Tracking

The Emergence Chronicles #2

by David R. Palmer

Meet Candidia Smith-Foster, Homo post hominem, the next step in Mankind's evolution. She's an eleven-year-old genius with a Black Belt, and last summer she saved all that remained of her struggling new branch of humanity. Since then she's been training under an ex- Mossad assassin. She’s just learned who’s been holding her Daddy and now she knows where they are… In David Palmer's long‑awaited sequel to Emergence, Kid Genius Candidia Smith‑Foster kicks ass from California to the Russian heartland, where evil Nazi wannabes plot the destruction of all that is good and decent. Tom Easton, Reviewer Emeritus, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Author of Sparrowhawk Nearly 30 years ago, David R. Palmer's startlingly Heinleinesque debut novel created an action‑adventure protagonist who made Die Hard' s John McClane look like a wimp amateur…At last she's back, still 11, still adorable, still sudden death with both hands, and this time she's in real trouble. With even higher stakes. Spider Robinson, co‑author, with Robert A. Heinlein, of VARIABLE STAR Candy is one of the most memorable people I've ever known, on or off the printed page, and David R. Palmer one of the most engaging and skillful storytellers. Stanley Schmidt, Author of The Coming Convergence, Editor of Analog Science Fiction and Fact

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Post Apocalyptic, Fiction

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2008

About the author

David R. Palmer is an American science fiction author. His works have been nominated three times for Hugo Awards.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Squee!! Super happy to find this book!!! It's great!

Been looking for YEARS for this book and it came up in my recommended list! AND author's notes explained hiatus AND more books coming!!! Felt border collie levels of frantic ferocious joy! Read everything he writes! It's a rush! Really excellent imagination and pacing. Love the mc and her narrative voice, unique!

[Tamara Wilhite · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read "Emergence" as a child. I loved the main character. The plots were involving and amazing.

This book turned an incredible character into a Mary Sue. Making matters worse, it repeated itself. Not only did perfect little action girl (still 11) go to save Daddy (this time her biological father over her adoptive father). She was rescuing him from the secret second organization behind the first one they defeated in the first book.

PLUS they had both a 20-something narrator telepathically tracking the girl along with Candida's diary and a narrator from the archives commenting on the diary. The two adult narrators were eager to tell us how awesome she was, how much she's accomplished, and she's not even a teenager yet ...

I ended up skimming it to try to get to the ending. Rescue Daddy. Rescue a few more kids. Warn the adults from another impending disaster. Disaster averted. Yeah. And now the adults don't want you running off on an intercontinental adventures anymore without informing them ...

[Infosifter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf. Sometimes an author creates a book around an idealized character that they adore, and as a reader you either can or can't believe in the character. In this case, I really can't. Also, I've never known a female who would tolerate being called a plucky girl anything, never mind embracing the title. I also couldn't cope with the annoying short-hand style of writing.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tracking - David R. Palmer
SF; serialised in Analog Science Fiction and Fact; 8/10
A friend introduced me to David R. Palmer's classic novel, Emergence many years ago and I reread it a few months ago in anticipation of this serialised novella in Analog Science Fiction and Fact. This isn't nearly as strong a story as Emergence (but considering all that happened in that book, a novella wasn't really going to come close). All the same, it was great to see Candy again and go with her on a single-handed quest to rescue her father who it appears may have survived Armageddon after all. The story is left open for a sequel and I'll look forward to reading that.

[Verity Shers · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok follow up

I would have found it so much more exciting if more time had passed and Candy had matured a little. It was all a bit 'happy -go-lucky' which felt at odds with the plot, and the whole 'plucky girl aviatrix' wore thin. The bad guys were awful, the good guys were equally as awful. I liked the dog. I quite liked Candy's journey to Russia with the exception of her meeting Father Toys (Christmas). Danni the sexy spy seemed more interesting when she wasn't actually around. When she was around she was as smug and annoying as Candy. I liked a lot of things about Emergence. This one...sadly not so much.

[andrew y · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m glad Palmer came back after his twenty year hiatus. But unfortunately it felt like Tracking expanded upon the least interesting facets of Emergence and dropped altogether the more interesting bits. Though I have tried, I do not care about nor fully understand aircraft engineering. I do care about the upending of societal norms after a global cataclysm from which only painfully intelligent people emerged (haha) unscathed. Sending the main character away from the community and into an airplane for 90% of this book did the end result no favors.
Also that’s without question the most hideously designed cover I’ve ever seen.

[John Holder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irresistible Sequel!

After a hiatus of literally DECADES, David R. Palmer is back with a satisfying sequel to Emergence - one of the greatest literary surprise presents I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.

DO find and read Emergence before tackling Tracking - believe me, it’s worth it. In this latter book, though, Palmer effortlessly (well, according to him in the afterword, NOT so effortlessly) picks up the hypnotic thread woven in the first volume, sending the adorable, terrifying heroine Candy headlong into natural wonders and deadly dangers once more.

If you love geography as much as I do - as well as an engrossing story - Tracking is a real treat. (I can spend hours browsing on Google Earth and its Street View, so I may be a little weird on the subject).

Whew. Could say more, but don’t want to even hint at any spoilers. Read Emergence AND Tracking - you won’t be sorry!

[Brandon Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recall loving the first book, however this time around I found myself unimpressed. The bones of the story are alright, but much of the writing felt like padding to meet an essay’s word count, from the moment a plane is described in laborious technical detail over two pages, reading like a brochure for the damned thing.

[Ruby Ridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good thriller and enjoyed reading it. Will read the next in the series.

[Ronald Spitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great follow up novel to Emergence. Having read some reviews before buying this book, I disagree with all who are disappointed. Siberia is not boring. The style of writing is easily adjusted to. The action is packed. Now when will Emergence #3 come out? I do not want to wait 12 more years for the average of 25 years between books in this series. Publication in January 2022 will do nicely - please.

[Steven Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plucky girl saves the world again

One of the best storytellers ever. Palmer’s ability to make a young girl sound so deprecatingly smart and brave while acknowledging her weaknesses is so good as to make you love her as much as her friends do. Well researched and written. Hope there’s a third story.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waited 30 years...

...for this sequel, and enjoyed it (almost) as much as the original. I’m seriously overjoyed to be able to read more from this author, about these characters. Loved it!

[Gary Carrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow not sure of it was intentional...

Got a headache trying to read this with its disjointed sentence structure and grammar. Not sure if it was intended to be written that way but...wow

[Steven Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need more please

Great second novel. Where’s the next one please!?
I’d like to read more about Candy and see how she conquers future obstacles :)

[Mark Gibbons · Rating 4 out of 5]

After waiting 28 years for the sequel I'm not holding too much hope for the possible 3rd volume.
Not much new in this book. Enjoyable read though for a Palmer fan.

[Brad Hlodnicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read It!

Fast paced adventure to save the world…by an 11 year old girl. The ultimate women’s book. You will not be sorry.

[Apd273 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely wish there was a 3rd book in this series. Very entertaining and every bit as good as the original book "Emergence".