Science Fiction Aficionados discussion

This month, we're discussing Alexa's pick, Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach. I'm just ordering it from the library, so I look forward to discussing it!

Me too!

A few chapters into the book. So far, it has drawn me into the story pretty good.

Fortune’s Pawn has to be the most page-turny (I’m claiming that word now. It’s gonna be big one day) book I have ever read. It’s exciting, it’s in-depth, and the characters are believable. The secondary characters stay secondary, they don’t take over the spotlight, and they fade away into the background at the appropriate times.

While the writing is top-notch, it’s the story that shines here. Rachel Bach lays this trail of breadcrumbs laced with coke, so after you taste that first breadcrumb, you’re hooked and won’t stop eating them until you get to the end of the trail.

At the end of the book I got this Star Wars vibe, but the type of Star Wars I’ve always wanted. One with a mysterious force thing, but with lots of in-your-face killing and big explosions.

If you like Star Wars or Star Trek, you will LOVE Fortune’s Pawn. Hell, I’m pretty sure you don’t even have to like sci-fi much to enjoy Fortune’s Pawn. It’s one of those books, that if it’s the first sci-fi book you’ve ever read, you will be hooked on the genre.

I can’t recommend this book enough. Go to your local library to check it out, buy it from your local bookstore, buy it online, steal it from a friend, just get this book and read it!

I've read the first four chapters and I'm having lots of fun with this. I think she's assembled a great cast of characters here.

I started this not sure if I would like it and found myself gobbling up all 3 books. Devi is a headstrong character and is fun to follow. I just booktalked this book at Geek Girl Con yesterday. There is a strong romance element in the book, which I enjoyed, but Bach starts to unfold some of the mystery and science fiction plotting in the series as book 1 ends.

Yes, this was a great adventure. I just gobbled it up as fast as I could. My only complaint is that the ending is really only the end of Act 1 of the story - fortunately my library has the next two sitting right there on the shelf waiting for me!

Seriously page-turny!

I read this awhile ago and really liked it. I need to make time to read the rest of the trilogy!

I agree with Jonathan, it's the plot that's the real star here. It was certainly creative, I had no idea where it was going from minute to minute, and she leaves us, at the end of Book 1, with so many unanswered questions, in the most pleasurable way! I thought the bugs were fascinating!

Rollicking good book. Lots of fun. Started it yesterday evening and stayed up late to finish it.

I enjoyed this book. It is readable and provides a good military in space story. The characters are likeable and the villains are not overly played. I did not see much in the way of science of the future, nor did I see much beyond a fairly linear plot. This could have been a western or a crime drama—just as easily as a space story. Further, I feel that Devi is a one-dimensional heroine. She is an aggressive, ambitious military warrior; however, the story does not offer much more to her makeup. The battles scenes are very good. This is an average read and I give it two stars.

Guy wrote: "I enjoyed this book. It is readable and provides a good military in space story. The characters are likeable and the villains are not overly played. I did not see much in the way of science of the ..."

I disagree with your description of Devi as a one-dimensional heroine.

I think if I met her I would consider her to be brash and enthusiastic. More aggressive then most women, but that is in the book so I will accept that. She is not trying to be a man. No, she is all woman. Able to appreciate men and enjoy them. She has no doubt as to her worth so there are no snarky comments. She is genuine. She wants fairness for herself and others. She cares about children with a fierceness I find admirable. She is loyal to her planet. Quite simply, she rings right.

So, my question is, does someone have to have negative characteristics to be considered complex enough?

I suppose the culture of Paradox is part of the soft science of the future. The aliens are interesting. The earthlings have their own secret. The mind powers would never show up in a western or crime story. (unless they were science fiction as well)

The fighting suits are way ahead of what is possible at the moment on Earth. Super fast travel is certainly a science fiction feature.

I agree with June that Devi is more complex than many heroines I have come across. One 'flaw' in my mind is her reverence for her Sainted King. You see from Rupert's eyes that this is strange and it is anomalous to her character in one respect, as she is a natural rebel and questioner, but not in the respect that military training drills and demands obedience.

I appreciated that there were a lot of distinctly drawn characters in the books. The dialogue, decisions and actions of each character made sense as context was unfolded.

The mind meld she is able to enter reminded me quite a bit of Theodore Sturgeon's MORE THAN HUMAN.

I just started book 2 of this trilogy, Honor's Knight, and it's grabbed me just as much as the first did - I agree that the character of Devi is a bit thin, but who cares when there's all this exciting and mysterious stuff going on!

Exactly!

So now I've started #3, Heaven's Queen. On the subject of character, which I had previously given her low points for, I quite like what she's doing with the relationship between Devi and Rupert. Still a completely fun read.