Timing

Far from the Spaceports #2

by Richard Abbott

When quick wits and loyalty are put to the test

Mitnash and his AI companion Slate, coders and investigators of interplanetary fraud, are at work again in Timing, the sequel to Far from the Spaceports.

This time their travels take them from Jupiter to Mars, chasing a small-scale scam which seems a waste of their time. Then the case escalates dramatically into threats and extortion. Robin's Rebels, a new player in the game, is determined to bring down the financial world, and Slate's fellow AIs are the targets. Will Slate be the next victim?

The clues lead them back to the asteroid belt, and to their friends on the Scilly Isles. The next attack will be here, and Mitnash and Slate must put themselves in the line of fire. To solve the case, they need to team up with an old adversary - the only person this far from Earth who has the necessary skills to help them. But can they trust somebody who keeps their own agenda so well hidden?

Genres: Science Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published October 11, 2016

About the author

Richard Abbott writes both historical and speculative fiction. The Ancient Trackways and Kephrath series of books explore the world of the past. Half Sick of Shadows and the Far from the Spaceports series are set in speculative and science fiction worlds.

The Ancient Trackways immerses you in the Cumbria of the late Stone Age, where axe-making artisans are facing challenges to their ancestral way of life.

Half Sick of Shadows is a retelling and metamorphosis of the Arthurian tale of The Lady of Shalott. The book was awarded an IndieBrag medallion in December 2017.

The Far from the Spaceports series is set in a near-future solar system where human-AI partnerships are common.

The Kephrath books take the reader to the ancient near East, at the end of the Bronze Age, when differing groups and factions struggle for survival and vie for dominance.

Richard lives and works in Cumbria, England, as part of a family business. When not writing words or computer code, he enjoys spending time with family, walking, and wildlife, ideally combining all three pursuits in the English Lake District.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timing is the sequel to Far from the Spaceports, written by Richard Abbott.

In this second instalment, the ECRB (Economic Crime Review Board) send investigators Mitnash and Slate off into the solar system to make enquiries into what at first appears to be a small scale financial scam. However, after chasing down leads in the Scilly Isles (a collection of asteroids just outside the orbit of Mars) that lead to Mars itself, the case suddenly escalates.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I should mention that Richard is a good friend, and I have collaborated with him to create the cover artwork for some of his books, including this one, but I'll try my best to remain impartial with my review…

In chronological terms, Timing follows on shortly after where Far from the Spaceports left off.

I don't think it should be necessary to have read Far from the Spaceports before reading this book, but I would definitely recommend it.

There are familiar names, friends and foes alike, and a host of new characters for Mit and Slate to interact with. These include more of some of my favourite characters in the series, the Artificially Intelligent personas.

The human computer interface plays an important role in the storyline, and explores some very interesting ideas. Interaction is much more advanced than we have with current day technologies such as Siri and Alexa. The AI personas, such as Slate, are imbued with very human like qualities, and have a somewhat symbiotic relationship with their human partners. This human like quality means that you find yourself caring about them as characters, especially when put into dangerous situations.

As far as the plot of Timing goes, it holds together extremely well as Mit and Slate travel around different locations in the Scilly Isles and Mars, following up clues, interrogating suspects, and investigating leads.

As with the first novel, if you're expecting big explosions, space battles and hand to hand combat, you won't find them here. What you do get is a well thought out technological crime thriller, taking place within our solar system in a near future setting.

One of the things I really love about this series is that while it involves lots of quite technical subjects such as space travel, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, the way it's all described and incorporated into the story make it extremely accessible to readers of all technical abilities.

This, together with the solid world building, great character development, the natural flowing dialogue between the characters and a very well thought out plot make it a very easy and compelling read.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next instalment.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good to get back to Abbott's Far from the Spaceports series. In the first book, we're introduced to Mitnash and his AI companion, Slate. They work for the financial regulatory body ECRB (Economic Crime Review Board) and are periodically sent off-world to investigate financial shenanigans. I found Abbott's world-building solid and his take on AI refreshing (full review here).

This book adds more of the travelogue aspect of this series. Abbott sends his duo to Phobos and Mars before their return to the Scilly Isles, a cluster of settlements in the asteroid belt that was the setting for the first book. Abbott provides more detail on life on Phobos, demonstrating how the geology of the fragile moon has shaped the culture of the settlements there.

Abbott also delves more into the characters' relationships. Mitnash struggles with maintaining a long distance relationship (astronomical units!) while a local woman intrigues him. And it's not just Mitnash's relationships, but Slate's as well. I don't know how we'll imbue emotion into AIs, but in Abbott's universe, it happened and each AI has a unique personality. With their consciousness capable of living the human equivalent of decades in a fraction of the time, they seek out relationships with other AIs, hoping for a match. Mitnash is put into a situation where he has to consider that Slate's feelings are no less valid than his.

While the story remains non-violent, save for a couple of off-camera incidents, Abbott manages to build tension, primarily through the "old adversary" mentioned in the blurb. Mitnash is slowly learning that life (on multiple fronts) is seldom as simple and straightforward as it seems. There are complications during the investigation, and Mitnash finds himself in a predicament that isn't easily remedied and will hang over his head as his story continues.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Hudson Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stands out in this book is the sense of realism within the sci-fi setting. The world feels grounded, and the pacing allows readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level. Themes of timing, opportunity, and personal growth run strongly throughout the story, giving it a meaningful edge beyond the typical sci-fi narrative.

[AJA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read. But like before the ending was rather anticlimactic and way too much left dangling. Don’t suppose we are getting a sequel given it’s been ten years. Oh well a happy find in any case.

[Richard Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the author and so am not leaving a review.