Review: Dip in Quality
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 21, 2013
I'm sure nothing I could possibly say would dissuade fans at this point, but I did feel like this novel lost the thread a little, plot wise, and I'm not sure I'll be continuing.  My issues were as follows:(1) Riggs big mistake (leading to consequences which have led other reviewers to call this book "dark") was just too blindingly and glaringly obvious;(2) For a few volumes, I have felt like the various races of aliens are just cut-outs, like Larson said "hmmm, ok how can I make this race really different" and came out with a central attribute without developing a fully realized race.  The Worms talk with pictures, the Centaurs think like a herd and talk in long-winded hyperbole and the Crustaceans think they are professors.  One or two characteristics does not make for a fully realized race.  While no new races are introduced, this aspect of it just seemed worse with more time devoted to the "Crustaceans" during which they grow in annoyance without becoming more fully fleshed out;(3) when Riggs has an issue with Sandra, his girlfriend (not a spoiler, doesnt he always have issues with her?) the immediate flirting by other females feels contrived;(4) no one seemed to be acting all that logically, from the machines vacillating between annihilation and land-based conquest, to Riggs landing *before* he tries an insta win tactic, to discussion of the Crustaceans trying to be "neutral" during attempted conquest/annihilation, on and on, I just felt like there was less effort made here to make things make sense;(5) no new races, new technologies, or new ideas of real significance.(6) was bothered by the command structure of Riggs organization.  He repeatedly talks about how at least three different people are basically cowards, but says he values "survivors" and promotes one for this reason.  No one is promoted because of good ideas, bravery or anything of that sort;Bottom Line:  Ambivalent.  Delivers more of what fans have come to expect, but somehow left me with the impression that quality has drifted in the wrong direction.