- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: The Black Library (6 May 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 184416473X
- ISBN-13: 978-1844164738
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.5 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 500,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
It takes an alien race to show us what humanitiy truly is. This is the irony faced by a group of friends whose lives are changed forever when the mysterious alien race known as the Kethani come to Earth bearing a dubious but amazing gift: immortality. These superbly crafted episodes deal with human emotions in the face of the vast consequences of the alien arrival, and show how people across the world react to this benign invasion, how ultimately we evolve as we gain the stars.
About the Author
Born in West Yorkshire, England in 1960, Brown has lived in Australia, India, and Greece. He began writing when he was fifteen and sold his first short story to Interzone in 1986. His story "The Time-Lapsed Man" won the Interzone readers' roll for the most admired story of 1988. He has won the British Science Fiction Award twice for his short stories and has published over twenty books: SF novels, collections, books for teenagers and younger children, as well as radio plays, articles and reviews. His latest books include the collection Threshold Shift, the novella The Extraordinary Voyage of Jules Verne, and the children's book Crazy Love. He is married to the writer and mediaevalist Finn Sinclair, and has one daughter, Freya. He lives in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. His website can be found at: : http://ericbrownsf.port5.com/
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I purchased Kethani after reading a review in a Sci-fi magazine particularly as a comparison with John Wyndham - one of my all time favourite authors - was being made. Did it live up to the hype - well, yes and no. The Yorkshire setting and the way the novel is written from the point of view of a small number of village inhabitants is certainly reminiscent of Wyndham's method. Brown writes well and the book was an interesting and fairly pacy read. At times there is a feeling we could be in Arthur C Clarke territory tooo.
However something is missing. I kept waiting for a big plot twist, shock ending or some other 'unexpected' sub-plot. An intriguing premise is set-up part way through following an investigation into a murder which gave me an 'ah-ha this is significant' moment but it wasn't. What could have been an interesting sub or side plot wasn't followed through. If it hadn't been for the ending one might have thought another book or books were to follow but it seems not. It was almost as if Brown couldn't find a satisfying ending and it just goes out with too much of a whimper for me. Worth a read? - yes. Wyndham and Clarke? - not even close.
However something is missing. I kept waiting for a big plot twist, shock ending or some other 'unexpected' sub-plot. An intriguing premise is set-up part way through following an investigation into a murder which gave me an 'ah-ha this is significant' moment but it wasn't. What could have been an interesting sub or side plot wasn't followed through. If it hadn't been for the ending one might have thought another book or books were to follow but it seems not. It was almost as if Brown couldn't find a satisfying ending and it just goes out with too much of a whimper for me. Worth a read? - yes. Wyndham and Clarke? - not even close.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm going to have to think hard how to come up with something different to Ammonite132's comment; I just bought this book on a whim whilst in town. Started reading it at 5:30pm, finished at 8:15pm - I was absolutely enthralled, totally blown away, and am now enthusing about the story more than any other that I can remember.
It's a science fiction story, but unlike most other stories in the genre it only uses the SF element as a core part of the idea, and then weaves the story around the lives and experiences of the characters over the years that follow.
It's touching and thought-provoking, and - as with all the good things in life - focusses on sitting around a fire in the local pub, chatting to close friends!
I'll be proselytising about this one to my wife, my parents, my colleagues; anyone who will listen. I'll probably have to buy myself another copy to lend out...
I'd be interested to see if Eric Brown can come up with other stories of the subsequent exploits in the wider universe alluded to within this novel, but even if he doesn't, I'll be certain to check out all of his other stuff.
It's a science fiction story, but unlike most other stories in the genre it only uses the SF element as a core part of the idea, and then weaves the story around the lives and experiences of the characters over the years that follow.
It's touching and thought-provoking, and - as with all the good things in life - focusses on sitting around a fire in the local pub, chatting to close friends!
I'll be proselytising about this one to my wife, my parents, my colleagues; anyone who will listen. I'll probably have to buy myself another copy to lend out...
I'd be interested to see if Eric Brown can come up with other stories of the subsequent exploits in the wider universe alluded to within this novel, but even if he doesn't, I'll be certain to check out all of his other stuff.
Format:Paperback
I'd not realised that this book was really a collection of short stories before reading, but now, all has become clear. From the seeds of the excellent premise, and the welcome change of a British-Asian main character, we see grown... rather less than I'd hoped for, actually. Each now character seems more insipid and uninspired than the last, and after the admittedly gut-wrenchingly sad first couple of chapters, I quickly found myself mired in repetition as we look at the same ethical questions from only slightly-removed angles. Hints as to the true nature of the Kethani seem cliche and are not followed up on, and in general I found the writing style quite contrived ('Ferrymen' for the human workers taking the dead to the 'Onward stations'), and not to say patronisingly middle-class. It's a real shame, because the germ of an idea is fresh, and obviously a labour of love.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
interesting
Not actually a novel but rather a series of short stories previously published elsewhere, cobbled together with a linking narrative to produce a kind of Martian Chronicles ... Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2010 by nogginthenog
Meditation on Mortality
My first three impressions in reading "Kéthani" were: (1) this is a collection of short stories, written in the style of Bradbury's "Martian Chronicles"; (2) this is a... Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2009 by Keith W. Harvey
Intelligent, thought-provoking SF
While I'm a fantasy fanboy at heart, I do like to dip now and then into the other speculative genres. Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2009 by James Long (Speculative Horizons blog)
Unsatisfying
The anticipated twist does not materalise with the Kéthani's purpose and we are left with an unknown. Alien altruism, apparently. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2009 by Chris Lines
Truly amazing stories
The Kethani are a peaceful alien race that make first contact on Earth in the early 21st century. White columns mysteriously appear across the globe at the same time causing... Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2009 by Mark Chitty
loved this book
I absolutely loved this book. It is an alien comes to earth story
like no other. Yes you are waiting for the twist but there is a twist
and its beautiful. Read more
like no other. Yes you are waiting for the twist but there is a twist
and its beautiful. Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2008 by Suzy r
A good book but not one that will set the world alight
The principle theme of the book is eternal life here and now. Is the negation of death desirable? What is the effect that it will have on society? Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2008 by Peter Debney
Disappointing
I read this on holiday in the space of day, so it is an easy read. However I failed to understand why the book came so highly recommended. Read more
Published on 5 Oct 2008 by Georgie Peorgie
Wow! Maybe the first half...
I loved this book, was absolutely hooked, was about to go out and buy every other Eric Brown book I could find.... Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2008 by S. Loftus
Wow!
I received this book at 7.45 this morning and was totally engrossed for the next 5 hours. Now I have finished, I want to read it again! Read more
Published on 7 Jun 2008 by Murf61
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