Departure / A.G. Riddle

Departure

by A.G. Riddle

science fiction, thriller

copyright 2015

read in June 2017

rated 8/10: really quite good

It takes a while to find out what's really happening. This is not a problem. Right from the word go, the story is addictive and the characters are interesting. I immediately like the hero and heroine; other major characters are likeable and sympathetic.

And then finally... the science fiction plot is revealed. There is no feeling that the author is being obtuse, no creation of false tension by hiding facts from the reader. As the heroes discover the truth, so is it presented to the reader.

And then, a very clever bit of *real* tension:

The story is being told by two people, alternating. A standard way of covering all of the action. Standard, that is, until the narrators meet the groups behind their predicament. The hero meets one group and is given their point of view. The heroine meets the other group -- and is given an alternate view. Which view is right? We -- the readers -- don't know.

Which group is "right"? Both -- in my opinion. Which action should be followed? I don't know! I read on, eager to find out how it is all resolved...

We're given all of the available information. We still don't know all of the answers. Until (and I don't think that this is a spoiler), until one group's actions speak louder than their words. Very clever. Very satisfying.

This book is science fiction. In a thriller style. It is also a very positive book. Yes, there is conflict and death and disaster... but the overall attitude is positive. The heroes have good motivations. Even the less-than-heroic mean well -- and are decent human beings.

Mind you (and this may well be a spoiler)... A hundred talented people want to save the world. They end up killing every other human being. Along the way, two thirds of the hundred are killed. So what do the survivors do? Split into two groups and start a fight to the death. Sheesh!

Despite that somewhat negative :-) summary, the overall theme is positive. More positive that I would believe from real life. But, well, this is fiction.

Fiction. Thought provoking. Entertaining and enjoyable.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
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"There's always one more imbecile than you counted on." … per Ginger Meggs