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Roboteer Trilogy #2
Nemesis
Years ago, one starship and its crew discovered an alien entity which changed everything. Its discovery finally bought an end to the interstellar war being fought between the masses of humanity and the few pockets of genetically engineered colonists. An uneasy peace was negotiated as the human race realised there was something else sharing our universe. Something that had plans for us.But the aliens have remained silent. The earthers have begun to test the edges of the peace treaty. Will, once a roboteer, once a human, now the most powerful being alive, has been sidelined and ignored. And a system-wide conspiracy threatens to plunge humanity back into war.Now one man, his head full of alien technology that lets him interact with machinery, must get to the bottom of the plot, find out what the aliens want, stop the oncoming war and save Will. And his journey will uncover a new threat to humanity.Nemesis is coming.
560 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2016
19 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
About the author
Alex Lamb
3 books80 followersAlexander Lamb splits his time between writing science fiction, software engineering, teaching improvised theater, running business communication skills workshops, and conducting complex systems research.
In his day jobs, Alex has worked on a myriad of unrelated software projects, including mobile applications for biologists and publishers, risk analysis software for banks, large-scale simulation of battlefields for the US Army, hyper-optimized software interfaces for major US corporations, and novel machine-learning applications for Silicon Valley start-ups.
He has also held the position of Research Scholar in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Dept. at Princeton University, where he worked on computer simulations of complex systems. His research has spanned the simulation of gossip, the formation of human cultural norms, the arise of wealth inequality in society, new algorithms for general machine intelligence, and the modeling of the Planck-length structure of spacetime. He has several blogs, one focussed on behavior science and improv, the other on algorithmic approaches to physics.
As an improviser, Alex has founded three theater companies and is the inventor of the archetypal improv style, a technique used to bring Joseph Campbell’s theories of narrative structure to unscripted theater. As Britain’s foremost expert on spontaneous plotting, he has created play formats now used and enjoyed across the world from London to San Francisco.
As a trainer, he has worked with CEOs, high school students, international sales professionals, astrophysicists, doctors, world-class athletes, and graduate students. He has twice been a speaker at ASTD International—the largest business training conference in the world.
Along with his novels, he has two pieces of short fiction in print, Ithrulene, a short story in the Polyphony 5 anthology by Wheatland Press. He is a graduate of the Clarion West writers program and a Milford group attendee.
He currently lives in Santa Cruz, California with his wife, Genevieve Graves, (an award-winning astrophysicist turned data scientist), and his three-year-old son, Thorfinn.
In his day jobs, Alex has worked on a myriad of unrelated software projects, including mobile applications for biologists and publishers, risk analysis software for banks, large-scale simulation of battlefields for the US Army, hyper-optimized software interfaces for major US corporations, and novel machine-learning applications for Silicon Valley start-ups.
He has also held the position of Research Scholar in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Dept. at Princeton University, where he worked on computer simulations of complex systems. His research has spanned the simulation of gossip, the formation of human cultural norms, the arise of wealth inequality in society, new algorithms for general machine intelligence, and the modeling of the Planck-length structure of spacetime. He has several blogs, one focussed on behavior science and improv, the other on algorithmic approaches to physics.
As an improviser, Alex has founded three theater companies and is the inventor of the archetypal improv style, a technique used to bring Joseph Campbell’s theories of narrative structure to unscripted theater. As Britain’s foremost expert on spontaneous plotting, he has created play formats now used and enjoyed across the world from London to San Francisco.
As a trainer, he has worked with CEOs, high school students, international sales professionals, astrophysicists, doctors, world-class athletes, and graduate students. He has twice been a speaker at ASTD International—the largest business training conference in the world.
Along with his novels, he has two pieces of short fiction in print, Ithrulene, a short story in the Polyphony 5 anthology by Wheatland Press. He is a graduate of the Clarion West writers program and a Milford group attendee.
He currently lives in Santa Cruz, California with his wife, Genevieve Graves, (an award-winning astrophysicist turned data scientist), and his three-year-old son, Thorfinn.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 11, 2022
Not quite as good or as much fun as the first, although it does redeem itself nicely towards the end after a bit of a slow start. I can't help but feel that this would have worked better as the third book in the series, it really reads as if there is a book missing between Roboteer and Nemesis, and in fact I had to go double check if there wasn't actually one that I had missed. This book takes place a number of years after the first, and there are lots of references to significant events that have taken place in the interim.
Space opera with a hard edge, but it also pays homage (in some respects, and at least in my own opinion) to some elements of the golden age of Science Fiction. Typically, I was reminded of a book like Slan while reading some of the sequences here.
On the author's page it mentions "complex systems research", which I found telling, since that is the idea being toyed with here, extrapolated to the cosmic, or at least interstellar, scale. Good stuff.
There is certainly much more intrigue and political maneuvering in Nemesis than in Roboteer, if memory serves. All in all, I am still invested in the series and keen to see where it goes from here. Next: Exodus.
3.5 stars
Space opera with a hard edge, but it also pays homage (in some respects, and at least in my own opinion) to some elements of the golden age of Science Fiction. Typically, I was reminded of a book like Slan while reading some of the sequences here.
On the author's page it mentions "complex systems research", which I found telling, since that is the idea being toyed with here, extrapolated to the cosmic, or at least interstellar, scale. Good stuff.
There is certainly much more intrigue and political maneuvering in Nemesis than in Roboteer, if memory serves. All in all, I am still invested in the series and keen to see where it goes from here. Next: Exodus.
3.5 stars
December 12, 2018
Good, but not as good as the first book of this trilogy.
Packed with ideas (some of them brilliant), and still a riveting and engrossing read, it does not reach the heights of the first book. At times it becomes a bit cliched, overstretched and a tad forced. Maybe a bit too ambitious in scope. Still, though, a pretty readable example of modern space opera. 3 stars.
Packed with ideas (some of them brilliant), and still a riveting and engrossing read, it does not reach the heights of the first book. At times it becomes a bit cliched, overstretched and a tad forced. Maybe a bit too ambitious in scope. Still, though, a pretty readable example of modern space opera. 3 stars.
June 11, 2016
This book is a sequel to ROBOTEER, and while it would help to read that book in order to fully understand the worldbuilding and the central character of Will Monet, it's not entirely necessary. (Although ROBOTEER is a terrific story and also deserves to be read.) The universe is pure space-opera: warp drives, colony worlds, civil wars, starship battles, mysterious alien artifacts. The characters however are just as carefully constructed as their tech. (The space-time science stuff is vital to how things work, but you don't have to follow every nuance in order to follow the plot.)
Taking place 30 years after the first book, things have changed a bit for our fallible hero Will. The politics of Earth and its colony worlds has become even more complicated and volatile. It might take only the most minor of pushes to tip things into a massive civil war. Several groups are acting in what they think are everyone's best interests, but one group with a decidedly creepy secret agenda manages to override them with bold action. When the alien technology they've adapted turns out to be more than they can handle, the plot to subvert Will and his allies by threatening Earth itself goes pear-shaped -- or does it? Depends on your point of view...
Mark Ruiz, a young Roboteer protege of Will's, has plenty of his own problems to deal with when he's dragged into this conflict as collateral damage. Finding a new "normal" for himself becomes a big part of the journey, learning to manage people, and his own emotions, as well as he handles a starship. Putative arch-villain Ann is another vital POV character as events unfold; she's brilliant and manipulative, she's not afraid to question authority, and she's not afraid to change her mind when confronted with uncomfortable new information.
About one-third into the story I reached that place where the suspense has built up and I can't put a book down, where WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!! takes over for a couple of days. Fun!
Taking place 30 years after the first book, things have changed a bit for our fallible hero Will. The politics of Earth and its colony worlds has become even more complicated and volatile. It might take only the most minor of pushes to tip things into a massive civil war. Several groups are acting in what they think are everyone's best interests, but one group with a decidedly creepy secret agenda manages to override them with bold action. When the alien technology they've adapted turns out to be more than they can handle, the plot to subvert Will and his allies by threatening Earth itself goes pear-shaped -- or does it? Depends on your point of view...
Mark Ruiz, a young Roboteer protege of Will's, has plenty of his own problems to deal with when he's dragged into this conflict as collateral damage. Finding a new "normal" for himself becomes a big part of the journey, learning to manage people, and his own emotions, as well as he handles a starship. Putative arch-villain Ann is another vital POV character as events unfold; she's brilliant and manipulative, she's not afraid to question authority, and she's not afraid to change her mind when confronted with uncomfortable new information.
About one-third into the story I reached that place where the suspense has built up and I can't put a book down, where WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!! takes over for a couple of days. Fun!
April 30, 2016
This is a great continuation of the world-building and science fiction ideas we got a glimpse of in Roboteer. The world-building (galaxy-building) is intense and can make the first few chapters confusing but totally worth it.
There are familiar tropes, but don't make any assumptions because not everything is as it seems!
I will say for Roboteer fans that there is quite a bit of time between Roboteer and Nemesis, and while Will, the main character from Roboteer, is in Nemesis, the character list has expanded and changed and grown.
I really enjoyed getting to learn more about the Fecund. looking forward to more!
There are familiar tropes, but don't make any assumptions because not everything is as it seems!
I will say for Roboteer fans that there is quite a bit of time between Roboteer and Nemesis, and while Will, the main character from Roboteer, is in Nemesis, the character list has expanded and changed and grown.
I really enjoyed getting to learn more about the Fecund. looking forward to more!
January 3, 2018
So glad to return to the Roboteer universe and to the Roboteer himself, Will. 3.5 stars.
December 28, 2018
Eg tilgir alle delar av plottet som er litt klisjéaktige; dette er meisterleg. Eg les mykje sci-fi, men denne trilogien kjem eg til å hugse godt. Det er som ei blanding av Peter Hamilton og Nolan D. Clark.
November 30, 2018
As with book one in this trilogy (Roboteer), the story got off to a slow start. There was a lot of preamble about Earth politics and Will's role in them, which proved completely unnecessary, given how the book ended . We also got up close to Mark, a former child in a failed special school for roboteer's that Will had setup and an apparent prodigy of Will's.
For the most powerful person in the human race with all sorts of special powers, Will's perception of the world around him was surprisingly lacking. Both Will and Mark were coming across as whiny, pathetic characters for the first half of the book, which is finally when the story began to pick up some momentum and began to get interesting.
The second part of the book got some nice space opera going with alien battles, subterfuge, scheming, cool tech and the reappearance of the Transcended race (individual?) that is in control of the galaxy. Lamb needs to connect with someone like Neal Asher to learn how to make his space battles interesting. I was happy with the ending, which didn't leave loose ends hanging.
I'm still wondering what the Transcended have planned for Will, Ann, Mark and the human race, which I'm looking forward to being answered in the 3rd book of the trilogy.
For the most powerful person in the human race with all sorts of special powers, Will's perception of the world around him was surprisingly lacking. Both Will and Mark were coming across as whiny, pathetic characters for the first half of the book, which is finally when the story began to pick up some momentum and began to get interesting.
The second part of the book got some nice space opera going with alien battles, subterfuge, scheming, cool tech and the reappearance of the Transcended race (individual?) that is in control of the galaxy. Lamb needs to connect with someone like Neal Asher to learn how to make his space battles interesting. I was happy with the ending, which didn't leave loose ends hanging.
I'm still wondering what the Transcended have planned for Will, Ann, Mark and the human race, which I'm looking forward to being answered in the 3rd book of the trilogy.
February 7, 2018
Enjoyable read. Fast paced.
Alex Lamb can really hold together a complex plot.
Blurb: 'Lamb's got so many ideas that they almost spill off the pages' Sci-Fi Now
This is the only discontent - too many ideas crammed into the book - the chapter on the giant robot fight on Cartier was unnecessary.
All of the characters have depth.
Alex Lamb can really hold together a complex plot.
Blurb: 'Lamb's got so many ideas that they almost spill off the pages' Sci-Fi Now
This is the only discontent - too many ideas crammed into the book - the chapter on the giant robot fight on Cartier was unnecessary.
All of the characters have depth.
July 10, 2016
Another typical nerd-porn. It is becoming somewhat more cliché compared to "The Roboteer", but still delivers. You don't get that many quality space operas these days.
January 10, 2020
The few original ideas were heavily outweighed by the cast of utterly clichéd, cardboard cut-out characters.
November 18, 2016
(3.5 stars)
A full-on space opera set in the mid-future, a follow-up to the first book in this universe, which I haven't read, 'Roboteer'. I think having read the book Roboteer (I haven't) would help quite a bit with this one, and I haven't, as the central character Will and a lot of his preoccupations, and the set-up of the interplanetary political situation, all seem to hark back to events in the earlier book a lot.
Pros of this book are the interesting-ish cast of characters, and somewhat plausible plot of skulduggery, conspiracies and counter-conspiracies, galaxy-wide realpolitik, and well-sketched vignettes of visiting different planets and flying different ships as the characters are drawntowards the climactic final battles. There's a lot of action that draws the book along after the central shaping event of the Nemesis attack early in the book.
Remarking on the politics and science futurism:- Lamb treads a balance between Dystopia and techno-topia (of the sort Singularitarians like to ponder) in this book and tries to draw out implications. Like many other anthropocene sci-fi authors, Lamb posits that the Earth's ecosystem is on a pretty serious downward slide and most of the population are trying to migrate to other planets, despite a few do-gooders efforts to turn things round and even though the Transcended from the previous book supplied limiteless energy ... Cyberspace has been highly augmented and particularly the characters Will and his reluctant protege (Mark?) seem to have ubermenschian abilities to hack almost anything almost instantly, and even several other key characters have pretty amazing abilities. As a software engineer myself (and seeing the author is too) this seems pretty implausible without major augmentation and it's implied this has happened, but not clearly. Maybe that was in the previous book.
Overall a good read - like a review of an earlier book with the same title by Asimov implies - trying to balance an intense mixture of worldbuilding, science ideas, political ideas, character exposition and decent plot and action must be damn tricky. While this book doesn't achieve what the likes of Iain M Banks at his peak did in this genre (I.E. in Use of Weapons), especially re making the central characters compellingly intersting despite their souped-up abilities, it's a good attempt.
A full-on space opera set in the mid-future, a follow-up to the first book in this universe, which I haven't read, 'Roboteer'. I think having read the book Roboteer (I haven't) would help quite a bit with this one, and I haven't, as the central character Will and a lot of his preoccupations, and the set-up of the interplanetary political situation, all seem to hark back to events in the earlier book a lot.
Pros of this book are the interesting-ish cast of characters, and somewhat plausible plot of skulduggery, conspiracies and counter-conspiracies, galaxy-wide realpolitik, and well-sketched vignettes of visiting different planets and flying different ships as the characters are drawntowards the climactic final battles. There's a lot of action that draws the book along after the central shaping event of the Nemesis attack early in the book.
Remarking on the politics and science futurism:- Lamb treads a balance between Dystopia and techno-topia (of the sort Singularitarians like to ponder) in this book and tries to draw out implications. Like many other anthropocene sci-fi authors, Lamb posits that the Earth's ecosystem is on a pretty serious downward slide and most of the population are trying to migrate to other planets, despite a few do-gooders efforts to turn things round and even though the Transcended from the previous book supplied limiteless energy ... Cyberspace has been highly augmented and particularly the characters Will and his reluctant protege (Mark?) seem to have ubermenschian abilities to hack almost anything almost instantly, and even several other key characters have pretty amazing abilities. As a software engineer myself (and seeing the author is too) this seems pretty implausible without major augmentation and it's implied this has happened, but not clearly. Maybe that was in the previous book.
Overall a good read - like a review of an earlier book with the same title by Asimov implies - trying to balance an intense mixture of worldbuilding, science ideas, political ideas, character exposition and decent plot and action must be damn tricky. While this book doesn't achieve what the likes of Iain M Banks at his peak did in this genre (I.E. in Use of Weapons), especially re making the central characters compellingly intersting despite their souped-up abilities, it's a good attempt.
July 6, 2019
Will is tasked with determining the cause and source of an attack. But there are deceptions within deceptions. He asks Mark, a roboteer, to assist him.
Ann (Andromeda Ng-Lukik) is an ISPO captain and monitors (sometimes undercover) colonies and sects. But she is also in the Rumfoord League which has a conspiracy outside ISPO (and which ends up going way off plans). Animosity between the Flag Drops (illegal settlers) vs. Colonials (registered colonizers) (and whom organized the Frontier Protection Party) has inspired this plan which involves alien tech which they do not really understand and which ends up doing its own thing.
Should an alien that gives you advanced tech be trusted? Could the tech be a trap? If you are absorbed into a tech and the tech takes on some of your features and knowledge are you still alive? Must there be a hierarchy? Is equality a sick vision? Is it right to kill millions to potentially save billions?
Mars is the new headquarters of humanity since Earth's biosphere is failing.
Deceptions, hope, naivete are themes.
SAP (Self Aware Programs) are common and they have a variety of applications (e.g. to handle tech, guide a person to appear statesmanlike and assist with protocols).
A complex story with many ethical discussions. The technology was elaborately discussed and some of the human relationships were developed adequately, but the cultural values and the swearing seemed to be stuck in 20th century U.S. Surely swearing, idioms, foods, economic systems, and values would change over the centuries.
Ann (Andromeda Ng-Lukik) is an ISPO captain and monitors (sometimes undercover) colonies and sects. But she is also in the Rumfoord League which has a conspiracy outside ISPO (and which ends up going way off plans). Animosity between the Flag Drops (illegal settlers) vs. Colonials (registered colonizers) (and whom organized the Frontier Protection Party) has inspired this plan which involves alien tech which they do not really understand and which ends up doing its own thing.
Should an alien that gives you advanced tech be trusted? Could the tech be a trap? If you are absorbed into a tech and the tech takes on some of your features and knowledge are you still alive? Must there be a hierarchy? Is equality a sick vision? Is it right to kill millions to potentially save billions?
Mars is the new headquarters of humanity since Earth's biosphere is failing.
Deceptions, hope, naivete are themes.
SAP (Self Aware Programs) are common and they have a variety of applications (e.g. to handle tech, guide a person to appear statesmanlike and assist with protocols).
A complex story with many ethical discussions. The technology was elaborately discussed and some of the human relationships were developed adequately, but the cultural values and the swearing seemed to be stuck in 20th century U.S. Surely swearing, idioms, foods, economic systems, and values would change over the centuries.
December 14, 2022
While not as good as the first book, still quite good.
Mostly the plot is driven much more by politics rather than action and tech, and it's slower moving. It's carried somewhat by being a direct continuation of the first book, with some familiar characters and plot points it's easier to flow through the story.
There are still some interesting technological ideas, mainly Snakepit as a technological planet that adapts the environment to its inhabitants and how it integrates Will into itself.
Marks character as a mirror of Will's is well done and generally there are a lot of parallels / duplications from the first book in how the characters are, but also enough difference (plus some of the original ones). And the twist of Will's shadow embedded in Ann makes for a nice combined character.
The next book in the series will have to wait a while, but I'll probably continue on to see it through soon.
Mostly the plot is driven much more by politics rather than action and tech, and it's slower moving. It's carried somewhat by being a direct continuation of the first book, with some familiar characters and plot points it's easier to flow through the story.
There are still some interesting technological ideas, mainly Snakepit as a technological planet that adapts the environment to its inhabitants and how it integrates Will into itself.
Marks character as a mirror of Will's is well done and generally there are a lot of parallels / duplications from the first book in how the characters are, but also enough difference (plus some of the original ones). And the twist of Will's shadow embedded in Ann makes for a nice combined character.
The next book in the series will have to wait a while, but I'll probably continue on to see it through soon.
January 9, 2018
3.5 Stars
Filled with political schemes, space battles and epic revelations, this is such a fun space opera series filled with cool technology.
As the second book in a trilogy, I actually believe this one was better than the first. The writing was much stronger with a lot more character development. I would recommend this one to fans of space opera who are looking to escape into another entertaining adventure story.
Filled with political schemes, space battles and epic revelations, this is such a fun space opera series filled with cool technology.
As the second book in a trilogy, I actually believe this one was better than the first. The writing was much stronger with a lot more character development. I would recommend this one to fans of space opera who are looking to escape into another entertaining adventure story.
March 31, 2019
Superb. At the start I was wondering if humanity was worth saving - such a squabbling, backstabbing bunch at the start of this volume, but Lamb manages to pull a remarkable story out of this quagmire.
It's books like this that show I shouldn't persist with unappealing novels because there are stories like this one to discover.
It's books like this that show I shouldn't persist with unappealing novels because there are stories like this one to discover.
July 21, 2019
Second part of this trilogy and conspiracy’s abound. Is this really a new alien species attacking human colonies? A very inventive introduction to possibly a new alien species. Again great science, particularly in the realms of human augmentation, AIs, spaceship tech and weaponry development.
As most good trilogies, it ends one story, but leaves a huge problem to resolve.
As most good trilogies, it ends one story, but leaves a huge problem to resolve.
July 18, 2017
Good read. Quite a few original concepts and intro to several new and novel alien taces. Good action mixed with deep thought, strategy. Enjoyed every minute of it. Did not read the first one but will now and van't wait to finish the trilogy.
November 14, 2022
I took a long time to read this sequel and it really never gelled for me. It had been too long between it and the first one, too, and I didn’t recall much. Might be better to read all at once. My way just left me feeling it would have been better at about half the length.
August 7, 2017
Did not enjoy this as much as the first one
The ambition to not rewrite #1 gave a slow story that took a long time to get off the ground and when it did was somewhat lackluster
The ambition to not rewrite #1 gave a slow story that took a long time to get off the ground and when it did was somewhat lackluster
February 21, 2018
Good escape reading - moments of brilliance. Makes me want to read more of the series.
June 2, 2019
Not really 5 but more like 4.5 stars. It's better than the first book of Roboteer trilogy. Makes me want to read the next book immediately, which was not the case with the first one.
September 24, 2019
Wow, just wow!
Absolutely brilliant, an enchanting tale with a fascinating theme. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry but you’ll be mesmerised too. I can’t rate this book highly enough.
Absolutely brilliant, an enchanting tale with a fascinating theme. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry but you’ll be mesmerised too. I can’t rate this book highly enough.
October 10, 2022
Not a bad read, but ultimately really rather forgettable.
December 7, 2024
There are some interesting elements to the book. The main characters are kinda dummies though who have to rely more on their advanced tech than their own cleverness.
March 15, 2019
Nemesis, the second novel in Alex Lamb’s Roboteer trilogy, is a novel I’ve been meaning to get to since its release in 2017. I enjoyed Roboteer when I read it, though had some reservations about the religious aspect of the society presented within, and following the ending I was very interested to see where the sequel would take the story. In short, not where I expected, and Lamb takes full advantage of this to expand this universe in many interesting ways…
Thirty years following the end of the war between the religious Truists of Earth and the genetically modified colony of Galatea, and not all is going smoothly for humanity. Will Kuno-Monet is doing everything in his considerable power to bring humanity peacefully to the stars and relieve the stress on Earth, but there are many opposed to his plans, and resentful of the abilities given to him by the Transcended, not that everyone even believes they existed in the first place. IPSO, humanity’s interstellar police force, is trying to keep peace among the colonies, but the various sects and groups on Earth are ignoring the law and establishing their own illegal colonies, much to the disdain of Will, IPSO, and the Navy. However, rumours circulate of the disappearance of some of these illegal colonies, though nobody seems to know who or what is wiping them out. When news and evidence of such an attack finally reaches Earth it hints strongly to the presence of another alien species, and a mission is on to discover exactly what is happening out on the fringes of human space.
Firstly, I was somewhat surprised at the time jump from the end of Roboteer and the start of Nemesis. After all, 30 years is a long time and much can happen, especially given how events were left at the end of Roboteer. However, Alex Lamb uses this to his advantage almost immediately. We get some background fed into the narrative on what has happened during the preceding time, including the loss of Rachel to the stars when her ship went missing, and the assassination of Gustav Ulanu, the man left at the head of the reformed Church. We also learn early on just what is occurring in human space, how the colonies are faring and what the religious sects are doing to undermine IPSO in order to colonise at their whim, all for a chance to find more Fecund secrets left by that now-extinct race. It’s all quite fascinating, and sets up the story well, especially as the both the alien threat and the internal human one comes to the fore.
Will is still very much our main character in Nemesis, though we also follow Mark and Ash, younger roboteers and both subjects of an old project of Will’s to create better and stronger roboteers, and Ann, a Navy office and captain of one of the ships that is part of the mission sent to investigate the new threat. All are interesting in their own right, and secondary characters like Sam, the navy head of mission, bring much to the table. Together this cast of characters we follow bring a fascinating perspective to the story, adding layers of depth and intrigue to really help the narrative fly along.
I found that the way the story unfolds, little at a time with information seeping through the narrative, was a good way to do it. Feeling like you’re along for the ride to find out what exactly is going on really puts the emphasis on what’s at stake, and I like that. Of course, when events lead to answers and it all starts hitting the fan the action and pressure builds up nicely, and characters who act believably in these situations really do help to keep that sense of urgency and peril throughout.
Nemesis is one of those books that starts off with an interesting event, leads logically to a mission of discovery, and then promptly blows all reason out of the water. But it does this well, with depth and intrigue woven into the plot, and letting the answers lead to further questions to keep the pages turning.
With action that ranges from interpersonal conflict to all-out space battles, Nemesis ticks lots of boxes for me. It’s a smart space opera that gives you plenty to think about, but not at the cost of a rollicking story and great cast of characters. Personally I can’t wait to get to the final volume of this trilogy, Exodus. Great stuff.
Thirty years following the end of the war between the religious Truists of Earth and the genetically modified colony of Galatea, and not all is going smoothly for humanity. Will Kuno-Monet is doing everything in his considerable power to bring humanity peacefully to the stars and relieve the stress on Earth, but there are many opposed to his plans, and resentful of the abilities given to him by the Transcended, not that everyone even believes they existed in the first place. IPSO, humanity’s interstellar police force, is trying to keep peace among the colonies, but the various sects and groups on Earth are ignoring the law and establishing their own illegal colonies, much to the disdain of Will, IPSO, and the Navy. However, rumours circulate of the disappearance of some of these illegal colonies, though nobody seems to know who or what is wiping them out. When news and evidence of such an attack finally reaches Earth it hints strongly to the presence of another alien species, and a mission is on to discover exactly what is happening out on the fringes of human space.
Firstly, I was somewhat surprised at the time jump from the end of Roboteer and the start of Nemesis. After all, 30 years is a long time and much can happen, especially given how events were left at the end of Roboteer. However, Alex Lamb uses this to his advantage almost immediately. We get some background fed into the narrative on what has happened during the preceding time, including the loss of Rachel to the stars when her ship went missing, and the assassination of Gustav Ulanu, the man left at the head of the reformed Church. We also learn early on just what is occurring in human space, how the colonies are faring and what the religious sects are doing to undermine IPSO in order to colonise at their whim, all for a chance to find more Fecund secrets left by that now-extinct race. It’s all quite fascinating, and sets up the story well, especially as the both the alien threat and the internal human one comes to the fore.
Will is still very much our main character in Nemesis, though we also follow Mark and Ash, younger roboteers and both subjects of an old project of Will’s to create better and stronger roboteers, and Ann, a Navy office and captain of one of the ships that is part of the mission sent to investigate the new threat. All are interesting in their own right, and secondary characters like Sam, the navy head of mission, bring much to the table. Together this cast of characters we follow bring a fascinating perspective to the story, adding layers of depth and intrigue to really help the narrative fly along.
I found that the way the story unfolds, little at a time with information seeping through the narrative, was a good way to do it. Feeling like you’re along for the ride to find out what exactly is going on really puts the emphasis on what’s at stake, and I like that. Of course, when events lead to answers and it all starts hitting the fan the action and pressure builds up nicely, and characters who act believably in these situations really do help to keep that sense of urgency and peril throughout.
Nemesis is one of those books that starts off with an interesting event, leads logically to a mission of discovery, and then promptly blows all reason out of the water. But it does this well, with depth and intrigue woven into the plot, and letting the answers lead to further questions to keep the pages turning.
With action that ranges from interpersonal conflict to all-out space battles, Nemesis ticks lots of boxes for me. It’s a smart space opera that gives you plenty to think about, but not at the cost of a rollicking story and great cast of characters. Personally I can’t wait to get to the final volume of this trilogy, Exodus. Great stuff.
June 4, 2016
Alex Lamb continues his very exciting tale of Will Kuno-Monet, a Roboteer (paper) who stopped a war and met with Transcended species to talk them out of destroying humanity as they had other species. Thirty years later humanity is fighting over the new area the galaxy given by the Transcended and filled with ruins from a species that was destroyed. A small cabal is afraid of a civil that will destroy humanity and they have found a planet of Nemesis (paper from Gollancz) filled with artificially intelligent life. An attack by Nemesis robots to destroy an illegal human settlement is set up to be discovered, and Will sends an expedition to investigate, with the scientific half piloted by is adopted son, Mark. Plots within plots soon set Nemesis to attack all human settlements including Earth, and only Will and Mark working separately can same humanity. This, like the first tale, is an edge of the seat, impossible to put down, exciting read. There’s a third book coming and I can’t wait. Review printed by Philadelphia Weekly Press
November 30, 2023
The first half was... boring. All politics, everyone is betraying each other, crazy plans for stupid reasons...
Then the 2nd half came and it was ok. I think the book tried but failed to reach the fun the first book was.
Then the 2nd half came and it was ok. I think the book tried but failed to reach the fun the first book was.
April 5, 2017
Brilliant!
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