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Gallowglass
'Afonso Cuar ó n's GRAVITY . . . Ridley Scott's THE MARTIAN . . . Few novels measure up to these gripping cinematic visions, but Simon Morden's GALLOWGLASS knocks them out of the park' The Times
The Times Best New Science Fiction!
JACK VAN DER VEERDEN IS ON THE RUN.
From his billionaire parents' chilling plans, from his brutal bodyguard, from a planet on the brink of climate chaos.
Seeking freedom out in space, he gets a job on a mining ship chasing down an asteroid. Crewed by mercenaries and misfits, they all want a cut of the biggest payday in history.
A single mistake could cost Jack his life - and that's before they reach their destination. The bounty from the asteroid could change lives and save nations - and corrupt any one of them.
Because in space, it's all or nothing: riches beyond measure, or dying alone in the dark.
Praise for ONE WAY:
'A blend of classic mystery, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK and Andy Weir's THE MARTIAN, ONE WAY is a science fiction thriller like no other' Waterstones
'A claustrophobic, high-tension, survival-against-the-odds thriller' Guardian
The Times Best New Science Fiction!
JACK VAN DER VEERDEN IS ON THE RUN.
From his billionaire parents' chilling plans, from his brutal bodyguard, from a planet on the brink of climate chaos.
Seeking freedom out in space, he gets a job on a mining ship chasing down an asteroid. Crewed by mercenaries and misfits, they all want a cut of the biggest payday in history.
A single mistake could cost Jack his life - and that's before they reach their destination. The bounty from the asteroid could change lives and save nations - and corrupt any one of them.
Because in space, it's all or nothing: riches beyond measure, or dying alone in the dark.
Praise for ONE WAY:
'A blend of classic mystery, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK and Andy Weir's THE MARTIAN, ONE WAY is a science fiction thriller like no other' Waterstones
'A claustrophobic, high-tension, survival-against-the-odds thriller' Guardian
384 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
December 21, 2020
Synopsis: Jack is a young adult, the son of multi-billionaires who want him to undergo a gene-treaty for eternal youth. Just, that he doesn’t want it. Nowhere on Earth would he get out of reach of his manipulative parents. With a couple of highly skilled internet friends, he devised a plan to flee from the house, its security advisor, and go up to the Moon.
Astonishingly, the reckless flight really led him out of Earth orbit - just not to his employer on the Moon who „suddenly“ went bankrupt. But into a last minute engagement as a navigator for a spaceship - he trained the last years to get the certificate.
The spaceship‘s mission was to dock on an huge asteroid rich with valuable resources. And then move it to the L4 position nearby Moon where it would be harvested. The whole crew would become rich and famous.
Of course, a few things went differently than Jack expected.
Review: This novel is a breathless rollercoaster from start to end with only a few relaxed meters to ride in between.
Multiple plot twists led the narration in unpredictable directions - suffice it to say, that we see a lot of detailed descriptions of EVAs on said asteroid but also on the Moon.
Jack is a naive noob in space, but a relatable one with his ethics and charms. The other crew members were interesting characters, just not nice ones. So, don’t expect a Becky Chambers fluffy crew here, because space is unforgiving and a long journey breaks through the best false masquerade.
Sometimes, the takeoff procedures or those initiating EVAs were too detailed, and flooded the page with unnecessary info dumps. On the other hand, there were times to relax and ease the otherwise high tension.
The novel had two endings, and the last end was too abrupt for my taste - more like the open ending of a short story. Morden built up extreme high tension and didn’t release it. This cost the novel one star.
Also, the chapters‘ epigraphs with (real world) citations concerning climate change didn’t really fit the narration and were a thing of its own. I was totally confused with the first occurrences of climate change deniers and they hindered immersion into the story’s natural flow.
Recommended for readers of Near Future SF searching a thriller in the solar system.
Astonishingly, the reckless flight really led him out of Earth orbit - just not to his employer on the Moon who „suddenly“ went bankrupt. But into a last minute engagement as a navigator for a spaceship - he trained the last years to get the certificate.
The spaceship‘s mission was to dock on an huge asteroid rich with valuable resources. And then move it to the L4 position nearby Moon where it would be harvested. The whole crew would become rich and famous.
Of course, a few things went differently than Jack expected.
Review: This novel is a breathless rollercoaster from start to end with only a few relaxed meters to ride in between.
Multiple plot twists led the narration in unpredictable directions - suffice it to say, that we see a lot of detailed descriptions of EVAs on said asteroid but also on the Moon.
Jack is a naive noob in space, but a relatable one with his ethics and charms. The other crew members were interesting characters, just not nice ones. So, don’t expect a Becky Chambers fluffy crew here, because space is unforgiving and a long journey breaks through the best false masquerade.
Sometimes, the takeoff procedures or those initiating EVAs were too detailed, and flooded the page with unnecessary info dumps. On the other hand, there were times to relax and ease the otherwise high tension.
The novel had two endings, and the last end was too abrupt for my taste - more like the open ending of a short story. Morden built up extreme high tension and didn’t release it. This cost the novel one star.
Also, the chapters‘ epigraphs with (real world) citations concerning climate change didn’t really fit the narration and were a thing of its own. I was totally confused with the first occurrences of climate change deniers and they hindered immersion into the story’s natural flow.
Recommended for readers of Near Future SF searching a thriller in the solar system.
December 22, 2020
3.5 / 5 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
I often complain about science fiction that’s all fiction and no science, that I like more science with my fiction. Gallowglass certainly tested this. There’s a heavy dose of science in this scifi adventure—some might say too much, others too little.
Jaap van der Veerden lives the life of the ultra-wealthy; all his needs and wants are met instantly, he exists surrounded by servants that he never sees, his parents are even exploring the prospect of eternal life. But Jaap doesn’t share his family’s transhumanism desires. All he wants—all he’s ever wanted—is to live his own life, outside of his family’s influence, outside of the bubble of wealth surrounding him. And so Jaap concocts a plan to escape his family, knowing that even if he does succeed, he’ll be hunted as a fugitive for the rest of his natural life.
But once he escapes, what then?
Jaap (now known as Jack) accepts a berth on the only ship that will take him, the only one that cares nothing for his past nor the reach of his family, a ship and crew he knows nothing about with heading nor mission unknown. But Jack seeks only escape—it doesn’t matter where it is.
That is, until it does.
For when Jack discovers the goal of the expedition is an elusive asteroid, and that the team of misfits he’s joined are all as desperate as he is, he might just come to regret his choices to leave his big, comfy mansion and eternal life within. For there is more than just a big rock at the end of their voyage, but the prospect of death, a million euros, and a second chance.
Gallowglass features some very in-depth science throughout. Not gonna lie—I LOVED this. There’re discussions about plotting and vectors and orbits and math and data and science and… well, at times the repetitive parts of data and plotting do get a little old. But even during those times I loved that the book was so heavily chock full of science. There are a few points where the technology itself is suspect, however. Like, we’re mining and commandeering asteroids. We’ve developed artificial gravity (at least kinda). Diamond tethers and filaments are a thing. And yet the spacesuits are still as fragile as a teddybear in a razorblade factory. Even the tiniest bit of debris can be a death sentence. We’ve developed lines that’ll never break, but not armored any suits? Seems ridiculous to me.
So, for the longest time I thought this story was about Jack. But then, no, it must be a tale of redemption. Oh no wait, it’s about the asteroid. No, maybe it was about Jack. Jack remains the POV throughout, but…
And then by the end… what is this about? (The ending is really lame, FYI.) The official blurb—which I didn’t quote—would have you believe this is a book about climate change. But… it’s really not. There are quotes about climate change at the start of every chapter. These are pretty much worthless (adding nothing nor relating to the story in any way) and I started ignoring a little ways in. They ARE about climate change, at least. Which, for the longest time, nothing else is. Eventually it’s alluded to, but the story never really BECOMES about climate change. It’s only really dwelt on at the end, and by that point I wasn’t sure why I should care about it. I mean, climate change is bad. Okay? It is. Just when it suddenly becomes the all-encompassing reason right at the end—I didn’t buy it.
Then what is Gallowglass about? Well, “gallowglass” would argue that it’s a book about people. About a certain kind of people (a “gallowglass” is mercenary or some special type of soldier) (yes, I had to look it up). And that’s… difficult, as no single person gets any kind of gratifying resolution at the end. So, maybe it’s a book about the gallowglass lifestyle? I mean… maybe, but. During no time when I was actually reading it did I have any real idea of what the focus of the book was.
While I enjoyed the characters of Gallowglass itself—particularly Jack and his arc and the way his character develops—it was the story that really kept me reading. Even when I had NO IDEA what the heck the story was about. Even with my issues with the tech, the pace, the way the story randomly skips ahead at times. Even up through the 99% mark, where the ending was bombing. Even with all this, I do not regret the time I spent reading this. I legitimately and thoroughly enjoyed this book. For Gallowglass, it’s not about the destination—it’s the journey to it that matters. And while that journey may be a immersive, complex and ofttimes directionless masterpiece, it’s still a great read.
TL;DR
I was definitely torn on Gallowglass. It’s an immersive wonder. It features absolutely no resolution for anyone. Jack shows wonderful character development, age, and progression. None of the other characters shine, and few are even memorable. The story is a really good one, considering… I mean, what this book is even about is a matter of constant bother. Even now, I’m not sure. There were times I wanted to stop reading Gallowglass, but never could bring myself to. The destination was a no-show, but I’m still thankful for the journey. It’s not going to get my highest rating, but it still gets a full recommendation.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
I often complain about science fiction that’s all fiction and no science, that I like more science with my fiction. Gallowglass certainly tested this. There’s a heavy dose of science in this scifi adventure—some might say too much, others too little.
Jaap van der Veerden lives the life of the ultra-wealthy; all his needs and wants are met instantly, he exists surrounded by servants that he never sees, his parents are even exploring the prospect of eternal life. But Jaap doesn’t share his family’s transhumanism desires. All he wants—all he’s ever wanted—is to live his own life, outside of his family’s influence, outside of the bubble of wealth surrounding him. And so Jaap concocts a plan to escape his family, knowing that even if he does succeed, he’ll be hunted as a fugitive for the rest of his natural life.
But once he escapes, what then?
Jaap (now known as Jack) accepts a berth on the only ship that will take him, the only one that cares nothing for his past nor the reach of his family, a ship and crew he knows nothing about with heading nor mission unknown. But Jack seeks only escape—it doesn’t matter where it is.
That is, until it does.
For when Jack discovers the goal of the expedition is an elusive asteroid, and that the team of misfits he’s joined are all as desperate as he is, he might just come to regret his choices to leave his big, comfy mansion and eternal life within. For there is more than just a big rock at the end of their voyage, but the prospect of death, a million euros, and a second chance.
Gallowglass features some very in-depth science throughout. Not gonna lie—I LOVED this. There’re discussions about plotting and vectors and orbits and math and data and science and… well, at times the repetitive parts of data and plotting do get a little old. But even during those times I loved that the book was so heavily chock full of science. There are a few points where the technology itself is suspect, however. Like, we’re mining and commandeering asteroids. We’ve developed artificial gravity (at least kinda). Diamond tethers and filaments are a thing. And yet the spacesuits are still as fragile as a teddybear in a razorblade factory. Even the tiniest bit of debris can be a death sentence. We’ve developed lines that’ll never break, but not armored any suits? Seems ridiculous to me.
So, for the longest time I thought this story was about Jack. But then, no, it must be a tale of redemption. Oh no wait, it’s about the asteroid. No, maybe it was about Jack. Jack remains the POV throughout, but…
And then by the end… what is this about? (The ending is really lame, FYI.) The official blurb—which I didn’t quote—would have you believe this is a book about climate change. But… it’s really not. There are quotes about climate change at the start of every chapter. These are pretty much worthless (adding nothing nor relating to the story in any way) and I started ignoring a little ways in. They ARE about climate change, at least. Which, for the longest time, nothing else is. Eventually it’s alluded to, but the story never really BECOMES about climate change. It’s only really dwelt on at the end, and by that point I wasn’t sure why I should care about it. I mean, climate change is bad. Okay? It is. Just when it suddenly becomes the all-encompassing reason right at the end—I didn’t buy it.
Then what is Gallowglass about? Well, “gallowglass” would argue that it’s a book about people. About a certain kind of people (a “gallowglass” is mercenary or some special type of soldier) (yes, I had to look it up). And that’s… difficult, as no single person gets any kind of gratifying resolution at the end. So, maybe it’s a book about the gallowglass lifestyle? I mean… maybe, but. During no time when I was actually reading it did I have any real idea of what the focus of the book was.
While I enjoyed the characters of Gallowglass itself—particularly Jack and his arc and the way his character develops—it was the story that really kept me reading. Even when I had NO IDEA what the heck the story was about. Even with my issues with the tech, the pace, the way the story randomly skips ahead at times. Even up through the 99% mark, where the ending was bombing. Even with all this, I do not regret the time I spent reading this. I legitimately and thoroughly enjoyed this book. For Gallowglass, it’s not about the destination—it’s the journey to it that matters. And while that journey may be a immersive, complex and ofttimes directionless masterpiece, it’s still a great read.
TL;DR
I was definitely torn on Gallowglass. It’s an immersive wonder. It features absolutely no resolution for anyone. Jack shows wonderful character development, age, and progression. None of the other characters shine, and few are even memorable. The story is a really good one, considering… I mean, what this book is even about is a matter of constant bother. Even now, I’m not sure. There were times I wanted to stop reading Gallowglass, but never could bring myself to. The destination was a no-show, but I’m still thankful for the journey. It’s not going to get my highest rating, but it still gets a full recommendation.
April 21, 2021
Full review: https://scepticalreading.com/2021/02/...
Jack joins the crew of a ship that wants to haul a very large asteroid from the edge of the solar system to lunar orbit. He has the training, but no work experience, and this first job could easily become his last when obstacle upon obstacle unfolds.
The story has an underlying climate change agenda, but it’s so subtle, you need to really look for it. It basically gets swamped by all the trajectory calculations Jack has to perform. I liked the quotes about climate change at the beginning of each chapter though. Some of them were dating back as far as the 17th century, which indicate that the climate change we are facing now was predicted back then already.
Jack joins the crew of a ship that wants to haul a very large asteroid from the edge of the solar system to lunar orbit. He has the training, but no work experience, and this first job could easily become his last when obstacle upon obstacle unfolds.
The story has an underlying climate change agenda, but it’s so subtle, you need to really look for it. It basically gets swamped by all the trajectory calculations Jack has to perform. I liked the quotes about climate change at the beginning of each chapter though. Some of them were dating back as far as the 17th century, which indicate that the climate change we are facing now was predicted back then already.
December 24, 2020
All fiction has to take liberties with the realities of space travel, but some handle it better than others, and S. J. Morden has gone further than anyone else I can remember in pinning down the detail to make this space-based thriller feel particularly gritty and realistic. The storyline has two key themes: the runaway and asteroid mining. The central character Jaap (Jack) Van der Veerden is an ultra-privileged young man who is determined to escape the clutches of his controlling parents, who through pretty much limitless expenditure intend to live forever, meaning he can apparently never escape their clutches and financial control.
He gets away with the SF equivalent of running away to join the circus - running away to space. Luckily, although he has no practical experience, he does have the theoretical knowledge to be an astrogator and gets a position on a dodgy expedition to retrieve a mineral-rich asteroid. I find it impossible to believe that Morden wasn't inspired by the Robert Heinlein's juvenile classic Starman Jones, where the central character, Max Jones, runs away to space to escape his difficult family and, despite not being qualified, ends up as an astrogator who saves the day. Here, despite only having the theory, Jack is also the one to mean the difference between life and death.
Morden manages an excellent balance between the nitty-gritty detail of staying alive in the harsh conditions of space, while trying to get a partly rubble asteroid moving, with enjoyable tension and action. Usually, there's a danger that a book that goes into some of the technical detail of space travel will lack narrative drive, but this remains a real page turner. And there's a huge third act twist that makes Jack's life even more complicated and brings in a massive problem that may be insuperable.
All this is very well done, and deserves five stars, but there was a third element that was grafted on, which hadn't got the opportunity to work with the plot and just feels very artificially placed. The storyline is set against an Earth in 2069 facing the drastic impact of uncontrolled climate change. That in itself is not a problem, although it plays hardly any role in the plot, other than a reason for some irrational behaviour by one character. But every chapter begins with a lengthy climate change quote, initially from deniers then giving the scientific viewpoint. It feels as if the author cares about climate change and shoehorned it into a story that had very little to do with it. I care about climate change too - but I wouldn't bring it into a piece I was writing about quantum physics, say.
In the end, this is a minor irritation, but one that is sustained throughout the book by the chapter openers. However, that didn't stop me really enjoying the actual storyline and the expertise with which Morden handles it. I'll certainly be back for more of his writing.
He gets away with the SF equivalent of running away to join the circus - running away to space. Luckily, although he has no practical experience, he does have the theoretical knowledge to be an astrogator and gets a position on a dodgy expedition to retrieve a mineral-rich asteroid. I find it impossible to believe that Morden wasn't inspired by the Robert Heinlein's juvenile classic Starman Jones, where the central character, Max Jones, runs away to space to escape his difficult family and, despite not being qualified, ends up as an astrogator who saves the day. Here, despite only having the theory, Jack is also the one to mean the difference between life and death.
Morden manages an excellent balance between the nitty-gritty detail of staying alive in the harsh conditions of space, while trying to get a partly rubble asteroid moving, with enjoyable tension and action. Usually, there's a danger that a book that goes into some of the technical detail of space travel will lack narrative drive, but this remains a real page turner. And there's a huge third act twist that makes Jack's life even more complicated and brings in a massive problem that may be insuperable.
All this is very well done, and deserves five stars, but there was a third element that was grafted on, which hadn't got the opportunity to work with the plot and just feels very artificially placed. The storyline is set against an Earth in 2069 facing the drastic impact of uncontrolled climate change. That in itself is not a problem, although it plays hardly any role in the plot, other than a reason for some irrational behaviour by one character. But every chapter begins with a lengthy climate change quote, initially from deniers then giving the scientific viewpoint. It feels as if the author cares about climate change and shoehorned it into a story that had very little to do with it. I care about climate change too - but I wouldn't bring it into a piece I was writing about quantum physics, say.
In the end, this is a minor irritation, but one that is sustained throughout the book by the chapter openers. However, that didn't stop me really enjoying the actual storyline and the expertise with which Morden handles it. I'll certainly be back for more of his writing.
May 25, 2023
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: As world’s being threatened by climate crises, to the rich it’s business as usual. And Jack, son of one such bloodsucking families, just about had it. Afraid he’ll never have a choice, lose his soul and morals, he runs. Everything had to be calculated to a minute, to a mile. And still he missed the most crucial factor: the reach money has. As just outside the family, just away from the planet, he finds himself alone, cut off, with no one willing to help the boy whose parents might destroy their entire business, livelihood, and that of their grand-grand-grand children too…
My Opinion: The story is told in three acts. First is abandoning of life as Jack knew it, a sort of allegory of death in a way, portraying the evil of money, alongside the allure of it, the easy life, promise of problems fixed. Second act is growing into the new skin, and building up a new identity, new person. Third one – consequences of both catching up, and once again proving, that nobody really cares about anything. That people are selfish, horrible, and utterly nasty. Good wishes pave the road to hell. Dry gloom and doom the book has a wonderful concept, but a choking hazard of an execution, and not the fun way either. It’s lacking, and it’s depressing. Latter one being the plus side.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: As world’s being threatened by climate crises, to the rich it’s business as usual. And Jack, son of one such bloodsucking families, just about had it. Afraid he’ll never have a choice, lose his soul and morals, he runs. Everything had to be calculated to a minute, to a mile. And still he missed the most crucial factor: the reach money has. As just outside the family, just away from the planet, he finds himself alone, cut off, with no one willing to help the boy whose parents might destroy their entire business, livelihood, and that of their grand-grand-grand children too…
My Opinion: The story is told in three acts. First is abandoning of life as Jack knew it, a sort of allegory of death in a way, portraying the evil of money, alongside the allure of it, the easy life, promise of problems fixed. Second act is growing into the new skin, and building up a new identity, new person. Third one – consequences of both catching up, and once again proving, that nobody really cares about anything. That people are selfish, horrible, and utterly nasty. Good wishes pave the road to hell. Dry gloom and doom the book has a wonderful concept, but a choking hazard of an execution, and not the fun way either. It’s lacking, and it’s depressing. Latter one being the plus side.
August 1, 2021
I enjoyed the plot of this book - the world was fun, and I wasn’t exactly bored. I really enjoyed several bits - everyone on the OG ship turning on each other, Cat’s early role, and Jack’s early stint with the Aphrodite. But mostly I found this a little disappointing. It felt like it was doing too much and there was no real climax. Splitting the book into 3 parts didn’t work, very few of the characters had any real fleshing out, the author seemed to skip over all the bits I would normally find interesting, and the ending was really not great. I had been waiting for this book to more directly address climate change as a theme, but throwing in a diatribe at the end like that just felt corny to me.
I did enjoy it, so 3/5, and I’d probably read this author again, but maybe this one could have used a bit more editing. 🌎 🌚 🚀
I did enjoy it, so 3/5, and I’d probably read this author again, but maybe this one could have used a bit more editing. 🌎 🌚 🚀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2022
Certainly not what I expected.
This is an unusual sci-fi about our main character Jack who escapes his cold parents by hopping into space and onto a mining craft to harvest and asteroid and rescue those who got stuck on a previous failed mission.
This book was all plot with very little character or world development apart from that which was in the front of our main characters noses. The plot itself was overly gripping either to the point that it felt like the best thing to do was just sit back and go with the flow.
A lot of it did feel chaotic and what wasn’t chaotic was a moral lecture on climate change and refugees. Certainly not what I expected from a sci-fi especially with no hints as to this in the summary nor for the first 60% of the book then suddenly it was like a switch had been pressed and every other paragraph held a lecture or jab at the current state of the world. There were random quotes at the beginning of every chapter before this sudden change but I like many other readers disregarded them after a time as they appeared to hold no significance until suddenly it was all there was.
This is an unusual sci-fi about our main character Jack who escapes his cold parents by hopping into space and onto a mining craft to harvest and asteroid and rescue those who got stuck on a previous failed mission.
This book was all plot with very little character or world development apart from that which was in the front of our main characters noses. The plot itself was overly gripping either to the point that it felt like the best thing to do was just sit back and go with the flow.
A lot of it did feel chaotic and what wasn’t chaotic was a moral lecture on climate change and refugees. Certainly not what I expected from a sci-fi especially with no hints as to this in the summary nor for the first 60% of the book then suddenly it was like a switch had been pressed and every other paragraph held a lecture or jab at the current state of the world. There were random quotes at the beginning of every chapter before this sudden change but I like many other readers disregarded them after a time as they appeared to hold no significance until suddenly it was all there was.
March 3, 2021
I debated giving this two because it's technically just ok, but I did LIKE it. I enjoyed it despite closing it feeling dissatisfied.
It's not a action packed thriller, but it's a good space read that doesn't follow a set formula. It never went where I expected. It's more of a methodical, glide of a read.
I love the distinct lack of romance in this book, which from the two other books by this other seems to be a thing for him.
My problem is, this book is a metaphorical, I'm trying to make a point, type of book. That's not my thing. So, there are few major things that we don't get closure on because they're not important in the grand scheme of that.
I liked the writing, I liked the characters, I liked writing, but I still closed it feeling disappointed.
It's not a action packed thriller, but it's a good space read that doesn't follow a set formula. It never went where I expected. It's more of a methodical, glide of a read.
I love the distinct lack of romance in this book, which from the two other books by this other seems to be a thing for him.
My problem is, this book is a metaphorical, I'm trying to make a point, type of book. That's not my thing. So, there are few major things that we don't get closure on because they're not important in the grand scheme of that.
I liked the writing, I liked the characters, I liked writing, but I still closed it feeling disappointed.
December 9, 2020
"Gallowglass" is a real rollercoaster of a story. It's exciting, it's tense, and right from the first chapter it was hard to put down. The writing is very fluid, making it a fast read. The characters were interesting... I didn't like any of them very much, but they're written so well it was hard not to care about them despite that. I can easily see S. J. Morden becoming one of my favourite authors.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
January 4, 2026
A book that started well and finished even better; the strength of the story was its ability to create real tension with the environment of space and with the environment of a space crew.
The introductions to each chapter with a small element about climate change did disrupt from the flow of the novel but the thematic links became clear towards the end, however overall I’m not sure that was a plus.
Overall the story became very tightly scripted and the ending while abrupt possibly made the book a little bit more powerful.
The introductions to each chapter with a small element about climate change did disrupt from the flow of the novel but the thematic links became clear towards the end, however overall I’m not sure that was a plus.
Overall the story became very tightly scripted and the ending while abrupt possibly made the book a little bit more powerful.
December 29, 2020
I'm grateful to Gollancz for an advance copy of Gallowglass to consider for review and for inviting me to take part in the book's blogtour.
Gallowglass is a fascinating piece of writing.
I frequently find that a good place to begin in assembling my thoughts for a review is to think about the book's genre and its place within that genre. Sometimes there's not a lot to say, but sometimes this can really cast a light on the book. Gallowglass is a case in point. It's - obviously - science fiction (a book about chasing asteroids? Or course it is!) and it's obviously also got cli-fi overtones (the book is set a few decades hence when the effects of global warming are really biting, and Morden begins every chapter with a quote - a real quote - highlighting either the reality of climate change, or the squirming of denialists seeking to obfuscate the debate).
BUT
There is something else going on here, and when I worked it out I just cackled in delight.
Consider. Our hero Jaap van der Veerden (Jack to his few friends) is a scion of a fabulously wealth shipping family. He's sheltered and protected from the ravages of climate change, living in a fortified compound with high fences and ditches to keep out the indigent and HVAC to keep out the rising temperatures. But there's a price. Jack's parent want to live forever, and they may have the money to achieve that. And they want the same for their son. Jack, though, wants out of this cloistered existence. So he decides to run away - not a trivial thing to do given his parents' power and influence, but he has laid his plans well and has allies.
The sequence describing this escape is tautly written and never lets up. It also allows Morden to highlight some of the effects of climate change - the refugee camps and the constant threat of flooding, alongside the privileged life of the few. But it also leads into the heart of this book, as Jack, frustrated by his parents' long reach, falls in with a plan, both morally and legally dubious, to capture an asteroid and nudge it back towards Earth so that it can be mined for resources. It's a cut-throat, free-for-all business in which desperate recruits from growing nations are set against each other to do what's necessary in the darkness. Fantastic riches are on offer - riches that could save a nation or boost an individual into the ranks of the 1%, outclassing even Jack's parents.
With so much at stake, with so much desperation, anything is possible once a crew is out there on its own. Jack soon finds himself in fear not just for his future as a free man but for his very life. There is no margin in space for error, malice or miscommunication and he's on a ship with crew who mistrust this privileged young man from the outset. But the others have secrets and pasts too. Can they bond, learn to work together, "be Crew"? Can they, in short survive?
So, to return to my genre discussion above - welcome, readers, to Treasure Island for the 21st century.
In painstaking detail with enough hard science to convince that this might all work, Morden shows us how, with technology already nearly close, such an expedition might be mounted.
In painstaking detail with a heft of emotional truth to convince that this is how humans really would behave, Morden shows how what each member of the crew brings to that dark, far frontier, far from civilisation, will determine what part they play and whether the crew as a whole will survive.
It is a nuanced, intelligent study of human nature - Morden is NOT saying "look what happens when people throw off civilisation!" It is civilisation that has brought them to the edge of ruin (those chapter quotes keep reminding us) and this is emphatically not a crew descending into "savagery". Part of the cleverness of this book is the subtle picking out of motivations, often laudable, noble motivations which nevertheless lead to terrible actions - or rational individual decision that collectively lead to catastrophe. In that, of course, the whole story of anthropogenic climate change is encapsulated.
What is at stake here eventually proves to be enormous - even more than that fabulous wealth for an individual or a nation - and the deadly habitat of Asteroid KU2 becomes both an area for the best, and worst of human nature but for a kind of deadly game theory which Jack and his colleagues need to negotiate if they are going to salvage anything.
It's an absorbing story on so many levels. There's the detailed scientific base of the story, which pays appropriate respect to orbital dynamics, the problems of a low-G environment, the grim inevitability of Newton's Laws. There's the emotionally complex bonding (and fracturing) of the crew, a handful of humans in a deeply alien place. There's the moral dimension (or lack of). And there's that whole question of humanity and its ultimate fate, threatened by global heating and apparently unable to address that.
I loved this book for all this, and more. I would recommend it without reservation. Get it on your Christmas list now, or buy as a crafty present to yourself for the festive season. Don't miss this one.
Gallowglass is a fascinating piece of writing.
I frequently find that a good place to begin in assembling my thoughts for a review is to think about the book's genre and its place within that genre. Sometimes there's not a lot to say, but sometimes this can really cast a light on the book. Gallowglass is a case in point. It's - obviously - science fiction (a book about chasing asteroids? Or course it is!) and it's obviously also got cli-fi overtones (the book is set a few decades hence when the effects of global warming are really biting, and Morden begins every chapter with a quote - a real quote - highlighting either the reality of climate change, or the squirming of denialists seeking to obfuscate the debate).
BUT
There is something else going on here, and when I worked it out I just cackled in delight.
Consider. Our hero Jaap van der Veerden (Jack to his few friends) is a scion of a fabulously wealth shipping family. He's sheltered and protected from the ravages of climate change, living in a fortified compound with high fences and ditches to keep out the indigent and HVAC to keep out the rising temperatures. But there's a price. Jack's parent want to live forever, and they may have the money to achieve that. And they want the same for their son. Jack, though, wants out of this cloistered existence. So he decides to run away - not a trivial thing to do given his parents' power and influence, but he has laid his plans well and has allies.
The sequence describing this escape is tautly written and never lets up. It also allows Morden to highlight some of the effects of climate change - the refugee camps and the constant threat of flooding, alongside the privileged life of the few. But it also leads into the heart of this book, as Jack, frustrated by his parents' long reach, falls in with a plan, both morally and legally dubious, to capture an asteroid and nudge it back towards Earth so that it can be mined for resources. It's a cut-throat, free-for-all business in which desperate recruits from growing nations are set against each other to do what's necessary in the darkness. Fantastic riches are on offer - riches that could save a nation or boost an individual into the ranks of the 1%, outclassing even Jack's parents.
With so much at stake, with so much desperation, anything is possible once a crew is out there on its own. Jack soon finds himself in fear not just for his future as a free man but for his very life. There is no margin in space for error, malice or miscommunication and he's on a ship with crew who mistrust this privileged young man from the outset. But the others have secrets and pasts too. Can they bond, learn to work together, "be Crew"? Can they, in short survive?
So, to return to my genre discussion above - welcome, readers, to Treasure Island for the 21st century.
In painstaking detail with enough hard science to convince that this might all work, Morden shows us how, with technology already nearly close, such an expedition might be mounted.
In painstaking detail with a heft of emotional truth to convince that this is how humans really would behave, Morden shows how what each member of the crew brings to that dark, far frontier, far from civilisation, will determine what part they play and whether the crew as a whole will survive.
It is a nuanced, intelligent study of human nature - Morden is NOT saying "look what happens when people throw off civilisation!" It is civilisation that has brought them to the edge of ruin (those chapter quotes keep reminding us) and this is emphatically not a crew descending into "savagery". Part of the cleverness of this book is the subtle picking out of motivations, often laudable, noble motivations which nevertheless lead to terrible actions - or rational individual decision that collectively lead to catastrophe. In that, of course, the whole story of anthropogenic climate change is encapsulated.
What is at stake here eventually proves to be enormous - even more than that fabulous wealth for an individual or a nation - and the deadly habitat of Asteroid KU2 becomes both an area for the best, and worst of human nature but for a kind of deadly game theory which Jack and his colleagues need to negotiate if they are going to salvage anything.
It's an absorbing story on so many levels. There's the detailed scientific base of the story, which pays appropriate respect to orbital dynamics, the problems of a low-G environment, the grim inevitability of Newton's Laws. There's the emotionally complex bonding (and fracturing) of the crew, a handful of humans in a deeply alien place. There's the moral dimension (or lack of). And there's that whole question of humanity and its ultimate fate, threatened by global heating and apparently unable to address that.
I loved this book for all this, and more. I would recommend it without reservation. Get it on your Christmas list now, or buy as a crafty present to yourself for the festive season. Don't miss this one.
April 29, 2021
At the start of every chapter is a quote about climate change. They have absolutely nothing to do with the book until the author's diatribe at the end. I think the author wanted to write a climate fiction book, in this it fails abysmally. It is however a passably realistic near future adventure story of the perils of asteroid mining.
November 8, 2022
Superior narrative that's easily the best I have read in a long time. Exciting, complex, grounded in science and totally engrossing. Can't understand the lack of enthusiasm for this novel here !
December 17, 2020
In recent years S. J. Morden has been really delving into humanity’s near-future space capabilities through fascinating narratives. The most prominent being his One Way series which sees convict Frank on our first mission to Mars to establish Mars Base One. As soon as I saw Gallowglass I was ecstatic! I was instantly curious about what kind of story S. J. Morden could be crafting next.
I wasn’t expecting a story about a young man attempting to escaping his parents suffocating grasp by fleeing in the deep perilous void of space. Joining a rag-tag crew to get as far from earth (as well as his parents money and influence) as possible and becoming embroiled in a disastrous undertaking that leads him down a path of humiliation, fear and untold consequences. Seeing that same young man evolve over the course of three distinctive acts that all feel unique yet tie together. Thus creating an ambitious, satisfying and thought-provoking tale of wealth, climate change, desperation and courage in the face of adversity.
All fleshed out with S. J. Morden’s effortless and superbly refined science-fiction that is a pleasure to read. Even in the heavily technical sections. SJM loves detail but in an organic way that adds depth to characters experience, usually in their panic, distress or (sometimes) wonderment. He doesn’t just reel off jargon and expect the reader to pick it up with ease. SJM writes in an intuitive way that allows the reader to participate in an almost plausible space adventure that is full of surprises.
But even if you aren’t that fussed about the technical aspects of existing in space then Morden provides more than enough danger and interesting human interactions to keep the reader engaged and increasingly nervous. SJM loves to zero in on one character and really elaborate on their perspective on the world, or void, around them. Jack Van Der Veerden is no exception to this rule. There are plenty of other cast members that range from scary to admirable, with many flavours in between, but Jack is the main event.
And his journey is a harsh one. Seeing him evolve from a naïve rich kid to a hardened astronaut is definitely compelling. As he spends more and more time away from earth, interacting with all manner of human beings, it is easy to invest in his journey. There is also a (sort of) minor character who is the most significant, in my opinion, to the story. Cat Gallowglass beat the odds, did some terrible things and managed to stake claim to enormous wealth to try to save her country from being swallowed by the advancing oceans encouraged by climate change. I thought a lot of her character over the course of the novel.
Jack and Cat’s plot is a cautionary tale about how independence is important but the grass is not always greener on the other side. Well, if grass existed in space that is. Climate change is a huge theme in this book. SJM examines the effects of global warming over the course of the novel both in the narrative and out of it.
That leads me to my one and only complaint about Gallowglass. Before each chapter there is a quote in support or denial of the facts of climate change and the ensuing consequences. Some people might see this as an interesting and vital debate on the matter (which is an important one) but I found it too jarring. Each quote took me far out of my immersion in the story and by about halfway through I stopped reading them all together. That was a personal choice but it really helped my reading experience flow without them.
SJM is constantly pushing the boundaries of realistic science-fiction accounts of humanity’s progression towards the stars and bringing some excellent characters to life in the process. I feel like Gallowglass is the perfect example of how much great story-telling, whether it be daring, fearsome or heartfelt, means to SJM and how much vivid and captivating detail he brings to the table. SJM writes about space exploration with so much passion it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, and risks, of our future as a species. I am glad to be recommending Gallowglass to you all in this review. Invest some time in S. J. Morden’s work whether it be Gallowglass or One Way and see what I mean.
I wasn’t expecting a story about a young man attempting to escaping his parents suffocating grasp by fleeing in the deep perilous void of space. Joining a rag-tag crew to get as far from earth (as well as his parents money and influence) as possible and becoming embroiled in a disastrous undertaking that leads him down a path of humiliation, fear and untold consequences. Seeing that same young man evolve over the course of three distinctive acts that all feel unique yet tie together. Thus creating an ambitious, satisfying and thought-provoking tale of wealth, climate change, desperation and courage in the face of adversity.
All fleshed out with S. J. Morden’s effortless and superbly refined science-fiction that is a pleasure to read. Even in the heavily technical sections. SJM loves detail but in an organic way that adds depth to characters experience, usually in their panic, distress or (sometimes) wonderment. He doesn’t just reel off jargon and expect the reader to pick it up with ease. SJM writes in an intuitive way that allows the reader to participate in an almost plausible space adventure that is full of surprises.
But even if you aren’t that fussed about the technical aspects of existing in space then Morden provides more than enough danger and interesting human interactions to keep the reader engaged and increasingly nervous. SJM loves to zero in on one character and really elaborate on their perspective on the world, or void, around them. Jack Van Der Veerden is no exception to this rule. There are plenty of other cast members that range from scary to admirable, with many flavours in between, but Jack is the main event.
And his journey is a harsh one. Seeing him evolve from a naïve rich kid to a hardened astronaut is definitely compelling. As he spends more and more time away from earth, interacting with all manner of human beings, it is easy to invest in his journey. There is also a (sort of) minor character who is the most significant, in my opinion, to the story. Cat Gallowglass beat the odds, did some terrible things and managed to stake claim to enormous wealth to try to save her country from being swallowed by the advancing oceans encouraged by climate change. I thought a lot of her character over the course of the novel.
Jack and Cat’s plot is a cautionary tale about how independence is important but the grass is not always greener on the other side. Well, if grass existed in space that is. Climate change is a huge theme in this book. SJM examines the effects of global warming over the course of the novel both in the narrative and out of it.
That leads me to my one and only complaint about Gallowglass. Before each chapter there is a quote in support or denial of the facts of climate change and the ensuing consequences. Some people might see this as an interesting and vital debate on the matter (which is an important one) but I found it too jarring. Each quote took me far out of my immersion in the story and by about halfway through I stopped reading them all together. That was a personal choice but it really helped my reading experience flow without them.
SJM is constantly pushing the boundaries of realistic science-fiction accounts of humanity’s progression towards the stars and bringing some excellent characters to life in the process. I feel like Gallowglass is the perfect example of how much great story-telling, whether it be daring, fearsome or heartfelt, means to SJM and how much vivid and captivating detail he brings to the table. SJM writes about space exploration with so much passion it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, and risks, of our future as a species. I am glad to be recommending Gallowglass to you all in this review. Invest some time in S. J. Morden’s work whether it be Gallowglass or One Way and see what I mean.
December 13, 2023
A young man from an obscenely rich family tries to make his own way and escape from his parents... to space! Although Jack manages it, after a lot of work, life in space isn't easy, and his parents are still trying everything they can to make him give up and return home, including buying up the company he had a job with. Other companies with enough resources to resist his parents aren't willing to take a chance on a new crew member. Luckily, before he runs out of money to keep paying for the air he uses, Jack manages to secure a spot as astrogator on the crew of a slightly shady-looking rush job where he isn't even told the objective until they're started. It turns out to be a mission to recover a distant asteroid for mining purposes. If it succeeds, he'll have his own money and enough of a reputation that'll allow him to continue working on his own. But it's a dangerous job, and a lot can go wrong... even when you leave out people who might have motives to deliberately screw it up. After all, billions of dollars are at stake here.
I honestly wasn't really sure what to expect with this book. I'd never read the author before, and it started... well, a bit weird, what with the 'poor little rich boy' protagonist, and his attempts to escape them taking up the first chunk of the book. I'm generally less interested in super rich protagonists, even when, as in this case, they don't actually get the benefit of their money, and it just seemed like an odd-choice, except in that if he wasn't rich, getting to space at all (with the education to make use of it) might have taken a lot more to explain. Once you get past that, though, it morphs into a fairly rigorous hard science story about asteroid mining with a solid human core. When I say 'hard science' I mean that I didn't run any of the numbers myself, but it certainly sounded plausible in virtually all respects (except maybe a few plot developments that seemed a tad bit coincidental, but again, I didn't run the numbers). It harkens back to old school SF but definitely has modern sensibilities and a bit of a 'message' with respect to climate change, but not pushed too hard. And although 'person vs the the natural physical laws' plays a role, the human conflict is also interesting and at time amusing, what with a character's plan failing--and the situation dramatically changing for everyone as a result--for the stupidest of reasons that is in another sense totally believable. It also changes a fair bit with a few time jumps that still connect to the same story, mcguffin, and characters but keeps the story fresh.
If I have one complaint, it's kind of a petty one. There's one aspect of the ending that just didn't sit at all well with me, a decision that the hero advises as I understand it didn't have to happen and leaves a character significantly worse off than they would have been if they hadn't followed the advice (or rather, that they might not have been better off if they didn't listen, but they would have at least had a chance that the choice utterly removed for no reason). For a book I was otherwise quite enjoying but that didn't completely blow me away, it's... well, it's going to be the thing that stuck in my mind.
But it is one single plot element of a book I liked reading, and that doesn't change that there's enough that I really do like that I'll happily check out other works by the author. In terms of ratings, it's about a 3.5, and although I'm tempted to round it up to a four, I don't think it quite gets there. I'd love to leave it at a straight 3.5, but Goodreads doesn't allow it so sadly I have to drop it down to a three.
I honestly wasn't really sure what to expect with this book. I'd never read the author before, and it started... well, a bit weird, what with the 'poor little rich boy' protagonist, and his attempts to escape them taking up the first chunk of the book. I'm generally less interested in super rich protagonists, even when, as in this case, they don't actually get the benefit of their money, and it just seemed like an odd-choice, except in that if he wasn't rich, getting to space at all (with the education to make use of it) might have taken a lot more to explain. Once you get past that, though, it morphs into a fairly rigorous hard science story about asteroid mining with a solid human core. When I say 'hard science' I mean that I didn't run any of the numbers myself, but it certainly sounded plausible in virtually all respects (except maybe a few plot developments that seemed a tad bit coincidental, but again, I didn't run the numbers). It harkens back to old school SF but definitely has modern sensibilities and a bit of a 'message' with respect to climate change, but not pushed too hard. And although 'person vs the the natural physical laws' plays a role, the human conflict is also interesting and at time amusing, what with a character's plan failing--and the situation dramatically changing for everyone as a result--for the stupidest of reasons that is in another sense totally believable. It also changes a fair bit with a few time jumps that still connect to the same story, mcguffin, and characters but keeps the story fresh.
If I have one complaint, it's kind of a petty one. There's one aspect of the ending that just didn't sit at all well with me, a decision that the hero advises as I understand it didn't have to happen and leaves a character significantly worse off than they would have been if they hadn't followed the advice (or rather, that they might not have been better off if they didn't listen, but they would have at least had a chance that the choice utterly removed for no reason). For a book I was otherwise quite enjoying but that didn't completely blow me away, it's... well, it's going to be the thing that stuck in my mind.
But it is one single plot element of a book I liked reading, and that doesn't change that there's enough that I really do like that I'll happily check out other works by the author. In terms of ratings, it's about a 3.5, and although I'm tempted to round it up to a four, I don't think it quite gets there. I'd love to leave it at a straight 3.5, but Goodreads doesn't allow it so sadly I have to drop it down to a three.
April 15, 2021
Another book in my quest to read more science fiction this year, helped admirably by my local library waiving request fees and maintaining a click-and-collect style way of keeping me stocked up with new books I would otherwise possibly buy and then be annoyed at spending money on because they didn't really work for me.
Anyway, on to Gallowglass. We first meet our point of view character Jaap (who goes by Jack, for no apparent reason) when he's trying to make a break from the control of his billionaire parents, who want him to embrace transhumanism and live forever, as they have done. He doesn't fancy this, so with the help of some hackers and the university courses he took along the way, Jack has managed to snag himself a job in astrogation with a Moon-based company that specialises in mining asteroids. His carefully-laid plans fizzle out quite early on, partly when he finds that his parents have actually bought and bankrupted the company he'd signed on with, and he's left penniless and desperate.
When he's offered a job, he jumps at the chance and the first two-thirds of the book is about his experiences onboard, including issues around capturing an asteroid for mining purposes and dealing with the person who staked a claim on said asteroid for the people of her tiny island nation. She's a much more interesting character than Jack, unfortunately for him, a teenager who'd risked everything and also caused the death of a friend to claim the asteroid - when they first meet, Cat has been stuck in stasis on the asteroid's surface for years, only to discover that her father, the president of the nation, has spent all the money for the claim and her people are still struggling.
The final third of the book is about what happens later, as Jack is recruited to help stop the asteroid they left behind from hitting the Earth or Moon, since the attempts to wrest control of it by the crew member they ended up shoving out of an airlock have put it on a collision course. Part of that is going back to retrieve Cat, who had put herself back into stasis on the asteroid's surface in order to help the rest of the crew limp back to Earth.
So, as you can see, there's plenty going on here and it just about managed to keep me engaged to the end, despite myself. Just about. It's a very science-heavy book, which probably works perfectly for the people who like that kind of thing, while I prefer more character-based storylines. For me, the most interesting part of the book was about the crew members being stuck together and the ways in which they turned on each other, to the point of literally killing someone because she put the rest of them at risk. Likewise, Cat's experience of discovering that she had risked everything and also killed someone she cared for but that it had been ultimately pointless was a poignant read.
Unfortunately, those two characters were the best drawn among the cast and I struggled to give a crap about anyone else - except possibly Jack's bodyguard who should have run away with him to space. I guess I'm a bit bored with straight white guy protagonists and couldn't really see why Jack had to be one, as it didn't really lend any interest to his character. So, all in all, definitely a book I'm glad to have picked up from the library as I would definitely have been annoyed if I'd actually spent cash money on it.
Anyway, on to Gallowglass. We first meet our point of view character Jaap (who goes by Jack, for no apparent reason) when he's trying to make a break from the control of his billionaire parents, who want him to embrace transhumanism and live forever, as they have done. He doesn't fancy this, so with the help of some hackers and the university courses he took along the way, Jack has managed to snag himself a job in astrogation with a Moon-based company that specialises in mining asteroids. His carefully-laid plans fizzle out quite early on, partly when he finds that his parents have actually bought and bankrupted the company he'd signed on with, and he's left penniless and desperate.
When he's offered a job, he jumps at the chance and the first two-thirds of the book is about his experiences onboard, including issues around capturing an asteroid for mining purposes and dealing with the person who staked a claim on said asteroid for the people of her tiny island nation. She's a much more interesting character than Jack, unfortunately for him, a teenager who'd risked everything and also caused the death of a friend to claim the asteroid - when they first meet, Cat has been stuck in stasis on the asteroid's surface for years, only to discover that her father, the president of the nation, has spent all the money for the claim and her people are still struggling.
The final third of the book is about what happens later, as Jack is recruited to help stop the asteroid they left behind from hitting the Earth or Moon, since the attempts to wrest control of it by the crew member they ended up shoving out of an airlock have put it on a collision course. Part of that is going back to retrieve Cat, who had put herself back into stasis on the asteroid's surface in order to help the rest of the crew limp back to Earth.
So, as you can see, there's plenty going on here and it just about managed to keep me engaged to the end, despite myself. Just about. It's a very science-heavy book, which probably works perfectly for the people who like that kind of thing, while I prefer more character-based storylines. For me, the most interesting part of the book was about the crew members being stuck together and the ways in which they turned on each other, to the point of literally killing someone because she put the rest of them at risk. Likewise, Cat's experience of discovering that she had risked everything and also killed someone she cared for but that it had been ultimately pointless was a poignant read.
Unfortunately, those two characters were the best drawn among the cast and I struggled to give a crap about anyone else - except possibly Jack's bodyguard who should have run away with him to space. I guess I'm a bit bored with straight white guy protagonists and couldn't really see why Jack had to be one, as it didn't really lend any interest to his character. So, all in all, definitely a book I'm glad to have picked up from the library as I would definitely have been annoyed if I'd actually spent cash money on it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2020
Despite the shiny versions of the future that we get through science fiction franchises like Star Trek and Star Wars, space is unforgiving and dangerous. And there is plenty of new, harder science fiction around to remind us of that. From the breathless, grasping survivalism of Gravity through the potato-led self-rescue of The Martian to Ian Macdonald’s Luna series where even breathable air has a price and characters (and readers) are constantly reminded that there are “a thousand ways to die on the Moon”. Simon Morden delved into this corner of the genre recently with his two Mars-based survival novels One Way and No Way. Gallowglass takes these ideas up a notch.
It is the late twenty first century and Jaap “Jack” Van der Veerden has been effectively imprisoned in a luxury estate in Holland by his obscenely wealthy parents who intend for all three to live for ever. Jack, in his twenties, is not keen on this plan and organises an escape, in a fantastic opening sequence, to space. But when he arrives at a waypoint to the Moon he finds that the job he was heading for no longer exists, his parents having bankrupted the company he was to work for. Desperate not to return home Jack joins a scratch crew of desperate outcasts as a navigator on a secret mission that promises to make them all rich. That mission is to fly to an asteroid, rescue its claimant (called the “Gallowglass”) who is hibernating on the surface and use a laser to steer the rock back to Lunar orbit for resource extraction.
The rest can be summed up as: space is a harsh mistress, space ship crews are out to protect themselves and nothing ever goes according to plan. Morden, through Jack, explores the lives of a crew, millions of kilometres from help, dealing with unexpected challenges, with death around every corner. Much of the narrative is concerned with the solution of technological and engineering problems while dealing with a fragile social contract between strangers stretched to psychological breaking point. And the last third of the book manages to up the stakes around these problems considerably.
The only strange note in this book is in the chapter epigraphs. They start with statements from climate change deniers in early chapters and pass through the scientific consensus to highlight major climate change issues. While there is a climate change angle to the book (the asteroid’s claimant, Cat, is doing so to earn money to save her the drowning community of St Ann), these quotes do nothing to enhance the narrative and if anything are a distraction from the plot.
Morden manages to capture the enervating exhaustion of living in partial gravity, the desperation that comes with knowing you have to earn enough money just to be able to breath and the tenuous social contract on a ship where a crewmembers who steps out of line could be voted off and pushed out of the airlock. And he does this through an engaging, if not particularly likeable main character, and in the context of an extremely believable future impacted by climate change. All of which serve Gallowglass is an effective space survival narrative.
It is the late twenty first century and Jaap “Jack” Van der Veerden has been effectively imprisoned in a luxury estate in Holland by his obscenely wealthy parents who intend for all three to live for ever. Jack, in his twenties, is not keen on this plan and organises an escape, in a fantastic opening sequence, to space. But when he arrives at a waypoint to the Moon he finds that the job he was heading for no longer exists, his parents having bankrupted the company he was to work for. Desperate not to return home Jack joins a scratch crew of desperate outcasts as a navigator on a secret mission that promises to make them all rich. That mission is to fly to an asteroid, rescue its claimant (called the “Gallowglass”) who is hibernating on the surface and use a laser to steer the rock back to Lunar orbit for resource extraction.
The rest can be summed up as: space is a harsh mistress, space ship crews are out to protect themselves and nothing ever goes according to plan. Morden, through Jack, explores the lives of a crew, millions of kilometres from help, dealing with unexpected challenges, with death around every corner. Much of the narrative is concerned with the solution of technological and engineering problems while dealing with a fragile social contract between strangers stretched to psychological breaking point. And the last third of the book manages to up the stakes around these problems considerably.
The only strange note in this book is in the chapter epigraphs. They start with statements from climate change deniers in early chapters and pass through the scientific consensus to highlight major climate change issues. While there is a climate change angle to the book (the asteroid’s claimant, Cat, is doing so to earn money to save her the drowning community of St Ann), these quotes do nothing to enhance the narrative and if anything are a distraction from the plot.
Morden manages to capture the enervating exhaustion of living in partial gravity, the desperation that comes with knowing you have to earn enough money just to be able to breath and the tenuous social contract on a ship where a crewmembers who steps out of line could be voted off and pushed out of the airlock. And he does this through an engaging, if not particularly likeable main character, and in the context of an extremely believable future impacted by climate change. All of which serve Gallowglass is an effective space survival narrative.
April 15, 2025
If you like unsatisfying endings then you're in luck; this book has 3 of them.
So this book was split into 3 parts, and I think that was the worst thing it could have done. The first part had me hooked, I loved the concept of Jack trying to escape the immortality that his parents were forcing him into and setting up his time on the ship as him needing to prove himself before the other crew realised who and what he was I found to be a very interesting and exciting setup. However, the fact that the second part just skipped 8 months to where everyone knew everything and barely cared was a massive letdown from what they set up and made me hate the first part for teasing a story that I never got to read.
The second part was definitely better, I would have preferred that the story just start here tbh. It was kinda boring to start with, just problem after problem happening in a way that felt a lot like it was just padding the length of the book, but once it got interesting it stayed very interesting right up to the end, even if it took 200 pages to actually start getting interesting. I still felt like this could have done with an extra chapter before the next time jump but this ending was the best of the 3.
The third part was my favourite. It started well and continued well, questioning the merits of consequences and responsibility the entire way. However, it was also ruined by the fact that it just doesn't end. Want to know what happened to Jack or Cat? Want to know if they actually stopped the meteor, what the actual end result and consequences were of anything that happened over the course of the book, you know, the consequences we just spent the last 100 pages talking about? Well, sucks to be you because we never find out. Maybe that was the point, that the consequences are always someone else's responsibility, but that didn't make me hate it any less.
Overall, the story was interesting and compelling and I enjoyed it, I just wish that it has been told in a completely different way. I really enjoyed S.J. Morden's first 2 books, but honestly this book made me reluctant to read anything more.
So this book was split into 3 parts, and I think that was the worst thing it could have done. The first part had me hooked, I loved the concept of Jack trying to escape the immortality that his parents were forcing him into and setting up his time on the ship as him needing to prove himself before the other crew realised who and what he was I found to be a very interesting and exciting setup. However, the fact that the second part just skipped 8 months to where everyone knew everything and barely cared was a massive letdown from what they set up and made me hate the first part for teasing a story that I never got to read.
The second part was definitely better, I would have preferred that the story just start here tbh. It was kinda boring to start with, just problem after problem happening in a way that felt a lot like it was just padding the length of the book, but once it got interesting it stayed very interesting right up to the end, even if it took 200 pages to actually start getting interesting. I still felt like this could have done with an extra chapter before the next time jump but this ending was the best of the 3.
The third part was my favourite. It started well and continued well, questioning the merits of consequences and responsibility the entire way. However, it was also ruined by the fact that it just doesn't end. Want to know what happened to Jack or Cat? Want to know if they actually stopped the meteor, what the actual end result and consequences were of anything that happened over the course of the book, you know, the consequences we just spent the last 100 pages talking about? Well, sucks to be you because we never find out. Maybe that was the point, that the consequences are always someone else's responsibility, but that didn't make me hate it any less.
Overall, the story was interesting and compelling and I enjoyed it, I just wish that it has been told in a completely different way. I really enjoyed S.J. Morden's first 2 books, but honestly this book made me reluctant to read anything more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2022
I generally like Morden's books, but this one wasn't particularly good. The problem is, it has nothing new to say, and offers no new way to say it. The Petrovich Trilogy (still my favourite Morden's series) was propped up by some relatively novel ideas and a charismatic hero. Here, we have two stories that became almost bog-standard in sci-fi these days - a story about asteroid mining, and a story about saving the Earth from an asteroid. Suarez did mining better in "Delta-V", and diverting asteroids with nukes is such an overused trope that I can't even point at a good example. This all would be still OK if Jack/Jaap was interesting. He is not. He barely has any personality aside from his childish dislike for his ultra-rich parents and vague thoughts about how climate change is bad.
I'm not sure if I was supposed to feel something for Cat Gallowglass, but what I felt in practice was irritation. She's an insultingly simple plot device to say "climate change is bad m'kay?", and little more. In a book where every chapter has a brief snippet from some paper on climate change (at first from those that dismiss it, then, as things in book go from bad to worse, from those that predict it will be bad).
In the end, it felt less like a work of fiction than a half-hearted propaganda which isn't even sure what it advocates ("Capitalism optimizes for short-term and so we all might die if it is left unchecked" isn't a strong (or novel) message, and the book proposes no solutions; while computer-assisted adhocracy of the later Petrovich books was probably unrealistic, it at least was interesting and concrete).
Of the redeeming qualities, little can be said, aside from the fact than Morden still has a very cinematographic style of writing. I can easily picture this book as a Hollywood picture or Netflix series (that I will never watch).
I'm not sure if I was supposed to feel something for Cat Gallowglass, but what I felt in practice was irritation. She's an insultingly simple plot device to say "climate change is bad m'kay?", and little more. In a book where every chapter has a brief snippet from some paper on climate change (at first from those that dismiss it, then, as things in book go from bad to worse, from those that predict it will be bad).
In the end, it felt less like a work of fiction than a half-hearted propaganda which isn't even sure what it advocates ("Capitalism optimizes for short-term and so we all might die if it is left unchecked" isn't a strong (or novel) message, and the book proposes no solutions; while computer-assisted adhocracy of the later Petrovich books was probably unrealistic, it at least was interesting and concrete).
Of the redeeming qualities, little can be said, aside from the fact than Morden still has a very cinematographic style of writing. I can easily picture this book as a Hollywood picture or Netflix series (that I will never watch).
December 30, 2024
Jack is the eldest son of a Dutch trilllionaire shipping magnate in a world that is succumbing to climate change Rising sea-levels and intense heat are wiping whole nations off the map and so humanity is rapidly looking for ways to expand off-planet. As his parents opt for treatments that will
make them effectively immortal, Jack escapes into orbit, but rather than heading for a reasonably comfortable job on the Moon, is forced to join a crew that is deployed to capture an asteroid and return it to Earth to be stripped of valuable resources. This is no ordinary crew though and everyone has a plan for their own personal gain.
I wasn't sure about this initially as the opening pages gave no idea of the direction the story was going to take. The first section describes how Jack has to go to some lengths to escape his home and family on a standard commercial flight to space, before finding himself boxed into a situation where he had to join a clearly dodgy mission to the asteroid - a mission he had no training for. I was worried at this point that this would go off into tedious territory like last month's Artifact Space. However Gallowglass turned out to be an intense thriller with 10 people stuck in a tin can in space, each manoeuvring to a) stay alive, b) gain control of the lion's share of the most valuable asteroid in the solar system. Betrayal, treachery, ethics and danger all jostle for position with some good descriptions of orbital mechanics and other 'real science' space travel considerations. This is certainly the best science fiction novel I've read this year.
make them effectively immortal, Jack escapes into orbit, but rather than heading for a reasonably comfortable job on the Moon, is forced to join a crew that is deployed to capture an asteroid and return it to Earth to be stripped of valuable resources. This is no ordinary crew though and everyone has a plan for their own personal gain.
I wasn't sure about this initially as the opening pages gave no idea of the direction the story was going to take. The first section describes how Jack has to go to some lengths to escape his home and family on a standard commercial flight to space, before finding himself boxed into a situation where he had to join a clearly dodgy mission to the asteroid - a mission he had no training for. I was worried at this point that this would go off into tedious territory like last month's Artifact Space. However Gallowglass turned out to be an intense thriller with 10 people stuck in a tin can in space, each manoeuvring to a) stay alive, b) gain control of the lion's share of the most valuable asteroid in the solar system. Betrayal, treachery, ethics and danger all jostle for position with some good descriptions of orbital mechanics and other 'real science' space travel considerations. This is certainly the best science fiction novel I've read this year.
May 19, 2022
I really, really liked Morden's One Way and No Way, about convicts setting up a colony on Mars, and this one has some of the same intensity as a crew full of sketchy characters (not necessarily including our narrator, a young rich guy trying to escape his wealthy parents) sign on to a mission to bring a huge asteroid full of raw materials back to lunar orbit. If they're successful in pulling/pushing the asteroid back to where it can be dismantled, they'll all be rich beyond their wildest dreams. But something's not right and a few deaths later, the situation becomes clearer. Morden is great with the science and usually pretty good at incorporating it into an exciting story (not always, but generally). In this future, the Earth is on its last legs, due to global warming, and the "gallowglass" of the title, a young girl who was sent out alone to try to claim the asteroid amidst a bunch of competitors, is hoping to use the money to see the people of her flooded island nation resettled somewhere. Every chapter begins with an epigraph about global warming, past and present, which helps to set the stage for where the characters (and all of us) are headed. There are a few wonky things, like big time leaps, that aren't always as well incorporated into the story, but on the whole, very enjoyable and one I'd definitely recommend.
November 17, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed “Gallowglass”. It kinda fit the book blurb but it is so much more. Lots more layers and ambiguous in many ways. If you are looking for a soft sci-fi read….this is not that book! There is a lot of hard sci-fi and quite a few “info dumps”, it is sometimes pretty dense reading. But I thought it was worth it. The story was quite intriguing-I am seeing our future-and the characters were all fascinating especially the main protagonist Jack. Loved Jack’s backstory and his growth as a person throughout the novel. Definitely a top book and a favorite “heavy” sci-fi of the year for me! (I will say…..if you are looking for a “definitive” ending you won’t be getting it…..ambiguous is a better description for the conclusion of this book.)
From the book blurb: “In the midst of a massive climate crisis, the space race has come back to life, with corporations offering massive rewards for anyone who will go out into the black to claim resources in their name. Jack is desperate to escape earth and joins a team chasing down an asteroid… but he doesn’t realize that everyone on the ship is just as desperate as him, if not more so. And they’ll do anything to get to the asteroid first–and make sure they get a bigger share.”
From the book blurb: “In the midst of a massive climate crisis, the space race has come back to life, with corporations offering massive rewards for anyone who will go out into the black to claim resources in their name. Jack is desperate to escape earth and joins a team chasing down an asteroid… but he doesn’t realize that everyone on the ship is just as desperate as him, if not more so. And they’ll do anything to get to the asteroid first–and make sure they get a bigger share.”
December 22, 2020
As always, pacing is great and reading flows comfortably. I didn't really expect to like main character but the author definitely tricked me into liking him.
The even bigger trick the author played on the readers was grabbing some space western tropes luring us in with them and then dropping a bucket of realistic consequences on our heads.
The 'teaching moment' messages are bit heavy handed; quotes at the opening of chapters there seemingly to make sure *we get it*, like in old cartoons a message at the end, spelling out to the kids what they supposed to have learned. Just because the message is on point doesn't take away from the patronising impression it leaves.
Also, the ending cut seems a bit ubrupt and if not for the author calling it a standalone novel I would suspect another book in the series coming.
All and all, good read but left me with a feeling of something missing, because with just a small *something* it could have been great.
The even bigger trick the author played on the readers was grabbing some space western tropes luring us in with them and then dropping a bucket of realistic consequences on our heads.
The 'teaching moment' messages are bit heavy handed; quotes at the opening of chapters there seemingly to make sure *we get it*, like in old cartoons a message at the end, spelling out to the kids what they supposed to have learned. Just because the message is on point doesn't take away from the patronising impression it leaves.
Also, the ending cut seems a bit ubrupt and if not for the author calling it a standalone novel I would suspect another book in the series coming.
All and all, good read but left me with a feeling of something missing, because with just a small *something* it could have been great.
January 3, 2021
The obvious parallel when I preordered this was Daniel Suarez's Delta V, a fantastic book. Having enjoyed both Morden's previous works as well, I felt pretty safe that I'd like this one too.
I was ... not disappointed, but I did struggle to connect with the lead a little bit. the opening section was quite gripping, but I suppose it's hard to empathise with someone who's had it all. Something didn't quite click with me to enjoy it to my fullest, and although I did enjoy reading about Andros (who reminded me of JC in wildcatter, perhaps one of my favourite novels of all time), some of the other characters didn't want to let me in.
Morden's got an exciting and gritty pot of intriguing ideas here though, more set in this world could work well. SO on balance, because it was one of the few books I paid for rather than borrowed last year, I am happy to have read it and will continue to keep an eye for new content from Simon.
I was ... not disappointed, but I did struggle to connect with the lead a little bit. the opening section was quite gripping, but I suppose it's hard to empathise with someone who's had it all. Something didn't quite click with me to enjoy it to my fullest, and although I did enjoy reading about Andros (who reminded me of JC in wildcatter, perhaps one of my favourite novels of all time), some of the other characters didn't want to let me in.
Morden's got an exciting and gritty pot of intriguing ideas here though, more set in this world could work well. SO on balance, because it was one of the few books I paid for rather than borrowed last year, I am happy to have read it and will continue to keep an eye for new content from Simon.
July 24, 2022
I don't even know how to describe my feelings about this book. You can tell how much research went into this book, I found the arc of the protagonist to be interesting and it has an interesting message about climate change and the possible future we're heading towards.
However, this book feels very different from its blub. The pacing is... odd to say the least, there are too many characters and there's little time to get to know any of them. The themes seem to be under explored and the book tends to just repeat the same message of almost hopelessness about the climate crisis and how all the power lies with the rich.
I enjoyed moments of it, the final confrontation seemed more like a debate than anything and it sat oddly for me but it was a good and almost hard hitting read. Want a wake up call on where we could be heading due to climate change? This is the book for you.
However, this book feels very different from its blub. The pacing is... odd to say the least, there are too many characters and there's little time to get to know any of them. The themes seem to be under explored and the book tends to just repeat the same message of almost hopelessness about the climate crisis and how all the power lies with the rich.
I enjoyed moments of it, the final confrontation seemed more like a debate than anything and it sat oddly for me but it was a good and almost hard hitting read. Want a wake up call on where we could be heading due to climate change? This is the book for you.
October 14, 2023
In the tradition of Andy Weir and also Robert Heinlein, though without the former's optimism and the latter's waffle and bad science, 'Gallowglass' is a technical SF book, which rings true in many ways. It is, in many ways, a hope-less book in that it doesn't see any way that those who need to take action will in fact do so. In the story a group given the money to make a difference just squander it on themselves while the billionaires retreat to their bunkers and try to live forever. And the Earth burns. I liked this toughness and the idea that only personal liberation is a goal we can really achieve. I liked too the grittiness of the background - more the crew of the Nostromo in Alien than the shiny nonsense of Star Trek or Wars. The technical details may bore some but I found them essential in presenting just how dangerous a place space is. Meanwhile, please look up!
February 1, 2025
Ah, I just had to have a looksee at what happened with the Aphrodite before it set off to Jupiter, and what I did see (or rather – hear, as I audiobooked this one) was a whole different story that mixes in a Heinleinesque juvenile space adventure with the nitty-gritty of asteroid mining and a touch of climate change. All of this has resulted in an odd book that I really enjoyed, yet would probably not recommend to anyone who is not hard-core space-nerdy, as Morden elaborates a lot on the fine details of astrogation and EVAs and asteroid composition, occasionally slowing the action down to a crawl. However, this also means (particularly if you are familiar with such subject matter) that you don’t need 100% focus throughout to enjoy the overall story.
February 11, 2021
I really enjoyed SJ Morden’s Frank Kitteridge books and Gallowglass has much of the same well-researched hard science, high stakes, do or die scenarios, and flawed but cheerable humans.
I really liked the beginning of this book; the attempts to escape Earth and settling in with the crew on the mining ship. But the second half of the novel didn’t grab me as much as the first did.
Still it was an enjoyable read, and I’d be happy to read any spacey sci-fi this author writes.
As an aside, I’m not sure what to make of this, but it appears that the astronaut image on the cover of this book is exactly the same as the one that appears on Andy Weir’s forthcoming novel Project Hail Mary...
I really liked the beginning of this book; the attempts to escape Earth and settling in with the crew on the mining ship. But the second half of the novel didn’t grab me as much as the first did.
Still it was an enjoyable read, and I’d be happy to read any spacey sci-fi this author writes.
As an aside, I’m not sure what to make of this, but it appears that the astronaut image on the cover of this book is exactly the same as the one that appears on Andy Weir’s forthcoming novel Project Hail Mary...
February 25, 2021
Interesting... not what I expected from the first few chapters. Started out somewhat like a young adult coming-of-age novel, but it changed directions. It really ends up being about climate change and what we are leaving behind for our children's children's children, and there are no quick and easy answers provided by the end of the book. The main lesson being, we have to fight at a grass roots level to prevent this future from happening, because those in power -- the billionaires, the industrialists, the politicians -- have no vested interest in changing things; they will always be able to buy their way out of trouble.
December 28, 2020
All together a good read and a very interesting plot. I was a little bit disappointed by the time gap in the middle of the book as well as the rather abrupt ending - both left out parts would have been worth telling I think. The connection with climate change, although consistently done with the excerpts at the chapter starts and with the background of Cat Gallowglass is rather loose - it is a bit unclear why this is the single most important thread for this story (it didn’t feel like this to me).
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