Saucer: The Conquest / Stephen Coonts

Saucer: The Conquest

category: science fiction, author:

Stephen Coonts

book 2 of Saucer
original copyright 2004

read in May 2012

Agamedes' opinion: 6 out of 10, read to pass the time

Young man with brilliant mind, fit body and access to all the knowledge from an intergalactic flying saucer. Older woman, beautiful, intelligent, fighter pilot experience. All they need is some conflict in their romance and an excuse to save the world by flying the flying saucer.

Done!

The adventure continues on from Saucer. Same young man's escapist adventure. A little less worry that the girlfriend is so old. Thirty, almost! Same good fun, same enjoyable excitement.

Conquest does have less stray characters. Less walk-on parts with no real role to play. The characters are still rather pleasant... or mad and evil. Very few of those absolute villains; most of the bad guys are just people who act badly because they are involved with the wrong people.

One group in particular has evolved since the first book: the politicians. In Saucer, the president and all his men and women are pure, self-serving, game-playing idiots. In Conquest, well, they are much the same. Except with slightly improved motives. More sympathetic political logic. And, from the president, a minor hint of intelligence.

Amongst the other characters I particularly appreciate the bad guy pilot. He does attempt to kill the heroes. But when he risks crashing into a crowded city -- he pulls away. For the right reason, that he doesn't want to kill innocent bystanders.

The villains of Saucer are evil, rich gangsters with world-wide power. The villains of Conquest are, in essence, mad scientists with the usual dose of megalomania. That's just to reassure you: The two books are similar in style but completely different stories. If you enjoy one you will enjoy both :-)

Saucer / Stephen Coonts

Saucer

category: science fiction, author:

Stephen Coonts

book 1 of Saucer
original copyright 2002

read in March 2012

Agamedes' opinion: 7 out of 10: well worth reading

If you want an enjoyable book, a book to fill a few pleasant hours, then Saucer is well worth reading. It's an enjoyable romp, with not too much deep meaning.

Modest but exceptionally talented hero finds super-powered toy, finds girl, fights to keep toy, then to keep toy from baddies. Fights to get girl. Gets help from talented relatives and a good scientist.

There are the evil baddies and the heroic goodies. A few neutral characters in the middle, for variety. Several of the neutrals are simple stereotypes, not quite caricatures, introduced in two dimensions as required by the lightweight plot.

Two ideas do stand out:

The author does seem to have a cynical view of politicians. Sure, I've developed a hearty cynicism regarding the motives of politicians, but it took me many years to develop. Are young adults already ready for that view?

And then there's the theory of planetary settlement; the difficulty of maintaining a high level of technological civilisation on a newly-settled planet. I'd never heard this particular view before. And when I read the idea in Saucer I thought, Yes, that seems such a reasonable concept... Thank you, Coonts, for a new idea!

Saucer is a wish-fulfilment fantasy for late teen boys and young adult men. The sort where only you can save the world and, yes, you may even get the older woman... An experienced older woman! Almost thirty!

Yep, it's a young man's wish-fulfilment fantasy adventure. Also suitable for older men who want to read a book just to enjoy it.

Possibly not a good choice of book for a girl or a woman. The heroine is beautiful and clever. She can kick butt in a crisis. But she still requires saving by the young hero.

So we have fun, adventure, a small level of teenage humour. Plus -- and I hope I'm not spoiling the plot -- a flying saucer...

A book to be read and enjoyed, then put back on the shelf with hardly a second thought.

Good, harmless, fun.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

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