Review: Briilliant, quirky, cutting edge sci fi debut
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 3, 2013
This is a first for me. I originally gave this book a two star review (see original review below) as I found the switching POVs from one character to another confusing and irritating as there was no obvious designation as to who was "speaking." I quit reading about a fourth of the way in and wrote a two star review. In comments to my original review, the author explained his reasons for the POV switches, and I decided to try again. I am so glad I did. I'm giving the book five stars after having read it all, not because it's perfect, but because of the following reasons.This book tries to do a lot, with blinding flashes of brilliance as well as devices that aren't quite as successful. As a debut book, it is quite good. This is a book that engages the reader in an unusual way. It's a tongue-in-cheek romp across space with a cast of mostly delicious characters and just plain hilarious dialogue. First, the writing is simply gorgeous. Dain White may write code for his day job, but he also knows how to string two sentences together, and he has a pretty impressive command of the Queen's English.Along with the quirky characters and space romper room feel of this book, it requires reader participation: your attention is needed, especially early in the book, to figure out whose "voice" is speaking, as the first person POV changes within chapters. (Perhaps a note in the foreword as to the use of the ***** symbol to designate change of character POV would prepare readers to stick with it as it does get easier further in the book.)Your attention is also needed to follow the dense but brilliant sci fi tech/geek/speak describing the Archaea's hardware, weapons, "wetnet", engine specs, and every aspect of physical science known and imagined. This is heavy stuff and a lot of it, and the brilliance of the book is that Mr. White incorporates this intense hard science with a Blazing Saddles in Space kind of humor. He is funny as hell. He uses puns. He uses dry wit. I highlighted numerous oneliners because they were so good.Most of the book's action revolves around five human characters, all larger-than-life nerdy over-achievers (except for the Marine), and Janis, the AI whose sentience slowly develops into an entity whose intent is questionable through much of the book. The characters are all richly developed in an almost exaggerated way that reminded me of the kind of characters in the 1980s Galaxy Quest movie spoof of Star Trek. While this is not a spoof of anything in particular, it has that feel to it. I enjoyed the dialogue hugely in this book. Very funny and one of the strengths of the book. The antics, ego, and eyebrows of the Captain were a bit over the top, to the point of cartoonishness,  i much preferred the characterizations of and dialogue between the other characters, though the Captain did have some fun zingers for dialogue.I sort of disagree with another reviewer who felt the plot didn't build toward a suspenseful climax with a classic denouement. In this debut novel, the form of the story doesn't fit perfectly into the classic mold; however, it does maintain an element of suspense through individual suspenseful events up through the slipspace episode away from the nuked destroyer. I expect that with more experience, this writer's form will improve. I will say that for me, the feeling of fear and slight dread that the early chapters of the book engendered regarding the danger of AI takeover just seemed to fade into nothing when Janis behaved herself.  If there's some issue of Janis outgrowing her britches in a sequel, perhaps a hint or two of that could have been included toward the end of Archaea. Otherwise it seems as if the seed was planted and then sort of quietly fizzled, leaving the reader wondering why it was ever brought up and made so much of.  I loved the suspense of wondering what was percolating through all of that code and wetnet and who Janis was becoming. Finally, I liked the surprise twist at the end, and can't wait to see what this crazy crew gets into in Janis.I ended up loving Archaea because it was so much fun. This is a book that is likely to become a classic for hard sci fi lovers in particular.*****My original two star review:Wanted to like this. Interesting concept. Enjoyed the smart-ass humor in dialogue. However, the constant switching of point of view among Pauli, the Captain, Shorty, and the engineer without any kind of notice, ( e.g., SHORTY: .......... or PAULI: ...........) just completely exhausted me.  Too much effort to try to figure out whose POV addressed the reader. Total interruption of the flow of the story. Had to give up before the Archaea left dry dock. Liked what I read but too hard to continue without better delineation of whose POV I was reading.