Stephen Case (2)

First Fleet #1-4: The Complete Saga is four serialized novellas collected in book form, and is described as a cross between Battlestar Galactica and H. P. Lovecraft. So, the potential is HUGE, but there’s really so much more to it.

The universe created by Stephen Case sees humanity spread across the galaxy in two distinct groups of humans: the Colonizers, who used the “old” technology of near-light speed engines to travel through the galaxy, and those from the System, who were able to travel vast distances instantaneously by using “light-lines” built by “forge ships”. Of course, these two groups don’t see things eye-to-eye, and war breaks out between them. Soldiers on the Settlers’ side are able to upload their memories for safe keeping before entering combat. Should they be killed, what’s left of their body, however small (even cellular), is immediately shuttled away a “RES-pod”, which completely restores/regenerates/resurrects the soldier. The soldier’s memories are then downloaded into the new body and the soldier is sent back into battle. This leads to some interesting moral issues on both sides, and there is no clear-cut black-and-white answer to the ethics involved, which plays heavily later in the storyline.

The book’s character development is exceptional. Like the moral and ethical issues I already mentioned, the characters aren’t simply “good guys” vs “bad guys”. Protagonists Beka Grale and Cam Dowager are very well-rounded, and their personalities grow with the story, especially Beka’s. I especially liked the back story of Paul and Cam, and their twins. Antagonists Admiral Tholan and Special Attaché Eleanor are just as complex, with the added bonus of being downright duplicitous in their actions.

The world-building is outstanding, with all sorts of mind-bending scenes crafted both in outer space and planetside. The pacing of the book is like a symphony by Tchaikovsky or Mahler, starting out somewhat slow and methodical, slowly building up the intensity through the four movements until the explosive ending of the grand finale. Through the book, layer upon layer of the mystery is peeled back, revealing more depth and twists than expected.

This book gives the reader a rich, complex universe that has a ton of potential. While it doesn't have a clear, wide-open ending, I sure hope Mr. Case revisits this universe soon!… (meer)