Science Fiction Aficionados discussion

Welcome to the New year and our continuing venture into The Academy! I am very intrigued after reading The Engines of God, so I will be joining in this weekend!

I was really happy to find a group that is reading McDevitt-- in fact, that is why I joined your group a few days ago. I enjoyed my rereading of The Engines of God, and am very much looking forward to the rest of the Academy series. I just finished Deepsix, and it was amazing. McDevitt is my favorite contemporary science fiction author. I have read some of his standalone novels, and I am happy to see that he seems to write good series, too.

There were so many details that I really enjoyed about Deepsix-- the plants and seemingly intelligent animals (what was behind the flashing light that Nightingale and MacAllister saw over the water?), the image of the small falcon astronomer peering through his tiny telescope, the wise crickets, and the towers and temples they built. The hawks trying to evacuate other races with their skyhook (I really hope we meet the hawks and crickets later in the series!). The species that were left behind on Deepsix after this rescue attempt, now being finally and completely erased by Morgan's World. The whole story of Hutch and her party being stranded and everyone cooperating in the rescue attempt was very enjoyable and suspenseful, but for me it was overshadowed by the death of the planet Maleiva III, the loss of what appeared to be sentient plant and animal life, and everything that would never be known about them, the puzzles that would never be answered about the civilizations, the buildings, and the skyhook. It was possible that Hutch's group would be rescued, but there was absolutely no chance of rescue for the planets and its inhabitants. It was such a shame that the Academy missed its chance to study such an incredible world.

I first read this series about a decade or so ago and really loved it, and just read it again a few months ago. I have a real soft spot for Deep Six, which is my favorite of the series. Yes, it is more than kinda seat of the pants action, but the puzzles keep it going. The sardonic quips from McAllister were really fun and he made a great character. Hutch is always fun and the relationship between her and McAllister was great, even if a little wooden.

Phil wrote: "I first read this series about a decade or so ago and really loved it, and just read it again a few months ago. I have a real soft spot for Deep Six, which is my favorite of the series. Yes, it is ..."

I expected to really despise MacAllister, and that he would be a really whiny, entitled pain in the a**, but he ended up being quite likeable in a curmudgeonly sort of way.

I finally got to start it last night-so glad everyone is enjoying it so far!

I read this five years ago so I only remember bits and pieces, but it was my least favorite of the ones I've read so far. I think it was the fact that every predicament they found themselves in was the result of a really bad, even stupid decision.

I liked MacAllister too. I don't remember how he was physically described, but I kept picturing Christopher Hitchens!

I enjoyed the story of Malieva and the stranding of the group, the various species and how they struggled through it. However, I felt that the rescue was a bit too pat and predictable, sort of outlandish, like the end of an action movie. Not a huge disappointment, but more anti-climactic for me. I do like the series and McDevitt's writing, however, so I'll keep going.

I think this series would make a great Netflix series!! What you see as a problem I see as a great strength of the book.

I am so glad we're reading this series! Not at all what I thought it was...in the good way!

Maggie wrote: "I am so glad we're reading this series! Not at all what I thought it was...in the good way!"

I'm really glad we're reading the series too, Maggie! I've already bought the rest of the books in the series-- I really hope the group read goes all the way to #8 with me! :-)

So glad people are enjoying it!

I have read through Omega, and look forward to joining everyone "live" with Odyssey.

McDevitt's standalone books are also wonderful.