Chindi
Ace
Books, 2002
Science
Fiction
read: Fall
2003
This
was a fun sci-fi book about a group of people hell bent on exploring space long
after humans have given up believing that there is anyone (or anything) else out
there. Of course, it had some serious flaws. To begin with, in the
book, humans have essentially decided that they are the only species in the
universe and, therefore, that they need not take weapons while exploring.
This belief is so deeply embedded in our species that it is carried by people
who are looking for extra-terrestrial life. This belief persists despite the fact that 4 other
intelligent species have been found (none space faring) and keeps being agreed
with even though people on the expedition keep being killed. McDevitt does
a shitty job of convincing me that these future humans are so stupid as to keep
making the same mistake over and over. On the other hand, it was a good
sci-fi romp and it has been a while since I have read a good sci-fi novel.
It had its weak parts in the social sciences but it had its moments in the
(albeit simple) plot and pure science stuff.