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Ahab
After a devastating interstellar war against the machines known as Mechanized Intelligence Cruisers, the Commonwealth is ready to return to normal life.
Captain Ahab is not.
Tired of being paraded around the capital as a war hero, Ahab finally secures a commission to hunt down the last remaining MICs in the outer planets.
He gets more than he bargained for with Moby Dick.
Ahab’s first encounter with the massive white MIC leaves Ahab without a ship and without a leg. Plagued by fever during his recuperation, Ahab becomes convinced that Moby Dick is a threat to the Commonwealth's newfound peace. But his willingness to do whatever it takes to destroy the MIC leads his best friend and first mate Starbuck to wonder if their captain is in his right mind.
Captain Ahab is not.
Tired of being paraded around the capital as a war hero, Ahab finally secures a commission to hunt down the last remaining MICs in the outer planets.
He gets more than he bargained for with Moby Dick.
Ahab’s first encounter with the massive white MIC leaves Ahab without a ship and without a leg. Plagued by fever during his recuperation, Ahab becomes convinced that Moby Dick is a threat to the Commonwealth's newfound peace. But his willingness to do whatever it takes to destroy the MIC leads his best friend and first mate Starbuck to wonder if their captain is in his right mind.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2020
33 people want to read
About the author
E.B. Dawson
36 books145 followersI grew up in Southeast Asia. My first experience with America was when I was six years old. Sometimes I amuse my friends by telling them stories of my first impressions of this country (clean bathrooms, Toy Story, Taco Bell, getting lost in department stores).
My family moved to California when I was eleven and completely changed the course of my life. On the outside I'm a well-adjusted American adult, but in all honesty some days I still wake up to the sound of the grass being cut by machetes.
I have traveled a fair amount and lived in four separate countries. I see the world very differently from most people that I know. And because I am an analytical introvert I try to understand everything in my life. I pour this into my writing.
Everything I write is deeply personal to me. People who know me well recognize the shadows of people I've met, experiences I've had, and emotions I've walked through in my writing. My goal is not just to entertain and explore imaginary worlds, but to take the reader on a journey that explores difficult questions and instills some sort of hope.
My family moved to California when I was eleven and completely changed the course of my life. On the outside I'm a well-adjusted American adult, but in all honesty some days I still wake up to the sound of the grass being cut by machetes.
I have traveled a fair amount and lived in four separate countries. I see the world very differently from most people that I know. And because I am an analytical introvert I try to understand everything in my life. I pour this into my writing.
Everything I write is deeply personal to me. People who know me well recognize the shadows of people I've met, experiences I've had, and emotions I've walked through in my writing. My goal is not just to entertain and explore imaginary worlds, but to take the reader on a journey that explores difficult questions and instills some sort of hope.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 19, 2020
I should preface this review by acknowledging the fact that I’ve never read Moby Dick. I do know that Herman Melville wrote Moby Dick, and that Moby Dick never wrote him back, so he never wrote Moby Dick again.
What? I love that joke. Anyway, the point is, I’m not extremely familiar with the source material of this retelling, aside from some of the most basic elements, so I’m reviewing Ahab more on its own merits as an original science fiction novel than as a Moby Dick adaptation.
I have, however, read E.B. Dawson’s previous foray into what I’ll call “nautical space opera,” Voyage of the Pequod, a novella which first established the rich and delightfully original universe of Ahab. It left me eager to read more about the Pequod’s crew, and I’m happy to say that this full-length follow-up to that story did not disappoint in any way.
One of the things which always put me off reading the original Moby Dick was the simple fact that I’m not a fan of whaling stories. I’m an animal lover—even when the animals in question are gigantic, malevolent, limb-severing leviathans—and my sympathy would be entirely with the whale at the expense of any of the human characters. Many present-day readers are inclined to approach this classic work with the same trepidation, I imagine. However, E.B. Dawson has applied her creative genius to this problem with resounding success. First of all, her adaptation is in space, a twist which obviously makes everything better, and the “whales” are massive whale-like machines left over from an age of unrestrained technological advancement. Building on this premise, Dawson creates a space-faring world with the same aesthetic and atmosphere of the source material’s early nineteenth-century era. It’s a brilliant concept that makes the story all the more engrossing.
In addition to the superb world-building, Dawson does an amazing job with the characters of this novel. The two primary point-of-view characters are the titular Captain Ahab and his first mate Starbuck. Their friendship is rendered complex by Starbuck’s conflicting loyalties and Ahab’s growing obsession with destroying Moby Dick (who, in this version, is a terrifying mechanical space behemoth). However, Ahab’s motivation goes far beyond the simple thirst for vengeance which is often attributed to his classic counterpart. He has a deeper reason for chasing down the whale which I won’t spoil. I will say that his desperate mission and Starbuck’s internal conflict over how best to help his friend add a great deal of depth and heart to this story and keep the reader glued to the page.
Ahab’s plot lives up to the same high standard as the other elements of the story, and develops in a way which you might not expect…even if you have read the original novel. (I did a little entry-level comparison using Wikipedia once I’d finished.) I was a bit emotionally bowled over by how the main conflict was resolved, but I wasn’t dissatisfied. The ending felt earned, even if I wouldn’t describe it as “happy.” All the character arcs were wrapped up in a believable way. A sequel would be wonderful, merely because I’d love to see this universe explored further, but I wouldn’t say that a sequel is needed. And though I’m still stapling my emotions back together, I enjoyed this book from start to finish.
In summary, I highly recommend Ahab to anyone who’s in the market for a well-written, enthralling sci-fi story with great characters and lots of spaceships; not just to the Herman Melville fans reading this review. It gets five stars from me. E.B. Dawson has knocked another classic retelling out of the park. I do hope she writes more Ahab, somehow. Then again, if Ahab doesn’t write her back…okay, I’ll stop now.
What? I love that joke. Anyway, the point is, I’m not extremely familiar with the source material of this retelling, aside from some of the most basic elements, so I’m reviewing Ahab more on its own merits as an original science fiction novel than as a Moby Dick adaptation.
I have, however, read E.B. Dawson’s previous foray into what I’ll call “nautical space opera,” Voyage of the Pequod, a novella which first established the rich and delightfully original universe of Ahab. It left me eager to read more about the Pequod’s crew, and I’m happy to say that this full-length follow-up to that story did not disappoint in any way.
One of the things which always put me off reading the original Moby Dick was the simple fact that I’m not a fan of whaling stories. I’m an animal lover—even when the animals in question are gigantic, malevolent, limb-severing leviathans—and my sympathy would be entirely with the whale at the expense of any of the human characters. Many present-day readers are inclined to approach this classic work with the same trepidation, I imagine. However, E.B. Dawson has applied her creative genius to this problem with resounding success. First of all, her adaptation is in space, a twist which obviously makes everything better, and the “whales” are massive whale-like machines left over from an age of unrestrained technological advancement. Building on this premise, Dawson creates a space-faring world with the same aesthetic and atmosphere of the source material’s early nineteenth-century era. It’s a brilliant concept that makes the story all the more engrossing.
In addition to the superb world-building, Dawson does an amazing job with the characters of this novel. The two primary point-of-view characters are the titular Captain Ahab and his first mate Starbuck. Their friendship is rendered complex by Starbuck’s conflicting loyalties and Ahab’s growing obsession with destroying Moby Dick (who, in this version, is a terrifying mechanical space behemoth). However, Ahab’s motivation goes far beyond the simple thirst for vengeance which is often attributed to his classic counterpart. He has a deeper reason for chasing down the whale which I won’t spoil. I will say that his desperate mission and Starbuck’s internal conflict over how best to help his friend add a great deal of depth and heart to this story and keep the reader glued to the page.
Ahab’s plot lives up to the same high standard as the other elements of the story, and develops in a way which you might not expect…even if you have read the original novel. (I did a little entry-level comparison using Wikipedia once I’d finished.) I was a bit emotionally bowled over by how the main conflict was resolved, but I wasn’t dissatisfied. The ending felt earned, even if I wouldn’t describe it as “happy.” All the character arcs were wrapped up in a believable way. A sequel would be wonderful, merely because I’d love to see this universe explored further, but I wouldn’t say that a sequel is needed. And though I’m still stapling my emotions back together, I enjoyed this book from start to finish.
In summary, I highly recommend Ahab to anyone who’s in the market for a well-written, enthralling sci-fi story with great characters and lots of spaceships; not just to the Herman Melville fans reading this review. It gets five stars from me. E.B. Dawson has knocked another classic retelling out of the park. I do hope she writes more Ahab, somehow. Then again, if Ahab doesn’t write her back…okay, I’ll stop now.
August 22, 2020
Ahab. As I sit down to write this review, I don’t really know where to begin. It’s a tale of courage, and friendship, and hard choices. It’s a story that knit me ever more tightly with the characters until I cried at the end. It’s a deeply human and moving book full of heart-pumping action, and quiet, intimate, everyday happenings.
As someone who has read the original classic this book is based off of, I was intrigued to see how Dawson would make a book centering on Ahab enjoyable... because what I most remember about Melville’s Ahab is a man consumed with vengeance, caring little for anything else. Dawson acknowledged that part of Ahab’s character, but also painted him more deeply as a man whose destiny lay in sailing the stars long before Moby Dick robbed him of his leg. And just as Ishmael’s wit tempered Melville’s narration, Starbuck’s steadiness and humanity balanced Dawson’s. I quickly grew to love him.
Much of the original cast make their appearance in Ahab, sometimes taking on new personalities. What I particularly enjoyed about the story was how Dawson was able to blend a distinctly sci-fi premise (hunting potentially sentient machines through space), with something a little more steampunk on the home front (balls, and gowns, and old money).
In the end, Ahab is one of the stories that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
As someone who has read the original classic this book is based off of, I was intrigued to see how Dawson would make a book centering on Ahab enjoyable... because what I most remember about Melville’s Ahab is a man consumed with vengeance, caring little for anything else. Dawson acknowledged that part of Ahab’s character, but also painted him more deeply as a man whose destiny lay in sailing the stars long before Moby Dick robbed him of his leg. And just as Ishmael’s wit tempered Melville’s narration, Starbuck’s steadiness and humanity balanced Dawson’s. I quickly grew to love him.
Much of the original cast make their appearance in Ahab, sometimes taking on new personalities. What I particularly enjoyed about the story was how Dawson was able to blend a distinctly sci-fi premise (hunting potentially sentient machines through space), with something a little more steampunk on the home front (balls, and gowns, and old money).
In the end, Ahab is one of the stories that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
August 3, 2020
This book is a gem. I can't imagine how much work went into getting this well known classic to translate well into a Science Fiction book. But as well as it works as a Science Fiction it is still full of rich and beautiful language, old sensibilities, and complex world building. The concepts of the mechs still blows my mind. And the friendship between Ahab and Starbuck is everything.
October 7, 2020
This story snuck up on me, and in the best way possible. For the first half of the book, I simply enjoyed the steady, peaceful rhythm of the narrative. I'm not sure when that changed, but at some point, I realized I was very attached to the main characters and increasingly concerned about their well-being.
Then I got to the climax. *sigh* I still haven't recovered from that.
I'm only vaguely familiar with the original Moby Dick, so I can't say much about how faithful this retelling is to the classic. I enjoyed the old-fashioned tone of the writing, which surprisingly blended with the sci-fi setting.
It was exciting to find a retelling of something other than fairy tales. I'm sure this won't be the last book by E.B. Dawson that I read!
Then I got to the climax. *sigh* I still haven't recovered from that.
I'm only vaguely familiar with the original Moby Dick, so I can't say much about how faithful this retelling is to the classic. I enjoyed the old-fashioned tone of the writing, which surprisingly blended with the sci-fi setting.
It was exciting to find a retelling of something other than fairy tales. I'm sure this won't be the last book by E.B. Dawson that I read!
August 29, 2020
Ahab isn’t just a story, it’s an experience. This book swept me off my feet and into another world.
Captain Ahab is a war hero. At least, that’s what everyone calls him. He’s not so sure. Because, while the Commonwealth is pushing the narrative of peace—telling the story of a war between man and machine, and declaring man the winner—Ahab has been thinking. He’s been listening. And he is far from convinced that the war was as conclusive as they claim.
While the Commonwealth celebrates peace and victory, the outer planets are still being plagued by stray Mechanized Intelligence Cruisers. Some want the MICs gone, hunting them down for valuable scrap. Others believe that the strange intelligence the machines seem to possess is the sign of a new evolution in consciousness. Most argue that they are just machines. A few stragglers from a war that should remain in the past.
No matter what is said about them, the facts don’t quite line up.
Ahab has such a magnetism to him! Every scene with him in it seems to move around him like planets around a star. The threads of mystery in the story make it hard to know whether or not to support his convictions and his decisions; but you can never doubt his determination or his courage. Or, oddly, his humanity. He comes across with a semblance of brutality that makes it surprising, but deeply heartwarming, when he goes out of his way to care for the people around him (even when the society he lives in largely does not).
I honestly think that’s the element of this book that I fell in love with the most? It’s rare to find a story that takes those moments , those bits of time spent away from the loud and glittering attractions of plot and worldbuilding to slow down and declare, look at these people. Let me show you that they matter. Small side characters, people seen once and never mentioned again—but they are all given their moment to be at the center of Ahab’s world, or of Starbuck’s, and thus—of ours. It’s even more remarkable, given the fact that the plot, the characters, the world of Ahab could easily stand on their own. This human element comes beautifully, naturally, into the story, and is the beating heart beneath a solid structure.
One of my favorite bits of worldbuilding was the cult of the Metal Worshipers! The idea of having a religion built around sentient machinery was really fascinating to me. Overall, I really loved the organic, soulful elements this book had—science fiction is often written as if everything was nothing more than metal and plastic, and it was really refreshing to have a more fleshed-out, realistic galaxy to explore.
Also, the ending made me weep! Always a plus in the book world. Overall, this is a book I’d highly recommend if you want to bolster your heart, clean out your tear ducts, and spend several days daydreaming about space battles.
Captain Ahab is a war hero. At least, that’s what everyone calls him. He’s not so sure. Because, while the Commonwealth is pushing the narrative of peace—telling the story of a war between man and machine, and declaring man the winner—Ahab has been thinking. He’s been listening. And he is far from convinced that the war was as conclusive as they claim.
While the Commonwealth celebrates peace and victory, the outer planets are still being plagued by stray Mechanized Intelligence Cruisers. Some want the MICs gone, hunting them down for valuable scrap. Others believe that the strange intelligence the machines seem to possess is the sign of a new evolution in consciousness. Most argue that they are just machines. A few stragglers from a war that should remain in the past.
No matter what is said about them, the facts don’t quite line up.
Ahab has such a magnetism to him! Every scene with him in it seems to move around him like planets around a star. The threads of mystery in the story make it hard to know whether or not to support his convictions and his decisions; but you can never doubt his determination or his courage. Or, oddly, his humanity. He comes across with a semblance of brutality that makes it surprising, but deeply heartwarming, when he goes out of his way to care for the people around him (even when the society he lives in largely does not).
I honestly think that’s the element of this book that I fell in love with the most? It’s rare to find a story that takes those moments , those bits of time spent away from the loud and glittering attractions of plot and worldbuilding to slow down and declare, look at these people. Let me show you that they matter. Small side characters, people seen once and never mentioned again—but they are all given their moment to be at the center of Ahab’s world, or of Starbuck’s, and thus—of ours. It’s even more remarkable, given the fact that the plot, the characters, the world of Ahab could easily stand on their own. This human element comes beautifully, naturally, into the story, and is the beating heart beneath a solid structure.
One of my favorite bits of worldbuilding was the cult of the Metal Worshipers! The idea of having a religion built around sentient machinery was really fascinating to me. Overall, I really loved the organic, soulful elements this book had—science fiction is often written as if everything was nothing more than metal and plastic, and it was really refreshing to have a more fleshed-out, realistic galaxy to explore.
Also, the ending made me weep! Always a plus in the book world. Overall, this is a book I’d highly recommend if you want to bolster your heart, clean out your tear ducts, and spend several days daydreaming about space battles.
September 15, 2020
Since reading Dawson's "Voyage of the Pequod," I've been anxiously awaiting Ahab. Sometimes in life, anticipation can lessen one's enjoyment of the real thing. This was not one of those times.
Oh my goodness, how much I loved Ahab! Ahab, with his sharp understanding of all things in his world of spaceships and MICs, his distant but trusting relationship with his men, and his sheer devotion to his cause come what may, earned my devotion and pity. Starbuck is the most faithful friend to ever friend, and I adore him for his steadfast commitment to protect and encourage those around him. While these two shone in their own rights, together they a truly unique friendship that I don't remember reading anything quite like before.
I won't go into detail on them, but every other character was just as rich and lovable as the two main characters. The settings were varied, vibrant, and vast, perfectly blending a Victorian-esque urban world with the beautiful but frightening power of space.
I haven't read Moby Dick yet, unfortunately, but I knew enough to have a pretty good idea of where the story was heading. The way Dawson handled the ending was beautiful. Through all the grief and destruction, I still closed the book with a sense of closure and the comfort that life goes on, that sacrifice isn't in vain, that the love we give in our lives bears more fruit even after we have departed.
Whether you're familiar with the original or not, this retelling will sweep you into a dazzling new universe where you'll fall in love with new characters and be reminded of some things that have been true about humans from the beginning of time and continue to be true today. Go read Ahab!
Oh my goodness, how much I loved Ahab! Ahab, with his sharp understanding of all things in his world of spaceships and MICs, his distant but trusting relationship with his men, and his sheer devotion to his cause come what may, earned my devotion and pity. Starbuck is the most faithful friend to ever friend, and I adore him for his steadfast commitment to protect and encourage those around him. While these two shone in their own rights, together they a truly unique friendship that I don't remember reading anything quite like before.
I won't go into detail on them, but every other character was just as rich and lovable as the two main characters. The settings were varied, vibrant, and vast, perfectly blending a Victorian-esque urban world with the beautiful but frightening power of space.
I haven't read Moby Dick yet, unfortunately, but I knew enough to have a pretty good idea of where the story was heading. The way Dawson handled the ending was beautiful. Through all the grief and destruction, I still closed the book with a sense of closure and the comfort that life goes on, that sacrifice isn't in vain, that the love we give in our lives bears more fruit even after we have departed.
Whether you're familiar with the original or not, this retelling will sweep you into a dazzling new universe where you'll fall in love with new characters and be reminded of some things that have been true about humans from the beginning of time and continue to be true today. Go read Ahab!
September 9, 2020
As a fan of the sci-fi retelling of Treasure Island (Disney's Treasure Planet), I was very excited to read Ahab: A Science Fiction Retelling of Moby Dick. I'll admit that I've never read the classic Moby Dick, but I had a general idea of what occurred in the novel. In Dawson's retelling, I believe that she has captured the essence of the original and given it an exciting futuristic facelift. Ahab is a well-paced and well-developed story. It has the old-timey feel of reading a classic with the glorious aura of an outer space adventure. I enjoyed following the story of the war-addled Ahab and his wonderfully loyal friend Starbuck.
Most importantly, I felt this novel filled in all the pieces I was missing after reading The Voyage of the Pequod. That short story, also by Dawson, was an excellent preview and whetted my appetite for a full-length story, so I was very satisfied with the way Ahab included the bigger picture of what happened before and after that fateful voyage of the Pequod. Despite a gut-wrenching ending, the story's conclusion also offers an encouraging epilogue that left me daydreaming about the outcomes and the what-ifs. I'd recommend giving Ahab a read if you're a fan of science fiction, retellings, or quality indie published books.
Most importantly, I felt this novel filled in all the pieces I was missing after reading The Voyage of the Pequod. That short story, also by Dawson, was an excellent preview and whetted my appetite for a full-length story, so I was very satisfied with the way Ahab included the bigger picture of what happened before and after that fateful voyage of the Pequod. Despite a gut-wrenching ending, the story's conclusion also offers an encouraging epilogue that left me daydreaming about the outcomes and the what-ifs. I'd recommend giving Ahab a read if you're a fan of science fiction, retellings, or quality indie published books.
November 18, 2020
I physically can't properly review this. I couldn't handle that ending but otherwise AHAB was amazing and until then I loved every second of it!
E.B. Dawson's scifi is my favorite, and this one blended old and new, a wonderful Moby Dick retelling set in space, chilling and charming at turns. And Ahab and Starbuck are everything. Buddy stories are the BEST. This came SO close to being one of my top fave books of the year. 1800s-ish feeling but IN SPACE?? So amazing. 💚
I need happy endings, though. I NEED them.
I saw this sad ending coming but foolishly held out hope. Heh. So yeah, while I hated the ending and will not apologize for that (#happyendingsadvocate because hope), the rest of the book was AMAZING and if you like buddy stories and don't mind some feels/tragic-to-bittersweet endings, you will LOVE this.
(It also says something about the sheer quality of this book that I don't hate the book, only the ending--which often makes me write a book off completely. It was utterly entrancing, overall.)
So yes. Good book. Sad ending. Like, couldn't fall asleep, type sad. 😭 (If you need even MORE feels while reading, you can listen to In the Embers by Sleeping At Last, Brother by Kodaline, and Burn the Ships by For King and Country, which is what I did accidentally. Um. Yeah. Some awesome songs I've been listening to lately and a very feelzy combination with this book. It felt quite...ironic.)
The book was amazing while I was reading it, though. Just. Wow. Every word was just--on point. And, again, that 1800s feel? But scifi at the same time? It was perfection. How often do you get a buddy story with intense space voyages but also a gorgeous ball/party and walking 1800s-type streets. I could read this foreverrrr. All of it was incredible until the last chapter or so.
Now excuse me while I go lowkey imagine a (non-heartrending) alternate ending and also flail about how spectacular the rest of the book was.
Aaand I'll just go cry now, thx. 😭
(Confession: I've never actually read the original; maybe it prepares you for the ending? 😬 I wouldn't know. 😅 Also, I adored getting to the part near the end which is basically the Voyage of the Pequod short story, just a little different. I reread it along with the book and enjoyed it immensely. And hey, if AHAB sounds amazing but like me you can't handle tragicness, do pick up VOYAGE OF THE PEQUOD.)
Thanks to the author for the e-ARC even though I ended up reading the final ebook I ordered since I read it after release because I'm so behind on my reading. 😂
E.B. Dawson's scifi is my favorite, and this one blended old and new, a wonderful Moby Dick retelling set in space, chilling and charming at turns. And Ahab and Starbuck are everything. Buddy stories are the BEST. This came SO close to being one of my top fave books of the year. 1800s-ish feeling but IN SPACE?? So amazing. 💚
I need happy endings, though. I NEED them.
I saw this sad ending coming but foolishly held out hope. Heh. So yeah, while I hated the ending and will not apologize for that (#happyendingsadvocate because hope), the rest of the book was AMAZING and if you like buddy stories and don't mind some feels/tragic-to-bittersweet endings, you will LOVE this.
(It also says something about the sheer quality of this book that I don't hate the book, only the ending--which often makes me write a book off completely. It was utterly entrancing, overall.)
So yes. Good book. Sad ending. Like, couldn't fall asleep, type sad. 😭 (If you need even MORE feels while reading, you can listen to In the Embers by Sleeping At Last, Brother by Kodaline, and Burn the Ships by For King and Country, which is what I did accidentally. Um. Yeah. Some awesome songs I've been listening to lately and a very feelzy combination with this book. It felt quite...ironic.)
The book was amazing while I was reading it, though. Just. Wow. Every word was just--on point. And, again, that 1800s feel? But scifi at the same time? It was perfection. How often do you get a buddy story with intense space voyages but also a gorgeous ball/party and walking 1800s-type streets. I could read this foreverrrr. All of it was incredible until the last chapter or so.
Now excuse me while I go lowkey imagine a (non-heartrending) alternate ending and also flail about how spectacular the rest of the book was.
Aaand I'll just go cry now, thx. 😭
(Confession: I've never actually read the original; maybe it prepares you for the ending? 😬 I wouldn't know. 😅 Also, I adored getting to the part near the end which is basically the Voyage of the Pequod short story, just a little different. I reread it along with the book and enjoyed it immensely. And hey, if AHAB sounds amazing but like me you can't handle tragicness, do pick up VOYAGE OF THE PEQUOD.)
Thanks to the author for the e-ARC even though I ended up reading the final ebook I ordered since I read it after release because I'm so behind on my reading. 😂
September 19, 2020
Good for what it is, bad for what it could be.
The author is skilled, the story is solid, the world-building is entrancing, and I would recommend it: however, if you (like me) picked it up because you love Moby Dick and were expecting something along the lines of Ray Bradbury’s “Leviathan ‘99,” you will be disappointed. The retelling takes a step to the side, focusing on Ahab and Starbuck as the heroes, Ahab misunderstood and passionate, but ultimately vindicated, and Starbuck honorable and noble. Queequeeg is nowhere to be found, and while an Ishmael does make an appearance, he is clearly not the narrator introduced to us by Melville. On its own merits it is good, but ultimately it suffers from inviting such a direct comparison to the original classic. Were the names of characters, places, and ships changed, the story would benefit, rather than suffer, from its inspiration and I would gladly rate it five stars.
The author is skilled, the story is solid, the world-building is entrancing, and I would recommend it: however, if you (like me) picked it up because you love Moby Dick and were expecting something along the lines of Ray Bradbury’s “Leviathan ‘99,” you will be disappointed. The retelling takes a step to the side, focusing on Ahab and Starbuck as the heroes, Ahab misunderstood and passionate, but ultimately vindicated, and Starbuck honorable and noble. Queequeeg is nowhere to be found, and while an Ishmael does make an appearance, he is clearly not the narrator introduced to us by Melville. On its own merits it is good, but ultimately it suffers from inviting such a direct comparison to the original classic. Were the names of characters, places, and ships changed, the story would benefit, rather than suffer, from its inspiration and I would gladly rate it five stars.
September 27, 2020
Ahab was a really great read. It was my first time reading anything by E.B. Dawson and it definitely won't be the last. It's a retelling of Moby Dick set in space. I've never actually read Moby Dick, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment one bit.
The world building was rich with detail. The characters jumped off the page and had such a vibrancy and depth about them. My favorite aspect of the book was the friendship between Ahab and Starbuck. It was such an integral part of the story and was really well done.
If you're a fan of sci-fi, I highly recommend checking out Ahab.
The world building was rich with detail. The characters jumped off the page and had such a vibrancy and depth about them. My favorite aspect of the book was the friendship between Ahab and Starbuck. It was such an integral part of the story and was really well done.
If you're a fan of sci-fi, I highly recommend checking out Ahab.
May 30, 2021
Ahab's Story . . .
This story is clever, entertaining, and definitely recommended. Putting the whale story of Moby Dick which (I had thought) most of us know into a sci-fi space environment was excellent! I really enjoyed the characters and the clever retelling. Grab your copy and have some fun. This story took me completely by surprise, but it was done well.
This story is clever, entertaining, and definitely recommended. Putting the whale story of Moby Dick which (I had thought) most of us know into a sci-fi space environment was excellent! I really enjoyed the characters and the clever retelling. Grab your copy and have some fun. This story took me completely by surprise, but it was done well.
February 13, 2021
What, but... what? Why? Why does it end like that?!?
Full review to come soon!
Full review to come soon!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews