Spinneret
Ratings5
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings5
Average rating3.8
A “brisk and entertaining” novel of a barren, mysterious planet that may save humanity—or destroy it—by the author of Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (Publishers Weekly). Chasing a new frontier, humankind sends a manned starship into the universe and away from the overpopulated Earth in hopes of finding a new planet to colonize. But every Earthlike world they discover is already inhabited. As it turns out, the universe is a very crowded place. An alien council offers to lease the one remaining uninhabited world: Astra, a bleak and barren but serviceable planet. The new settlement, though, quickly experiences serious problems, from dying crops to the mysterious disappearance of anything and everything that is made of metal. And then Astra reveals a secret neither the aliens nor the human governments could ever have imagined.
Reviews with the most likes.
Timothy Zahn's novels have consistently been my go-to for action and adventure sci-fi. Zahn often takes intriguing concepts–in this case Spinneret cables and alien societies–then introduces political manoeuvring and gambits for conflict. Much of Zahn's work is optimistic, pro-humanist, and morally admirable, and Spinneret is well on the idealistic side of sci-fi.
The characters are both unremarkable and dated. They are all developed characters, many of whom progress with the novel, and I had no trouble relating to them. Even then, they were not compelling by themselves. The datedness is unavoidable considering when the novel was published, and is easy to excuse.
I ended up reading this novel many times over the years, it's a neatly wrapped up story with enough action and fantastic concepts to carry you through.
