Stargate Atlantis: Halcyon [Mass Market Paperback]

In many ways it is a typical scenario for the series and not only

because I have read it in the previous book, "The Chosen": Sheppard and

his team visit a world in which there is a privileged, arrogant and

partly decadent upper class and the majority of the population are very

poor, oppressed "commoners".

Of course that is a very rough description and there are infinite

possibilities how to make this scenario distinctive, interesting and

sometimes even surprising. James Swallow described both sides very well.

I expected bad things from Halcyon`s ruling class but the author

succeeded in surprising me a few times. Although I had a feeling from

early on that the ruler`s daughter is one of the few good exceptions of

the rule.

What makes this book interesting is the twist that the Wraith are the

hunted and enslaved. Contrary to "The Chosen", a book that "dehumanized"

them even so much by calling them "it", "Halcyon" is more sophisticated.

I actually felt torn. I was touched by the brutality the Wraith also

showed in this book but also felt revulsion at the brutal treatment they

had received. Fortunately the more recent Stargate Atlantis started to

show a more three dimensional portrayal of the Wraith and I am sure,

there is a lot we still don`t know about them. Can I really blame Wraith

who are badly starved and driven insane by the device, who have been

enslaved and used as weapons when they turn at their former masters when

they get the chance? Scar, their leader, was actually a very interesting

character, a villain but also a victim at the same time. This book is

not just a simple black and white story and I liked that very much.

Step by step, like Sheppard and his team, I learned more about what is

going on until the big secret was discovered. The author definitely

succeeded in surprising me and what happened on the Wraith ship was a

gripping read.

I didn`t expect a happy end for the people of Halcyon. It is nice that I

was wrong but the end felt too positive to me. The ruler evolved from a

ruthless ruler to a broken weakling to a man who suddenly discovers some

goodness in his heart, the error of his ways and a determination to die

doing some good. It was a bit too much out of a cliché book for my taste

and I actually cringed. That his daughter wasn`t such a bad person is

nothing I have a problem with but that she is willing to suddenly

embrace the poor underclass, introduce democracy and get rid of the

decadent, cruel wars between the nobles - again, that is nice but I am

not so sure if that is realistic. At least the author mentioned that

there are no guarantees about Halcyon`s future and that includes the

question if the Wraith will come back or not.

A big strength of this book are the characterizations of Sheppard and

his team. There is not much I can say about Sheppard and McKay: They are

definitely how I remember them from the series and I could see again why

I enjoy these characters so much.

I enjoyed the parts with Teyla and Ronon too, but this book offered some

surprises to me, this time definitely positive ones. Teyla has been

shown to be a sensitive, gentle woman but also a skilled fighter when

she has to be. These skills Teyla has shown so far wasn`t much more than

her stick fencing and using a gun. "Halcyon" shows Teyla`s gentle and

diplomatic side but for the first time also a ferocity, a ruthlessness

that surprised me. I found it very interesting and I also think, it

makes her character more three dimensional.

I am a big fan of the episode "Sateda" but I already liked the

introduction of Ronon. "Halcyon" takes place shortly after "Runner",

that means at a time when he just joined. I was surprised that the bond

between him and the rest of the team was already so strong. I enjoyed

that aspect a lot but had to wonder sometimes. After a while I decided

to just stop wondering and enjoy the interaction of these characters.

This book showed me again that Ronon is definitely much more interesting

than Ford ever was.

All in all, it is an entertaining read and I am very much looking

forward to the next book.

Baerbel Haddrell

This book was brilliant- i have read most of the Stargate Atlantis books and all so far are living up to my imagination - i have read many of them twice including this book, i would recommend to any Stargate fan or Sci-fi fan of this book and the other. was a brilliant read

Would strongly recommend this book. Read it 3 times already; Sheppard and Ronon get on like a house on fire while Mckay is hilarious with his anxiety when his 'intelligence' gets him into trouble!!
Teyla as usual is her quiet-but-don't-mess-with-me-or-you-will-regret-it attitude.
And then there are the extra new british SGC special forces who have hilarious nicknames for almost everyone they meet! Throw in the usual and so-unusual bad guys and you have the perfect recipe for a cracking read!!
Enjoy!!