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Pavaria
The Pavaria has been cut off from the other colony starships due to an ancient prohibition against powering its broken engines. Nathe is volunteered to travel to the far end of the ship to search for the lost notes of Bev Bora which may reveal the secret to restoring full power. But someone doesn't want him to find it. And they're willing to commit murder by jaguar-- or worse-- to stop him.
180 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2017
17 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Tom Merritt
34 books1,780 followersTom Merritt is a technology journalist and broadcaster. Tom has previously worked at TechTV, CNET and TWiT. He currently hosts the Sword and Laser book club podcast, Daily Tech News Show, Current Geek and Cordkillers among others.
photo by Andrew Mager
photo by Andrew Mager
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 7, 2017
Characters you like enough to be mad at.
As a journalist, Tom Merritt has been successful at stringing words together to explain many things in technology. So I'm not surprised when he picks up the pen (or keyboard) to tell a tale about fictional technology and how people will have to do a thing, with the thing, because a thing needs to happen, (no spoilers there) and it's a really good story.
His world is internally consistent, you can believe that given enough science, all the things could really work like that. And given that world, the story is believable. You can see why things must be done, and accept that people would behave in such and such a way. And the people! The characters are real enough that you can invest a little hope in them, worry for them, and frustration at them.
This is a fast read, if you don't ration yourself, the whole story will be gone in a single sitting. And like most good meals, you will be wanting some more. So back to the desk, Tom, for we fans are hungry and demanding bosses.
As a journalist, Tom Merritt has been successful at stringing words together to explain many things in technology. So I'm not surprised when he picks up the pen (or keyboard) to tell a tale about fictional technology and how people will have to do a thing, with the thing, because a thing needs to happen, (no spoilers there) and it's a really good story.
His world is internally consistent, you can believe that given enough science, all the things could really work like that. And given that world, the story is believable. You can see why things must be done, and accept that people would behave in such and such a way. And the people! The characters are real enough that you can invest a little hope in them, worry for them, and frustration at them.
This is a fast read, if you don't ration yourself, the whole story will be gone in a single sitting. And like most good meals, you will be wanting some more. So back to the desk, Tom, for we fans are hungry and demanding bosses.
January 8, 2018
I am a big fan of Tom Merritt's books so far. Pilot X was probably my favorite but Pavaria, his newest installment is also a very good entry. Overall it is a decent scifi adventure that does leave a lot left. I will go ahead and get right into spoilers.
First, the best thing about this book is the world building. Tom does a great job at showing what could happen with a scientific society that looses a lot of its technology at a rapid pace. He has a lot of great ideas that were very interesting like without technology the other parts of the ship descended into a pseudo-science religious society. It is also really cool to see how those people who have lives without technology for so long describe technology when they are able to see it for the first time when introduced to the main character. I really enjoyed all those parts of the book.
As for the stuff I did not really like hopefully I don't seem like I did not enjoy the story, because I really did, I just saw a lot of flaws in his story that bothered me. Firstly, as a personal opinion, he does not go into enough detail about the history in Pavaria. There is so much ripe in this story that he could have made the book two to three times as long and I would have loved to hear more about the history of Pavaria and what happened in between the years after the disaster. It seems like much of this was quickly overlooked to get the main story going.
The main character Nathe, is not developed very well. You don't really learn much about him and don't have much attachment to him other than he is the main character. We don't really learn much about him until the very end of the book when he gets drunk and starts talking to a bartender in Brax. Also, there is a semi-love story between the main character and the side kick which was not really needed nor was it developed at all. 2/3 of the story Nathe and Trella are together and there is barely any hint in the story that they are attracted to each other until completely random near the end of the book Nathe kisses her. I ended up reading that page 3 times over because Nathe kisses her and then absolutely nothing is said about it and the story continues. Then, in the last chapter it is revealed that they end up together.
Also, there are many things in this story that are just way too convenient and happen to push the story along. When the main character shows up in the town he needs to be in he literally runs right into Trella as the first person he sees and they meet, how convenient. Other parts of the story with Trella's uncle and more just seem like they happen just to move the story forward. Also, in the end of the story, we learn that the sister ship has send a shuttle that has been traveling for a hundred years, that just so happens to arrive moments before the bad thing happens! What are the chances of that?
Overall this was an enjoyable read that I felt like could have been so much more!
First, the best thing about this book is the world building. Tom does a great job at showing what could happen with a scientific society that looses a lot of its technology at a rapid pace. He has a lot of great ideas that were very interesting like without technology the other parts of the ship descended into a pseudo-science religious society. It is also really cool to see how those people who have lives without technology for so long describe technology when they are able to see it for the first time when introduced to the main character. I really enjoyed all those parts of the book.
As for the stuff I did not really like hopefully I don't seem like I did not enjoy the story, because I really did, I just saw a lot of flaws in his story that bothered me. Firstly, as a personal opinion, he does not go into enough detail about the history in Pavaria. There is so much ripe in this story that he could have made the book two to three times as long and I would have loved to hear more about the history of Pavaria and what happened in between the years after the disaster. It seems like much of this was quickly overlooked to get the main story going.
The main character Nathe, is not developed very well. You don't really learn much about him and don't have much attachment to him other than he is the main character. We don't really learn much about him until the very end of the book when he gets drunk and starts talking to a bartender in Brax. Also, there is a semi-love story between the main character and the side kick which was not really needed nor was it developed at all. 2/3 of the story Nathe and Trella are together and there is barely any hint in the story that they are attracted to each other until completely random near the end of the book Nathe kisses her. I ended up reading that page 3 times over because Nathe kisses her and then absolutely nothing is said about it and the story continues. Then, in the last chapter it is revealed that they end up together.
Also, there are many things in this story that are just way too convenient and happen to push the story along. When the main character shows up in the town he needs to be in he literally runs right into Trella as the first person he sees and they meet, how convenient. Other parts of the story with Trella's uncle and more just seem like they happen just to move the story forward. Also, in the end of the story, we learn that the sister ship has send a shuttle that has been traveling for a hundred years, that just so happens to arrive moments before the bad thing happens! What are the chances of that?
Overall this was an enjoyable read that I felt like could have been so much more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2018
This short homage to Canticle for Lebowitz borrows a lot of the same themes but applies them in a much leaner format of a story. The touch of originality comes from the setting which is, as the prologue strongly hints, onboard a generation ship.
Tom Merritt's wonderful world building is on point as ever but as is often the case I feel left with my hunger after reading his books. This one is no different. It's a book that begs for a sequel to further flesh out its universe or simply feels too short. Not regarding the plot but rather in the details offered about the characters. Then again, I am a sucker for deep characters with powerful, engaging stories.
If you like classic science fiction, you'll probably get a kick out of Pavaria and all the clever ideas that are weaved between its pages. It's a quick read that will most likely inspire your own ideas of catastrophes on ships that sail between the stars for centuries.
A warning about the audiobook: Tom Merritt is a skilled podcaster and no stranger to professional audio broadcasting and recording. I enjoy several of his shows and had great hopes for his narration of his book. So it was a little disappointing that the audiobook version did not live up to these expectations. The pacing is a little fast and there are a handful of mispronunciations that were not re-recorded. There are also some background noises and a strange audio artefact at the beginning of Chapter 29. If I'd gone by the audiobook quality alone I would have knocked this one down to three stars. I probably wouldn't be so harsh if I didn't know that Tom is capable of much better in that particular area.
Tom Merritt's wonderful world building is on point as ever but as is often the case I feel left with my hunger after reading his books. This one is no different. It's a book that begs for a sequel to further flesh out its universe or simply feels too short. Not regarding the plot but rather in the details offered about the characters. Then again, I am a sucker for deep characters with powerful, engaging stories.
If you like classic science fiction, you'll probably get a kick out of Pavaria and all the clever ideas that are weaved between its pages. It's a quick read that will most likely inspire your own ideas of catastrophes on ships that sail between the stars for centuries.
A warning about the audiobook: Tom Merritt is a skilled podcaster and no stranger to professional audio broadcasting and recording. I enjoy several of his shows and had great hopes for his narration of his book. So it was a little disappointing that the audiobook version did not live up to these expectations. The pacing is a little fast and there are a handful of mispronunciations that were not re-recorded. There are also some background noises and a strange audio artefact at the beginning of Chapter 29. If I'd gone by the audiobook quality alone I would have knocked this one down to three stars. I probably wouldn't be so harsh if I didn't know that Tom is capable of much better in that particular area.
July 26, 2018
Fascinating ideas within this novella, although I did think the execution could have been better. Still, not bad at all for what it seems started as a NaNoWriMo project!
Overall I liked this story better than Pilot X. Fun stuff about how a colony ship could forget its origins over time and be a world unto itself, developing religion and cultures of its own over time.
Overall I liked this story better than Pilot X. Fun stuff about how a colony ship could forget its origins over time and be a world unto itself, developing religion and cultures of its own over time.
December 29, 2018
As good as Tom's other works, especially as an audiobook. I listen to his podcast several times a week so this was a comfortable voice in my ears. Good basic SciFi story. If you're used to mass market audiobooks you may find this one to be rough around the edges as they left in little stammers, stutters, and other misspeakings. This didn't bother me but I can see how it could bother others.
January 26, 2022
Tom Merritt is an excellent writer. I've read two of his books so far and they have been great. I have purchased all of his other books and can't wait to read them.
Audible narrator was awesome! Kept it interesting and moved along quickly.
Truly a wonderful experience.
Audible narrator was awesome! Kept it interesting and moved along quickly.
Truly a wonderful experience.
December 31, 2017
Fun read!
Interesting concept by my favorite podcaster. If you've liked Tom's other books, you'll definitely enjoy this one. Give it a try!
Interesting concept by my favorite podcaster. If you've liked Tom's other books, you'll definitely enjoy this one. Give it a try!
April 29, 2020
A quick, entertaining read.
December 7, 2017
Enjoyed Pilot X by the same author, so was more than happy to give this a go as well. Glad that I did! An absorbing sci-fi tale set aboard a generational, colony ship where things have gone a bit wrong.
My biggest criticism is really a compliment - I wish there could have been more of it! This is a short, quick read and I could certainly have stood it being fleshed-out a bit more fully, making the central quest a bit longer.
Loads of inventive world-building and likeable characters.
Couldn't put it down. Recommended!
My biggest criticism is really a compliment - I wish there could have been more of it! This is a short, quick read and I could certainly have stood it being fleshed-out a bit more fully, making the central quest a bit longer.
Loads of inventive world-building and likeable characters.
Couldn't put it down. Recommended!
February 3, 2018
One of Tom Merritt's best books to date. I really enjoyed reading this, and I was very satisfied with the way the book ended.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews