Geodesica: Descent

Multiple threads run through this book, the sequel to Ascent. Palmer Horsfall and the Exarch Isaac after the Gentry War. The same two before the Gentry War. Melilah, Eogan, and Isaac-singleton that escaped into Geodesica, and the main Isaac Exarch that is waiting long term for Melilah. Apart from inside Geodesica, which is much like the first novel, the rest becomes a little Stapledonian in tone, talking about humanity, the Archon's motivation, how post-humanity has evolved, up until 'Last Men' state, etc. This could be disjointed enough to cause some people a few problems reading it, I am sure. The end involves explaining that 'Humanity' has invented time travel, leaving Melilah and Eogan and choice, and explaining why unfathomable intelligences like the Archon do what they do. Some parts of this reminiscent of the last book in the Evergence trilogy.

The Geodesica series primarily falls into the genre of speculative human evolution -- what forms will humanity take as we evolve. I fell it fits that category more closely than it does the Space Opera genre, which is usually more inclusive of battle and conflict. The Geodesica series is more about exploration and revelation. Throughout the series we deal with various evolved forms of humanity, from the Naturals, to the Palmers, Exarchs, the Archon, and beyond. As with some of the other reviewers, I'll agree that the first volume (Geodesica:Ascent) was of higher quality led up to expectations that weren't fully satisfied in Geodesica:Descent. This volume has three somewhat independent plotlines: Melilah/Eogan/Deangelis exploring the Geodesica, Horsfall/Elderton/Deangelis plotting a rebellion against the Archon, and yet another aspect of Deangelis remaining isolated in Bedlam. There's no good sense of how these three plotlines are connected, or what the goal of any of them is, at least not until the very end of the story. In a positive light, I do feel that the ending was better done and more satisfying than the previous trilogy ("Orphans of Earth"...) by the same authors. Altogether it did feel a bit rushed, and I think the exploration of the Geodesica could have been expanded to fill a separate volume in it's own right. I recommend this book to those who've enjoyed Williams and Dix's other novels, and of course those who've read the first volume and need to know how it ends. I look forward to reading these authors in the future, as they always leave you with something to think about.

The Archon, an artificial intelligence created by the Sol system, bred the Exarch to rule over the humans in the Arc systems. The Archon does not want the Geodesica, a hyperspatical network, to allow anyone entering the various entrances to the ancient maze and when people try it, whole systems of colonized planets including Bedlam and Sublime are destroyed. The humans or Naturals as they are called in the year 2438 want their independence from Sol, the Archon and the Sol system. Melilah, a Natural, a fragment of Exarch Isaac Deangelis and cell pilot Eogran Palmer journey in Geodesica where they see wondrous sites, dead zones and exits that lead far from where they want to be. They find no weapons to use against the Archon and wonder how they will get out. Meanwhile, in real space, the disenchanted Exarchs including another fragment of Deangelis, Palmer Horsfall inhabited by another rebel Exarch unite the system to rebel against the Archon. Ironically, another fragment of Deangelis, along with the help of Sol and the Archon fight the rebels until he is instructed to sue for peace with a people who neither trust him or his allies or the Archon's promises. Sean Williams and Shane Dix create a future that is so technologically advanced that readers feel that they are visiting a foreign country with a culture so alien that other humans would have no place there. The authors are great world builders, their prose lush, visual and so descriptive that the audience can actually picture it, especially Geodesica. There are many surprise twists so that the audience never becomes bored as they peruse this enthralling space opera. Harriet Klausner