July 5, 2010
Baxter's riveting follow-up to bestseller Flood tempers the hope of humanity coming together in the face of a crisis with an often brutal undercurrent of realism, resulting in a sequel that surpasses the original in almost every way. Set during the later years of the earth-destroying flood, the book follows Holle Groundwater and her friends as they go from being six-year-old students of an experimental space academy to a years-long trip through the cosmos in search of Earth 2. The best-laid plans are often, and unexpectedly, disrupted at almost every stage; the ship must deal with stowaways, unqualified applicants, infighting, and even mutiny. Characteristic of Baxter's writing, the novel can be depressing at times but still serves as a study of humanity's ability to adapt and make painful decisions for the greater good. With an almost completely new cast, readers old and new will be engaged by the strength and scope of Baxter's vision, and the all-too-human characters he creates.
June 15, 2010
By 2041, rising ocean levels have nearly covered the land surfaces of Earth and will soon overwhelm what little dry ground remains. Two spaceships, Ark One and Ark Three, prepare for a one-way trip to a habitable planet in a distant part of space. Among the potential colonists is Holly Groundwater, who learns the difficulties inherent in winning out over the competition and placing her life above others to gain a place in the transport. VERDICT Continuing the apocalyptic vision of Flood, Baxter demonstrates an uncanny talent for delving into the psychological world of the survivor. His gift for storytelling and his large-scale, panoramic scenario should appeal to fans of such apocalyptic fiction as Walter Jon Williams's The Rift and John Barnes's Mother of Storms.
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