Authored by Sci-Fi genre masters?
Check
Bold, mind-boggling concept? Check
“Hard” Sci-Fi perspective? Check
Distinguished genre publisher? Check
Angry mob of negative Amazon.com reviewers carrying torches and pitchforks? Check
What's wrong here?
One: This book is the first volume of a series. It's very hard to tell that from the cover and front matter. Taken by itself, this book's ending is insipid and unsatisfying. “I paid for a book and got sold a prologue?”
Two: The editor failed this book profoundly. There is justification for professional shame here. Narrative inconsistencies, awkward redundancies, evidence of draft mismanagement . . . this book (and its audience) deserved a good solid developmental edit and obviously did not get it.
So, yeah, the angry reviews are justified, but for failings of the editor/publisher moreso than for lapses of the author(s?) I'm sure there are editorial challenges when you are dealing with drafts from two authors, but it's not as if these guys haven't successfully collaborated (major understatement) with other writers before!
So, there's the beef. Yet, despite this Kansas City strip-sized chunk, I must declare that I enjoyed the story--so far. Benford (I detect Benford more strongly in this volume than Niven) seems to be revving up a strong and stylish sci-fi vehicle. But I've already paid full price for my ticket and we haven't really covered much distance yet--and I'm looking eagerly for Niven to do some of the piloting.
There is much to be hopeful about in this series--if future volumes get appropriate editorial treatment. I dissent on reviewer's complaints about the human characters. Ok, they're a bit generic; I say, “Give them more spacetime.” I think the aliens are actually quite interesting and show great potential.
And, I think reviewers are giving short shrift to the major theme of the work: the moral issues surrounding the capture and genetic/behavioral alteration of intelligent species with the intent of making them more amenable to servitude. There are overtures here to themes presented in Brin's Uplift novels and Vinge's A Deepness in the Sky. I'm confident that this will be a major factor in future installments in the series.
Bottom line: Recommended with caveats. Not a finished story. Not for those demanding high action or video-game pacing. Be prepared for inexcusable lapses in editing. Speaking of that, does anyone have a pitchfork to lend?
Bowl of Heaven by Larry Niven and Gregory Benford
Originally posted 26 Nov 2012 on Google+