Writer: Jack McDevitt
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 419
The premise (from Barnes & Noble.com): Two hundred years ago, humans made a stunning discovery in the far reaches of the solar system: a huge statue of an alien creature, with an inscription that defied all efforts at translation. Now, as faster-than-light drive opens the stars to exploration, humans are finding other relics of the race they call the Monument-Makers - each different, and each heartbreakingly beautiful. But except for a set of footprints on Jupiter's moon Iapetus, there is no trace of the enigmatic race that has left them behind. Then a team of scientists working on a dead world discover an ominous new image of the Monument-Makers. Somehow it all fits with other lost civilizations, and possibly with Earth's own future. And distant past. But Earth itself is on the brink of ecological disaster - there is no time to search for answers. Even to a question that may hold the key to survival for the entire human race...
My Rating
Wish I'd Borrowed It: there were just too many factors working against this book for me personally to really latch on. The sense of wonder element wasn't near strong enough to sucker me in, though it did keep me reading just to finish the book. I didn't connect with any of the characters, and despite the mystery uniting the overall storyline, it felt too episodic and too cluttered. In some ways, I think this book would translate well into a television series, but it didn't work well for me as a novel. Then again, I'm having more and more trouble stomaching science fiction lately, and every time I pick up an SF, I wonder if that book will be the one to break the streak of "meh" I've been feeling, but so far, no good. It's not to say I won't ever give McDevitt another shot ever again, but I won't be returning to the Priscilla Hutchins series, that's for sure. I'll have to try the Alex Benedict or one of McDevitt's stand-alones instead.
The full review, which does include spoilers, may be found in my LJ. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.
REVIEW: Jack McDevitt's THE ENGINES OF GOD
Happy Reading! :)
