Redshift Rendezvous

by John E. Stith

Aboard the hyperspace liner Redshift is a relativistic world of slow light and treachery. The first sign of trouble is the apparent suicide of a passenger. When first officer Jason Kraft discovers that she was murdered, Kraft wants to know why. Before long, a desperate group of people tries to use the hyperspace craft for their evil purposes, and Kraft is the only person in their way. [A selection of the Science Fiction Book Club.]

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Hard Science Fiction, American

Nook

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

PUSHBACK , a mystery-suspense novel, was published in November 2018 and is a finalist for the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, mainstream category.

PUSHBACK : At his ten-year high-school reunion, an investment counselor finds he doesn't know one person there, and soon realizes he must outwit an unknown antagonist who wants him dead.

"...unsettling Hitchcockian thriller...Judicious use of humor provides some relief from the dark plot line. Fans of Daniel Palmer-esque intelligent suspense will be pleased." -- Publishers Weekly

"Ordinary Hijacked by Extraordinary, With Comedy... what’s most captivating about PUSHBACK is that even with people like Dave Barlow—just an average guy doing average things—life can take a shocking turn for the worse. But the book reminds us that, also like Dave, we have the power to turn it right-side up again, with humor at the center of our inner strength." -- The Big Thrill, magazine of International Thriller Writers

Science-fiction author John E. Stith's works include REDSHIFT RENDEZVOUS (Nebula Award nominee from Ace Books), MANHATTAN TRANSFER (Hugo Award Honorable Mention from Tor Books), REUNION ON NEVEREND, and RECKONING INFINITY (on Science Fiction Chronicle's Best Science Fiction Novels list for its publication year, on the Nebula Award preliminary ballot).

His other novels are SCAPESCOPE, MEMORY BLANK, DEATH TOLLS, and DEEP QUARRY.

He's the author of ALL FOR NAUGHT, which collects "Naught for Hire," and "Naught Again" both first appearing in ANALOG. If you hear about "Naught for Hire" verbally, you might think the title is "Not for Hire" but it's not. Check out the Naught for Hire website for even more info on the upcoming webisode series starring Ben Browder.

Reviews

[Dirk Grobbelaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another novel that is all about the idea.

Redshift Rendezvous takes place (mostly) on a hyperspace ship that encompasses different levels of hyperspace and features on-board relativistic effects (to varying degrees, depending on which level of the ship you are).

It’s a devilishly tricky environment, where you can produce a sonic boom by moving too fast, and everything that you see is already in the past. Again, varying degrees.

As for the plot itself, it is basically a murder mystery / conspiracy with some pretty good action sequences and a dash of romance. I quite enjoyed the first-person perspective, and it’s worth noting that the ruthless streak displayed by the protagonist, when things started coming to a head, was quite unexpected, but very effective.

There is a sequence toward the latter part of the novel, where events are taken planetside. I found this sequence to be particularly enjoyable and suspenseful, with some sense of wonder elements.

All in all, an enjoyable novel, especially if you buy into the idea.

Redshift Rendezvous was nominated for the Nebula for best novel in 1991.

[megHan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my lifetime of reading, there are very few times that I have ever DNF-ed a book. I'm always convinced that, if I put it down and come back to it later, I may enjoy the book more, and I actually have a folder on my Kindle for books that I need to come back and look at later on.

This book was almost put into that folder. More than once.

I found the first 32% of it to be very tedious. It wasn't the "hard science" that was the problem - I actually prefer that over just regular science fiction - but the fact that things about the ship were repeated over and over again, in different ways. It actually became quite annoying, reading an explanation again, wondering why the author kept deciding to explain this, as if his readers were complete idiots. (Hard science fiction readers tend to read a lot of hard science fiction books, and they shouldn't be treated like that.) Sometimes it is really hard for me to read a book without being an editor, and this was one of those times. The story itself needed so much cleaning up that it left me quite frustrated. On top of that, there were several times that the wrong word was used in the manuscript - and not just once, but several times with the same word.

There was an "underlying" story - a mystery, an adventure, some bad guys (ones you expected and ones you didn't), and two characters (Jason and Tara) - that kept me coming back to read more. Unfortunately, with all the focus on the Redshift, all of that gets sort of lost, at least for a time, and felt rather secondary, instead of being the main focus of the story. Having finished the book, I realize that what I thought was an "underlying" story was actually the main plot. Unfortunately, with the beginning of the story as it was, it took me until the end to realize all that.

The book really picks up once the ship gets close to Xanahalla. The adventure begins before that, and on the way you learn a lot about the two main characters, but once there, what you think you know changes, and I had a hard time putting the book down. There is a bit of romance, but not enough to take away from the story, and it actually drives the characters a little more than they may have been without that.

I enjoyed the ending. With all of that buildup, I'm glad that the end wasn't too easy... and that sometimes there's just a little bit more around the corner.

At the end of the book, the author includes a "Phenomena Aboard the Redshift" section, which I think would have benefited the reader a lot more had he put it at the beginning of the book, or at least included a page that let them know about this so, if they were curious about certain things, they would know it was there to find. It would have definitely taken away from all that tedious repetitiveness at the beginning.

The book has some good and bad moments, but I am glad that I fought through it to find out what happened.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

[Sean Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite being a hard science fiction novel and confusing in some terms, it was actually a very gripping and appealing work. Difficult to believe it's almost 30 years old, it doesn't seem to have aged terribly much. I particularly liked the use of light in the climactic endgame, for which of course we had the groundwork laid, but it was still beautifully executed. Not a novel for the easily confused, but hardily enjoyed for the mind scientific.

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Lori
Book provided by the author

This was another enjoyable read by Mr. Stith, and another one of my favorites that I’ve reviewed. Once again, I need to reiterate that these are not romance books, but are sci-fi.

This book touched my heart because of the character Jason. He was deep, complex, aloof, damaged emotionally, and a decent person. He was also easy to like because he was nice to his crew members, the passengers, and had no intent to hurt anyone ever, either physically, or emotionally.

Tara was another character that was easy to like as well. She had an uncanny ability to really see someone. All the dark places that a person doesn’t want anyone to see, she has that ability to find it in a person. She’s a loyal person to her friends and family, and she has a vulnerability and a fragileness about her that captivates the reader.

There are lots of surprises that happen in this book so I can’t be specific about a lot of stuff, but just be aware that the good stuff happens soon after the audience meets the characters.

Twists and turns are around every corner in this book, and I want to tell the reader more, but I don’t want to spoil the plot.

If the reader wants to give sci-fi a chance, then get this book, really, really. It’s just that good.

[Kevin Phyland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason Kraft is the First Officer on the hyperspace liner Redshift. In hyperspace the laws of physics are vastly different - the speed of light is much slower and due to the singularity at the heart of the engine, gravity changes rapidly with levels within the ship. When Jason saves a woman from committing suicide he is subsequently shocked to find she succeeds a few days later. When a crew member disappears the plot thickens as it now appears the woman was murdered. While outside the ship in hyperspace, Jason is spared from a gas attack which renders all aboard unconscious except a mysterious group of black-clad hijackers. Why they are taking over the ship becomes clear when a passenger admits to once being a resident of Xanahalla - a retreat for the superwealthy - a repository of fabulous wealth. But the secrets of Xanahalla are terrible, as is Jason’s past, and it will take enormous skill and luck if they are to survive. Part Agatha Christie, part horror, John E. Stith has constructed a riveting tale of sadism, venality and superscience. The Redshift is almost a character in the tale. This is a book you’ll enjoy if you like hard SF!

[J. (JL) Lange · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. An interesting enough idea, executed well enough, but beyond the fascinating concept of a spaceship where the speed of light varies by layer there really wasn't too much there. I feel like Stith might have had this idea for a really cool concept, seen the movie Die Hard which was released two years prior to when this was published, and then just decided to roll with it. It certainly isn't the same caliber of classic as Die Hard is, but it was enjoyable enough.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

From beginning to end the plot was worked out masterfully. When the last page came I was craving for more from the lives of Jason Kraft and Tara aboard the redshift or beyond. To sum up my thoughts the book is intriguing, unpredictable and leaves you wanting more.

For the first Sci-Fi book I've ever read I can say with complete certainty that I'll be on the hunt for more like this down the road. Though the first half of the book was a bit repetitive at times and it felt more like a documentary on the redshift during that time it didn't really put me off. Everyone has their own styles that they like or don't like. So if you don't enjoy learning about how a fictional spaceship works or aren't concerned with the more technical aspects of space, then I'd say either don't pick this book up or what I really recommend is try and get it for a couple of dollars on a place like amazon.

The characters were surprisingly well thought out in my mind, especially considering many older science fiction books neglect character development. The world building was also similarly good, though a few times I felt like it was taking place in a void. Thinking back on it this story is like a few stories woven together and each story has something that kept my attention. This isn't saying that I didn't get bored and put the book down a few times, it wasn't like that until the end, but that is to say that each scene felt meaningful. In another vein I really enjoyed how unpredictable the actions of different characters were. When viewed again they all made perfect sense. I'd say this is definitely a book I'd read again, although I would skim over a few parts that bored me the first time. If you're on the fence and want what was to me a mixture of adventure, mystery, just enough romance to push the characters on and a well thought out plot then I'd gladly recommend Redshift Rendezvous.

[Thom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A human story (starting with a mystery and ending much larger) in a very clever setting, beginning with the premise that this ship is traveling so fast that the speed of light is visible (10 meters/sec) in some locations. Nominated for a Nebula award, I am surprised this is not well known.

Much time is spent describing the ship, and when they arrive at a particular planet, more time is spent on how the ship is able to "land" and also the main building on this planet. I feel like some illustrations would help this sort of description, which may be a bit much for some readers. The setting is also lovingly described, and the relativistic science used here is pretty interesting. A postscript contains the "passenger guide" for this ship, along with some author's notes on the setting.

For a 90s science fiction challenge, I chose this book to represent 1990, and because this author is new to me. I was impressed by the science aspects of this book, and the capability of a character (the first officer) who lives in this environment. Two other strong female characters bring the plot along, though has significant growth. The story is engaging and flows by quite quickly.

I liked this book, and look forward to reading more from this author.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Stith sets Redshift Rendezvous on an interstellar passenger liner where relativistic effects vary from deck to deck. In some areas, for example, joggers can cause sonic booms, while in others, a fall of ten feet can be fatal. First Officer Jason Kraft has to add sleuthing to his other duties when the body of a passenger is discovered in one of the cargo bays. Chasing suspects through a ship where the speed of light changes notably with speed and distance as you run adds spice to the game.
Stith sticks close to known science for the most part and includes an afterword explaining the occasional liberties his plot requires. Characters and setting are more important than the plot—but who cares when such a high-velocity game is afoot?

[Daniyar Turmukhambetov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good setting, average story.

[Tom J · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am sure that the science here is spot on, but it made my head hurt and was distracting from the actual story he was trying to tell.

[Patrick Scheele · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had trouble trying to figure out why this book didn't really work for me. It's probably the wasted potential.

The Redshift is a mindbending invention, a ship where the passengers can outrun not just sound, but even light. And yet, it's all part of the daily routine of our stoic hero. Don't get me wrong, I like a good hero, especially one that risks his life for his friends and gets the girl in the end, but if we get to experience such a strange place through someone who is so familiar with it, that kills a lot of the sense of wonder we would have had if, say, this had been an alien craft being explored by humans for the first time. Redshift Rendezvous with Rama anyone?

It's not just that we see such an interesting place through blase eyes, but the "Tower of Worship" part of the story, which it tries to set up as a big deal, felt a bit pathetic. It was just some standard thriller-fare spiced up with a bit of an SF-sauce.

Not gonna lie, I was a bit disappointed to read this after the stunning "Manhattan Transfer". But I have at least two more books to read by Stith, so I have hope for another home run.

[Katherine Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the main character showed up commenting on the attractiveness of every woman he met, and they all seemed really into him, I was all set to not like this book. But I warmed to him soon enough, those problems mostly went away, and boy oh boy, was this a fun read. The setting is interesting, the premise is interesting, and the plot and the twists just keep going. It ended up as a sort of Die Hard in space with interesting physics going on.

There were a fair few technical explanations, but they never felt out of place or excessive, and I didn't find they ruined the pace of the book for me. I also quite liked how the main character's backstory ended up woven through the plot. I'm going to have to check out a few more of Stith's books at some point.

[Tomasz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr. Stith, never the subtlest of wordsmiths, decided to lift the basic premise and setup from an Alistair Maclean novel (the title is a dead giveaway) (and apparently felt bad enough about it to omit any mention of this from the concluding notes), but then forgot the meaning of rendezvous and so we get a misleading title, to boot. The problem is, Stith simply needed something to wrap his physics lesson about, and so the plot and the characters are secondary considerations at best, because we're supposed to be wowed by the fun things he makes light do. DUDE, that's not quite what literature is about.

[Arsalan Chishty]

The book reads like it was written by a person who misunderstood narrative to mean jarring information dump. It has less of a narrative flow and more expository dialogue than your average Shonen jump anime. Made it to page 100+ and it had no signs of letting up.

There are some cool physics in here though. It would make for a great Netflix film once it got Script Doctored.

[Joanne Pascoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting "what if we could travel faster than light" setting, with interesting characters. I enjoy the hard sf aspect Nice romance thread, too -- wasn't quite sure how that would work out. Author seems to have played with the rules he established.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the descriptions, the dialogue, the realistic plot, the realistic characters, the pace, and the setting in this novel. I don’t like that the author of this novel misspelled one of the words in this novel. Four stars.

[L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome. I've always been a Stith fan ever since Manhattan Transfer.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

The scientific ideas and details are excellent. Unfortunately, the writing is not, particularly character development or really just anytime any character speaks.

[Cassandra P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting enough to keep reading large sections at a time. Some parts were a little predictable, but the wit and humor in them made it enjoyable.

[Katharine Kimbriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book falls into the heavy techno-babble form of SF from the late 80s/early 90s. The characters take a long time to gel, and only two of them have any real personality. This is a major flaw for me, and earns it 2.5 stars -- I won't reread it, and would not look for other books by the author.

However, there is a fascinating hyperdrive ship meticulously constructed, every ounce of it squeezed into the plot. Even better, Stith weaves the overall theme and journey of the hero with the fact that everything seen on the ship is slightly in the past. So -- for heavy tech SF lovers, this book will be a solid 3 stars or possibly a 4 star reading.

Recommended for SF readers who love spending time discussing imaginary tech theory with friends!

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a science fiction novel. It's an action / murder mystery that takes place aboard a hyperspace starcraft.

The book is an enjoyable read, but it suffers from the same problem that many science fiction stories have. The book is somewhat clumsy in describing the technology, and it feels like its interaction with the plot is forced. Furthermore, the main character is a terrible cliche: he's superhumanly wise, yet strong and quick to action; women practically throw themself at him, but he's slow to form relationships because of a mysterious, ridiculously harsh childhood.

Besides those points, the book is OK. It was worth reading, but it's not a book I plan on reading again.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually about three and a half stars, because the plot, premise and climax seemed pretty well thought out. I didn't mind the heavy load of relativistic effects in this mystery so much as its slow pace and drab narrative tone...the latter possibly done deliberately to reflect the narrator's scarred emotional landscape. Maybe Tara should have been the narrator. B- / C+

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the way he used the strange proprerties of the hyperspace environment to augment a pretty good story. However, at times it did get a little technical.

[Tara Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of the theory of relativity will really enjoy this book. It was surprisingly good.

[Brett]

Science Fiction

[James Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good hard ore science fiction with just an interesting bit of story added in.

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is a really great sci-fi book, can't wait to start reading the next one!

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

i give this 3.5 stars, bc i have mixed feelings about it, at times it was so borrowing i scanned some pages but there were others that were sooooo great, the first book is better by far

[Scribal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite Stith book. The story has some interesting ideas about the nature of evil and the science works with the plot.