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Guy's Reviews > Moving Target
Moving Target (Vatta's War, #2)
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Moon's weaknesses as a writer are starting to dominate in this series. While I still read this book cover to cover more or less in a single sitting, that is definitely much more a reflection of my love for space opera than the quality of the work.
The palette of "real" characters (as opposed to transparent props) has expanded a little, but the new faces don't have serious pyschological depth. Perhaps even more serious, deus ex machina is reaching ridiculous proportions: in a civilization spanning many, many star systems, what is the likelihood that you'll meet someone you know when you duck into the backdoor of a shop on a space-station you have never visited before? "Of all the bars in all the towns in all the world, she has to walk into mine..."? Indeed.
If I compare this series with C.J. Cherryh's "Alliance-Union" series, or Lee & Miller's "Liaden Universe" books... well, there is no comparison. The other two have created believable and richly textured worlds filled with complex characters. Moon has written a children's book.
But I do love space opera.
The palette of "real" characters (as opposed to transparent props) has expanded a little, but the new faces don't have serious pyschological depth. Perhaps even more serious, deus ex machina is reaching ridiculous proportions: in a civilization spanning many, many star systems, what is the likelihood that you'll meet someone you know when you duck into the backdoor of a shop on a space-station you have never visited before? "Of all the bars in all the towns in all the world, she has to walk into mine..."? Indeed.
If I compare this series with C.J. Cherryh's "Alliance-Union" series, or Lee & Miller's "Liaden Universe" books... well, there is no comparison. The other two have created believable and richly textured worlds filled with complex characters. Moon has written a children's book.
But I do love space opera.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
June 3, 2008
– Shelved
June 3, 2008
– Shelved as:
science-fiction-and-fantasy
June 3, 2008
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-4 of 4 (4 new)
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message 1:
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Circuit
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rated it 3 stars
Jul 06, 2013 01:04PM
Uuu I need to add C.J. Cherryh's "Alliance-Union" series, Lee & Miller's "Liaden Universe" to my to read list. Have you read Lois Bujold McMaster?
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Yes -- love her Vorkosigan series... recently reread all of them. IMHO, Bujold is the Jane Austen of science fiction.
Yes she is. I've been looking for something as expressive, but unfortunately this wasn't it. Perhaps your suggestions will help. Thanks
Not that Bujold's characterization isn't better -- especially more extensive -- but how many times in Vorkosigan do coincidental encounters just like that occur? It's a major plot point at least once in every book I've read so far! Cordelia? The Vorpatrils? Bothari's victim? Gregor? Ivan? Metzov? Now that I think of it, her plots often hinge on an unlikely meeting in a large universe.
