Tides

by Scott Mackay

Tides tells the tale of the rise of two intelligent species on the same planet, at a time in their history when they first encounter each other. Paras and Ortok are the only two continents on this planet, the homes to these two different species, and are separated by thousands of miles of ocean. Paras is lush and hospitable, a place where no one ever knows want. It has produced a culture of kindness and honesty. Ortok is bleak and volcanic, where the inhabitants survive at a subsistence level. It has given rise to a culture of cruelty and deceit. But will the citizens of Paras forever remain honest? And will the sentient species on Ortok finally cast out deceit?

Hab, a Parassian mariner, follows a cloud of volcanic ash twenty thousand leagues across the world-spanning ocean, battling iced-over seas, the decimation of his crew, and, worst of all, the killer tides - tides that because of two close moons are monstrous in size and are virtually unnavigable in any but the most ingeniously designed ships.

Watch cultures collide in this brilliant new novel by the award-winning author of Omnifix and Orbis.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction

356 pages, Hardcover

First published November 7, 2005

About the author

Award-winning author Scott Mackay has over thirty-five published short stories to his credit and four novels: OUTPOST, THE MEEK, A FRIEND IN BARCELONA and COLD COMFORT, which was nominated for the 1999 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel. He lives in Toronto.

Reviews

[Elana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read (and even written about) Mackay's other alien-encounter books. This one, however, was new to me and left me with mixed feelings. It is a stark story of a real clash of civilizations (and species) that raises hard issues of historical justice, universal morality, and the nature of truth. In many ways, it is exactly what SF has to be. But the writing is mediocre, the ending is rushed, and the alien world is not really fleshed out. Still, there are worse novels of military SF out there.

[Brian Gaston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I miss Scott Mackay's SF but he moved on to other genres. Not my favourite Mackay book but still a good read.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very strong intro and body. The author could have finished stronger though. Conclusion felt rushed and incomplete...