Review by Mark Johnson -- Solaris Seethes (Solaris Saga ...
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Mark Johnson
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Review by Mark Johnson -- Solaris Seethes (Solaris Saga ...
[Following is a volunteer review of "Solaris Seethes (Solaris Saga book 1)" by Janet McNulty.]
2 out of 4 stars
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This is a review for the young adult science fiction/fantasy book Solaris Seethes by Janet McNulty.
The story follows the classic hero’s journey that begins on the planet Lanyr. Our heroine, Rynah, is a security officer who is soon thrown into turmoil. Rynah’s planet is being destroyed because the crystal that protects the planet has been stolen by the antagonist, Klanor. Luckily just before the destruction of Lanyr, Rynah discovers Solaris, a fifty year old spaceship who helps her escape. Solaris is the ship's operating system who has a female voice that was designed by Marlow, Rynah's grandfather.
Solaris explains to Rynah a myth that says there are six crystals that were separated and given to six different planets to protect them. The crystals fit together like a puzzle. When they are put together they can create a weapon that can destroy entire solar systems. Klanor is trying to collect the crystals to destroy other solar systems and create his own empire.
Solaris continues with the myth and explains that Rynah needs four people to help her. Those people are a warrior, a philosopher, an inventor, and a lover. They locate these four people from different times in history and different places. They are soon zapped aboard the Solaris, and the party of misfits set off to find the crystals before Klanor finds them first.
There are a few things I liked about this book. One is the pace is very quick. There was never a point that felt like the book was dragging on. Two is the editing was done well. A couple errors here and there, but nothing to egregious. Finally, the ending is clever in that it is a good set up for the next book.
I gave the book 2 out of 4 stars. Overall the book was O.K., I didn’t like it as much, but others might. Here are some of the reasons why I didn’t like it. The planets they visited were all too familiar. As an example one planet was a Mayan like planet. Another planet was underwater where there was a shark as big as two busses, and had a long flat head. Part of the adventure also involved pirates; it all just felt to familiar in alien worlds.
Then I didn’t like some of the technical aspects of the story. The fact the spaceship was controlled by a joystick seemed odd. They escaped one scene by Solaris doing a 360 (that would be a complete circle and they would remain in the same position). In another scene holographic paper fell from a crack in the ceiling of the spaceship.
The character development was also limited. I never really got attached to the characters The only character that seemed different from the others in dialogue was Solaris. Everyone else sounded the same to me. Then there was the odd style of writing with the use of parenthetical phrases as descriptors. They felt choppy and out of place at certain times.
There were also plot holes. Solaris was able to beam the characters from different times and places in history at beginning of the story, yet when there was about to be a sacrifice of a girl on the Mayan planet, Solaris says she can’t take the girl because it would affect the culture. Yet after they leave the girl becomes a priestess and Rynah becomes a goddess like figure in their history for saving the girl.
Then there are scenes that are just not believable. Solan saves one of the crystals from the jaws of a shark after the crystal gets lodged in the shark’s teeth. He swims in the mouth of the shark, turns around, grabs the crystal, and by using all of his strength he pushes his way out of the mouth just before the shark closes his powerful jaws.
Finally, a major scenes in the book is lifted right out of the movie Star Trek 2 The Wrath of Khan. I'm not going to say which one, but if you saw that movie you will know what I am talking about.
Overall the book was O.K., I didn’t like it as much, but others might. The audience is meant to be young adult readers. If they have not seen Star Trek 2 The Wrath of Khan they might enjoy the book and find it original and refreshing.
******
Solaris Seethes (Solaris Saga book 1)
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Like Mark Johnson's review? Post a comment saying so!
2 out of 4 stars
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This is a review for the young adult science fiction/fantasy book Solaris Seethes by Janet McNulty.
The story follows the classic hero’s journey that begins on the planet Lanyr. Our heroine, Rynah, is a security officer who is soon thrown into turmoil. Rynah’s planet is being destroyed because the crystal that protects the planet has been stolen by the antagonist, Klanor. Luckily just before the destruction of Lanyr, Rynah discovers Solaris, a fifty year old spaceship who helps her escape. Solaris is the ship's operating system who has a female voice that was designed by Marlow, Rynah's grandfather.
Solaris explains to Rynah a myth that says there are six crystals that were separated and given to six different planets to protect them. The crystals fit together like a puzzle. When they are put together they can create a weapon that can destroy entire solar systems. Klanor is trying to collect the crystals to destroy other solar systems and create his own empire.
Solaris continues with the myth and explains that Rynah needs four people to help her. Those people are a warrior, a philosopher, an inventor, and a lover. They locate these four people from different times in history and different places. They are soon zapped aboard the Solaris, and the party of misfits set off to find the crystals before Klanor finds them first.
There are a few things I liked about this book. One is the pace is very quick. There was never a point that felt like the book was dragging on. Two is the editing was done well. A couple errors here and there, but nothing to egregious. Finally, the ending is clever in that it is a good set up for the next book.
I gave the book 2 out of 4 stars. Overall the book was O.K., I didn’t like it as much, but others might. Here are some of the reasons why I didn’t like it. The planets they visited were all too familiar. As an example one planet was a Mayan like planet. Another planet was underwater where there was a shark as big as two busses, and had a long flat head. Part of the adventure also involved pirates; it all just felt to familiar in alien worlds.
Then I didn’t like some of the technical aspects of the story. The fact the spaceship was controlled by a joystick seemed odd. They escaped one scene by Solaris doing a 360 (that would be a complete circle and they would remain in the same position). In another scene holographic paper fell from a crack in the ceiling of the spaceship.
The character development was also limited. I never really got attached to the characters The only character that seemed different from the others in dialogue was Solaris. Everyone else sounded the same to me. Then there was the odd style of writing with the use of parenthetical phrases as descriptors. They felt choppy and out of place at certain times.
There were also plot holes. Solaris was able to beam the characters from different times and places in history at beginning of the story, yet when there was about to be a sacrifice of a girl on the Mayan planet, Solaris says she can’t take the girl because it would affect the culture. Yet after they leave the girl becomes a priestess and Rynah becomes a goddess like figure in their history for saving the girl.
Then there are scenes that are just not believable. Solan saves one of the crystals from the jaws of a shark after the crystal gets lodged in the shark’s teeth. He swims in the mouth of the shark, turns around, grabs the crystal, and by using all of his strength he pushes his way out of the mouth just before the shark closes his powerful jaws.
Finally, a major scenes in the book is lifted right out of the movie Star Trek 2 The Wrath of Khan. I'm not going to say which one, but if you saw that movie you will know what I am talking about.
Overall the book was O.K., I didn’t like it as much, but others might. The audience is meant to be young adult readers. If they have not seen Star Trek 2 The Wrath of Khan they might enjoy the book and find it original and refreshing.
******
Solaris Seethes (Solaris Saga book 1)
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Like Mark Johnson's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: "USA, Inc." by Larry Kahaner
