Outpost

by Scott Mackay

A story of time travel, aliens and alternate history from one of Canadas most celebrated SF writers. A group of human prisoners in a hi-tech alien prison escape, only to find themselves enmeshed in a war between two alien races for control of the human past. The key to the struggle lies back in the time of the Italian Renaissance. Scott Mackay lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Genres: Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 1998

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

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trapped in a mysterious prison, run by robots and an alien specious; a group of humans have been imprisoned for generations. As the prison systems degenerate, some of them begin to become aware of their surroundings, and try to escape from the prison, which is placed in an isolated area of an alien planet. Others become taken over by the aliens. As the story progresses, it is revealed there are two kinds of aliens: "One Ones" and "New Ones": they are working to change the course of human history by interfering with the past, especially the Italian renaissance.

The book is interesting and compelling. The main character is well-developed, and the reader really sympathizes with her efforts to escape from the alien mind control, to find love, and to escape from the prison. The pacing is excellent and holds the reader's interest. However, one has to overlook the ridiculous back story of aliens and interfering with the past. I like time travel stories as well as anyone, but these parts of the plot make no sense.

[Morgan McGuire · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 50%

Good writing and an interesting setting...but the beginning is incredibly confusing, and there isn't a lot of payoff once it becomes clear what is going on. The slow pace and awkward unveiling needed to lead to something better. I'm not willing to stick around for the second half of the novel only to hit more mediocre revelations... which are already printed on the dust jacket.

[grundoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 This was quite intriguing in both concept and execution - much better than I was expecting, up until where the plotting turned a bit pedestrian and some gaping holes opened up. The slow reveal and Italian twist in general were right up my alley; the resolution, not so much... a few interesting bits in there, but rushed and disappointingly silly.

[John Galt · Rating 2 out of 5]

While not a true time travel genre novel, it is central to the resolution to the story line. The story of human struggle in prison, from oppressive captors, held my interest enough to plow through.

[Rod Hyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in 2011. The book has my signature as I rated it at a 7..it vague in memory.

[Zanna McNeil · Rating 3 out of 5]

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