John Payton > Recent Status Updates

I no longer believe that I would understand this story better had I read the first two books. Tchaikovsky is deliberately writing to confuse the reader.

Okay - I can get behind the oligarchs who can't get anything done because they can't work together. And that they were responsible for the degradation of Earth.

I kind of like the mantis shrimp.

And I think I could appreciate Alice. if only I could figure out her frickin' TIMELINE.

What's the timeline here? When is Alice buried on the planet, in relation to when she's on the ship? Is Katt the same as Kern? WTF is going on here? The shifting POV and unclear timeline is throwing me off.

Is the part with the terraformers a true prequel, or is it in the simulation?

Which character woke up underground? Aliice, or Cot?

Can the narrator do any other characters?

What's the point of this story?

The narrator detracts rather than adds to the experience. Not an engaging storyteller, character voices not varied enough to distinguish during conversations. Simply read rather than performed. First time in a while that I've been tempted to switch to the print version.

Did not expect the particular twist. Thought it was a ghost story.

Starting to get worried that James will not make it out of this alive.

Early on, it became apparent that Jim is Huck's real father.

I'd forgotten the ending of this one. Made me wonder why there were sequels, until I started reading them.

My SF club is probably disappointed in this book.

At this point in the book, the author seems awfully optimistic and naive about politics, particularly Republican politics.
I do realize that this was written well before Covid, well before MAGA, but it's hard to re-read it knowing what I do now. KA virus would wipe out the entire country if it were to happen today.

I loves me a good heist story. I kinda want to see Elliot make a cameo at the end and offer to bring all these interns into Leverage International. I mean, you know, since the murder seems to have been wrapped up already.

Halfway through the book, finally there's a murder. I was beginning to think that this book didn't belong in our mystery book club at all.

Seems like a teaching book disguised as a YA story.

Well I'm glad that Grace let the anger go.

Kinda messed up that Grace held onto his grudge for so long. And that he didn't want to go on the mission, especially since 1) he was geeking out so much over the alien ship, and 2) he didn't really have any friends on Earth.

So he will get enough fuel to get home. Does he have enough FOOD?

Hah, the aliens ARE anhydrous!

So Grace just got the cannister. I think that they sent him a sample of their breathable atmosphere. Will these be the non-water-based aliens?

Excellent narration.

After the defeat of Caroline's father. I though that the rest would be denoument - and with 25% of the book left to go, an unnecessarily long one. Now I can see that this is about taking responsibility for what you break.

The way it jumps around is confusing at first. I'm starting to like Steve a bit.