Descendant Machine
Ratings2
Average rating4.3
15
Ratings2
Average rating4.3
From the award-winning author comes a gripping, fast-paced and fascinating science fiction adventure. Vividly imagined and sharply written, fans of Ann Leckie and Becky Chambers will be engrossed. When Nicola Mafalda's scout ship comes under attack, she's left deeply traumatised by the drastic action it takes to keep her alive. Months later, when an old flame comes to her for help, she realises she has to find a way to forgive both the ship and her former lover. Reckless elements are attempting to reactivate a giant machine that has lain dormant for thousands of years. To stop them, Nicola and her crew will have to put aside their differences, sneak aboard a vast alien megaship, and try to stay alive long enough to prevent galactic devastation.
Reviews with the most likes.
Descendant Machine happens in the same universe as the author's previous novel Stars And Bones, but is significantly more upbeat and optimistic than that book (even if it does concern an existential threat to the entire universe). There's also no need to worry abut continuity, as it's a standalone story. Over his most recent novels, Powell has carved out a distinct area to operate in, a kind of rip-roaring space opera that captures the sense of wonder feel of old school SF, but also maintains a modern sensibility that isn't afraid of a bit of political satire (the digs at nationalists and separatists here will resonate with anyone who has paid the tiniest bit of attention to recent British political history). Essentially it's an update on the classic 2000AD formula, which is high praise. This one centres on one of my favourite SF ideas, the Big Dumb Object (the name of which I'm pretty sure is an in-joke on the foreign title of one of his previous novels). There's intrigue, action, and cosmic awe aplenty, and it's a fast easy read that has enough propulsion to keep you turning the pages without stopping to think “hang on a minute, what about...”. I suspect Powell had a lot of fun writing it (apart from the horror story described in an afterword), and I certainly had a lot of fun reading it.
