First Flight

First Flight is a wonderful book that approaches first contact in an enjoyable and original manner. With treachery and betrayal added to the mix, you have a book that will keep you spellbound from the first to the last page.

As a former X-Men reader, I wasn't sure what to expect from Chris Claremont's first novel. Undoubtedly, some of the books characters do come over as rather two-dimensional, but persist and you will find a contemporary sci-fi novel that is pacy, gripping and original.

This book is one of the first science-fiction novels I ever read. I really enjoyed the characters and the story was very involving.

From the opening chapter to the very last page, I was hooked. Not having read anything by Chris Claremont before, I had no preconceptions - X-men or otherwise. Fast-paced, with a heroine who is not quite perfect and therefore better for it. To baldly summarize the plot wouldn't do justice to it but I'll try: Trainee Pilot (Heroine) screws up training test; second chance leads to routine "milk run"; romance, with limitations; ambushed by space pirates with a grudge; ambush survivors find alien ship; first contact; going after the pirates; consequences. (Told you I wouldn't do it justice). The two sequels weren't quite as good (I'd give Grounded an 8 and Sundowner a 7), but I'm definitely hoping for a fourth book to find out what happens next.

I went to bed planning to read a chapter or two and ended up reading untill 3am. The action grabes you and won't let go, the characters are pretty well built and the science-side (for hardcores like me) is on the spot. No teleporters and other ridiculous stuff. This book (and the sequel-Grounded) is well worth the cost. I can't wait for other books by C. Claremont