Second Chances

by Susan Shwartz

In a departure for this very well-reviewed fantasist, Susan Shwartz has returned to her science fiction roots with a riveting novel of honor and its loss, love and its betrayal, and the exploration of what it means to be a true hero. What Susan Shwartz has done is to take a well-loved tale and it in an unconventional setting. Second Chances is nothing less than an homage to Joseph Conrad-think of Lord Jim in space. Just as Conrad explored in great depth the perplexing, ambiguous problem of lost honor and guilt, expiation and heroism, Shwartz has created in her Jim a man haunted by guilt over an act of supposed cowardice and his lifelong efforts to somehow atone for that action-whether or not he merited the disgrace.As Conrad's Jim was a tragic and ultimately noble hero, so too is Shwartz's Jim. A professional soldier whose time has passed, Jim is stationed about the corporate BioShip Irian Jaya security for a commercial venture critical to humanity's continued survival. The war that sundered whole worlds is over and now he's just another "tin soldier," a prop for the military to look good to war-weary civilians. But he's never stopped caring about those who scorn him and the ideals that he still clings to. That caring is tested, however, when he is thrust into a scandal not of his making. He chooses to carry the burden of guilt, no matter what. Because of his pride . . . . and maybe because that's the one thing he has left. Out of this madness will come the biggest battle for his honor and his soul. And perhaps, a promise of a second chance. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

389 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Writes with Shariann Lewitt as Gordon Kendall.

She received her B.A. in English from Mount Holyoke College in 1972 and a PhD in English from Harvard University.

Reviews

[Mary JL · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well well written science fiction tale. I enjoyed it very much.

The Secession Wars have finally ended. A young Alliance soldier named Jim in a moment of panic--or cowardice or both?--jumps ship abandoning vulnerable passengers in frozen sleep and his tech crew. When the ship is rescued--by their former enemies--The Alliance puts Jim on trial. The Captain of Jim's ship and the senior officers---just as guilty as Jim--escape custody. Jim faces trial alone for desertion and cowardice and offers no defense. His death sentence is commuted but he is drummed out of the service.

The book is called Second Chances because it follows Jim's travels from world to world in the outer systems and Jim attempts to make a living. But when Jim knows--or even suspects--that his true identity may be known,he quits his job and moves on. Because not only was the trial a public blockbuster--Jim also cannot forgive HIMSELF. He lost it for the space of the time it took to jump from the main ships' hull to the smaller escape craft--and he can't believe he could do such a thing.

The writer uses two narrative styles, with great effectiveness. One is from Jim's point of view, of course; the other narrator is Captain Marlow, a former commander of Jim's , whose path crosses his several times.

Top notch story-telling; good characterization and world building.
Good dialogue---a winner all the way. It is aimed at fans of military SF but imho any SF fan looking for a good story would enjoy this. Highly recommended. Suitable for age 14 on up.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

In SECOND CHANCES, Shwartz pays homage to the novels of Joseph Conrad, especially LORD JIM. Her hero, a battle weary young war veteran, is piloting a civilian bioship through pirate-infested space. Caught in an ion storm, in an instant of panic Jim flees the damaged ship to save himself, and disgraces not only himself, but the remnants of the Alliance Space Service. Like Lord Jim, he spends the rest of his life in a vain effort to redeem his life in his own eyes. After a space station court-martial, Jim flees from one planet to another, trying to make a life, then abandoning his construction for fear of discovery. The novel's narrator Marlow (homage to HEART OF DARKNESS), a detached observer through being frozen for 20 years, knew Jim as a bright, idealistic young officer before his disgrace. Now a captain in the Relief Service, she encounters him again as he jumps ship after a heroic mission when exposed by a newsman. Marlow transports Jim, who is recruited by the Relief Service, to Exquemalin, a colony planet in danger from pirates and wreckers. There Jim must face the demands of redemption. SECOND CHANCES is both a suspenseful novel of an ex-serviceman searching for his place in a postwar galaxy, and a philosophical novel ruminating on the concepts of honor and ethics. Readers familiar with Conrad's writings will delight in the allusions; readers unfamiliar with his work will read for the story. A Science Fiction Book Club selection.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is supposed to be a reinterpretation of Joseph Conrad novel Lord Jim. It's at least made me want to dig up a copy and read that too. The premise is right up my alley - I love Horatio Hornblower and David Feintuch's Seafort Saga which is just Horatio Hornblower in space. This sounded great.

There are scenes in this novel that are really wonderful. A slow build up, beautifully detailed surroundings, believable emotion and intriguing backdrops suck you right in to the story.

Then you get an abrupt shift into the next one.

Over and over again the scene changed long before I was done with it. I was always wondering if I really understood what was going on.
I wanted to love this, but never got there. I'm not sure if the problem was the authour, the editor or just me, but the end result was was only so so. Perhaps you'll fare better

[steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never read the book by Joseph Conrad this is supposed to be a reinterpretation of, but I did enjoy the tale on its own merits. Really, the best parts are Jim's; captain Marlow just feels intrusive, though I can understand using her perspective to give a fresh look at the main character.

The artifice of not using Jim's full name, ever, is woefully transparent, which I'm sure literary scholars would be all too happy to point out and dote upon the importance thereof but, to be honest, I didn't especially notice nor care until I was beaten over the head with the lack. When someone directs your attention to the absence of something, repeatedly, I find it to be more annoying than inspiring.

That said, a good sci-fi adventure. Well in the tradition of John Carter on Mars, though the ending will definitely not satisfy those kinds of fans.