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Guy's Reviews > Trading in Danger
Trading in Danger (Vatta's War, #1)
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OK, I'll admit it: I'm a sucker for space opera. Have been ever since my grandfather gave me a copy of E.E. "Doc" Smith's "Galactic Patrol" to read back when I was 9 years old. Always will be. And "Trading in Danger" is space opera....
I cracked the book shortly before midnight last night and finished it around 4AM. I'm a fast reader, but I'm not that fast. Frankly, there's a fair amount of fluff... lots and lots of details that neither advance the plot nor provide significant additional insight into the main character (since, as has been noted by another reviewer, there aren't really other any other complex or interesting characters).
The high fluff rating of the book could be because Moon is trying to pump out too many books too quickly, or it could be because she isn't that good a writer. I have only read one other book by her ("The Deed of Paksenarrion"), and I didn't think too much of it, so I'm inclined to guess that it is the latter. But you know what? I don't care. It's a space opera, it has a fast-moving plot hinting (albeit blatantly) at much larger complexities, it has action, it has space-ships, it has good guys and bad guys... so I liked it.
If you haven't read everything by David Weber, or S. M. Stirling, or Lois McMaster Bujold, or Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, or even E. E. "Doc" Smith (who although dated has in some ways never been equalled), all of whom are superior practitioners of the same genre, then you have better things to do than read Moon. But if you need a fix while waiting for the next book from the above, then "Trading in Danger" hits the spot. Best of all? As of today there are four sequels to read... excuse me while I head off to Amazon....
I cracked the book shortly before midnight last night and finished it around 4AM. I'm a fast reader, but I'm not that fast. Frankly, there's a fair amount of fluff... lots and lots of details that neither advance the plot nor provide significant additional insight into the main character (since, as has been noted by another reviewer, there aren't really other any other complex or interesting characters).
The high fluff rating of the book could be because Moon is trying to pump out too many books too quickly, or it could be because she isn't that good a writer. I have only read one other book by her ("The Deed of Paksenarrion"), and I didn't think too much of it, so I'm inclined to guess that it is the latter. But you know what? I don't care. It's a space opera, it has a fast-moving plot hinting (albeit blatantly) at much larger complexities, it has action, it has space-ships, it has good guys and bad guys... so I liked it.
If you haven't read everything by David Weber, or S. M. Stirling, or Lois McMaster Bujold, or Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, or even E. E. "Doc" Smith (who although dated has in some ways never been equalled), all of whom are superior practitioners of the same genre, then you have better things to do than read Moon. But if you need a fix while waiting for the next book from the above, then "Trading in Danger" hits the spot. Best of all? As of today there are four sequels to read... excuse me while I head off to Amazon....
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
May 12, 2008
– Shelved
May 12, 2008
– Shelved as:
science-fiction-and-fantasy
May 12, 2008
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-6 of 6 (6 new)
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The Pirate Ghost
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Sep 06, 2011 06:58PM
Good Review, thank you.
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Thanks for the reading list suggestion! I also found Moon's "fluff" difficult to forgive and will start reading the authors you recommended asap. :)
Confusing, but perhaps revealing about the review process? A four star rating for a novel described as by a poor writer, having a lot of fluff that deserves skipping? I’m commenting because I recommended this book, one of my favorites, to a friend, but he was discouraged by your review. You currently have 23 Likes over the years, which is likely why your review appears at the top, making it very influential – without being informative other than that there are supposedly a lot of better books to read.
Are the Likes because of the recommendations for other books? I can appreciate that. I’m wondering if your total effect is to encourage or discourage reading this book? Your intent seems positive, but I’m thinking the effect is negative? Which possibly reveals something about reviews in general?
I’m wondering if the “fluff” you mention is not some of what I particularly enjoyed, giving meaning and context to the action? I see this as a coming-of-age story. Not that you or others need to enjoy what I do. Just interesting. I do enjoy Weber’s and Bujold’s stuff, and I did enjoy "The Deed of Paksenarrion,” and Moon’s other sci-fi (great battle scenes as well as great “fluff”). To me her characters are well drawn, even without back stories.
Guess we have to agree to disagree.
Jack I have to fully agree with you. I'm just starting this book now for the second time since I've gotten the whole series. And I don't really recommend books to friends or family. But this is one of those books that grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let yo go till the end. She builds up her characters in a timely manner and is by far a great author. I'm looking forward to getting the new Kylara vatta book to see what she's been up to.
I agree with Jack’s comment above.
I get Guy's take on the "fluff" in space opera ( like Weber's long and pointless lists of battle damage and casualties in the Harrington series- pure padding). But I also get his main point- who cares? It's space opera: adventure, action, heros, villains. For sure it can be a guilty pleasure, when we know there are better authors we could be reading. But if we only did the things that were good for us, life would be dull. I felt it was a fair and honest review. I guess others did, too, given the likes.
