Solar Flare: Science Fiction News

I’ve read a number of fantasy books by this author now, but this is the first Science Fiction book I’ve seen so I wasn’t sure quite what to expect.

As it turns out Modesitt doesn’t change his style much. We have the usual (slightly annoying) sound effects. The hero spends a lot of time pondering “big issues” and the author specialises in the mundanities of life.

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This makes it sound rather boring, but actually its not. Its really an entertaining read and I certainly didn’t have to force myself at any point. Modesitt seems to have a knack for describing everyday events in a way which holds your interest.

Modesitt’s big question in this book (he usually has one) is Religion. Why do people believe? Inevitably with a question like that he doesn’t come up with a conclusive answer. In truth he dodges the issue rather. Never the less this is a solidly written book with an interesting and believeable high-tech setting.

Modesitt is quite happy to kill off characters all through the book and the heroes final visit to his family is rather touching even though you can see it coming some way off.

Another pleasant feature of this book is the lack of “info dumps”. Modesitt builds up the world around you introducing the information gradually through the story rather than just telling you.

Early in the book I noticed a pre-ponderence of Asian style names and the “Revs” are described as blond haird and blue eyed, but it isn’t until a good third into the book that the author actually reveals the that “bad” guys are descended Anglos and the good guys are descended from “Shintos”

So all in all this is a decent SF book. Not exceptional. Not a classic, but a good read. If you have tried other Modesitt books and not enjoyed them then I don’t think this will convert you to his style of writing. But if you have enjoyed his other books this is definitely worth a read.