Thomcat
10/12/2025
Interesting first contact story which was nominated for the major awards and ended up on many defining and to-read science fiction lists. Finishing this completes my journey through the Locus best SF books of all time.
Interesting tech and descriptions of the aliens, this has a lot in common with Rendezvous with Rama. A large cast of characters reacts to a visitor, then proceeds to meet up with the aliens and assess them. Most of the cast are fairly static. A sequel was published nearly 20 years later, and another more than 15 years after that.
I wasn't thrilled by Ringworld, and this has some similarities. Working in the books favor is the authors' inspiration - a model designed by Matt Jeffries (of Star Trek) which I happen to have purchased as a kid. Overall rating somewhere around 3 of 5 stars.