Official Review: Hegira by Jim Cronin
Posted: 17 Feb 2016, 19:01
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Hegira" by Jim Cronin.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Hegira by Jim Cronin is a book in the science fiction genre. It follows the journey of Karm, as he attempts to resurrect his species from the past.
He doesn’t have a clue how his world looks like, or what creatures live there, or anything at all about his home. How could he, when his planet has now become past tense, and he himself was cloned from a DNA sample? Karm was cloned, courtesy the generosity of aliens, who rescued a pair of DNA samples from the remnants of a destroyed spaceship. The destroyed space ship, which was the last hope for survival of the Brin, who inhabited the planet of Dyan’ta. Now Karm must travel back in time, with the help of his alien friends, to make one last effort to save his planet.
Back in time, Karm builds the greatest financial empire in Dyan’ta so that he can fund his personal and secret research, to find a solution to his planet’s eminent demise. Karm is assisted in his venture by his beautiful and lethal adopted niece, Maripa, and Dr. Jontar Rocker, a geneticist with a vision. Together they have to overcome the forces of Brach, the ruling monarch and his brother, Pareth, who is the head of the Faith, a fundamentalist religious order that is dominating Dyan’ta. Will Karm and his team overcome the odds and succeed in saving their species?
The book is written in third person and covers the story from various angles. One visible aspect of the writing style is that the author doesn’t spend too much time on constructing an alternate species (two, in fact); his description of Dyan’ta and the Brin is just adequate in terms of what the plot needs, without focusing too much on imaginative elaboration. This factor is in itself something distinct from other books in the genre.
The author gives primacy to the plot, and the plot doesn’t disappoint. The story of ‘going back in time to save the world’ might have a familiar ring to it, but the plotline and well-timed twists sketch an unseen picture. One fact which both impressed and ticked me off a bit, was the cool and mechanical manner in which Karm carries out his mission. It isn’t that his character is devoid of any emotion, but the slightly calculative and obsessive manner in which he follows the instructions given to him, seems a bit unnatural. The book itself doesn’t meddle too much with sentiments, though there is a bit of romance, and the confusion and pain that come along with it.
The story’s stronger focus is on questions of right and wrong: the ethical debate regarding cloning and the use it might be put to, gaining power through any means: whether its sitting on the throne or preaching from the dais, using financial might to further one’s motives, or sacrificing some lives to save many more. In fact, some portions of the story give the impression of triangular game of chess between Karm, Brach, and Pareth, each trying to outmaneuver the other, and sacrificing as many pawns as need be.
However, on the whole, the author comes up not only with a fresh plot, but more importantly with a distinct method of execution of the plot. I couldn’t agree with Karm’s decisions some times, but I have to admit the author creates quite an impressive central character in Karm. I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Hegira
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Hegira by Jim Cronin is a book in the science fiction genre. It follows the journey of Karm, as he attempts to resurrect his species from the past.
He doesn’t have a clue how his world looks like, or what creatures live there, or anything at all about his home. How could he, when his planet has now become past tense, and he himself was cloned from a DNA sample? Karm was cloned, courtesy the generosity of aliens, who rescued a pair of DNA samples from the remnants of a destroyed spaceship. The destroyed space ship, which was the last hope for survival of the Brin, who inhabited the planet of Dyan’ta. Now Karm must travel back in time, with the help of his alien friends, to make one last effort to save his planet.
Back in time, Karm builds the greatest financial empire in Dyan’ta so that he can fund his personal and secret research, to find a solution to his planet’s eminent demise. Karm is assisted in his venture by his beautiful and lethal adopted niece, Maripa, and Dr. Jontar Rocker, a geneticist with a vision. Together they have to overcome the forces of Brach, the ruling monarch and his brother, Pareth, who is the head of the Faith, a fundamentalist religious order that is dominating Dyan’ta. Will Karm and his team overcome the odds and succeed in saving their species?
The book is written in third person and covers the story from various angles. One visible aspect of the writing style is that the author doesn’t spend too much time on constructing an alternate species (two, in fact); his description of Dyan’ta and the Brin is just adequate in terms of what the plot needs, without focusing too much on imaginative elaboration. This factor is in itself something distinct from other books in the genre.
The author gives primacy to the plot, and the plot doesn’t disappoint. The story of ‘going back in time to save the world’ might have a familiar ring to it, but the plotline and well-timed twists sketch an unseen picture. One fact which both impressed and ticked me off a bit, was the cool and mechanical manner in which Karm carries out his mission. It isn’t that his character is devoid of any emotion, but the slightly calculative and obsessive manner in which he follows the instructions given to him, seems a bit unnatural. The book itself doesn’t meddle too much with sentiments, though there is a bit of romance, and the confusion and pain that come along with it.
The story’s stronger focus is on questions of right and wrong: the ethical debate regarding cloning and the use it might be put to, gaining power through any means: whether its sitting on the throne or preaching from the dais, using financial might to further one’s motives, or sacrificing some lives to save many more. In fact, some portions of the story give the impression of triangular game of chess between Karm, Brach, and Pareth, each trying to outmaneuver the other, and sacrificing as many pawns as need be.
However, on the whole, the author comes up not only with a fresh plot, but more importantly with a distinct method of execution of the plot. I couldn’t agree with Karm’s decisions some times, but I have to admit the author creates quite an impressive central character in Karm. I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Hegira
View: on Bookshelves
Like ananya92's review? Post a comment saying so!
