Moon, Elizabeth: Engaging the Enemy
Engaging the Enemy (2006)
Written by: Elizabeth Moon
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 398 (Mass Market Paperback)
Continuing my space opera research using the Vatta's War series, I decided to read the next installment once I posted my review Marque and Reprisal. Like I said, I'm going to read these relatively quickly, as I've borrowed them from digitalclone and want to ship them back to her in a timely manner. :)
The premise: in the third book of the series, Ky Vatta's got two ships: one's old, slow, and simply for trade; the other is outfitted perfectly should she become a privateer. What she really wants is to use her marque to actually unite the privateers and take the fight to the people who killed her family. That's easier said than done: not only does the government not trust her, but neither does her family or the other captains. Ky's got to do everything she can in order to accomplish what is right, but that's not going to be easy, especially when someone from her past shows up who could change everything. For the worst.
Review style: Two sections, what I liked and what I didn't. Expect spoilers. :)
What I Liked
I'm becoming increasing fascinated with Moon's world building in this series. It's not all encompassing and breath-taking like Tolkien or Mieville's, but it's detailed in a way that really makes me appreciate all of the work Moon has put into this fictional universe and how everything works. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think her experience in the military has really, really helped her out in this regard, because while the world-building isn't rooted in the military, Moon has a good handle on governments and all the organizations that help and plague them. It also helps her characterization, making the characters of this series believable yet realistic and likable, no matter who they are.
I loved Grace's sections in this book. That little old lady is definitely not someone I'd want as an enemy, and I love her teaming up with MacRobert (about time we saw him!) in order to accomplish what she must. Her backstory is also fascinating, and I've developed a huge fondness for this character--a woman who was nothing more than an annoyance in the first book.
Stella's story was good, but frustrating only in that as a reader, I supported both her AND Ky and wanted them to bring their different world-views and perspectives together and actually work together. I'm not entirely convinced EVERYTHING is settled, but I think Stella had to mature a little bit in this book, especially after learning that she was adopted, and a daughter of Osman Vatta at that. Interesting twist, that, and I wonder if it's going to come into play.
Also surprising was the development with Furman. I'm fascinated how the first book, Trading in Danger, read like such a stand-alone, inconsequential thing, but really provided the platform for this epic to be built. I liked the twists involved, and I loved how the culture (I can't remember the name of the station/planet and I'm too lazy to look it up) created a kind of conflict that allowed for easy disposal of Furman. However, I'm surprised Ky or Stella or one of their crew members didn't unintentionally break any laws either. The consequences would've been interesting.
I continue to like Ky as a character, especially in that she's not perfect and makes mistakes. I liked the confrontation, such as it was, between her and Rafe when he tells her he knows what she is (a natural born killer) and what it means to live with it. I'm not looking for romance between those two either--I really like the business relationship and potential for friendship there, and that's rather refreshing (ah, such a change from when I read Trading in Danger and kept wanting it to be SFR!).
Oh, and randomly: the puppy proves useful! Yay! But I'm sorry to see Toby go: I hope he returns in the later books.
What I Didn't Like
This book felt slower than the last, and I think that's due in part because the plot itself really didn't manifest clearly or quickly, IMHO. Once Ky gets her big idea, it still takes a while for anything to come out of that, because she's constantly dealing with inconvenience after inconvenience, which doesn't make for much of an action-packed story. While Furman's appearance was an interesting surprise and conflict, I'm finding that with this book and the last, the characters kind of go along until something HAPPENS and then they have to resolve the issue. Not an organic plot really, but not a one-damn-thing-after-another either. Somewhere in between, which I think I referenced before, and that slows down the pace.
That said, the speed, I suppose, is realistic for the overall arc which must be Ky avenging her family and killing the man ultimately responsible. Stuff like this takes time, and Moon is filling in the blanks with some excellent world-building that's proving useful.
Awkward in this book, though, was the fruition of Ky's plan. I didn't mind that she wasn't in charge: it made sense she backed down and it allowed her to make another mistake that I hope she'll come roaring back from, but it was all rather sudden. I felt like the story sort of ended with the resolution with Furman and the decision for Ky and Stella to go their separate ways while both supporting Vatta, so the whole privateer army thing felt tacked on. Obviously it's a lead-in to the next book, but still, awkward. I wish it'd been a little more organic, with maybe people seeking Ky out on the station whose name I'm too lazy to look up so that we could've had some kind of build towards the formation. First it was an idea, and then snap, it's happening! Almost too quick in turns of narrative build-up, but I guess Moon had to get there somehow.
My Rating
Worth the Cash: pretty enjoyable, and again, if I'd actually spent money on this instead of borrowing it, I wouldn't have minded in hindsight. Moon is writing solid SF, both in military fiction and in space opera, and the characters really do stand out and develop nicely. And of course, I'm enjoying the world-building here and the details that go into it, though I feel like sometimes, the details slow the story down. Still, the series is moving a solid pace so far, with the ante being upped with each book, so I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Cover Commentary: while I like the art itself, this cover doesn't really seem to be a particular scene from the book. I don't remember Ky shooting her weapon, and the tiny pic in the corner of people rushing off some ship like they're after something doesn't jive with the action of the book either. Still, good cover, and I definitely prefer these to the UK covers, which feature generic ships in space. These covers convey action and the heroine is rendered rather well. If this is ever made into a movie or television series, I'd like to see Tania Raymonde (she played Alex on Lost), play the part of Ky. She's got the same strong features we see on the artist's rendering, and I keep picturing Reynolds in my mind anyway. :)
Next up: Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder