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Deadman Switch
Death-row inmates are used for a lethal mining operation--but one is innocent--in this science fiction novel by a #1 New York Times-bestselling author.
Only the recently dead can helm the "deadman switch" to pilot a ship through the Cloud, a mysterious solar entity that shields the Solitaire solar system and its valuable heavy metals. Two convicted murderers are routinely sacrificed for this task--one to enter the system, one to exit. Gilead Raca Benedar is a Watcher, employed by the wealthy head of an intergalactic mining company as a human lie detector of sorts. When Benedar is sent to Solitaire, with its metal-rich moons, to assist with the acquisition of its valuable mining rights, he and the crew are able to make it to Solitaire safely, and all goes well. That is, until Benedar's Watcher powers show him that the second convict they are traveling with--the one meant to helm the deadman switch on their return journey--is innocent.
Only the recently dead can helm the "deadman switch" to pilot a ship through the Cloud, a mysterious solar entity that shields the Solitaire solar system and its valuable heavy metals. Two convicted murderers are routinely sacrificed for this task--one to enter the system, one to exit. Gilead Raca Benedar is a Watcher, employed by the wealthy head of an intergalactic mining company as a human lie detector of sorts. When Benedar is sent to Solitaire, with its metal-rich moons, to assist with the acquisition of its valuable mining rights, he and the crew are able to make it to Solitaire safely, and all goes well. That is, until Benedar's Watcher powers show him that the second convict they are traveling with--the one meant to helm the deadman switch on their return journey--is innocent.
374 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 1988
78 people are currently reading
408 people want to read
About the author
Timothy Zahn
482 books8,492 followersTimothy Zahn attended Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1973. He then moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and achieved an M.S. degree in physics in 1975. While he was pursuing a doctorate in physics, his adviser became ill and died. Zahn never completed the doctorate. In 1975 he had begun writing science fiction as a hobby, and he became a professional writer. He and his wife Anna live in Bandon, Oregon. They have a son, Corwin Zahn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 9, 2021
I am so glad I finally read this book. It's been on my Paperwhite for ages and every time I scrolled by it I reminded myself to read it although, honestly, I had totally forgotten what the story was about. What I found is a story that explored questions of faith and belief in a future world where those two subjects were adhered to only by a small number of people who were reviled and even despised. They were only tolerated because they were protected by the law. An even odder factor was that Gilead Raca Benedar was a man who followed his beliefs but he was also so skilled in reading the emotions of other people that it gave him a skill much sought by corporate leaders. Oh, they didn't want Gilead as a friend but as a method of analyzing those they were involved with in business transactions. Gilead may be considered a religious fanatic, but he is still a Watcher.
In order to move from one portion of space to another this civilization uses criminals convicted of capital crimes to man the deadman switch. The execution of the criminal turns that person into a zombi, someone to be controlled by the Cloud to pilot the spaceship through unfriendly space using an ever-changing route to keep it secret. So when or is this type of punishment murder, just of a different type? When is it justifiable to supply the zombies for the convenience of others? This is not a preaching novel but it really does show how far humans can go to make allowances in order to get what we want. Written in 1988, this book does not suffer at all because of its age.
In order to move from one portion of space to another this civilization uses criminals convicted of capital crimes to man the deadman switch. The execution of the criminal turns that person into a zombi, someone to be controlled by the Cloud to pilot the spaceship through unfriendly space using an ever-changing route to keep it secret. So when or is this type of punishment murder, just of a different type? When is it justifiable to supply the zombies for the convenience of others? This is not a preaching novel but it really does show how far humans can go to make allowances in order to get what we want. Written in 1988, this book does not suffer at all because of its age.
June 10, 2010
Timothy Zahn is one of my favorite writers and has been very influential in my own writing. Like me, Zahn writes a lot of space opera, and he's most famous for his Thrawn series of Star Wars novels. But he's been writing a long time and has some great other stuff as well. His Quadrail series (Night Train to Rigel, Odd Girl Out, etc), in particular, is a great read.
Recently, I heard about another of his books, Deadman Switch, which features spiritual themes. Since I use a lot of spiritual themes in my specfic, I wanted to check it out. It was published in 1988 and is out of print, but I tracked down a copy on Amazon and read it last week. What a fantastic read. I highly recommend it.
A bit more of a mystery than a space opera, the premise of the book is that the Patri, a coalition of planets, has found a rich source of minerals in the rings and moons around the planet Solitaire. There's only one catch, the system is surrounded by a mysterious cloud which prevents ships from entering. The only way in is using the Deadman Switch -- carrying a zombi along who is killed and then flies the ship through the cloud. Death Row inmates have become the zombis of choice, and when his boss buys a large conglomerate on Solitaire to get a license to travel there, Gilead Raca Benedar is sent with the boss' son to check out the new property and tend to details.
The problem is that Gilead belongs to a Christian order called "the Watchers,"
who have unique powers of perception allowing them to read minds. His integrity and values raise objections with the Deadman Switch idea, but then he discovers that one of the zombis on their ship (they carry two -- one to go in, one to get out) is a fellow Watcher, and Gilead is convinced she's innocent. When he sets out to prove it, drama ensues.
Eventually, Gilead takes drastic steps to protect her and escapes with her to the nearby planet Spall, hoping to find Smugglers raiding the system to use as zombis instead. In the process, they discover a new form of intelligent life previously undiscovered and end up launching a huge investigation and scientific inquiry which ropes in both watchers, Gilead's boss, local officials, and a local religious sect. When it is discovered that a large fleet is on its way to attack the system, Gilead and the others scramble to find a way to deal with the situation.
If I tell you more, you would know too much, so I'll leave it there, but suffice it to say the ending has plenty of surprises and the book is a great read. I read 50 pages a day until the last day when I read over 100 because I just had to know what happens. I would have read more other days too but have too much going on. It's a pageturner, in other words, and filled with Zahn's trademark solid science, interesting and complex characters and complicated, unfolding plotting. Truly a great read, and if you can track it down, I highly recommend doing so.
The spiritual themes are used similarly to the way I use them in my work: Christian influenced characters without being preachy, so I think even those scifi fans who are agnostic or not fans of religion would enjoy it.
I put a link to Zahn's site on my website. I highly recommend checking out his books. You won't regret it.
For what it's worth...
Recently, I heard about another of his books, Deadman Switch, which features spiritual themes. Since I use a lot of spiritual themes in my specfic, I wanted to check it out. It was published in 1988 and is out of print, but I tracked down a copy on Amazon and read it last week. What a fantastic read. I highly recommend it.
A bit more of a mystery than a space opera, the premise of the book is that the Patri, a coalition of planets, has found a rich source of minerals in the rings and moons around the planet Solitaire. There's only one catch, the system is surrounded by a mysterious cloud which prevents ships from entering. The only way in is using the Deadman Switch -- carrying a zombi along who is killed and then flies the ship through the cloud. Death Row inmates have become the zombis of choice, and when his boss buys a large conglomerate on Solitaire to get a license to travel there, Gilead Raca Benedar is sent with the boss' son to check out the new property and tend to details.
The problem is that Gilead belongs to a Christian order called "the Watchers,"
who have unique powers of perception allowing them to read minds. His integrity and values raise objections with the Deadman Switch idea, but then he discovers that one of the zombis on their ship (they carry two -- one to go in, one to get out) is a fellow Watcher, and Gilead is convinced she's innocent. When he sets out to prove it, drama ensues.
Eventually, Gilead takes drastic steps to protect her and escapes with her to the nearby planet Spall, hoping to find Smugglers raiding the system to use as zombis instead. In the process, they discover a new form of intelligent life previously undiscovered and end up launching a huge investigation and scientific inquiry which ropes in both watchers, Gilead's boss, local officials, and a local religious sect. When it is discovered that a large fleet is on its way to attack the system, Gilead and the others scramble to find a way to deal with the situation.
If I tell you more, you would know too much, so I'll leave it there, but suffice it to say the ending has plenty of surprises and the book is a great read. I read 50 pages a day until the last day when I read over 100 because I just had to know what happens. I would have read more other days too but have too much going on. It's a pageturner, in other words, and filled with Zahn's trademark solid science, interesting and complex characters and complicated, unfolding plotting. Truly a great read, and if you can track it down, I highly recommend doing so.
The spiritual themes are used similarly to the way I use them in my work: Christian influenced characters without being preachy, so I think even those scifi fans who are agnostic or not fans of religion would enjoy it.
I put a link to Zahn's site on my website. I highly recommend checking out his books. You won't regret it.
For what it's worth...
May 2, 2015
I enjoy Timothy Zahn books very much and this one is no exception. This book has a very unique take on space flight as well as a very entailed story of a religious man in a very difficult situation. A bit creepy, but full of interesting ideas. In this sense comparable to "Warhorse", which also had a unique take on space flight. I recommend this book to all Timothy Zahn fans.
December 20, 2014
I enjoyed this one - very twisty plot line, I did not end up where I was expecting to be!
February 5, 2021
Deadman Switch by Timothy Zahn is something a little different, a slow-burning but high-tension legal thriller wrapped up in science fiction dressings. It is also a multilayered story featuring anti-religious prejudice, providence, and the morality of lying. This particular work is more on the literary end of the adventure fiction spectrum, but it does have some traditional adventure elements to help keep things moving.
A major reason for the pace of the book is that its protagonist, Gilead Raca Benedar, is a man without the power to affect his environment. When a book is on the pulp end of the spectrum, protagonists tend to be in the mode of a romance, superior to both other men and their environment. Gilead, a member of a widely disliked religious minority in a largely secular society, lives his life at the sufferance of others.
He is not quick on the draw or the greatest star pilot in the galaxy. He does however have a remarkable ability, one that is the source of both the ire he faces from society and his livelihood. Gilead is a Watcher.
Watchers train their children from an early age to see. Their motivations are fundamentally religious in nature, seeking to appreciate God’s glory as manifested in this world. This is an entirely imaginable mental discipline, something like the kind of flexibility and balance and strength a lifelong practitioner of gongfu would enjoy, except that instead of training their bodies, they train their minds to see everything, instead of allowing mental models to fill in the gaps in perception. However, it turns out that their hyper-focused awareness produces an immense interpersonal advantage, as Watchers read the body language of others so astutely that it feels like they can read their minds.
That in and of itself would probably be enough to make others uncomfortable in their presence, but Gilead’s sect was involved in a rebellion with millenarian aspects a couple of decades ago. Wider society feels quite justified in their dislike of the Watchers. The multilayered low-grade persecution of Gilead’s people makes for a fascinating bit of background to the milleu.
Deadman Switch was originally published in 1988, and an interesting element is that the cultural references of its spacefaring society are mostly Russian. In 1988, the Soviet Union was still in business and the Berlin Wall was still standing, so while it is not perhaps so unusual to use the other superpower of the day as a reference point, it is unusual in that the Patri and its colony worlds are largely secular, but not at all Communist.
Jerry Pournelle imagined a future where Russia was a part of the coalition that conquered the stars, but in his CoDominium the Russians were as enthusiastically Orthodox as the Russians of the real world are again becoming. Neither Pournelle nor Zahn imagined Communism going forward, but they wrote sharply divergent paths for religion.
Pournelle was explicitly using Arnold Toynbee’s model of history in his CoDominium, but I don’t think Zahn was trying to make any kind of macrohistorical point. Gilead being intensely religious in a society that is mostly indifferent is simply an interesting source of tension for the book.
Not that a book whose central theme is the application of a technology that requires a direct human death each and every time it is used is lacking in tension. This is exacerbated by Gilead’s lack of power; he is almost entirely reliant on persuasion and artful misdirection to get anything done. Which is hard, when no one likes you.
In another author’s hands, I can see how this book could have easily become insufferably preachy. It is slow, and I think that is probably just in the nature of the kind of story that Zahn is trying to tell here. This isn’t the first time that Zahn has tried to tell a story of this sort, and Zahn’s ability to set the scene and create interesting characters hooked me strongly enough in the first few pages that I was willing to stick around and see how it all turned out. I think Zahn did a great job with this book, but I suspect it would bore readers to tears who like things fast-paced. If you are interested in science fiction with litfic aims that is wholly based however, then you may find this of interest.
A major reason for the pace of the book is that its protagonist, Gilead Raca Benedar, is a man without the power to affect his environment. When a book is on the pulp end of the spectrum, protagonists tend to be in the mode of a romance, superior to both other men and their environment. Gilead, a member of a widely disliked religious minority in a largely secular society, lives his life at the sufferance of others.
He is not quick on the draw or the greatest star pilot in the galaxy. He does however have a remarkable ability, one that is the source of both the ire he faces from society and his livelihood. Gilead is a Watcher.
Watchers train their children from an early age to see. Their motivations are fundamentally religious in nature, seeking to appreciate God’s glory as manifested in this world. This is an entirely imaginable mental discipline, something like the kind of flexibility and balance and strength a lifelong practitioner of gongfu would enjoy, except that instead of training their bodies, they train their minds to see everything, instead of allowing mental models to fill in the gaps in perception. However, it turns out that their hyper-focused awareness produces an immense interpersonal advantage, as Watchers read the body language of others so astutely that it feels like they can read their minds.
That in and of itself would probably be enough to make others uncomfortable in their presence, but Gilead’s sect was involved in a rebellion with millenarian aspects a couple of decades ago. Wider society feels quite justified in their dislike of the Watchers. The multilayered low-grade persecution of Gilead’s people makes for a fascinating bit of background to the milleu.
Deadman Switch was originally published in 1988, and an interesting element is that the cultural references of its spacefaring society are mostly Russian. In 1988, the Soviet Union was still in business and the Berlin Wall was still standing, so while it is not perhaps so unusual to use the other superpower of the day as a reference point, it is unusual in that the Patri and its colony worlds are largely secular, but not at all Communist.
Jerry Pournelle imagined a future where Russia was a part of the coalition that conquered the stars, but in his CoDominium the Russians were as enthusiastically Orthodox as the Russians of the real world are again becoming. Neither Pournelle nor Zahn imagined Communism going forward, but they wrote sharply divergent paths for religion.
Pournelle was explicitly using Arnold Toynbee’s model of history in his CoDominium, but I don’t think Zahn was trying to make any kind of macrohistorical point. Gilead being intensely religious in a society that is mostly indifferent is simply an interesting source of tension for the book.
Not that a book whose central theme is the application of a technology that requires a direct human death each and every time it is used is lacking in tension. This is exacerbated by Gilead’s lack of power; he is almost entirely reliant on persuasion and artful misdirection to get anything done. Which is hard, when no one likes you.
In another author’s hands, I can see how this book could have easily become insufferably preachy. It is slow, and I think that is probably just in the nature of the kind of story that Zahn is trying to tell here. This isn’t the first time that Zahn has tried to tell a story of this sort, and Zahn’s ability to set the scene and create interesting characters hooked me strongly enough in the first few pages that I was willing to stick around and see how it all turned out. I think Zahn did a great job with this book, but I suspect it would bore readers to tears who like things fast-paced. If you are interested in science fiction with litfic aims that is wholly based however, then you may find this of interest.
July 28, 2023
Zahn does so well with pacing. Every book jumps in quickly, just throwing you directly into the world. There are always unique worldbuilding elements, but they're not so large that I ever feel disoriented. I think that's how he's able to jump right into the plot, rather than providing lots of setting/description at the outset.
Deadman Switch was fascinating. Provided me with a lot more philosophical musings than other of Zahn's books have.
The idea is that there's a specific solar system with one planet that has highly lucrative metals. However, to get into the system, you need a zombi (sic) to be controlled by some alien force. This means you're essentially setting an exact price on human life.
The book deals with ideas of religion and faith versus science and rationality, but that's secondary to the main plot.
I had a bit of an issue with tertiary characters feeling very lifeless or controlled, while the main character does *all* the main character things. That being said, our main character is absolutely fascinating and I wished we could have spent more time hearing his thoughts and watching his superpowers.
Deadman Switch was fascinating. Provided me with a lot more philosophical musings than other of Zahn's books have.
The idea is that there's a specific solar system with one planet that has highly lucrative metals. However, to get into the system, you need a zombi (sic) to be controlled by some alien force. This means you're essentially setting an exact price on human life.
The book deals with ideas of religion and faith versus science and rationality, but that's secondary to the main plot.
I had a bit of an issue with tertiary characters feeling very lifeless or controlled, while the main character does *all* the main character things. That being said, our main character is absolutely fascinating and I wished we could have spent more time hearing his thoughts and watching his superpowers.
March 7, 2021
Zahn melds SF concept (navigation requires a recently deceased pilot; spaceships carry two death-row felons) to moral quandary (one ‘zombie’ pilot has been wrongly convicted). The novel goes through several phase shifts exploring the wider value of maintaining a small human focus.
July 6, 2016
fun, well writen non dystopian sci-fi.
May 25, 2025
A fun read, with classic Zahn characters and dialogue (yes with plenty of uses of sardonic and people making points). The initial conundrum of a resource rich star system only accessible by piloting with a freshly dead corpse feels a bit too neat of a metaphor, but then again I guess it isn't too far off from some of the industries we currently have. About halfway through the book, it takes a turn into another genre of sci-fi . I enjoyed his treatment of faith in this story, and it's clear that Zahn has more than a passing familiarity with Christianity and the Bible (take the names of the three Watchers mentioned in the story: Raca (you fool), Mara (bitter), and Balaam (spoken to by his ass) and tell me that he didn't mean to have each name mean something in particular). Parts of the story dragged a little bit for me, but overall it was a fun read and would definitely recommend to fans of Zahn.
March 29, 2024
This book was a real surprise—this old sci-fi book is centered on a mineral rich region of space, accessible only through a mechanism wherein the ship’s pilot has to die on the way in, with the same consequence on the way out for a different pilot. Creepy / intriguing, but the real surprise was that the main character is part of a future remnant of Christians, with his inner monologue loaded with quotes and references from the Bible. That was a highly unexpected crossover! There’s a twist in that he is exceptionally good at reading people—their emotions etc—to tell if they’re lying or telling the truth. It sounds like it could be cheesy, but it’s actually really well done.
The main plot drew me in, and by the end I had to finish it. It is not Zahn’s greatest work—you can see improvements in his pacing, structure, and character development in later books—but despite its age (and cheesy cover), there’s actually a pretty engaging story here.
The main plot drew me in, and by the end I had to finish it. It is not Zahn’s greatest work—you can see improvements in his pacing, structure, and character development in later books—but despite its age (and cheesy cover), there’s actually a pretty engaging story here.
April 12, 2021
Spiritual Sherlock (of human tells and microexpressions) runs into moral quandary while on the way to an alien system which demands tribute to navigate. Aliens appear, though in a fairly unique form. All the while human greed knows no bounds. A well-plotted, creative sci-fi tale through the perspective of a religious watcher.
May 7, 2018
If you like Timothy Zahn, or well paced sci-fi in general, this is a good book to check out. Not Zahn's strongest work, but a very fun and well thought out story with a unique alien species thrown in the mix.
April 19, 2020
Very interesting premise, and very interesting resolution. The author has kept you guessing as to what was happening all along the path. And things change in ways you wouldn't expect. An excellent and entertaining read.
September 15, 2020
I’ve been sampling older sci fi novels for a change of pace, pushing through past the cheesy cover art, and have twice now been surprised by the depth and quality of the stories. Nice also to read novels that are a reasonable length, and stand alone. A good break.
October 31, 2018
Loved this one. Really good classic-style sci-fi without the sex (or even innuendo) of most modern stuff.
August 5, 2019
Not my favorite Timothy Zahn book, unfortunately. Interesting enough story, but
December 14, 2023
Unique concept, well written and engaging read. Great old school style sci fi book
February 8, 2024
Very interesting read, I enjoyed the story.
April 6, 2025
Bit of a slow start but really got going about halfway through.
February 9, 2025
Timothy Zahn has a knack for complex premises and inventive sci-fi settings, all of which are present in Deadman Switch. But coming along for the ride is... musings on religious beliefs and crises of faith?
It's a little uneven, but it all works surprisingly well together. Surprises abound, most of them good!
If you love a used sci-fi paperback, this is right up your alley.
It's a little uneven, but it all works surprisingly well together. Surprises abound, most of them good!
If you love a used sci-fi paperback, this is right up your alley.
March 20, 2014
Timothy Zahn is a guy who likes specific archetypes. In this sci-fi story, we have a moral, idealistic guy who notices things most other people don't (but not Luke Skywalker), a wealthy, crafty benefactor who is loyal to his people and knows how to influence people (but not Talon Karde), and a very capable and bitter woman with a mysterious past who is forced to work with the hero against her will (but not Mara Jade). Zahn builds believable dialog and interaction between these and many other characters, but they do look suspiciously familiar.
The basic story is that a man believes a prisoner on death row is innocent, and must establish her innocence before time runs out and her execution occurs. Also, a new discovery happens that introduces new characters with mysterious intentions. There are a lot of science fiction trappings around these points, but this is the basic idea.
Zahn excels in world-building. Every one of his books makes you feel like you're in the middle of a three dimensional universe with its own history, cultures, and intrigue. Deadman Switch is no different in this regard. The phenomenon which gives the book its title is very fanciful, but thought provoking in a "how do I feel about executing condemned criminals to further business ventures" kind of way. Zahn also (unusually for him) examines religion by making the first-person hero a religious man, and peppering the hero's thought process with Bible verses pulled from an actual (if paraphrasical) Bible translation called the New Jerusalem Bible. While Zahn treats religious characters with respect and some sympathy, he does not delve too deeply into his characters' psyches, and thus seems to want to use the religion for flavor, not to make a specific point.
As in all Zahn books, the only real cursing is via made up slang, and there is no sexual content. Also as usual, there are many twists and turns to the story, though uncharacteristically few action scenes. Overall I enjoyed the book, but there is no real pull on me to read it again, as its characters are similar to other, more fully fleshed out characters from other books in Zahn's repertoire.
The basic story is that a man believes a prisoner on death row is innocent, and must establish her innocence before time runs out and her execution occurs. Also, a new discovery happens that introduces new characters with mysterious intentions. There are a lot of science fiction trappings around these points, but this is the basic idea.
Zahn excels in world-building. Every one of his books makes you feel like you're in the middle of a three dimensional universe with its own history, cultures, and intrigue. Deadman Switch is no different in this regard. The phenomenon which gives the book its title is very fanciful, but thought provoking in a "how do I feel about executing condemned criminals to further business ventures" kind of way. Zahn also (unusually for him) examines religion by making the first-person hero a religious man, and peppering the hero's thought process with Bible verses pulled from an actual (if paraphrasical) Bible translation called the New Jerusalem Bible. While Zahn treats religious characters with respect and some sympathy, he does not delve too deeply into his characters' psyches, and thus seems to want to use the religion for flavor, not to make a specific point.
As in all Zahn books, the only real cursing is via made up slang, and there is no sexual content. Also as usual, there are many twists and turns to the story, though uncharacteristically few action scenes. Overall I enjoyed the book, but there is no real pull on me to read it again, as its characters are similar to other, more fully fleshed out characters from other books in Zahn's repertoire.
June 17, 2011
"Deadman Switch" is an immensely though-provoking book told in Zahn's typical style - which means the story flows beautifully, the characters are fleshed out nicely, the scenes are vivid and it all wraps together while becoming increasingly suspenseful.
Mining companies and researchers had been trying to reach Solitaire for years in order to harvest the heavy metal from the rings around its moons. However, there was a cloud of sorts surrounding the area that rendered their Mjollnir (hyperspace) drive inactive, thus keeping them out. Finally a research ship managed to get in - not realizing until later that it was entirely by accident, because the man at the helm had died of a heart attack just as they entered the cloud. Once they figured that out, the difficult part came when it was time to leave . . .
Now whenever a ship goes to Solitaire, they take two death row prisoners - one for entry, and one for exit.
The moment of crisis comes when a new company takes over trade on Solitaire and the owner decides to send his Watcher - a member of a religious sect who train their members from youth to be ultra-aware of their surroundings, thus giving them an almost uncanny ability to sense the thoughts and emotions flickering across another person's face and behind his or her eyes. Watchers hold all life as valuable and believe that using them to gain entry to Solitaire is akin to human sacrifice. After being forced to watch the first prisoner killed, he is taunted by a crewmember and told he should go and check on the other prisoner.
She, of course, insists she is innocent. To his surprise, he believes she is telling the truth.
What follows in the book are his various attempts to save her life. Of course, nothing ever stays that simple and he ends up having to try to save the lives of most of the inhabitants of the system. But let's not spoil the surprise, shall we?
This book is not especially easy to find, but it is well worth the search. Hopefully he will re-release it. This seems to be a fad as of late.
Mining companies and researchers had been trying to reach Solitaire for years in order to harvest the heavy metal from the rings around its moons. However, there was a cloud of sorts surrounding the area that rendered their Mjollnir (hyperspace) drive inactive, thus keeping them out. Finally a research ship managed to get in - not realizing until later that it was entirely by accident, because the man at the helm had died of a heart attack just as they entered the cloud. Once they figured that out, the difficult part came when it was time to leave . . .
Now whenever a ship goes to Solitaire, they take two death row prisoners - one for entry, and one for exit.
The moment of crisis comes when a new company takes over trade on Solitaire and the owner decides to send his Watcher - a member of a religious sect who train their members from youth to be ultra-aware of their surroundings, thus giving them an almost uncanny ability to sense the thoughts and emotions flickering across another person's face and behind his or her eyes. Watchers hold all life as valuable and believe that using them to gain entry to Solitaire is akin to human sacrifice. After being forced to watch the first prisoner killed, he is taunted by a crewmember and told he should go and check on the other prisoner.
She, of course, insists she is innocent. To his surprise, he believes she is telling the truth.
What follows in the book are his various attempts to save her life. Of course, nothing ever stays that simple and he ends up having to try to save the lives of most of the inhabitants of the system. But let's not spoil the surprise, shall we?
This book is not especially easy to find, but it is well worth the search. Hopefully he will re-release it. This seems to be a fad as of late.
August 9, 2016
I'd say about 2.75. Better than ok, but not super terrific.
On the good side, there was excellent, thoughtful treatment of people of faith.
On the bad side, it felt a lot like a setup for a sequel: too many unanswered questions at the end. But if an actual sequel exists, I can't find it.
It held my attention because I wanted answers, but I was disappointed I didn't get as many answers as I hoped/expected.
Still, good writing and solid sci-fi. I wish we had more sci-fi like this coming out now.
I also wish I could buy the kindle copy for less than or equal to the price of a used paperback. I always forget how much I hate dead-tree books when I am faced with buying used for nearly half the cost of a kindle copy (and that includes shipping!). Publishers, PLEASE price electronic copies with an eye on the number of used books available. I want to give YOU (and the author) the money. I really, really do. But you force me to buy the inferior product that strains my eyes, gives my arm a cramp, contributes to cutting down trees and burgeoning landfills, and makes me wait on snail-mail, all because I won't pay double just to line your pockets.
On the good side, there was excellent, thoughtful treatment of people of faith.
On the bad side, it felt a lot like a setup for a sequel: too many unanswered questions at the end. But if an actual sequel exists, I can't find it.
It held my attention because I wanted answers, but I was disappointed I didn't get as many answers as I hoped/expected.
Still, good writing and solid sci-fi. I wish we had more sci-fi like this coming out now.
I also wish I could buy the kindle copy for less than or equal to the price of a used paperback. I always forget how much I hate dead-tree books when I am faced with buying used for nearly half the cost of a kindle copy (and that includes shipping!). Publishers, PLEASE price electronic copies with an eye on the number of used books available. I want to give YOU (and the author) the money. I really, really do. But you force me to buy the inferior product that strains my eyes, gives my arm a cramp, contributes to cutting down trees and burgeoning landfills, and makes me wait on snail-mail, all because I won't pay double just to line your pockets.
August 10, 2013
The planet Solitaire is protected by a cloud that shuts down "mjollnir" drive. But when a pilot dies trying to enter the cloud and his body is taken over, he is able to pilot the ship into the cloud. The other explorers on board discover space rings with valuable metals and the practice of using death-row convicts as "zombis" begins. Gilead is a Watcher, a member of a religious sect that has trained to observe things closely, giving him almost mind-reading powers. His boss sends him to Solitaire to help broker a deal and on the way Gilead discovers that the "out-zombi" is another Watcher, and is innocent. His quest to free her leads them both to discover an alien race, the source of the cloud, and a solution to the "zombi" problem.
An entertaining read. I found it especially refreshing that the Watchers were able to quote scripture and refer to God without sarcasm or condescension from the author.
An entertaining read. I found it especially refreshing that the Watchers were able to quote scripture and refer to God without sarcasm or condescension from the author.
January 30, 2013
I wanted to give this 3 1/2 stars. It was a very original idea and started with a lot of promise. The writing is done well and it's easy to follow and easy to read. I think the characters could have been fleshed out much more. I also feel that the religion of the Watchers was glossed over. I felt that it should have been better explained since it was the basis for the main character's motivations. The quotes that are meant to give insight into the religion aren't really very enlightening. Overall it was basicly a four star book but the additional half star I want to take away is for the ending which seemed rushed. One of the two characters on which the story is based just goes away with almost no explanation and what little there is doesn't really make sense. I enjoyed the story but it left me feeling like part of the story had gone missing.
November 16, 2015
Fun adventure story with the really nifty scifi elements that I've come to expect from Zahn. I especially enjoyed the . The story jumps around a lot. Characters come in and out, there are large skips of time, certain events get wrapped up in a single paragraph. The only real through line in the story is the main character, Benedar. It's all about his faith journey, where he bends and where he doesn't. A fun, interesting read overall, with a few exciting moments.
There's an incredible lack of lady characters. I feel that several characters could have switched from male to female without changing the story at all.
There's an incredible lack of lady characters. I feel that several characters could have switched from male to female without changing the story at all.
December 16, 2014
Unique
I enjoyed this book! I'm new to science fiction and found this to be a great way to begin. The authors style of writing is a bit different then I'm accustomed to, but I didn't find it to be problematic. For example, no physical description of the characters are given. However, I didn't even notice until I was halfway through the book! I've been an avid reader for over twenty years and I usually disregard the authors character description anyway and let my mind form one as the story developed. I would suggest this book, but with a warning. This book is slow paced, there is next to no action, and you must enjoy the novelty of the story!!
I enjoyed this book! I'm new to science fiction and found this to be a great way to begin. The authors style of writing is a bit different then I'm accustomed to, but I didn't find it to be problematic. For example, no physical description of the characters are given. However, I didn't even notice until I was halfway through the book! I've been an avid reader for over twenty years and I usually disregard the authors character description anyway and let my mind form one as the story developed. I would suggest this book, but with a warning. This book is slow paced, there is next to no action, and you must enjoy the novelty of the story!!
July 31, 2012
Another great book by Timothy Zahn. Well I shouldn't really say "Another" as it was one of his firsts. I have only just gotten around to reading that's all. It is about a man. He is part of a religion called "The Watchers" who are rathe rlike human lie detectors only they can tell every emmotion from little more than your eyes. He is sent to a place where many cool and misterious things happen and th ending it happy if unexpected. I would recomened it to all sci-fi lovers and mystery loveers as well.
May 6, 2016
Saga in a Science Fiction setting - Deadman Switch is a moral composition, dealing with nonviolence, integrity and the value of life. All of these themes are played out in a galactic empire with all the problems of a modern government. The science fiction setting includes elements that are more in tune with metaphysics than hard physics. However, the story and its characters draw the reader into their world and their difficulties. I would compare it in style, and timelessness to the Odyssey, if not in scope and grandeur. An enjoyable read.
August 6, 2013
I really enjoyed this book from start to end. Lots of interesting ideas and engaging plot devices. My only gripe would be the rise and fall of the plot. The book had a climax, but it wasn't OBVIOUSLY the climax. The plot points were kind of strung together like Christmas lights, not going up or down. Some questions that I had were left unanswered. If this book had a sequel, I would probably read it. I'm glad I picked this book as a random read"
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