Lightless by C.A. Higgins
Lightless by C.A. Higgins
Serving aboard the Ananke, an experimental military spacecraft launched by the ruthless organization that rules Earth and its solar system, computer scientist Althea has established an intense emotional bond-not with any of her crewmates, but with the ship’s electronic systems, which speak more deeply to her analytical mind than human feelings do. But when a pair of fugitive terrorists gain access to the Ananke, Althea must draw upon her heart and soul for the strength to defend her beloved ship.
While one of the saboteurs remains at large somewhere on board, his captured partner-the enigmatic Ivan-may prove to be more dangerous. The perversely fascinating criminal whose silver tongue is his most effective weapon has long evaded the authorities’ most relentless surveillance-and kept the truth about his methods and motives well hidden.
As the ship’s systems begin to malfunction and the claustrophobic atmosphere is increasingly poisoned by distrust and suspicion, it falls to Althea to penetrate the prisoner’s layers of intrigue and deception before all is lost. But when the true nature of Ivan’s mission is exposed, it will change Althea forever-if it doesn’t kill her first.
I picked this up at NYCC 2016 and my copy is signed by the author.
I very much enjoyed this sci-fi story. The characters really got to me and made me think. It was hard to side with anyone. There are no clear heroes. Everyone has a dark side so it was like picking the lesser of evils. I felt like a detective.
The computer science and laws of physics goes way over my head but I enjoy the evolution [Spoiler alert!!]of Ananke becoming an A.I. My favorite parts were at the end when the story becomes her (third person) P.O.V. I also enjoyed watching the way Ivan manipulated and stalled the ship and her crew. I do wonder if he really did try to talk Connie out of her terrorist ways. This is definitely a story that had a good mix of character studies and science-fiction.
I also enjoyed that there was no ridiculous love triangle, square or quadrangle. I didn't mind that there was no romance at all.
The suspense is exciting and when I was about half way through I went out to buy the second book of the trilogy so I could dive right in.
A few downsides:
I didn't like similarities of names. Althea, Ananke, and Annwn. It takes more effort for me to read and distinguish between characters if they all start with the same letter.
I didn't like the long chapters. It's 288 pages but only has 10 chapters. Come on!
I would have liked a map of the solar system, like there was in the Red Rising trilogy. Are there added dwarf planets of our solar system in this universe? Or are they just moons? Perhaps the next book will venture there and explain more.
4 out of 5 Laws of Thermodynamics.
Review for the second book of the trilogy, Supernova.
Review for the third book, Radiate.
Serving aboard the Ananke, an experimental military spacecraft launched by the ruthless organization that rules Earth and its solar system, computer scientist Althea has established an intense emotional bond-not with any of her crewmates, but with the ship’s electronic systems, which speak more deeply to her analytical mind than human feelings do. But when a pair of fugitive terrorists gain access to the Ananke, Althea must draw upon her heart and soul for the strength to defend her beloved ship.
While one of the saboteurs remains at large somewhere on board, his captured partner-the enigmatic Ivan-may prove to be more dangerous. The perversely fascinating criminal whose silver tongue is his most effective weapon has long evaded the authorities’ most relentless surveillance-and kept the truth about his methods and motives well hidden.
As the ship’s systems begin to malfunction and the claustrophobic atmosphere is increasingly poisoned by distrust and suspicion, it falls to Althea to penetrate the prisoner’s layers of intrigue and deception before all is lost. But when the true nature of Ivan’s mission is exposed, it will change Althea forever-if it doesn’t kill her first.
I picked this up at NYCC 2016 and my copy is signed by the author.
I very much enjoyed this sci-fi story. The characters really got to me and made me think. It was hard to side with anyone. There are no clear heroes. Everyone has a dark side so it was like picking the lesser of evils. I felt like a detective.
The computer science and laws of physics goes way over my head but I enjoy the evolution [Spoiler alert!!]of Ananke becoming an A.I. My favorite parts were at the end when the story becomes her (third person) P.O.V. I also enjoyed watching the way Ivan manipulated and stalled the ship and her crew. I do wonder if he really did try to talk Connie out of her terrorist ways. This is definitely a story that had a good mix of character studies and science-fiction.
I also enjoyed that there was no ridiculous love triangle, square or quadrangle. I didn't mind that there was no romance at all.
The suspense is exciting and when I was about half way through I went out to buy the second book of the trilogy so I could dive right in.
A few downsides:
I didn't like similarities of names. Althea, Ananke, and Annwn. It takes more effort for me to read and distinguish between characters if they all start with the same letter.
I didn't like the long chapters. It's 288 pages but only has 10 chapters. Come on!
I would have liked a map of the solar system, like there was in the Red Rising trilogy. Are there added dwarf planets of our solar system in this universe? Or are they just moons? Perhaps the next book will venture there and explain more.
4 out of 5 Laws of Thermodynamics.
Review for the second book of the trilogy, Supernova.
Review for the third book, Radiate.