Tag Archives: Ancient Shores

A Review of Jack McDevitt’s Thunderbird

ThunderbirdThunderbird
Jack McDevitt
Ace Books
Hardcover $26.95
ebook $13.99

Jack McDevitt’s latest novel takes up where Ancient Shores left off. This is not a stand-alone novel, although it’s not absolutely necessary to have read the first book.  He focuses on different characters to some extent in this one.  While McDevitt introduces dozens of characters whose lives are affected by the discovery of The Roundhouse, interstellar portal discovered on a Sioux reservation, his central character is Sioux Chairman James Walker.

Walker is not in an enviable position.  The President, the UN, the press, and his own tribe are all pressuring him.  Some want him to shut down or destroy The Roundhouse.  Others want access to it.  And some want to use it to colonize the tropical paradise world they’ve come to call Eden.

Walker tries to walk a careful path, not rushing and not making long term sacrifices for short term gains.   Continue reading

Sail Along Ancient Shores

Ancient ShoresAncient Shores
Jack McDevitt
Harper Collins
mass market paperback $7.99
ebook $6.99

Jack McDevitt has long been one of my favorite science fiction writers.  In addition to his clean prose and in-depth characterizations, his novels tend to have an element of mystery.  I think to a large extent that’s what I like about his work.

Still, McDevitt is prolific enough that I haven’t read all of his work.  Until recently, Ancient Shores fell into this category.  When I found out that this year’s novel (McDevitt typically has a new release in either November or December each year) was the sequel, I knew I needed to read Ancient Shores.   Continue reading