A Million Suns

Beth Revis
Book 2 in Across the Universe trilogy

Last time, in Across the Universe, we found that the space ship Godspeed was traveling to Centauri-Earth (from Sol-Earth) so set up a new colony. The people on the ship were regimented in their lives to maintain order and efficiency. Their leader was nearly as regimented. With the new leader (Elder) rising to power effectively by coup, he has de-regimented the ship... which is where we pick up.

The 3,000 some inhabitants of Godspeed are not as enthralled with their lives as when they were on space-prozac. So Elder continues to work toward maintaining control while finding out what he can about the progress of the ship. Amy, who was woken from cryostasis in the last book, continues to cause trouble just because she is different. Well, and because she is inquisitive and in the middle of a twisted puzzle that threatens to either save or destroy Godspeed. As the ship people revolt and Elder fights for control, the intrigue of clues left by Orion prod Amy onward and in the end reveals a whole new world of possibilites.

Revis does a good job here of creating three books with three distinct plots that each have their own problems and characters and resolutions. This trilogy is not just one story cut into three parts. Much like the Shannara world of Terry Brooks, the independence, story arc and resolution makes this feel like its own book, and yet still fully part of the trilogy.

Read

Across the Universe

Beth Revis
Book 1 in Across the Universe trilogy

Amy is just a kid and is put in a position to make the biggest decision of her life. Should she end her life as she knows it in order to jump on a space ship with her parents and wake up in 250 years on another planet?

On the ship Godspeed, the Eldest and Elder are the current and future leaders. Their "cargo" is secret but their purpose is clear. Get to Centauri-Earth and initate the first human colony on another planet. When Amy is unfrozen before her time, she is taken under Elder's wing. What starts as a straight-up sci-fi drama turns into the space version of dystopia. A teen age boy and girl slowly uncover the corruption and systemic evils of the world they live in and become determined to change things for the better. And we get to evaluate the value of life, how to insure quality of life for all, the rights of one vs. the good of all, etc. This one just happens to be in a bit more of a claustrophobic atmosphere. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series.

The thing with sci-fi is you should probably get the sci part right. And these are just easy fixes. Why refer to an inertial confinement hydrogen fission power source? Clearly this would be a fusion device? Why talk about a lead cooled fast reactor engine that can take the uranium waste, recycle it and use it again for fuel --- indefinitely? At least don't break the fundamental laws of physics without making this a significant part of the plot line. Actually, for now I will give Revis a break on the recycled fuel since that little piece of science was told to us by Eldest, a known scientific neophyte. But she better clear that up in the next installment.
Rating: Read it

Shades of Earth

Beth Revis
Book 3 in Across the Universe trilogy

Final installment and we are not disappointed. Elder, Amy, and about 1500 of the Godspeed inhabitants have decided to travel to the surface of Centauri-Earth, in spite of the promised monsters and dire warnings of both Eldest and Orion. When they arrive, they also thaw out the 100 earthborn military and science officers who are earthborn and who are charged with the next phase of the mission. It turns out that Amy's father is the ranking military officer and her mother is the chief biological scientist. And of course there is conflict between the military and Elder of the shipborn. There is racism, there are control issues, there are secrets, and yes, there are monsters. Amy and Elder continue their sleuthing, trying to solve the final of Orion's clues, keep everyone (shipborn and earthborn and alien) safe, and make a home while they are at it. Again, Revis has created a book that is interesting in its own right, fits in with the universe she created, and continues to develop this world into an increasingly deep and rich place.

Read

A World Without You

Beth Revis

This is actually pretty amazing. Some weird cross in tone between Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children (of which I only saw the film) and The Fault in Our Stars. The story is a deep look into normalcy and mental illness from the perspective of both the afflicted and the family around them. Maybe because I loved her Across the Universe trilogy, I stepped into this expecting full Revis Sci-fi. And as the story developed, it unfolded for me in a way that seemed consistent with the unfolding for Bo, the protagonist. Excellent writing.

The story follows Bo, a student at Berkshire School for Students with Exceptional Needs. We are introduced to him and the fellow students in his unit immediately after a tragedy has struck the school. Bo spends most of the book exploring this tragedy, investigating it, and developing his powers to be able to remedy it. At the same time, we jump to the perspective of his sister Phoebe, who is attending local public school, is 'normal' and nearly invisible to her parents.

I take this as a particularly poignant view of families and relationships who are dealing with any variety of 'exceptional needs'. Not a happy book, per se, but hopeful in many ways. Definitely worth reading.

Read