A perfectly fine cop/crime solving novel. But it's pretty much a straightforward genre adventure, and it really suffers in comparison to works of the scope and ambition of Snow/Summer Queen. If it wasn't advertised as a sequel to those two excellent works, I think I would have liked it more. Still, an enjoyable adventure.
On a Vinge Kick...excellent addition, May 5, 2005
Reviewer: Denise D. Randall "Darwin" (Central California) - See all my reviews
It was so wonderful to see another addition to the Classic "Snow Queen" Series from Joan D. Vinge. I was wholly impressed with this prequel story and a look at characters made famous by her.
BZ Gundhalinu, a fav of mine, starts to show some of the spark that made him so endearing to me through "The Snow Queen" and "Worlds End" and on into "The Summer Queen." It was nice to see some of the events that so affected his life and were alluded to in the later books.
I liked the new characters introduced as a foil for the story, and though I was not as attached to them as I was to poor tortured BZ, they kept my attention throughout the story.
It was nice to see Mundilfore again as well, as sinister and slippery as ever!
I was electrified by the "Artifact" that was the center of the story in this novel, and immediately recognized the significance of it for one Reede Kullervo! It was nice to see how the Sibyl net had allowed that to become "common" knowledge for the Golden Mean as well as for the Brotherhood!
Ms. Vinge another outstanding addition to your already impressive library...I can only hope my own books will be as well received!
Reviewer: Denise D. Randall "Darwin" (Central California) - See all my reviews
It was so wonderful to see another addition to the Classic "Snow Queen" Series from Joan D. Vinge. I was wholly impressed with this prequel story and a look at characters made famous by her.
BZ Gundhalinu, a fav of mine, starts to show some of the spark that made him so endearing to me through "The Snow Queen" and "Worlds End" and on into "The Summer Queen." It was nice to see some of the events that so affected his life and were alluded to in the later books.
I liked the new characters introduced as a foil for the story, and though I was not as attached to them as I was to poor tortured BZ, they kept my attention throughout the story.
It was nice to see Mundilfore again as well, as sinister and slippery as ever!
I was electrified by the "Artifact" that was the center of the story in this novel, and immediately recognized the significance of it for one Reede Kullervo! It was nice to see how the Sibyl net had allowed that to become "common" knowledge for the Golden Mean as well as for the Brotherhood!
Ms. Vinge another outstanding addition to your already impressive library...I can only hope my own books will be as well received!