Earth and its young colony Coyote have a difficult relationship, yet together they must face the astonishing truth that mankind is no longer alone ... The starship Robert E. Lee is bearing a controversial cargo on its return to earth: the only surviving crew of the EASS Galileo. This ship and all aboard it vanished decades previously, while examining an apparently alien artefact. As John Shillinglaw, director general of the European Space Agency, waits nervously for the vessel to dock, he ponders the mystery. Theodore Harker, 1st Officer; Jared Ramirez, astrobiologist; and Emily Collins, pilot; have been missing for fifty-six years. Where have they been ... and why have they come back now?
--This text refers to the
Paperback
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Review
An homage to wonder, hope and determinism (Stephen Baxter)
Allen Steele is always good, and COYOTE is one of his very best (Kevin J. Anderson)
The discovery of a new world is one of SF's most potent themes, and Steele handles it well (Publishers Weekly)
Heinlein would approve (Locus) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Allen Steele is always good, and COYOTE is one of his very best (Kevin J. Anderson)
The discovery of a new world is one of SF's most potent themes, and Steele handles it well (Publishers Weekly)
Heinlein would approve (Locus) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Book Description
Return to the stunningly realised future of the Coyote universe.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Me
Format:Paperback
This book is set in the same universe as the Coyote series. It picks up the story of the survivors of the EAS Galileo who appeared at the end of Coyote: Frontier and explains where they went and what happened to them. Readers of Coyote: Frontier will know that the story is essentially one of "first contact" gone wrong.
There are three main characters and the story essentially follows them on a 2001/Forbidden Planet style adventure to an interstellar object called "Spindrift". However, there's nothing too wacky about the plot as the author has made sure his story elements have a firm foundation in scientific fact (or theory). I felt, as with previous books, that he is slightly impatient with current US environmental policies and believes that European attitudes are slightly more progressive. As a result the characters and background to this book are mostly European written from an American point of view (so yes, a few "you what?!" moments). However, it is refreshing to read a series which places some faith in Europe being able to get itself together and launch star ships at some point in the future.
This is a rather short book, but an entertaining and easy read with a couple of well developed jokes which I won't spoil.
There are three main characters and the story essentially follows them on a 2001/Forbidden Planet style adventure to an interstellar object called "Spindrift". However, there's nothing too wacky about the plot as the author has made sure his story elements have a firm foundation in scientific fact (or theory). I felt, as with previous books, that he is slightly impatient with current US environmental policies and believes that European attitudes are slightly more progressive. As a result the characters and background to this book are mostly European written from an American point of view (so yes, a few "you what?!" moments). However, it is refreshing to read a series which places some faith in Europe being able to get itself together and launch star ships at some point in the future.
This is a rather short book, but an entertaining and easy read with a couple of well developed jokes which I won't spoil.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Science fiction writer Allen Steele normally produces near future science fiction, involving humanity taking it's first steps off earth, and believable science and technology. His three most recent books involved coyote, the first human colony outside the solar system, and the story of how civilisation there got going.
Although billed as a coyote novel and set in the same future history, this only slightly involves the planet, and is pretty much a stand alone piece of work. you don't need to have read those three books to read this.
The story involves humanity on earth picking up an alien signal, and sending out a spaceship to investigate. amongst the crew are a scientist on temporary release from a life sentence in prison, a pilot and a first officer who are carrying on a secret affair, and an ineffectual captain who got the job via his family.
The book is slightly oddly structed because it starts seventy years after the main events, with three survivors of the expedition returning to earth to tell their story. this means the prologue can be a little difficult to get into, but perserve because it becomes an easy and smooth read once the main story gets going.
There's nothing earth shattering here. although the characters do go on emotional journeys and develop as a result. The story is pretty much a standard first contact with aliens thing. It's nothing special but it's readable enough, and not a bad little piece of work. memorable and nicely understated final scene, though
Although billed as a coyote novel and set in the same future history, this only slightly involves the planet, and is pretty much a stand alone piece of work. you don't need to have read those three books to read this.
The story involves humanity on earth picking up an alien signal, and sending out a spaceship to investigate. amongst the crew are a scientist on temporary release from a life sentence in prison, a pilot and a first officer who are carrying on a secret affair, and an ineffectual captain who got the job via his family.
The book is slightly oddly structed because it starts seventy years after the main events, with three survivors of the expedition returning to earth to tell their story. this means the prologue can be a little difficult to get into, but perserve because it becomes an easy and smooth read once the main story gets going.
There's nothing earth shattering here. although the characters do go on emotional journeys and develop as a result. The story is pretty much a standard first contact with aliens thing. It's nothing special but it's readable enough, and not a bad little piece of work. memorable and nicely understated final scene, though
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book explains what happened to the missing starcraft that suddenly turned up on Coyote after being assumed dead for over 50 years. It also covers the first contact of humans and other universal beings.
I found it well paced and, as usual, very entertaining and involving. I did however find that it opened up more questions than it answers and possibly paved the way for more Coyote novels - something I thought highly unlikely after the final Coyote book.
But this a good read that is recommended to all those interested in space travel/first contact fiction.
I found it well paced and, as usual, very entertaining and involving. I did however find that it opened up more questions than it answers and possibly paved the way for more Coyote novels - something I thought highly unlikely after the final Coyote book.
But this a good read that is recommended to all those interested in space travel/first contact fiction.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By G. Franklin
Format:Paperback
This book offers nothing startling in terms of imagination. It's all standard 'humans get message, humans go on long journey, humans meet aliens,bad stuff happens'. That would be OK but the characters and plot are not at all absorbing. I could not engage with a single character and found 'Emcee' pathetically clingy and reliant on her man. The other crew are an undetailed group of politicians (why?), toffs and vague, undescribed blurs. The captain's faults and background are flimsy and his moment of madness is unlikely but of course we know it will happen. The dialogue is stilted, clumsy and the 'banter' is painful. There is no tension and the 'climax' is a huge let down - not very bad man is told 'ner ner ner ner ner'.
Suspension of disbelief ought to be so much easier with a 'near' future novel but Iain M Banks' crazy Culture Universe is so superior in terms of connection with the reader that this book feels like a jumble sale pulp novel. Read it if you can get it for 50p.
I have read sci fi avidly, though as a gulity pleasure, for thirty years so I'm always desperate to like a new book and forgive it's flaws. This one is just lazy and unconvincing at every level.
Suspension of disbelief ought to be so much easier with a 'near' future novel but Iain M Banks' crazy Culture Universe is so superior in terms of connection with the reader that this book feels like a jumble sale pulp novel. Read it if you can get it for 50p.
I have read sci fi avidly, though as a gulity pleasure, for thirty years so I'm always desperate to like a new book and forgive it's flaws. This one is just lazy and unconvincing at every level.
By Mr. S. Crook
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Certainly so in the context of the excellent Coyote novels. This is really just run of the mill first contact stuff that happens to be set in the Coyote universe. It doesn't offer anything new either in story, aliens or writing, and there are certainly better first contact novels out there.
The three main characters aren't really developed very well, or at least they're all rather emotionless. The incompetent ships captain is a (cardboard cut-out stereotypical) member of the British aristocracy who got the job because of his father. Ok, it *might* happen, but it's not really all that credible, that far into the future. The other members of the crew really don't exist except as parts of the scenery and could almost have been dispensed with given how little they have to do. For once I find myself wishing that a book had been twenty or thirty pages longer to give more time for the characters to develop.
My other complaint is that the two other Brits in the crew really don't speak like Brits. Ok it's a minor point but I found it to be rather irritating at times.
All in all, a competent novel, but given the quality of the Coyote series it has to be considered more of a miss than a hit.
The three main characters aren't really developed very well, or at least they're all rather emotionless. The incompetent ships captain is a (cardboard cut-out stereotypical) member of the British aristocracy who got the job because of his father. Ok, it *might* happen, but it's not really all that credible, that far into the future. The other members of the crew really don't exist except as parts of the scenery and could almost have been dispensed with given how little they have to do. For once I find myself wishing that a book had been twenty or thirty pages longer to give more time for the characters to develop.
My other complaint is that the two other Brits in the crew really don't speak like Brits. Ok it's a minor point but I found it to be rather irritating at times.
All in all, a competent novel, but given the quality of the Coyote series it has to be considered more of a miss than a hit.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Bog standard
I concur with other reviewers that this could have been so much more, but instead follows the cliched first-contact moment with an over indulgent set-up and rather weak follow... Read more
Published on 22 April 2008 by Walton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Keep on space truckin'
A tale that really does defy a lot of categorization and one where the research conducted by Steel is highly visible. Read more
Published on 18 Sep 2007 by Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Great Read
I waited for a while for this book, i was not disappointed. A great read, by itself or having read the coyote trilogy. Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2007 by Mr. W. R. Mcconnell
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