Review of Sent to Watch

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Himanshu K Yadav
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Review of Sent to Watch

Post by Himanshu K Yadav »

[Following is a volunteer review of "Sent to Watch" by David J. Lebenstein.]
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5 out of 5 stars
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Sent to Watch is a science fiction novel set in the Regency era after the Battle of Waterloo. Earth 48, as our planet is known in this universe, is one of many inhabited planets in the galaxy. Aliens, who are also human, have formed an alliance called the Confederation of Civilized Planets. Planets are allowed to join the Confederation when they reach a certain level of technological advancement.

The Interplanetary Intelligence Service (IIS) is tasked with observing Earth 48 and reporting to the Confederation. IIS agents are not allowed to interfere with anything that happens on the planets they observe. However, the Vittmians, an enemy alien race empire, threaten to disrupt Earth 48's peaceful development. The IIS agents working on Earth 48 feel a deep attachment to their charges, and they are determined to protect them.

Sent to Watch is a well-written and engaging novel. Lebenstein does a great job of creating a believable alien society and the challenges that it faces. The characters are complex and sympathetic, and the reader is quickly drawn into their story. The novel also provides a fascinating glimpse into the Regency era, and Lebenstein does a good job of weaving historical details into the narrative.

One of the things that I enjoyed most about Sent to Watch is how Lebenstein explores the themes of non-interference and responsibility. The IIS agents are not allowed to interfere with the development of Earth 48, even when they see that the Vittmians are up to no good. This creates a moral dilemma for the agents, and they must decide how far they are willing to go to protect the people they have come to love.

There are a few things that could be improved in Sent to Watch. One is that the pacing of the book is a bit slow at times. This is especially noticeable in the first half of the book, where it takes a while for the plot to get going.

Another thing that could be improved is the character development of some of the secondary characters. Some of the Vittmians, for example, feel a bit one-dimensional. It would have been interesting to learn more about their motives and their culture.

Overall, however, I think Sent to Watch is a very good novel. The flaws I mentioned are minor, and they do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. I would recommend it to other readers. The editing is professionally done and the book doesn't contain any errors that can hinder the book.

I rate Sent to Watch 5 out of 5 stars. I thought it was an excellent novel, well-written and engaging, with complex and sympathetic characters. I also enjoyed how Lebenstein explored the themes of non-interference and responsibility.

Overall, I highly recommend Sent to Watch to fans of science fiction and historical fiction alike. It is a well-written and thought-provoking novel that explores important themes such as non-interference, responsibility, and the nature of humanity.

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Sent to Watch
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