Author: Steven Erikson

Whenever people tell me they really liked a book (or movie, show, game, etc.), I take note but don’t pay particular attention to it. We all have different tastes and their preference may not necessarily coincide with mine.

However, when someone tells me that I would like a particular work, I’m on high alert. I’m an odd duck and easy personality to predict, so when people see something that reminds them of me (in any way), I know I’m going to love it.

Years ago, Erikson’s fantasy series (Malazan) was recommended to me. To my regret, I still haven’t gone through it yet, but it’s back on the burner.

Slow moving sci-fi has always been a preference of mine. Give me Space Odyssey: 2001, the first half of Interstellar (second half was good too), Contact and I’m that guy who liked the first Star Trek movie.

It’s also the reason my wife refuses to watch any movies of my choosing.

Pique my intellect! Make me think and force me to reflect!
That’s the stuff of great science fiction in my world and that’s what this book did for me.

The synopsis of this work, a venture into sci-fi, is a first-contact story… except the aliens don’t directly contact humanity – they intervene. It’s heavy handed with the philosophical, moral and ethical discourses and I love it.

It’s also part fantasy because… well… who hasn’t fantasized that aliens would come down and finally save us from ourselves?

As a Theology major, I really appreciated the careful discourse the characters have about God. Erikson really gets the complexities of answering the God question without reducing it to a simple answer – or any answer really.

While this may not be the best choice of book for those who love action driven plots, it’s an excellent book that paints a clear picture of what would happen to humanity if we were given a real chance to start something new.