Review of Selene's Shadow

[Zanne Crystle]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Selene's Shadow" by David T Gilbert.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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"Selene's Shadow" by David T. Gilbert is a science fiction novel that imagines an alternate reality where the Roman Empire and the Song Empire merged to create the Sino-Roman Empire. This new empire has expanded beyond Earth and into deep space, but it faces powerful enemies that threaten to cause harm across the galaxy and destroy everything it has created.

The book takes you on an exciting adventure through time, blending action with scientific exploration of the future of humanity. The story smoothly jumps between different timelines and characters, offering a fascinating, widespread view of the evolution of humanity across a vast galactic empire.

The book introduces characters like Wolseley and Brockley, brilliant and controversial scientists whose groundbreaking ideas and scientific developments play a pivotal role in shaping AI technology in the story. We also meet Sorrento, a girl from a farming colony with a spirit of adventure and a love for robotics, and her loyal android companion, Bobby. These characters, along with powerful creations born from human persistence and ingenuity, embark on exciting quests, uncover conspiracies, and face dire threats with far-reaching consequences for their lives and the world around them.

Throughout the plot, the characters display unwavering perseverance, creative problem-solving skills, and an insatiable thirst for knowledge and innovation. These traits from a few individuals drive the story forward, shaping the Empire's fate across time and space. 

I found the author's portrayal of a futuristic world to be quite impressive. The book explores a range of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, androids, genetic engineering, terraforming, and cutting-edge weaponry. The author does an excellent job of integrating these technologies into the plot without making it overwhelming. The descriptions of the various spaceships, space stations, and planets are detailed and immersive, showcasing the author’s attention to detail. Overall, the complexity of the information presented is well-balanced, making it an enjoyable read for anyone interested in futuristic worlds.

The story explores the ethical challenges that come with technological progress and how the characters deal with them. It encourages you to reflect on the complex relationship between progress and its consequences, highlighting that it can have both positive and negative outcomes.

One thing that stood out to me was the diversity of the characters. They come from many different racial and ethnic backgrounds, which adds richness to the story through historical and cultural references.

Despite the impressive construction of the book's dense lore, there are a few instances where it slows down the pacing more than desired. However, this did not significantly detract from the reading experience. Furthermore, there are a few grammatical errors throughout the book, which suggests the need for further editing.

Overall, "Selene's Shadow" is an excellent read, and I look forward to exploring its sequel. I highly recommend it to science fiction fans who enjoy futuristic stories, particularly those featuring artificial intelligence. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars, deducting one star for the grammatical errors.

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Selene's Shadow
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[Gerry Steen]

Your review points out that the "story explores the ethical challenges that come with technological progress and how the characters deal with them. It encourages you to reflect on the complex relationship between progress and its consequences, highlighting that it can have both positive and negative outcomes." And that, it has a "diversity of the characters. They come from many different racial and ethnic backgrounds, which adds richness to the story through historical and cultural references." These components are what make this book intriguing to me. Thank you. Your reviews are always comprehensive and illuminating.

[Saliha Hussain]

What an insightful review of "Selene's Shadow"! The reader's appreciation for the intricate world-building and diverse characters shines through. They commend the author's exploration of futuristic technologies and ethical dilemmas, despite minor pacing issues and grammatical errors. Overall, it's evident that this science fiction novel offers an engaging and thought-provoking reading experience. Great job!

[NetMassimo]

This seems like a fascinating alternate history novel exploring the idea of the Roman and Chinese empires joining forces to conquer the stars. Thank you for your great review!