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The Icarus Saga #2
The Icarus Twin
A NEW NOVEL IN THE ICARUS SERIES FROM NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF THE ADMIRAL THRAWN STAR WARS NOVELS TIMOTHY ZAHN
For years Gregory Roarke and his Kadolian partner Selene worked as crocketts, combing through the atmospheres of uninhabited worlds for places that might be colonized or hold valuable resources. Now, they quietly work for the Icarus Group, a top-secret government organization hunting for portals created by a long-vanished alien race, portals that can teleport a person hundreds or thousands of light-years in the blink of an eye.
Roarke and Selene are searching one such possibility when they find that someone appears to be stalking them. They evade their pursuers and return to find that a man named Easton Dent has been searching the Spiral’s databases for the names Gregory Roarke and Icarus.
Roarke reluctantly agrees to meet with him. But that first contact is cut short, and hours later Roarke is arrested and accused of Dent’s murder.
More importantly to Roarke’s Icarus Group overseers, that brief meeting also confirms that Dent was in recent contact with a portal.
But the alien Patth are also searching for such portals, and they are also on the trail. It’s now a race . . . and the Patth have resources and ruthlessness far beyond anything Roarke and Selene can match.
For years Gregory Roarke and his Kadolian partner Selene worked as crocketts, combing through the atmospheres of uninhabited worlds for places that might be colonized or hold valuable resources. Now, they quietly work for the Icarus Group, a top-secret government organization hunting for portals created by a long-vanished alien race, portals that can teleport a person hundreds or thousands of light-years in the blink of an eye.
Roarke and Selene are searching one such possibility when they find that someone appears to be stalking them. They evade their pursuers and return to find that a man named Easton Dent has been searching the Spiral’s databases for the names Gregory Roarke and Icarus.
Roarke reluctantly agrees to meet with him. But that first contact is cut short, and hours later Roarke is arrested and accused of Dent’s murder.
More importantly to Roarke’s Icarus Group overseers, that brief meeting also confirms that Dent was in recent contact with a portal.
But the alien Patth are also searching for such portals, and they are also on the trail. It’s now a race . . . and the Patth have resources and ruthlessness far beyond anything Roarke and Selene can match.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 5, 2023
88 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Timothy Zahn
481 books8,512 followersTimothy Zahn attended Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1973. He then moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and achieved an M.S. degree in physics in 1975. While he was pursuing a doctorate in physics, his adviser became ill and died. Zahn never completed the doctorate. In 1975 he had begun writing science fiction as a hobby, and he became a professional writer. He and his wife Anna live in Bandon, Oregon. They have a son, Corwin Zahn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
December 4, 2023
[Note: I was sent an Advanced Reader Copy by Baen books in exchange for an honest review]
I am shocked that when I was going through my notes for this book, they were almost IDENTICAL to my notes for the previous installment in the series "The Icarus Plot". So this review might seem familiar if you saw my other review in the Icarus Saga, but that's because my same strengths and weaknesses apply.
This book, like the other Icarus Saga novels, follows the Puzzle Box format of storytelling. Not only is there a mystery, but it changes throughout the novel in a more complex way than even the most complex Agatha Christie novels. But like Agatha Christie novels, Zahn lays everything out at the end of the book neatly for the reader and characters to understand.
I really enjoyed reading about these same characters, particularly Gregory Roarke, who is the main character and standout for me. His sayings from his father are really entertaining. Zahn (and maybe Baen?) should consider making a flipbook/kids book that features Roarkes' sayings and maybe artwork from the series. Just an idea I had.
The mystery in here is a bit hard because this book has a significant cast of characters and character motivations to remember and follow. They're all rather complex as well. I really don't think this book (or series) will appeal to general sci-fi fans. I think it will do well with people who enjoy both Sci-Fi and hardcore mysteries, and even then I think it'll still be a little niche. But still well done.
Most of the surprises shocked me, and just when I thought I finally had a handle on everything, Zahn grabbed the steering wheel and sent the story in a totally different direction. However, there was one specific thing I caught and predicted and when it happened I said "I knew it". (If you're reading, it has to do with Gregory's third question for Selene near the climax).
I think that you do need to have at least read "The Icarus Plot", the "first" book in the series, as there are characters and worldbuilding and plotlines connected to that book. That being said, I think if you really wanted to challenge yourself, you could try reading this without the other books in the series. I definitely think that by this book, you don't need to have read "The Icarus Hunt" (book #0/prequel in this series), as everything you need to know is pertenint in "The Icarus Plot". That might have been confusing to follow just now, but I guarantee you it was less confusing to follow than the actual book.
The artwork on the book is eyecatching, and after reading it I understand what it is. However, while the art style itself matches the previous and following books' art style, I don't think it fits the style of having the characters be the main focus (as it is in "The Icarus Plot" and the forthcoming "The Icarus Job"). Still, I think it is interesting, although I'm frustrated that the best parts of the painting, the temple and part of the ship are cut out/not easily visible. (Also, side note, the object in the middle of the cover looks a little bit like BB8 from the sequel trilogy turned upside down).
I really hope we see a romance develop between Gregory and Selene. I think its not been explicitly stated, but I think it's implied, and I certainly hope we see it in one of the future installments.
Overall, this is an entertianing book, but you really have to focus to catch everything and really need to be on your toes for the mystery box style of storytelling present. Casually reading might make you frustrated. Still, I had fun, and I think it deserves the same rating I gave "The Icarus Plot", a 7 out of 10.
I am shocked that when I was going through my notes for this book, they were almost IDENTICAL to my notes for the previous installment in the series "The Icarus Plot". So this review might seem familiar if you saw my other review in the Icarus Saga, but that's because my same strengths and weaknesses apply.
This book, like the other Icarus Saga novels, follows the Puzzle Box format of storytelling. Not only is there a mystery, but it changes throughout the novel in a more complex way than even the most complex Agatha Christie novels. But like Agatha Christie novels, Zahn lays everything out at the end of the book neatly for the reader and characters to understand.
I really enjoyed reading about these same characters, particularly Gregory Roarke, who is the main character and standout for me. His sayings from his father are really entertaining. Zahn (and maybe Baen?) should consider making a flipbook/kids book that features Roarkes' sayings and maybe artwork from the series. Just an idea I had.
The mystery in here is a bit hard because this book has a significant cast of characters and character motivations to remember and follow. They're all rather complex as well. I really don't think this book (or series) will appeal to general sci-fi fans. I think it will do well with people who enjoy both Sci-Fi and hardcore mysteries, and even then I think it'll still be a little niche. But still well done.
Most of the surprises shocked me, and just when I thought I finally had a handle on everything, Zahn grabbed the steering wheel and sent the story in a totally different direction. However, there was one specific thing I caught and predicted and when it happened I said "I knew it". (If you're reading, it has to do with Gregory's third question for Selene near the climax).
I think that you do need to have at least read "The Icarus Plot", the "first" book in the series, as there are characters and worldbuilding and plotlines connected to that book. That being said, I think if you really wanted to challenge yourself, you could try reading this without the other books in the series. I definitely think that by this book, you don't need to have read "The Icarus Hunt" (book #0/prequel in this series), as everything you need to know is pertenint in "The Icarus Plot". That might have been confusing to follow just now, but I guarantee you it was less confusing to follow than the actual book.
The artwork on the book is eyecatching, and after reading it I understand what it is. However, while the art style itself matches the previous and following books' art style, I don't think it fits the style of having the characters be the main focus (as it is in "The Icarus Plot" and the forthcoming "The Icarus Job"). Still, I think it is interesting, although I'm frustrated that the best parts of the painting, the temple and part of the ship are cut out/not easily visible. (Also, side note, the object in the middle of the cover looks a little bit like BB8 from the sequel trilogy turned upside down).
I really hope we see a romance develop between Gregory and Selene. I think its not been explicitly stated, but I think it's implied, and I certainly hope we see it in one of the future installments.
Overall, this is an entertianing book, but you really have to focus to catch everything and really need to be on your toes for the mystery box style of storytelling present. Casually reading might make you frustrated. Still, I had fun, and I think it deserves the same rating I gave "The Icarus Plot", a 7 out of 10.
September 1, 2024
Book two of the very entertaining Icarus Saga. I came in rather late, reading book 4 initially, but have since been catching up. These are very readable books. I like that the books can be read as a stand alone. I also enjoy the straight forward story telling. More and more books seem to be told on multiple story lines simultaneously, and can often be frustrating.
Also, I really like the supporting character Ixil and his two outriders Pix and Pax.
Also, I really like the supporting character Ixil and his two outriders Pix and Pax.
December 30, 2023
I am a big Timothy Zahn fan. Like most people who say that (probably), I followed him from his Star Wars novels (Heir to the Empire remains the best series to come out of that genre) and was pleased to see that his imagination also thrived in creating his own worlds. And he has a lot: tragic war between humans and aliens (Conquerors' Trilogy), noir mysteries built around an intergalactic rail service (Quadrail), supersoldiers (Cobra & Blackcollar), and a host of standalones with unique premises (Angelmass, Spinneret, Triplet, The Green and the Gray, A Coming of Age, Manta's Gift, etc.). But there’s always been a special place in my heart for The Icarus Hunt: a good old-fashioned murder mystery. Except with aliens. And spaceships. And shootouts. And stargates. The book came out all the way back in 1999, but it managed to tell a thrilling (and complete) story in just a single volume. And then (for some reason) Zahn decided to return to the world and make it a series. But for some reason he’s dropped the protagonist (McKell is a secondary character now, and he feels decidedly odd outside the first-person narration) and changed the focus from a down-on-his-luck smuggler/secret agent to former bounty hunters turned explorers. It’s still roughly the same mix of mystery and adventure, only now the focus is more openly on the stargate program and keeping the unpleasant Patth at bay. And there’s no question of lowly starship crews struggling to work together: Roarke and Selene are an effective pair.
The first novel in this new series (The Icarus Plot) did not impress me. There was certainly some of the flair of the first novel, but the characters weren’t all that thrilling and the story itself seemed to rely too much on trying to find out what happened to the protagonists of the last story. Such self-referentiality is self-defeating. When your lead character takes much of the book trying to find out facts you knew going in it can be a little irksome. As was Rourke’s obviously mistaken vendetta against McKell (again, the reader knows it will be bullshit so why toy with us?). But now that the preliminaries are out of the way and everyone’s stopped being coy, the series is able to get a little more back to basics. And it really works. This book reminded me of the first one in a very good way. The mystery is genuinely thrilling right up through the inevitable and cliched last minute speechifying. Seriously, this ticked all the right boxes: gangsters, ambitious businessmen, giant conspiracies, thieves… they all fit into place neatly.
Describing the plot of one of these books is counterproductive. The thrill is in the journey, not the plot summary. It can best be described as a string of revelations and action scenes that slowly but decisively lead up to a climax where our hero will inevitably put all the pieces together and foil the villains while tying the whole thing together. Roarke isn’t all that exciting as a character (I guess McKell wasn’t either in retrospect) but he’s sufficiently stoic and creative to keep you rooting for him. The world is interesting and the various factions sufficiently unclear that you’re never sure exactly who is responsible for what (or why). The mystery (or rather mysteries) keep you guessing, and there is the same question of divided loyalties and confusing allegiances that kept the first book so exciting. If you enjoyed The Icarus Hunt then you’ll almost certainly enjoy this book. Recommended.
The first novel in this new series (The Icarus Plot) did not impress me. There was certainly some of the flair of the first novel, but the characters weren’t all that thrilling and the story itself seemed to rely too much on trying to find out what happened to the protagonists of the last story. Such self-referentiality is self-defeating. When your lead character takes much of the book trying to find out facts you knew going in it can be a little irksome. As was Rourke’s obviously mistaken vendetta against McKell (again, the reader knows it will be bullshit so why toy with us?). But now that the preliminaries are out of the way and everyone’s stopped being coy, the series is able to get a little more back to basics. And it really works. This book reminded me of the first one in a very good way. The mystery is genuinely thrilling right up through the inevitable and cliched last minute speechifying. Seriously, this ticked all the right boxes: gangsters, ambitious businessmen, giant conspiracies, thieves… they all fit into place neatly.
Describing the plot of one of these books is counterproductive. The thrill is in the journey, not the plot summary. It can best be described as a string of revelations and action scenes that slowly but decisively lead up to a climax where our hero will inevitably put all the pieces together and foil the villains while tying the whole thing together. Roarke isn’t all that exciting as a character (I guess McKell wasn’t either in retrospect) but he’s sufficiently stoic and creative to keep you rooting for him. The world is interesting and the various factions sufficiently unclear that you’re never sure exactly who is responsible for what (or why). The mystery (or rather mysteries) keep you guessing, and there is the same question of divided loyalties and confusing allegiances that kept the first book so exciting. If you enjoyed The Icarus Hunt then you’ll almost certainly enjoy this book. Recommended.
November 8, 2024
These excellent books continue to deliver! If you were to make a cross between Han Solo and Sherlock Holmes, Gregory Roarke is what you'd get.
The Icarus Twin was a little harder to follow at times, I think because Zahn held back information from the reader more than in the last two books - but in the end it all came together, and the way Roarke gets out of a very difficult bind was brilliant, and despite being well foreshadowed I did not see it coming!
Looking forward to the next one!
The Icarus Twin was a little harder to follow at times, I think because Zahn held back information from the reader more than in the last two books - but in the end it all came together, and the way Roarke gets out of a very difficult bind was brilliant, and despite being well foreshadowed I did not see it coming!
Looking forward to the next one!
September 25, 2025
What a good bit of fun this was.
April 22, 2024
This is the second book in the Icarus Saga series and I enjoyed it. It started out with a bang and just kept going. I still don't think these are quite as good as The Icarus Hunt was, but I very much enjoy the characters in these books. I like that characters from The Icarus Hunt cross over into these at times as well. I do think that Roarke's "As my father used to say..." shtick is overused, but it's still amusing. One thing I love about Zahn's books is that there are always twists that surprise me, and this one was no exception.
To quote another reviewer on Goodreads,
This describes why I love Timothy Zahn's books. I hadn't really put the pieces together of why until I read this review. I enjoy the puzzle box type of mystery, and I enjoy sci-fi/space adventure books. Blended together it makes for great reading.
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To quote another reviewer on Goodreads,
"This book, like the other Icarus Saga novels, follows the Puzzle Box format of storytelling. Not only is there a mystery, but it changes throughout the novel in a more complex way than even the most complex Agatha Christie novels. But like Agatha Christie novels, Zahn lays everything out at the end of the book neatly for the reader and characters to understand."
This describes why I love Timothy Zahn's books. I hadn't really put the pieces together of why until I read this review. I enjoy the puzzle box type of mystery, and I enjoy sci-fi/space adventure books. Blended together it makes for great reading.
Follow me at:
Recordings of a Reader on Youtube
Writings of a Reader at Blogspot
Writings of a Reader on Facebook
April 20, 2024
Timothy Zahn has a knack for writing thrilling, breakneck sci-fi and this book is no exception. More cameos from the previous Icarus adventure (if you haven’t read The Icarus Hunt before this series I STRONGLY advise you do so!) and the portal hunt intensifies, this time with a wild card thrown in the mix and Roarke’s previous seedy employer refusing to sit on the sidelines.
I liked the main character better this time around, though the self-serving maneuver at the very end made me cringe. Selene continues to be awesome, though she still doesn’t get much to do of her own accord. The “as my father used to say…” gag continues in this book and I’m still wondering if that will become plot relevant at some point. I’m left wondering if I should buy the next book now, or wait until the next in the series is released later this year. While this main character isn’t my favorite among Zahn’s shadowed do-gooders, overall I am having a good time!
I liked the main character better this time around, though the self-serving maneuver at the very end made me cringe. Selene continues to be awesome, though she still doesn’t get much to do of her own accord. The “as my father used to say…” gag continues in this book and I’m still wondering if that will become plot relevant at some point. I’m left wondering if I should buy the next book now, or wait until the next in the series is released later this year. While this main character isn’t my favorite among Zahn’s shadowed do-gooders, overall I am having a good time!
August 23, 2024
Rinse and repeat from Icarus Series Book 1. Seemingly "Galaxy Changing Stakes" that culminate in a fist fight. Plots a mess, characters are bland. Skip it.
December 18, 2023
What a satisfying read!
Gregory Roarke gets by on his wits AND sneaky planning. (By which I mean he takes actions offstage and then rolls the dice and hopes for the best.)
Icarus Twin is the third book in this series. Icarus Hunt was written back in 1999. Then author Timothy Zahn was able to sell a trilogy to Baen: Icarus Plot, Icarus Twin, & Icarus Job. I was checking Fantastic Fiction today and, to my delight, there was now an additional listing for Icarus Changeling! So, I am a very happy camper!
The Icarus Hunt was Jordan McKell and his alien partner Ixil's book. (Not to worry. Jordan & Ixil appear in the rest of the books, too.) But beginning with Icarus Plot the main characters are Gregory Roarke and HIS alien partner Selene.
Ixil's superpower is that he has two symbionts Pix and Pax. Pix and Pax are about the size of ferrets and intelligent. Smart enough to scout for Ixil and report back exactly what they have seen and heard. Ixil gives them their instructions and then they carry them out.
Selene's superpower is that her sense of smell is at least 1000 times better than ours as humans. She can detect faint smells that humans have no hope of smelling AND she remembers what she smells permanently, no matter how long ago. So, she is a superb tracker, a walking bloodhound.
AND Gregory listens to his dad. Gregory's dad had a pithy aphorism for any and all occasions. I loved them. If you get tired of them, then this series is DEFINITELY not for you! (An example of an aphorism is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it.") In Icarus Twin, a few of the other characters join in the fun and give aphorisms that they imagine Gregory's dad would have said, too!
Suffice it to say, Gregory & Selene (as well as Jordan & Ixil) are in competition with a particular alien race for something they both want very much. Both are on the hunt, and both want to find the prize first! I particularly enjoyed Icarus Twin because Gregory teams up with one of the competitor aliens even though both agree that they are not friends and in fact are in deadly competition. But Gregory has a proposal, and it is in the alien's best interest, for now, to cooperate with him, warily of course.
Highly recommended for great worldbuilding, terrifically developed aliens of all races, the feel of James Bond (including plenty of fast action), and for all Timothy Zahn fans as well as series fans. You could possibly start with Icarus Twin, but I definitely recommend reading Icarus Hunt and Icarus Plot first. And hang on to your hat because Icarus Twin is a great ride!
Gregory Roarke gets by on his wits AND sneaky planning. (By which I mean he takes actions offstage and then rolls the dice and hopes for the best.)
Icarus Twin is the third book in this series. Icarus Hunt was written back in 1999. Then author Timothy Zahn was able to sell a trilogy to Baen: Icarus Plot, Icarus Twin, & Icarus Job. I was checking Fantastic Fiction today and, to my delight, there was now an additional listing for Icarus Changeling! So, I am a very happy camper!
The Icarus Hunt was Jordan McKell and his alien partner Ixil's book. (Not to worry. Jordan & Ixil appear in the rest of the books, too.) But beginning with Icarus Plot the main characters are Gregory Roarke and HIS alien partner Selene.
Ixil's superpower is that he has two symbionts Pix and Pax. Pix and Pax are about the size of ferrets and intelligent. Smart enough to scout for Ixil and report back exactly what they have seen and heard. Ixil gives them their instructions and then they carry them out.
Selene's superpower is that her sense of smell is at least 1000 times better than ours as humans. She can detect faint smells that humans have no hope of smelling AND she remembers what she smells permanently, no matter how long ago. So, she is a superb tracker, a walking bloodhound.
AND Gregory listens to his dad. Gregory's dad had a pithy aphorism for any and all occasions. I loved them. If you get tired of them, then this series is DEFINITELY not for you! (An example of an aphorism is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it.") In Icarus Twin, a few of the other characters join in the fun and give aphorisms that they imagine Gregory's dad would have said, too!
Suffice it to say, Gregory & Selene (as well as Jordan & Ixil) are in competition with a particular alien race for something they both want very much. Both are on the hunt, and both want to find the prize first! I particularly enjoyed Icarus Twin because Gregory teams up with one of the competitor aliens even though both agree that they are not friends and in fact are in deadly competition. But Gregory has a proposal, and it is in the alien's best interest, for now, to cooperate with him, warily of course.
Highly recommended for great worldbuilding, terrifically developed aliens of all races, the feel of James Bond (including plenty of fast action), and for all Timothy Zahn fans as well as series fans. You could possibly start with Icarus Twin, but I definitely recommend reading Icarus Hunt and Icarus Plot first. And hang on to your hat because Icarus Twin is a great ride!
April 19, 2025
This is the sort of book that makes me worry that I no longer enjoy books by an author I used to love. Not because the book is bad in any way, but because my tastes have diverged from what the author writes. Or maybe because the things I loved from his other books just weren't in this one... I'm just not sure.
There's some specific things Zahn does very well. He knows how to write an intricate plot, he keeps things moving, he's good with twists, and his characters are consistently intelligent. The downside is that they sometimes sound a bit bland, because all of their internal dialogue seems focused on solving a puzzle rather than going through emotional conflict and developing as a person. That makes some of his protagonists in particular sound very samey; Gregory Roarke sounds basically identical to most of the other lead characters in all of the other Zahn books I've read.
Structurally, these Icarus books are chiefly mystery novels, and I think if you enjoy that genre you'll find a lot to love here. The setting is sci-fi of course, and there are thriller elements with a bit of action, but in general this is about figuring out the complex puzzle Zahn has laid out. And I'm not joking when I call it complex; I find it very, very hard to make all the subtle inferences necessary to guess at all the things he lays out during the final reveals. It all makes sense in the end, but you have to keep track of a ton of moving parts to follow it.
And I find that while I do appreciate a good mystery, I want stronger characters and core ideas to accompany it. This book just didn't have that. I'm inclined to trust Zahn because I've loved so many of his books, so I don't intend to DNF this series quite yet, but I do hope he mixes things up a bit more going forward.
There's some specific things Zahn does very well. He knows how to write an intricate plot, he keeps things moving, he's good with twists, and his characters are consistently intelligent. The downside is that they sometimes sound a bit bland, because all of their internal dialogue seems focused on solving a puzzle rather than going through emotional conflict and developing as a person. That makes some of his protagonists in particular sound very samey; Gregory Roarke sounds basically identical to most of the other lead characters in all of the other Zahn books I've read.
Structurally, these Icarus books are chiefly mystery novels, and I think if you enjoy that genre you'll find a lot to love here. The setting is sci-fi of course, and there are thriller elements with a bit of action, but in general this is about figuring out the complex puzzle Zahn has laid out. And I'm not joking when I call it complex; I find it very, very hard to make all the subtle inferences necessary to guess at all the things he lays out during the final reveals. It all makes sense in the end, but you have to keep track of a ton of moving parts to follow it.
And I find that while I do appreciate a good mystery, I want stronger characters and core ideas to accompany it. This book just didn't have that. I'm inclined to trust Zahn because I've loved so many of his books, so I don't intend to DNF this series quite yet, but I do hope he mixes things up a bit more going forward.
July 9, 2025
🚪🔍🛰
“Some doors open to stars. Others to traps.”
🚪🔍🛰
4.2 out of 5 Puzzle Box Portals
The Icarus Twin is Zahn deep in his bag: tangled mystery, quiet competence, and a sci-fi whodunit where the murder is just the ignition switch. Gregory Roarke returns, still haunted by secrets and navigating a galaxy of half-truths, false identities, and alien tech that bends space like it owes you money.
The book plays like noir in space—with a body, a setup, and too many suspects carrying not enough motive. Zahn leans into the “puzzle box” structure: every answer births another question, and every twist comes preloaded with emotional restraint. It’s a thinker, not a thrill ride—though when it moves, it moves.
Selene the lie-sniffing alien sidekick stays quietly brilliant, though still tragically underused. The whole “as my father used to say…” bit has officially entered dad-joke fatigue territory—but it’s oddly comforting, like a verbal security blanket with plot seasoning.
Best for: Sci-fi fans who crave mystery with their space dust, and don’t mind rereading a paragraph or two to stay ahead of the next reveal.
Skip if: You’re hoping for romantic tension, faster pacing, or emotional arcs that hit below the belt. This one’s about logic, layers, and laser focus.
Next up: The Icarus Job—ready when you are.
“Some doors open to stars. Others to traps.”
🚪🔍🛰
4.2 out of 5 Puzzle Box Portals
The Icarus Twin is Zahn deep in his bag: tangled mystery, quiet competence, and a sci-fi whodunit where the murder is just the ignition switch. Gregory Roarke returns, still haunted by secrets and navigating a galaxy of half-truths, false identities, and alien tech that bends space like it owes you money.
The book plays like noir in space—with a body, a setup, and too many suspects carrying not enough motive. Zahn leans into the “puzzle box” structure: every answer births another question, and every twist comes preloaded with emotional restraint. It’s a thinker, not a thrill ride—though when it moves, it moves.
Selene the lie-sniffing alien sidekick stays quietly brilliant, though still tragically underused. The whole “as my father used to say…” bit has officially entered dad-joke fatigue territory—but it’s oddly comforting, like a verbal security blanket with plot seasoning.
Best for: Sci-fi fans who crave mystery with their space dust, and don’t mind rereading a paragraph or two to stay ahead of the next reveal.
Skip if: You’re hoping for romantic tension, faster pacing, or emotional arcs that hit below the belt. This one’s about logic, layers, and laser focus.
Next up: The Icarus Job—ready when you are.
March 22, 2024
“As my father used to say…” this phrase ruined this book just like it ruined the previous one. This book in audiobook format was so bad I had to DNF at 3 hours. I’m sad because I really tried to enjoy the story and ignore the CONSTANTLY repeated phrase about his father along with the abysmal narration.
Arg I feel like I’m going crazy after hearing that for the last 18 hours of audio book listening!
The narrator whose work I usually applaud was so stressful to listen to. The first person point of view that wasn’t great in book one was simply awful here. It caused Thompson to read in an over the top old west voice for the pov character (Rourke) the whole time just so he could use his normal GOOD reading voice for McKell a few times in conversation. The jail escape scene with McKell, Ixil, Pix and Pax was the only good part in the first 3 hours. I’m sad that I can’t push myself through this book. Maybe in the future I’ll try again.
As my father used to say, life’s too short to eat disgusting food. That was an actual thing he said to me at a buffet once, and I am now applying it to this series.
Arg I feel like I’m going crazy after hearing that for the last 18 hours of audio book listening!
The narrator whose work I usually applaud was so stressful to listen to. The first person point of view that wasn’t great in book one was simply awful here. It caused Thompson to read in an over the top old west voice for the pov character (Rourke) the whole time just so he could use his normal GOOD reading voice for McKell a few times in conversation. The jail escape scene with McKell, Ixil, Pix and Pax was the only good part in the first 3 hours. I’m sad that I can’t push myself through this book. Maybe in the future I’ll try again.
As my father used to say, life’s too short to eat disgusting food. That was an actual thing he said to me at a buffet once, and I am now applying it to this series.
March 4, 2024
Second book in a new series, after I read The Icarus Plot as the first book. Rourke and his Kadolian partner Selene have been bounty hunters for wanted persons across our local Spiral of the galaxy. They're also "crocketts"--and pioneer visits to new planets to search for useful life forms that may provide new applications. This part of the universe is controlled by the powerful Patth with their hyperdrive technology, but instantaneous travel is available with a hidden ancient alien civilization's technology. This series is more mystery, more thriller than what I expected in a space opera. All the aliens look human. They're all very civilized and rational unless greed and crime are the motivations.
Selene is an empath with sensory abilities beyond that of a bloodhound, so is able to notice much of what's going on. They are on the chase for missing people, and soon join forces with the Icarus Group to study and use the alien transporter technology. This was an OK read, if a little slow for me. I'm not sure I'll be motivated to read the next book in the series.
Selene is an empath with sensory abilities beyond that of a bloodhound, so is able to notice much of what's going on. They are on the chase for missing people, and soon join forces with the Icarus Group to study and use the alien transporter technology. This was an OK read, if a little slow for me. I'm not sure I'll be motivated to read the next book in the series.
December 13, 2025
This one was not as good as books 0.5 and 1, but not so bad to be 3 stars
Gregory Roarke thinks about phrases his father said way too often here. It was extremely grating.
He, Selene...and Ixil, Jordan, and Tera C. continue to investigate rumors of other portals. Gregory is either arrested or kidnapped multiple times, but it's okay because his friends have Plans on how to get him out.
It also turns out that not only is the Patth trying to find Gregory, but also some guy named Easton who knows Gregory is with Icarus. Though, unsurprisingly, Easton thinks Icarus is a person.
There are some unique facets with this portal, but I felt like most of the story was Roarke and Selene being chased around and less about the mystery of the portal. I did like that Roarke figured out a person-based mystery similarly to what Jordan does in Icarus Plot, though Jordan did it better (makes sense because he's an undercover cop there whereas Gregory is a "former" bounty hunter.
Gregory Roarke thinks about phrases his father said way too often here. It was extremely grating.
He, Selene...and Ixil, Jordan, and Tera C. continue to investigate rumors of other portals. Gregory is either arrested or kidnapped multiple times, but it's okay because his friends have Plans on how to get him out.
It also turns out that not only is the Patth trying to find Gregory, but also some guy named Easton who knows Gregory is with Icarus. Though, unsurprisingly, Easton thinks Icarus is a person.
There are some unique facets with this portal, but I felt like most of the story was Roarke and Selene being chased around and less about the mystery of the portal. I did like that Roarke figured out a person-based mystery similarly to what Jordan does in Icarus Plot, though Jordan did it better (makes sense because he's an undercover cop there whereas Gregory is a "former" bounty hunter.
January 2, 2024
My thoughts about The Icarus Twin are very similar to my thoughts about The Icarus Plot--although in this case, I wished I had refreshed my memory of book #1 before starting book #2.
I felt like The Icarus Plot ballooned ridiculously in the later half of the story, so I was pleased to find that the escalations in The Icarus Twin felt a little more believable. Roarke still conceals key features of his schemes until the Agatha Christie-esque reveal scene, but I expected that this time around. His partnership with Selene also felt more on par in book #2, although she still feels more like a secret weapon and less like a 100% equal partner.
I felt like The Icarus Plot ballooned ridiculously in the later half of the story, so I was pleased to find that the escalations in The Icarus Twin felt a little more believable. Roarke still conceals key features of his schemes until the Agatha Christie-esque reveal scene, but I expected that this time around. His partnership with Selene also felt more on par in book #2, although she still feels more like a secret weapon and less like a 100% equal partner.
September 1, 2025
The Icarus Twin by Timothy Zahn is the second book in "The Icarus Saga". In the prequel, The Icarus Hunt, Jordan McKell and his alien partner Ixil are the main characters. In the Icarus Plot and the Icarus Twin, the main characters are Gregory Roarke and his alien partner Selene. In this one, Gregory Roarke and his Kadolian partner Selene are working as crocketts, combing through the atmospheres of uninhabited worlds for places that might be colonized or hold valuable resources. They are also secretly looking for portals that will allow almost instant travel from one star system to another. Several mobsters and the alien Patth are also looking for these same portals. It will be a race to see who can find the portals first, and the Patth have resources and ruthlessness far beyond anything Roarke and Selene can match. An exciting read in this great series.
February 4, 2024
Ancient aliens left behind portals that allow travel between distant worlds. Whoever can find and control the portals will be very rich and powerful. The protagonist and his partner are part of a team that is searching for the portals. They find themselves in the middle of an often violent race between the groups to find the portals, and have to finesse their way in and out of bad situations.
I grabbed this book off the new book shelf based on the author. Zahn has written some pretty decent Star Wars novels in the past. This book was OK, though very inconsistent. Started off poorly, got interesting in the middle and then petered off into a boring and over complicated finale.
I grabbed this book off the new book shelf based on the author. Zahn has written some pretty decent Star Wars novels in the past. This book was OK, though very inconsistent. Started off poorly, got interesting in the middle and then petered off into a boring and over complicated finale.
July 21, 2024
It's still interesting, that Icarus Hunt is not mentioned in the previous novels of the series. But Events continue from the previous book, Icarus Plot.
The main characters get contacted about a mysterious figure seeking them. Not known to the mysterious figure or the protaginets, there are many other groups after them. What folows next is a series of shootouts, escapes, and double crosses.
The novel was well written and entertaining as is usual with Zahn. THe plot was a little hard to follow, but it was explained well at the end. Can't wait for the next volume.
The main characters get contacted about a mysterious figure seeking them. Not known to the mysterious figure or the protaginets, there are many other groups after them. What folows next is a series of shootouts, escapes, and double crosses.
The novel was well written and entertaining as is usual with Zahn. THe plot was a little hard to follow, but it was explained well at the end. Can't wait for the next volume.
July 18, 2024
An equally good sequel to The Icarus Plot. There remains horrific lack of female characters, Selene being the only one (and one cameo) in the whole book and even she is portrayed as fragile tool Roarke drags around (sometimes literally) than a full-fledged character. I was surprised when I was reminded she used to be a cold bounty hunter, because here she's treated like she might break from a refreshing breeze.
Reading time: 9h 51m
Reading time: 9h 51m
April 16, 2024
The Icarus Series
When I first read the Icarus hunt years ago I thought it would make a good series. And Zahn has written many good series. His mastery of character and plot development makes him one of my favorite sci-fi writers. This novel, like most of his others, keeps you turning pages. Love this book and loving the series.
When I first read the Icarus hunt years ago I thought it would make a good series. And Zahn has written many good series. His mastery of character and plot development makes him one of my favorite sci-fi writers. This novel, like most of his others, keeps you turning pages. Love this book and loving the series.
September 17, 2024
“As my father used to say…” I’m starting to get annoyed by Roark, but also amused, but also concerned that the excessive use of this phrase is supposed to be hinting at something I am missing, which is why I am annoyed, lol. I am loving this series, but this book felt a little weak, took too long to really get to the point of the plot and bogged down by typical sequel problems.
December 15, 2023
Excellent sci fi adventure
The worldbuilding is fascinating, the twists and turns keep the reader guessing, and Roarke's narration is great. There is graphic violence with a body count, but the good guys do their best to keep the bodies to a minimum.
The worldbuilding is fascinating, the twists and turns keep the reader guessing, and Roarke's narration is great. There is graphic violence with a body count, but the good guys do their best to keep the bodies to a minimum.
January 12, 2024
A decent SF set in a universe of bounty hunters and large criminal organizations. Gregory comes across a bit like Sherlock Holmes including dramatic scenes where he explains how he solved every thing. Nice to see something from Zahn other than that terrible military SF series.
April 5, 2024
Hasta aquí acompañé al Icarus. No reconozco a Zahn en esta serie de novelas. Parece más un intento amateur de historia sci-fi palomitera. Iba a leer los otros libros de la serie pero hasta aquí lo dejo.
September 23, 2024
The audiobook narrator kept changing volume between spoke dialog and narration. Too jarring a transition to listen to comfortably. If the audio version is ever remade with a different narrator I will likely pick it up again
December 22, 2024
Good follow up to the Icarus Plot, though a bit of a step down from the first novel. This one focused much more on the cloak and dagger elements and less on science fiction. Zahn has created a fascinating universe and I look forward to what else he will do in it.
January 26, 2025
A fun read. Gregory Roark has bad luck! But he can put all the small clues together and make a good assumption of what's going on, he's also pretty good at getting everyone to do what he thinks they should. A lot of twists and turns.
March 21, 2025
Assuming that _The Icarus Hunt_ was the first volume in the "Icarus Saga," I somehow missed _The Icarus Plot_. That I will now go back and read that story is a reflection of how much I enjoyed reading this one, despite missing some of the backstory.
August 18, 2025
An excellent sequel
Zahn has written a fast paced, fun to read, sci fi adventure that is an excellent continuation of the first book in this series. I'm super pumped to get started on Zahn's 3rd entry in the Icarus series. Happy reading! 😄
Zahn has written a fast paced, fun to read, sci fi adventure that is an excellent continuation of the first book in this series. I'm super pumped to get started on Zahn's 3rd entry in the Icarus series. Happy reading! 😄
November 13, 2025
Very clever setup. Fun jaunt around the galaxy dealing with thugs, aliens and foreign planets. Plenty of stuff to try and figure out how the pieces all go together and fun snarky lead character to narrate the whole thing.
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