Official Review: XIANNE: A COMEDY OF CULTURES: VOLUME ONE
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- Latest Review: "XIANNE" by Jayce Grayson
Official Review: XIANNE: A COMEDY OF CULTURES: VOLUME ONE
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Xianne: A Comedy of Cultures: Volume One" by Jayce Grayson.]
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Xianne: A Comedy of Cultures is the first in a projected four volume science fiction series about the crew and adventures of the Xiane, a freighter/luxury yacht owned by the wealthiest man in the solar system. I rate this book as 3 out of 4 stars. The writing, style, humor, and easy flow of the novel are pluses, while a certain monomania regarding subject matter, described below, keeps me from rating the work more highly. While I can recommend the book to other readers, it is only on the condition that they understand and accept the monomania.
Did I say adventures? Well actually, in this first volume at any rate, the action can be summed up as the Xiane arrives in Earth orbit, recruits some crew members, waits around for a couple of days, and then travels to the Moon, where Volume 2 will presumably pick up the story. The focus of the novel is not so much on action as on the--er--personal interactions among the characters. You see, in the 24th century, mainstream culture has left behind almost all inhibitions regarding sex and, since all female members of the Xiane’s crew (handpicked by the captain/owner of the ship) are young and attractive, much sex ensues.
Not that the book is pornographic or erotic. The narrator, Jim Street, is an asexual oddity in the liberated future, so the reader only experiences the prelude, aftermath, discussion, and occasional surprise view of all the sex. Unless the reader is looking for frequent sexual allusions and titillating glimpses, however, this is not the main reason to read the book. The writing is well done, flowing easily and interspersed with frequent humor. Not all the interactions are sexual, and we come to know and like the freedom-seeking and worldly owner, his wife, the wisecracking crew mate from Oklahoma, the old Chief, who wearily shakes his head at all the sexual antics, the constantly grumpy ship’s computer, and the liberated and nubile but educated female crew.
During the first third of the book, I was ready to give it an enthusiastic 3 or 4 stars, because I liked the writing and humor, and I assumed that, after the sexual freedom of this alternate universe was established, the plot would move on to other actions than sexual ones. This assumption remained unfulfilled by the time the novel was half over, and when it was three quarters finished I had despaired. Although I still feel compelled to give a 3 star rating, based primarily on writing style, humor, and general likability, I can no longer recommend it unreservedly.
The reservation is, you have to be prepared for an interstellar version of the Playboy mansion. If the reader is fine with that, I recommend reading this book. If that is not your cup of tea, move on. It is my hope that the remaining volumes in the series will contain a considerably more varied subject matter. In that case, I think they will be a fine addition to modern science fiction.
***
Buy "Xianne: A Comedy of Cultures: Volume One" on Amazon
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Did I say adventures? Well actually, in this first volume at any rate, the action can be summed up as the Xiane arrives in Earth orbit, recruits some crew members, waits around for a couple of days, and then travels to the Moon, where Volume 2 will presumably pick up the story. The focus of the novel is not so much on action as on the--er--personal interactions among the characters. You see, in the 24th century, mainstream culture has left behind almost all inhibitions regarding sex and, since all female members of the Xiane’s crew (handpicked by the captain/owner of the ship) are young and attractive, much sex ensues.
Not that the book is pornographic or erotic. The narrator, Jim Street, is an asexual oddity in the liberated future, so the reader only experiences the prelude, aftermath, discussion, and occasional surprise view of all the sex. Unless the reader is looking for frequent sexual allusions and titillating glimpses, however, this is not the main reason to read the book. The writing is well done, flowing easily and interspersed with frequent humor. Not all the interactions are sexual, and we come to know and like the freedom-seeking and worldly owner, his wife, the wisecracking crew mate from Oklahoma, the old Chief, who wearily shakes his head at all the sexual antics, the constantly grumpy ship’s computer, and the liberated and nubile but educated female crew.
During the first third of the book, I was ready to give it an enthusiastic 3 or 4 stars, because I liked the writing and humor, and I assumed that, after the sexual freedom of this alternate universe was established, the plot would move on to other actions than sexual ones. This assumption remained unfulfilled by the time the novel was half over, and when it was three quarters finished I had despaired. Although I still feel compelled to give a 3 star rating, based primarily on writing style, humor, and general likability, I can no longer recommend it unreservedly.
The reservation is, you have to be prepared for an interstellar version of the Playboy mansion. If the reader is fine with that, I recommend reading this book. If that is not your cup of tea, move on. It is my hope that the remaining volumes in the series will contain a considerably more varied subject matter. In that case, I think they will be a fine addition to modern science fiction.
***
Buy "Xianne: A Comedy of Cultures: Volume One" on Amazon
Latest Review: "XIANNE" by Jayce Grayson
