Deepdrive
List Price: $5.99
In Alexander Jablokov's new novel, no less than 11 different alien races have visited our solar system, setting up home on the planets and moons most hospitable to them. Humanity would love to join these far-flung adventurers in their travels, but we lack the deepdrive that makes trekking between the stars possible. So far no human has been able to acquire a drive or find a way to create one, and none of the aliens are willing to pass along the secret. But a few years ago, an alien by the name of Ripi crash-landed in our system, and he may have brought an intact drive with him. Since his landing, Ripi has been held on Venus, half exile and half political prisoner, refusing to say anything about the drive. But now Ripi has put the word out that he'd like to be rescued from his enforced vacation, and mercenary Soph Trost is one of many people (and aliens) who want a piece of the action... and the deepdrive. This is a ripping tale by Jablokov, who has no trouble mixing good old-fashioned action with an intricate plot and colorful characters. --Craig E. Engler
I was just browsing reviews and decided to check reviews for Deepdrive, which made a big impression on me when I read it 10 years ago. I don't think people are giving due credit to Jablokov for the structure he laid on the book.
Yes, it is messy and confusing, but that is clearly deliberate, in my opinion. Although the plot was convoluted, I had no difficulty following the various threads when I read the book.
The characters are bizarre, and why shouldn't they be---do you really think that human interactions would not be profoundly influenced by contact with aliens? Speaking of aliens, I loved the alien in which the male was a giant fetus for its entire lifespan, only to die with procreation. Does it sound weird? Of course, and that's Jablokov's success.
Now, the plot was definitely convoluted and tricky, but what Jablokov is doing is mirroring the process by which an individual comes across a new and difficult idea. The deepdrive requires a huge mental leap for mankind, which to date has not been accomplished by normal scientific methods. The fact that a group of screwy people, working haphazardly and sometimes at cross purposes, find the secret, is wonderful and authentic.
I realize this book is not for everyone, but I recommend trying it just in case it is for you, in which case you will have a profoundly moving read---the ending is very poetic.
I like all of Jablokov's work. Try River of Dust if you want a very different take on the Mars novel.
well it's pretty.
but I am 7/8's thru it and have not a sniff of the subject. the characters seems to spend more energy on hucksterism and same sex lusting than FTL drives. I'm going to TRY to finish it, (once read DAHLGREN, took six months), but I don't suspect it'll be worth it.
Lloyd McDaniel
Panama City, Fl.
First book I could not finish, HORRIBLE
This is without a doubt the worse book I have ever "read". One star is too generous, even zero. Can I give negative stars???? I've read over 400 novels, 99% of them SF, the other 1% being Dan Simmons' non-SF books! These books have spanned many decades of publication dates. I love hard SF, classic, space opera, cyberpunk; any type of SF, and am open to about any outlandish ideas or stories. I'll try anything once! I'm pretty easy to please, and enjoy almost every SF book I read for one reason or another, even ones that other readers rate low. I have read some mediocre stuff (some of Larry Niven's later books almost cancel out his earlier excellent ones. Same for Greg Bear), but I always finish a book. I just need SOMETHING there to fill the void. Deepdrive has set the bar too low even for me. I tried my best to finish this book, but it just got worse as the "story" went on. I felt like I was being tortured! Talk about no cohesion and lack of focus. I was forced to stop reading about halfway through, and this was on an airplane! I have good mental imagery, but Deepdrive left me befuddled and wondering what the heck was going on. Did I suddenly become stupid and just not get it? Was there a physical problem with my brain? Should I see a doctor? Nope, a reread of a few short SF classics restored my sanity. Deepdrive was the culprit. I didn't have the heart to sell it at a used book store, least I curse someone else with this toxic collection of almost random writing. I actually threw this book in the garbage can.
BTW, some of you may be wondering why I'm being so harsh. I'm not. I was surfing Amazon, and came upon Deepdrive years after my attempt to read it. This is my only Amazon book review. I have read hundreds of reviews, but never felt the need to write or rebut one. I was compelled to write this after I read with astonishment the 5 star review of this book. While other worthy books have faded in my memory, Deepdrive will never be forgotten as the bottom of the barrel in my SF reading.
An Ultimate Science Fiction Novel
An ultimate Science Fiction Novel, an ultimate Adventure Novel, and an ultimate Novel, period.
Set centuries in the future (the cover flap claims it occurs in the 21st century, but it's obvious reading the book that considerably more time has passed between the present and the novel's time-frame)with eleven alien races now inhabiting the Solar System in addition to humanity, all of them towering above humanity in technological advancement, one aspect of which is that they each possess "Deepdrive" technology, the title of the book, the means to travel faster than light, and one of humanity's holy grails. These aliens are Truly Alien; among the more familiar-seeming are glowing 'Turtles' that now swim through the seas of Ganymede; Venus, in addition to being home to human cities now that it has a cooler surface and oxygen atmosphere, also has Bgarth, super-giant cyborg wormlike beings who terraformed the world and whose nerve cells interact directly with the 'reaction site' that produces Venus's new air - one character early on goes so far as to say that "in one sense, you can think of the current atmosphere of Venus as a Bgarth thought" (talk about exotic concepts in sci-fi!). Other species, in both physiology and culture are as alien or in some cases even more so, and most seem to have large cults of human acolytes, even worshippers.
Human society too is dynamically different; it's not just the Earth of today with awesome new technologies added in, and we see not only a picture of human culture at the time "Deepdrive" actually takes place, but we get glimpses of the changes it underwent through the previous centuries, including prior to first contact with the first extraterrestrials to enter the system. In fact, we get tantalizing Glimpses of so much - different aspects of what's going on on Earth; the situation on Mercury with its own alien colonizers; SO much, that this can't be the only book written in this continuity. It would be a great deprivation of literature if the author didn't carry on with at least a couple more books to explore some of what's been only hinted at. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I'd like to see this become a whole universe of novels, in the sense of how "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" and even Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" books are being done following their creator's passing on: different authors contributing different novels in different locales, different time periods, different species getting the spotlight, even totally different characters; the concept is so vast it could easily be done. I would love to see an entire novel taking place at the time of the legendary first contact. If more authors were to contribute to this full line (though Jablokov is obviously the first choice to write as many of the pivotal novels as possible)I would nominate Piers Anthony and Kathy Tyers, for starters. There is so much left unsaid and undiscovered, there is no limit as to how one could expand on this first entry. And the book has truly Shock ending that absolutely demands a direct sequel with the same characters.
As for the characters themselves, many of them seem at first to be not especially likable. But as you go further and deeper, they seem to have more redeeming characteristics than one might have expected, buried almost deliberately under ruthless exteriors. Human society has Not, despite the changes it's seen in the centuries, become a less brutal thing, and the surrounding universe, while now clearly full of all the wonder and more that pre-contact humans have dreamt it might have, is jarringly full of menace as well, and it's as if the people in this time era, even more so than today, have had to build up very hard exteriors just to emotionally survive. This is also true of certain alien characters the reader meets, although we don't get to know very many of them on a personal level (another reason why more books in this continuity are a necessity). Science Fiction novels don't tend to focus on 'destiny' as much as, say, Fantasy novels, but it's almost as if the Solar System (and perhaps more) is at some kind of metaphorical critical mass,
and fate is drawing together individuals (of different species) of usually checkered backgrounds but with the potential for nobility, for some grand purpose. Some Science Fiction readers may not like such a notion, finding it to be 'unscientific', but there should be more than enough 'Hard-SF' to make up for such departures even to the most dognatic of its fans. Besides, "Deepdrive" isn't solely a Science Fiction novel, it's adventure, in places it's freezing horror, it's speculative philosophy at its best, and it's one of The best novels ever written, genre or no genre.
Enjoyable if confusing read
Several other reviewers have summarized the plot of this story quite nicely, so I won't repeat their efforts. The main problem I had with this book is that the motivations of the main characters are totally opaque. Because of this I couldn't relate to them; never really felt sympathy for or liked them; and ultimately wasn't interested in them. Are these people in it for money? Curiosity? Love? Boredom? It's ironic that the one character the dust jacket describes as the most enigmatic is actually the easiest one to understand. The most intriguing characters to me were the various alien species. There's one really marvelous description of an alien named Doc Kraken, a composite organism who finances it's tour of the galaxy by deconstructing and reconstructing itself in front of spectators. At a restaurant. Hilariously strange.
This book is reminiscent of Bruce Sterling's Schismatrix stories, but in a good way. Not at all derivative. I read the whole book in less than 24 hours, so I probably shouldn't complain too much. But even when I was really concentrating I couldn't follow the story, and I'm a pretty good reader. I guess I just kept hoping that it would start making sense to me at some point, or that the climax of the story would somehow explain it all. But it never happened. To his credit, Jablokov did tie all the various story lines up pretty neatly, so I didn't put the book down feeling dissatisfied. Overall I think this book is worth reading.
And by the way, this book has the coolest luggage ever imagined!
List Price: $5.99
Description
In the twenty-first-century, eleven extraterrestrial races have settled our solar system, sometimes interacting with human beings, sometimes ignoring them altogether in pursuit of their own enigmatic ends. They reached human space with faster-than-light drives-deepdrives-designed to self-destruct after use. Without deepdrives of their own, humans have no way to cross the vast, interstellar gulf, or to compete as equals in the galactic community.But then a renegade alien crashed on Venus and a ragtag group of mercenaries determines to break him out and learn his secrets for themselves-maybe even the secret of the deepdrive. But in a search for the deepdrive, nothing is as it seems, no one exactly who-or what- they appear to be. There are no easy answers, only layer upon layer of secrets and lies. And as events set in motion long ago and far away begin to ripple into human space, it is no longer even clear who are the hunters, and who the hunted.
In Alexander Jablokov's new novel, no less than 11 different alien races have visited our solar system, setting up home on the planets and moons most hospitable to them. Humanity would love to join these far-flung adventurers in their travels, but we lack the deepdrive that makes trekking between the stars possible. So far no human has been able to acquire a drive or find a way to create one, and none of the aliens are willing to pass along the secret. But a few years ago, an alien by the name of Ripi crash-landed in our system, and he may have brought an intact drive with him. Since his landing, Ripi has been held on Venus, half exile and half political prisoner, refusing to say anything about the drive. But now Ripi has put the word out that he'd like to be rescued from his enforced vacation, and mercenary Soph Trost is one of many people (and aliens) who want a piece of the action... and the deepdrive. This is a ripping tale by Jablokov, who has no trouble mixing good old-fashioned action with an intricate plot and colorful characters. --Craig E. Engler
Customer Reviews
A brilliant messI was just browsing reviews and decided to check reviews for Deepdrive, which made a big impression on me when I read it 10 years ago. I don't think people are giving due credit to Jablokov for the structure he laid on the book.
Yes, it is messy and confusing, but that is clearly deliberate, in my opinion. Although the plot was convoluted, I had no difficulty following the various threads when I read the book.
The characters are bizarre, and why shouldn't they be---do you really think that human interactions would not be profoundly influenced by contact with aliens? Speaking of aliens, I loved the alien in which the male was a giant fetus for its entire lifespan, only to die with procreation. Does it sound weird? Of course, and that's Jablokov's success.
Now, the plot was definitely convoluted and tricky, but what Jablokov is doing is mirroring the process by which an individual comes across a new and difficult idea. The deepdrive requires a huge mental leap for mankind, which to date has not been accomplished by normal scientific methods. The fact that a group of screwy people, working haphazardly and sometimes at cross purposes, find the secret, is wonderful and authentic.
I realize this book is not for everyone, but I recommend trying it just in case it is for you, in which case you will have a profoundly moving read---the ending is very poetic.
I like all of Jablokov's work. Try River of Dust if you want a very different take on the Mars novel.
well it's pretty.
but I am 7/8's thru it and have not a sniff of the subject. the characters seems to spend more energy on hucksterism and same sex lusting than FTL drives. I'm going to TRY to finish it, (once read DAHLGREN, took six months), but I don't suspect it'll be worth it.
Lloyd McDaniel
Panama City, Fl.
First book I could not finish, HORRIBLE
This is without a doubt the worse book I have ever "read". One star is too generous, even zero. Can I give negative stars???? I've read over 400 novels, 99% of them SF, the other 1% being Dan Simmons' non-SF books! These books have spanned many decades of publication dates. I love hard SF, classic, space opera, cyberpunk; any type of SF, and am open to about any outlandish ideas or stories. I'll try anything once! I'm pretty easy to please, and enjoy almost every SF book I read for one reason or another, even ones that other readers rate low. I have read some mediocre stuff (some of Larry Niven's later books almost cancel out his earlier excellent ones. Same for Greg Bear), but I always finish a book. I just need SOMETHING there to fill the void. Deepdrive has set the bar too low even for me. I tried my best to finish this book, but it just got worse as the "story" went on. I felt like I was being tortured! Talk about no cohesion and lack of focus. I was forced to stop reading about halfway through, and this was on an airplane! I have good mental imagery, but Deepdrive left me befuddled and wondering what the heck was going on. Did I suddenly become stupid and just not get it? Was there a physical problem with my brain? Should I see a doctor? Nope, a reread of a few short SF classics restored my sanity. Deepdrive was the culprit. I didn't have the heart to sell it at a used book store, least I curse someone else with this toxic collection of almost random writing. I actually threw this book in the garbage can.
BTW, some of you may be wondering why I'm being so harsh. I'm not. I was surfing Amazon, and came upon Deepdrive years after my attempt to read it. This is my only Amazon book review. I have read hundreds of reviews, but never felt the need to write or rebut one. I was compelled to write this after I read with astonishment the 5 star review of this book. While other worthy books have faded in my memory, Deepdrive will never be forgotten as the bottom of the barrel in my SF reading.
An Ultimate Science Fiction Novel
An ultimate Science Fiction Novel, an ultimate Adventure Novel, and an ultimate Novel, period.
Set centuries in the future (the cover flap claims it occurs in the 21st century, but it's obvious reading the book that considerably more time has passed between the present and the novel's time-frame)with eleven alien races now inhabiting the Solar System in addition to humanity, all of them towering above humanity in technological advancement, one aspect of which is that they each possess "Deepdrive" technology, the title of the book, the means to travel faster than light, and one of humanity's holy grails. These aliens are Truly Alien; among the more familiar-seeming are glowing 'Turtles' that now swim through the seas of Ganymede; Venus, in addition to being home to human cities now that it has a cooler surface and oxygen atmosphere, also has Bgarth, super-giant cyborg wormlike beings who terraformed the world and whose nerve cells interact directly with the 'reaction site' that produces Venus's new air - one character early on goes so far as to say that "in one sense, you can think of the current atmosphere of Venus as a Bgarth thought" (talk about exotic concepts in sci-fi!). Other species, in both physiology and culture are as alien or in some cases even more so, and most seem to have large cults of human acolytes, even worshippers.
Human society too is dynamically different; it's not just the Earth of today with awesome new technologies added in, and we see not only a picture of human culture at the time "Deepdrive" actually takes place, but we get glimpses of the changes it underwent through the previous centuries, including prior to first contact with the first extraterrestrials to enter the system. In fact, we get tantalizing Glimpses of so much - different aspects of what's going on on Earth; the situation on Mercury with its own alien colonizers; SO much, that this can't be the only book written in this continuity. It would be a great deprivation of literature if the author didn't carry on with at least a couple more books to explore some of what's been only hinted at. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I'd like to see this become a whole universe of novels, in the sense of how "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" and even Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" books are being done following their creator's passing on: different authors contributing different novels in different locales, different time periods, different species getting the spotlight, even totally different characters; the concept is so vast it could easily be done. I would love to see an entire novel taking place at the time of the legendary first contact. If more authors were to contribute to this full line (though Jablokov is obviously the first choice to write as many of the pivotal novels as possible)I would nominate Piers Anthony and Kathy Tyers, for starters. There is so much left unsaid and undiscovered, there is no limit as to how one could expand on this first entry. And the book has truly Shock ending that absolutely demands a direct sequel with the same characters.
As for the characters themselves, many of them seem at first to be not especially likable. But as you go further and deeper, they seem to have more redeeming characteristics than one might have expected, buried almost deliberately under ruthless exteriors. Human society has Not, despite the changes it's seen in the centuries, become a less brutal thing, and the surrounding universe, while now clearly full of all the wonder and more that pre-contact humans have dreamt it might have, is jarringly full of menace as well, and it's as if the people in this time era, even more so than today, have had to build up very hard exteriors just to emotionally survive. This is also true of certain alien characters the reader meets, although we don't get to know very many of them on a personal level (another reason why more books in this continuity are a necessity). Science Fiction novels don't tend to focus on 'destiny' as much as, say, Fantasy novels, but it's almost as if the Solar System (and perhaps more) is at some kind of metaphorical critical mass,
and fate is drawing together individuals (of different species) of usually checkered backgrounds but with the potential for nobility, for some grand purpose. Some Science Fiction readers may not like such a notion, finding it to be 'unscientific', but there should be more than enough 'Hard-SF' to make up for such departures even to the most dognatic of its fans. Besides, "Deepdrive" isn't solely a Science Fiction novel, it's adventure, in places it's freezing horror, it's speculative philosophy at its best, and it's one of The best novels ever written, genre or no genre.
Enjoyable if confusing read
Several other reviewers have summarized the plot of this story quite nicely, so I won't repeat their efforts. The main problem I had with this book is that the motivations of the main characters are totally opaque. Because of this I couldn't relate to them; never really felt sympathy for or liked them; and ultimately wasn't interested in them. Are these people in it for money? Curiosity? Love? Boredom? It's ironic that the one character the dust jacket describes as the most enigmatic is actually the easiest one to understand. The most intriguing characters to me were the various alien species. There's one really marvelous description of an alien named Doc Kraken, a composite organism who finances it's tour of the galaxy by deconstructing and reconstructing itself in front of spectators. At a restaurant. Hilariously strange.
This book is reminiscent of Bruce Sterling's Schismatrix stories, but in a good way. Not at all derivative. I read the whole book in less than 24 hours, so I probably shouldn't complain too much. But even when I was really concentrating I couldn't follow the story, and I'm a pretty good reader. I guess I just kept hoping that it would start making sense to me at some point, or that the climax of the story would somehow explain it all. But it never happened. To his credit, Jablokov did tie all the various story lines up pretty neatly, so I didn't put the book down feeling dissatisfied. Overall I think this book is worth reading.
And by the way, this book has the coolest luggage ever imagined!