Red Claw

Much better than Debatable Space, especially without the incredibly long personal journals (there are personal journals in this, too, but they're much briefer). Some might get confused if they haven't read Debatable Space, since this has quite a few references to it, takes place in the same universe (it sometimes suggests itself as a prequel), and a couple of times mentions characters from the novel. Debatable Space's biggest problem was inconsistency and the overly frequent and lengthy personal logs, and since that's no longer a problem, Palmer's unique and intense style of writing can come through in full. The ending is awfully anticlimactic and doesn't seem to end in the right place, though, and a few characters seemed underdeveloped. There's also way too much graphic sex, comparable to Debatable Space, which got annoying. Still, I really enjoy Palmer's style of writing and storytelling. He seems to enjoy doing it, and I enjoy reading it. I look forward to his next novel, Version 43. I have to say I just don't get the hate for Palmer's works. It's as if some people have a grudge against him for some reason. I see a of nitpicking on details I wasn't particularly bothered by, and almost no appreciation for the things Palmer does right, and there are many. Sure, his novels aren't perfect, but they're definitely an enjoyable and well-written read.

I found this book refreshing and enjoyable to read despite the casual sociopathy the author displays in parts. I think it was mostly because of the good writing: witty, ironic, literate, sort of Dr. Who-ish in humor. It's fun to read the writing of someone who actually knows how to write and enjoys the process. Frankly, most SF does not display this quality. Unlike one of the other readers I had no big problem figuring out the terminology or the world that was built to set the story in. I thought the characterization was pretty good. I found this book way better than Debatable Space which for some reason rubbed me the wrong way.

Very good fast read with some interesting twists. I am not good at writing flowery reviews nor do I usually take the time but I enjoyed this book, and hope others will too, so we get more like it from Mr. Palmer.

Red Claw is classic pulp fiction. It is well paced, very enjoyable, and definitely worth reading by any fan of science fiction or adventure (excluding the last 2-3 pages which provide a second ending on a superfluous existential note). As the characters slowly succumb to the ravages of a foreign planet and his own nature, the title refers to Tennyson's famous couplet concerning the loveless savagery of nature: "Tho' Nature, red in tooth and claw / With ravine, shriek'd against his [God's] creed." The story itself is a basic run-for-your-life-and-get-out tale. Take the characters from "Battle Royale," place them in an off-world version of Arthur Conan Doyle's "Lost World," have HAL-9000 direct a constant assault with Terminators and sentient flying scalpels, and you have a feel for the story line. A well-paced escape story is supported by a thorough imagining of alien taxonomy, future governance structures, and an underlying theme of revenge. Although the story works well as a thriller, the occasional mix of existentialism, environmentalism (No Terraforming!), and rebellion against an autonomous government is a bit tedious. Other than that, it's a great little read. Enjoy.