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Netherspace #1
Netherspace
Aliens came to Earth forty years ago. Their anatomy proved unfathomable and all attempts at communication failed. But through trade, humanity gained technology that allowed them to colonise the stars. The price: live humans for every alien faster-than-light drive.
Kara's sister was one of hundreds exchanged for this technology, and Kara has little love for aliens. So when she is drafted by GalDiv - the organisation that oversees alien trades - it is under duress. A group of colonists have been kidnapped by aliens and taken to an uncharted planet, and an unusual team is to be sent to negotiate. As an ex-army sniper, Kara's role is clear. But artist Marc has no combat experience, although the team's pre-cog Tse is adamant that he has a part to play. All three know that success is unlikely. For how will they negotiate with aliens when communication between the species is impossible?
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2017
67 people are currently reading
743 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Lane
50 books35 followersSee also work published as Andy Lane
During 2009, Macmillan Books announced that Lane would be writing a series of books focusing on the early life of Sherlock Holmes. The series was developed in conjunction with the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Lane had already shown an extensive knowledge of the Holmes character and continuity in his Virgin Books novel All-Consuming Fire in which he created The Library of St. John the Beheaded as a meeting place for the worlds of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who.
The first book in the 'Young Sherlock Holmes' series – Death Cloud – was published in the United Kingdom in June 2010 (February 2011 in the United States), with the second – Red Leech – published in the United Kingdom in November of that year (with a United States publication date under the title Rebel Fire of February 2012). The third book – Black Ice – was published in June 2011 in the UK while the fourth book – Fire Storm – was published originally in hardback in October 2011 with a paperback publication in March 2012. The fifth book, Snake Bite was published in hardback in October 2012 and the sixth book, Knife Edge was published in September 2013. Death Cloud was short-listed for both the 2010 North East Book Award. (coming second by three votes) and the 2011 Southampton's Favourite Book Award. Black Ice won the 2012 Centurion Book Award.
Early in 2012, Macmillan Children's Books announced that they would be publishing a new series by Lane, beginning in 2013. The Lost World books will follow disabled 15-year-old Calum Challenger, who is co-ordinating a search from his London bedroom to find creatures considered so rare that many do not believe they exist. Calum's intention is to use the creatures' DNA to help protect the species, but also to search for a cure for his own paralysis. His team comprises a computer hacker, a free runner, an ex-marine and a pathological liar.
During 2009, Macmillan Books announced that Lane would be writing a series of books focusing on the early life of Sherlock Holmes. The series was developed in conjunction with the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Lane had already shown an extensive knowledge of the Holmes character and continuity in his Virgin Books novel All-Consuming Fire in which he created The Library of St. John the Beheaded as a meeting place for the worlds of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who.
The first book in the 'Young Sherlock Holmes' series – Death Cloud – was published in the United Kingdom in June 2010 (February 2011 in the United States), with the second – Red Leech – published in the United Kingdom in November of that year (with a United States publication date under the title Rebel Fire of February 2012). The third book – Black Ice – was published in June 2011 in the UK while the fourth book – Fire Storm – was published originally in hardback in October 2011 with a paperback publication in March 2012. The fifth book, Snake Bite was published in hardback in October 2012 and the sixth book, Knife Edge was published in September 2013. Death Cloud was short-listed for both the 2010 North East Book Award. (coming second by three votes) and the 2011 Southampton's Favourite Book Award. Black Ice won the 2012 Centurion Book Award.
Early in 2012, Macmillan Children's Books announced that they would be publishing a new series by Lane, beginning in 2013. The Lost World books will follow disabled 15-year-old Calum Challenger, who is co-ordinating a search from his London bedroom to find creatures considered so rare that many do not believe they exist. Calum's intention is to use the creatures' DNA to help protect the species, but also to search for a cure for his own paralysis. His team comprises a computer hacker, a free runner, an ex-marine and a pathological liar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
September 30, 2017
An engrossing setup and fascinating mystery start this humans living in an alien universe story, but sadly it doesn't quite follow through on its brilliant beginning.
Humans have met the aliens, first the Gliese, and later the Eridani and Cancri. All of them are alien, so completely alien that meaningful communication seems impossible, let alone figuring out their desires or motivations. Despite that a very simple trade has developed with human artifacts, and humans themselves, being traded for important and incomprehensible technology.
Long after humans have come to completely depend on trade with the aliens as the whole base of their economy, a team is put together to investigate the disappearance of a small group of religious fanatics that one of the alien species appears to be holding as some form of hostage. But how will the team do anything when they can't communicate at even a basic level with the kidnappers?
The premise of this is great. Truly alien aliens. Cleverly explained alien technology and a fascinating and well thought-out Earth with humans playing the part of the dumb cousins and what that does to people. Unfortunately once the action moves off-Earth and we get to Netherspace and travel within it the whole plot derails into a dull (and mostly pointless) journey to where the religious group is being kept. Yes, there are some answers to the setup questions in the book. No, they're not very satisfying, with a lot more questions opened up.
Humans have met the aliens, first the Gliese, and later the Eridani and Cancri. All of them are alien, so completely alien that meaningful communication seems impossible, let alone figuring out their desires or motivations. Despite that a very simple trade has developed with human artifacts, and humans themselves, being traded for important and incomprehensible technology.
Long after humans have come to completely depend on trade with the aliens as the whole base of their economy, a team is put together to investigate the disappearance of a small group of religious fanatics that one of the alien species appears to be holding as some form of hostage. But how will the team do anything when they can't communicate at even a basic level with the kidnappers?
The premise of this is great. Truly alien aliens. Cleverly explained alien technology and a fascinating and well thought-out Earth with humans playing the part of the dumb cousins and what that does to people. Unfortunately once the action moves off-Earth and we get to Netherspace and travel within it the whole plot derails into a dull (and mostly pointless) journey to where the religious group is being kept. Yes, there are some answers to the setup questions in the book. No, they're not very satisfying, with a lot more questions opened up.
May 6, 2017
I came across the publicity for this book at a science fiction convention. Shortly thereafter I came across both authors in the hotel bar. Guys, I promised you an honest review - and to be fair it's the only kind I do.
I must confess myself a hopeless Trek saddo, but even I get fed up with the aliens all having bilateral symmetry (even though I know this is to save the nonexistent special effects budget). In addition, the aliens are mostly based on something we can already identify. Hence you get reptilian (bad guys), felines (bad/untrustworthy) etc. And there's always the good old Universal Translator (or some variant thereof) to ensure there are no ....misunderstandings. Not in this book.
Andy Lane and Nigel Foster have burned the usual script and stamped the ashes underfoot. It's been forty years since the Gliese showed up and announced their presence via a light show on the face of the moon. They look like three limbed piles of wet leather and communication is ....impossible. What contact there is goes on via the medium of trade and the Gliese are ready to give us advanced alien tech in return for a range of random human artefacts. Most of these are oddly commonplace ones. The results range from the amusing to the downright creepy. An accident with a Gliese anti- gravity generator leaves the Arc de Triomphe suspended three meters above the ground - permanently. The inhabitants of an entire Alpine village are much less fortunate.
The authors have created a post-first contact scenario that's fresh, inventive and totally credible. Humanity has been introduced to the local galactic scene via the Gliese Netherspace drive. There are human colonies on the planets of some of the nearer stars. AI is now commonplace in most fields of daily life. That said, the willingness of the Gliese to give out tech to just about anyone has led to the demise of national governments. A loose patchwork of city states survives. (I struggled with this at first, before realising that from an anthropological point of view, it's not unlikely). The downside of course is that since all these advances are based on alien tech, human R and D is stagnating.
It's against this background that a fast paced and enthralling story unfolds. A shipload of religious colonists has been kidnapped by another one of the species humanity has met since leaving the solar system. The rescue team sent to bring them home comes face to face with the fact that human society is failing socially, morally and ethically, even as it reaches for the stars. The alien cultures they meet are so very ...alien that no frame of reference is possible. As they persevere against incredible odds, the truth about the past forty years of alien contact slowly comes into focus.
Andy Lane and Nigel Foster have done their research for this book with consummate skill. I found myself thinking of Professor Hawking's quote about an alien visit being like Columbus and the Indians. This book puts a brilliant new spin on that idea. It deserves to do really, really well -as does the sequel. Erm... there will be one won't there?
I must confess myself a hopeless Trek saddo, but even I get fed up with the aliens all having bilateral symmetry (even though I know this is to save the nonexistent special effects budget). In addition, the aliens are mostly based on something we can already identify. Hence you get reptilian (bad guys), felines (bad/untrustworthy) etc. And there's always the good old Universal Translator (or some variant thereof) to ensure there are no ....misunderstandings. Not in this book.
Andy Lane and Nigel Foster have burned the usual script and stamped the ashes underfoot. It's been forty years since the Gliese showed up and announced their presence via a light show on the face of the moon. They look like three limbed piles of wet leather and communication is ....impossible. What contact there is goes on via the medium of trade and the Gliese are ready to give us advanced alien tech in return for a range of random human artefacts. Most of these are oddly commonplace ones. The results range from the amusing to the downright creepy. An accident with a Gliese anti- gravity generator leaves the Arc de Triomphe suspended three meters above the ground - permanently. The inhabitants of an entire Alpine village are much less fortunate.
The authors have created a post-first contact scenario that's fresh, inventive and totally credible. Humanity has been introduced to the local galactic scene via the Gliese Netherspace drive. There are human colonies on the planets of some of the nearer stars. AI is now commonplace in most fields of daily life. That said, the willingness of the Gliese to give out tech to just about anyone has led to the demise of national governments. A loose patchwork of city states survives. (I struggled with this at first, before realising that from an anthropological point of view, it's not unlikely). The downside of course is that since all these advances are based on alien tech, human R and D is stagnating.
It's against this background that a fast paced and enthralling story unfolds. A shipload of religious colonists has been kidnapped by another one of the species humanity has met since leaving the solar system. The rescue team sent to bring them home comes face to face with the fact that human society is failing socially, morally and ethically, even as it reaches for the stars. The alien cultures they meet are so very ...alien that no frame of reference is possible. As they persevere against incredible odds, the truth about the past forty years of alien contact slowly comes into focus.
Andy Lane and Nigel Foster have done their research for this book with consummate skill. I found myself thinking of Professor Hawking's quote about an alien visit being like Columbus and the Indians. This book puts a brilliant new spin on that idea. It deserves to do really, really well -as does the sequel. Erm... there will be one won't there?
December 21, 2017
2.5; becuase 2 stars is unfair but I can't bring myself to put it at a 3 for how LONG it took me to be invested in it enough to finish.
Frustratingly the idea was very good, original in a genre (alien visitors) that's been done to the death, but the novel couldn't decide what it wanted to be. Miserable dystopian? Futuristic adventure? Aliens-but-with-more-realism? A less-psychologically deep version of 'Arrival'? The final execution was messy with fairly dull characters that I know I've met before in a thousand other SF/Fantasy paperbacks.
The future tech bogged down a lot of the narrative instead of highlighting its realistic futurism. Strangely enough their attempt at making AI more realistic ended up becoming the most fantastical (and confusing) aspect of the whole novel.
I also took a lot of issues with Kara; her sister (and for that matter, all the humans taken forcibly to be traded to aliens for tech) played very, very, little of a role in her personality and the plot as a whole. Kara joins a list of "'strong' female heroines obviously written by men" who looks at, touches, and thinks of herself in such gratuitous ways for the reader that her bisexuality comes across more as objectifying/fetishizing than bringing a (much needed) diverse presence in science fiction.
Frustratingly the idea was very good, original in a genre (alien visitors) that's been done to the death, but the novel couldn't decide what it wanted to be. Miserable dystopian? Futuristic adventure? Aliens-but-with-more-realism? A less-psychologically deep version of 'Arrival'? The final execution was messy with fairly dull characters that I know I've met before in a thousand other SF/Fantasy paperbacks.
The future tech bogged down a lot of the narrative instead of highlighting its realistic futurism. Strangely enough their attempt at making AI more realistic ended up becoming the most fantastical (and confusing) aspect of the whole novel.
I also took a lot of issues with Kara; her sister (and for that matter, all the humans taken forcibly to be traded to aliens for tech) played very, very, little of a role in her personality and the plot as a whole. Kara joins a list of "'strong' female heroines obviously written by men" who looks at, touches, and thinks of herself in such gratuitous ways for the reader that her bisexuality comes across more as objectifying/fetishizing than bringing a (much needed) diverse presence in science fiction.
February 22, 2025
3.5/5 ⭐️ rounded down
Loved the fact that the universe in this book no longer seems to care about sexuality and gender. Our own world would probably be more advanced too if we also stopped worrying about those topics so much and just accepted people for who they are.
The story itself was okay, as were the characters. The world building and space travel mechanics were interesting. Unfortunately, the book was too long and still felt like not much happened. Hopefully the next book will be better now that everything has sort of been set up.
Loved the fact that the universe in this book no longer seems to care about sexuality and gender. Our own world would probably be more advanced too if we also stopped worrying about those topics so much and just accepted people for who they are.
The story itself was okay, as were the characters. The world building and space travel mechanics were interesting. Unfortunately, the book was too long and still felt like not much happened. Hopefully the next book will be better now that everything has sort of been set up.
May 8, 2021
I just couldn’t finish this book. I made it to page 180 and had no idea what was going on nor did I care to find out. The characters were flat, the random sex scenes were out of place, the world was hard to picture so I felt like it was poorly realized. Just couldn’t keep reading.
October 18, 2017
Mostly ok. Some cool ideas. The author could have used them better though.
April 9, 2017
Intriguing idea: 40 years after first contact aliens regularly visit Earth, but they are so "alien" that nobody can figure out anything about them. They give humans technology which they become dependent on, but which can't be reverse engineered. It is time to find out more. I liked the book a lot and will probably read the sequels. The writing was not brilliant and the characters were a little heavy-handed. Just my opinion. It is definitely worth reading.
August 12, 2017
Maybe closer to 3.5 stars, but I'll round up. I did like this book and will most likely continue on in the series, but some of it was a bit off for me. Not so much the world it builds (which is interesting and worth exploring), but just the way it's told.
The book overall gave me the impression that it was more about building this world and setting up mysteries to solve than having a clear plot with a good resolution. It just didn't seem to come together for me, and not much is really explained by the end of it. The premise is that there are aliens that we have no way of communicating with, so it's understandable that we would be left with a lot of questions, but it's still frustrating. There were also certain dialogue and ideas being repeated too often, in the exact same way. There are only so many times I can read about how impossible aliens are to understand or the same metaphor to describe precognition before I want to shout, I get it! Let's move on! That being said, I do really like elements that make this world. I like the AI's and their possibilities. I like the characterization and mystery of netherspace and its draw for the people who spend time there. Something I appreciate is that bisexuality is so easily accepted and doesn't seem to be questioned in this universe, but that also makes one scene, where the main character's bisexuality is brought up during recruitment, seem rather odd. There were a couple other such moments where things happen or are mentioned that don't seem necessary. I'm hoping their relevance will be explained in later books. Or perhaps I'm overthinking it, and things like (SPOILER ALERT?) random netherspace induced sex is just the authors wanting to have fun and deciding to heck with it, I can include bad tropes if I want to.
The main reason I'm not giving this a higher rating is that I was left wanting more, but not necessarily in a good way. The book felt more like a setup than a whole story in and of itself. I guess that's okay because it's the beginning of a series, but I'd have preferred not being left with so many unanswered questions.
End note: Some of my unanswered questions:
Why is cardamom so important?
Why does netherspace make people want to have sex?
Is it a breeding thing?
Is it like Doctor Who where a baby made in such conditions will be special?
..I'm assuming not.
But why was it important enough to include their preferences in the simulity?
Was it part of the staff's negotiations?
If so, was the staff more important than I'd thought?
Or is Greenaway just kind of a weirdo?
The book overall gave me the impression that it was more about building this world and setting up mysteries to solve than having a clear plot with a good resolution. It just didn't seem to come together for me, and not much is really explained by the end of it. The premise is that there are aliens that we have no way of communicating with, so it's understandable that we would be left with a lot of questions, but it's still frustrating. There were also certain dialogue and ideas being repeated too often, in the exact same way. There are only so many times I can read about how impossible aliens are to understand or the same metaphor to describe precognition before I want to shout, I get it! Let's move on! That being said, I do really like elements that make this world. I like the AI's and their possibilities. I like the characterization and mystery of netherspace and its draw for the people who spend time there. Something I appreciate is that bisexuality is so easily accepted and doesn't seem to be questioned in this universe, but that also makes one scene, where the main character's bisexuality is brought up during recruitment, seem rather odd. There were a couple other such moments where things happen or are mentioned that don't seem necessary. I'm hoping their relevance will be explained in later books. Or perhaps I'm overthinking it, and things like (SPOILER ALERT?) random netherspace induced sex is just the authors wanting to have fun and deciding to heck with it, I can include bad tropes if I want to.
The main reason I'm not giving this a higher rating is that I was left wanting more, but not necessarily in a good way. The book felt more like a setup than a whole story in and of itself. I guess that's okay because it's the beginning of a series, but I'd have preferred not being left with so many unanswered questions.
End note: Some of my unanswered questions:
Why is cardamom so important?
Why does netherspace make people want to have sex?
Is it a breeding thing?
Is it like Doctor Who where a baby made in such conditions will be special?
..I'm assuming not.
But why was it important enough to include their preferences in the simulity?
Was it part of the staff's negotiations?
If so, was the staff more important than I'd thought?
Or is Greenaway just kind of a weirdo?
December 13, 2021
I tried to get through this book, but on a year when I can't really be motivated to read as it is, this book was just wasting my time. Don't get me wrong, in a more energetic year I would probably give this a good shot, but there were a number of outstanding issues that completely drained my enthusiasm.
The main character is bisexual. This is good.
We are constantly reminded of this with no subtlety and there are unnecessary sex scenes that make me cringe. This is bad.
The world is rich with a lot of cool ideas behind it. This is good.
There is a lot of exposition about it that is crowbarred in with the subtlety of someone stamping on my windpipe. This is bad.
I made it through 75 pages and apparently it falls apart past this point. Unfortunately I must move on to greener pastures.
The main character is bisexual. This is good.
We are constantly reminded of this with no subtlety and there are unnecessary sex scenes that make me cringe. This is bad.
The world is rich with a lot of cool ideas behind it. This is good.
There is a lot of exposition about it that is crowbarred in with the subtlety of someone stamping on my windpipe. This is bad.
I made it through 75 pages and apparently it falls apart past this point. Unfortunately I must move on to greener pastures.
September 11, 2019
Why are male science fiction writers so obsessed with sex?
The sex added nothing to the story but I did learn that being a sniper makes you horny, as does travelling at “warp speed” (literally one of the mission ~secrets~ was that they were assigned one other crew member as a sex partner to help with the horniness they would feel after travelling through the netherspace ??????oksure??).
Otherwise, this book opened up the reader to so many interesting directions........ but followed none.
It was still fun to read (although pointless).
2.5/5
The sex added nothing to the story but I did learn that being a sniper makes you horny, as does travelling at “warp speed” (literally one of the mission ~secrets~ was that they were assigned one other crew member as a sex partner to help with the horniness they would feel after travelling through the netherspace ??????oksure??).
Otherwise, this book opened up the reader to so many interesting directions........ but followed none.
It was still fun to read (although pointless).
2.5/5
January 15, 2018
An enjoyable space romp, based around the fresh premise of a galaxy full of alien species, none of whom we have the faintest clue how to communicate with. The broader world in which this story is set occasionally seems more interesting than the main plot, and the ending somewhat fizzles. But nevertheless, this is a solid opening instalment, and there’s certainly more of this tale worth telling.
August 19, 2018
Awesome premise, poor follow through. I did my level best not to giggle at the title but when our heroine was described as someone that made gay men and straight women reconsider their position I laughed out loud. Imagine a great concept described by James T Kirk. Yeah.
May 8, 2022
Meh. The idea was original - inexplicable trade with aliens with whom we can't communicate, humans as the poor galactic cousins. But plot/characters thin. Trundled along, plodding. Give it a miss.
September 21, 2024
This book was thought-provoking, but also problematic.
In the future, humanity has been reached by aliens and it is now 40 years after first contact. Massive upheaval has rocked all of world, due to the fact that the 3 alien races that now interact with mankind also cannot in any way communicate with us! They're just too alien! They don't communicate using sounds, have no oral or written language, one of the species doesn't seem to be made up of cells per se, one seems to possess rudimentary telepathy (which humans can't join in), and the third lives in a symbiotic/mutualistic relationship between a large grub-like creature and a dog/deer quadruped that provides the grubs with locomotion. What all three races have in common is their desire to trade with humans, but the trades are . . . bizarre. The aliens show no interest in classical human art, science, religion, politics, or philosophy, but are willing to swap enormously advanced equipment (but not the technology behind the equipment) for things such as a rusted bicycle, a dinner place-setting (dinner included in the trade), a single, well-worn tennis shoe, or certain artistically designed mobiles that are interrelated in that they contain actual Earth lifeforms within them (protozoans, fungi, jellyfish, etc.).
So weird!
All national/international governments have fallen, and people live more in city-states and large fiefdoms rather than massive nations. Since the aliens won't recognize or deal with politicians or governments (or religious leaders, or scientists), people have decided they don't need to either. Now you live with and pledge loyalty to your clan of people who live near you and speak the same language you do!
Human-researched scientific discoveries have dropped to nearly zero, as deciphering and/or reverse engineering alien devices now consumes all scientific endeavor. (As the author puts it, "Why invest billions of dollars and decades of research on a discovery some alien may simply TRADE with you tomorrow for an old oaken door?" Because of this, human science -- and, to an extent, human advancement -- has begun to stagnate.
Then one alien race kidnaps a group of human religious pilgrims, whisks them off to a nearby Earth-like world, films them (the aliens) assassinating two of the pilgrims, and then sends a video-recording of the event to a human artist whose work they've traded in before. Is this a message? Are they trying to communicate at last? Are they unhappy with the last trade with the artist? Do they want to trade MORE with the artist? Is this a warning to all humanity? What does it MEAN?
Who knows, but mankind decides it must put together a rescue mission for those pilgrims still held by the aliens, and so the story begins!
Like I said, a thought-provoking work, to be sure.
What's problematic is that in order to make the aliens uncommunicative, ALL communication must fail, and it does. What, the aliens don't use fire, electricity, radio waves, or mathematics? All three of them? Well, it seems that they don't! Really? Then how did _they_ create all the technological shit that they trade?
Whenever a possible explanation is put forth, you're never really sure if it's correct or not. But once the characters in the tale exhaust their answers/interpretations, well that's that -- the narrative has to continue, so you'll just have to either accept their resolution (or not) because the tale is going onward.
Another problem is the one brought up by Arthur C. Clarke in 1973: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," and this book has that in spades! In several situations alien technologies appear like Holy Grails/MacGuffins to bail out the humans from situations they're in, and this makes for some unsatisfactory extensions and endings to some subplots.
The whole psi/psionic power subplot toward the end is grandiose and unnerving. Read it and see.
But I enjoyed this read because it made me think, and offered a plausible, explained, well-reasoned, and totally bizarre future for humanity. It was _original_! Something new under the sun!
Not many SF books can claim that these days.
That's why I'm giving this one 4 stars despite its flaws.
In the future, humanity has been reached by aliens and it is now 40 years after first contact. Massive upheaval has rocked all of world, due to the fact that the 3 alien races that now interact with mankind also cannot in any way communicate with us! They're just too alien! They don't communicate using sounds, have no oral or written language, one of the species doesn't seem to be made up of cells per se, one seems to possess rudimentary telepathy (which humans can't join in), and the third lives in a symbiotic/mutualistic relationship between a large grub-like creature and a dog/deer quadruped that provides the grubs with locomotion. What all three races have in common is their desire to trade with humans, but the trades are . . . bizarre. The aliens show no interest in classical human art, science, religion, politics, or philosophy, but are willing to swap enormously advanced equipment (but not the technology behind the equipment) for things such as a rusted bicycle, a dinner place-setting (dinner included in the trade), a single, well-worn tennis shoe, or certain artistically designed mobiles that are interrelated in that they contain actual Earth lifeforms within them (protozoans, fungi, jellyfish, etc.).
So weird!
All national/international governments have fallen, and people live more in city-states and large fiefdoms rather than massive nations. Since the aliens won't recognize or deal with politicians or governments (or religious leaders, or scientists), people have decided they don't need to either. Now you live with and pledge loyalty to your clan of people who live near you and speak the same language you do!
Human-researched scientific discoveries have dropped to nearly zero, as deciphering and/or reverse engineering alien devices now consumes all scientific endeavor. (As the author puts it, "Why invest billions of dollars and decades of research on a discovery some alien may simply TRADE with you tomorrow for an old oaken door?" Because of this, human science -- and, to an extent, human advancement -- has begun to stagnate.
Then one alien race kidnaps a group of human religious pilgrims, whisks them off to a nearby Earth-like world, films them (the aliens) assassinating two of the pilgrims, and then sends a video-recording of the event to a human artist whose work they've traded in before. Is this a message? Are they trying to communicate at last? Are they unhappy with the last trade with the artist? Do they want to trade MORE with the artist? Is this a warning to all humanity? What does it MEAN?
Who knows, but mankind decides it must put together a rescue mission for those pilgrims still held by the aliens, and so the story begins!
Like I said, a thought-provoking work, to be sure.
What's problematic is that in order to make the aliens uncommunicative, ALL communication must fail, and it does. What, the aliens don't use fire, electricity, radio waves, or mathematics? All three of them? Well, it seems that they don't! Really? Then how did _they_ create all the technological shit that they trade?
Whenever a possible explanation is put forth, you're never really sure if it's correct or not. But once the characters in the tale exhaust their answers/interpretations, well that's that -- the narrative has to continue, so you'll just have to either accept their resolution (or not) because the tale is going onward.
Another problem is the one brought up by Arthur C. Clarke in 1973: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," and this book has that in spades! In several situations alien technologies appear like Holy Grails/MacGuffins to bail out the humans from situations they're in, and this makes for some unsatisfactory extensions and endings to some subplots.
The whole psi/psionic power subplot toward the end is grandiose and unnerving. Read it and see.
But I enjoyed this read because it made me think, and offered a plausible, explained, well-reasoned, and totally bizarre future for humanity. It was _original_! Something new under the sun!
Not many SF books can claim that these days.
That's why I'm giving this one 4 stars despite its flaws.
August 13, 2017
What if we experienced first contact with aliens and try as we might we couldn't communicate with them.
What if we had visits from 3 different types of aliens and couldn't communicate with any of them - but we could trade with them (random items for alien tec), sometimes the trades can go wrong - in one instance this resulted in the Arc de Triomphe hovering 3 meters above the ground permanently .
What if 40 years later we're still trying to communicate with them and still trying to figure out where we fit in the universal food chain?
This is the premise of Netherspace. Yes, our technology has advanced, yes, we are able to travel light years through space in a matter of days (in craft built of shipping containers and covered in Alien foam) - but we rely on Alien technology that is paid for in humans. No-one knows what happens to those humans. If that tec (slideslip generators) breaks down the Gilese (one of the 3 species that visit Earth, they look like bundles of wet leather rags) mysteriously know and show up to fix it - the call out fee is 1 human.
A group of travellers aiming to create a colony on an alien planet is hi-jacked in space, they are apparently held for ransom.
Earth - or GalDiv(the body that monitors all alien trade) sends an team to try and negotiate for the hostages. This team is made up of Kara - an official assassin whose sister was a call out fee for replacing a sideslip generator (which allows craft to travel through netherspace). Marc, an artist whose work the aliens were interested in and whose family went off planet while he was in prison. Finally there is Tse a pre-cog (he can see the possible outcomes of the future, but not necessarily how you reach them).
It's a really interesting set up, but it disappoints - because this book just plods along. It's no surprise when the mission manager goes batshit crazy and breaks the sideslip generator on rescue teams craft. It's no surprise that he becomes the call out fee (when it's found that the intended call out fee has been murdered by someone on board). It's rather irritating when the replacement sideslip generator breaks down again on the way back to earth.
It's not even surprising when you find out that there are ALOT of different species of alien, there's even some kind of master race and we seem to be some kind of curiosity to the rest of the universe because we are creative.
It was all just a bit underwhelming. But a part of me is interested to know what happens next.
What if we had visits from 3 different types of aliens and couldn't communicate with any of them - but we could trade with them (random items for alien tec), sometimes the trades can go wrong - in one instance this resulted in the Arc de Triomphe hovering 3 meters above the ground permanently .
What if 40 years later we're still trying to communicate with them and still trying to figure out where we fit in the universal food chain?
This is the premise of Netherspace. Yes, our technology has advanced, yes, we are able to travel light years through space in a matter of days (in craft built of shipping containers and covered in Alien foam) - but we rely on Alien technology that is paid for in humans. No-one knows what happens to those humans. If that tec (slideslip generators) breaks down the Gilese (one of the 3 species that visit Earth, they look like bundles of wet leather rags) mysteriously know and show up to fix it - the call out fee is 1 human.
A group of travellers aiming to create a colony on an alien planet is hi-jacked in space, they are apparently held for ransom.
Earth - or GalDiv(the body that monitors all alien trade) sends an team to try and negotiate for the hostages. This team is made up of Kara - an official assassin whose sister was a call out fee for replacing a sideslip generator (which allows craft to travel through netherspace). Marc, an artist whose work the aliens were interested in and whose family went off planet while he was in prison. Finally there is Tse a pre-cog (he can see the possible outcomes of the future, but not necessarily how you reach them).
It's a really interesting set up, but it disappoints - because this book just plods along. It's no surprise when the mission manager goes batshit crazy and breaks the sideslip generator on rescue teams craft. It's no surprise that he becomes the call out fee (when it's found that the intended call out fee has been murdered by someone on board). It's rather irritating when the replacement sideslip generator breaks down again on the way back to earth.
It's not even surprising when you find out that there are ALOT of different species of alien, there's even some kind of master race and we seem to be some kind of curiosity to the rest of the universe because we are creative.
It was all just a bit underwhelming. But a part of me is interested to know what happens next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2018
It is some time in the future. Earth is at an uneasy peace, the old warring states devolved into statelets; but at a price, and the price is stagnation. Not least because first contact has been made with not just one alien race but several - all enigmatic, piling out of Netherspace (hyperspace, if you like). And as Wittgenstein once said, if a lion could speak we wouldn't understand it - same here. The aliens take things from us and give unimaginable tech in return. Sometimes it's useful - allowing access to Netherspace and anti-grav - sometimes its use is as enigmatic as the aliens themselves. Maybe they're benefactors. Maybe not. Much of humankind spends much of time in the Out. Sometimes humans are taken in exchange and who knows what happens to them. So when a distant colony world is attacked a small team of specialists is assembled to go in and deal with the situation. I enjoyed this novel. Its aliens reminded me of those in the Strugatsky Brothers' "Roadside Picnic", (filmed by Tarkovsky as "Stalker") - the leavers behind of weird artefacts in Zones around the globe - although in the case of "Netherspace" they haven't been and gone, but are still here. Vaguely humanoid Gliese and the Cancri (a bipartite race apparently comprised of maggots riding greyhounds - if it's that way about) turn up, do stuff, go away. The human characters are engaging and largely avoid cliche. A major theme is communication - and as in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," the underlying question that if we can't communicate with one another, how can we hope to with alien lifeforms? It is paced for adventure, and that is what you get and hopefully will in the sequels. It is also nice to see Andy Lane writing for adults again, not that there's anything wrong with writing for Young Adults - far from it.
April 7, 2022
If you are going into this expecting a good science fiction novel, look elsewhere. If you are expecting something fun but mindless, you might enjoy. It eventually lost its fun "so bad it's good" quality that it had in the beginning, what with lore dumps and strange character descriptions and all that fun stuff, and became needlessly complicated and confused. It's an interesting take on alien travel, thanks to the concept of not being able to talk to them, but it feels flawed at its core in a way I can't describe. It's also INCREDIBLY horny -- not necessarily explicit, but very very present. It's a constant undercurrent. The plus side to that is that every character in the book is some flavor of queer; the downside is it's questionable. I feel like committing to making Tse nonbinary would have made it more fun, at least for me. Also, I liked the glossary at the end. Overall, not good. But I don't regret reading it. I have zero interest in finishing the series.
August 10, 2025
I usually try to finish reading a whole book, but I had to stop with this one. I was not enjoying it, and pushing myself only made me dislike it more.
I didn’t connect with the human characters. They felt one-dimensional, and I found myself thinking “meh” because I couldn’t care less about what was happening to them. I also didn’t like the sex scenes or the odd emphasis on the characters’ sexuality, especially Kara’s. I get it, be proud of who you are, but constantly bringing it up felt unnecessary since it didn’t move the plot forward.
At the same time, I was very aware this was written by male writers because of how the female characters were portrayed. I was hoping this would tone down as I read further, but it remained distracting and annoying, taking away from the story itself. It’s a shame because I was curious about the book’s universe—the aliens, the technology and their motives.
I didn’t connect with the human characters. They felt one-dimensional, and I found myself thinking “meh” because I couldn’t care less about what was happening to them. I also didn’t like the sex scenes or the odd emphasis on the characters’ sexuality, especially Kara’s. I get it, be proud of who you are, but constantly bringing it up felt unnecessary since it didn’t move the plot forward.
At the same time, I was very aware this was written by male writers because of how the female characters were portrayed. I was hoping this would tone down as I read further, but it remained distracting and annoying, taking away from the story itself. It’s a shame because I was curious about the book’s universe—the aliens, the technology and their motives.
November 24, 2017
A story which starts with first contact where the aliens announce their existence in a clever fashion. Fast forward forty years and humanity has access to technology way beyond the understanding of anyone from Earth but it works. The faster than light drive comes at a cost. Our visitors want humans in a swap deal for the technology. Communication and understanding of the alien races is virtually nil but trading has managed to happen, although not everyone is happy at the cost for the alien technology.
Aliens have kidnapped a growing of colonists and "volunteers" are being sent to negotiate their freedom. The timeline jumps back and forth between those kidnapped and those on the journey to free them, until the point the timelines merge.
Intelligent sci-fi with more to come from the authors
Ray Smillie
Aliens have kidnapped a growing of colonists and "volunteers" are being sent to negotiate their freedom. The timeline jumps back and forth between those kidnapped and those on the journey to free them, until the point the timelines merge.
Intelligent sci-fi with more to come from the authors
Ray Smillie
March 30, 2018
Finally, aliens that don’t talk like a drill sergeant and don’t look like something you find under your sink! I wrote a whole book against anthropomorphic aliens
https://www.amazon.com/Science-Fictio...
And still, genuinely strange and incomprehensible but rational creatures are as rare in SF as a vegetarian restaurant in small-town America. This novels starts with the assumption that communication with aliens is impossible and weaves an interesting and compelling plot around it. It is not without its weaknesses - the characters blend into each other and there are some loose ends (which I assume with be taken care of in the sequel), but all in all, it is very good.
https://www.amazon.com/Science-Fictio...
And still, genuinely strange and incomprehensible but rational creatures are as rare in SF as a vegetarian restaurant in small-town America. This novels starts with the assumption that communication with aliens is impossible and weaves an interesting and compelling plot around it. It is not without its weaknesses - the characters blend into each other and there are some loose ends (which I assume with be taken care of in the sequel), but all in all, it is very good.
Read
August 20, 2023this one came up in Bookbub and looked interesting until I read the blurb on Amazon.
First two lines: "Aliens came to Earth 40 years ago. Their anatomy proved unfathomable and all attempts at communication failed. But through trade, humanity gained technology that allowed them to colonize the stars."
Last line: "For how will they negotiate with aliens when communication between the species is impossible?"
I'm sorry but they can't trade if they can't communicate. Trading requires that both parties understand what they have and what they want in return, and that...is...communicating. I don't trust this author with my reading experience if they don't even understand that successful trade requires communication. And if they are using communication to mean "We can't understand or speak their language" then that is also Not Good.
Not read, not purchased, not rated.
First two lines: "Aliens came to Earth 40 years ago. Their anatomy proved unfathomable and all attempts at communication failed. But through trade, humanity gained technology that allowed them to colonize the stars."
Last line: "For how will they negotiate with aliens when communication between the species is impossible?"
I'm sorry but they can't trade if they can't communicate. Trading requires that both parties understand what they have and what they want in return, and that...is...communicating. I don't trust this author with my reading experience if they don't even understand that successful trade requires communication. And if they are using communication to mean "We can't understand or speak their language" then that is also Not Good.
Not read, not purchased, not rated.
July 24, 2017
a new author to me a new book series with a promising start. a near future earth I. which aliens have arrived, traded us technology that has enabled humans to travel the stars but something seems wrong!
a 2 part story mainly following so.e religious pilgrims who worship the aliens as gods and the crew sent to find them after they go missing.
The author blends good character interaction through the story so these are quickly characters you are interested in and the story is nicely spun over the 2 arcs.
Some original Scifi ideas here and I really like the concept of aliens that we simply can not figure out or communicate with gives the universe a nice complicated feel to it.
Netherspace is a series to keep an eye on as it develops.
a 2 part story mainly following so.e religious pilgrims who worship the aliens as gods and the crew sent to find them after they go missing.
The author blends good character interaction through the story so these are quickly characters you are interested in and the story is nicely spun over the 2 arcs.
Some original Scifi ideas here and I really like the concept of aliens that we simply can not figure out or communicate with gives the universe a nice complicated feel to it.
Netherspace is a series to keep an eye on as it develops.
January 8, 2025
I very much enjoyed the incomprehensible aliens and the sheer variety. One alien is described as something like "a pile of wet leather." Others seem to be a symbiotic pair - or maybe not?
For sci-fi readers interested in themes of alien communication, alien thought, and whether the chasm between humans and non-human intelligences can ever be bridged, this is a great read.
I found the human characters less sympathetic, far too ready to murder (to be fair, one is an assassin) and just generally not very well fleshed-out. The "captain" of the starship is an unredeemable, two-dimensional coward and idiot. And the characters seem to take great joy in bullying him before sending him off to an uncertain fate, possibly death. This one wasn't for me.
For sci-fi readers interested in themes of alien communication, alien thought, and whether the chasm between humans and non-human intelligences can ever be bridged, this is a great read.
I found the human characters less sympathetic, far too ready to murder (to be fair, one is an assassin) and just generally not very well fleshed-out. The "captain" of the starship is an unredeemable, two-dimensional coward and idiot. And the characters seem to take great joy in bullying him before sending him off to an uncertain fate, possibly death. This one wasn't for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 11, 2020DNF. Only got about 70 pages in, but just couldn't get into it. I love the idea (like Arrival) that there is no "Universal Translator" like in Star Trek. Just because we meet aliens, doesn't mean we can talk to them. But, I was having trouble accepting how this is turning out. We cannot understand the aliens, but we can trade with them. We have little knowledge of them or their technology, but we just follow them around and watch them give alien technology to whoever has a trinket the alien wants. Maybe I'll pick it back up at some point.
January 2, 2022
The set up for the book was fantastic. Aliens -- true aliens that are not comprehensible -- arrive and humanity fails to understand them and they don't (maybe) understand us. They give us technology that we come to rely upon, but we can't reverse engineer it. Some people get kidnapped by one of the alien species and others head to retrieve them. Despite such a good premise, it didn't ultimately deliver for me and I wanted the author to toss me more bones more frequently. Glad I read it, glad to have finished it, but uncertain if I will read the next one in the series or not.
May 25, 2022
3.5 stars
I hung on every detail at the beginning of this, but the details became less and less interesting and important as it went on. The society, aliens, science, and abilities was all interesting up front, but the space between major events became more and more skipable. I'm interested in the greater mysteries, but not interested in the in between details. Thankfully there was enough to interest me towards the end, or I would have skipped large portions and felt less high on this. I'm down to give the next one a chance.
I hung on every detail at the beginning of this, but the details became less and less interesting and important as it went on. The society, aliens, science, and abilities was all interesting up front, but the space between major events became more and more skipable. I'm interested in the greater mysteries, but not interested in the in between details. Thankfully there was enough to interest me towards the end, or I would have skipped large portions and felt less high on this. I'm down to give the next one a chance.
September 8, 2023
Good space opera variant! Interested travel, lots of species. But here the FTL was provided by aliens and no-one knows how it works. Additionally communication with the aliens is impossible as we don't understand then at all either. Stuck me as more likely than the usual anthropocentric aliens in this genre. Now quite 4 stars as although a good read it didn't suck me in as much as I'd like. A line it its favor is that although the first of a series, the story had a natural closure at the end while leaving plenty for the next installments.
August 25, 2017
On a scale of 1 to 10 this book would score 9. So 4.5 stars which boils down to 5 stars. Just forget about Klingons and Wookies and whatever humanoid, bi-ped alien you have heard of and make way for Gliese, Cancri and Eridani. These aliens are more alien than your 'classic' aliens. Netherspace is a book with a lot of world-building. Only a few characters (Kara and Marc) are more than shallow and this is also my main objection to this book. However: it says #1, do knows what will happen in #2...
July 31, 2017
Interesting characters and a slightly mysterious space travel concept, combined with strange aliens who trade with humans, but cannot (or do not) communicate with them.
The story could've been much more than this, but in the end I kept asking myself why the story went as it went. Three stars for the cool story universe, not for the story itself.
The story could've been much more than this, but in the end I kept asking myself why the story went as it went. Three stars for the cool story universe, not for the story itself.
August 23, 2017
What happens when humanity is faced with first contact - and incredible technology, but has no idea how to communicate with the Aliens? We adapt - and evolve, but sometimes for the wrong reasons and with the wrong motivations. This was an interesting read but leaves a lot of doors partially open. It remains to be seem if the authors can open those doors and truly explore the unknown.
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