, the U.S., and the alien races in nearby space, the Rooshrike, the Ctencri, the Poms, the Whissst, and the Orspham.
Being in charge and staying in control are two different things, and Merideth and his crew would need all their wits, as well as considerable Yankee horse sense, to keep from being overrun by dangers -- from Earth, or from the stars. Only when they discover the ultimate secret of the race of Spinners will the Astrans know the key to their own future.
So Astra became a planet to be used as a minor experiment. A group of Americans under UN charter set out to make a colony on Astra, eager to make a home where they could live in peace and without the fear of terrestrial wars. All was fairly routine, until the planet began to play tricks on the colonists.
First there were magnetic-field shifts; then all metal in contact with the ground disappeared. Colonel Merideth, in charge of the colony, was having enough trouble with unrest among farmers without the specter of bizarre planetary characteristics. But when the first metal cable erupted from what had appeared to be a dormant volcano, Merideth realized that Astra was not merely a metal-poor planet. An unknown race, dubbed the Spinners, had left a working artifact behind. Suddenly, he was in charge of a hot property, one fervently desired by all who had ignored it before: the UN, the U.S., and the alien races in nearby space, the Rooshrike, the Ctencri, the Poms, the Whissst, and the Orspham.
Being in charge and staying in control are two different things, and Merideth and his crew would need all their wits, as well as considerable Yankee horse sense, to keep from being overrun by dangers -- from Earth, or from the stars. Only when they discover the ultimate secret of the race of Spinners will the Astrans know the key to their own future.
352 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1985
89 people are currently reading
563 people want to read
About the author
Timothy Zahn
481 books8,513 followersTimothy Zahn attended Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1973. He then moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and achieved an M.S. degree in physics in 1975. While he was pursuing a doctorate in physics, his adviser became ill and died. Zahn never completed the doctorate. In 1975 he had begun writing science fiction as a hobby, and he became a professional writer. He and his wife Anna live in Bandon, Oregon. They have a son, Corwin Zahn.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
July 15, 2014
I was reading another book, but I got so tired of the issues I had with that book, I had to take a break. Plus, I got to meet Timothy Zahn on January 8th, so I was pumped to finish reading my almost complete collection of Timothy Zahn published works!
Humankind (to be politically correct) has finally developed the capacity to travel faster than light. They set upon to leave an overpopulated, overmined Earth (in typical fashion for scifi books written in this era) only to find that the rest of the galaxy is populated by superior aliens. The only world left is Astra, a world strangely without any trace metals. The United Nations decide that the Americans should spearhead the colonization. The Americans in turn assign Colonel Llyod Meredith to oversee Astra's development...and to deal with disputes between the colonists (led by Cristobal Perez) and the military. But things get strange when the planet seems to suck away all metal and produce a six centimeter in diameter cable. Now, all the surrounding aliens want a piece, Astra is a hotspot in the conflict between the United Nations and the United States, and Meredith might lose his tenuous hold on the citizens of Astra.
I Like:
Timothy Zahn is my absolute favorite writer for many reasons. This book showcases one of the biggest reasons: his ability to combine a cool, interesting story with enough realism to make you feel like you are there.
The story of Spinneret is slightly different than most scifi I've read. Space has already been colonized until the only planet left is the dud, the one no one wants. Earth takes it only because it may be the only one they get; then the Americans (those chosen to spearhead the colonization) begin to pour money into what could easily be a money pit. Now, granted, I haven't read all scifi books in print, but I have read a few, and this unique concept intrigued me.
The idea of the planet using metal from things like shelves to plants' soil was really interesting as well, along with the planet making a strand of the strangest material ever. The properties of the material were described in such a way, it was obvious Timothy Zahn was familiar with some basic material science and metal's properties. Throughout the book, Zahn uses scientific terms fairly accurately and with knowledge, that makes the geek in me squee with joy. The scientific technology shows its age (with cassettes to hold data and other 80's-ish gadgets), but oddly enough, it doesn't take away from the story at all.
I found it very easy to get sucked into the book. It has an easy writing style, a quick pace, exciting events, and an intriguing premise. Zahn doesn't hang around, chewing the fat, or leaving the reader to wonder when the story will resume. The story is always going. Everything leads to the final scene, which, while short, is more than adequate.
I know it will sound odd, but the conclusion was definitely satisfying. So many books have a combination of hastily done, overly simplistic, overly optimistic, or childish, but this book's ending makes sense. It has a positive outlook, for sure, but there aren't pages of explaining the last 100 pages for the reader, no "sudden revelations", no "happily ever afters". It was, in all sense of the word, good.
I Didn't Like:
While I adore Zahn, I am not oblivious to his faults, and I felt there were more than a few weak points in this novel.
The characters of Spinneret felt very bland and interchangeable. The major characters (Colonel Meredith, Carmen Olivero, Cristobal Perez, and Dr. Peter Hafner) didn't really feel much different from the other, even though each one comes from different circumstances or backgrounds. Colonel Meredith knew more about geology and other "science-y" stuff than I would have expected from an army officer (even one who is in command of a scientific base like Astra); Olivero miraculously knew how to fly even though she wasn't military (which seemed odd as her job was mostly data crunching); Perez seemed to have one job and that was colony troublemaker, yet was able to figure out how to open the door when Dr. Hafner and Colonel Meredith could not (though you could suppose, since the answer was not complicated, that sometimes "smart" people overthink a problem); and Dr. Hafner felt a bit too much like your stereotypical scientist. In fact, each and every one of the characters knew way more about science than they should (other than Dr. Hafner). And in the end, all become sudden astrogeologists. Overall, I really didn't feel like I got into any of the characters' heads nor could adequately sympathize--no, distinguish--one from another.
Another distracting element was the use of "Um". A character (most frequently, I noticed, Colonel Meredith) would begin a sentence with this word like in the following passage: "Um...Feels awfully smooth for something that's been buried this long." This dialogue feels awkward. I wouldn't say "Um" in this situation; probably "Hm" but not "Um". "Um" always sounds like you are unsure of yourself or gathering your thoughts, but not being thoughtful (which is, I thought, what Colonel Meredith was feeling).
Some of the events are far too easily maneuvered. Colonel Meredith will conveniently let Carmen do *this*. Perez will say *something* that Colonel Meredith will (grudgingly) agree to. Dr. Hafner happens to come to the (correct) conclusion about *that*. I know why it was done, but it still was a little obvious and not always necessary.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
A few swear words grace the pages, but Zahn avoids them for the most part. However, when he does, sometimes it feels awkward and obvious he is trying to avoid swearing.
None. Whatsoever.
The threat of violence hangs in the air as the alien ships surround Astra. Also, Perez joins in a riot against Colonel Meredith's actions. A few soldiers die in an attempted coup, and when the Spinneret is activated
Overall:
I believe I had tried to read Spinneret some years ago and just couldn't get into it. Well, this time, I did, and it was time well spent. I just wish the characters were a little more distinguishable and unique. Four stars for another enjoyable tale, but a wish for more distinctive characters.
Humankind (to be politically correct) has finally developed the capacity to travel faster than light. They set upon to leave an overpopulated, overmined Earth (in typical fashion for scifi books written in this era) only to find that the rest of the galaxy is populated by superior aliens. The only world left is Astra, a world strangely without any trace metals. The United Nations decide that the Americans should spearhead the colonization. The Americans in turn assign Colonel Llyod Meredith to oversee Astra's development...and to deal with disputes between the colonists (led by Cristobal Perez) and the military. But things get strange when the planet seems to suck away all metal and produce a six centimeter in diameter cable. Now, all the surrounding aliens want a piece, Astra is a hotspot in the conflict between the United Nations and the United States, and Meredith might lose his tenuous hold on the citizens of Astra.
I Like:
Timothy Zahn is my absolute favorite writer for many reasons. This book showcases one of the biggest reasons: his ability to combine a cool, interesting story with enough realism to make you feel like you are there.
The story of Spinneret is slightly different than most scifi I've read. Space has already been colonized until the only planet left is the dud, the one no one wants. Earth takes it only because it may be the only one they get; then the Americans (those chosen to spearhead the colonization) begin to pour money into what could easily be a money pit. Now, granted, I haven't read all scifi books in print, but I have read a few, and this unique concept intrigued me.
The idea of the planet using metal from things like shelves to plants' soil was really interesting as well, along with the planet making a strand of the strangest material ever. The properties of the material were described in such a way, it was obvious Timothy Zahn was familiar with some basic material science and metal's properties. Throughout the book, Zahn uses scientific terms fairly accurately and with knowledge, that makes the geek in me squee with joy. The scientific technology shows its age (with cassettes to hold data and other 80's-ish gadgets), but oddly enough, it doesn't take away from the story at all.
I found it very easy to get sucked into the book. It has an easy writing style, a quick pace, exciting events, and an intriguing premise. Zahn doesn't hang around, chewing the fat, or leaving the reader to wonder when the story will resume. The story is always going. Everything leads to the final scene, which, while short, is more than adequate.
I know it will sound odd, but the conclusion was definitely satisfying. So many books have a combination of hastily done, overly simplistic, overly optimistic, or childish, but this book's ending makes sense. It has a positive outlook, for sure, but there aren't pages of explaining the last 100 pages for the reader, no "sudden revelations", no "happily ever afters". It was, in all sense of the word, good.
I Didn't Like:
While I adore Zahn, I am not oblivious to his faults, and I felt there were more than a few weak points in this novel.
The characters of Spinneret felt very bland and interchangeable. The major characters (Colonel Meredith, Carmen Olivero, Cristobal Perez, and Dr. Peter Hafner) didn't really feel much different from the other, even though each one comes from different circumstances or backgrounds. Colonel Meredith knew more about geology and other "science-y" stuff than I would have expected from an army officer (even one who is in command of a scientific base like Astra); Olivero miraculously knew how to fly even though she wasn't military (which seemed odd as her job was mostly data crunching); Perez seemed to have one job and that was colony troublemaker, yet was able to figure out how to open the door when Dr. Hafner and Colonel Meredith could not (though you could suppose, since the answer was not complicated, that sometimes "smart" people overthink a problem); and Dr. Hafner felt a bit too much like your stereotypical scientist. In fact, each and every one of the characters knew way more about science than they should (other than Dr. Hafner). And in the end, all become sudden astrogeologists. Overall, I really didn't feel like I got into any of the characters' heads nor could adequately sympathize--no, distinguish--one from another.
Another distracting element was the use of "Um". A character (most frequently, I noticed, Colonel Meredith) would begin a sentence with this word like in the following passage: "Um...Feels awfully smooth for something that's been buried this long." This dialogue feels awkward. I wouldn't say "Um" in this situation; probably "Hm" but not "Um". "Um" always sounds like you are unsure of yourself or gathering your thoughts, but not being thoughtful (which is, I thought, what Colonel Meredith was feeling).
Some of the events are far too easily maneuvered. Colonel Meredith will conveniently let Carmen do *this*. Perez will say *something* that Colonel Meredith will (grudgingly) agree to. Dr. Hafner happens to come to the (correct) conclusion about *that*. I know why it was done, but it still was a little obvious and not always necessary.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
A few swear words grace the pages, but Zahn avoids them for the most part. However, when he does, sometimes it feels awkward and obvious he is trying to avoid swearing.
None. Whatsoever.
The threat of violence hangs in the air as the alien ships surround Astra. Also, Perez joins in a riot against Colonel Meredith's actions. A few soldiers die in an attempted coup, and when the Spinneret is activated
Overall:
I believe I had tried to read Spinneret some years ago and just couldn't get into it. Well, this time, I did, and it was time well spent. I just wish the characters were a little more distinguishable and unique. Four stars for another enjoyable tale, but a wish for more distinctive characters.
October 16, 2022
Timothy Zahn is one of my favorite Science Fiction writers. I have read 30 of his novels (he has written about 60+ so far) and I've really enjoyed most of them. His Star Wars books are some of the best in the tie-in genre, and his original science fiction books are original, inventive, and exciting.
Unfortunately, there has to be a weak link in his biography, and this book was it. Its really sad to say, butI would say that this book is necessary because it is "in the half that makes the top half possible".
First of all, let me talk about the good in this book! Timothy Zahn has a set up where earth has set up a colony on another planet, and as such has to deal with the political problems inherent with a new colony. Zahn is able to set up a political storyline pitting the conservative leadership of the colony against the liberal workers in the colony. Any other writer might easily paint the conservative leadership as evil, but Zahn was able to effectively make both sides both sympathetic and also have egg on their face. No matter where you lie on the political spectrum, the political exchanges are interesting and non-controversial.
I also liked the way Zahn uses a lot of science based ideas in this book. Dyson Spheres, Skyhooks, and other technologies are referenced and utilized and increase the readers knowledge about them. Zahn was purusing a doctorate in Physics before he became a writer, and you can definitely see the influences here. It's probably Zahn's most Physics and Science heavy book (that I've read and reviewed at least). This book, unlike many of Zahn's other books, is true SCIENCE fiction.
That is about all the good I can say about the book, because the rest of it is mostly bad.
First of all, this book's ending is truly mismanaged. I think that Zahn had a little trouble with his endings towards the beginning of his career, as evidenced by his Cobra books and this book, and he got a lot better as his career continued. This book's third act is all over the place, goes in a direction that the story really needed...and then does nothing with it. The final action set piece happens with over 50 pages left, and as such the rest of the book feels like a really long Denouement, way too long for a book this size. The ending also feels unsatisfying, because a lot of the important elements of the story happen off the page and our characters simply learn about it after the fact. A real breaking of the "Show-Don't-Tell" rule.
I think Zahn made an error by introducing too many alien species. Had he created 1 or 2, it might have worked. Because there are about 9 total in the book, none of them get the development or pagetime necessary, so the reader doesn't connect or feel anything towards them. They feel like this nebulous entity as if it's just another country we haven't met yet.
The third and final issue with this book is it introduces pivotal characters way too late and gives them too little page time. The three main characters are Carmen Olivero, Colonel Meredith (really confusing giving a male character the name "meredith"), and Cristobal Perez. However, more characters like Loretta Williams are introduced way later, and she should have been in the first few chapters given her importance to the story.
This next criticism may be my lack of imagination or my reading the book too fast, but I had a hard time understanding what the Spinneret was. I even looked up the term online, and that was no help. I just got more and more confused about it. I think Zahn should have put it more plainly in layman's terms.
Overall, this is a rather disappointing book by Timothy Zahn. It has all the ingredients necessary to deliver a tasty story. Unfortunately, Zahn executes the story poorly by introducing some elements too late in the process, making too much variety in the spice of the story, the aliens, and rushing the process of the ending. Overall, his weakest book for me gets a 4 out of 10. Sorry Zahn, something had to be in the bottom spot.
Unfortunately, there has to be a weak link in his biography, and this book was it. Its really sad to say, butI would say that this book is necessary because it is "in the half that makes the top half possible".
First of all, let me talk about the good in this book! Timothy Zahn has a set up where earth has set up a colony on another planet, and as such has to deal with the political problems inherent with a new colony. Zahn is able to set up a political storyline pitting the conservative leadership of the colony against the liberal workers in the colony. Any other writer might easily paint the conservative leadership as evil, but Zahn was able to effectively make both sides both sympathetic and also have egg on their face. No matter where you lie on the political spectrum, the political exchanges are interesting and non-controversial.
I also liked the way Zahn uses a lot of science based ideas in this book. Dyson Spheres, Skyhooks, and other technologies are referenced and utilized and increase the readers knowledge about them. Zahn was purusing a doctorate in Physics before he became a writer, and you can definitely see the influences here. It's probably Zahn's most Physics and Science heavy book (that I've read and reviewed at least). This book, unlike many of Zahn's other books, is true SCIENCE fiction.
That is about all the good I can say about the book, because the rest of it is mostly bad.
First of all, this book's ending is truly mismanaged. I think that Zahn had a little trouble with his endings towards the beginning of his career, as evidenced by his Cobra books and this book, and he got a lot better as his career continued. This book's third act is all over the place, goes in a direction that the story really needed...and then does nothing with it. The final action set piece happens with over 50 pages left, and as such the rest of the book feels like a really long Denouement, way too long for a book this size. The ending also feels unsatisfying, because a lot of the important elements of the story happen off the page and our characters simply learn about it after the fact. A real breaking of the "Show-Don't-Tell" rule.
I think Zahn made an error by introducing too many alien species. Had he created 1 or 2, it might have worked. Because there are about 9 total in the book, none of them get the development or pagetime necessary, so the reader doesn't connect or feel anything towards them. They feel like this nebulous entity as if it's just another country we haven't met yet.
The third and final issue with this book is it introduces pivotal characters way too late and gives them too little page time. The three main characters are Carmen Olivero, Colonel Meredith (really confusing giving a male character the name "meredith"), and Cristobal Perez. However, more characters like Loretta Williams are introduced way later, and she should have been in the first few chapters given her importance to the story.
This next criticism may be my lack of imagination or my reading the book too fast, but I had a hard time understanding what the Spinneret was. I even looked up the term online, and that was no help. I just got more and more confused about it. I think Zahn should have put it more plainly in layman's terms.
Overall, this is a rather disappointing book by Timothy Zahn. It has all the ingredients necessary to deliver a tasty story. Unfortunately, Zahn executes the story poorly by introducing some elements too late in the process, making too much variety in the spice of the story, the aliens, and rushing the process of the ending. Overall, his weakest book for me gets a 4 out of 10. Sorry Zahn, something had to be in the bottom spot.
August 9, 2023
Lekka, przyjemna. Bardzo się przydała na robienie przerw od Lalki ;)
November 21, 2025
It was a decent read with some good moments, but the story just didn't reach the next level. The plot was fine, the characters were fine, the writing was fine, everything was just fine, and that was the issue for me. 3.25*
February 25, 2017
Very early Timothy Zahn from charity shop (w retro extruded cover lettering from 1985!). Humanity establishes a first offworld colony on a fairly marginal planet that various more advanced aliens don't want, then find a fully-functional vanished-race manufacturing plant that produces something everyone in the galaxy wants.
Some interesting bits but overall a bit 'meh'. I think he tried to do too much in a short book: Earth politics about the colony, colony internal political tensions incl what the colony should do with its new wealth; galactic politics among the aliens, a hard-SFish subplot about the spinner artefact itself, an Andre Norton style exploration mystery about exploring the artifact and what the builder race were up to, the occasional military thriller setpiece (which Zahn did well in Cobra, just before he wrote this) and the edge of a romantic triangle between the book's three most interesting characters: the male leaders of two of the main political factions in the colony, and the main female POV character and governor's sort-of AdC.
All of this is promising but none of it is developed very much and there are huge chunks of politics where not a lot happens. Also far too many POV characters to get much attached to any of them, whereas in Cobra he used a strong single POV 'everyman cum super-commando soldier' as a lens into the world building and politics much more effectively.
Some interesting bits but overall a bit 'meh'. I think he tried to do too much in a short book: Earth politics about the colony, colony internal political tensions incl what the colony should do with its new wealth; galactic politics among the aliens, a hard-SFish subplot about the spinner artefact itself, an Andre Norton style exploration mystery about exploring the artifact and what the builder race were up to, the occasional military thriller setpiece (which Zahn did well in Cobra, just before he wrote this) and the edge of a romantic triangle between the book's three most interesting characters: the male leaders of two of the main political factions in the colony, and the main female POV character and governor's sort-of AdC.
All of this is promising but none of it is developed very much and there are huge chunks of politics where not a lot happens. Also far too many POV characters to get much attached to any of them, whereas in Cobra he used a strong single POV 'everyman cum super-commando soldier' as a lens into the world building and politics much more effectively.
May 23, 2007
This is one of Zahn's early novels, from the period in the '80's when he was represented in Analog magazine almost every month. The scientific puzzle is excellent and unusual, and the book presages Zahn's preoccupation with political intrigue. The charcters are a little on the stock side, but this was still a fun read.
June 17, 2019
I read this in Analog magazine back in the 80's. Enjoyable story.
Enjoy this story.
Enjoy this story.
May 25, 2024
Great read! Definitely a page turner, and I loved the unfolding mystery of the plot—I was guessing until the end. The characters were not super memorable, but I still enjoyed it!
October 17, 2012
Spinneret by Timothy Zahn is a stand-alone science fiction book set in the future of our world. Mankind has discovered the means to travel out to the stars, but when they do so they find that they’re not alone. Worse, they find that there’s nowhere to go. All available planets capable of sustaining life have been claimed and colonized. It’s only after some time that mankind finds the world of Astra, a world poor in minerals, but uninhabited. The UN puts the United States in the position of footing most of the bill, providing the necessary minerals to fertilize the soil, and provide the colonists to work and populate the planet. All of this is more frustrating by the UN coming into the main interstellar trading partners and mankind now being on the lowest rung of the ladder when it comes to interstellar relations.
This review may contain some spoilers, though I’ll try to minimize them.
The humans on Astra are led by Colonel Meredith. As this is a military operation, he has full control even of what happens on the planet. However, he’s soon challenged by Cristobal Perez, a charismatic leader who wants to turn Astra into a haven for the poor and downtrodden masses. Dr. Peter Hafner is a geologist trying to make sense of the planet’s lack of minerals. Carmen Olivero starts off her time on Astra as a resources manager. Soon we learn that the workers are feeling mistreated, which Perez uses to force starting a citizen’s advisory council where he has a large say in what goes on. We also learn that despite the massive fertilization efforts on the colonists’ part, it seems that the soil just doesn’t maintain the mineral level needed.
Dr. Hafner searches for an explanation and realizes that the makeup of the planet shows almost a complete lack of minerals when there should be an abundance. No remains from meteors are left, despite the obvious traces of meteoric activity. The mountain ranges are wrong. All of this comes to a head when all metal on the planet is suddenly dissolved into the planet. This corresponds to strange gravity anomalies and discovery of a cable that defies all known physics.
Soon the characters are fighting off a hostile takeover by the UN, aliens, the US, and people within their ranks as they try to figure out more about this Spinneret. They find a cave containing the still-functioning machinery of the mysterious Spinners and try to determine how it works. They work on translating controls, freeing up equipment, and working out how they can maintain their safety and freedom in a universe that wants this mysterious cable at almost any price. Will they succeed? Will they find the alien race who made the special cable? What was this cable created to do? Read Spinneret and find out.
Timothy Zahn has written another great story set in a compelling universe. The characters interact well, have believable backgrounds and desires, and work with and against each other in manners that fit what we know of them. The balance of alien cultures introduces an interesting dynamic to the story.
Who Will Like This Book?
Anyone who’s a fan of Timothy Zahn will appreciate this reprinted book. If you like science fiction without technology that borders on the fantastic, you’ll appreciate this. There are no space battles, weapons of mass destruction, or mystical influences. The characters use the technology known to us and that which is supports the plot without it ever seeming over the top or out of place. If you like science fiction at all, read Spinneret. If you like the idea of an ending that leaves just a little bit to the imagination, you’ll appreciate this. The loose ends are tied up, but you can still speculate about what happens next.
Who Will Not Like This Book?
If you’re not a science fiction fan, you probably won’t appreciate this. The science fiction is part of the story, but it is present. If you want massive space battles or stories spread out across the universe, you won’t find them here. The action takes place mostly on Astra with some off-world adventuring as the story progresses. If you’re looking for a book that starts a new series, this is self-contained.
Disclaimer: I was given a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations on their part. I was not influenced in any way by the publisher. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
This review may contain some spoilers, though I’ll try to minimize them.
The humans on Astra are led by Colonel Meredith. As this is a military operation, he has full control even of what happens on the planet. However, he’s soon challenged by Cristobal Perez, a charismatic leader who wants to turn Astra into a haven for the poor and downtrodden masses. Dr. Peter Hafner is a geologist trying to make sense of the planet’s lack of minerals. Carmen Olivero starts off her time on Astra as a resources manager. Soon we learn that the workers are feeling mistreated, which Perez uses to force starting a citizen’s advisory council where he has a large say in what goes on. We also learn that despite the massive fertilization efforts on the colonists’ part, it seems that the soil just doesn’t maintain the mineral level needed.
Dr. Hafner searches for an explanation and realizes that the makeup of the planet shows almost a complete lack of minerals when there should be an abundance. No remains from meteors are left, despite the obvious traces of meteoric activity. The mountain ranges are wrong. All of this comes to a head when all metal on the planet is suddenly dissolved into the planet. This corresponds to strange gravity anomalies and discovery of a cable that defies all known physics.
Soon the characters are fighting off a hostile takeover by the UN, aliens, the US, and people within their ranks as they try to figure out more about this Spinneret. They find a cave containing the still-functioning machinery of the mysterious Spinners and try to determine how it works. They work on translating controls, freeing up equipment, and working out how they can maintain their safety and freedom in a universe that wants this mysterious cable at almost any price. Will they succeed? Will they find the alien race who made the special cable? What was this cable created to do? Read Spinneret and find out.
Timothy Zahn has written another great story set in a compelling universe. The characters interact well, have believable backgrounds and desires, and work with and against each other in manners that fit what we know of them. The balance of alien cultures introduces an interesting dynamic to the story.
Who Will Like This Book?
Anyone who’s a fan of Timothy Zahn will appreciate this reprinted book. If you like science fiction without technology that borders on the fantastic, you’ll appreciate this. There are no space battles, weapons of mass destruction, or mystical influences. The characters use the technology known to us and that which is supports the plot without it ever seeming over the top or out of place. If you like science fiction at all, read Spinneret. If you like the idea of an ending that leaves just a little bit to the imagination, you’ll appreciate this. The loose ends are tied up, but you can still speculate about what happens next.
Who Will Not Like This Book?
If you’re not a science fiction fan, you probably won’t appreciate this. The science fiction is part of the story, but it is present. If you want massive space battles or stories spread out across the universe, you won’t find them here. The action takes place mostly on Astra with some off-world adventuring as the story progresses. If you’re looking for a book that starts a new series, this is self-contained.
Disclaimer: I was given a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations on their part. I was not influenced in any way by the publisher. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
April 18, 2022
Such a frustrating book! It has elements of classics like Rendezvous with Rama, Gateway and , but what could have been a thoroughly enjoyable adventure, even in the hands of a lesser writer like Zahn, was ruined by Zahn's obsession with politics. Ugh!
Worse than that, the politics didn't even make sense! Somehow, the UN had power and the US was its weak lapdog? Astra declared independence before it could even sustain itself? I got the impression that only happened to prevent the main characters from being sidelined. And then at last the big Plan for the future: Astra would be opened up to migrants, preferentially poor people from the third world... Ok, but what the heck are they supposed to do on Astra? Poor third worlders don't tend to have a very high education and farming or industry simply isn't possible with the Spinneret there. The book itself makes that very clear. Dumbest. Plan. Ever. How are they even going to feed all those people with only a couple of algae tanks in orbit?
The world-building was a lot better than the politics, but I did have one big problem with it: the beginning of the book made it clear that there were lots of livable planets near Earth, but that they were all already colonized by other species. I also did not get the impression that the other species had huge empires. Then how could colonizable planets be in such short supply? Any species at the edge of colonized space should be discovering new livable planets at a much higher rate than they could possibly colonize them and selling one of the less interesting out-of-the-way ones to the humans at a nice price shouldn't be out of the question. In short: Zahn managed to make the Milky Way feel cramped and that simply doesn't make sense.
Worse than that, the politics didn't even make sense! Somehow, the UN had power and the US was its weak lapdog? Astra declared independence before it could even sustain itself? I got the impression that only happened to prevent the main characters from being sidelined. And then at last the big Plan for the future: Astra would be opened up to migrants, preferentially poor people from the third world... Ok, but what the heck are they supposed to do on Astra? Poor third worlders don't tend to have a very high education and farming or industry simply isn't possible with the Spinneret there. The book itself makes that very clear. Dumbest. Plan. Ever. How are they even going to feed all those people with only a couple of algae tanks in orbit?
The world-building was a lot better than the politics, but I did have one big problem with it: the beginning of the book made it clear that there were lots of livable planets near Earth, but that they were all already colonized by other species. I also did not get the impression that the other species had huge empires. Then how could colonizable planets be in such short supply? Any species at the edge of colonized space should be discovering new livable planets at a much higher rate than they could possibly colonize them and selling one of the less interesting out-of-the-way ones to the humans at a nice price shouldn't be out of the question. In short: Zahn managed to make the Milky Way feel cramped and that simply doesn't make sense.
April 26, 2022
Die Menschheit muss feststellen, dass in ihrer stellaren Nachbarschaft diverse ET-Rassen unterwegs sind und alle erdähnlichen Planeten bereits besetzt sind. Man ist aber bereit, ihnen einen Schlammklumpen von Planet zu verpachten, der seltsamerweise keinerlei Metalle hat.
Ich habe diesen Roman wohl vor etlichen Jahren schon einmal gelesen. Dass ich mich an fast nichts erinnerte, sagt schon ein wenig über die Qualität des Buches aus. Es ist nicht schlecht aber doch etwas langweilig. Ein "Sense of Wonder" kommt nicht auf. Die Idee mit der Dyson-Sphäre ist ganz nett. Die Personen sind OK, aber auch nicht sehr interessant.
Ich habe diesen Roman wohl vor etlichen Jahren schon einmal gelesen. Dass ich mich an fast nichts erinnerte, sagt schon ein wenig über die Qualität des Buches aus. Es ist nicht schlecht aber doch etwas langweilig. Ein "Sense of Wonder" kommt nicht auf. Die Idee mit der Dyson-Sphäre ist ganz nett. Die Personen sind OK, aber auch nicht sehr interessant.
January 13, 2008
Old Sci-Fi...Before it was ruined by movies and such...
Actually, Sci-Fi is really coming into its own this past decade as people realize that Science Fiction is just like ordinary literature, except with a larger playground, and, because of this, often a better way to display humanity.
Actually, Sci-Fi is really coming into its own this past decade as people realize that Science Fiction is just like ordinary literature, except with a larger playground, and, because of this, often a better way to display humanity.
February 7, 2017
This one was a bit hard sci-fi for me. I enjoy it when new technologies have cultural and political consequences and this book delivered on those but some of the extended science discussions left me a little bit cold.
May 8, 2013
Great piece of science fiction. Highly recommended.
February 13, 2015
It's always fun when you can read a book in one day. A few hours spent on airplanes helped.
August 3, 2021
Found this on my Kindle, don't know when I downloaded it, and realized it was written in 1987. I also think I've read it before, probably in 1987. So after 34 years, it warrants a re-read!
We are not alone in the universe. As Earth vessels ventured out to explore near interstellar space, they found not one alien race, but many. There were no planets that hadn't already been colonized or inhabited by some space faring race other than our own. Until finally we humans discovered Astra. Elation was short lived, however, when it was realized that this habitable world contained no real metals.
So Astra became a planet to be used as a minor experiment. A group of Americans under UN charter set out to make a colony on Astra, eager to make a home where they could live in peace and without the fear of terrestrial wars. All was fairly routine, until the planet began to play tricks on the colonists.
It was fun reading an old-style sci-fi book. Before cell phones and computers became what they are today, sci-fi treated space travel as an easier feat than communicating with someone electronically. I remember 1987 fondly... it was the year I graduated from undergrad. Beyond the "classic" setting of 1987, the book was engaging and exciting, but a little too optimistic about people's motives and political thinking. Zahn has a bachelor's and master's in physics so his treatment of science is authentic. Though the alien tech is a mystery to the humans, Zahn seems to have thought it out thoroughly.
If you want a look at the future through the nostalgic eyes of the 80s, this is a great novel.
We are not alone in the universe. As Earth vessels ventured out to explore near interstellar space, they found not one alien race, but many. There were no planets that hadn't already been colonized or inhabited by some space faring race other than our own. Until finally we humans discovered Astra. Elation was short lived, however, when it was realized that this habitable world contained no real metals.
So Astra became a planet to be used as a minor experiment. A group of Americans under UN charter set out to make a colony on Astra, eager to make a home where they could live in peace and without the fear of terrestrial wars. All was fairly routine, until the planet began to play tricks on the colonists.
It was fun reading an old-style sci-fi book. Before cell phones and computers became what they are today, sci-fi treated space travel as an easier feat than communicating with someone electronically. I remember 1987 fondly... it was the year I graduated from undergrad. Beyond the "classic" setting of 1987, the book was engaging and exciting, but a little too optimistic about people's motives and political thinking. Zahn has a bachelor's and master's in physics so his treatment of science is authentic. Though the alien tech is a mystery to the humans, Zahn seems to have thought it out thoroughly.
If you want a look at the future through the nostalgic eyes of the 80s, this is a great novel.
November 12, 2024
La terre ! Premier voyage interstellaire ! Déception, les planètes habitables, des systèmes stellaires assez proches, sont déjà habitées par des extraterrestres. Toutes ? Une race extraterrestre permet l'utilisation d'une planète qui serait habitable, sauf pour l'absence de métaux (nécessaires entre autres pour l'agriculture, etc.). Et c'est la colonisation d'Astra, par les terriens, mais il s'avère qu'elle cache des secrets incroyables. Tout métal est absorbé pour être transformé en tubes d'une incroyable résistance que tous veulent s'arracher. Le statut des colons vient de changer.
Une histoire d'aventures plutôt jeunesse avec des tractations politiques et des aspects scientifiques peu crédibles qui sont au service de l'histoire. Mais l'histoire est bien amenée et on a toujours hâte d'en savoir plus. Et tout cela avec des jeux politiques sur terre entre les américains et le reste du monde, de même qu'avec les différentes races extraterrestres. Et c'est sans compter les artefacts d'une civilisation extraterrestre extrêmement avancée. Mais où est-elle ?
J'ai aimé. Une lecture plaisante mais avec la fiction qui prime sur la science. Mais il ne faut pas bouder son plaisir.
Une histoire d'aventures plutôt jeunesse avec des tractations politiques et des aspects scientifiques peu crédibles qui sont au service de l'histoire. Mais l'histoire est bien amenée et on a toujours hâte d'en savoir plus. Et tout cela avec des jeux politiques sur terre entre les américains et le reste du monde, de même qu'avec les différentes races extraterrestres. Et c'est sans compter les artefacts d'une civilisation extraterrestre extrêmement avancée. Mais où est-elle ?
J'ai aimé. Une lecture plaisante mais avec la fiction qui prime sur la science. Mais il ne faut pas bouder son plaisir.
June 30, 2023
Ridiculous from the start
What is it with modern story tellers that they seem completely unable to make their plots believable? I'm not referring to the opening scenes that are background, but basic flaws that make no sense. Like paying large amounts to LEASE a planet that's got serious flaws...what would you do with it? Put a bunch of your own planets' strained resources which you CANNOT RECOVER into attempt to make it habitable, and start populating it? Then what when your lease is up? DNF
What is it with modern story tellers that they seem completely unable to make their plots believable? I'm not referring to the opening scenes that are background, but basic flaws that make no sense. Like paying large amounts to LEASE a planet that's got serious flaws...what would you do with it? Put a bunch of your own planets' strained resources which you CANNOT RECOVER into attempt to make it habitable, and start populating it? Then what when your lease is up? DNF
February 19, 2018
Well, I managed to finish it
The characters are one dimensional stereotypes and the political wrangling a bit naive. The whole book's undertones struck me as subtly racist.
The story itself was pretty straightforward, your basic space opera where a small band overcomes the odds and comes out ahead. No real surprises, no twists, and when the big reveal shows up at the end, we get nothing but a little preaching.
The characters are one dimensional stereotypes and the political wrangling a bit naive. The whole book's undertones struck me as subtly racist.
The story itself was pretty straightforward, your basic space opera where a small band overcomes the odds and comes out ahead. No real surprises, no twists, and when the big reveal shows up at the end, we get nothing but a little preaching.
November 26, 2025
Reminiscent of Clarke's "Rendezvous with Rama", Zahn does some interesting world-building despite the quasi magical premise and a cast of aliens who behave suspiciously like squabbling humans. But it hits a low point with a tired old "good guys vs bad guys" scenario: the good guys headed by a military "Mary Sue" in the form of an American colonel (clap! clap!) and the bad guys led by an evil autocratic United Nations representative (boo! hiss!). Whatever.
April 12, 2021
Early Zahn, fairly ambitious trying to take on galactic colonisation politics with around 5-6 different alien races. The story is interesting, as the mystery unravels with some plausible scientific basis. I haven't been disappointed by a Zahn book yet, and I'm happy that this book continued the trend.
May 31, 2022
Fascinating!
Mr. Zahn is one of my favorite authors because he isn't stuck in a mold. He finds a way to capture my attention/imagination with whatever he writes! I'm cu to see if this series continues.
Mr. Zahn is one of my favorite authors because he isn't stuck in a mold. He finds a way to capture my attention/imagination with whatever he writes! I'm cu to see if this series continues.
February 9, 2025
Did not really enjoy this one. All those alien species in the cast and the author didn't really even bother to describe them. Also, the biggest fantasy element in this book was the author's take on earth politics.
May 8, 2019
11/20.
November 25, 2019
Not my favorite Zahn novel, for sure. Very political.
April 2, 2020
I genuinely loved this story. I love how Zahn writes, and I love the universe he created within these pages. It’s a fairly standard SF leaving-earth humanity-into-the-stars tale, but it was good.
April 20, 2020
Eventhough this was written in 1985 and many of the future events were to take place in 2016, this book still held up well. I enjoyed both the story and the characters.
October 12, 2023
I liked the story though it was a bit bland in the storyline.
September 22, 2024
This is good old fashioned SF with an interesting technical situation at its heart. There's a lot of political manoeuvring best considered as being in a parallel world as otherwise it comes across as dated.
March 10, 2025
A great science fiction space fantasy that explores underlying human faults in a alien/space setting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews