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Children of a Dead Earth #1
The Ark
Humankind has escaped a dying Earth and set out to find a new home among the stars aboard an immense generation spaceship, affectionately named the Ark. Bryan Benson is the Ark’s greatest living sports hero, enjoying retirement working as a detective in Avalon, his home module. The hours are good, the work is easy, and the perks can’t be beat.
But when a crew member goes missing, Benson is thrust into the centre of an ever-expanding web of deception, secrets, and violence that overturns everything he knows about living on the Ark and threatens everyone aboard. As the last remnants of humanity hurtle towards their salvation, Benson finds himself in a desperate race to unravel the conspiracy before a madman turns mankind’s home into its tomb.
But when a crew member goes missing, Benson is thrust into the centre of an ever-expanding web of deception, secrets, and violence that overturns everything he knows about living on the Ark and threatens everyone aboard. As the last remnants of humanity hurtle towards their salvation, Benson finds himself in a desperate race to unravel the conspiracy before a madman turns mankind’s home into its tomb.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2015
588 people are currently reading
1277 people want to read
About the author
Patrick S. Tomlinson
19 books251 followersPatrick S. Tomlinson lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife, a menagerie of houseplants in varying levels of health, a Mustang, and a Triumph motorcycle bought specifically to embarrass and infuriate Harley riders. When not writing sci-fi and fantasy novels and short stories, Patrick is busy developing his other passion for writing and performing stand-up comedy in the Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago scenes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
January 4, 2021
It's frustrating that I can't give this book zero stars.
December 9, 2015
Hell yeah I liked it. I wrote the damned thing. I'd better like it.
April 24, 2020
DNF. Cringingly awkward, superficial and silly; terribly unrealistic world-building.
July 3, 2018
Hackneyed garbage.
May 21, 2016
It's possible I more disliked the narrator than the book.
April 10, 2016
Fun, thrilling and intriguing space opera!
I had low expectations for The Ark but was intrigued by the high concept of a mystery/science fiction hybrid tale: a violent death occurs on a huge spaceship carrying the last living fifty-thousand humans on a centuries-long journey to Tau Ceti after the Earth is destroyed by an unfortunate encounter with a black hole.
The main character is a male (and manly) cop named Bryan Benson who used to be a sports hero and the setting is culturally familiar to Americans, with interesting SF details (digital implants, set hundreds of years in the future, living in an artificial environment) and a compelling plot.
The story is peopled with a very diverse cast and the story raises some thought-provoking questions and scenarios: what should be preserved from the cultural heritage of all of humanity, how and when should the death penalty be used when there are only 50k people left, the ethics of forced universal contraception and the permanence of sociological phenomena like elitism, heteronormativity and class and what social structure would be best to insure humanity's survival if we were reduced to the population of a mid-sized city?
All of this is done while Tomlinson manages to deliver a fun, thrilling story that combines an exciting police thriller with thoughtful science fiction. I'm very much looking forward to the sequels of The Children of a Lost Earth as there are several important questions that are raised towards the end of the book which make the reader to want more. In the end that's one measure of a story well told, which The Ark is.
I had low expectations for The Ark but was intrigued by the high concept of a mystery/science fiction hybrid tale: a violent death occurs on a huge spaceship carrying the last living fifty-thousand humans on a centuries-long journey to Tau Ceti after the Earth is destroyed by an unfortunate encounter with a black hole.
The main character is a male (and manly) cop named Bryan Benson who used to be a sports hero and the setting is culturally familiar to Americans, with interesting SF details (digital implants, set hundreds of years in the future, living in an artificial environment) and a compelling plot.
The story is peopled with a very diverse cast and the story raises some thought-provoking questions and scenarios: what should be preserved from the cultural heritage of all of humanity, how and when should the death penalty be used when there are only 50k people left, the ethics of forced universal contraception and the permanence of sociological phenomena like elitism, heteronormativity and class and what social structure would be best to insure humanity's survival if we were reduced to the population of a mid-sized city?
All of this is done while Tomlinson manages to deliver a fun, thrilling story that combines an exciting police thriller with thoughtful science fiction. I'm very much looking forward to the sequels of The Children of a Lost Earth as there are several important questions that are raised towards the end of the book which make the reader to want more. In the end that's one measure of a story well told, which The Ark is.
October 27, 2015
Two hundred years ago, the Ark set off into space with its human cargo, leaving a doomed Earth behind. Now, centuries later, the Ark is nearing its destination: a new world where humanity can begin again. Every bit of energy and attention is focused on the approaching day of the Flip, but when police chief Brian Benson stumbles upon a suspicious death, no matter how much political pressure he gets to treat the case as an accident, he simply can't let go.
I immediately found myself engaged by the world of The Ark. With all of humanity reduced to a single shipload, the crew of the Ark instituted strict controls on almost every aspect of life. Waste and failure to recycle is a serious crime. Normal pregnancy is forbidden and surgically prevented, and each child born through the Ark-approved technology has a "plant" immediately installed that covers the full surface of the frontal lobe. While the plant provides instant access to technology and full connectivity, it also enforces complete control over the citizens of the Ark. Passengers, called "cattle" by the crew, are disdained by and segregated from the crew. Passengers spend their time working to maintain their habitats and invest their enthusiasm and competitiveness in the gravity-free game of Zero.
While the worldbuilding was definitely interesting, in an odd way, I don't think the characters really exist enough in the reality created for them. For one thing, they know far too much about their past, and tend to think in terms of comparisons between the past and their present. While this is certainly helpful for the reader in explaining the worldbuilding, it didn't do much to make the characters feel grounded in their reality. For example, they use phrases like "check, please," even though physical paper disappeared centuries ago, even though no one has eaten real meat in the past 200 years, they remember that Hindus venerate cows and won't eat beef and recognize the appearance and taste of meat. They accept using a disgusting mouthwash because it's better than a trip to the dentist, even though dentists have vanished into distant memory. Even though we're told that nationalism was effectively forgotten in the first few years aboard the Ark, people still characterize themselves in terms of their ethnicities and national origins. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed the few flights of fancy that broke out of the contemporary mindset, such as the tour of art through the ages that included artists such as the leader of the Reclamation Movement who died in 2059 or the "seminal work" of the museum, which was created after the earth was known to be in peril. There is also a thoroughly amusing take on literal tin-hat paranoia.
Much of the story is told through breezy dialogue laced with humor, and the plot is full of action and adventure. While l never really warmed to Benson, he didn't annoy me much, either. Perhaps the weakest character for me was Theresa, Benson's love interest. While we're told she's competent and capable, she mostly exists as Benson's sounding board, cheerleader, and comic foil. My favourite character was the spunky elderly museum curator whose whiplash tongue is feared even by the Ark's highest authorities.
The story effortlessly carried me to the end. The final outcome is satisfying, and while I'm not sure I agree with the characters' conclusions, it definitely left some food for thought. If you're looking for a lighthearted scifi adventure, the Ark may fit the bill.
~3.5
~~I received an advanced reader copy of this ebook through Netgalley from the publisher, Angry Robot Books, in exchange for my honest review.~~
I immediately found myself engaged by the world of The Ark. With all of humanity reduced to a single shipload, the crew of the Ark instituted strict controls on almost every aspect of life. Waste and failure to recycle is a serious crime. Normal pregnancy is forbidden and surgically prevented, and each child born through the Ark-approved technology has a "plant" immediately installed that covers the full surface of the frontal lobe. While the plant provides instant access to technology and full connectivity, it also enforces complete control over the citizens of the Ark. Passengers, called "cattle" by the crew, are disdained by and segregated from the crew. Passengers spend their time working to maintain their habitats and invest their enthusiasm and competitiveness in the gravity-free game of Zero.
While the worldbuilding was definitely interesting, in an odd way, I don't think the characters really exist enough in the reality created for them. For one thing, they know far too much about their past, and tend to think in terms of comparisons between the past and their present. While this is certainly helpful for the reader in explaining the worldbuilding, it didn't do much to make the characters feel grounded in their reality. For example, they use phrases like "check, please," even though physical paper disappeared centuries ago, even though no one has eaten real meat in the past 200 years, they remember that Hindus venerate cows and won't eat beef and recognize the appearance and taste of meat. They accept using a disgusting mouthwash because it's better than a trip to the dentist, even though dentists have vanished into distant memory. Even though we're told that nationalism was effectively forgotten in the first few years aboard the Ark, people still characterize themselves in terms of their ethnicities and national origins. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed the few flights of fancy that broke out of the contemporary mindset, such as the tour of art through the ages that included artists such as the leader of the Reclamation Movement who died in 2059 or the "seminal work" of the museum, which was created after the earth was known to be in peril. There is also a thoroughly amusing take on literal tin-hat paranoia.
Much of the story is told through breezy dialogue laced with humor, and the plot is full of action and adventure. While l never really warmed to Benson, he didn't annoy me much, either. Perhaps the weakest character for me was Theresa, Benson's love interest. While we're told she's competent and capable, she mostly exists as Benson's sounding board, cheerleader, and comic foil. My favourite character was the spunky elderly museum curator whose whiplash tongue is feared even by the Ark's highest authorities.
The story effortlessly carried me to the end. The final outcome is satisfying, and while I'm not sure I agree with the characters' conclusions, it definitely left some food for thought. If you're looking for a lighthearted scifi adventure, the Ark may fit the bill.
~3.5
~~I received an advanced reader copy of this ebook through Netgalley from the publisher, Angry Robot Books, in exchange for my honest review.~~
not-even-if-you-paid-me
December 20, 2019I had this listed as "looks interesting, maybe read". Locked room murder mystery on a spaceship? I read that blurb and was like "SIGN ME UP!!!".
But today it moved over to my "not even if you paid me" list.
But today it moved over to my "not even if you paid me" list.
June 16, 2016
My original The Ark audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
The Ark by Patrick S. Tomlinson is the first novel in the series called Children of a Dead Earth. Bryan Benson is a detective on a gigantic space ship called the Ark. Many generations ago, a sampling of humankind was put onto the Ark to escape destruction. Every person on the ship is equipped with an implant tracker that tracks not only their position, but also every aspect of their lives. So when a crew member goes missing, a surprised Benson is called in. The clues begin to reveal an unsettling trail that imply that the missing crew member didn’t simply commit suicide, but something more nefarious might be at play. As Benson travels to places on the ship that he didn’t know exists and meets with the mostly unlikely allies and enemies, he begins to see the status quo of the ship with new eyes. His investigation threatens to not only solve the mystery, but also lead him to the brink of death.
I really enjoyed this novel - I listened to it in almost one go. Benson is a funny and likable character and his interactions with different characters are fun to listen to. The mystery of the missing crew member is really engrossing, especially as this one seemingly minor missing persons case snowballs into a massive conspiracy involving many unexpected characters. The clues are revealed at a good pace that keep the reader interested. Tomlinson did a great job creating complex interesting characters that I quickly became engrossed in in addition to the mystery. The head of the museum and her parts were some of my favorite parts of the novel. As the mystery is unfolding, there are really nice glimpses into relationships, characters, and aspects of the Ark that could have been detracted from the story, but instead they made it so much sharper. These tangential stories helped build up the complexity of the world that these characters are living in. I’m really looking forward to reading the next novel and seeing how the lives of these characters progress. This novel ends with a definite climax and end, but creates a path for the story to continue in the coming novels really well.
The narration by Mirron Willis was really good. I think he did a great job with most of the characters. The accents did not sound as tight as they could’ve been, but they were consistent and the characters were distinguishable. The production quality was good as well. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes space mysteries and stories about the journey for the survival of the human race.
Audiobook was purchased for review by ABR.
The Ark by Patrick S. Tomlinson is the first novel in the series called Children of a Dead Earth. Bryan Benson is a detective on a gigantic space ship called the Ark. Many generations ago, a sampling of humankind was put onto the Ark to escape destruction. Every person on the ship is equipped with an implant tracker that tracks not only their position, but also every aspect of their lives. So when a crew member goes missing, a surprised Benson is called in. The clues begin to reveal an unsettling trail that imply that the missing crew member didn’t simply commit suicide, but something more nefarious might be at play. As Benson travels to places on the ship that he didn’t know exists and meets with the mostly unlikely allies and enemies, he begins to see the status quo of the ship with new eyes. His investigation threatens to not only solve the mystery, but also lead him to the brink of death.
I really enjoyed this novel - I listened to it in almost one go. Benson is a funny and likable character and his interactions with different characters are fun to listen to. The mystery of the missing crew member is really engrossing, especially as this one seemingly minor missing persons case snowballs into a massive conspiracy involving many unexpected characters. The clues are revealed at a good pace that keep the reader interested. Tomlinson did a great job creating complex interesting characters that I quickly became engrossed in in addition to the mystery. The head of the museum and her parts were some of my favorite parts of the novel. As the mystery is unfolding, there are really nice glimpses into relationships, characters, and aspects of the Ark that could have been detracted from the story, but instead they made it so much sharper. These tangential stories helped build up the complexity of the world that these characters are living in. I’m really looking forward to reading the next novel and seeing how the lives of these characters progress. This novel ends with a definite climax and end, but creates a path for the story to continue in the coming novels really well.
The narration by Mirron Willis was really good. I think he did a great job with most of the characters. The accents did not sound as tight as they could’ve been, but they were consistent and the characters were distinguishable. The production quality was good as well. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes space mysteries and stories about the journey for the survival of the human race.
Audiobook was purchased for review by ABR.
October 27, 2015
In short, it's a mystery set in space. The last and best of humanity is on the Ark, along with the best of its history, and after over two centuries of travel is finally nearing its destination when Benson finds himself embroiled in something far worse than anything he's previously encountered, something inexplicable that has far-reaching consequences.
It's more space opera than science fiction: there's plenty of tech, from the ship's complex systems to the implants ("plant") each person has, and although I felt forcibly exposed to the tech rather than intuitively understanding it, I only floundered for a short while, so although the beginning feels more like Blade Runner it thankfully becomes more like Star Trek.
I just discovered there's a second book, that this is the first of a series. Do not read the summary or description of book 2 before reading this one! Here ends your spoiler warning.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's more space opera than science fiction: there's plenty of tech, from the ship's complex systems to the implants ("plant") each person has, and although I felt forcibly exposed to the tech rather than intuitively understanding it, I only floundered for a short while, so although the beginning feels more like Blade Runner it thankfully becomes more like Star Trek.
I just discovered there's a second book, that this is the first of a series. Do not read the summary or description of book 2 before reading this one! Here ends your spoiler warning.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2017
Ich hatte mal wieder richtig Lust auf spacige Science Fiction und da springt einem das Cover ja direkt ins Auge! So richtig war das dann zwar nicht so, wie ich erwartet hatte; aber: es hat mir trotzdem total gut gefallen.
The Ark ist ein gewaltiges, ja monströses Raumschiff mit den letzten 50.000 überlebenden Menschen. Sie mussten von der zerstörten Erde fliehen und sind jetzt auf dem Weg nach Tau Ceti G, einem Planeten mit erdähnlicher Atmosphäre und ihrer letzten Chance für die Zukunft.
Soweit so gut. Es gibt natürlich auch einige technische Details und Momente in der Schwerelosigkeit, aber die meiste Zeit wirkt es eher wie ein spannender Krimi in relativ gewohntem Umfeld, auch wenn man auf jeden Fall ein Gefühl für dieses riesige Raumschiff bekommt, das eher einer schwebenden Stadt ähnelt - nur ohne Himmel.
Im Fokus steht Detective Bryan Benson, ein ehemaliger Star unter den "Zero" Spielern, der mittlerweile eine eher ruhige Kugel in der wenig geforderten Polizeistation auf der Ark schiebt - bis zu dem Tag, an dem ein wichtiger Wissenschaftler verschwindet.
Das ganze ist höchst mysteriös, denn das Verschwinden ist viel zu spät zur Kenntnis genommen worden! Alle Menschen auf der Ark haben nämlich ein Plantat im Kopf, mit dem sie ununterbrochen "überwacht" werden bzw. sich darüber mit Informationen austauschen und kommunizieren können. Warum also wurde nicht früher etwas bemerkt?
Der erste Mord auf der Ark und Benson tut wirklich alles, um hinter das Geheimnis zu kommen.
Die ganzen Ermittlungen sind recht locker und unterhaltsam, denn keiner kennt sich so wirklich damit aus - gab es bisher doch immer nur kleinere Delikte. Was bei der ganzen Überwachung nicht verwundert.
Der Aufbau des Systems auf der Ark ist strikt geregelt, um das Überleben zu sichern. Alles ist rationiert und neben den 50.000 Menschen des Volkes gibts noch die "Besatzung", die die Regierung und die Forscher ausmachen. Höher gestellte Persönlichkeiten, die auch das Sagen haben. Dass sie die anderen als "das Vieh" bezeichnen fand ich etwas unpassend, das wurde vielleicht auch etwas unglücklich übersetzt.
Jedenfalls hat Detective Benson einiges zu tun, denn von manchen der Besatzern scheinen ihm bei der Ermittlung Steine in den Weg gelegt zu werden. Dadurch hat er recht schnell die Ahnung, dass von höchster Ebene jemand dahintersteckt. Seine Kollegin Theresa, mit der er ein Verhältnis hat, ist ebenso mit von der Partie wie der Russe Korolev, ein noch junger Mann in den 20ern, der mir mit seiner nüchternen, pedantischen Art irgendwie total sympathisch war.
Man kommt schnell in die Geschichte rein! Der Schreibstil ist nicht unbedingt anspruchsvoll, aber unterhält sehr gut, auch wenn manche Szenen nicht so sehr ins Detail hätten gehen müssen. Die Dialoge sind einfach gehalten; man merkt jetzt keinen großen Unterschied zu heute, wobei mir hier besonders einige witzige Stellen gefallen haben. Super getroffen war der Ausdruck "der verrückte Hutmacher" den sie benutzen, wenn sich jemand der Überwachung seines Plantats entziehen will und sich Alufolie um den Kopf wickelt :D
Der Verlauf ist spannend gehalten, es gibt einige Überraschungen und ein großes Finale, dass mir fast ein bisschen zu überzogen wirkte. Aber trotzdem hat es gepasst und es vermittelt auch noch eine kleine philosophische Botschaft, die ich aber durch die eher leichtgängige Handlung nicht ganz so ernst nehmen konnte.
Insgesamt hat es mir aber wirklich gut gefallen - allerdings hab ich jetzt gesehen, dass es noch einen zweiten Band auf englisch gibt und ich hoffe sehr, dass der auch noch übersetzt wird. Ob noch weitere Bände geplant sind, hab ich bisher nicht herausgefunden - aber mich würde jetzt brennend interessieren, wie es mit den Figuren weitergeht!
© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer
Children of a dead earth
1 - The Ark - Die letzte Reise der Menschheit
2 - Trident´s Forge (2016 im Original erschienen)
The Ark ist ein gewaltiges, ja monströses Raumschiff mit den letzten 50.000 überlebenden Menschen. Sie mussten von der zerstörten Erde fliehen und sind jetzt auf dem Weg nach Tau Ceti G, einem Planeten mit erdähnlicher Atmosphäre und ihrer letzten Chance für die Zukunft.
Soweit so gut. Es gibt natürlich auch einige technische Details und Momente in der Schwerelosigkeit, aber die meiste Zeit wirkt es eher wie ein spannender Krimi in relativ gewohntem Umfeld, auch wenn man auf jeden Fall ein Gefühl für dieses riesige Raumschiff bekommt, das eher einer schwebenden Stadt ähnelt - nur ohne Himmel.
Im Fokus steht Detective Bryan Benson, ein ehemaliger Star unter den "Zero" Spielern, der mittlerweile eine eher ruhige Kugel in der wenig geforderten Polizeistation auf der Ark schiebt - bis zu dem Tag, an dem ein wichtiger Wissenschaftler verschwindet.
Das ganze ist höchst mysteriös, denn das Verschwinden ist viel zu spät zur Kenntnis genommen worden! Alle Menschen auf der Ark haben nämlich ein Plantat im Kopf, mit dem sie ununterbrochen "überwacht" werden bzw. sich darüber mit Informationen austauschen und kommunizieren können. Warum also wurde nicht früher etwas bemerkt?
Der erste Mord auf der Ark und Benson tut wirklich alles, um hinter das Geheimnis zu kommen.
Die ganzen Ermittlungen sind recht locker und unterhaltsam, denn keiner kennt sich so wirklich damit aus - gab es bisher doch immer nur kleinere Delikte. Was bei der ganzen Überwachung nicht verwundert.
Der Aufbau des Systems auf der Ark ist strikt geregelt, um das Überleben zu sichern. Alles ist rationiert und neben den 50.000 Menschen des Volkes gibts noch die "Besatzung", die die Regierung und die Forscher ausmachen. Höher gestellte Persönlichkeiten, die auch das Sagen haben. Dass sie die anderen als "das Vieh" bezeichnen fand ich etwas unpassend, das wurde vielleicht auch etwas unglücklich übersetzt.
Jedenfalls hat Detective Benson einiges zu tun, denn von manchen der Besatzern scheinen ihm bei der Ermittlung Steine in den Weg gelegt zu werden. Dadurch hat er recht schnell die Ahnung, dass von höchster Ebene jemand dahintersteckt. Seine Kollegin Theresa, mit der er ein Verhältnis hat, ist ebenso mit von der Partie wie der Russe Korolev, ein noch junger Mann in den 20ern, der mir mit seiner nüchternen, pedantischen Art irgendwie total sympathisch war.
Man kommt schnell in die Geschichte rein! Der Schreibstil ist nicht unbedingt anspruchsvoll, aber unterhält sehr gut, auch wenn manche Szenen nicht so sehr ins Detail hätten gehen müssen. Die Dialoge sind einfach gehalten; man merkt jetzt keinen großen Unterschied zu heute, wobei mir hier besonders einige witzige Stellen gefallen haben. Super getroffen war der Ausdruck "der verrückte Hutmacher" den sie benutzen, wenn sich jemand der Überwachung seines Plantats entziehen will und sich Alufolie um den Kopf wickelt :D
Der Verlauf ist spannend gehalten, es gibt einige Überraschungen und ein großes Finale, dass mir fast ein bisschen zu überzogen wirkte. Aber trotzdem hat es gepasst und es vermittelt auch noch eine kleine philosophische Botschaft, die ich aber durch die eher leichtgängige Handlung nicht ganz so ernst nehmen konnte.
Insgesamt hat es mir aber wirklich gut gefallen - allerdings hab ich jetzt gesehen, dass es noch einen zweiten Band auf englisch gibt und ich hoffe sehr, dass der auch noch übersetzt wird. Ob noch weitere Bände geplant sind, hab ich bisher nicht herausgefunden - aber mich würde jetzt brennend interessieren, wie es mit den Figuren weitergeht!
© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer
Children of a dead earth
1 - The Ark - Die letzte Reise der Menschheit
2 - Trident´s Forge (2016 im Original erschienen)
November 24, 2015
Man, you know what I love? Books where technology and society have shifted, and it's not instantly evil. Stories where there's new and exciting things happening, and those things are just part of daily life for the characters. And then a story happens, and involves those things, but isn't BECAUSE of those things.
Oh hey, The Ark! I wonder if I'll like this book for exactly the reasons I just said?
Yes.
So, mandatory birth control and a total surveillance state, mixed with the technology to live on a generation ship and some pretty standard cyberware implants. And what's the story about? Overthrowing the evil controlling authorities? Breaking free of the culture of having to declare relationships and apply to have children? Some kind of implant malfunction that makes cyber-zombies?
No.
It's a detective story. In space.
I honestly think Raymond Chandler would be proud of the kind of character we see in our protagonist. He is everything a good hard boiled detective should be. He goes to mean places, but is not himself mean. He can give as good as he gets, but doesn't do so out of spite or cruelty, just out of necessity and a not-inconsiderable amount of annoyance. He's clever, but not brilliant. He's tough, but not invincible. He's an actual hero, and it's really cool to see this sort of character painted in a sci-fi setting.
It's also really cool to see how a crime would play out in a setting where everyone's movements are tracked. His job as detective is so piss-easy that he considers it a retirement, and the fact that someone is missing is a pretty big deal. But he's not blind or dumb, and he knows a bunch of tricks which he applies to the case, and all of it is believable, despite the high level of technology in play.
The one complaint I have about the book is the verrrrry end. I won't say anything spoilery about it, but it jumps way beyond the scope of a simple detective thriller to something a lot more high concept. It's not bad, and I'd love to read a sequel to this story that's about the big reveal in more detail, but it's kind of out of place.
Overall, I loved this book. The world building felt rich, even minor characters are well fleshed out, there's a lot of moments that made me laugh, and a few that made me cry. It's the kind of story that I want more of, but not because I'm unsatisfied with what I got.
Oh hey, The Ark! I wonder if I'll like this book for exactly the reasons I just said?
Yes.
So, mandatory birth control and a total surveillance state, mixed with the technology to live on a generation ship and some pretty standard cyberware implants. And what's the story about? Overthrowing the evil controlling authorities? Breaking free of the culture of having to declare relationships and apply to have children? Some kind of implant malfunction that makes cyber-zombies?
No.
It's a detective story. In space.
I honestly think Raymond Chandler would be proud of the kind of character we see in our protagonist. He is everything a good hard boiled detective should be. He goes to mean places, but is not himself mean. He can give as good as he gets, but doesn't do so out of spite or cruelty, just out of necessity and a not-inconsiderable amount of annoyance. He's clever, but not brilliant. He's tough, but not invincible. He's an actual hero, and it's really cool to see this sort of character painted in a sci-fi setting.
It's also really cool to see how a crime would play out in a setting where everyone's movements are tracked. His job as detective is so piss-easy that he considers it a retirement, and the fact that someone is missing is a pretty big deal. But he's not blind or dumb, and he knows a bunch of tricks which he applies to the case, and all of it is believable, despite the high level of technology in play.
The one complaint I have about the book is the verrrrry end. I won't say anything spoilery about it, but it jumps way beyond the scope of a simple detective thriller to something a lot more high concept. It's not bad, and I'd love to read a sequel to this story that's about the big reveal in more detail, but it's kind of out of place.
Overall, I loved this book. The world building felt rich, even minor characters are well fleshed out, there's a lot of moments that made me laugh, and a few that made me cry. It's the kind of story that I want more of, but not because I'm unsatisfied with what I got.
July 22, 2019
In letzter Zeit gibt es eine Inflation der Bücher/Filme über Generationenraumschiffe, so der Film "Passengers" oder Kim Stanley Robinsons "Aurora" und Alastair Reynolds "Duplikat". Deshalb hat mich "The Ark" stark interessiert, allerdings muss ich sagen, dass es sich eher um einen Thriller/Krimi dreht, der auf einem Generationenraumschiff spielt.
Die Geschichte ist mysteriös: "The Ark" ist ein gewaltiges Raumschiff, das die letzten Überlebenden Menschen von der, durch ein Black Hole, zerstörte Erde fortbringt zu einem Planeten um Tau Ceti. Das Leben an Bord ist stark regelementiert, bis ein brillianter Wissenschaftler ermordet wird; Detektiv Benson wird eingeschalten und ermittelt in diesem Fall, der sich jedoch zu einer großen Verschwörung ausartet. Alles in allem ist der SF-Aspekt eher im Hintergrund zu sehen, er ist der exotische Schauplatz, den man wohl für eine großangelegte Verschwörung braucht, der die ganze Spezies Mensch bedroht. Erst am Schluss kommt der kosmische Aspekt zum Tragen; die Erde wurde durch Aliens zerstört und an Bord befinden sich auch Aliens die eine andere Agenda verfolgen.
Offenbar ist dies ein Auftaktband zu einer Serie, der noch weitere Bände folgen werden; ich kann mich noch nicht entscheiden, ob die mich weiter interessieren, immerhin kann es sein, dass sich der Plot noch qualitativ weiterentwickelt, einen Set dafür ist wohl mit diesem Band gesetzt worden...
Die Geschichte ist mysteriös: "The Ark" ist ein gewaltiges Raumschiff, das die letzten Überlebenden Menschen von der, durch ein Black Hole, zerstörte Erde fortbringt zu einem Planeten um Tau Ceti. Das Leben an Bord ist stark regelementiert, bis ein brillianter Wissenschaftler ermordet wird; Detektiv Benson wird eingeschalten und ermittelt in diesem Fall, der sich jedoch zu einer großen Verschwörung ausartet. Alles in allem ist der SF-Aspekt eher im Hintergrund zu sehen, er ist der exotische Schauplatz, den man wohl für eine großangelegte Verschwörung braucht, der die ganze Spezies Mensch bedroht. Erst am Schluss kommt der kosmische Aspekt zum Tragen; die Erde wurde durch Aliens zerstört und an Bord befinden sich auch Aliens die eine andere Agenda verfolgen.
Offenbar ist dies ein Auftaktband zu einer Serie, der noch weitere Bände folgen werden; ich kann mich noch nicht entscheiden, ob die mich weiter interessieren, immerhin kann es sein, dass sich der Plot noch qualitativ weiterentwickelt, einen Set dafür ist wohl mit diesem Band gesetzt worden...
April 26, 2017
DNF (2 thirds into the novel), average story that gets knocked down a star by some serious tone whiplash
What really got on my nerves (other than a boorish, vindictive idiot with - self professed - self control issues as a protagonist) were mainly two side characters: The protagonist's female colleague and the eccentric art curator. The co-worker mainly acted like a mix between comedic relief and sexy squeeze from a 1930 novel - no real agency, no real impact on the story despite her really important position. The eccentric art curator was even worse. When she was not providing conveniently timed important plot information she was acting like a character from a 1930 screwball comedy. Now, by themselves these characters might be irritating but not insufferable. However, when you combine them with a gritty, noir-ish story you will simply get whiplash. 'The Thin Man' in Space this is definitely not.
What really got on my nerves (other than a boorish, vindictive idiot with - self professed - self control issues as a protagonist) were mainly two side characters: The protagonist's female colleague and the eccentric art curator. The co-worker mainly acted like a mix between comedic relief and sexy squeeze from a 1930 novel - no real agency, no real impact on the story despite her really important position. The eccentric art curator was even worse. When she was not providing conveniently timed important plot information she was acting like a character from a 1930 screwball comedy. Now, by themselves these characters might be irritating but not insufferable. However, when you combine them with a gritty, noir-ish story you will simply get whiplash. 'The Thin Man' in Space this is definitely not.
November 13, 2016
I have an abiding fondness for generation ship novels, starting with Heinlein's classic Orphans of the Sky. Tomlinson's book is an okay read, and he brings a few interesting explorations of how such a trip and ship would work, but his characters feel lifted straight out of modern America and pasted into place. There's only slight window dressing to make these folk seem like they are the result of multiple centuries of living in a resource-constrained habitat, a blending of East and West, the last survivors of a destroyed planet. Without some sense of the stresses involved and how they affect both cultures and individuals, the story too easily turns into a basic "cop has to rise above his origins and defeat bad guy terrorists" tale, and just not that exciting of one.
March 28, 2016
Very nice theme, good universe, I am a fan of this kind of stories.
But Although it was enjoyable to read, I am a bit disappointed by this book : the main plot is weak and highly predictable (sewn with white thread as i would write in french). And I didn't like very much the characters, especially the main one.
But Although it was enjoyable to read, I am a bit disappointed by this book : the main plot is weak and highly predictable (sewn with white thread as i would write in french). And I didn't like very much the characters, especially the main one.
November 20, 2015
Ah space the final frontier, when the earth takes it last gasp we are all destined for the stars.
The Ark carries the last of humankind, having set off 200 years ago, generation after generation has grown up never setting for on solid ground. The cream of mankind has made the massive spaceship its home, the population is split across two distinct zones and policing one of those zones is Bryan Benson, ex sports hero and current detective of the Avalon zone.
A case comes across his path, one that has never ever happened - a crew member has gone missing.
Now this has never happened because everyone on board has a plant embedded which also tracks them. But this crew member has vanished of the face of the, well spaceship and it is up to Bryan to find them.
To make matters worse he has to do it quickly, after two hundred years the ship has nearly reached it destination, a new planet that will be their new home, Bryan has two weeks to wrap up the case.
So no spoilers here but what happens next is just incredible, as Bryan delves in to the life of the missing crew member he uncovers artefacts that where stolen years before, he also feels someone is sabotaging his case.
The deeper he goes the more he uncovers, his journey takes him from literally the top of the tallest tower to the sub levels in the bowels of the ship, aided by colleagues including his forbidden love interest Theresa and a very green new recruit.
What he uncovers may literally rock the boat.
Stunning world building, a plot that keeps you guessing and some totally old school in a new world case solving. This is a great start to the series as the ending does leave you wanting more.
Sci-fi at its best, a great read.
Thanks to Angry Robot for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Ark carries the last of humankind, having set off 200 years ago, generation after generation has grown up never setting for on solid ground. The cream of mankind has made the massive spaceship its home, the population is split across two distinct zones and policing one of those zones is Bryan Benson, ex sports hero and current detective of the Avalon zone.
A case comes across his path, one that has never ever happened - a crew member has gone missing.
Now this has never happened because everyone on board has a plant embedded which also tracks them. But this crew member has vanished of the face of the, well spaceship and it is up to Bryan to find them.
To make matters worse he has to do it quickly, after two hundred years the ship has nearly reached it destination, a new planet that will be their new home, Bryan has two weeks to wrap up the case.
So no spoilers here but what happens next is just incredible, as Bryan delves in to the life of the missing crew member he uncovers artefacts that where stolen years before, he also feels someone is sabotaging his case.
The deeper he goes the more he uncovers, his journey takes him from literally the top of the tallest tower to the sub levels in the bowels of the ship, aided by colleagues including his forbidden love interest Theresa and a very green new recruit.
What he uncovers may literally rock the boat.
Stunning world building, a plot that keeps you guessing and some totally old school in a new world case solving. This is a great start to the series as the ending does leave you wanting more.
Sci-fi at its best, a great read.
Thanks to Angry Robot for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2015
[Full disclosure: I've known the author for some time, and have published his work (though not this novel).]
TL;DR: This book is a strong first sci-fi novel with an interesting concept and setting. I'm looking forward to the next one.
I think you can often tell a first novel - there's some rough edges, a place or two where you can almost hear the author working out what's going on. And this first novel has some of those problems.
Luckily, it has *few* of those problems, and they're always ones that get resolved after the first book or so.
The central murder mystery (for it is one) of this action sci-fi novel has the wonderful twist of being a sort of closed-room murder while still having thousands of people around. The plot moves quickly and satisfyingly.
The characters aren't quite as rounded as I'd like, but have enough quirks and foibles (and have to deal with the fallout from them) to keep them engaging. And the fast-moving plot kept me going through any rough spots.
The central concept - that this is the remnants of humanity fleeing the destruction of Earth - is a clever one, and something that is not mere window dressing. The science is handled well, and not in an obsessive nuts-and-bolts way.
In all, this is a strong first novel from an author who knows how to spin an entertaining story. If you like science fiction, action, or mysteries, you should definitely check this out.
I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel.
TL;DR: This book is a strong first sci-fi novel with an interesting concept and setting. I'm looking forward to the next one.
I think you can often tell a first novel - there's some rough edges, a place or two where you can almost hear the author working out what's going on. And this first novel has some of those problems.
Luckily, it has *few* of those problems, and they're always ones that get resolved after the first book or so.
The central murder mystery (for it is one) of this action sci-fi novel has the wonderful twist of being a sort of closed-room murder while still having thousands of people around. The plot moves quickly and satisfyingly.
The characters aren't quite as rounded as I'd like, but have enough quirks and foibles (and have to deal with the fallout from them) to keep them engaging. And the fast-moving plot kept me going through any rough spots.
The central concept - that this is the remnants of humanity fleeing the destruction of Earth - is a clever one, and something that is not mere window dressing. The science is handled well, and not in an obsessive nuts-and-bolts way.
In all, this is a strong first novel from an author who knows how to spin an entertaining story. If you like science fiction, action, or mysteries, you should definitely check this out.
I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel.
October 23, 2018
An interesting premise and the suspense, action and twists kept me reading.
October 4, 2022
Eine Flucht von dem Planeten, den wir zugrunde gerichtet haben? Klingt gar nicht so absurd, sondern wie ein Blick in unsere Zukunft. Die Reise nach Tau Ceti in dem 50.000 Menschen fassenden Raumschiff Arche verspricht die Rettung der Menschheit.
Ein verschwundener Wissenschaftler setzt eine existenzbedrohende Suche in Gang, an deren Ende eine alles bedrohende Katastrophe steht.
Spannend geschrieben, auch wenn sich der tatsächliche Anteil der Science-Fiction in Grenzen hält und die Geschichte eher einem Krimi innerhalb eines Raumschiffes gleicht. Dennoch oder vielleicht deshalb hat mir das Buch gefallen. Die Beschreibungen waren plastisch, die Story dynamisch und gerade das Ende trägt eine Kritik in sich, die meiner Sichtweise durchaus entspricht.
Ein verschwundener Wissenschaftler setzt eine existenzbedrohende Suche in Gang, an deren Ende eine alles bedrohende Katastrophe steht.
Spannend geschrieben, auch wenn sich der tatsächliche Anteil der Science-Fiction in Grenzen hält und die Geschichte eher einem Krimi innerhalb eines Raumschiffes gleicht. Dennoch oder vielleicht deshalb hat mir das Buch gefallen. Die Beschreibungen waren plastisch, die Story dynamisch und gerade das Ende trägt eine Kritik in sich, die meiner Sichtweise durchaus entspricht.
December 28, 2020
The premise is familiar. The remnants of the human race crowd aboard a spaceship en route for centuries to a new home amid the stars. Somehow, far behind them in space and time, the Earth’s billions have perished. Yet never before have I come across a rendering of this story that I can believe without undue strain. The starship’s design is logical, the method of its propulsion inventive but credible, and the structure of the society aboard makes sense. Patrick S. Tomlinson has written a credible tale of humanity bound for a second chance on a starship. It’s a detective story and a terrorist thriller wrapped up in hard science fiction.
Is a crewman’s murder linked to a notorious art heist?
Bryan Benson learns about it through his plant (neural implant). A crewman named Edmond Laraby, a biologist, is missing, but no body can be found. After pressing for a warrant, he discovers hanging on the wall of Laraby’s opulent apartment an original Monet, one of the priceless paintings stolen generations ago from the Ark‘s Museum but never recovered. Circumstances point to the First Officer as responsible for giving Laraby the painting—and probably for his murder. As Benson pushes ahead to identify the killer, he comes up against resistance from the captain herself. But there is much worse in store for Benson and for all the people of the Ark.
A “beloved sport hero” well cast as a cop on a starship
Bryan Benson is chief constable of Avalon module, which houses 25,000 people—half of humanity’s survivors. To those around him, he is a beloved sport hero, having led the Mustangs to its last Zero championship. But he is no superhero, as his stumbles and miscalculations will amply show. And he descends from a genetic line that is widely despised even after eleven generations onboard. His ancestors had fraudulently gained admittance to the Ark, which was rigidly limited to Earth’s “smartest, strongest, healthiest.” Only Benson’s outstanding performance in Zero accounts for his having been promoted to lead Avalon’s small police force.
Zero is a game designed for weightlessness (near-zero gravity), but it gains its name from a new approach to scoring. Two teams face off in a game somewhat resembling American football, each with fifty points at the outset. The first to reach zero wins. And Tomlinson’s introduction of Zero is more than window-dressing. A game figures prominently in the story’s climax.
The Ark’s intriguing design
It’s sixteen kilometers long and consists of six modules. Two immense residential modules, Avalon and Shangri-La, house humanity’s 50,000 survivors. The 1,000-person crew—an elite, pampered lot—work in the Command module, the laboratories, and the storerooms. A sixth holds the 10,000 thermonuclear weapons that will be shot in sequence from the Ark‘s bow and detonated to slow it down on the approach to Tau Ceti G, twelve light-years distant from the sun. The nuclear bombs already deployed have accelerated the starship to five percent of lightspeed (33,000,000 miles an hour). Some “two hundred twenty-odd years” have elapsed since the Ark’s departure. But within weeks they will reach the point within Tau Ceti’s Oort Cloud and must begin slowing down to reach its seventh planet.
About the author
Patrick S. Tomlinson writes science fiction, fantasy, and mysteries at his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he lives with his wife. He also performs standup comedy locally and in Chicago.
Is a crewman’s murder linked to a notorious art heist?
Bryan Benson learns about it through his plant (neural implant). A crewman named Edmond Laraby, a biologist, is missing, but no body can be found. After pressing for a warrant, he discovers hanging on the wall of Laraby’s opulent apartment an original Monet, one of the priceless paintings stolen generations ago from the Ark‘s Museum but never recovered. Circumstances point to the First Officer as responsible for giving Laraby the painting—and probably for his murder. As Benson pushes ahead to identify the killer, he comes up against resistance from the captain herself. But there is much worse in store for Benson and for all the people of the Ark.
A “beloved sport hero” well cast as a cop on a starship
Bryan Benson is chief constable of Avalon module, which houses 25,000 people—half of humanity’s survivors. To those around him, he is a beloved sport hero, having led the Mustangs to its last Zero championship. But he is no superhero, as his stumbles and miscalculations will amply show. And he descends from a genetic line that is widely despised even after eleven generations onboard. His ancestors had fraudulently gained admittance to the Ark, which was rigidly limited to Earth’s “smartest, strongest, healthiest.” Only Benson’s outstanding performance in Zero accounts for his having been promoted to lead Avalon’s small police force.
Zero is a game designed for weightlessness (near-zero gravity), but it gains its name from a new approach to scoring. Two teams face off in a game somewhat resembling American football, each with fifty points at the outset. The first to reach zero wins. And Tomlinson’s introduction of Zero is more than window-dressing. A game figures prominently in the story’s climax.
The Ark’s intriguing design
It’s sixteen kilometers long and consists of six modules. Two immense residential modules, Avalon and Shangri-La, house humanity’s 50,000 survivors. The 1,000-person crew—an elite, pampered lot—work in the Command module, the laboratories, and the storerooms. A sixth holds the 10,000 thermonuclear weapons that will be shot in sequence from the Ark‘s bow and detonated to slow it down on the approach to Tau Ceti G, twelve light-years distant from the sun. The nuclear bombs already deployed have accelerated the starship to five percent of lightspeed (33,000,000 miles an hour). Some “two hundred twenty-odd years” have elapsed since the Ark’s departure. But within weeks they will reach the point within Tau Ceti’s Oort Cloud and must begin slowing down to reach its seventh planet.
About the author
Patrick S. Tomlinson writes science fiction, fantasy, and mysteries at his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he lives with his wife. He also performs standup comedy locally and in Chicago.
April 5, 2016
I won a paperback copy of this book in a giveaway.
The story is an excellent blend of science fiction and mystery.
The mystery is much more complex than one think in the beginning. Due to a lot of twists and turns the reader keeps guessing nearly until the end of the book. The pacing is well done.
Beginning with page one the reader is part of the story. "The world" is reduced to the generation ship ARK which is inhabited by 50000 people. That should give you an impression of the ship dimension.
One may not always agree with the actions of detective Bryan Benson because he is stubborn at times.
One thing I liked a lot were all the references to the past.
I look forward to read the second book in the duology.
When everything goes well,TRIDENTS FORGE will be published in April 2016.
The story is an excellent blend of science fiction and mystery.
The mystery is much more complex than one think in the beginning. Due to a lot of twists and turns the reader keeps guessing nearly until the end of the book. The pacing is well done.
Beginning with page one the reader is part of the story. "The world" is reduced to the generation ship ARK which is inhabited by 50000 people. That should give you an impression of the ship dimension.
One may not always agree with the actions of detective Bryan Benson because he is stubborn at times.
One thing I liked a lot were all the references to the past.
I look forward to read the second book in the duology.
When everything goes well,TRIDENTS FORGE will be published in April 2016.
October 15, 2015
I enjoyed this one but it did leave me thinking about how to review it and it's taken me a while to do so. I don't often have that conundrum. I figured out what it was that gave me pause: this book read like a television show. I don't mean that in a bad way either. The pace was fairly quick, the dialog crisp and the characters not too deep but just deep enough to keep you interested. I was already all in on the setting & situation set up. There's nothing bad about a person integral to humanity's fate missing on a ship in space. I liked the mystery of it all. It is something I can definitely see being made into a show that I'd likely watch. Mostly, I was surprised by how much I was screaming at the end for a sequel because... seriously, there's more story to be told here!
May 11, 2015
A skillful mystery thriller in an intricately-designed and populated colony ship filled with all that remains of humanity. A missings persons case would seem like a low priority for a constable weeks before the generation ship is scheduled to arrive at humanity's new home, but Constable Benson smells something fishy, and his missing persons case leads to a much larger conspiracy which could threaten the entire ship and humanity's last hope for a future.
September 15, 2015
*copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review*
It’s been a good year for novels set on generation ships, and Patrick S. Tomlinson’s ‘The Ark’ continues that trend. It’s a fast-paced sci-fi thriller, with a central mystery at the core, with some decent characters and well executed prose.
One of the central pivots of this book is the world it’s created. A generation ship, carrying the third generation descendants of mankind’s best and brightest. A ship separated with a gulf between crew and passenger. A ship with two spinning modules filled with the last of the human race, with all the petty rivalries that implies. A ship where every birth is tracked, where every citizen carries an implant which allows their every move to be monitored, where there are few weapons, and fewer crimes.
Tomlinson’s ship is a logical extension of our current situation, both technologically and socially.
The technical aspects of the ship are examined in satisfying, if not exhaustive, detail. It certainly feels like the author has done their research. I was delighted on discovering that the ship was brought up to thrust by nuclear blasts, and even more delighted to have a character reference the Orion project, a real-life NASA idea for doing exactly this (eventually canned because letting off nuclear bombs inside an atmosphere is a bad idea). It was suggestive of a writer who was making an effort to be persuasively accurate with their technology. There’s similar watermarks of solid research throughout – the spinning of the habitats, for example – and whilst there’s a few instances of future-tech, these aren’t overburdened with technical jargon of their own. The technology here is used as environmental texture, to build out a more convincing world, without overwhelming the reader in minutiae.
The sociology at play in the narrative is equally interesting. The protagonist, as head of the police force for one of the modules, ruminates on the social conditioning which has led to an almost crime-free shipboard life. Throughout the text, characters reference their ‘plant’, which appears to function as a combined personal AI and (more chillingly) recording device. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the implications that span out of this technology explored – they’re touched on, alongside those of some other truly terrifying technologies, but the idea of a civilisation under constant, mandatory, but effectively community driven surveillance is an intriguing one, and felt like it deserved more room to grow. Still, Tomlinson approaches the issues in this area with a degree of nuance, and integrates them nicely into the plot.
The central point for the characters is Bryan Benson. He serves as the protagonist, the viewpoint character for the reader. From the perspective of the moment, he’s presented very well. Tomlinson gives us a great view on a character who begins as blithe and assured, and who runs aground on the rocks of doubt. Benson’s gradual shift in emotional state is wonderfully portrayed, his increasing level of weariness and cynicism pitched perfectly. We also get to hear a little of his back story – his role in a winning sports team is mentioned every so often, as part of his popular appeal and the reason behind his skills and physical condition. But there’s a lot more – the role of his family in shipboard life, for example, is mentioned briefly, but not, perhaps, closely enough. Through Benson’s eyes, we also get a view on the various social tiers of the ship, through his supporting cast. Here, Tomlinson is on fairly frim ground; the secondary characters fit their roles well, and convey most of their character through dialogue, and asides in Benson’s own thoughts.
Whilst the way the characters act is consistent, enjoyable, and entirely believable, it would have been nice if they’d had more room to grow, as the protagonist does. Benson’s relationship, for example, was always interesting, usually amusing, and occasionally sympathy inducing – but getting past the traits of his lover, and into their character, was a little trickier. That said, each character worked as an individual, and within the confines of the plot – I would simply have enjoyed a little more time with each of them.
Having said that, the lack of time with the ancillary characters may be related to the time taken up by the plot. It starts with a murder, and never really lets up thereafter. There’s a period at the start with a relatively slow burn, as Benson assembles suspects, speculated on motive, and tries to locate a mysterious killer. As is traditional, he’s not assisted by obstructive witnesses, red herrings, and the occasional personal dilemma. The action ramps up as the book proceeds, moving from the tension of a covert investigation into some sterling action sequences, and an impressively shocking denouement. It’s a fast-paced action-adventure of a novel, especially as the stakes rise and the pace ratchets up – but the mystery at the core is both intricate and intriguing – and kept me guessing for quite a while.
Is it worth the read? If you’re looking for a fusion of excellent hard sci-fi and action thriller, with a soupcon of mystery, then yes, absolutely. I’m already looking forward to seeing what the next book in the series has in store.
It’s been a good year for novels set on generation ships, and Patrick S. Tomlinson’s ‘The Ark’ continues that trend. It’s a fast-paced sci-fi thriller, with a central mystery at the core, with some decent characters and well executed prose.
One of the central pivots of this book is the world it’s created. A generation ship, carrying the third generation descendants of mankind’s best and brightest. A ship separated with a gulf between crew and passenger. A ship with two spinning modules filled with the last of the human race, with all the petty rivalries that implies. A ship where every birth is tracked, where every citizen carries an implant which allows their every move to be monitored, where there are few weapons, and fewer crimes.
Tomlinson’s ship is a logical extension of our current situation, both technologically and socially.
The technical aspects of the ship are examined in satisfying, if not exhaustive, detail. It certainly feels like the author has done their research. I was delighted on discovering that the ship was brought up to thrust by nuclear blasts, and even more delighted to have a character reference the Orion project, a real-life NASA idea for doing exactly this (eventually canned because letting off nuclear bombs inside an atmosphere is a bad idea). It was suggestive of a writer who was making an effort to be persuasively accurate with their technology. There’s similar watermarks of solid research throughout – the spinning of the habitats, for example – and whilst there’s a few instances of future-tech, these aren’t overburdened with technical jargon of their own. The technology here is used as environmental texture, to build out a more convincing world, without overwhelming the reader in minutiae.
The sociology at play in the narrative is equally interesting. The protagonist, as head of the police force for one of the modules, ruminates on the social conditioning which has led to an almost crime-free shipboard life. Throughout the text, characters reference their ‘plant’, which appears to function as a combined personal AI and (more chillingly) recording device. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the implications that span out of this technology explored – they’re touched on, alongside those of some other truly terrifying technologies, but the idea of a civilisation under constant, mandatory, but effectively community driven surveillance is an intriguing one, and felt like it deserved more room to grow. Still, Tomlinson approaches the issues in this area with a degree of nuance, and integrates them nicely into the plot.
The central point for the characters is Bryan Benson. He serves as the protagonist, the viewpoint character for the reader. From the perspective of the moment, he’s presented very well. Tomlinson gives us a great view on a character who begins as blithe and assured, and who runs aground on the rocks of doubt. Benson’s gradual shift in emotional state is wonderfully portrayed, his increasing level of weariness and cynicism pitched perfectly. We also get to hear a little of his back story – his role in a winning sports team is mentioned every so often, as part of his popular appeal and the reason behind his skills and physical condition. But there’s a lot more – the role of his family in shipboard life, for example, is mentioned briefly, but not, perhaps, closely enough. Through Benson’s eyes, we also get a view on the various social tiers of the ship, through his supporting cast. Here, Tomlinson is on fairly frim ground; the secondary characters fit their roles well, and convey most of their character through dialogue, and asides in Benson’s own thoughts.
Whilst the way the characters act is consistent, enjoyable, and entirely believable, it would have been nice if they’d had more room to grow, as the protagonist does. Benson’s relationship, for example, was always interesting, usually amusing, and occasionally sympathy inducing – but getting past the traits of his lover, and into their character, was a little trickier. That said, each character worked as an individual, and within the confines of the plot – I would simply have enjoyed a little more time with each of them.
Having said that, the lack of time with the ancillary characters may be related to the time taken up by the plot. It starts with a murder, and never really lets up thereafter. There’s a period at the start with a relatively slow burn, as Benson assembles suspects, speculated on motive, and tries to locate a mysterious killer. As is traditional, he’s not assisted by obstructive witnesses, red herrings, and the occasional personal dilemma. The action ramps up as the book proceeds, moving from the tension of a covert investigation into some sterling action sequences, and an impressively shocking denouement. It’s a fast-paced action-adventure of a novel, especially as the stakes rise and the pace ratchets up – but the mystery at the core is both intricate and intriguing – and kept me guessing for quite a while.
Is it worth the read? If you’re looking for a fusion of excellent hard sci-fi and action thriller, with a soupcon of mystery, then yes, absolutely. I’m already looking forward to seeing what the next book in the series has in store.
August 12, 2017
3.5 stars
March 27, 2017
The generation ship known to its inhabitants as The Ark holds the last fifty thousand humans in the universe. Er, make that 49,999…and falling. When brilliant geneticist Edmond Laraby goes missing only a few weeks before the Ark is finally going to reach humanity’s new home in Tau Ceti (which should be impossible due to the tracking device implanted in everyone’s skull when they’re born), it’s up to Detective Bryan Benson to discover what happened.
Benson must find out what happened to Laraby, and puzzle out the motive. Was it his taste in stolen art? Something to do with his work on adapting plants to the conditions on the new planet? A personal dispute? Or something more sinister? Benson needs to find out fast, or more people are going to die, and failure could mean the end of the human race!
A couple of centuries from now, it’s discovered that a black hole is headed for Earth; there was just enough time to build a huge ship to take fifty thousand humans (chosen for genetic stability and general usefulness) from around the world to the nearest inhabitable planet. This universe doesn’t have faster than light travel, so it’s taken some more centuries to get there, with generation after generation being born and dying.
Benson’s direct ancestors faked their genetic records to get aboard, and got caught harboring a deadly inherited condition. The disease was excised, but the scandal has tainted the family line ever since, resulting in a tradition of being the lowliest of hydro-farmers. But Bryan Benson managed to break out of that by becoming a star athlete at the future sport of Zero, and then becoming the chief security officer of the Avalon half of the Ark.
It’s been something of a sinecure up until now; the Ark’s population is much better-behaved than an equivalent number of people on Earth That Was. So Benson has been pretty relaxed about the job, having an affair with an subordinate and taking time out to watch the final Zero series before the ship arrives. He has a lot of catching up to do when there’s a serious crime to investigate.
It’s interesting to compare this book to One in Three Hundred, the last story I reviewed about the remnants of humanity fleeing a dying Earth. In that one, the governments of Earth decided to go with the cheapest mass-produced ships possible and let the pilots decide which people to bring based on their own values and circumstances, with a low probability of individual success. So the population of the new world was essentially random. Here, the governments decided to build one ship with the maximum probability of success and hand-pick the survivors (with about the same numbers who actually make it through.)
As Benson’s investigation continues, he learns to his great surprise that there are a few secrets that have managed to survive the centuries; but murder investigations tend to turn up things people would prefer to stay buried, even if they’re not directly connected to the mystery. Some of the characters have surprising depths, while others are exactly what they appear.
Benson is a decent viewpoint character, sarcastic and fallible. In a hard-boiled mystery, he’s a detective that hasn’t finished cooking. The romantic relationship subplot is okay, but nothing to write home about.
There’s some good lines, too. My personal favorite is “The last time this gun was fired, sixteen million people died.”
Recommended for people who enjoy SF-flavored mystery stories, and fans of generation ship stories.
For more of my science fiction reviews, see https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Benson must find out what happened to Laraby, and puzzle out the motive. Was it his taste in stolen art? Something to do with his work on adapting plants to the conditions on the new planet? A personal dispute? Or something more sinister? Benson needs to find out fast, or more people are going to die, and failure could mean the end of the human race!
A couple of centuries from now, it’s discovered that a black hole is headed for Earth; there was just enough time to build a huge ship to take fifty thousand humans (chosen for genetic stability and general usefulness) from around the world to the nearest inhabitable planet. This universe doesn’t have faster than light travel, so it’s taken some more centuries to get there, with generation after generation being born and dying.
Benson’s direct ancestors faked their genetic records to get aboard, and got caught harboring a deadly inherited condition. The disease was excised, but the scandal has tainted the family line ever since, resulting in a tradition of being the lowliest of hydro-farmers. But Bryan Benson managed to break out of that by becoming a star athlete at the future sport of Zero, and then becoming the chief security officer of the Avalon half of the Ark.
It’s been something of a sinecure up until now; the Ark’s population is much better-behaved than an equivalent number of people on Earth That Was. So Benson has been pretty relaxed about the job, having an affair with an subordinate and taking time out to watch the final Zero series before the ship arrives. He has a lot of catching up to do when there’s a serious crime to investigate.
It’s interesting to compare this book to One in Three Hundred, the last story I reviewed about the remnants of humanity fleeing a dying Earth. In that one, the governments of Earth decided to go with the cheapest mass-produced ships possible and let the pilots decide which people to bring based on their own values and circumstances, with a low probability of individual success. So the population of the new world was essentially random. Here, the governments decided to build one ship with the maximum probability of success and hand-pick the survivors (with about the same numbers who actually make it through.)
As Benson’s investigation continues, he learns to his great surprise that there are a few secrets that have managed to survive the centuries; but murder investigations tend to turn up things people would prefer to stay buried, even if they’re not directly connected to the mystery. Some of the characters have surprising depths, while others are exactly what they appear.
Benson is a decent viewpoint character, sarcastic and fallible. In a hard-boiled mystery, he’s a detective that hasn’t finished cooking. The romantic relationship subplot is okay, but nothing to write home about.
There’s some good lines, too. My personal favorite is “The last time this gun was fired, sixteen million people died.”
Recommended for people who enjoy SF-flavored mystery stories, and fans of generation ship stories.
For more of my science fiction reviews, see https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
September 18, 2016
The Ark es una novela destinada a entretenimiento, con alguna buena idea ocasional, quizás por esto lo de la fea portada.
Conforme avanza la narración vas viendo las limitaciones del argumento. Una nave generacional con lo que queda de la humanidad, tras la aparición de un agujero negro en nuestro sistema solar. Acercándose a su destino, una nueva Tierra, el detective Benson se ve envuelto en una intriga que comprende entre otras cosas obras de arte antiguas, comida japonesa y Ains! terroristas...
La lectura me ha recordado las novelitas "de a duro" o "pulp español" que leí en mi juventud, pero aquellas me entretenían más, admito que he estado a punto de colgar la lectura.
Dos cosas a favor que hacen que no me arrepienta de la lectura: debo decir que el final mejora el conjunto e incluso despierta curiosidad por la proyectada secuela. El otro punto a favor, el worldbuilding de la nave generacional está bien pensado. El autor pone "en práctica" la nave Orión proyectada en los EEUU en los años cincuenta: una nave propulsada por bombas atómicas. Además del tradicional diseño de cilindros rotatorios para mantener la gravedad.
Más detalles aquí: http://danielmarin.naukas.com/2010/10...
Conforme avanza la narración vas viendo las limitaciones del argumento. Una nave generacional con lo que queda de la humanidad, tras la aparición de un agujero negro en nuestro sistema solar. Acercándose a su destino, una nueva Tierra, el detective Benson se ve envuelto en una intriga que comprende entre otras cosas obras de arte antiguas, comida japonesa y Ains! terroristas...
La lectura me ha recordado las novelitas "de a duro" o "pulp español" que leí en mi juventud, pero aquellas me entretenían más, admito que he estado a punto de colgar la lectura.
Dos cosas a favor que hacen que no me arrepienta de la lectura: debo decir que el final mejora el conjunto e incluso despierta curiosidad por la proyectada secuela. El otro punto a favor, el worldbuilding de la nave generacional está bien pensado. El autor pone "en práctica" la nave Orión proyectada en los EEUU en los años cincuenta: una nave propulsada por bombas atómicas. Además del tradicional diseño de cilindros rotatorios para mantener la gravedad.
Más detalles aquí: http://danielmarin.naukas.com/2010/10...
October 13, 2015
Disclosure: Patrick helped me escape from prison in Thailand after we were both arrested for running a Jack Russell terrier fighting ring on Phuket. This may bias my opinions of him and his book.
THE ARK contains no Jack Russell terriers nor Thai prisons. It does, however, contain a locked-room murder mystery in a gigantic generation ship that's about to reach its destination. And it gets better from there. Patrick captures the crushing claustrophobia of living in a self-contained world and the mind-shattering terror of the emptiness of space with liberal doses of cracking SF moments: zero-g sports, on-the-fly EVA emergency maneuvers, a bloody great spaceship propelled by nuclear bombs. THE ARK is a great, engrossing SF book with something for everyone. Except for Jack Russell terriers. Maybe they'll be in the sequel.
THE ARK contains no Jack Russell terriers nor Thai prisons. It does, however, contain a locked-room murder mystery in a gigantic generation ship that's about to reach its destination. And it gets better from there. Patrick captures the crushing claustrophobia of living in a self-contained world and the mind-shattering terror of the emptiness of space with liberal doses of cracking SF moments: zero-g sports, on-the-fly EVA emergency maneuvers, a bloody great spaceship propelled by nuclear bombs. THE ARK is a great, engrossing SF book with something for everyone. Except for Jack Russell terriers. Maybe they'll be in the sequel.
December 9, 2015
The author brought the characters to life quickly and was able to introduce their persona with just a couple of sentences and the dialogue builds additional depth. The lead characters have a witty, playful and sometimes snarky relationship.
Patrick weaves the sci-fi and political elements into the plot so skillfully that those who are just looking for the thriller aren't bogged down in the science behind the sci-fi or the political elements of plant genetics, nationalism (my favorite is the size of the flags on the outside of the ship) and imperialism.
Patrick weaves the sci-fi and political elements into the plot so skillfully that those who are just looking for the thriller aren't bogged down in the science behind the sci-fi or the political elements of plant genetics, nationalism (my favorite is the size of the flags on the outside of the ship) and imperialism.
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