Darkship Thieves

Athena Hera Sinistra might not have wanted to go to space, but it's a good thing she did. Her unwanted journey resulted in one of the most fun reads I've come across in quite awhile. It is also an unexpected one. Darkship Thieves is no standard space opera. Of course, I'm not sure Sarah A. Hoyt can write "standard" anything and that's one of the things that makes her such a wonderful author. She gives the readers the unexpected, often blending genres in ways we don't expect. That is exactly what she's done here. She's given us a romping space opera, one that reminds me of those I read in my misspent youth. But she has also given us urban fantasy. Yes, that's right, urban fantasy. Not the UF of shape-shifters and vampires, but that of genetically altered humans who now have feline-like characteristics, clones who are raised not to take over for the originals but for even more sinister reasons, a spunky, smart-mouthed female lead who would rather go through you than around you if you get in her way. This is an excellent read with a fast paced plot, well-defined characters, heroes you cheer for and villains you boo. Run, don't walk, to get it.

Athena Hera Sinistra never wanted to go into space as why would anyone in their right mind give up standing on solid rock although freedom is far away from feudal earth. Still she is on board her father's vessel when she awakens to someone entering her room at shipnight. Not afraid she takes out the intruder, who is Andrija Baldo head of her father's goons. She flees in a life pod hoping to find help to rescue her father and others aboard the vessel she just abandoned. However, Athena finds herself on the run from assailants as the reach of the ruling Patricians is light-years, but she also realizes for some unknown reason they want her captured alive as they have opportunities to kill her from a distance but don't. Her nightmare has just begun. The Darkship Thieves is a super space opera with a great heroine, strong support cast and a believable Hoyt Galaxy with a dictatorial oligopoly feudal government. The story line is faster than the speed of light even in artificial gravity yet in many ways it is a coming of age under extreme pressure thriller with a deep moral underpinning involving genetic transforming of humans. With a mystery as to why the enemy wants the heroine alive to enhance the outer space tour, fans will relish riding along side Athena as she provides a first hand account of her survival escapades to survive in the Hoyt Galaxy. Harriet Klausner

I really do not have much to add to the three previous reviewers, except to say I loved the book. I'm older (assuming here, with all that entails...) than they are and I've always loved my Old World Wrecker Edmond Hamilton, the Three Planeteers by Williamson, my early to middle Heinleins (the so called Juvies like Citizen of the Galaxy, Space Cadet etc) and, of course, Asimov's Foundation series. Darkship Thieves revives that feeling. While planets are not destroyed (do corrupt regimes count as destroying a planet?), stars do not go novae and vast fleets are not laying waste to entire civilizations, this book has the feeling that it could happen. If things went just a tad wronger (wronger?) then total planetary destruction could happen. If I close my eyes while reading this book (okaaay, good trick!), it could very easily be a book written by Heinlein. She has his voice, his pacing, same tight writing. I really hope this book does well, I really want a sequel. More in this universe. So many well thought out throw-aways, casual items, broomsticks (take a skateboard from Back to the Future, ram it together with a Harry Potter broomstick and you have the high tech broomstick with its attendant culture) and power trees for example. Power tree? Yes, power tree. In orbit, vast "plantations" of bio-engneered power trees sucking solar radiation directly into their power pod production. Ms Hoyt's world is extremely well thought out. EVERYTHING fits together, a giant jigsaw puzzle. Fantastic! Order this book now, you will not be disappointed.

"Space Opera" is an interesting term. It kind of means "science fiction as a setting but not as science", and kind of means "larger than life". This is all that and more. The world is much more developed than I typically associate with "Space Opera", but is still painted (to use a metaphor) in rather bright colors and is referred to more environmentally than analytically (all this is really just attempting to say "sf is used as a setting"). The story is fantastic, in all senses of the word. This book two rather widely separted parts -- other authors might even have released this as two books. The exile society of the "mules" is quite well thought out and interesting, as is the future earth. An interesting touch was the evolution of biker gangs. The future equivilant of motorcycles is an open personal flyer called a "broom". Given the world that had been built up this felt entirely natural. I don't want to get too much into the details of the main characters except to say that I look forward to the Masquerades at the next few cons after this book gets read a bit (actually they may not let the Athenas enter for fear of being shut down on morals charges ...) Elsewhere the author has characterized this as an urban fantasy set in space. That may be as good a description of it as anything. A mystery. A romance. A romp. Whatever you want to call it, it is _good_. A very enjoyable read.

I like Science Fiction. I'm not picky, I like all kinds: Space Opera, Hard Science, Science Fantasy, Alternate History, Action, Thriller. OK, I AM picky. It has to be GOOD Science Fiction. I want likeable characters, an interesting plot, and believable science (with allowances for the classic dictum that any sufficiently advanced science could well be indistinguishable from magic). Sarah Hoyt is an experienced writer of historical fiction, romance, fantasy, urban fantasy and yes, science fiction. Darkship Thieves is Sarah's first venture into space opera for Baen Books. However, DST is more than just Space Opera. It is part thriller and part adventure with just a touch of quirky romance, all set in a future that may not be all that different from our own present. Why would I call it a thriller and adventure novel? Well, in addition to Science Fiction, I also like to read thrillers and adventure. Spy novels by Ludlum and Le Carré, adventure by Cussler and Clancy and psychological thrillers by Koontz and Sandford. There is one feature of all of these novels styles that stands out - investment in a character, and an overwhelming urge to pick the protagonist up, shake them by the neck, and shout: "I figured this out, why can't you!" Instead, we keep reading until late at night (or early in the morning), just one more page - surely they'll figure it out on the next page. You know what I'm talking about - the same urge that drives people to watch those slasher movies where you want to tell the clueless college student "DON'T go in the attic! That's where the bad guy is hiding, can't you SEE it?" It's called psychological investment, or identification, with a character. In the writing craft, that's what keeps you turning page after page long after your spouse has gone to bed. You HAVE to read that next page because you want to see the hero get the reward, although much more frequently, you want to see the villain get their just desserts. In Darkship Thieves, Athena Hera Sinistra is the daughter of one of Earth's most rich and powerful men. She accompanies him on a routine trip, playing the dutiful social accessory despite her naturally rebellious nature. However a mutiny on her father's spaceship forces her into an escape pod headed directly for the ancient and deadly Powertree Ring that "grows" power pods for Earth's energy needs. Despite the risk of crashing into an explosive pod, she instead crashes into a dark and furtive ship that is stealing power pods for a colony that Earth doesn't know exists. These "darkship thieves" are the descendents of Earth's aborted attempt to genetically engineered a race of superior humans many hundreds of years ago. 'Thena is rescued by Kit, the pilot and lone occupant of the darkship. Despite Thena's wish to return to Earth, Kit rescues her from her own folly and takes her back to the Eden colony. To say that Thena is displeased with her rescuer and status as an unwilling exile is an unde