Review: I wanted to like it, but it was just too silly
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 10 18, 2013
There is a school of fiction writing that advocates authors think "What would make this situation worse?" as a way to increase suspense. I do not think that Blondahl was necessarily subscribing to this while writing "Mercury: The Anahita Chronicles", but the novel runs to a similar vein. Unfortunately, the end result is a messy, multiple themed story that loads coincidence upon coincidence and seems happy to balance them with a Gallic-inspired 'What can you do?' shrug.Apart from this, there is a disheartening lack of rigor in the writing, both in terms of grammar and punctuation, but more importantly, with regards the realism of how the cast act and the science behind the mechanics of Blondahl's universe.So, we have a near-future scenario where genius physicist David Webber has created a FTL drive and the test flight of the first ship fitted with his new drive, 'Mercury', is about to begin. And it is where I started to have the hints of misgivings, because the test flight is Earth to Mars **and** both David and his equally brilliant wife are aboard. It seems more than unlikely that a risk adverse bureaucracy like NASA would place its most critical experts on a test flight, let along send it so far from home on the first go. Of course, such sensibility does not hurtle the plot along so off they set. (That they are both leave their only child, seven-year old Anne behind on Earth, further beggars belief!)Of course, things do not go to plan and that led to my additional misgivings.One in particular relates to the Anvil of Uriel, who are the obvious bad guys introduced in the Prologue. They do many evil things and when we find out why, their motivation is so mundane as to be laughable. It felt to me that Blondahl needed this 'bad guy' sub-theme to trigger actions by other characters, but was unable to neatly tie it into the broader picture so it remains an orphan thread that teased me into thinking it might explain events beyond what actually transpires, but never delivered.Another is the 'science' behind the FTL drive. It has some interesting effects with regards radiation, particularly manipulation of time and the Overflow liquid, but apart from some throw away lines regarding Higgs particles, it's essentially magic. That would be OK, but the manipulation of time impacts people and computers differently and the Overflow liquid has even stranger outcomes but they are plot devices with no underlying reasoning applied and such sloppiness is annoying in sci-fi novels. If as much time had passed for the ship and computer as is stated, the ship itself would have surely broken down but that is another glossed over consequence in a string of many glossed over consequences.Similarly, the AI that controls 'Mercury' seems a hotchpotch amalgam of motives and capabilities that ebb and flow as the plot requires, rather than being a consistent character in its own right.Finally, and most frustrating, pretty much everything that happens when 'Mercury' arrives at its unexpected destination is a narrative mess. I cannot provide further details because it would spoil the story, but they find a cornucopia of wonderment and Blondahl provides absolutely no reason for any of it, not even speculation on obvious topics. It is way too neat with nary a hint that anything will be explained, or can be explained, so when one of the characters asks, "This has been bugging me. Why exactly do we have axes?" I have to admit, the same question - and numerous like it - had been bugging me as well. No sensible answer was given, but the real answer is that without them, Blondahl's story would have fallen apart.In the afterward, Blondahl notes that "It came to me all of a sudden in a fit of energy, demanding that I begin typing." I can believe it. "Mercury: The Anahita Chronicles" has a number of disparate plots that are not well weaved together and it has the feel of a story bashed out with insufficient reflection on the motives and actions of the characters.So, who should read "Mercury: The Anahita Chronicles"?I think that if you are new to sci-fi, do not demand strong scientific underpinnings for technically oriented novels, or are happy with stories that are adventure focused rather than character driven, then you could enjoy this. Certainly, at 99 cents the price is right for you. But if you are into nuanced, well thought through novels where characters act consistently and the coincidences are few and far between, then "Mercury: The Anahita Chronicles" is probably not for you at any price.