Well I got through this a lot quicker than I got through the previous book.
A very fast paced thriller, similar to Peter Watts' Blindsight, which I read a couple of years back and enjoyed greatly.
Here, humanity has advanced throughout the stars, explored thirty different solar systems, and formed an alliance with the Liars, a species whose only consistent trait is that they lie. About everything. They've helped humanity, but have not been able to introduce them to any other form of intelligent life. Humans and Liars are the only species in the galaxy. Until now.
A third species has been discovered, by a 500 year old cryo-ship, which was interrupted on its journey on its way to an exoplanet in a different solar system's "goldilock's zone". The only escapee of that encounter is Elena, who wants to rescue her missing shipmates, and convinces the crew of the White Raven to help her, with a rather massive bribe. (Not compound interest for once.)
This crew are formed of a rather odd set of characters, including AI, self-evolving cyborgs, unfortunate alien experiments and a rather lusty captain, who has a bit of a soft spot for Elena. Thankfully, the elements of romance here were sufficiently well done, with minimal hand-wringing, that I enjoyed them.
The aliens are an impressive horror, working nicely as a major threat to drive the plot along, and there's a decent bit of world-building to establish the future of Earth and everything that went a bit wrong with it.
Great fun, interesting people, good bit of horror. But it's Tim Pratt. He's always fun anyway.
Highly recommended.
Tagged: Book Science fiction Alien villains Novel Print