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Great Ship
Marrow Redux
Humans have piloted the Great Ship for nearly 100,000 years. But at long last, they realize that the world-sized starship is carrying a secret cargo. An entire planet hides at the core. Named Marrow, for where blood is born. And a picked team of captains will explore the mysterious body, and Marrow will try its best to kill them.
Be aware: This is a significantly reworked version of the original novella. That was done in part because the first "Marrow" was written in a blur more than 20 years ago, and it needed editing. But more importantly, all of the Great Ship stories have been retooled to fit a grand plan, and after considerable work, this particular Marrow now belongs with its siblings.
"Washen never lost consciousness. With numbed curiosity, she watched her legs and arms break, and a thousand bruises spread into a single violet tapestry, every rib crushed to dust and her reinforced spine splintering until she was left without pain or a shred of mobility. Washen couldn't move her head, and her words were slow and watery, the sloppy mouth filled with cracked teeth and leaking blood. "Abandon," she muttered. Then, "Ship," and she laughed feebly. Desperately. A gray sensation rippled through her body. Emergency talents were awake, finding their home in shambles. Storehouses of power focused on protecting the bioceramic brain, flooding it with electrical blankets and comforting narcotics. Then the vital organs and spine were repaired, cannibalizing meat for raw materials and energy, while the captain's body was wracked with fever, sweating saltwater and blood while the body quickly grew small."
Robert Reed has written hundreds of science fiction stories. His Great Ship stories are among the most popular, and "Marrow" was nominated for the Hugo Award.
Be aware: This is a significantly reworked version of the original novella. That was done in part because the first "Marrow" was written in a blur more than 20 years ago, and it needed editing. But more importantly, all of the Great Ship stories have been retooled to fit a grand plan, and after considerable work, this particular Marrow now belongs with its siblings.
"Washen never lost consciousness. With numbed curiosity, she watched her legs and arms break, and a thousand bruises spread into a single violet tapestry, every rib crushed to dust and her reinforced spine splintering until she was left without pain or a shred of mobility. Washen couldn't move her head, and her words were slow and watery, the sloppy mouth filled with cracked teeth and leaking blood. "Abandon," she muttered. Then, "Ship," and she laughed feebly. Desperately. A gray sensation rippled through her body. Emergency talents were awake, finding their home in shambles. Storehouses of power focused on protecting the bioceramic brain, flooding it with electrical blankets and comforting narcotics. Then the vital organs and spine were repaired, cannibalizing meat for raw materials and energy, while the captain's body was wracked with fever, sweating saltwater and blood while the body quickly grew small."
Robert Reed has written hundreds of science fiction stories. His Great Ship stories are among the most popular, and "Marrow" was nominated for the Hugo Award.
Kindle Edition
Published June 8, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 18, 2024
Marrow Redux feels like an odd entry to someone who started with the Marrow novel - but it fixes a few gaps that were felt with the book in particular. It does feel a tad rushed and I don't recommend it folks who aren't familiar with the novel or the characters in play.
One issue I felt with the original novel was how isolating it felt to have the whole universe above in the Greatship - all the mysteries and aliens and wonders - and be cut off from it on some primitive world. Marrow the setting felt like a step back from everything else the Great Ship universe had to offer.
However now with later entries like Dragons and Hammerwing I've changed my tune on the world of Marrow. Much like the Greatship itself, all the wonders of all the galaxy are all there too, hiding right under your feet.
One issue I felt with the original novel was how isolating it felt to have the whole universe above in the Greatship - all the mysteries and aliens and wonders - and be cut off from it on some primitive world. Marrow the setting felt like a step back from everything else the Great Ship universe had to offer.
However now with later entries like Dragons and Hammerwing I've changed my tune on the world of Marrow. Much like the Greatship itself, all the wonders of all the galaxy are all there too, hiding right under your feet.
September 17, 2024
Deeply Disturbing in the Best Way
This story will move you. There is deceit, love, maturity, growth, expectation, fury, inventiveness, and sorrow. It’s a full range of human expression and fortunately, for those who want more after reading, there’s a full novel expansion to follow!
Bear in mind that this is a rewrite of the original novella from over a decade ago, but it better fits the author’s current skillset and his updated perception regarding the lore and flow of the Greatship stories. I loved it. This is sci-fi that resonates with me immensely and I can’t wait to gobble up more. Unique concepts galore, and desires I can’t really suppress. I so look forward to humanity reaching even a crumb of what the humans in the book have
This story will move you. There is deceit, love, maturity, growth, expectation, fury, inventiveness, and sorrow. It’s a full range of human expression and fortunately, for those who want more after reading, there’s a full novel expansion to follow!
Bear in mind that this is a rewrite of the original novella from over a decade ago, but it better fits the author’s current skillset and his updated perception regarding the lore and flow of the Greatship stories. I loved it. This is sci-fi that resonates with me immensely and I can’t wait to gobble up more. Unique concepts galore, and desires I can’t really suppress. I so look forward to humanity reaching even a crumb of what the humans in the book have
September 23, 2023
I've never read the original "Marrow" novella but I have read the novel "Marrow" several times. So reading this new short version was like reading a Reader's Digest version of the novel. Or rather a super-condensed version of the novel. Though the ending of this story is different than the original story and the novel.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews