Oracle

Penelope Bailey #2

by Mike Resnick

The Whistler is one of the deadliest killers on the Galaxy’s Inner Frontier. He wants her. The Injun is a death dealer without peer. He wants her. The Iceman has dealt with her before. He doesn’t want any part of her, but he may have no choice. The Jade Queen thought she wanted her, before she found out what she was. Now she’s not so sure. And who is she? She’s Penelope Bailey, still in her late teens, and still the deadliest being, human or alien, who ever lived. Come follow her strange and exciting story in the pages of Oracle, the second book of the Oracle Trilogy – and experience an adventure similar in tone both to Santiago and to Josh Whedon’s TV series Firefly (and its follow-up movie Serenity). Mike Resnick is the winner of 5 Hugos (from a record 37 nominations), as well as dozens of other major awards all across the world, and was the Worldcon Guest of Honor in 2012.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Space Opera, Ebooks, Speculative Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Michael "Mike" Diamond Resnick, better known by his published name Mike Resnick, was a popular and prolific American science fiction author. He is, according to Locus, the all-time leading award winner, living or dead, for short science fiction. He was the winner of five Hugos, a Nebula, and other major awards in the United States, France, Spain, Japan, Croatia and Poland. and has been short-listed for major awards in England, Italy and Australia. He was the author of 68 novels, over 250 stories, and 2 screenplays, and was the editor of 41 anthologies. His work has been translated into 25 languages. He was the Guest of Honor at the 2012 Worldcon and can be found online as @ResnickMike on Twitter or at www.mikeresnick.com.

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just as much as a romp as the first. Fun and entertaining, quick read and snappy dialog. The book equivalent of a popcorn flick.

[Feda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent continuation to the first book. Even though it is a second book in the series, it stands well on it's own because it is removed in time far enough that it can be read without having read the first book. But why would you not want to read the first book as well if you are about to read the series.
The book is a mix between a western and mystery thriller set in futuristic science fiction world. It is a story driven book that doesn't get you attached to any of the characters. They are all expendable, but serve their purpose well.
The part I like the most about this book is that even though it is a book about Penelope Bailey (The Oracle), the book's focus is on those who are after her, and she makes only a brief appearance at the end. Talking about the ending, it's great and unexpected.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oracle by Mike Resnick
Volume 2 of the Oracle Trilogy

Book 2 is set 14 years after the end of Soothsayer. The primary links with the previous book are the Iceman and Penelope Bailey. The novel is structured in a very similar way beginning with a prologue followed by a series of individual sections or “books”each named after the principal character in that part of the novel. In this book they are The Whistler,The Injun, the Iceman and the Oracle.

However in many ways “Oracle” is very different from “Soothsayer”. Resnick moves from the Space Opera method to a more intense localized approach. Events take place on a planet named Hades and its three moons. As the chapter titles imply there are only four characters who really count. There are others of course, but aside from Number 32 most do not have significant relationships with the main characters.

The main plot involves three men who wish to locate Penelope Bailey and either free or kill her. They are all—even the Iceman—rather unlikeable. Penelope, herself, does not inspire any sympathy and only appears in the final section. Perhaps this is the primary weakness of the second book. There are no moving significant relationships. In “Soothsayer” Penelope and The Mouse had a genuine love for one another. That created an emotional energy which made one care for them and the difficulties they faced. In “Oracle” one couldn’t care less what happens to the characters.

As one would expect, Resnick writes with vigour, keeps the novel moving at a good pace and it is competent. Still, in the end. “Oracle” is disappointing when compared to “ Soothsayer”

Perhaps Book 3, “Prophet,” will improve things.

[Adam Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great set of colorful characters from Resnick. The pace is excellent, the ideas explored are interesting. He does a decent job of making the aliens truly alien, but doesn't really get into why they would have developed to be that way. I couldn't help but notice he relied quite a bit on using geometric terms to describe places and things. Like, a lot. Still a very enjoyable easy ready. Lots of fun!

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Penelope Bailey series is set on the same space opera frontier as Santiago: A Myth of the Far Future (1986), complete with legendary gamblers and gunslingers. In Oracle, Penelope is now a young adult, and the Iceman and the Democracy are convinced she is dangerous because she can see multiple futures and pick the one she wants. Soon, there are competing bounty hunters on her trail.

If you like Soothsayer, you will find Oracle a satisfying continuation.

[jacob.eru · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite different from Soothsayer in its structure, we see very little of Penelope. The book focuses on the men out to get her, like the third installment of the series. I found the climax unsatisfying considering all the buildup before it.

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable story.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oracle is the second book in the Penelope Bailey trilogy.

**Note: While there are no spoilers for this book in this review, this is a sequel to Soothsayer and there will be some spoilers for that one here. Oracle is sufficiently developed to be read on it's own, but it' much better to read the series in order.**

The Penelope Bailey series is set in the same universe as Resnick's stand alone novel Santiago, a setting where larger than life characters face life not dissimilar to that of the wild west, except that in this case it spans planets. It's been fourteen years since the little girl referred to as the Soothsayer escaped numerous bounty hunters and other dangers and disappeared with the creature known as Mock Turtle, leaving friend and foe alike scorched in her wake. The Iceman, the only survivor, has searched for her on and off without success, until someone comes in with information about a mysterious Oracle, and an offer to hire him to bring her in. But what moves are the right ones when dealing with a being who can manipulate the future?

Oracle has the engaging atmosphere and style as Soothsayer and Resnick's other Far Future stories. Whistler and the Injun are interesting, diverse characters and serve well as central foci for the action and intrigue of this story. And the Iceman continues to be one of my favorite characters ever.

While the third book in the trilogy (Prophet) feels a little tighter and a tad better paced (Oracle slows a bit in the middle), the overall plot and story twists make Oracle my favorite of the three. The entire trilogy is well done and tells a great overarching story, while letting each book contain a complete tale on their own.

[Swankivy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because it was the sequel to Soothsayer, but I think I was a lot less interested in it once I realized it took place after Penelope was already an adult. (I like books about super-special children. They're fun.) I remember beginning to read the book and seeing that Penelope now lived apparently by herself sitting around choosing futures by seeing which possible futures exist and then making the one she wants a reality by moving in a certain way--as in, she might see three futures, and in one of them her head is down, in one of them her hand is up, and in another one she's standing. She'll choose which one she wants by moving to the position she sees in association with that future. It's not something I've seen before but it feels kind of weak as a way of controlling reality, since it's not like she actually gets to pick what happens in the futures--she just gets multiple choice. What I remember most about this book was that the protagonist might as well have been a stone for all the emotion she had, and it could have been intentional (because I could imagine the way her ability works kind of turning her into a robot), but regardless, I didn't really want to read about her. I also remember that everyone in existence was scared of her, and that was handled well but of course contributed to her being off-putting. In any case, I don't remember much about the plot, just the concept, and I think that's why I decided not to read any more of the series; I wasn't into it.

[Julie Decker · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Oracle--Penelope, now grown--operates her soothsayer activities from a cold and distant home on a remote planet. When the powers that be decide she may be affecting their ability to govern how they wish to, various parties are hired for various purposes--some to kidnap her, some to kill her. But it's not so easy to sneak up on a woman who can not only see, but easily change the future. . . .

I read this book after tentatively liking some of the ideas in the previous book, but disconnected quickly for two reasons here: One, Penelope was a very cold adult and I had connected to her better when she was a child just learning about her own importance and abilities; and two, I found the operation of her ability to be weirdly silly and couldn't really get past it. When I don't care about someone despite there being a matter of life and death involved, I can't keep reading.

[Enjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Science fiction, space travel, aliens, other planets. This was okay. I did not read the first in the series, so some of the events alluded to in the book did not make too much sense.
This is a story about a powerful seer, who can see infinite futures and can choose (by moving a certain way...oddly enough) which future will come to pass. This sounds all-powerful, but in reality there are too many for her to pay attention to all at once so she is not as omnipotent as others think she is. I was surprised at how cold she was...not at all a likable character.
The world building and the plot are the high points.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much dramatic tension -- I already have the sequel. The 3 characters aren't very deep, and the Oracle doesn't really have a personality. The Inner Frontier isn't that compelling.

Resnick avoids breaking his own definition of Oracular power in this book, at least -- there's a (contrived) excuse for the Oracle's knowledge, so she doesn't have clarivoyance to go with her precognition, and she does things like turn her head (silly, but better than completely glossed over), rather than just deciding how the future will run.

[Geoffreyjen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like for the first book of the trilogy, Soothsayer, I found this a well told, quirky tale that somehow disappointed overall. The problem I had with the whole series is it is really organised around the work of bounty hunters, which is ultimately less satissfying than something focussed more towards human values. Worth reading but not what I was hoping given the title.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Penelope Bailey trilogy is a well-plotted, well-written study of a specially gifted person and her interactions with the rest of society, and how society treats her because of her abilities. The titles explain the progression as she ages-- Soothsayer, Oracle, Prophet-- and the characterizations as Resnick explores those who want to help, exploit, kill, etc., are among his most thoughtful. They're fast-paced, interesting books.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads Signed Win Copy

Who is Penelope Bailey a.k.a. the Oracle and why is everyone after her…dead or alive?

Ever since she was a young girl people fear her psychic abilities and her ability to bend things. As an adult living in Hades she becomes a target to a bounty hunter and a rogue cyborg. In a game of cat and mouse as Penelope eludes her hunters.

Interesting read with a small cameo near the end of the main character as we wait ti see what will happen to her along the way.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Mike Resnick space opera, and he really knows how to do them well. This is part of a series, but I don't remember a lot about it except that it centered around a girl with exceptional mental talents.

[Ruhegeist · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still don't like the voice used by the author, but might be good in comparison to other space operas. I wouldn't know. I'm curious enough about where the book is going to finish the series. Better then the first book. Good for a quick skim.

[Merlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mike Resnick is one of those authors I want to like more than I do and this book is a perfect example of the problem.
The central conflict sounds like it should be good but the characters are flat and there's a lack of any sort of visceral threat so you end up not caring about what happens.

[Avani · Rating 3 out of 5]

More in the Santiago universe. You get about what you expect, with a sufficient number of brutal yet somehow funny deaths to keep you entertained. Not a 'good' book, but fun and fluffy.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oracle is the second book in the Penelope Bailey trilogy. The Penelope Bailey series is set in the same universe as Resnick's Santiago books. A good read for fans of Space Opera.

[andrew y · Rating 3 out of 5]

whole thing sort of felt like a prologue for "prophet" which is a cheap way to write the middle of a trilogy
still, though, i'll be starting prophet right now

[Durval Menezes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read this book a long time ago (10 years or more) nonetheless I vividly remember a lot of the story, so it was a very good book (therefore the 4-stars rating).

[Sahand · Rating 2 out of 5]

good start, hasty end!