This
review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained
therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to
copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions.
Crossposted at WordPress, Blogspot & Librarything by Bookstooge’s
Exalted Permission
Title: Odysseus Ascendant
Series:
Odyssey One #7
Author: Evan Currie
Rating:
3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages:
303
Words: 81.9K
The Empire is done
with playing around with the Priminae and their unknown allies (ie,
the humans). They send an entire sector fleet to take the territory
of the Priminae and to find the lone homeworld of humanity. It is up
to Weston and his small group of ships to stall for time by playing
tricks and being ingenious with the resources they do have.
Odysseus, the
sentience on the starship of the same name, is learning what it means
to be part of a group, as it must work with the humans occupying the
ship. At the same time Gaia is in contact with another cosmic entity
she simply calls Saul, an entity that seems apathetic (at best) or
even inimical to humanity. Saul introduces himself to Odysseus at the
very end of the book and pretty much just mocks the kid.
Weston and his
allies hold off the Empire for a month but finally the Empire makes
it to the Priminae homeworld where the remaining ships helmed by
Weston prepare for a do or die last stand. Only to have the Empire's
commander pull a fast one and head to Earth. Where the Earth pulls a
rabbit out of a hat with Project Prometheus and is able to wipe out
any object in known space with the power of a sun. They give the
Empire Commander a stand down ultimatum and he wisely takes it.
The book ends with
the Commander vowing to find and destroy this super-weapon and Earth
and the Priminae taking a breath and gearing up for the long haul of
a fight.
Overall, I was pleased with my read. It was typical Currie and the
action was pretty good. He dips his toes into the subject of
transgender and shows what a woke author he is by including a whole
conversation of 2-3 paragraphs. Token-warriors, Unite! I am opposed
to the whole transgender movement and even I found it insulting.
However, while I enjoyed the action, it is become evident that Currie
is just going to keep writing these as ideas strike him. With a name
like Odysseus Ascendant I kept waiting for the named Sentience
to do something “Ascendant”. I think my idea of Ascendant has
been ruined by how it was used in the Malazan Books of the Fallen,
ie, ordinary ascending into the super. Oddyseus never ascends in that
sense. I kept waiting for the ship to develop super powers or do
something fantastic in the battles but nope, he just “learns”
stuff. Throw in the deus ex machina of Project Prometheus and I just
kind of rolled my eyes.
I won't be reading any more by Currie. What pushed me over the edge
was the introduction of “Saul”. We met Central, then Gaia and the
Odysseus, but to introduce another being, and to leave neon bright
signs of “mystery, mystery, mystery” that even Scooby and the
Gang could pick up on was a direction that I just didn't care for. I
also changed the genre designation from SF to Fantasy. Currie goes
from a science setting to a deeply fantastic setting where the only
explanation, an honest one, is “magic”. Sure, he covers it up
with quantum this and that and science blather, but the real meaning
is “magic”.
“A Decent Read” about covers this book and series. It is no where
near ending but I simply don't have the patience or reading
availability for just decent reads. If you like open ended military
SFF, then give this a whirl. I think book 8 just came out recently?
★★★☆½
This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
