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The Meaning Wars #1
...And the Stars Will Sing
It's her first job...and it's already going wrong.
Freshly graduated from university with a degree in engineering, Crystal approaches her placement on the wormhole-constructive ship Crossing Paths with nothing but enthusiasm. But while Crystal gets used to the ins and outs of a multispecies, multicultural ship, tension brews both at work and back home.
Not murdering her coworker Jai is hard enough; the last thing she needs are the terrifying errors cropping up on her maps. Reality and space are either tearing themselves apart - or someone else is attacking them. With conspiracies lurking everywhere, friendship won't be enough to see her through these dangerous new problems...
Fans of Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series will enjoy this sometimes joyful, sometimes dark personal adventure set in a world of politics, bureaucracy - and piracy.
Freshly graduated from university with a degree in engineering, Crystal approaches her placement on the wormhole-constructive ship Crossing Paths with nothing but enthusiasm. But while Crystal gets used to the ins and outs of a multispecies, multicultural ship, tension brews both at work and back home.
Not murdering her coworker Jai is hard enough; the last thing she needs are the terrifying errors cropping up on her maps. Reality and space are either tearing themselves apart - or someone else is attacking them. With conspiracies lurking everywhere, friendship won't be enough to see her through these dangerous new problems...
Fans of Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series will enjoy this sometimes joyful, sometimes dark personal adventure set in a world of politics, bureaucracy - and piracy.
76 pages, ebook
First published February 3, 2012
6 people are currently reading
1404 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Browne
33 books615 followersMichelle Browne is a sci fi/fantasy writer. She lives in Lethbridge, AB with her partners-in-crime and their cats. Her days revolve around freelance editing, knitting, jewelry, and nightmares, as well as social justice issues. She is currently working on the next books in her series, art, and drinking as much tea as humanly possible.
Michelle on Amazon
Michelle on Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 4, 2012
Wormholes, aliens, and space pirates, need I say more?
I met the author Michelle Browne in my social media ramblings. She’s a snarky, interesting girl, which pretty much describes her writing.
I have read A LOT of sci-fi novels and short stories. I subscribe to Analog magazine and enjoy every issue of it. This novella could easily have been a miniseries in Analog. It’s top notch sci-fi. She has an easy-flowing narrative style in first person, essentially a woman’s diary of her unusual work assignment aboard a wormhole mapping space vessel.
As the plot unfolds, the vessel receives a series of threatening messages from an unnamed source. The threat: If they continue their work on wormholes in that sector, they’ll pay the price with their lives. The mapping isn’t going well, unexplainable wormhole anomalies pop up where they shouldn’t be. Something is definitely not right. Amidst this setting, our heroine is falling in love with a coworker, very much against ship regulations. Overall, it was a very interesting, creative, and entertaining read. My inner sci-fi nerd crept out from under its shell to smile.
I found it fascinating they actually map out and create or repair wormholes through space for interstellar highways. And the various different alien races that interact, sharing meals, relating to one another, bridging massive gaps of culture and language to find common ground.
My only complaint is that it should have been longer. I would really like to see a full length novel of this quality sci-fi from Michelle Browne.
I met the author Michelle Browne in my social media ramblings. She’s a snarky, interesting girl, which pretty much describes her writing.
I have read A LOT of sci-fi novels and short stories. I subscribe to Analog magazine and enjoy every issue of it. This novella could easily have been a miniseries in Analog. It’s top notch sci-fi. She has an easy-flowing narrative style in first person, essentially a woman’s diary of her unusual work assignment aboard a wormhole mapping space vessel.
As the plot unfolds, the vessel receives a series of threatening messages from an unnamed source. The threat: If they continue their work on wormholes in that sector, they’ll pay the price with their lives. The mapping isn’t going well, unexplainable wormhole anomalies pop up where they shouldn’t be. Something is definitely not right. Amidst this setting, our heroine is falling in love with a coworker, very much against ship regulations. Overall, it was a very interesting, creative, and entertaining read. My inner sci-fi nerd crept out from under its shell to smile.
I found it fascinating they actually map out and create or repair wormholes through space for interstellar highways. And the various different alien races that interact, sharing meals, relating to one another, bridging massive gaps of culture and language to find common ground.
My only complaint is that it should have been longer. I would really like to see a full length novel of this quality sci-fi from Michelle Browne.
December 30, 2012
Originality! It's what first sucked me into the Harry Potter series and it's what sucked me into And the Stars Will Sing. Upon starting JK Rowling's now hugely famous series (no one had heard of it back then) I was struck by how Rowling had managed to invent so many new and fresh ideas, names and incidents in a genre that I thought had been mined dry. Michelle Browne has pulled off the exact same magic (no pun intended) with her debut novella, And the Stars Will Sing. I was immediately impressed by the fact that she just lays out her world as if we're all as familiar with it as we are with Star Wars and Star Trek. And despite the plethora of alien names, races, planets, star ships and fantastically futuristic tech those two giants of Sci-Fi have flooded the world with, Browne has invented her own brilliant and fresh canon. It's nothing short of pure genius of invention, and in reading it, one comes to believe that Browne knows all about wormholes and the technology of future space travel, and one starts to believe that all this could well be real some day. At the same time she somehow manages to channel the hard SF of Asimov, Pournelle and Niven while also including a touch of the fantastical elements of CJ Cherryh and Piers Anthony. And all this clever blending is presented in Browne's own unique Young Adult diary style writing. Without revealing any of the plot, there are also two nicely subtle instances in which the book's title is incorporated into the story and one thinks ah, now I get it... and it's really cool. So no matter your age, if you enjoy hard SF and space operas alike, and want to take a quick trip to the farthest reaches of an unknown galaxy to discover why the stars do indeed sing, grab a copy of Michelle Browne's And the Stars Will Sing.
March 2, 2015
Disappointing... Good premise, but the writing is bad, and the storytelling is too hurried. It felt like the author constantly had to TELL me what was going on, instead of SHOWING it...
February 14, 2024
An epistolary novella about a new graduate sent to the outer reaches of known space to build wormholes (and, you know, prevent the cosmos from being ripped to shreds and turned into black holes and such). Crystal's coming-of-age is told through letters to her best friend, Sarah, as she bonds and clashes with her new crewmates, finds love, and...fights space pirates. The aliens are genuinely alien, which I adored, and I'd compare it favourably to "The Long Way To a Small Angry Planet" in that it has similar found family vibes with plenty of action to ensure that I don't get saccharine poisoning. A very cool intro to the series that I'm now working my way through!
December 14, 2012
An Engaging and Skillfully-Constructed Novella
I don’t read much science fiction these days. I find a lot of the books in the genre too derivative, sitting on the shoulders of the great science fiction writers of yore. I particularly get frustrated with the lack of attention to basic psychology, and hence to my mind a lot of character motivations and actions have no credibility or depth to them.
Sci-fi novels written in the first person have an additional challenge inasmuch as the technologies and worlds described by the narrator would be familiar to them while being unfamiliar to us. This presents the writer with a technical difficulty of conveying to the reader what is different to them without undermining the narrator’s credibility. Imagine the situation of a current-day narrator describing a journey by train. Exactly HOW fascinated would that person be with how the carriage was laid out or the technology of railway tracks? The answer is not very, particularly if they’d already travelled by train hundreds of times before.
I am pleased to say that Michelle Browne handles these structural issues with apparent ease while engaging her readers in a compelling narrative along the way. The descriptions of the future are handled almost as asides (which is as it should be) without getting in the way of the story.
Ms Browne’s narrator, Crystal Weiss – a copper haired Martian - is a delightfully snarky creation. “Glass” as she is known to her workmates is difficult, argumentative and with an offbeat sense of humour. By way of a diary, Weiss records her experiences as a mapper on a deep space project to create a wormhole for interstellar travel.
Without getting into spoiler territory, I will say there is plenty going on to engage the reader’s attention. The only nit-pick I had with the storyline was a credibility issue as to why internal transporters would be left operational in a particular circumstance (I’m not going into detail on this, as it would give too much away).
The writing style is sparse and spiky, as befits the storyteller herself.
Well done, Michelle Browne. “And the Stars Will Sing” gets my vote for novella of the year, regardless of genre.
I don’t read much science fiction these days. I find a lot of the books in the genre too derivative, sitting on the shoulders of the great science fiction writers of yore. I particularly get frustrated with the lack of attention to basic psychology, and hence to my mind a lot of character motivations and actions have no credibility or depth to them.
Sci-fi novels written in the first person have an additional challenge inasmuch as the technologies and worlds described by the narrator would be familiar to them while being unfamiliar to us. This presents the writer with a technical difficulty of conveying to the reader what is different to them without undermining the narrator’s credibility. Imagine the situation of a current-day narrator describing a journey by train. Exactly HOW fascinated would that person be with how the carriage was laid out or the technology of railway tracks? The answer is not very, particularly if they’d already travelled by train hundreds of times before.
I am pleased to say that Michelle Browne handles these structural issues with apparent ease while engaging her readers in a compelling narrative along the way. The descriptions of the future are handled almost as asides (which is as it should be) without getting in the way of the story.
Ms Browne’s narrator, Crystal Weiss – a copper haired Martian - is a delightfully snarky creation. “Glass” as she is known to her workmates is difficult, argumentative and with an offbeat sense of humour. By way of a diary, Weiss records her experiences as a mapper on a deep space project to create a wormhole for interstellar travel.
Without getting into spoiler territory, I will say there is plenty going on to engage the reader’s attention. The only nit-pick I had with the storyline was a credibility issue as to why internal transporters would be left operational in a particular circumstance (I’m not going into detail on this, as it would give too much away).
The writing style is sparse and spiky, as befits the storyteller herself.
Well done, Michelle Browne. “And the Stars Will Sing” gets my vote for novella of the year, regardless of genre.
September 29, 2013
An engrossing story, pulling the reader through to the conclusion with Crystal, the FP protagonist/heroine.
Some suspense is lost due to the choice of first person for the VP. We know Crystal lives to tell the story. We are not so sure about her happiness or her friends, however, and much of the suspense derives from that fact. While the suspense isn’t as high as it might be, it was sufficient for me to enjoy.
I enjoyed all the characters, though I hoped for more depth, especially for Kail, Jia and Harael. That’s the trade-off for a short story, I suppose. We get to know them enough to want to know them better, and the format doesn’t facilitate that. Perhaps Ms Browne will bring them to a longer story and therein, develop them more.
In similar vein, more background on the villains would have been enjoyable, especially concerning their motivation for interfering. I won’t go any further in that direction for fear of spoilers; it is a good story and I don’t want to give anything more away.
While the local setting was sufficiently detailed that I felt grounded in the action, that wasn’t as true for the ’global’ setting. I never had a good idea what connections Crystal and her team-mates were trying to make, or why. I hasten to add that this is a passing complaint; it was a niggling kind of question and the answer would not have affected the action.
That is because the story is Crystal’s; her experiences at her duty station and with her team-mates as they weave space back together. As usual, work is insufficient to live for, we meet her romantic interests and watch friendships. When the villains appear, we’re ready, even though Crystal isn’t.
Especially in the second half, the action heats up, making it interesting, becoming a real page-turner.
I recommend "Stars" to any aficionados of science fiction incorporating romance and action.
I reviewed an ARC, so can’t comment on formatting, but I found no typos or spelling errors even in my copy. When I raised a couple of questions to Ms Browne, she was polite enough to make a response; they also won’t affect your enjoyment.
Some suspense is lost due to the choice of first person for the VP. We know Crystal lives to tell the story. We are not so sure about her happiness or her friends, however, and much of the suspense derives from that fact. While the suspense isn’t as high as it might be, it was sufficient for me to enjoy.
I enjoyed all the characters, though I hoped for more depth, especially for Kail, Jia and Harael. That’s the trade-off for a short story, I suppose. We get to know them enough to want to know them better, and the format doesn’t facilitate that. Perhaps Ms Browne will bring them to a longer story and therein, develop them more.
In similar vein, more background on the villains would have been enjoyable, especially concerning their motivation for interfering. I won’t go any further in that direction for fear of spoilers; it is a good story and I don’t want to give anything more away.
While the local setting was sufficiently detailed that I felt grounded in the action, that wasn’t as true for the ’global’ setting. I never had a good idea what connections Crystal and her team-mates were trying to make, or why. I hasten to add that this is a passing complaint; it was a niggling kind of question and the answer would not have affected the action.
That is because the story is Crystal’s; her experiences at her duty station and with her team-mates as they weave space back together. As usual, work is insufficient to live for, we meet her romantic interests and watch friendships. When the villains appear, we’re ready, even though Crystal isn’t.
Especially in the second half, the action heats up, making it interesting, becoming a real page-turner.
I recommend "Stars" to any aficionados of science fiction incorporating romance and action.
I reviewed an ARC, so can’t comment on formatting, but I found no typos or spelling errors even in my copy. When I raised a couple of questions to Ms Browne, she was polite enough to make a response; they also won’t affect your enjoyment.
May 2, 2013
If you will like this book or not depends on whether you like the narrator's voice (I didn't connect with her). What I liked about the book was the explanations I got about worm-hole creation. I could have done with a little math here and there but understand that most people would hate that (I'm a freak in that respect). I wa a bit sorry that the more technical parts of the main character's job were often cut short (probably to not bore the reader).
The rest of the book was straightforward and flowed without exciting ups and downs for nearly half the book, then, the pace picks up a little. Unfortunately, the author decided to write the story as diary entries which made it clear from the set-up that the main character would survive. That dampened the tension considerably.
There was fairly little conflict during the book until the pirates invaded, and they were so dumb that they "forgot" (conveniently) about a method of transport that would work against them. Also, not one of the pirates was characterized. The bad guys stayed faceless which made them less effective as "baddies". Also, I believe that the author didn't dare to really hurt the characters she liked. She choses to kill two people who are in love instead of showing us the grief of a survivor. I didn't much care for the MC or the guy she fell for. There was little in the area of character development.
The rest of the book was straightforward and flowed without exciting ups and downs for nearly half the book, then, the pace picks up a little. Unfortunately, the author decided to write the story as diary entries which made it clear from the set-up that the main character would survive. That dampened the tension considerably.
There was fairly little conflict during the book until the pirates invaded, and they were so dumb that they "forgot" (conveniently) about a method of transport that would work against them. Also, not one of the pirates was characterized. The bad guys stayed faceless which made them less effective as "baddies". Also, I believe that the author didn't dare to really hurt the characters she liked. She choses to kill two people who are in love instead of showing us the grief of a survivor. I didn't much care for the MC or the guy she fell for. There was little in the area of character development.
September 18, 2013
I received this book for free because of the group Read It and Reap. I really liked that this book had a really interesting setting, and at first it was a bit confusing but then it all cleared the deeper you get in to the book. I feel like the author could have elaborated a bit more on the climax of the huge black hole. I also think that there should have been some more exciting ups and downs in the book. I am not usually a big fan of Sci-Fi, but this book was good. I liked how there was some technical parts or reasons why things happened in space. Also I felt as if Her relationship with Jai was kind of fast and happened out of no where. The imagination to this book was endless Michelle Browne must have a huge and amazing imagination to come up with a setting, and characters this intense. I would recommend this book to people who like Sci-Fi with a little bit of romance and adventure.
June 13, 2014
Generally speaking I enjoyed this book as a relatively quick, easy read that maintained a reasonable level of suspense. Writing it in the first person as if it were the protagonist's journal was reasonably effective and could provide an excuse for the lack of detail. There were quite a few characters who didn't contribute anything to the story but nonetheless it was a nice escape into the future with the technical side handled fairly well. Nonetheless, the plot was a bit too predictable for my tastes.
May 20, 2022
This story is actually great
March 20, 2023
Anyone who liked The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet will love this space opera about found family on a remote space station. Told as a series of letters Crystal is writing to her best friend, we see the gorgeous world building of a complex intergalactic social system, we see friendships (and love) unfold, and then we see things fall apart when the pirates attack. Come for the space, stay for the adventure.
May 13, 2024
Brilliant and original, if you want a quick novella for an afternoon read, but also want to transport into the realm of wormholes, aliens, and things that make your head buzz, this is it. The journal format worked well for this story. For a short story, the relationships with Crystal's crewmates and the primary mystery felt well developed. Enough to make me care what was going on! An exciting read, almost like watching an episode of Black Mirror.
October 9, 2013
This is a wonderful book, smooth writing, strong characters, compelling science fiction landscape.
I think this book is a 4/5 rating in my bookshelf, but my subjectivity played a trick on me. I wanted to pick it up thanks to an impressive review, that excitedly recommended it for originality. As a science-fiction addict, I always have this nagging question in the back of my head: how much more can be said, in a book on wormholes, and with starships, and traveling faster than light? That is, the field has so many yet another of the same, that it's hard to find your new "aaah wow". This proved among the best reading I had for a while.
The novella puts a unique spin on a space story. Written as a journal of Glass, in her first mission to open a wormhole, it draws us directly in the reality of the main character, and in the world she lives in. It treats technology, alien relations, science theories, like common sense reality. The far future world is believable, and sound, and damn fun.
While the story is compelling, I had some issues believing the plot and characters. I didn't quite buy the little romance between Glass and Jai, when he's coldly letting her go in a reconnaissance mission. (We're told he's scared, but he didn't sound to me like he's scared for her.) I kept waiting to find out he has some agenda of his own aboard the ship, although that's probably just me. I also was confused at some point on who is talking, in a dialogue between Kial and Ruzzan. With no consequence to the story, though. A few of the characters are very well sketched, a few others less so. I can easily identify with Glass, and Annamar has a recognizable presence, Kelna less so.
The girl gossip scene felt a little rushed. That is, the four girls eagerly meet during launch break, and take all the long way to the quarters, and once there, they exchange a few replies, then one of them gives the signal to go back. I was amused, not bothered, it just felt like something's missing.
I've read the ebook version, and towards the end, I found a few editing issues, but they were very few and trivial.
The novella is an easy, fast and pleasant read. I loved the writing style, it's flowing beautifully, and that makes it a very enjoyable experience. I found myself so drawn in, and at the end I agreed with the originality, and that's the charm of it! This is Michelle Browne's debut novella, and a fine debut it is. I know I will be looking for her next books.
Note: I have received a copy for free, for an honest review.
A closing remark, on the copy I read. In the introductory acknowledgments, there's a misuse of the term copyright: original photo cannot be both public domain and copyrighted by an organization. Public domain is outside copyright of someone, it's either one or the other. If the photo is public domain, the proper term is "public domain and credit to STSci".
This work by Alfaniel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
I think this book is a 4/5 rating in my bookshelf, but my subjectivity played a trick on me. I wanted to pick it up thanks to an impressive review, that excitedly recommended it for originality. As a science-fiction addict, I always have this nagging question in the back of my head: how much more can be said, in a book on wormholes, and with starships, and traveling faster than light? That is, the field has so many yet another of the same, that it's hard to find your new "aaah wow". This proved among the best reading I had for a while.
The novella puts a unique spin on a space story. Written as a journal of Glass, in her first mission to open a wormhole, it draws us directly in the reality of the main character, and in the world she lives in. It treats technology, alien relations, science theories, like common sense reality. The far future world is believable, and sound, and damn fun.
While the story is compelling, I had some issues believing the plot and characters. I didn't quite buy the little romance between Glass and Jai, when he's coldly letting her go in a reconnaissance mission. (We're told he's scared, but he didn't sound to me like he's scared for her.) I kept waiting to find out he has some agenda of his own aboard the ship, although that's probably just me. I also was confused at some point on who is talking, in a dialogue between Kial and Ruzzan. With no consequence to the story, though. A few of the characters are very well sketched, a few others less so. I can easily identify with Glass, and Annamar has a recognizable presence, Kelna less so.
The girl gossip scene felt a little rushed. That is, the four girls eagerly meet during launch break, and take all the long way to the quarters, and once there, they exchange a few replies, then one of them gives the signal to go back. I was amused, not bothered, it just felt like something's missing.
I've read the ebook version, and towards the end, I found a few editing issues, but they were very few and trivial.
The novella is an easy, fast and pleasant read. I loved the writing style, it's flowing beautifully, and that makes it a very enjoyable experience. I found myself so drawn in, and at the end I agreed with the originality, and that's the charm of it! This is Michelle Browne's debut novella, and a fine debut it is. I know I will be looking for her next books.
Note: I have received a copy for free, for an honest review.
A closing remark, on the copy I read. In the introductory acknowledgments, there's a misuse of the term copyright: original photo cannot be both public domain and copyrighted by an organization. Public domain is outside copyright of someone, it's either one or the other. If the photo is public domain, the proper term is "public domain and credit to STSci".
This work by Alfaniel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
December 31, 2014
Note: The author is my friend, but that has absolutely nothing to do with my opinion of the book or my review of it.
2.5 stars.
...And the Stars Will Sing has all the makings of a solid 3.5-to-4-star read. It has an array of interesting characters, a great setting, a cool ass plot and every opportunity to captivate its readers. Even the writing is all right. All the ideas and concepts introduced in this short story are downright fascinating. Clearly, it could've been amazing.
In the end, where Stars failed was in the execution--it's told in several journal entries from the penhand of protagonist and heroine Crystal.
I have a difficult time articulating how the use of this storytelling method dampened its potential because, in truth, it's really not that bad. Author Browne pulls it off pretty well, actually. That being said, there was so much more that could've been explored in the story that simply didn't because to meander into such realms in a journal entry format would ultimately detract from what makes it bearable in the first place.
Merit: Crystal's voice sounds real (for the most part), and it suits the story.
Demerit: Opportunities to elevate plot progression, character development, worldbuilding, etc. remain unexploited and thereby leave something to be desired at the end of the book.
So, damned if you do, damned if you don't, when it comes to narration.
Inside its context, the characters receive hardly any distinction much less... well, characterization; the setting, which is rather interesting to imagine, falls to the wayside most of the time; the plot seems dragged out and then rushed, the twists facile, some kinda corny; and the writing... just... suffers.
However, outside of those considerations, the bare bones and ideas behind Stars are pretty remarkable, if I say so myself. There's a very evident scifi presence although the actual inclusion of it is lighthanded if a little oversimplified, as well as a surprisingly action-filled ending that I enjoyed in particular.
It's a good book. It needs some attention and refinement, but it's an entirely enjoyable piece of work, and I'll certainly be reading more from Browne in the future.
Ha. Get it? In the future? No? Okay...
Oh, and the title? I dig the fuck outta that title. :D
Luna. Earth. When will I ever see Earth again? It's not home, not really--all the smells are different, everything--but I'm used to seeing that bright blue star reappear every night during moonrise, watching like the motherplanet it is.
2.5 stars.
...And the Stars Will Sing has all the makings of a solid 3.5-to-4-star read. It has an array of interesting characters, a great setting, a cool ass plot and every opportunity to captivate its readers. Even the writing is all right. All the ideas and concepts introduced in this short story are downright fascinating. Clearly, it could've been amazing.
In the end, where Stars failed was in the execution--it's told in several journal entries from the penhand of protagonist and heroine Crystal.
I have a difficult time articulating how the use of this storytelling method dampened its potential because, in truth, it's really not that bad. Author Browne pulls it off pretty well, actually. That being said, there was so much more that could've been explored in the story that simply didn't because to meander into such realms in a journal entry format would ultimately detract from what makes it bearable in the first place.
Merit: Crystal's voice sounds real (for the most part), and it suits the story.
Demerit: Opportunities to elevate plot progression, character development, worldbuilding, etc. remain unexploited and thereby leave something to be desired at the end of the book.
So, damned if you do, damned if you don't, when it comes to narration.
Inside its context, the characters receive hardly any distinction much less... well, characterization; the setting, which is rather interesting to imagine, falls to the wayside most of the time; the plot seems dragged out and then rushed, the twists facile, some kinda corny; and the writing... just... suffers.
However, outside of those considerations, the bare bones and ideas behind Stars are pretty remarkable, if I say so myself. There's a very evident scifi presence although the actual inclusion of it is lighthanded if a little oversimplified, as well as a surprisingly action-filled ending that I enjoyed in particular.
It's a good book. It needs some attention and refinement, but it's an entirely enjoyable piece of work, and I'll certainly be reading more from Browne in the future.
Ha. Get it? In the future? No? Okay...
Oh, and the title? I dig the fuck outta that title. :D
Luna. Earth. When will I ever see Earth again? It's not home, not really--all the smells are different, everything--but I'm used to seeing that bright blue star reappear every night during moonrise, watching like the motherplanet it is.
March 7, 2013
Pretty solid story. As a novella it's necessarily short on character development and is largely plot driven, which works for what I perceive to be a younger target audience than I. Everything feels rushed, with the central romance feeling particularly hurried and the shift from 'I can't stand this guy' to 'I love him to death' being almost painfully abrupt.
The main character has some Mary Sue tendencies, but in this sort of novel there's nothing wrong with that. The antagonist also has some villain-from-a-can tendencies, but that's alright, too. No need to re-invent fiction here.
I don't know if it's just the kindle edition, but I found this novella to be rife with typos, missing words and words used incorrectly. I'm a copy editor by profession, but I think someone who doesn't edit for a living would've noticed, too. Because the book is written in diary format (necessitating some awkward tense shifts, by the way) I guess those typos and such could be intentional on the writer's part, as if they were committed by a rushed main character instead. If that's the case, though, it's not a choice I particularly approve of as it just makes the editing look sloppy. If the typos aren't intentional, then the editing is just sloppy.
Still, it's quick and worth a breeze through if you like light sci-fi.
The main character has some Mary Sue tendencies, but in this sort of novel there's nothing wrong with that. The antagonist also has some villain-from-a-can tendencies, but that's alright, too. No need to re-invent fiction here.
I don't know if it's just the kindle edition, but I found this novella to be rife with typos, missing words and words used incorrectly. I'm a copy editor by profession, but I think someone who doesn't edit for a living would've noticed, too. Because the book is written in diary format (necessitating some awkward tense shifts, by the way) I guess those typos and such could be intentional on the writer's part, as if they were committed by a rushed main character instead. If that's the case, though, it's not a choice I particularly approve of as it just makes the editing look sloppy. If the typos aren't intentional, then the editing is just sloppy.
Still, it's quick and worth a breeze through if you like light sci-fi.
October 31, 2013
On her first assignment after graduation from university, Crystal finds herself in a remote area of space mapping small holes in the fabric of the universe. The project is to culminate in the creation of a stable route from civilization to this far away out post.
She works with a variety of beings from other inhabited planets and one other crewmember from Mars – Jai. Though finding themselves in constant conflict in the beginning, their relationship slowly develops into one of respect and then, attraction, which is forbidden among the crew.
While working strange holes begin to appear where previously there had been none, and the captain receives threatening messages from an unknown source demanding they cease and desist in their work and remove themselves from the area. The origin of the threat is eventually narrowed down to a suspicious ship which subsequently attacks and pirates take over Crystal’s vessel. The besieged captain and crew must regain control of their ship and defeat the pirates.
Written in a journal entry format, this is an exciting space adventure with unique characters with an interesting reason for being where they are – on the back of beyond. They seemed like nice people and I became invested in what happened to them as well as entertained by storyline. I particularly enjoyed how the crew fights back to overcome the pirates.
She works with a variety of beings from other inhabited planets and one other crewmember from Mars – Jai. Though finding themselves in constant conflict in the beginning, their relationship slowly develops into one of respect and then, attraction, which is forbidden among the crew.
While working strange holes begin to appear where previously there had been none, and the captain receives threatening messages from an unknown source demanding they cease and desist in their work and remove themselves from the area. The origin of the threat is eventually narrowed down to a suspicious ship which subsequently attacks and pirates take over Crystal’s vessel. The besieged captain and crew must regain control of their ship and defeat the pirates.
Written in a journal entry format, this is an exciting space adventure with unique characters with an interesting reason for being where they are – on the back of beyond. They seemed like nice people and I became invested in what happened to them as well as entertained by storyline. I particularly enjoyed how the crew fights back to overcome the pirates.
January 20, 2013
'And The Stars Will Sing' is an action-packed sci-fi novella, told in diary format by a young woman named Crystal.
My first thought on finishing this novella was that it would appeal very well to a YA audience. I think teenagers would enjoy the way it's told as well as the characters and the story, as would sci-fi fans looking for something a little different in the genre.
Crystal's voice completely captivated my attention and kept me hooked throughout. Browne has a real skill for creating new worlds that are so different from the norm, yet so believable and compelling. In between the main action, there are snatches of humour, conflicts between the characters & a realistic romance that takes centre stage for a bit.
At times it felt as if the characters were a little younger than they were meant to be - I'm not sure if this was maybe intentional though - which is another reason I think YA readers would be attracted to this book. This wasn't a major thing, just something noticed occasionally while I was reading. It doesn't impair the story in any way.
If you like sci-fi, or enjoy an action-packed adventure read, you should pick up this book. I really enjoyed it and will be looking forward to Browne's next book.
My first thought on finishing this novella was that it would appeal very well to a YA audience. I think teenagers would enjoy the way it's told as well as the characters and the story, as would sci-fi fans looking for something a little different in the genre.
Crystal's voice completely captivated my attention and kept me hooked throughout. Browne has a real skill for creating new worlds that are so different from the norm, yet so believable and compelling. In between the main action, there are snatches of humour, conflicts between the characters & a realistic romance that takes centre stage for a bit.
At times it felt as if the characters were a little younger than they were meant to be - I'm not sure if this was maybe intentional though - which is another reason I think YA readers would be attracted to this book. This wasn't a major thing, just something noticed occasionally while I was reading. It doesn't impair the story in any way.
If you like sci-fi, or enjoy an action-packed adventure read, you should pick up this book. I really enjoyed it and will be looking forward to Browne's next book.
May 15, 2013
“And the Stars Will Sing” by Michelle Browne
Crystal Weiss is leaving Mars for the first real job she’s had out of college. She’s going to work on the transport ship Crossing Paths close to the Orion system, helping calculate the location of a wormhole.
She doesn’t tell anyone she has the ability to mindsearch for fear of being recruited into the field. Once a person becomes a mindsearcher professionally, the risk of madness increases. Crystal likes to mindsearch for fun and relaxation. After a long day of work-induced stress, there is nothing quite like the feel of open space in one’s mind. And on this journey, with this motley crew of co-workers, she needs whatever form of relaxation she can find. Add to that someone sending the ship ominous threats of pirating this first job is beginning to look like it’s more than it’s worth.
Michelle Browne creates full-bodied characters with lively personalities in very complicated jobs trying (or not trying, in some cases) to get along. She is extremely adept at building tension while simultaneously describing detailed high-tech science fiction settings. The reader’s imagination is kept on hyper-alert throughout the tale.
This book was received in exchange for an honest review.
Crystal Weiss is leaving Mars for the first real job she’s had out of college. She’s going to work on the transport ship Crossing Paths close to the Orion system, helping calculate the location of a wormhole.
She doesn’t tell anyone she has the ability to mindsearch for fear of being recruited into the field. Once a person becomes a mindsearcher professionally, the risk of madness increases. Crystal likes to mindsearch for fun and relaxation. After a long day of work-induced stress, there is nothing quite like the feel of open space in one’s mind. And on this journey, with this motley crew of co-workers, she needs whatever form of relaxation she can find. Add to that someone sending the ship ominous threats of pirating this first job is beginning to look like it’s more than it’s worth.
Michelle Browne creates full-bodied characters with lively personalities in very complicated jobs trying (or not trying, in some cases) to get along. She is extremely adept at building tension while simultaneously describing detailed high-tech science fiction settings. The reader’s imagination is kept on hyper-alert throughout the tale.
This book was received in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2013
Stars Rank: 5 *****
"I'll be helping to calculate the location of the wormhole, an important part of the job. If you don't put the damn thing in the right place, you might accidently cause a rip or tear in the wrong place and cause a radical wormhole, the kind that can go, well, anywhere. You might end up halfway across the universe, or even in another dimension."
I’ll start off by mentioning I was intending on not even writing a review on this novella, but it was so good, in personal opinion, that I had to. I give the book five stars because within 30 pages Browne did so much with the story that I have to give her props. Within that little bit she made me connected with the characters. Giving them such depth that I wanted to help with their problems, cheer some up, explore the universe with them and fight along side them! It really is such an awesome read and I wish that it was a proper 300 some-odd-page book, maybe novella part 2? If that’s a thing..
If any of you like a true Sci-Fi story, action fighting scenes, aliens and space pirates then this is for you… trust me the 30 pages won’t be a waste, at least I don’t think so.
"I'll be helping to calculate the location of the wormhole, an important part of the job. If you don't put the damn thing in the right place, you might accidently cause a rip or tear in the wrong place and cause a radical wormhole, the kind that can go, well, anywhere. You might end up halfway across the universe, or even in another dimension."
I’ll start off by mentioning I was intending on not even writing a review on this novella, but it was so good, in personal opinion, that I had to. I give the book five stars because within 30 pages Browne did so much with the story that I have to give her props. Within that little bit she made me connected with the characters. Giving them such depth that I wanted to help with their problems, cheer some up, explore the universe with them and fight along side them! It really is such an awesome read and I wish that it was a proper 300 some-odd-page book, maybe novella part 2? If that’s a thing..
If any of you like a true Sci-Fi story, action fighting scenes, aliens and space pirates then this is for you… trust me the 30 pages won’t be a waste, at least I don’t think so.
May 16, 2013
This short sci-fi story is an easy and enjoyable read. Crystal, the main character, seemed aloof to me in the first sections of the story, but soon softens out as the plot gets deeper and she literally faces life and death situations. The descriptions are just enough to build her world and environment. The writer’s character development for the main character, her love interest, and support characters help the reader get easily lost in the short story. I felt like the romances were fast and quick, but it’s to be expected with the isolated nature of the characters’ work. I appreciate the author actually took the time to scientifically back her sci-fi elements and plotline.
I received a copy of this EBook from the author in return for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion.
I received a copy of this EBook from the author in return for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion.
February 28, 2014
This story has it all! Pirates, aliens, strange new planets and sights, a strong heroine, romance, and even bickering in the office. But this suffers from the same problem as most of the other science fiction on the market these days - it gets weighed down by technical details and drowns under trying to show off all its futuristic technology. It's good to lend flavor to a story, and assist it along, but the story tends to lose my interest when the technology takes over as being the center of the story and even the starring role. But the story did have a lot of merits - the narrative voice of Crystal was refreshing and gave the story a viewpoint for the audience to watch through the eager eyes of, her other co-workers were fascinating in their alienness and how they related to each other, romance is always a good lure, and the pirate fight was every inch exhilerating.
December 10, 2012
A charming sci-fi novella. Crystal is young, quirky, and excited about her new job, which involves mapping and repairing wormholes in space. All starts well, but there are sinister happenings - pirates and sabotage, and I mustn't forget the tentative stirrings of romance. The author crafts a unique style to tell her story which works very well. The story is unveiled through snippets captured in Crystal's journal that update the reader on events in a chatty, personal style - after all, the narrator is writing to herself. I loved the detail casually thrown in describing a very different time and culture. Towards the end, I felt the depth of Crystal's pain and terror as she is forced to take action that tests her character and resolve to the full. An enjoyable read!
March 13, 2013
I confess I'm not a big science fiction reader. I find a great many writers too obsessed with the setting and pseudo-science with little attention to character.
Michelle Browne is an exception. Her science is sound inasmuch as it is credible and believable and importantly, so are her characters, particularly her major protagonist, especially when presented in the first-person viewpoint. That is no mean achievement given that this is a novella rather than a full-length novel.
The writing style is economical but punchy, again a prerequisite in a worthwhile novella and the plot engaging to the last page.
As my opening sentence, I'm not a science-fiction reader but I can certainly commend Michelle Browne's work.
Michelle Browne is an exception. Her science is sound inasmuch as it is credible and believable and importantly, so are her characters, particularly her major protagonist, especially when presented in the first-person viewpoint. That is no mean achievement given that this is a novella rather than a full-length novel.
The writing style is economical but punchy, again a prerequisite in a worthwhile novella and the plot engaging to the last page.
As my opening sentence, I'm not a science-fiction reader but I can certainly commend Michelle Browne's work.
September 30, 2013
A short story/novella set in space. The story is delivered as journal entries from a new crew member. On the one hand, I liked this approach. It’s an interesting variation from the first person narrative and works for a short story format. On the other hand, it was at times too detailed to be a personal journal. Why would she describe to herself the basic mechanics of her job or how space works? It would have been more believable to me if she was writing a journal for or letters to a friend or sibling. The story was good but I wanted more fleshing out. I didn't really buy into the romance because you didn't really get to see it develop. Guess I would have preferred a full length novel.
September 21, 2013
Sci-Fi isn’t my usual genre but I did enjoy Michelle Browne's "And the stars will sing".
Written in diary form “And the stars will sing” follows the working life of a young Martian called Crystal Weiss. The diary shows us the ups and downs of Crystal's job as a mapper which I have to say is very action packed to say the least and I was captivated by the descriptive way that Michelle Browne keeps the story going.
A well written and descriptive book that any Sci-Fi reader would thoroughly enjoy.
Reviewed by Laura
Written in diary form “And the stars will sing” follows the working life of a young Martian called Crystal Weiss. The diary shows us the ups and downs of Crystal's job as a mapper which I have to say is very action packed to say the least and I was captivated by the descriptive way that Michelle Browne keeps the story going.
A well written and descriptive book that any Sci-Fi reader would thoroughly enjoy.
Reviewed by Laura
September 30, 2013
Sci-Fi isn’t my usual genre but I did enjoy Michelle Browne's "And the stars will sing".
Written in diary form “And the stars will sing” follows the working life of a young Martian called Crystal Weiss. The diary shows us the ups and downs of Crystal's job as a mapper which I have to say is very action packed to say the least and I was captivated by the descriptive way that Michelle Browne keeps the story going.
A well written and descriptive book that any Sci-Fi reader would thoroughly enjoy.
Written in diary form “And the stars will sing” follows the working life of a young Martian called Crystal Weiss. The diary shows us the ups and downs of Crystal's job as a mapper which I have to say is very action packed to say the least and I was captivated by the descriptive way that Michelle Browne keeps the story going.
A well written and descriptive book that any Sci-Fi reader would thoroughly enjoy.
July 29, 2015
I'm not a fan of "journal" style first person narratives, but the originality present in this sci-fi kept me with it. There were some editing issues on my kindle that made it a small bit confusing at times. There were also some points where the journal style interfered with the enjoyment of the story and what was taking place, but I know this can be a difficult style to work with. That aside, its a good story with tons of fresh ideas and interesting characters
October 2, 2013
I had very mixed feelings on this book. I wasn't sure how I liked the journal writing in the beginning, but I have to say it worked well and I actually liked it. Michelle wrote a very interesting story, with strong characters, esp. Crystal. I did get kind of bored during some parts of the story(maybe that's because fantasy/sc-fi isn't really my cup of tea) but over all it really was a good and entertaining read :))
February 20, 2013
Kind of plain in my opinion. Quick too. Like an outline... definitely could have been better.
Also, Michelle, why would you spill the outcome of the climax before you told it? (a.k.a. the battle with pirates for the station) I mean why should I read about it still? You already told me the product. Badd storytelling.
Also, Michelle, why would you spill the outcome of the climax before you told it? (a.k.a. the battle with pirates for the station) I mean why should I read about it still? You already told me the product. Badd storytelling.
April 3, 2013
Piracy and adventure in the far-flung universe. Michelle Browne does an excellent job of relating the perils of her heroine, Crystal, to the reader. Definitely worth the read.
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