What do you think?
Rate this book
Only Superhuman
2107 AD: A generation ago, Earth and the cislunar colonies banned genetic and cybernetic modifications. But out in the Asteroid Belt, anything goes. Dozens of flourishing space habitats are spawning exotic new societies and strange new varieties of humans. It’s a volatile situation that threatens the peace and stability of the entire solar system.
Emerald Blair is a Troubleshooter. Inspired by the classic superhero comics of the twentieth century, she’s joined with other mods to try to police the unruly Asteroid Belt. But her loyalties are tested when she finds herself torn between rival factions of superhumans with very different agendas. Emerald wants to put her special abilities to good use, but what do you do when you can’t tell the heroes from the villains?
Emerald Blair is a Troubleshooter. Inspired by the classic superhero comics of the twentieth century, she’s joined with other mods to try to police the unruly Asteroid Belt. But her loyalties are tested when she finds herself torn between rival factions of superhumans with very different agendas. Emerald wants to put her special abilities to good use, but what do you do when you can’t tell the heroes from the villains?
1 pages, Audio CD
First published October 16, 2012
23 people are currently reading
850 people want to read
About the author
Christopher L. Bennett
66 books220 followersChristopher L. Bennett is a lifelong resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, with a B.S. in Physics and a B.A. in History from the University of Cincinnati. A fan of science and science fiction since age five, he has spent the past two decades selling original short fiction to magazines such as Analog Science Fiction and Fact (home of his "Hub" series of comedy adventures), BuzzyMag, and Galaxy's Edge. Since 2003, he has been one of Pocket Books' most prolific and popular authors of Star Trek tie-in fiction, including the epic Next Generation prequel The Buried Age, the Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations series, and the Star Trek: Enterprise -- Rise of the Federation series. He has also written two Marvel Comics novels, X-Men: Watchers on the Walls and Spider-Man: Drowned in Thunder. His original novel Only Superhuman, perhaps the first hard science fiction superhero novel, was voted Library Journal's SF/Fantasy Debut of the Month for October 2012. Other tales in the same universe can be found in Among the Wild Cybers and the upcoming Arachne's Crime, both from eSpec Books. His Hub stories are available in two collections from Mystique Press.
Christopher's homepage, fiction annotations, and blog can be found at christopherlbennett.wordpress.com. His Patreon page with original fiction and reviews is at https://www.patreon.com/christopherlb..., and his Facebook author page is at www.facebook.com/ChristopherLBennettA....
Christopher's homepage, fiction annotations, and blog can be found at christopherlbennett.wordpress.com. His Patreon page with original fiction and reviews is at https://www.patreon.com/christopherlb..., and his Facebook author page is at www.facebook.com/ChristopherLBennettA....
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
October 25, 2012
Originally published at our Kirkus blog
In the year 2107, humanity has banned any human genetics modifications—other than the basic mods needed for human survival on Earth and the immediately adjacent colonies, that is. But while Earth and her immediate neighbors are genetic conservatives, human settlements in the Asteroid belt and the outskirts of the solar system are far more radical minded. Here, human genomes are spliced with animal and machine, resulting in people with super-human abilities, like Emerald Blaze. While some, like Emry and her fellow Troubleshooters, use their abilities for good, many others take Earth’s anti-modification discrimination personally. When a group of superhumans, the Vanguards, put forward an agenda very different from that of the Troubleshooters, Emry finds her loyalties tested. The deeper Emry invests in her mission, the more blurred the lines between justice and truth become.
On the surface, Only Superhuman sounds like a good read, right?
Unfortunately, Christopher L. Bennett's Only Superhuman perpetuates the same ridiculous hyper-sexualized, do-me doll stereotypes that have become so prevalent (and so nauseating) in superhero fiction. This, combined with frequent info-dumps and depressingly bad dialogue, obliterated any interest I may have had for the underlying story.
Protagonist Emerald “Emry” Blaze is a genetically modified superhuman: incredibly fast, tremendously strong and dedicated to her job as a fully inducted member of the Troubleshooter Corps. Of course, all this falls a distant second to Emry’s most valuable (and most frequently flashed) assets: her spectacular breasts. In fact, the book probably should have been titled, Only Superhuman Breasts, because they basically determine the course of the story and are Emry’s defining characteristic.
For example, we learn that at the ripe age of 13, Emry’s favorite game is chasing down the boys (including college-age guys) and flashing them her enormously developed breasts (“heavy round orbs” which she “loved to show off with scanty tops, often lifting or shedding them for the boys who gawked at her”). Mind you, most of these boys are described as scared or not as interested in sex as our protagonist, so there is also the question of consent which goes unchallenged. To this, Emry’s parents laugh and shake their heads at their daughter’s endearing quirks.
Years later, Emry meets a carjacker with whom she spars for sex (“You win the fight, you get to fuck me.”), an episode punctuated by this fantastically memorable scene:
“Well, how am I doing?” He punctuated it with a kick to her gut, knocking her torso upright, and then delivered one more kick to her ample breasts in retaliation for her attempt on his balls. He felt somewhat guilty when she yelped in pain, but he reminded himself that she not only deserved it, but probably even enjoyed it in some sick way. Or maybe not so sick, he thought as he saw the approval—the hope—in her eyes.
And on and on the list goes. I haven’t even talked about the girl-on-girl sparring scene that results in the physical arousal of its male spectators, or Psyche and Emry literally wearing out four men in a sexathon before satisfying each other.
I need to stress that I am all for empowered female characters who enjoy sex. I believe that Bennett was trying to create a superheroine who owned her sexuality. The problem, however, is that even though the book is mostly narrated from Emry’s point of view, her entire persona (as well as the other female characters) is built from the perspective of the male gaze. This problem is compounded when one takes into account the historical context of female superheroes, who are so often defined by their sexiness. At best, this type of character is boring; at worst, it is insulting.
This is to say nothing of the uninspired plot, the clumsy delivery and the stilted dialogue (“Ohh, Emerald...my jewel...it’s just us now...I’ll take care of you now...”). But far and away, the largest problem with Only Superhuman is Bennett’s hypersexualized female characters, which call to mind the very worst stereotyping in the superhero genre.
In short, Only Superhuman? Not the book for me.
In Book Smugglerish, a deflated 2 out of 10.
In the year 2107, humanity has banned any human genetics modifications—other than the basic mods needed for human survival on Earth and the immediately adjacent colonies, that is. But while Earth and her immediate neighbors are genetic conservatives, human settlements in the Asteroid belt and the outskirts of the solar system are far more radical minded. Here, human genomes are spliced with animal and machine, resulting in people with super-human abilities, like Emerald Blaze. While some, like Emry and her fellow Troubleshooters, use their abilities for good, many others take Earth’s anti-modification discrimination personally. When a group of superhumans, the Vanguards, put forward an agenda very different from that of the Troubleshooters, Emry finds her loyalties tested. The deeper Emry invests in her mission, the more blurred the lines between justice and truth become.
On the surface, Only Superhuman sounds like a good read, right?
Unfortunately, Christopher L. Bennett's Only Superhuman perpetuates the same ridiculous hyper-sexualized, do-me doll stereotypes that have become so prevalent (and so nauseating) in superhero fiction. This, combined with frequent info-dumps and depressingly bad dialogue, obliterated any interest I may have had for the underlying story.
Protagonist Emerald “Emry” Blaze is a genetically modified superhuman: incredibly fast, tremendously strong and dedicated to her job as a fully inducted member of the Troubleshooter Corps. Of course, all this falls a distant second to Emry’s most valuable (and most frequently flashed) assets: her spectacular breasts. In fact, the book probably should have been titled, Only Superhuman Breasts, because they basically determine the course of the story and are Emry’s defining characteristic.
For example, we learn that at the ripe age of 13, Emry’s favorite game is chasing down the boys (including college-age guys) and flashing them her enormously developed breasts (“heavy round orbs” which she “loved to show off with scanty tops, often lifting or shedding them for the boys who gawked at her”). Mind you, most of these boys are described as scared or not as interested in sex as our protagonist, so there is also the question of consent which goes unchallenged. To this, Emry’s parents laugh and shake their heads at their daughter’s endearing quirks.
Years later, Emry meets a carjacker with whom she spars for sex (“You win the fight, you get to fuck me.”), an episode punctuated by this fantastically memorable scene:
“Well, how am I doing?” He punctuated it with a kick to her gut, knocking her torso upright, and then delivered one more kick to her ample breasts in retaliation for her attempt on his balls. He felt somewhat guilty when she yelped in pain, but he reminded himself that she not only deserved it, but probably even enjoyed it in some sick way. Or maybe not so sick, he thought as he saw the approval—the hope—in her eyes.
And on and on the list goes. I haven’t even talked about the girl-on-girl sparring scene that results in the physical arousal of its male spectators, or Psyche and Emry literally wearing out four men in a sexathon before satisfying each other.
I need to stress that I am all for empowered female characters who enjoy sex. I believe that Bennett was trying to create a superheroine who owned her sexuality. The problem, however, is that even though the book is mostly narrated from Emry’s point of view, her entire persona (as well as the other female characters) is built from the perspective of the male gaze. This problem is compounded when one takes into account the historical context of female superheroes, who are so often defined by their sexiness. At best, this type of character is boring; at worst, it is insulting.
This is to say nothing of the uninspired plot, the clumsy delivery and the stilted dialogue (“Ohh, Emerald...my jewel...it’s just us now...I’ll take care of you now...”). But far and away, the largest problem with Only Superhuman is Bennett’s hypersexualized female characters, which call to mind the very worst stereotyping in the superhero genre.
In short, Only Superhuman? Not the book for me.
In Book Smugglerish, a deflated 2 out of 10.
December 27, 2012
To be blunt, I gave up on this book about halfway through. Mostly out of frustration, a little out of anger.
Bennett has painstakingly created an incredibly rich and detailed sci-fi setting, complete with superhumans, cyborgs, and a myriad of other concepts which had the POTENTIAL to blow a reader's mind.
The actual execution fell so far short of that potential that I feel shame for writing this review on Goodreads.
PROS:
- Unique and detailed background with immeasurable promise
- Remarkably diligent planetary science, astronomy and hard sci-fi physics. The science in the book is beyond reproach.
- Lots of brainless action
CONS:
- Pretty much everything else...
- Dialogue was pithy/preachy at best and juvenile at worst. Example:
(Our protag is fighting for her life with a dude who has been bio-engineered as a hybrid with a bull)
"I've known some horny men, but you take the beefcake. Why don't we have our own little rodeo, see how long I can ride you?" Really? That's the best you've got??? Its a long tradition in comics to have the protag banter with their opponent, using clever quips. But they have to at least be amusing...
- Plot? What plot. Let's just meander about the solar system, having sex with everybody.
- Characters? Oh, you mean another person I can label as "possible to take to bed" or "not possible to take to bed."
- Why bother writing in such a manner to SHOW the reader something, when one can simply TELL instead; its much quicker and efficient that way.
- It seemed as though the basic premises of storytelling (arcs, character challenge & change, growth of a plot and giving the reader just enough information to create the story on their own) are neglected. At times I felt like I was reading the transcript to some second-rate video game.
I have zero problems with gratuitous sex in books I read. But it should be done right. One of the reasons to have a sex scene in a novel is to a.) give the reader a break from action b.) establish relationship between protag and partner of choice c.) allow an opportunity for quiet dialogue. The same can actually be done by having characters sit down for a well described meal, but that is another topic. None of this happened in the dozens of sex scenes in this book.
It read a lot like Erica Jong writing for DC Comics "Legion of Super Heroes" series.
In summary I was ticked off by the execution gap I read and had to stop. This book was not written for me.
One entertaining thing to come out of "Only Superhuman" is Jim C. Hines and Scalzi's pose-off from the cover.
http://www.jimchines.com/2012/12/chri...
[POST NOTE] After carefully re-reading this review I want to be clear that I'm not trying to be a "flaming troll" here. I respect Bennett for his careful research, excellent world-building and the discipline to create and publish his first novel. But, as mentioned before, the actual execution of the fundamentals left much to be desired, in my opinion.
April 27, 2023
In the future, there are superheroes in space. A girl gets lost in the pageantry.
I feel like it could have been more.
I feel like it could have been more.
June 12, 2012
If I could give this half-stars, it would go to 3.5. Since it can't, I'm knocking it up to a 4.I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it, but I probably won't be revisiting it. If, however, Mr. Bennett writes a sequel, then I'd definitely want to at least check it out. He certainly left enough doors open to revisit the same protagonists and antagonists--or create entirely new ones within the confines of his elaborately constructed future of roughly 100 years from now.
In a nutshell, this book was good, but not great. It's an interesting piece of sci-fi, with an equally interesting tie to what's known as "superhero prose". The protagonist is a genetically and bionically enhanced "Troubleshooter", inspired by the comic books of our era. In fact, the way the chapters were broken down--and the titles of the chapters themselves--reminded me of the comic books of my youth. Also, her organization of "Troubleshooters" are influenced--and say as much--by the costumed superheroes of comic books. However, their talent sets are all original--I didn't come away from it thinking any character was a rip-off of someone from a comic book.
Some of the terminology you'll encounter is a little more hard-core sci-fi, but there's a glossary in back for most of the words and phrases you may stumble over. There's also a fair amount of sex and nudity in the book. None of it overtly graphic in its description, but what it may lack in description, it makes up for in quantity.
The pacing of the book was good through the first two-thirds, but turned into a real page-turner for the last 100 pages or so. However, I found the protagonist to be more than a little unsympathetic. Through most of the book, she's being manipulated--either by others, or by her own self-serving needs for acceptance, purpose, and intimacy.
If you're like me and you grew up reading comic books and sci-fi, then you'll likely enjoy reading this book.
In a nutshell, this book was good, but not great. It's an interesting piece of sci-fi, with an equally interesting tie to what's known as "superhero prose". The protagonist is a genetically and bionically enhanced "Troubleshooter", inspired by the comic books of our era. In fact, the way the chapters were broken down--and the titles of the chapters themselves--reminded me of the comic books of my youth. Also, her organization of "Troubleshooters" are influenced--and say as much--by the costumed superheroes of comic books. However, their talent sets are all original--I didn't come away from it thinking any character was a rip-off of someone from a comic book.
Some of the terminology you'll encounter is a little more hard-core sci-fi, but there's a glossary in back for most of the words and phrases you may stumble over. There's also a fair amount of sex and nudity in the book. None of it overtly graphic in its description, but what it may lack in description, it makes up for in quantity.
The pacing of the book was good through the first two-thirds, but turned into a real page-turner for the last 100 pages or so. However, I found the protagonist to be more than a little unsympathetic. Through most of the book, she's being manipulated--either by others, or by her own self-serving needs for acceptance, purpose, and intimacy.
If you're like me and you grew up reading comic books and sci-fi, then you'll likely enjoy reading this book.
January 4, 2013
This comic bookish novel revolves around the life of Emerald Blair of the Troubleshooters, a group of modified humans with special implants and genetic changes that make them stronger and more powerful than ordinary humans.
The Troubleshooters are in space in the space stations and habitations surrounding the Earth to try to keep the peace between the very different humans that live out there. Specifically, many of the people who have left Earth, have determined that advances in body modifications are important to survive the hostile environment. The problem is that some of these enclaves are not just interested in changing their own citizens, but they want everyone else changed as well.
When we first meet Emerald Blair she is fighting along with her partner, some humans, who have modified themselves to be more like animals. Thus Bast, is a human feline mix with a tail. Emerald and her partner have to try to save the rest of the people on the space station from being infected by some kind of modification bug, and the action and science fiction aspects are good.
But, but Christopher Bennett is not content with starting a story in the middle and going from there. We have multiple flashback chapters about how Emerald became a Troubleshooter, and these chapters are interspersed in the story. These interludes detract from the overall story and impede forward momentum.
Moreover, while I am no prude, the sexual overtones of the story are ridiculous.
Clearly Bennett wants to make a point about the fact that female superheroes in comics have skin tight outfits that typically highlight some very robust attributes. So he is apparently poking fun at this in this book because Emerald clearly has some big breasts. My take on this has always been that the vast majority of comic book readers are male, and the titilation factor was a just another way to get male readers to buy comics. We get it in comics, but its just over the top in the book.
Moreover, if that is not enough, Bennett throws in Psyche, one of the villians in the story, who uses tailored phernomes and chemicals secreted by her underarm hairs, her breasts, etc to attack males and get them to do what she wants. Maybe this is the future, but the diabolical female villian who has to use her entire body -- not just her sexuality to overcome men is hard to take.
Lastly, the plot is just not that great.
So for the science fictiony aspects, I'll give it just a big okay. But there are plenty of other better books out there.
The Troubleshooters are in space in the space stations and habitations surrounding the Earth to try to keep the peace between the very different humans that live out there. Specifically, many of the people who have left Earth, have determined that advances in body modifications are important to survive the hostile environment. The problem is that some of these enclaves are not just interested in changing their own citizens, but they want everyone else changed as well.
When we first meet Emerald Blair she is fighting along with her partner, some humans, who have modified themselves to be more like animals. Thus Bast, is a human feline mix with a tail. Emerald and her partner have to try to save the rest of the people on the space station from being infected by some kind of modification bug, and the action and science fiction aspects are good.
But, but Christopher Bennett is not content with starting a story in the middle and going from there. We have multiple flashback chapters about how Emerald became a Troubleshooter, and these chapters are interspersed in the story. These interludes detract from the overall story and impede forward momentum.
Moreover, while I am no prude, the sexual overtones of the story are ridiculous.
Clearly Bennett wants to make a point about the fact that female superheroes in comics have skin tight outfits that typically highlight some very robust attributes. So he is apparently poking fun at this in this book because Emerald clearly has some big breasts. My take on this has always been that the vast majority of comic book readers are male, and the titilation factor was a just another way to get male readers to buy comics. We get it in comics, but its just over the top in the book.
Moreover, if that is not enough, Bennett throws in Psyche, one of the villians in the story, who uses tailored phernomes and chemicals secreted by her underarm hairs, her breasts, etc to attack males and get them to do what she wants. Maybe this is the future, but the diabolical female villian who has to use her entire body -- not just her sexuality to overcome men is hard to take.
Lastly, the plot is just not that great.
So for the science fictiony aspects, I'll give it just a big okay. But there are plenty of other better books out there.
March 26, 2021
Don’t.
November 7, 2012
I confess, this book was written for me. There I said it. I was completely biased the entire way through. Every thread of the plot, every string of story felt tailor-made for me. I kept feeling like I was experiencing a mash-up of both Battlestar Galactica and Heroes t.v.s shows as done by the Wachowskis. I enjoyed the feel of the universe that Mr. Bennett developed, and felt that his science (fiction) elements fit in very nicely alongside the super-human backdrop. My personal preference would have been for him to include less detail in the explanation of how things worked, because it drew me out of the story. But I get that some explanation was necessary, it simply wasn't engaging.
I loved Mr. Bennett's unflinching take of sexuality in the future, but wonder if its absence would have made the story more or less interesting. Anyway, I would revisit this universe and the characters in a heartbeat. This is a book for anyone who loves superheroes, kick-ass women, fun, well developed stories.
I loved Mr. Bennett's unflinching take of sexuality in the future, but wonder if its absence would have made the story more or less interesting. Anyway, I would revisit this universe and the characters in a heartbeat. This is a book for anyone who loves superheroes, kick-ass women, fun, well developed stories.
April 26, 2013
A lot of books take themselves seriously, but this one is blatantly about gorgeous supers dishing out justice in the asteroid belt, while delivering corny punchlines, while looking fantastic.
Bennett doesn't just get the science right in this, he comes up with ideas for settings and background that I just haven't seen laid out in such a believable and rigorous manner. These were not info dumps, but a well paced story that kept on hitting you with new awesomeness through nearly the whole book. Ever read a story that made Coriolis forces actually exciting? Ever wonder what combat would be like in a three-dimensional floating warehouse?
That's Bennett's strength. But the story has some rough parts too. The dialogue can be pithy and eye-rolling if you take this more seriously than a comic book in space. And even though the author is very very clear that this IS a comic book in space, I think he comes on too strong with some corny aspects of it in the beginning before earning the reader's trust and interest. Pretend you're flipping through Marvel's next script and you'll have a lot more fun.
Bennett doesn't just get the science right in this, he comes up with ideas for settings and background that I just haven't seen laid out in such a believable and rigorous manner. These were not info dumps, but a well paced story that kept on hitting you with new awesomeness through nearly the whole book. Ever read a story that made Coriolis forces actually exciting? Ever wonder what combat would be like in a three-dimensional floating warehouse?
That's Bennett's strength. But the story has some rough parts too. The dialogue can be pithy and eye-rolling if you take this more seriously than a comic book in space. And even though the author is very very clear that this IS a comic book in space, I think he comes on too strong with some corny aspects of it in the beginning before earning the reader's trust and interest. Pretend you're flipping through Marvel's next script and you'll have a lot more fun.
November 24, 2012
I had very ambivalent reactions to Only Superhuman.
I really liked the central concept. Bennett starts with a fairly optimistic future in which, a century hence, there are hundreds of space habitats in the inner- and mid-solar system. The environment is rife with social schisms and empire/colony-ish tensions. The novelty is in Bennett postulating that humans with both intrinsic genetic and external technological adaptations to better survive in space might literally be inspired by and emulate 20th- and 21st-century superheroes. The plot, meanwhile, is distinctly comic-book-y, with sadistic henchmen, scheming villains, and hand-to-hand combat choreographed nearly to the point of panel breakdowns aplenty. I thought that was all fun and fresh, and enough for me to overlook some hamfisted ends-versus-means pontificating (which is also comic-book-y, now that I think of it).
But -- many times over the years I've been embarrassed when reading a comic book (or an f/sf novel) and someone who is not male has remarked that the cover features someone whose mammaries outsize her head. Extreme distortion of female anatomy is one of my least favorite comic book tropes, and Bennett leaves no doubt as to the breast sizes of his female characters. The emphasis on boobs had the side effect for me of making his characters' sexuality seem less credible as self-directed, and a bit more like like enacting a series of adolescent male fantasy scenarios, and sometimes it was a bit, well, oogie. (For instance: when a parent not only encourages an early teen daughter to commit acts of sexual assault, but is eager to hear the details.)
In leveling this criticism (which is clearly in the eye of the beholder, anyway) I should probably note some mitigating factors. First, Only Superhuman is Bennett's first original novel after a generous handful of media tie-in books. So maybe Bennett has been itching to explore aspects of his characters' dynamics that are verboten for licensed properties like Star Trek and the X-men and there's a bit of getting-it-out-of-the-system at work her. Second, in a brief afterward, Bennett explains that the Emerald Blaze's journey to print has spanned more than a decade, so maybe some aspects of the story were solidified when Bennett was himself closer to adolescence. And third, if Only Superhuman seemed intended as erotica, it probably wouldn't have raised my hackles, since in that context I expect both physical and mental attributes of sexuality to be exaggerated and social mores to be challenged. So maybe I should just take that as another aspect of dragging aspects of (mature audience) superhero comic books into a more-or-less hard science fiction context.
And if you've been dying to read a near-future, slightly raunched-up, solar-system-constrained,and moderately more realistic take on something like The Legion of Superheroes, this could be the book you've been waiting for.
I really liked the central concept. Bennett starts with a fairly optimistic future in which, a century hence, there are hundreds of space habitats in the inner- and mid-solar system. The environment is rife with social schisms and empire/colony-ish tensions. The novelty is in Bennett postulating that humans with both intrinsic genetic and external technological adaptations to better survive in space might literally be inspired by and emulate 20th- and 21st-century superheroes. The plot, meanwhile, is distinctly comic-book-y, with sadistic henchmen, scheming villains, and hand-to-hand combat choreographed nearly to the point of panel breakdowns aplenty. I thought that was all fun and fresh, and enough for me to overlook some hamfisted ends-versus-means pontificating (which is also comic-book-y, now that I think of it).
But -- many times over the years I've been embarrassed when reading a comic book (or an f/sf novel) and someone who is not male has remarked that the cover features someone whose mammaries outsize her head. Extreme distortion of female anatomy is one of my least favorite comic book tropes, and Bennett leaves no doubt as to the breast sizes of his female characters. The emphasis on boobs had the side effect for me of making his characters' sexuality seem less credible as self-directed, and a bit more like like enacting a series of adolescent male fantasy scenarios, and sometimes it was a bit, well, oogie. (For instance: when a parent not only encourages an early teen daughter to commit acts of sexual assault, but is eager to hear the details.)
In leveling this criticism (which is clearly in the eye of the beholder, anyway) I should probably note some mitigating factors. First, Only Superhuman is Bennett's first original novel after a generous handful of media tie-in books. So maybe Bennett has been itching to explore aspects of his characters' dynamics that are verboten for licensed properties like Star Trek and the X-men and there's a bit of getting-it-out-of-the-system at work her. Second, in a brief afterward, Bennett explains that the Emerald Blaze's journey to print has spanned more than a decade, so maybe some aspects of the story were solidified when Bennett was himself closer to adolescence. And third, if Only Superhuman seemed intended as erotica, it probably wouldn't have raised my hackles, since in that context I expect both physical and mental attributes of sexuality to be exaggerated and social mores to be challenged. So maybe I should just take that as another aspect of dragging aspects of (mature audience) superhero comic books into a more-or-less hard science fiction context.
And if you've been dying to read a near-future, slightly raunched-up, solar-system-constrained,and moderately more realistic take on something like The Legion of Superheroes, this could be the book you've been waiting for.
November 12, 2012
This one was wavering between a 2.5 and 3 star book. ETA: Upon further thought, have to go with 2 stars though Reminded me a lot of the book by Austin Grossman, Soon I Will Be Invincible, definitely had a very comic-book feel to all the characters, but that was expected, and not all a bad thing. My biggest issue by far, was the constant interjecting the main character's sexuality into, well, everything. Unfortunately, this rings true to the hyper sexualized giant boobs tiny costumes history of women characters in comic-dom. Very two-dimensional, except of course those boobs! (They seem to be in 4D, possibly needing a book of their own.)
June 2, 2024
Mashing up the current popular interests in both superheros and in-system space adventure Bennett gives us the character of Emerald Blair, a trans-human woman who has become part of an organization of peace-keepers who have styled themselves on the tropes of classic comic characters. This is towards the end of becoming more accessible to the general public. To me this novel reads like a cross between Carrie Vaughn's "After the Golden Age" (particularly with its emphasis on family relations turned toxic) and Bruce Sterling's "Schismatrix" stories and I look forward to further adventures set in this milieu.
Originally written: November 30, 2013.
Originally written: November 30, 2013.
October 18, 2012
***Disclosure - I received an Advanced Reading Copy from a Goodreads giveaway.***
I'd give Only Superhuman 3.5 stars. It's a nice book, but the pacing is a bit slow. It's interesting, but not exactly innovative.
I don't have too much experience with cyberpunk, but I'd say this book is part cyberpunk, part comic book super hero story, and part hard science fiction.
All the main characters owe their super powers to cybernetic enhancements. And the main plot line is a struggle for power over the surrounding space colonies.
A lot of the chapter titles allude to comic book tropes (origin stories and cross-overs). The main characters are all super powered (but with cybernetics and bio-engineering). And the main character belongs to a group called the Troubleshooters of which each member has a code name claiming motivation from comic books.
I say the book is a bit slow, though it does have a good bit of action and quite a bit of sex. There is a lot of "political" and social manipulation from some of the characters and, for the first half of the book, every other chapter is an "origin story" (essentially flashbacks) which slow down the pace. I was somewhat relieved once there were no more "origin stories" and we stayed in the book's present time.
Perhaps one more mark against the book for me was the ending. It seemed a bit rushed and anticlimactic for how much build up there was to get there. I may have to read the last chapter again to see if I missed something, but it just seemed like the main conflict had a lot of impetus but then suddenly ends very quickly (virtually on one or two pages) with not much opposing force.
One of the most interesting parts of the book, was Zephyr, the main character's sentient ship. There is a nice little section of a chapter explaining Zephyr's past as a disembodied AI program making the desicion to become connected with a space ship. It was a cool character detail and idea.
Another cool thing about the book is that it has a glossary and table of locations in the back. These type of extras are always cool in books and add more depth and realism to the story.
I'd give Only Superhuman 3.5 stars. It's a nice book, but the pacing is a bit slow. It's interesting, but not exactly innovative.
I don't have too much experience with cyberpunk, but I'd say this book is part cyberpunk, part comic book super hero story, and part hard science fiction.
All the main characters owe their super powers to cybernetic enhancements. And the main plot line is a struggle for power over the surrounding space colonies.
A lot of the chapter titles allude to comic book tropes (origin stories and cross-overs). The main characters are all super powered (but with cybernetics and bio-engineering). And the main character belongs to a group called the Troubleshooters of which each member has a code name claiming motivation from comic books.
I say the book is a bit slow, though it does have a good bit of action and quite a bit of sex. There is a lot of "political" and social manipulation from some of the characters and, for the first half of the book, every other chapter is an "origin story" (essentially flashbacks) which slow down the pace. I was somewhat relieved once there were no more "origin stories" and we stayed in the book's present time.
Perhaps one more mark against the book for me was the ending. It seemed a bit rushed and anticlimactic for how much build up there was to get there. I may have to read the last chapter again to see if I missed something, but it just seemed like the main conflict had a lot of impetus but then suddenly ends very quickly (virtually on one or two pages) with not much opposing force.
One of the most interesting parts of the book, was Zephyr, the main character's sentient ship. There is a nice little section of a chapter explaining Zephyr's past as a disembodied AI program making the desicion to become connected with a space ship. It was a cool character detail and idea.
Another cool thing about the book is that it has a glossary and table of locations in the back. These type of extras are always cool in books and add more depth and realism to the story.
September 27, 2014
Okay. So I picked up this book because transhumanism and superheroes. What I didn't realize...? It's hard sci-fi. I just kept reading through it and going, wait, I know that science. And it's good. In fact, this is the first time lately I've read anything and not gone, "oh noes blatantly wrong science!" On many occasions, the author seems to kind of poke at other writers, pointing out things like dropping rocks from space is a much better way to destroy a planet than laser beams. That's what happens when the author is a contributor to Analog, I guess.
Unfortunately, the plot really isn't the greatest. It's kind of cliche and I got bored a few times. But. Transhumanism and good science.
The characters are also pretty awful. It feels like the author thinks he's doing a world of good writing Strong Female Characters™, but it just feels like he's justifying, in a lot of ways, the sexualization of female characters in comic books and the male gaze. I have nothing against strong female characters or women who enjoy their sexuality, but it felt a lot more like we were supposed to be enjoying her sexuality a lot more than she was.
But... science?
All-in-all, I'd say this is more of a 2.5/5, but that does round up to 3. For science.
Unfortunately, the plot really isn't the greatest. It's kind of cliche and I got bored a few times. But. Transhumanism and good science.
The characters are also pretty awful. It feels like the author thinks he's doing a world of good writing Strong Female Characters™, but it just feels like he's justifying, in a lot of ways, the sexualization of female characters in comic books and the male gaze. I have nothing against strong female characters or women who enjoy their sexuality, but it felt a lot more like we were supposed to be enjoying her sexuality a lot more than she was.
But... science?
All-in-all, I'd say this is more of a 2.5/5, but that does round up to 3. For science.
October 3, 2013
Fun plot and interesting world but I simple get how sexist it was. Its great to see a female protagonist in a sci-fi adventure but the author treated her like a sex puppet. Could go 5 pages with out checking in to make sure her tits were doing ok. Seemed to fuck every other character in the story. I'm all for having a female with her own sexual agency but It was taken to the point of being gross and distracting, becoming a substitute for character development and establishing relationships. Yes another male author who thinks having a highly sexually aggressive woman in the story is elegatarian, while failing to recognize its just another version of male power fantasy.
Credits being introduced to comics in college that lead him be an author and write this book. I'm sure the new Starfire is his favorite and probably doesn't understand why female comic fans are aghast.
Credits being introduced to comics in college that lead him be an author and write this book. I'm sure the new Starfire is his favorite and probably doesn't understand why female comic fans are aghast.
December 30, 2016
I started this book once and just couldn't get into it; but it kept coming up on a blog I like (io9.com) as a great title, so I gave it another shot.
Once I got past the first few chapters, it was pretty good. The biggest problem was that it couldn't quite seem to decide what it wanted to be. There was a ton of sex, and a ton of action, and some thriller/political issues. It wasn't quite the superhero story it presented itself as - the "superpowers" come from genetic and/or cybernetic modifications, and it's set in space. So it's a bit of an odd duck. But it was good enough that I got through it from cover to cover.
Once I got past the first few chapters, it was pretty good. The biggest problem was that it couldn't quite seem to decide what it wanted to be. There was a ton of sex, and a ton of action, and some thriller/political issues. It wasn't quite the superhero story it presented itself as - the "superpowers" come from genetic and/or cybernetic modifications, and it's set in space. So it's a bit of an odd duck. But it was good enough that I got through it from cover to cover.
on-hold
August 1, 2014I was really excited about this book. I mean, science fiction with a female protagonist plus sex. And that cover!
But it's just not for me. This was like the life story of a superhero. At 20%, I'd experienced more flashbacks than present action. The world-building was beautiful and complex, but sadly it was conveyed through infodumps and flashbacks. Maybe there was just too much effort put toward showing off the world and not enough effort toward developing a story in the present.
I didn't finish it, and I didn't read far enough to rate it.
But it's just not for me. This was like the life story of a superhero. At 20%, I'd experienced more flashbacks than present action. The world-building was beautiful and complex, but sadly it was conveyed through infodumps and flashbacks. Maybe there was just too much effort put toward showing off the world and not enough effort toward developing a story in the present.
I didn't finish it, and I didn't read far enough to rate it.
April 21, 2015
I did not finish this book. I had been every excited to read this--I am a huge comic fan and from the little bit I had read about it, I thought it would be interesting.
Needless to say, I got about 25% of the way through my read, and found I had no interest to continue. I put the book down about a week ago, and I cannot recall much of anything that I read--heck, I can’t even remember the specific points about why I disliked it, let alone anything that might have been good.
So, for me, this was not a memorable book.
Needless to say, I got about 25% of the way through my read, and found I had no interest to continue. I put the book down about a week ago, and I cannot recall much of anything that I read--heck, I can’t even remember the specific points about why I disliked it, let alone anything that might have been good.
So, for me, this was not a memorable book.
August 23, 2013
Christopher L. Bennett, author of Ex Machina (one of the few Trek novels of the past ten years that I've read, and well worth the time!) ventures out into new territory, creating an original universe of super-heroes who dwell throughout Earth's solar system. It's a carefully thought-out future history, and the characters are clever, multi-faceted and often surprising. They move the story, rather than it moving them. I've no doubt we'll see more of the adventures of Emerald Blair... and that's a good thing.
February 24, 2016
I picked this up because the title caught my eye and thought it would be a decent SiFi read. Boy was I surprised, excellent read. Very well developed background history and setting for the story. Nice futuristic detective/police story. The SiFi aspects of the plot are well weaved into the story and not just backdrop props. Overall a very entertaining and enjoyable read. I wish there were more books in the series. Very recommended
December 21, 2023
This book is a bread sandwich. (and the bread is sex.)
If writing a good book is a recipe, sex is a spice. And it's only needed in some recipes (like ground turmeric)! Real character development and an interesting story are the meat and potatoes of a book worth reading. This book is like a bowl of ground turmeric with a chicken nugget thrown in (just for good measure).
This book was not only not for me, but really not for anyone.
DNF
If writing a good book is a recipe, sex is a spice. And it's only needed in some recipes (like ground turmeric)! Real character development and an interesting story are the meat and potatoes of a book worth reading. This book is like a bowl of ground turmeric with a chicken nugget thrown in (just for good measure).
This book was not only not for me, but really not for anyone.
DNF
Want to read
October 13, 2012NYCC12 freebie.
August 5, 2017
To be honest, this book was not as bad as I feared it would be from the rating it had on Goodreads. That being said, I didn't enjoy the book very much and I wouldn't really think to recommend it to others for overall plot or characters.
Everything in this book revolved heavily around the main character's libido. Emerald being an attractive sexually active woman didn't bother me. Seriously, bring on the bi protagonists. I'm all for it. But I feel like most of the time this book would have failed the sexy lamp test. Additionally, none of the romantic relationships that are dwelled upon are healthy, really, with the exception of the casual sex she has with her teammates to blow off steam. This kid needs a really good shrink, pronto.
I have to say, as much as I sometimes felt it was shoved in your face too much, the world that the author built for the book is great. Clearly he has the history and the science and the sociology worked out fantastically. It was a pity his characters were so god awful flimsy.
The other thing that I really loved is that the author had such a diverse cast of characters at all points in the story. I'm pretty sure he had recurring characters of every ethnicity in the book. Nothing irks me more than a space future novel in which all the characters are white kids.
All in all, if you like books for the worlds they create and you don't mind bad characters, bad dialogue, and frankly a thin plot, this may be a good book for you. Otherwise, I'd go find yourself a different book.
Everything in this book revolved heavily around the main character's libido. Emerald being an attractive sexually active woman didn't bother me. Seriously, bring on the bi protagonists. I'm all for it. But I feel like most of the time this book would have failed the sexy lamp test. Additionally, none of the romantic relationships that are dwelled upon are healthy, really, with the exception of the casual sex she has with her teammates to blow off steam. This kid needs a really good shrink, pronto.
I have to say, as much as I sometimes felt it was shoved in your face too much, the world that the author built for the book is great. Clearly he has the history and the science and the sociology worked out fantastically. It was a pity his characters were so god awful flimsy.
The other thing that I really loved is that the author had such a diverse cast of characters at all points in the story. I'm pretty sure he had recurring characters of every ethnicity in the book. Nothing irks me more than a space future novel in which all the characters are white kids.
All in all, if you like books for the worlds they create and you don't mind bad characters, bad dialogue, and frankly a thin plot, this may be a good book for you. Otherwise, I'd go find yourself a different book.
December 31, 2017
Christopher L. Bennett has apparently tried to write an SF superhero novel and fails miserably. The SF part is mostly dry exposition paragraphs trying to prove with technical lectures why the world follows at least some inner logic and the superhero part, well, is hollow and sexist drivel bringing to the fore the worst parts of superhero comics without any redeeming art.
Emerald Blair is a Troubleshooter, a member of a galactic vigilante super-organization, who fights against the forces that seek to destabilize the human kind that has developed into several different philosophies about the future of humanity from heavily self-modifying factions to, well, the opposites.
This is an action packed adventure novel and sometimes the full throttle approach almost makes for entertaining reading. Or would if the reader wouldn't be dumbstruck, for example, by Bennett' habit of making her heroine contemplate her own breast in the middle of a heated battle. This is a story written by an adolescent mind for his peers. Not only is there more descriptions of Emerald's body than anything else (done in a lecherous way), there are more sex scenes than battles. You might of course make an argument for Emerald as being a strong independent woman unafraid of her sexuality if the novel wouldn't objectify her sooooo much.
This was the most painful read of the year.
Emerald Blair is a Troubleshooter, a member of a galactic vigilante super-organization, who fights against the forces that seek to destabilize the human kind that has developed into several different philosophies about the future of humanity from heavily self-modifying factions to, well, the opposites.
This is an action packed adventure novel and sometimes the full throttle approach almost makes for entertaining reading. Or would if the reader wouldn't be dumbstruck, for example, by Bennett' habit of making her heroine contemplate her own breast in the middle of a heated battle. This is a story written by an adolescent mind for his peers. Not only is there more descriptions of Emerald's body than anything else (done in a lecherous way), there are more sex scenes than battles. You might of course make an argument for Emerald as being a strong independent woman unafraid of her sexuality if the novel wouldn't objectify her sooooo much.
This was the most painful read of the year.
July 13, 2018
This just wasn't the book for me. Too many info dumps and poor dialog. So much gratuitous sex. (I'm very pro-sex, but there was something about this that was just. . . off.)
In addition, it almost set itself up for a sequel, then the very next chapter awkwardly crushes that with a news bulletin stating someone else already did what they wanted to do. Even though I wasn't looking forward to a sequel, I felt robbed.
In addition, it almost set itself up for a sequel, then the very next chapter awkwardly crushes that with a news bulletin stating someone else already did what they wanted to do. Even though I wasn't looking forward to a sequel, I felt robbed.
November 20, 2023
it's a fun time. I was not expecting the amount of "spicey" scenes (NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT) but this is your warning so it doesn't catch you off guard. I would like more details about the other trouble shooters. this would be a fun sandbox to keep playing in but I'm grateful it was a solid one off title.
June 12, 2017
Oy...it's just...oy...
These characters and story are so contrived and cheesy that I was laughing at the absurdity of it within the first few pages of the book.
I say again, oy!
Bad, so so bad.
These characters and story are so contrived and cheesy that I was laughing at the absurdity of it within the first few pages of the book.
I say again, oy!
Bad, so so bad.
August 20, 2019
I'm pretty sure no woman thinks about sex or breasts the way Christopher Bennett thinks they do.
Also, the scientific background should have been cool - some of the gravity stuff was - but mostly it was just distracting filler.
Also, the scientific background should have been cool - some of the gravity stuff was - but mostly it was just distracting filler.
December 27, 2019
Decent enough, but a little too focused on sex. I enjoyed the superhero team but the sci-fi setting was far enough into the future that I questioned the need for superheroes. That being said, I did enjoy the story and the plot was intricate enough to be satisfying in the end.
December 2, 2021
So, this is nothing his newest book from Graphic Audio. That book is kid friendly and this one is not. The story itself it interesting, though it took a bit to follow, but wow. Was highly disappointing since I enjoyed his Tanger night book.
December 24, 2022
A solid sci-fi adventure, but the lead character whined and moaned way too much and trusted all the wrong people. If I want that, I'll read about Peter Parker.
Otherwise, Bennett turned in a pretty good potboiler set in space. Definitely worth your time and money.
Find it! Buy it! Read it!
Otherwise, Bennett turned in a pretty good potboiler set in space. Definitely worth your time and money.
Find it! Buy it! Read it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews