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StarBridge #1
StarBridge
The crew of the Désirée was unprepared. The Simiu were unexpected...
Earth's first contact with an alien race turns to disaster when a friendly encounter erupts into inexplicable violence and the threat of interstellar war.
But two ordinary individuals--Mahree Burroughs, an ordinary woman with a gift for friendship, and Dhurrrkk', a male Simiu with boundless curiosity--have forged a bond of understanding that bridges their many differences.
Along with a reluctant Robert Gable, brilliant young ship's physician, they make an astounding journey across the stars, to seek a way to save the future of both species!
309 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1989
33 people are currently reading
691 people want to read
About the author
A.C. Crispin
70 books314 followersAnn Carol Crispin (1950-2013) was an American science fiction writer, the author of over twenty published novels. She wrote professionally since 1983. She wrote several Star Trek and Star Wars novels, and created her own original science fiction series called Starbridge.
Crispin also served as Eastern Regional Director, and then Vice President, of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. With Victoria Strauss, she founded Writer Beware, a "watchdog" group that is part of SFWA that warns aspiring writers about the dangers of scam agents, editors, and publishers. Writer Beware was founded in 1998, and has assisted law enforcement and civil authorities in tracking and shutting down writing scams.
Crispin, who also wrote a prequel providing the back story for the popular Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, died on September 6th, 2013 at the Hospice of Charles County in Waldorf, aged 63.
She was married to science fiction author Michael Capobianco.
Crispin also served as Eastern Regional Director, and then Vice President, of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. With Victoria Strauss, she founded Writer Beware, a "watchdog" group that is part of SFWA that warns aspiring writers about the dangers of scam agents, editors, and publishers. Writer Beware was founded in 1998, and has assisted law enforcement and civil authorities in tracking and shutting down writing scams.
Crispin, who also wrote a prequel providing the back story for the popular Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, died on September 6th, 2013 at the Hospice of Charles County in Waldorf, aged 63.
She was married to science fiction author Michael Capobianco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
September 26, 2010
Ever so often, I pull a book out of my library to see if my reading tastes have changed. The last time I read Starbridge was 1996. I knew nothing about the art of writing in 1996, and now I am studying the craft.
A.C. Crispin wrote the book in 1989 when female heros in sci-fi were largely unknown. Like many of the changes for women in our culture, we often accept the change without thinking about the way it happened. For the first confident steps toward heroic women in sci-fi, we have A.C. Crispin (among others) to thank.
After 19 years, this book continues to satisfy a reader with a plot that surprises with almost every turn of the page, characters who take life, and a satisfactory - though unexpected - ending. This book is still easily found and worth the price.
A.C. Crispin wrote the book in 1989 when female heros in sci-fi were largely unknown. Like many of the changes for women in our culture, we often accept the change without thinking about the way it happened. For the first confident steps toward heroic women in sci-fi, we have A.C. Crispin (among others) to thank.
After 19 years, this book continues to satisfy a reader with a plot that surprises with almost every turn of the page, characters who take life, and a satisfactory - though unexpected - ending. This book is still easily found and worth the price.
April 14, 2020
3.5 stars, recommended if you're in the mood for something older, written by a woman, not too serious.
Heads up to those considering reading it during Spring 2020 : There was a plague on a colony world just a few years before this starts, and though I found the brief discussion interesting, some of you might not need any reminders of that stuff right now.
This is a very fun story, easy to read, with a young protag., teen-friendly, perfect for me atm.
I do object that our character seems both too young and too knowledgeable & competent. I have no idea why she couldn't have been going on 19 or 20 instead of 17 as then everything else would make more sense, so I just tried to think of her as that old. ;)
Especially when it got sexy... because even though the r'ship is healthy in most respects, the girl really is far too young for the man.
I was wishing for a digital copy or a glossary & list of characters' and places' names. It's such a fast easy read that I kinda lose track of such details.
This is the kind of book I would have enjoyed & reread when I was 15 or so.
Mahree and the other heroes are mostly pretty good role models. :)
Escapist fun in these uncertain times of shelter-in-place, imo.
I do have a question: Some of the characters like the old SF movies, but I'm not a big fan so I'm not catching all the references. Once a character in the book speaks out to the film character, "Forget the damned cat, just get out of there!" Any idea what pre-1989 movie that refers to?
I also like the quote, perhaps also relevant at this time, "I think people reach a point where their excitement quota just shorts out."
And here we reveal one of the problems I had with the book. This is our 16 yo girl who has never been off her home planet speaking to a bemused experienced & older crew member. Mahree has just about all the good lines - I did want others to share the spotlight!
I am glad that I own two more books in the series and I look forward to reading them soon.
Heads up to those considering reading it during Spring 2020 : There was a plague on a colony world just a few years before this starts, and though I found the brief discussion interesting, some of you might not need any reminders of that stuff right now.
This is a very fun story, easy to read, with a young protag., teen-friendly, perfect for me atm.
I do object that our character seems both too young and too knowledgeable & competent. I have no idea why she couldn't have been going on 19 or 20 instead of 17 as then everything else would make more sense, so I just tried to think of her as that old. ;)
Especially when it got sexy... because even though the r'ship is healthy in most respects, the girl really is far too young for the man.
I was wishing for a digital copy or a glossary & list of characters' and places' names. It's such a fast easy read that I kinda lose track of such details.
This is the kind of book I would have enjoyed & reread when I was 15 or so.
Mahree and the other heroes are mostly pretty good role models. :)
Escapist fun in these uncertain times of shelter-in-place, imo.
I do have a question: Some of the characters like the old SF movies, but I'm not a big fan so I'm not catching all the references. Once a character in the book speaks out to the film character, "Forget the damned cat, just get out of there!" Any idea what pre-1989 movie that refers to?
I also like the quote, perhaps also relevant at this time, "I think people reach a point where their excitement quota just shorts out."
And here we reveal one of the problems I had with the book. This is our 16 yo girl who has never been off her home planet speaking to a bemused experienced & older crew member. Mahree has just about all the good lines - I did want others to share the spotlight!
I am glad that I own two more books in the series and I look forward to reading them soon.
August 6, 2012
One of the nice things about POD and its kissing cousin, ebook publishing, is that it allows authors to bring their backlist out to a new audience. Those of us that don't hang out at used bookstores get to read "new to us" authors while the author gets some money off of an old book. One of those finds comes to me from a friend of the blog, Ann Crispin, half of the team at the invaluable blog Writer Beware. The book is her debut novel, Starbridge.
Starbridge is a novel of first contact, as told primarily through the eyes of Mahree Burroughs, a young colonist returning to Earth on the merchant vessel Desiree, which is captained by her uncle. It's also a bit of a romance, as Mahree develops a crush on the ship's doctor. Finally, it's a real page-turner of a book.
One of the problems with creating aliens in science fiction is the tendency to create humans wearing latex masks. Crispin's aliens definitely aren't wearing masks, nor does she fall into the other trap of a homogeneous species. Crispin also addresses something often glossed over in science fiction, the difficulty of communicating with an alien species. They don't all speak English and read Shakespeare, you know!
Since it wouldn't be a story if everything went smoothly, it doesn't. There is some violence, as threatened in the back-cover blurb, but personal, and not of the blow-stuff-up-real-good variety. Overall, I found Starbridge a highly readable introduction to an author I hadn't read before.
Starbridge is a novel of first contact, as told primarily through the eyes of Mahree Burroughs, a young colonist returning to Earth on the merchant vessel Desiree, which is captained by her uncle. It's also a bit of a romance, as Mahree develops a crush on the ship's doctor. Finally, it's a real page-turner of a book.
One of the problems with creating aliens in science fiction is the tendency to create humans wearing latex masks. Crispin's aliens definitely aren't wearing masks, nor does she fall into the other trap of a homogeneous species. Crispin also addresses something often glossed over in science fiction, the difficulty of communicating with an alien species. They don't all speak English and read Shakespeare, you know!
Since it wouldn't be a story if everything went smoothly, it doesn't. There is some violence, as threatened in the back-cover blurb, but personal, and not of the blow-stuff-up-real-good variety. Overall, I found Starbridge a highly readable introduction to an author I hadn't read before.
March 8, 2011
This is the book that turned me into a reader. It's just a great space adventure, not hardcore technobabble-filled sci-fi, just a great adventure. Perfect for the young dreamer if you can find a copy. This whole series deserves to be re-published and rediscovered by a new generation, if for no other reason than the smart, strong young women characters the books are mostly centered on (which are still hard to find in science fiction). Each book in the series is self-contained, so you don't have to commit to reading seven books to find out how it all ends.
I remember when my mom took me to a reading AC Crispin was giving and I brought all the books of hers I had. When it was my turn in line to get books signed I literally couldn't speak, my mom had to say, "He really loves your writing, and can you please sign his books?"
My copy of this book has been with me ever since I bought it, it is dog-eared, yellowing and barely held together. I will always think fondly of this book and AC Crispin.
I remember when my mom took me to a reading AC Crispin was giving and I brought all the books of hers I had. When it was my turn in line to get books signed I literally couldn't speak, my mom had to say, "He really loves your writing, and can you please sign his books?"
My copy of this book has been with me ever since I bought it, it is dog-eared, yellowing and barely held together. I will always think fondly of this book and AC Crispin.
March 26, 2016
It's interesting to see what holds up over time and what doesn't. Andre Norton, whose work inspired Ann Crispen, doesn't always, especially in her classic Forerunner series. Crispin herself emphatically does.
Mahree Burroughs, an almost 17-year-old human from a distant planet in the 22nd century, is heading for the home planet she has never seen to attend university on Earth. Her biggest concern is whether she can win over the cute young doctor who (with his cat) has just been awoken from hibernation. But the universe is stranger than Mahree can imagine, and it soon directs her along a path that is both unanticipated and exactly right for her....
Mahree Burroughs, an almost 17-year-old human from a distant planet in the 22nd century, is heading for the home planet she has never seen to attend university on Earth. Her biggest concern is whether she can win over the cute young doctor who (with his cat) has just been awoken from hibernation. But the universe is stranger than Mahree can imagine, and it soon directs her along a path that is both unanticipated and exactly right for her....
April 18, 2020
3 1/2 stars, really.
StarBridge is a good book in its own right, but seems also to be a set up for the later books in the series. It reads like a Heinlein book or like other of the older writers, which makes some sense since it was written in 1989.
I think if I had been younger, this would have a been a fantastic book. It is a coming of age book, basically. The beginning is kind of slow, but it picks up.
All of the characters are good guys, basically. There were some misunderstandings to cause drama, but that's a first contact novel for you.
Even though I have only rated it 3 1/2 stars, I recommend it for everyone who likes old style SF, coming of age stories and first contact novels. I plan to read more in the series
StarBridge is a good book in its own right, but seems also to be a set up for the later books in the series. It reads like a Heinlein book or like other of the older writers, which makes some sense since it was written in 1989.
I think if I had been younger, this would have a been a fantastic book. It is a coming of age book, basically. The beginning is kind of slow, but it picks up.
All of the characters are good guys, basically. There were some misunderstandings to cause drama, but that's a first contact novel for you.
Even though I have only rated it 3 1/2 stars, I recommend it for everyone who likes old style SF, coming of age stories and first contact novels. I plan to read more in the series
May 12, 2022
I like Crispin's style but this didn't do anything for me. The pace is slow and tedious. Too many convenient coincidences in the plot. Great cover art, though.
May 6, 2018
An enjoyable read.
March 12, 2023
they did not have to have the 16 year old girl be in a relationship with the 24 year old guy but other than that it was really nerdy and good
October 9, 2013
A.C. Crispin holds the distinction of being one of the voices that first made me fall in love with science fiction, thanks to her superlative Han Solo trilogy (The Paradise Snare, The Hutt Gambit, and Rebel Dawn). Star Wars fan or not, those are cracking good reads. However, I'd never explored her other work, and when I discovered that she'd recently re-released her StarBridge series as e-books, I knew I had to try her "unbranded" fiction. The result is an engaging coming-of-age tale, that, though lacking some of the polish of her later work, brings a fresh spin to the classic sci-fi trope of a "first contact" with a new alien species.
On the cusp of her seventeenth birthday, Mahree Burroughs sets out from Jolie, Earth's colony planet, to return to Earth with plans to continue her education at university and somehow, someway, make her mark on the world. Traveling aboard her uncle's starship, the Désirée, Mahree chafes at the restrictions placed on her by virtue of being the captain's young relative, particularly when handsome Dr. Robert Gable is awoken from hibernation early. Though twenty four, Rob has as much to prove to the world as Mahree, and the two form a fast friendship based on a shared desire for respect and adventure. When the ship's communications systems pick up radio transmissions of an unknown origin, Mahree and Rob find themselves at the forefront of a shocking discovery -- Earth's first contact with the Simiu, an alien with an imposing, lion-like appearance. Everything goes well until a cultural misunderstanding threatens the fragile human-Simiu first contact with irreparable violence. Determined to protect both her people and her new alien friends, Mahree goes rogue, embarking on a dangerous quest that brings her before peoples and worlds beyond her wildest dreams -- an experience with the potential to change the trajectory of her life, if she survives.
While I am a relatively new fan of classic Star Trek, this novel strikes me as very much in the classic Trek vein of the thrill and danger of first encounters with previously unknown alien races. Though the technology feels a little dated by twenty-first century standards (StarBridge was first published in 1989), Crispin's ability to articulate the excitement and thrill of a First Contact discovery remains timeless. While the "nuts and bolts" of first contact protocols between human and Simiu skitters on the edge of pedantry, slowing the forward momentum of the narrative, Crispin's attention to the detail makes StarBridge something of a science fiction lover's manual for first contact in bookish form -- a testimony to her boundless imagination and passion for the genre.
Mahree is, for the most part, a compelling heroine. Crispin sketches her teenage, growing-up angst with equal measures of compassionate warmth and humor. My favorite portion of the novel involves Mahree, Rob, and their Simiu ally Dhurrkk's journey to the interplanetary League in a last-ditch attempt to broker peace between the crew of the Désirée and the Simiu. Mahree really comes into her own here as a potential leader. I do, however, desperately wish that Crispin had opted to forego pursuing a romance between Mahree and Rob. The fact that she's still a teenager when they consummate their relationship -- never mind the future's view of one's full maturity level at sixteen -- plays out awkwardly on the page. Thankfully Crispin hints at a possible reset or delay in their relationship by the novel's end, but without further development their earlier "romance" falls flat -- a shame in a novel scrupulously dedicated to inter-species relational development.
Although StarBridge lacks the polish and finesse of Crispin's later, tie-in work, it is an enjoyable slice of original, old-fashioned sci-fi escapism. With its strong premise and attendant endless possibilities and a solid execution, StarBridge marks an intriguing beginning to Crispin's original work and fantastic imagination. Further installments are now definitely on my radar.
On the cusp of her seventeenth birthday, Mahree Burroughs sets out from Jolie, Earth's colony planet, to return to Earth with plans to continue her education at university and somehow, someway, make her mark on the world. Traveling aboard her uncle's starship, the Désirée, Mahree chafes at the restrictions placed on her by virtue of being the captain's young relative, particularly when handsome Dr. Robert Gable is awoken from hibernation early. Though twenty four, Rob has as much to prove to the world as Mahree, and the two form a fast friendship based on a shared desire for respect and adventure. When the ship's communications systems pick up radio transmissions of an unknown origin, Mahree and Rob find themselves at the forefront of a shocking discovery -- Earth's first contact with the Simiu, an alien with an imposing, lion-like appearance. Everything goes well until a cultural misunderstanding threatens the fragile human-Simiu first contact with irreparable violence. Determined to protect both her people and her new alien friends, Mahree goes rogue, embarking on a dangerous quest that brings her before peoples and worlds beyond her wildest dreams -- an experience with the potential to change the trajectory of her life, if she survives.
While I am a relatively new fan of classic Star Trek, this novel strikes me as very much in the classic Trek vein of the thrill and danger of first encounters with previously unknown alien races. Though the technology feels a little dated by twenty-first century standards (StarBridge was first published in 1989), Crispin's ability to articulate the excitement and thrill of a First Contact discovery remains timeless. While the "nuts and bolts" of first contact protocols between human and Simiu skitters on the edge of pedantry, slowing the forward momentum of the narrative, Crispin's attention to the detail makes StarBridge something of a science fiction lover's manual for first contact in bookish form -- a testimony to her boundless imagination and passion for the genre.
Mahree is, for the most part, a compelling heroine. Crispin sketches her teenage, growing-up angst with equal measures of compassionate warmth and humor. My favorite portion of the novel involves Mahree, Rob, and their Simiu ally Dhurrkk's journey to the interplanetary League in a last-ditch attempt to broker peace between the crew of the Désirée and the Simiu. Mahree really comes into her own here as a potential leader. I do, however, desperately wish that Crispin had opted to forego pursuing a romance between Mahree and Rob. The fact that she's still a teenager when they consummate their relationship -- never mind the future's view of one's full maturity level at sixteen -- plays out awkwardly on the page. Thankfully Crispin hints at a possible reset or delay in their relationship by the novel's end, but without further development their earlier "romance" falls flat -- a shame in a novel scrupulously dedicated to inter-species relational development.
Although StarBridge lacks the polish and finesse of Crispin's later, tie-in work, it is an enjoyable slice of original, old-fashioned sci-fi escapism. With its strong premise and attendant endless possibilities and a solid execution, StarBridge marks an intriguing beginning to Crispin's original work and fantastic imagination. Further installments are now definitely on my radar.
January 3, 2013
One of the best first contact stories I ever read, Starbridge is timeless. Both a YA coming of age tale of a young woman traveling on her uncle's starship amongst the stars, a romance, and a story of humans encountering new alien life forms, the story works as well today as it did when it was first written and published 20 years ago.
Mahree is on her way to study on Earth, after growing up on a colony planet, when her uncle's ship encounters a message from possible alien life. An investigation leads them to a neighboring star system where they encounter the Simiu, sentient beings who are lionesque in appearance. A culture which places great value on honor, soon the humans find themselves challenged over cross cultural misunderstandings typical to two races who have never encountered each other before.
When the Simiu imprison her starship, Mahree and her Simiu friend, Dhurrrkk' steal a small ship and head for the headquarters of The Cooperate League of Systems, a bit of an interplanetary United Nations, which the Simiu desperately want to join. Hoping League leaders will intervene, Mahree and Dhurrrkk' risk their lives escaping to set their plan in motion. As they depart, the ship's doctor, Rob Gable, stumbles onto them, forcing them to take him along.
In the course of their journey, Mahree and Rob fall in love, and all three meet a fungus-like alien they label "Blanket" who produces oxygen just as their life support systems have run out. Joining them for the final leg of their journey, Blanket wins Earth an invitation to join the League, while Mahree and Dhurrrkk' convince League leaders to mediate between the Simiu and the imprisoned Earth starship crew.
Mahree's character is extremely well drawn and complex, and we get to see her grow from a brooding teenager into a responsible woman who makes a significant contribution to diplomacy and finds a future career.
Rob, Dhyrrrkk, Blanket and several other characters are also well drawn, great additions. The story is family friendly, although Mahree's romance with Rob does involve a few love scenes.
The story does not seem dated at all. And the complexity of the world building here is fascinating.
As a long time fan of Crispin, who's used to her tie-ins more than original works, it was fun to see how inventive and gifted she can be working beyond the constraints of someone else's sandbox. Worth rediscovering if you haven't read it. A highly recommended read!
Mahree is on her way to study on Earth, after growing up on a colony planet, when her uncle's ship encounters a message from possible alien life. An investigation leads them to a neighboring star system where they encounter the Simiu, sentient beings who are lionesque in appearance. A culture which places great value on honor, soon the humans find themselves challenged over cross cultural misunderstandings typical to two races who have never encountered each other before.
When the Simiu imprison her starship, Mahree and her Simiu friend, Dhurrrkk' steal a small ship and head for the headquarters of The Cooperate League of Systems, a bit of an interplanetary United Nations, which the Simiu desperately want to join. Hoping League leaders will intervene, Mahree and Dhurrrkk' risk their lives escaping to set their plan in motion. As they depart, the ship's doctor, Rob Gable, stumbles onto them, forcing them to take him along.
In the course of their journey, Mahree and Rob fall in love, and all three meet a fungus-like alien they label "Blanket" who produces oxygen just as their life support systems have run out. Joining them for the final leg of their journey, Blanket wins Earth an invitation to join the League, while Mahree and Dhurrrkk' convince League leaders to mediate between the Simiu and the imprisoned Earth starship crew.
Mahree's character is extremely well drawn and complex, and we get to see her grow from a brooding teenager into a responsible woman who makes a significant contribution to diplomacy and finds a future career.
Rob, Dhyrrrkk, Blanket and several other characters are also well drawn, great additions. The story is family friendly, although Mahree's romance with Rob does involve a few love scenes.
The story does not seem dated at all. And the complexity of the world building here is fascinating.
As a long time fan of Crispin, who's used to her tie-ins more than original works, it was fun to see how inventive and gifted she can be working beyond the constraints of someone else's sandbox. Worth rediscovering if you haven't read it. A highly recommended read!
September 21, 2016
My ratings should be the only review of books from me showing on goodreads. They are my unincentivized, unconnected consumer product opinions.
The star rating reflects solely my subjective reading experience and resulting opinion of the book according to the rating scale used by goodreads. It's not intended to destroy anyone's livelihood nor to churn out book promotions for them — just my opinion/reaction shared with other readers and a means to track my reading, provide book comparison data and aid in book recommendations feature.
I rate here according to goodreads scale meaning that because goodreads determined most readers choose books they think they will enjoy, the goodreads average/okay rating on a 5-unit scale (2½) is rounded down to 2 stars where other sites like retailer Amazon round up to make 3 stars the average/okay read.
[A briefer way to put that is that yes I rate books one star lower on goodreads than on Amazon without in any way considering that to be bullying anyone or restriction of trade—I just do look to see if a site's scale runs 1-5 or 5-1 then what each unit means in that site because that's how I was taught to use scales.
I'm too durn old to be convinced otherwise, too durn ornery to believe that the only correct way to do anything is how it's done on Amazon.com site, and firmly remain convinced only people—not inanimate things like commercial products aka books—can suffer the psychological trauma of being bullied.]
The star rating reflects solely my subjective reading experience and resulting opinion of the book according to the rating scale used by goodreads. It's not intended to destroy anyone's livelihood nor to churn out book promotions for them — just my opinion/reaction shared with other readers and a means to track my reading, provide book comparison data and aid in book recommendations feature.
I rate here according to goodreads scale meaning that because goodreads determined most readers choose books they think they will enjoy, the goodreads average/okay rating on a 5-unit scale (2½) is rounded down to 2 stars where other sites like retailer Amazon round up to make 3 stars the average/okay read.
[A briefer way to put that is that yes I rate books one star lower on goodreads than on Amazon without in any way considering that to be bullying anyone or restriction of trade—I just do look to see if a site's scale runs 1-5 or 5-1 then what each unit means in that site because that's how I was taught to use scales.
I'm too durn old to be convinced otherwise, too durn ornery to believe that the only correct way to do anything is how it's done on Amazon.com site, and firmly remain convinced only people—not inanimate things like commercial products aka books—can suffer the psychological trauma of being bullied.]
July 18, 2012
This reads like a homeless man's Vernor Vinge or lower rent Timothy Zahn. A human freighter picks up signals and encounters aliens. There are various misunderstandings, leading to finding a whole Federation-type thing of other aliens. None of the characters really seemed real to me. The main character, Mahree, was supposed to be 17 but it was hard for me not to think of her as a whiny 12-year-old. That said it's still some fun light sci-fi reading. If the sequels were cheap enough I might read them.
June 10, 2014
One of my favorites from my teen years
I am so happy to finally see this series available again. I just reread it for approx the 213th time (ok perhaps that's a slight exaggeration). My paper copy will always have a place of honor on the top shelf of my library.
I am so happy to finally see this series available again. I just reread it for approx the 213th time (ok perhaps that's a slight exaggeration). My paper copy will always have a place of honor on the top shelf of my library.
January 1, 2023
I initially gave this 4/5 but I’ve thought about it for months now and I loved it. It has its flaws but Crispin writes great aliens and characters.
May 21, 2012
3.5 stars
An amusing and intriguing series opener, but one that stands well alone.
An amusing and intriguing series opener, but one that stands well alone.
June 20, 2022
Being an old school Star Trek fan, I knew AC Crispin since long ago from her quite famous tie-in books to "Star Trek" titled "Yesterday's Son" and "Sarek" and for being credited for really developing the backgrounds of Vulcans through those books. I picked this book up at a closing bookstore based purely on her name and later found it's from a fairly well-known series in her own created universe. I read it because when published in 1989 there still weren't a whole lot of books by women with women leads in science fiction. In the book's Afterword, it made me smile to read her say that she was inspired by one of my favorite speculative fiction authors, Andre Norton, whose books she picked up as a child and thoroughly enjoyed because (as she realized afterward) unlike every other book she read from the greats of the time, Norton's books hooked her with women leads. They were the ones having adventures on other planets instead of men! Norton also had all sorts of leads of different races, ethnicities, and ableness, too. When Crispin started to write she also wrote a variety of people who, as she put it, "lead, fight, spy - and even rescue the guys, from time to time." When her agent talked her into writing what became the StarBridge series, she decided she wanted to make them the kinds of adventure books she'd read growing up, but where the heroes were men or women.
That's where this book starts off, with a 16-going-on-17 year old young woman, Mahree, leaving the nest, you could say, in what starts off as heading to university off-planet on humanity's homeworld Earth and turns into a much bigger adventure and ultimately different path in her life. There was the classic First Contact plot and the fumbles and outright huge mistakes that can happen, despite the best of intentions, when aliens meet. Crispin spends a lot of time developing her alien culture and language which some people seem to find tedious, but I thought stayed just detailed enough to be thorough and engrossing without being too much for me. It makes for well-rounded characters and adds depth to their interactions instead of spending most of the time expounding on technology etc.
When I was considering my rating for this book I almost gave it 3 instead of 4 stars until I realized I was being unfair in my opinion based purely on my age. Because the protagonist is 16/17, Mahree often irritated me with all the angst 16/17 year olds are prone to go on and on about! On second thought, of course that's how it should be and Crispin nails the characterization. Her writing isn't AS polished as her later books from the mid to late 90s, but it's still well written. Apparently also, some people take exception to the fact that Mahree has a romantic/sexual relationship with a 20-something year old and they consider her a minor who shouldn't be doing that. In this universe, she's considered an adult at 16, so people should keep that in perspective. Finally, also of note is that each book of this series is supposed to be stand-alone, so it seems the other 6 books can be read in any order and not all of them HAVE to be read. Aside from this first book of the series which is solely written by Crispin, they're each co-written by her with different authors. While they all take place in the universe created in this book, the protagonists, worlds, etc. are different.
That's where this book starts off, with a 16-going-on-17 year old young woman, Mahree, leaving the nest, you could say, in what starts off as heading to university off-planet on humanity's homeworld Earth and turns into a much bigger adventure and ultimately different path in her life. There was the classic First Contact plot and the fumbles and outright huge mistakes that can happen, despite the best of intentions, when aliens meet. Crispin spends a lot of time developing her alien culture and language which some people seem to find tedious, but I thought stayed just detailed enough to be thorough and engrossing without being too much for me. It makes for well-rounded characters and adds depth to their interactions instead of spending most of the time expounding on technology etc.
When I was considering my rating for this book I almost gave it 3 instead of 4 stars until I realized I was being unfair in my opinion based purely on my age. Because the protagonist is 16/17, Mahree often irritated me with all the angst 16/17 year olds are prone to go on and on about! On second thought, of course that's how it should be and Crispin nails the characterization. Her writing isn't AS polished as her later books from the mid to late 90s, but it's still well written. Apparently also, some people take exception to the fact that Mahree has a romantic/sexual relationship with a 20-something year old and they consider her a minor who shouldn't be doing that. In this universe, she's considered an adult at 16, so people should keep that in perspective. Finally, also of note is that each book of this series is supposed to be stand-alone, so it seems the other 6 books can be read in any order and not all of them HAVE to be read. Aside from this first book of the series which is solely written by Crispin, they're each co-written by her with different authors. While they all take place in the universe created in this book, the protagonists, worlds, etc. are different.
November 4, 2018
The first book I read in this series was Voices of Chaos which is actually book number 7. (It's fortunate for me that the author wrote the books as mostly standalones that had a common background) Since I enjoyed that book so much I thought I would go back and start at the beginning with number 1. I really liked this book, not as much as VoC but enough that I gave it four stars. Mahree is an interesting character. She is a sixteen year old (about to turn seventeen year old) who is on her way from her home colony to Earth to study at the university when they ship she is on makes first contact. Up until that point humans had thought they were alone in the universe. Mahree definitely comes off as 16 at the start of the novel. I liked how you can see her mature and grow though her experiences throughout the novel. The first contact does not go smoothly and so Mahree, her new alien friend, and Rob the ship's doctor go to the CLS so they can mediate the situation. I loved that the aliens they meet are all so varied, and different from us. (The only caveat for me was that Rob and Mahree end up in a relationship and the age and experience gap felt a bit much as he was 24 she was 16/17.)
It is a well written book that I would recommend to those who love sci-fi.
It is a well written book that I would recommend to those who love sci-fi.
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November 27, 2021Listened to it on Audible… not going to rate it because I have such mixed thoughts on it. First off, this book is not written for me. A main character perspective of a 16 year old girl… I have a 16 year old daughter who is great… is just not something I’m interested in reading - but I gave it a go. The writing quality really oscillates. Sometimes it’s quite good, and other times there’s blatent use of the -Ly adverbs that are distracting and unnecessary- but what made them stick out 3 times were when they were used repeatedly within a few sentences of each other - that’s just distractingly poor writing. :) where was the content editor on that???
Character development is pretty good. Many times I felt someone was being presented in a cardboard way - and then was pleasantly surprised by later depth in action and word. Every time I began to be concerned about (not enough) conflict she tweaked it up a little. I won’t be continuing the series- but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. I enjoyed the “humanism” messages of the book. I think my daughter might like it.
Character development is pretty good. Many times I felt someone was being presented in a cardboard way - and then was pleasantly surprised by later depth in action and word. Every time I began to be concerned about (not enough) conflict she tweaked it up a little. I won’t be continuing the series- but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. I enjoyed the “humanism” messages of the book. I think my daughter might like it.
August 28, 2017
I really liked this book. I like that the main character is a young woman. I like that it's focused on cultural exchange rather than hard science. The book certainly has enough action, but it's very much focused on big questions: What happens when two species with different, and to a certain extent mutually exclusive, cultural norms come into contact? How far would you go to preserve peace? What would you give up to boldly go and explore the final frontier? This is the first of the series, and I'm very interested in reading the rest of them (not least because I want to know if this book is truly the end of the romance that starts up midway through or if the characters manage to find a way).
November 23, 2021
The book was very engaging, left me wanting more. However, from what I have seen, this book centers on the most interesting point in the protagonist’s life. So, there is no need for a continuation. I quite like the thought of not making everything interesting in the universe happen to just one small group of characters.
The book feels dated in a few spots, for instance notably struggling with the use of “it”for a non-gendered being, and not arriving at the decision to use “they”.
The only negative about the book I will echo is that the protagonist is 16/17 which is a bit too young for the romantic interest. Plus, it undermines the arc of her unjustly being treated like a child, since she really is one in a lot of respects. I just thought of her as closer to 20.
The book feels dated in a few spots, for instance notably struggling with the use of “it”for a non-gendered being, and not arriving at the decision to use “they”.
The only negative about the book I will echo is that the protagonist is 16/17 which is a bit too young for the romantic interest. Plus, it undermines the arc of her unjustly being treated like a child, since she really is one in a lot of respects. I just thought of her as closer to 20.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2020
Let me just get this out of the way at the start. I guess having sex with underaged girls in the future, out in space is ok. The book started out really good then just fell apart. The main character is only 17 and has fallen in love with a doctor, of course, who is 24. A sexual relationship then ensues. Very creepy. This whole story line could have been left out of the book and it wouldn't have hurt the store at all. Plus every alien race they meet are just so nice and accommodation. There was very little conflict or tension in this book. Oh there was a couple paragraphs where a little excitement happens but that was few and very predictable.
Started off good. Then fell apart quickly.
Started off good. Then fell apart quickly.
March 12, 2021
I bought this series in paperback originally, back when they were first published, at Forbidden Planet in London. I must have read them all two or three times, and the physical copies are pretty dog-eared now, if I could ever locate them (probably in the loft).
But thankfully, though they lack the gorgeous covers of the paperbacks, they are all now available in Kindle format. So it would be madness not to re-read them!
This first story, a scene-setter in every sense of the word, is a great story of first contact in its own right, as well. Re-reading it is like slipping back into a warm bath.
But thankfully, though they lack the gorgeous covers of the paperbacks, they are all now available in Kindle format. So it would be madness not to re-read them!
This first story, a scene-setter in every sense of the word, is a great story of first contact in its own right, as well. Re-reading it is like slipping back into a warm bath.
February 24, 2018
I really enjoyed the start of this series. I had read the author's Han Solo trilogy some years back and thought it was great. This proved to be just as quality as those books. The books centers on a human girl Mahree and her journey with first contact with an alien species. It brings them into contact with much more than that and the need to solve a dispute between them in order to become members into a league of systems. The characters are well developed and the story keeps your grip throughout. I recommend it.
July 27, 2018
Crispin, A. C. Starbridge. Starbridge No. 1. Ace, 1989.
Crispin is an accomplished storyteller. Best-known for her contributions to the Star Wars series, she has a chance here to escape the straightjacket of prefab characters in a universe that is full of not-so-alien aliens. She said her goal was to create a girl’s coming of age story in an interstellar adventure. Mission accomplished. Sadly, the rest of the series does not follow the heroine through her career.
Crispin is an accomplished storyteller. Best-known for her contributions to the Star Wars series, she has a chance here to escape the straightjacket of prefab characters in a universe that is full of not-so-alien aliens. She said her goal was to create a girl’s coming of age story in an interstellar adventure. Mission accomplished. Sadly, the rest of the series does not follow the heroine through her career.
April 9, 2021
I first read this in 1989 and as I re-read my books, read it again this year, 2021. I didn't remember everything but it's still an excellent read. Crispin, and I did message her a few years before her death and got a response, was a very interesting author and writes in a compelling way. Highly recommended, particularly as so much new SF is dark and dreary, this is still an inspirational book.
August 16, 2023
It was a little cheesy and somewhat boring in parts but I really liked it. It was a look back to my childhood and the beginning to my favorite book in the series. Book #2. For all these reasons it deserves the 4 stars.
February 10, 2025
Starbridge is an adventurous and imaginative first contact story that balances scope and conflict with character driven drama and exploration. It's not entirely perfect, but its strengths outnumber and outshine its weaknesses. A great read!
September 11, 2017
1st in a series. I will be reading more to see what happens next.
September 22, 2017
Oh yeah, this one hooked me right of the bat---have the whole series, will read the whole series.
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