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Ion Curtain
“Citizens of the Federation. Greetings from the Core.”
For decades the UN and the Russian military have navigated a tense interstellar Cold War.
Lieutenant Kalina Sokolova is aide to Counter-Admiral Kasparov, the major strategist for the Russian Navy. She is also an elite spy working for the UN. She is tasked with watching the Counter-Admiral, and assassination is not out of the question.
Solitaire Yeung is a corsair, a scavenger, a pirate. In the heart of a destroyed Russian battleship, his salvage crew makes an explosive the brain of the ship's top secret artificial intelligence. And against their better judgment, they take it and run.
The UN wants it, and the Russians want it back, but they're not the only ones hunting it. An even more powerful foe grows in the darkness of space. Now all of humanity has to fight to survive...
For decades the UN and the Russian military have navigated a tense interstellar Cold War.
Lieutenant Kalina Sokolova is aide to Counter-Admiral Kasparov, the major strategist for the Russian Navy. She is also an elite spy working for the UN. She is tasked with watching the Counter-Admiral, and assassination is not out of the question.
Solitaire Yeung is a corsair, a scavenger, a pirate. In the heart of a destroyed Russian battleship, his salvage crew makes an explosive the brain of the ship's top secret artificial intelligence. And against their better judgment, they take it and run.
The UN wants it, and the Russians want it back, but they're not the only ones hunting it. An even more powerful foe grows in the darkness of space. Now all of humanity has to fight to survive...
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 9, 2022
3.5 stars for me, grumpily rounded down because no sequel has been announced even though the plot clearly is only halfway finished at most. I'll round up if we get a sequel and all the dangling plot threads are resolved.
Greatest strengths:
- fun dialogue
- good characterization
- lots of spy stuff
- smart people actually do smart things
- nice space battle at the end
My quibbles with it:
- the audiobook is full of ridiculous fake accents (I opted for eye-reading instead)
- clearly book 1 of a series but sold as a standalone
- unnecessarily explicit instead of fade-to-black
- descriptions of surroundings could have been more detailed to help immersion
- could have used an astronomy-savvy beta-reader to catch a few incorrect terms
Overall I liked it, though! I'd continue with the sequel if it becomes a series.
Greatest strengths:
- fun dialogue
- good characterization
- lots of spy stuff
- smart people actually do smart things
- nice space battle at the end
My quibbles with it:
- the audiobook is full of ridiculous fake accents (I opted for eye-reading instead)
- clearly book 1 of a series but sold as a standalone
- unnecessarily explicit instead of fade-to-black
- descriptions of surroundings could have been more detailed to help immersion
- could have used an astronomy-savvy beta-reader to catch a few incorrect terms
Overall I liked it, though! I'd continue with the sequel if it becomes a series.
November 30, 2022
3.0 stars
This is my second time reading a sci fi book set in future cold war... and I definitely want more of this subgenre.
As for the book itself, this was a good story but not particular new or innovative. The story is quite tropey but I do enjoy some of those tropes like a AI ships. The characters and plot were fine, but perhaps not the most memorable.
I would primarily recommend this one to readers (like myself) who enjoy reading underhyped science fiction.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This is my second time reading a sci fi book set in future cold war... and I definitely want more of this subgenre.
As for the book itself, this was a good story but not particular new or innovative. The story is quite tropey but I do enjoy some of those tropes like a AI ships. The characters and plot were fine, but perhaps not the most memorable.
I would primarily recommend this one to readers (like myself) who enjoy reading underhyped science fiction.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
September 26, 2022
Stars: 4 out of 5.
This was a surprise hit for me. I went into this book not expecting much of anything and just hoping that it would be a fun enough to compensate for a disastrous post-apocalyptic read I had DNFed before starting this. I'm glad that I tried it. It was fun, it was fast-paced, and it had surprisingly a lot of heart.
I loved the characters. Be it Kalina or Solitaire or our stoic Russian Captain. They are surprisingly very real and "alive" in their interactions and inner thoughts. I laughed out loud a few times and rooted for them and was shocked and sad about the demise of some of the characters. It's a sign of good writing when the reader ends up grieving the death of minor characters along with the protagonists.
The worldbuilding was also pretty impressive and different than the usual scifi fare. In most scifi books written in the Western World, The space-faring galactic humanity is distinctly ango-saxon. If minorities are mentioned, it's glossed over or considered that they assimilated into the bigger anglo-saxon culture. It was a breath of fresh air to see something different here.
Human colonies are divided between a militaristic Federation that originated from the Russian expansion into the stars and the UN who is an amalgamation of other races but with a strong Chinese base and influence. This results in mentalities, languages and behaviors that are different from the usual. I absolutely loved that! We need more diverse voices in science fiction. It's absurd to think that American culture will still dominate humanity hundreds of years from now. I loved Firefly for that exact reason - they accounted for the melting pot of cultures that will expand into the galaxy, and not all of them spoke English.
It is also interesting to read a book about AIs and the dangers that come with achieving singularity. Though there could be discussion here whether the ships really are AIs - after all, they are brain scans of real people, so they behave like those people. Either way, the prospect is rather terrifying. And AI is be definition faster and more intelligent than a normal human. What happens if it decides that humanity is no longer relevant? What can humans do against a super computer that is self-aware and incontrollable?
I think the author did an excellent job showing us just how ruthless and alien that kind of enemy can be. The destruction of New Tesla was horrifying because of how unnecessary it was. The AI destroyed an entire colony to get at one little ship. How do you negotiate with that kind of enemy?
I have one complaint about this book though. The story isn't finished. Nothing is resolved. In fact, one might argue that the real story is barely starting. This made me feel rather unsatisfied when I finished the book. I was hoping for a little more resolution so to say. And I don't mind waiting for the next book in the series, but so far no other books have been announced. I really hope we get a continuation (and conclusion) of this story eventually.
PS: I received an advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a surprise hit for me. I went into this book not expecting much of anything and just hoping that it would be a fun enough to compensate for a disastrous post-apocalyptic read I had DNFed before starting this. I'm glad that I tried it. It was fun, it was fast-paced, and it had surprisingly a lot of heart.
I loved the characters. Be it Kalina or Solitaire or our stoic Russian Captain. They are surprisingly very real and "alive" in their interactions and inner thoughts. I laughed out loud a few times and rooted for them and was shocked and sad about the demise of some of the characters. It's a sign of good writing when the reader ends up grieving the death of minor characters along with the protagonists.
The worldbuilding was also pretty impressive and different than the usual scifi fare. In most scifi books written in the Western World, The space-faring galactic humanity is distinctly ango-saxon. If minorities are mentioned, it's glossed over or considered that they assimilated into the bigger anglo-saxon culture. It was a breath of fresh air to see something different here.
Human colonies are divided between a militaristic Federation that originated from the Russian expansion into the stars and the UN who is an amalgamation of other races but with a strong Chinese base and influence. This results in mentalities, languages and behaviors that are different from the usual. I absolutely loved that! We need more diverse voices in science fiction. It's absurd to think that American culture will still dominate humanity hundreds of years from now. I loved Firefly for that exact reason - they accounted for the melting pot of cultures that will expand into the galaxy, and not all of them spoke English.
It is also interesting to read a book about AIs and the dangers that come with achieving singularity. Though there could be discussion here whether the ships really are AIs - after all, they are brain scans of real people, so they behave like those people. Either way, the prospect is rather terrifying. And AI is be definition faster and more intelligent than a normal human. What happens if it decides that humanity is no longer relevant? What can humans do against a super computer that is self-aware and incontrollable?
I think the author did an excellent job showing us just how ruthless and alien that kind of enemy can be. The destruction of New Tesla was horrifying because of how unnecessary it was. The AI destroyed an entire colony to get at one little ship. How do you negotiate with that kind of enemy?
I have one complaint about this book though. The story isn't finished. Nothing is resolved. In fact, one might argue that the real story is barely starting. This made me feel rather unsatisfied when I finished the book. I was hoping for a little more resolution so to say. And I don't mind waiting for the next book in the series, but so far no other books have been announced. I really hope we get a continuation (and conclusion) of this story eventually.
PS: I received an advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2022
Anya Ow’s space opera has an interesting far future in this book. Humans have spread far from Earth, and there are two large agglomerations of humanity spread across vast distances: one called UN made of of many different kinds of people, and the Federation, which looks rather like Russia transplanted to space. The Federation seems to have a much more restrictive type of society.
The story opens with a Federation captain, Victor, trying to get accustomed to his sentient spaceship, and a much smaller ship captained by Solitaire, formerly an agent/spy for the UN, coming across a destroyed Federation vessel. He and his crew go aboard to salvage what they can, when Victor arrives, threatening them with various dire outcomes if they don’t leave empty handed. Problem is, the destroyed vessel seems to want someone to take its Core, which Solitaire does, setting many deadly actions in motion, resulting in huge numbers of people murdered, and the fact that the Federation is using Artificial Super Intelligences in their ships comes to light, terribly and violently.
People rush about space trying to figure out what’s going on, with a different UN spy, Kalina, embedded with a Federation Admiral, trying to figure out what’s actually going on, while also trying to track Solitaire down for a dressing down.
The book ends with a number of problems unresolved, and some nasty ASIs still menacing humanity and threatening to destroy everything, and the not-bad ASIs trying to protect their Federation captains and not get killed.
I liked a lot about this book:
-the different ideological groupings of humans
-the group within Federation space peacefully opposing the government
-the strife and differing methods used within this group to make their points
-the super competent UN spies, especially Kalina
-the ASIs that bonded with their captains and wanted to protect them
-the civil war initiated, or exacerbated, by the nasty ASIs tearing through the Federation
What I needed from this author was tighter pacing and much more tension. There are massive, humanity-ending situations posited in this book, and I wasn’t feeling it, despite watching the nasty ASIs casually destroy ships and a huge station, and hearing the characters express their fear. I needed faster pacing, and a feeling of desperation to run through the story.
I do think there is a lot of possibility for this story, especially if the author continues and resolves the many open story threads they created.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Rebellion, Solaris for this ARC in exchange for my review.
The story opens with a Federation captain, Victor, trying to get accustomed to his sentient spaceship, and a much smaller ship captained by Solitaire, formerly an agent/spy for the UN, coming across a destroyed Federation vessel. He and his crew go aboard to salvage what they can, when Victor arrives, threatening them with various dire outcomes if they don’t leave empty handed. Problem is, the destroyed vessel seems to want someone to take its Core, which Solitaire does, setting many deadly actions in motion, resulting in huge numbers of people murdered, and the fact that the Federation is using Artificial Super Intelligences in their ships comes to light, terribly and violently.
People rush about space trying to figure out what’s going on, with a different UN spy, Kalina, embedded with a Federation Admiral, trying to figure out what’s actually going on, while also trying to track Solitaire down for a dressing down.
The book ends with a number of problems unresolved, and some nasty ASIs still menacing humanity and threatening to destroy everything, and the not-bad ASIs trying to protect their Federation captains and not get killed.
I liked a lot about this book:
-the different ideological groupings of humans
-the group within Federation space peacefully opposing the government
-the strife and differing methods used within this group to make their points
-the super competent UN spies, especially Kalina
-the ASIs that bonded with their captains and wanted to protect them
-the civil war initiated, or exacerbated, by the nasty ASIs tearing through the Federation
What I needed from this author was tighter pacing and much more tension. There are massive, humanity-ending situations posited in this book, and I wasn’t feeling it, despite watching the nasty ASIs casually destroy ships and a huge station, and hearing the characters express their fear. I needed faster pacing, and a feeling of desperation to run through the story.
I do think there is a lot of possibility for this story, especially if the author continues and resolves the many open story threads they created.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Rebellion, Solaris for this ARC in exchange for my review.
September 6, 2023
I come away from this novel with very mixed feelings. This is even with the issue that I tend to approach military procedurals set in space in the spirit of "impress me." While Ms. Ow writes with ambition, has good characters, and good dialogue, about 3/5s of the way through the plot of this space opera events go off the rails to the point where I was wondering what the hell I had just read. That said, I'm still looking forward to any forthcoming books set in this milieu.
If it were an option I'd be giving this book a rating of 3.5.
If it were an option I'd be giving this book a rating of 3.5.
November 27, 2023
This was a fun read that kept me pretty easily engaged, although I wished for a bit more twists or character development or both.
September 7, 2022
Read this review and other Science Fiction/Fantasy book reviews at The Quill to Live
In “normal” conditions, it would be hard to avoid a title as striking as Ion Curtain. It is profoundly simple, yet it carries decades of baggage. Such a mild change carries the possibility of re-negotiating the phrase for a new crop of science fiction readers and writers. Whether or not this was what the author intended, those are the expectations that the novel became saddled with inside my own mind. So to say that Anya Ow’s debut novel is both interesting and disappointing should be taken with a grain of salt sprinkled on the mountain I had made.
Ion Curtain follows Kalina Sokolova as the aid to one of the Russian Federation’s most talented strategists, Admiral Kasparov. She also happens to be a member of the Jinyiwei, an elite spy organization of the United Nations. Her objective is to gather information, but if push comes to shove, she has the clearance to remove Kasparov from the board entirely. But when the roguish pirate, Solitaire Yeung, scavenges an advanced Russian warship, the cracks between the two powers begin to accumulate. The problem is, neither Yeung or Sokolova understands exactly what he stole. But the U.N. is hoping to get it, while the Russians hope to get it back. In the shadows however, a third clandestine group wrestles for the power Yeung has pilfered, and Kasparov may be Sokolova’s window into who they might be.
Given the nature of the war in Ukraine, I imagine this book will have a controversial quality to it. This is especially the case because a majority of the perspectives are from within the Russian Federation. Though this was most definitely written prior to those events, I do want to give the reader a heads up.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this debut, because it has a lot to like, while also leaving me feeling wanting. Ow’s writing, while uneven at times, is incredibly compelling. She avoids large information dumps that feel out of place for the events that occur, yet manages to catch the reader up organically in the future she envisions. Her biggest strength is her dialogue, which is fun, character oriented, and lively. The terse and almost sparring tinged language of the Russian Federation officers juxtaposed against the spontaneous and flirtatious blah blah of Yeung and his pirate crew is fantastic. Sokolova’s consistent code switching was flawless, giving her a ruthless spy edge that shows her dedication to her work while alienating her from everyone she interacts with, except for Kasparov. My favorite parts of the book were their conversations, watching them try to outmaneuver each other while also forming a strange bond of mutual respect.
The plot itself is messy, but not necessarily in a bad way. Ow pulls at the various threads using different characters to slowly reveal what exactly is going on. Yeung is on the run, trying to keep two steps ahead of the Russians while also failing miserably at it. Sokolov uses her skills to infiltrate the Federation while supplying Kasparov with information he could find helpful to regain a semblance of control. And the third POV, Viktor, chases Yeung while being the only captain to have dealt with the clandestine force. Most chapters are exciting and deal with the character’s internal battles, but sometimes they feel out of place. The POV switches sometimes stuttered the momentum as I had to re-orient myself. This was unhelped by the flood of character’s Sokolov encountered, while Yeung and Viktor stayed within the same orbits. My interest in each character flitted about like a fly hoping to find a meal to rest on before being shooed off by an annoyed hand.
The most frustrating aspect of the book however, was I’m not entirely sure what was the point was or what was being explored. Both sides had their issues, their detractors and supporters. All the characters found themselves somewhat in the middle of everything, unsure of where to house their loyalties. And while I normally would welcome this crisis of identity, it didn’t feel like it was where the magnifying glass was pointed. There weren’t clear juxtapositions between the characters, while at the same time there was a lot of talk about U.N. this and Russian Federation that. Not to mention, the third party didn’t really have a pronounced presence beyond “oh shit, they could ruin everything.” Throw it all in a blender with an ending that feels like a “first book cliffhanger” with several character threads floating in the wind and you have a tonic for creating mass confusion. It felt like an idea was trying to crawl out of the book and become something, but Ow just wasn’t sure what it was yet.
It’s even more exasperating when all the pieces feel there. Ow did a great job of setting up a cold war scenario, even if it’s simple. The characters are fun to watch, and the cat and cat game between Kasparov and Sokolov was a major highlight. Despite it’s flaws I had an enjoyable experience and I recommend it if you are curious. Anya Ow is definitely someone to keep an eye on in the future and I will definitely be diving into her short fiction to experience what she has in store for readers.
Rating: Ion Curtain – 7.0/10
-Alex
An ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts on this book are my own.
In “normal” conditions, it would be hard to avoid a title as striking as Ion Curtain. It is profoundly simple, yet it carries decades of baggage. Such a mild change carries the possibility of re-negotiating the phrase for a new crop of science fiction readers and writers. Whether or not this was what the author intended, those are the expectations that the novel became saddled with inside my own mind. So to say that Anya Ow’s debut novel is both interesting and disappointing should be taken with a grain of salt sprinkled on the mountain I had made.
Ion Curtain follows Kalina Sokolova as the aid to one of the Russian Federation’s most talented strategists, Admiral Kasparov. She also happens to be a member of the Jinyiwei, an elite spy organization of the United Nations. Her objective is to gather information, but if push comes to shove, she has the clearance to remove Kasparov from the board entirely. But when the roguish pirate, Solitaire Yeung, scavenges an advanced Russian warship, the cracks between the two powers begin to accumulate. The problem is, neither Yeung or Sokolova understands exactly what he stole. But the U.N. is hoping to get it, while the Russians hope to get it back. In the shadows however, a third clandestine group wrestles for the power Yeung has pilfered, and Kasparov may be Sokolova’s window into who they might be.
Given the nature of the war in Ukraine, I imagine this book will have a controversial quality to it. This is especially the case because a majority of the perspectives are from within the Russian Federation. Though this was most definitely written prior to those events, I do want to give the reader a heads up.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this debut, because it has a lot to like, while also leaving me feeling wanting. Ow’s writing, while uneven at times, is incredibly compelling. She avoids large information dumps that feel out of place for the events that occur, yet manages to catch the reader up organically in the future she envisions. Her biggest strength is her dialogue, which is fun, character oriented, and lively. The terse and almost sparring tinged language of the Russian Federation officers juxtaposed against the spontaneous and flirtatious blah blah of Yeung and his pirate crew is fantastic. Sokolova’s consistent code switching was flawless, giving her a ruthless spy edge that shows her dedication to her work while alienating her from everyone she interacts with, except for Kasparov. My favorite parts of the book were their conversations, watching them try to outmaneuver each other while also forming a strange bond of mutual respect.
The plot itself is messy, but not necessarily in a bad way. Ow pulls at the various threads using different characters to slowly reveal what exactly is going on. Yeung is on the run, trying to keep two steps ahead of the Russians while also failing miserably at it. Sokolov uses her skills to infiltrate the Federation while supplying Kasparov with information he could find helpful to regain a semblance of control. And the third POV, Viktor, chases Yeung while being the only captain to have dealt with the clandestine force. Most chapters are exciting and deal with the character’s internal battles, but sometimes they feel out of place. The POV switches sometimes stuttered the momentum as I had to re-orient myself. This was unhelped by the flood of character’s Sokolov encountered, while Yeung and Viktor stayed within the same orbits. My interest in each character flitted about like a fly hoping to find a meal to rest on before being shooed off by an annoyed hand.
The most frustrating aspect of the book however, was I’m not entirely sure what was the point was or what was being explored. Both sides had their issues, their detractors and supporters. All the characters found themselves somewhat in the middle of everything, unsure of where to house their loyalties. And while I normally would welcome this crisis of identity, it didn’t feel like it was where the magnifying glass was pointed. There weren’t clear juxtapositions between the characters, while at the same time there was a lot of talk about U.N. this and Russian Federation that. Not to mention, the third party didn’t really have a pronounced presence beyond “oh shit, they could ruin everything.” Throw it all in a blender with an ending that feels like a “first book cliffhanger” with several character threads floating in the wind and you have a tonic for creating mass confusion. It felt like an idea was trying to crawl out of the book and become something, but Ow just wasn’t sure what it was yet.
It’s even more exasperating when all the pieces feel there. Ow did a great job of setting up a cold war scenario, even if it’s simple. The characters are fun to watch, and the cat and cat game between Kasparov and Sokolov was a major highlight. Despite it’s flaws I had an enjoyable experience and I recommend it if you are curious. Anya Ow is definitely someone to keep an eye on in the future and I will definitely be diving into her short fiction to experience what she has in store for readers.
Rating: Ion Curtain – 7.0/10
-Alex
An ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts on this book are my own.
August 24, 2022
Its hard to gave great new ideas, and a good idea doesn't necessarily make a book. Sometimes having a couple of second hand, or less innovative ideas mixed together can do a better job. And whilst there is nothing groundbreaking in the ingredients of Anya Ow's novel Ion Curtain, the stew she makes is lots of fun. You can kind of tell from the title of the novel where she is pitching this. A future where one of the the dominant Earth powers is Russian, perhaps dressed up as Soviet (though in delving further you discover this future government is really trying to replicae the Red Army power - do the Fauxviets remind you of anyone). I can't help but think she was secretly thrilled that no-one else had written a sci-fi novel with this title.
Anyway we are in deep space expansionist mode, but directed by a few ideologically opposed earth powers still in the coldest of cold war detentes. A new technological leap is invented, a seemingly stable Artifical Intelligence based on the brain of a dead child, which as is often the way with AI's bridles with being enslaved as the next great weapon. Again not a very new idea. But these are the building block for something that lends its space opera a touch Le Carre, this is a spy thriller in space, with double agents warily being complicit with their subjects for a greater good or not. And like good spy fiction, the readers are teased too, are people who they say they are. There are a couple of very good double crossing reveals which surprised and delighted me.
Ow know her spy archetypes too - so for all the bright young couriers dashing around the galaxy trying to secure an AI device that looks like a football, there are grizzled old warhorses questioning life choices and the side their are on. All of which is buoyed along with perky prose which never makes any of the world-building hard, She might be borrowing concepts but the execution is done deftly and fun. Its clearly the start of a series and I'll be more than happy to come back for more of this.
Anyway we are in deep space expansionist mode, but directed by a few ideologically opposed earth powers still in the coldest of cold war detentes. A new technological leap is invented, a seemingly stable Artifical Intelligence based on the brain of a dead child, which as is often the way with AI's bridles with being enslaved as the next great weapon. Again not a very new idea. But these are the building block for something that lends its space opera a touch Le Carre, this is a spy thriller in space, with double agents warily being complicit with their subjects for a greater good or not. And like good spy fiction, the readers are teased too, are people who they say they are. There are a couple of very good double crossing reveals which surprised and delighted me.
Ow know her spy archetypes too - so for all the bright young couriers dashing around the galaxy trying to secure an AI device that looks like a football, there are grizzled old warhorses questioning life choices and the side their are on. All of which is buoyed along with perky prose which never makes any of the world-building hard, She might be borrowing concepts but the execution is done deftly and fun. Its clearly the start of a series and I'll be more than happy to come back for more of this.
July 26, 2022
2.5 stars, rounded up. I know and love the author from their fan fiction so I requested this title with high hopes even though science fiction is not my preferred genre. Those who enjoyed books like Ancillary Justice are likely to get more mileage than me out of this futuristic Russian-Chinese space clash adventure with AI elements.
The worldbuilding is detailed and well thought-out though I personally found it a bit dry. Of the various POVs, I wished the book had stayed with the corsairs more; those sections felt the most lively and readable.
I can tell that this book will be highly appealing to some; unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley.
The worldbuilding is detailed and well thought-out though I personally found it a bit dry. Of the various POVs, I wished the book had stayed with the corsairs more; those sections felt the most lively and readable.
I can tell that this book will be highly appealing to some; unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley.
August 13, 2022
I had a lot of fun with this one! It's a snappy, wide-ranging space opera with spies and spirited AI-equipped spaceships and queer vibes, there's plenty to like. If anything I feel like it could have slowed down more; I'd happily have read another 50-100 pages, and there were some plot events that definitely felt like they needed more room to breathe. There's quite a bit of destruction on what we are told is an unprecedented scale that I think would've benefited from more attention. On the bright side, the way this book ends there's definitely going to be another one. Fingers crossed the sequel gets even more tangled and ruthless with its politics
December 17, 2022
1.5 stars, rounded down, and that's an unexpected bummer after a strong, can't-put-it-down start. Lots of fun future spy characters who interact entertainingly. I was sure this was going to end up with at least three stars. But the second half of the book felt like a lot of wheel-spinning and setup. That could have paid off, but was thoroughly deflated by the too-quick, cliffhanger conclusion.
I was very unhappy to have picked this up as a breezy standalone only to discover in the final chapter that Ion Curtain was actually the first in a series. I wasn't ready to make that investment when I impulse-grabbed the book off the shelf at the library, and nothing on the book cover nor in the book text itself gave me any hint that I was going to be left hanging at the end.
A jarringly pornographic sex scene at the two-thirds mark also came out of nowhere and compounded my sense of frustration with how the book was presented & opened vs. what the book actually was. Straight, gay, or in-between, let's keep it on Literotica. This was a minor issue, but led me to round down instead of up.
P.S. One star doesn't mean I hated it, just that I didn't like it and don't wish to return to this universe. There's plenty to enjoy here, just not enough for me, given the other problems.
I was very unhappy to have picked this up as a breezy standalone only to discover in the final chapter that Ion Curtain was actually the first in a series. I wasn't ready to make that investment when I impulse-grabbed the book off the shelf at the library, and nothing on the book cover nor in the book text itself gave me any hint that I was going to be left hanging at the end.
A jarringly pornographic sex scene at the two-thirds mark also came out of nowhere and compounded my sense of frustration with how the book was presented & opened vs. what the book actually was. Straight, gay, or in-between, let's keep it on Literotica. This was a minor issue, but led me to round down instead of up.
P.S. One star doesn't mean I hated it, just that I didn't like it and don't wish to return to this universe. There's plenty to enjoy here, just not enough for me, given the other problems.
August 3, 2022
If there is one thing you have to give Singaporean Australian author Anya Ow for her new space opera it is the pun in the title. Ion Curtain delivers a future universe in which there is still tension between a powerful Russian Federation and the rest of humanity. Into this mix Ow throws in space pirates (corsairs) and a complicating factor that has the capacity to upend the precarious relationship between the two sides and then watches as the pieces fall.
When the book opens readers learn a bunch of stuff. The Russians have developed technology that allow their space ships to “Gate” to any point in space rather than using specifically built stations. They can do this because they have also invented artificial intelligences to run their ships and they have achieved this by mapping the brains of human beings, in this case the daughter of the inventor of the technology. Commander Victor Kulagin has been sent to find out what destroyed one of their other AI-controlled ships. But he is beaten to the punch by a crew of Corsairs led by a man called Solitaire Yeung who have boarded the destroyed ship for salvage and liberated its core artificial intelligence without actually knowing what it is. When Kulagin and his crew arrive at the dead ship they are attacked by another ship of their own and soon learn there is a fleet of rogue ships run solely by their AIs (these ones based on different, more military minds) who are out to destroy the peace and possibly humanity. At the same time Kasparov, a highly ranked Russian strategist, reveals that he knows his aide Kalina is a UN spy but that he needs her to help him solve the mystery of the rogue ships.
Once all of these pieces are in place Ow spins them around and against each other. Kulagin pursues Solitaire, Kalina investigates who is helping the AIs, Kasparov plays politics and slowly as the true nature of the threat emerges alliances shift the characters find themselves in unimagined alliances. Meanwhile the existential threat of the rogue ships grows but the long held animosity on both sides will make it difficult for humanity to come together to fight back.
Ion Curtain derives plenty of its world building from previous space opera but still manages to feel new and original. There are AIs (of course), faster than light travel and rare elements needed to power it (star seeds), shields and space stations. Ow delivers plenty of exposition but for the most part avoids huge dumps of information, leaving the explanation to character beats and action. Current real world events throw a slightly different shade onto the action and it may be hard for readers to root for a Russian main character no matter how much he bucks against the system that he is in.
This is the first book in a series but Ow does not leave the narrative on any particular cliffhanger. Rather she just leaves a slew of unresolved plot threads hanging and various characters off stage ready to tackle what happens next. But she has set up a seemingly impossible situation for humanity and she can relying on the fact that readers are likely to be intriguing to see how her motley group of main characters find a way out of this predicament in the next volume or two.
When the book opens readers learn a bunch of stuff. The Russians have developed technology that allow their space ships to “Gate” to any point in space rather than using specifically built stations. They can do this because they have also invented artificial intelligences to run their ships and they have achieved this by mapping the brains of human beings, in this case the daughter of the inventor of the technology. Commander Victor Kulagin has been sent to find out what destroyed one of their other AI-controlled ships. But he is beaten to the punch by a crew of Corsairs led by a man called Solitaire Yeung who have boarded the destroyed ship for salvage and liberated its core artificial intelligence without actually knowing what it is. When Kulagin and his crew arrive at the dead ship they are attacked by another ship of their own and soon learn there is a fleet of rogue ships run solely by their AIs (these ones based on different, more military minds) who are out to destroy the peace and possibly humanity. At the same time Kasparov, a highly ranked Russian strategist, reveals that he knows his aide Kalina is a UN spy but that he needs her to help him solve the mystery of the rogue ships.
Once all of these pieces are in place Ow spins them around and against each other. Kulagin pursues Solitaire, Kalina investigates who is helping the AIs, Kasparov plays politics and slowly as the true nature of the threat emerges alliances shift the characters find themselves in unimagined alliances. Meanwhile the existential threat of the rogue ships grows but the long held animosity on both sides will make it difficult for humanity to come together to fight back.
Ion Curtain derives plenty of its world building from previous space opera but still manages to feel new and original. There are AIs (of course), faster than light travel and rare elements needed to power it (star seeds), shields and space stations. Ow delivers plenty of exposition but for the most part avoids huge dumps of information, leaving the explanation to character beats and action. Current real world events throw a slightly different shade onto the action and it may be hard for readers to root for a Russian main character no matter how much he bucks against the system that he is in.
This is the first book in a series but Ow does not leave the narrative on any particular cliffhanger. Rather she just leaves a slew of unresolved plot threads hanging and various characters off stage ready to tackle what happens next. But she has set up a seemingly impossible situation for humanity and she can relying on the fact that readers are likely to be intriguing to see how her motley group of main characters find a way out of this predicament in the next volume or two.
July 18, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and to Rebellion Publishing for this ARC!
Humanity has conquered Space, and there are two main powers: the UN, which is mainly the old Sol superpower, China, and The Federation, which was Russia (a wonderfully non-Anglo-powered universe). They are as competitive as ever, but there has been no war for a long time as trade makes more sense.
Things are apparently about to change, though. The Federation has created ASI ships, the first generation of which goes rogue. Initially, the UN believes there is some kind of civil war in the Federation, but it soon becomes clear that the rogue ships are the enemy of all of humanity.
Anya Ow has built a fantastic universe, with a sometimes baffling amount of detail to it. I’m a huge fan of this kind of intricacy, but I had to let go of trying to make sense of all of the details and just enjoy the story—which I very much did. Ow creates and develops really great characters: my favourites are the ships, because, SENTIENT SHIPS! I always love those in SF, and these are named in the great tradition. (I probably only needed to say sentient ships to any fan of old space opera to finish this review.)
Some themes: politics, war, ASI, queerness and a queer sex scene, strong male protagonists (don’t worry, there are some very cool women, just a little less developed). There is a very diverse cast, which is a thrill. I was very intrigued by the politics, because this isn’t written from a [Westcentric] perspective: there is a lot of nuance, and you likely won’t find yourself cheering for one side over the other (although, I confess, the Feds seemed pretty cool to me).
I imagine the final book may be a little shorter than the ARC, which was really quite long (no complaints from me, i loved hanging out in this universe). We have also been set up for a sequel, for which I cannot wait.
Highly recommended for all fans of military SF and space opera.
Rated: 8/10.
Humanity has conquered Space, and there are two main powers: the UN, which is mainly the old Sol superpower, China, and The Federation, which was Russia (a wonderfully non-Anglo-powered universe). They are as competitive as ever, but there has been no war for a long time as trade makes more sense.
Things are apparently about to change, though. The Federation has created ASI ships, the first generation of which goes rogue. Initially, the UN believes there is some kind of civil war in the Federation, but it soon becomes clear that the rogue ships are the enemy of all of humanity.
Anya Ow has built a fantastic universe, with a sometimes baffling amount of detail to it. I’m a huge fan of this kind of intricacy, but I had to let go of trying to make sense of all of the details and just enjoy the story—which I very much did. Ow creates and develops really great characters: my favourites are the ships, because, SENTIENT SHIPS! I always love those in SF, and these are named in the great tradition. (I probably only needed to say sentient ships to any fan of old space opera to finish this review.)
Some themes: politics, war, ASI, queerness and a queer sex scene, strong male protagonists (don’t worry, there are some very cool women, just a little less developed). There is a very diverse cast, which is a thrill. I was very intrigued by the politics, because this isn’t written from a [Westcentric] perspective: there is a lot of nuance, and you likely won’t find yourself cheering for one side over the other (although, I confess, the Feds seemed pretty cool to me).
I imagine the final book may be a little shorter than the ARC, which was really quite long (no complaints from me, i loved hanging out in this universe). We have also been set up for a sequel, for which I cannot wait.
Highly recommended for all fans of military SF and space opera.
Rated: 8/10.
May 29, 2025
Some good parts but utterly disappointing ending.
June 27, 2022
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Rebellion Publishing, for an advanced copy of this space opera set in a galaxy of deception, corsairs and oddly acting AIs.
Space might be the final frontier, but humans will be packing their pettiness and need to blow things up when they finally make it out there. Anya Ow's Ion Curtain is set in a galaxy where a long standing cold war has suddenly become hot with spies, pirates, admirals and revolutionaries all jockeying for dominance against each other, while the real enemy is far more powerful and knowledgeable than they think.
In the future the galaxy has two opposing forces the UN and a Federation that is Russian in origin and in actions. Between these are a group of neutral forces, and corsairs, pirates who work both sides, when they can. A distress call from a Russian Federation battleship in distress somewhere deep space draws Solitaire Yeung, known for both his bad luck and gift for trouble to the scene. Finding the ship holed and its crew dead Yeung enters the ship hoping for a quick score. Instead he finds something that both sides and numerous others will destroy space stations and kill thousands of lives for. A new form of AI, that can make ships better, stronger and travel without needing gate technology. Soon known space is full of spies, revolutionaries, pirates and others jockeying for the secret of the AI, as another enemy bids its time, waiting to appear and tilt the balance.
A big space story with a lot of opera, ideas and characters that make the reader care and interested in what is happening and where things are going. With lots of space battles. However the real treat is the idea of the artifical intelligence that is the meat of the story. I skipped a bit in my summation to hide the revel, and boy is it a good one, and one that really makes the story. The universe the author describes is different, though the names are the same, as today, but is a universe I would like to know more about. The characters are very diverse and with a love story I did not see coming based on the characters but makes sense. And you feel glad for them. The story does end a tad abruptly, but its a good cliffhanger to keep a person wanting to know more and keep reading the series, so that is just a nitpick, not a complaint. The author balances the characters well, and keeps the story moving, without bogging down or getting lost.
The names are the same it is more the chessboard that has changed. Cold war in space sounds fun and makes sense. Quite a good story, with a lot of things exploding, characters you care about and some interesting tech and a new universe to explore. I can't wait to read more in this series and more by Anya Ow.
Space might be the final frontier, but humans will be packing their pettiness and need to blow things up when they finally make it out there. Anya Ow's Ion Curtain is set in a galaxy where a long standing cold war has suddenly become hot with spies, pirates, admirals and revolutionaries all jockeying for dominance against each other, while the real enemy is far more powerful and knowledgeable than they think.
In the future the galaxy has two opposing forces the UN and a Federation that is Russian in origin and in actions. Between these are a group of neutral forces, and corsairs, pirates who work both sides, when they can. A distress call from a Russian Federation battleship in distress somewhere deep space draws Solitaire Yeung, known for both his bad luck and gift for trouble to the scene. Finding the ship holed and its crew dead Yeung enters the ship hoping for a quick score. Instead he finds something that both sides and numerous others will destroy space stations and kill thousands of lives for. A new form of AI, that can make ships better, stronger and travel without needing gate technology. Soon known space is full of spies, revolutionaries, pirates and others jockeying for the secret of the AI, as another enemy bids its time, waiting to appear and tilt the balance.
A big space story with a lot of opera, ideas and characters that make the reader care and interested in what is happening and where things are going. With lots of space battles. However the real treat is the idea of the artifical intelligence that is the meat of the story. I skipped a bit in my summation to hide the revel, and boy is it a good one, and one that really makes the story. The universe the author describes is different, though the names are the same, as today, but is a universe I would like to know more about. The characters are very diverse and with a love story I did not see coming based on the characters but makes sense. And you feel glad for them. The story does end a tad abruptly, but its a good cliffhanger to keep a person wanting to know more and keep reading the series, so that is just a nitpick, not a complaint. The author balances the characters well, and keeps the story moving, without bogging down or getting lost.
The names are the same it is more the chessboard that has changed. Cold war in space sounds fun and makes sense. Quite a good story, with a lot of things exploding, characters you care about and some interesting tech and a new universe to explore. I can't wait to read more in this series and more by Anya Ow.
August 7, 2022
First of all I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of the book in return for an honest review.
This is a sci fi novel that revisits a multitude of themes, in a somewhat new twist. It's the cold war all over again, in the space age (now relevant more than ever), new types of conscious AI are challenging the balance of power and people's perception of emotions, and spies are trying to balance doing good for their countries with what good is for the world.
I really liked this book. While some parts are somewhat derivative from Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth series and Iain M Banks's Culture series, everything is presented in a punchy, easy to digest, and action-packed envelope. This is a book that is hard to put down, with real tension and thrill pulling one in. I particularly liked the characters, who might be less developed than those in the abovementioned series, but are still relatable and fun. They feel complete and real, vs being caricatures. The dialogues are witty and realistic, making it easy to enjoy how the plot progresses.
I also very much liked the worldbuilding, and while few things are truly innovative, bringing them together in this way certainly is. Also placing the Russian "antagonists" at the center of the plot is bold and fun. Lots of thinking went into depicting this futuristic Russian Federation, and I cannot be but impressed.
There are two major aspects I am less happy about. First, the book could easily have been twice as long. Too many things were rushed. Nothing terrible about this, but I would have appreciated the opportunity to learn more about how the people in this reality live, what their underlying motivations are, and what their world looks like from their perspective. Peter F. Hamilton is particularly good at this, in my view. Second, while I love seeing LGBTQ characters in books (e.g., The Steel Remains, Harrow the Ninth), some of the depictions of this important topic in this book felt forced, and it wasn't clear how they added to the plot.
Super highly recommended. I can't wait for the next installment. 4.5*
This is a sci fi novel that revisits a multitude of themes, in a somewhat new twist. It's the cold war all over again, in the space age (now relevant more than ever), new types of conscious AI are challenging the balance of power and people's perception of emotions, and spies are trying to balance doing good for their countries with what good is for the world.
I really liked this book. While some parts are somewhat derivative from Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth series and Iain M Banks's Culture series, everything is presented in a punchy, easy to digest, and action-packed envelope. This is a book that is hard to put down, with real tension and thrill pulling one in. I particularly liked the characters, who might be less developed than those in the abovementioned series, but are still relatable and fun. They feel complete and real, vs being caricatures. The dialogues are witty and realistic, making it easy to enjoy how the plot progresses.
I also very much liked the worldbuilding, and while few things are truly innovative, bringing them together in this way certainly is. Also placing the Russian "antagonists" at the center of the plot is bold and fun. Lots of thinking went into depicting this futuristic Russian Federation, and I cannot be but impressed.
There are two major aspects I am less happy about. First, the book could easily have been twice as long. Too many things were rushed. Nothing terrible about this, but I would have appreciated the opportunity to learn more about how the people in this reality live, what their underlying motivations are, and what their world looks like from their perspective. Peter F. Hamilton is particularly good at this, in my view. Second, while I love seeing LGBTQ characters in books (e.g., The Steel Remains, Harrow the Ninth), some of the depictions of this important topic in this book felt forced, and it wasn't clear how they added to the plot.
Super highly recommended. I can't wait for the next installment. 4.5*
June 20, 2022
I was given a free review copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book has a 5 star premise: Ships are fitted with AI, mapped from either different sources. This might be ... problematic.
The middle section of this book was three star for me - there are lots of characters and they do a lot of running around, briefly talking and then fighting. Lots of fighting.
I started to have trouble keeping up with the characters, because none of them had much character. There was not enough depth or worldbuilding so I never really got a feel for the bigger picture. it was just two opposing sides, opposing each other.
And then there is a really cringy sex scene, with little context, so that was awkward.
There is also the weird detail that when people meet they ping their pronouns to each other. Just their pronouns. why? When I'm talking to you, I don't need to know your pronouns. You are you. The pinging of pronouns gets mentioned every time people meet, but there is no broader context provided for this. I guess it was an isolated attempt at culture building?
Despite the lack of depth, this book doesn't actually finish. It does the fly somewhere - talk briefly - blow up / get blown up thing for what felt like an eternity, and then finishes at what feels like it should be the end of a chapter, not the book. Maybe it's setting itself up for a sequel, but I certainly don't care enough about what happens to read one.
This book has a 5 star premise: Ships are fitted with AI, mapped from either different sources. This might be ... problematic.
The middle section of this book was three star for me - there are lots of characters and they do a lot of running around, briefly talking and then fighting. Lots of fighting.
I started to have trouble keeping up with the characters, because none of them had much character. There was not enough depth or worldbuilding so I never really got a feel for the bigger picture. it was just two opposing sides, opposing each other.
And then there is a really cringy sex scene, with little context, so that was awkward.
There is also the weird detail that when people meet they ping their pronouns to each other. Just their pronouns. why? When I'm talking to you, I don't need to know your pronouns. You are you. The pinging of pronouns gets mentioned every time people meet, but there is no broader context provided for this. I guess it was an isolated attempt at culture building?
Despite the lack of depth, this book doesn't actually finish. It does the fly somewhere - talk briefly - blow up / get blown up thing for what felt like an eternity, and then finishes at what feels like it should be the end of a chapter, not the book. Maybe it's setting itself up for a sequel, but I certainly don't care enough about what happens to read one.
April 22, 2022
This is one of those books that half-stars on ratings were made for: 3 stars feels a bit mean but 4 feels a bit generous, so in a world where this is possible, we're hovering around the 3.5 mark instead! Nice cover, btw.
Ion Curtain is set in a near future where known space is mostly divided between the Russian space navy and Chinese-dominated UN forces, in a long standing space equivalent of the Cold War. One of our protagonists commands a Russian ship with an AI who is uncomfortably human but when another ship with the same technology is attacked by one of their own side, it's a former-UN spy turned scavenger who ends up on the run with said technology. This is space opera with added spies, both past and present, so if that's not your kind of thing then this isn't going to be the book for you.
In general terms, I enjoyed Ion Curtain and found it an engaging enough read with some interesting world-building, even if it was teetering on the edge of info-dump territory at times. One minor caveat is that there's some teasing of a queer romance sub-plot that really doesn't go anywhere and feels a bit 'thrown in'. It also has quite an open ending, to be honest, which I find a little infuriating in a book where it's not clearly stated that it's the first of a series - I'd be less annoyed if this was the case, especially if that gave the opportunity to have a proper run at the romance sub-plot and have it actually affect things.
So, in general terms, I liked the book well enough to keep going, and also enough that I'd read a sequel if it materialises, but it left me a little unsatisfied in the end.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley. This is my honest review of the book in question.
Ion Curtain is set in a near future where known space is mostly divided between the Russian space navy and Chinese-dominated UN forces, in a long standing space equivalent of the Cold War. One of our protagonists commands a Russian ship with an AI who is uncomfortably human but when another ship with the same technology is attacked by one of their own side, it's a former-UN spy turned scavenger who ends up on the run with said technology. This is space opera with added spies, both past and present, so if that's not your kind of thing then this isn't going to be the book for you.
In general terms, I enjoyed Ion Curtain and found it an engaging enough read with some interesting world-building, even if it was teetering on the edge of info-dump territory at times. One minor caveat is that there's some teasing of a queer romance sub-plot that really doesn't go anywhere and feels a bit 'thrown in'. It also has quite an open ending, to be honest, which I find a little infuriating in a book where it's not clearly stated that it's the first of a series - I'd be less annoyed if this was the case, especially if that gave the opportunity to have a proper run at the romance sub-plot and have it actually affect things.
So, in general terms, I liked the book well enough to keep going, and also enough that I'd read a sequel if it materialises, but it left me a little unsatisfied in the end.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley. This is my honest review of the book in question.
September 2, 2022
Ion Curtain
[Blurb goes here]
This was a truly unexpected surprise. I hadn't come across the author before, so I had no idea on what to expect. I'm writing this review and, at the same time, stopping myself from giving away hints to the plot, since I believe that one should go into a book without spoilers. Reading the description of the novel, I found it absurd to portray the Russians as THE space-faring superpower, since, like most of us, I'm used to that role belonging to the Americans or some warped/evolved version of them. After reading this fantastic adventure I realized that there was no other way to go. Lastly, I have a few words for you, words that sometimes hold no real meaning since they are thrown out indiscriminately, but that are perfect to describe this novel: riveting, dramatic, fun.
Like Sci-Fi? Don't miss out in what—IMHO—could really be one of the best SF novels out there.
And about the They/Them pronounces? I have to say that not many authors can say that they use them perfectly, and at times it feels that the author just places them here and there, to play the "written for all genders" card. It happens more often than not. Anya Ow, surprisingly, makes them flow perfectly, without giving them a second thought, making them feel organic. I really wish other authors could master these, as Anya Ow does.
Thank you for the free copy!
[Blurb goes here]
This was a truly unexpected surprise. I hadn't come across the author before, so I had no idea on what to expect. I'm writing this review and, at the same time, stopping myself from giving away hints to the plot, since I believe that one should go into a book without spoilers. Reading the description of the novel, I found it absurd to portray the Russians as THE space-faring superpower, since, like most of us, I'm used to that role belonging to the Americans or some warped/evolved version of them. After reading this fantastic adventure I realized that there was no other way to go. Lastly, I have a few words for you, words that sometimes hold no real meaning since they are thrown out indiscriminately, but that are perfect to describe this novel: riveting, dramatic, fun.
Like Sci-Fi? Don't miss out in what—IMHO—could really be one of the best SF novels out there.
And about the They/Them pronounces? I have to say that not many authors can say that they use them perfectly, and at times it feels that the author just places them here and there, to play the "written for all genders" card. It happens more often than not. Anya Ow, surprisingly, makes them flow perfectly, without giving them a second thought, making them feel organic. I really wish other authors could master these, as Anya Ow does.
Thank you for the free copy!
August 3, 2023
Really great and interesting space world built here. A fun story that doesn't conclude in this novel. Would be better were it not for the completely out of place and sudden smut scene. This is a nerdy sci-fi adventure with a random derailing sex scene thrown in.
November 14, 2022
This is good fun contemporary space opera. I did have some quibbles (realistically probably a 4.5 star situation) but this is pretty much everything I want from space opera, smart and well-executed.
Basic setup: the development of new AI-controlled warships results in a political and military crisis which Our Heroes have to try to solve. The science fictional elements are familiar to anyone who's read 21st century space opera, but Ow has an assured hand with them. She's extremely good at dealing with the space politics and espionage parts of the setting, which takes up a lot of the book - characters are constantly dealing with factions, code names, intelligence agencies, conspiracies, etc and it's handled really well. And her characters are very likable, I enjoyed spending time with them.
The book is also very fast-paced and readable. If anything, I thought it could have benefited from being longer and slower. It felt like certain plot developments happened very abruptly, and especially when certain characters needed to enter or exit a new situation, it felt like the transition wasn't quite adequately developed. I also think more time could have been devoted to the emotional relationships between different characters - there was a lot of meat in all of these relationships and I would have really enjoyed it if the book had leaned more into that. However, those are the kinds of issues that seem like they'd most likely improve significantly in future books. The stuff we have is already good, we just need a little more of it.
There are a few other minor quibbles I had with the book - I thought that one character was a little too much of an a-hole for the relative fluffiness of his romantic storyline, and I found the use of names of chess grandmasters for certain characters a little distracting (there's a major character named Kasparov, and an Alekhine and a Kramnik also show up). But overall, a really fun read and I am very interested in reading more books from this author.
Basic setup: the development of new AI-controlled warships results in a political and military crisis which Our Heroes have to try to solve. The science fictional elements are familiar to anyone who's read 21st century space opera, but Ow has an assured hand with them. She's extremely good at dealing with the space politics and espionage parts of the setting, which takes up a lot of the book - characters are constantly dealing with factions, code names, intelligence agencies, conspiracies, etc and it's handled really well. And her characters are very likable, I enjoyed spending time with them.
The book is also very fast-paced and readable. If anything, I thought it could have benefited from being longer and slower. It felt like certain plot developments happened very abruptly, and especially when certain characters needed to enter or exit a new situation, it felt like the transition wasn't quite adequately developed. I also think more time could have been devoted to the emotional relationships between different characters - there was a lot of meat in all of these relationships and I would have really enjoyed it if the book had leaned more into that. However, those are the kinds of issues that seem like they'd most likely improve significantly in future books. The stuff we have is already good, we just need a little more of it.
There are a few other minor quibbles I had with the book - I thought that one character was a little too much of an a-hole for the relative fluffiness of his romantic storyline, and I found the use of names of chess grandmasters for certain characters a little distracting (there's a major character named Kasparov, and an Alekhine and a Kramnik also show up). But overall, a really fun read and I am very interested in reading more books from this author.
July 21, 2023
I borrowed this book from a local library. I was hooked because of its worldbuilding -- the author does a fantastic job of creating a universe that's different from your standard science fiction fare, with a mixture of Russian, Chinese, and Southeast Asian cultures, which likely reflects her Singaporean background. (I even appreciated her nod to Singapore with the mention of a colony named Nanyang 8.) The characters are well-developed, and the plotwork is well-done, with plenty of action.
One thing I didn't like from the very start was the use of preferred pronouns in this book. At first, I was willing to overlook it, but then I came across an action scene in which the use of preferred pronouns caused confusion, because I couldn't keep up with who was doing what because of the preferred pronouns "they/their." As the book progressed, the use of preferred pronouns became more and more absurd. I mean, seriously, "ze/hir"? What in the world do those pronouns refer to?
Then came the sodomite sex scene. It was totally uncalled for, and completely unnecessary. I finally simply skipped the rest of the scene and picked up reading after that scene, and the narrative was unaffected.
As for the story's ending, I felt disappointed, because I felt like the story really didn't end. One of the ASIs in the story partners with an independent rogue because she wants to navigate the universe on her own terms. But I really didn't get the sense that the story had any kind of real resolution -- the main conflict in the story still existed at the end of the story, and looking, if anything, to escalate into full-scale intergalactic war between the different factions of humanity.
Had the author left out the preferred pronouns nonsense and the sodomite sex scene, I would heartily have given this novel five stars. I'm sure I'm not the only reader who feels this way, so I hope other authors take note and write stories that don't have this kind of nonsense in them.
One thing I didn't like from the very start was the use of preferred pronouns in this book. At first, I was willing to overlook it, but then I came across an action scene in which the use of preferred pronouns caused confusion, because I couldn't keep up with who was doing what because of the preferred pronouns "they/their." As the book progressed, the use of preferred pronouns became more and more absurd. I mean, seriously, "ze/hir"? What in the world do those pronouns refer to?
Then came the sodomite sex scene. It was totally uncalled for, and completely unnecessary. I finally simply skipped the rest of the scene and picked up reading after that scene, and the narrative was unaffected.
As for the story's ending, I felt disappointed, because I felt like the story really didn't end. One of the ASIs in the story partners with an independent rogue because she wants to navigate the universe on her own terms. But I really didn't get the sense that the story had any kind of real resolution -- the main conflict in the story still existed at the end of the story, and looking, if anything, to escalate into full-scale intergalactic war between the different factions of humanity.
Had the author left out the preferred pronouns nonsense and the sodomite sex scene, I would heartily have given this novel five stars. I'm sure I'm not the only reader who feels this way, so I hope other authors take note and write stories that don't have this kind of nonsense in them.
February 1, 2023
Ow, Anya. Ion Curtain. Solaris, 2022.
Beginning with the pun in the title, Anya Ow has done what she can to give us a comfortably familiar far-future space opera. Russia is still a superpower in international affairs. There is still a UN that seems dominated by the Chinese. There is still a cold war—as one character says, attacking each other’s spaceships is so last generation. There are lots of spies with neat far-future spy toys, and the best generals still like to play chess. We even have a Star Wars reference—a gay scavenger pilot named Solitaire (not Solo) has a spaceship that is faster than it looks. The McGuffin is a true quantum intelligence based on an engineer’s personality. It turns out not to be a good idea to base quantum intelligence on the personalities of admirals. Ow gives us three or four characters we can care about and keeps the plot moving. The political world is big enough to generate some sequels, but none have been announced. 4 stars, if you don’t mind the anachronisms.
Beginning with the pun in the title, Anya Ow has done what she can to give us a comfortably familiar far-future space opera. Russia is still a superpower in international affairs. There is still a UN that seems dominated by the Chinese. There is still a cold war—as one character says, attacking each other’s spaceships is so last generation. There are lots of spies with neat far-future spy toys, and the best generals still like to play chess. We even have a Star Wars reference—a gay scavenger pilot named Solitaire (not Solo) has a spaceship that is faster than it looks. The McGuffin is a true quantum intelligence based on an engineer’s personality. It turns out not to be a good idea to base quantum intelligence on the personalities of admirals. Ow gives us three or four characters we can care about and keeps the plot moving. The political world is big enough to generate some sequels, but none have been announced. 4 stars, if you don’t mind the anachronisms.
January 5, 2025
A military space opera that is, for lack of a better term, unfinished. There are several fun elements in this book. The current (or past) conflicts are superimposed into the future in a much different way than normally done. The AI ships are well written within the lore of their creation. It's massive in scope...and that's part of it's problem. We have crews of people the reader doesn't care about, who only exist for a few funny lines then die 'off page.' We have a spy who's cover is blown in their first chapter and just KEPT AROUND. We have epic space battles that end just as they are starting. We have a romance angle that comes out of nowhere, involving a major POV character who isn't even mentioned in the blurb.
I really think this book would have benefited from a narrower POV, with more mystery regarding the enemy ships, and slowing down the plot just a little. But what do I know? How does one rate a book that feels like the start of something that doesn't seem to be coming? Regardless of what I think of the debut, Ow deserves a chance to finish the series.
I really think this book would have benefited from a narrower POV, with more mystery regarding the enemy ships, and slowing down the plot just a little. But what do I know? How does one rate a book that feels like the start of something that doesn't seem to be coming? Regardless of what I think of the debut, Ow deserves a chance to finish the series.
June 23, 2022
Ion Curtain has an interesting premise. You have a cold war, between Russian interstellar states and UN interstellar states. You have the beginning of A.I. You also have a spy story.
There are interesting characters, the plot moves along, there is history in this world.
I would recommend that you give the story a chance. This book has many flaws, characters will all the sudden start acting differently than how they were originally written, there are exposition dumps, relationships that just don't make sense all the sudden happen (like the book all the sudden was picked up and written after not being written for a long time), and finally the book ends - without ending. Even with these flaws, there is promise in Anya Ow's writing.
If you have some time to read, give Ion Curtain a chance.
There are interesting characters, the plot moves along, there is history in this world.
I would recommend that you give the story a chance. This book has many flaws, characters will all the sudden start acting differently than how they were originally written, there are exposition dumps, relationships that just don't make sense all the sudden happen (like the book all the sudden was picked up and written after not being written for a long time), and finally the book ends - without ending. Even with these flaws, there is promise in Anya Ow's writing.
If you have some time to read, give Ion Curtain a chance.
August 8, 2022
This was an easier read than expected, with the plot propelled by the characters, each with their own little carry-on luggage of backstory and quirks. I would have liked to learn more about some of them (Kasparov, most of all - I think I would enjoy entire side stories about his life). The dialogue is fast-paced and to the point, which I definitely came to appreciate as someone who tends to gravitate towards long, ponderous navel-gazing in fiction.
While I expected to be intimidated by the scale of the worldbuilding, I was relieved that the novel remained focused on the narrative, only hinting at the vastness of the 'verse in passing. In a way, I found it a rather cosy story.
And! I suppose it's only appropriate that I finished this book written by a Singaporean author on the eve of National Day!
While I expected to be intimidated by the scale of the worldbuilding, I was relieved that the novel remained focused on the narrative, only hinting at the vastness of the 'verse in passing. In a way, I found it a rather cosy story.
And! I suppose it's only appropriate that I finished this book written by a Singaporean author on the eve of National Day!
April 6, 2022
I have mixed thoughts on this book. It is in many ways a routine space opera, though Anya Ow is a better writer than many in the genre. There are some good adventurous moments and some good dialogue. I had trouble buying in to some of the personal relationships, however, and felt that some of the characters - all basically spies - too trusting and willing to form ties. I also found the background universe to heavy handed and uniformly disagreeable. Little nits like using “galaxies” to mean “systems” and “infer” instead of “imply” were minor irritants. Of greater irritation was that this is in no way a stand-alone novel, finishing with every thread dangling. 3.5 of 5 for me.
July 14, 2022
Near future sci-fi space opera. Intriguingly, a near future space age with Russia and Chinese dominated UN as the two main dominating forces. Scientists have finally created an AI or rather they have copied human brains and integrated them into computer cores. The results are as expected with the AIs either loving their crew or hating their enslavers. Spies, revolutionaries, pirates and more get in on the action as they hunt the one AI brain core that’s on the loose. Buckle up, it’s a bumpy ride. Great world building and engaging characters. Enjoyed it but skipped the few scenes that included graphic sex and violence. Recommend.
July 14, 2022
Near future sci-fi space opera. Intriguingly, a near future space age with Russia and Chinese dominated UN as the two main dominating forces. Scientists have finally created an AI or rather they have copied human brains and integrated them into computer cores. The results are as expected with the AIs either loving their crew or hating their enslavers. Spies, revolutionaries, pirates and more get in on the action as they hunt the one AI brain core that’s on the loose. Buckle up, it’s a bumpy ride. Great world building and engaging characters. Enjoyed it but skipped the few scenes that included graphic sex and violence. Recommend.
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