Saturn Run / John Sandford, Ctein

Saturn Run

by John Sandford, Ctein

science fiction

copyright 2015

read in September 2017

rated 8/10: really quite good

"How to Write a Blockbuster" is a book which explains how to ensure that your ensemble list of characters has someone for everyone. ie Forget the plot, just expand the market appeal. Saturn Run starts off with a few chapters which are collecting the required, broad, ensemble of characters.

Uh oh.

Then it gets into a real story... And really, the broad range of selected characters is hardly relevant. It's not only the kid with glasses who can solve the riddles. It's not only the Marine sergeant who can fight with fists... etc. Yes, some characters are better than others, in special areas. But really, there is a lot of overlap... as there is in any interesting area of real life.

The whole book is like that: just when you think you're about to be hit by a cliche -- something shifts. For example:

This book is *hard* science fiction. So there is a lot of explanation of the science. Just when you begin think, hmmm... there's a problem... Looks to me like a Checkhov's Gun(*) trope... uh oh! But no, the gun is not fired... Or it is!

(*) Checkhov's Gun: "If it's not essential, don't include it in the story."

Some of the science is pure explanation, for the fans of hard science fiction. And sometimes it fails, for those who enjoy an exciting plot.

An exciting plot? Yes! There is science adventure. Light romance. Plenty of humour -- which in no way interferes with the conflict. Political intrigue... The book has a mix of factors, many of which surprised me. And yet... once they had appeared... each element became an "obvious" part of the challenge of the adventure.

And the surprises -- complications, at least -- continue, right to the end.

I don't think that this is a "great" book. But it is really quite good. Well worth reading. And a very enjoyable read, from beginning to end.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved
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​"Wer den Daumen auf dem Beutel hat, der hat die Macht." … Otto von Bismarck eh what?!

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