Time Future

This future is not a bright and shiny place. Halley is the governor of a remote human run space station under siege - held hostage to alien space ships who have blockaded them for the last six months and shoot down anybody who attempts to escape the station. In the midst of dealing with equipment breakdowns, alien politics and a chronic shortage of most the things needed to keep the station running, a ship from 95 years in the past suddenly and improbably appears in their space badly damaged. The ship has three survivors who tell a strange story of a secret flight from Earth with alien help. Then a legendary alien killing machine appears on station and all hell breaks loose. This is book full of realistic characters. People who get tired, make mistakes and have limitations. There are no superheroes here, be they human or alien. This is essentially a mystery novel, but it one that leaves an impression of a future that while technologically advanced is still inhabited by human beings with the same frailties as those we meet everyday. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel to this book TIME PAST and am only sorry I didn't find this book when it was first published.

The density of ideas here is vast, with action being of secondary concern. There is an interweaving of storylines, both mystery and science fiction, which creates tension and movement through the pages. I found the constant flashbacks by Commander Halley to her relatives and their political turmoil to be interesting, but not readily relevant, and thus a bit of a distraction. Overall a really interesting book--a 'thinking man's' science fiction.

Look. You have to have been in a crash priority project to really see how well this author has captured the feel of the almost out of control situation. You jetison sleep, food is interesting, but not really necessary, you focus done to the latest disaster. Last week's disaster is no longer a concern. The story is about being out of control and trying desparately to deal with the sinking feeling that everyone is depending on you to make the right decision and people will die if you do not DO something. Nothing in this book makes sense because all the strands of the story are off stage. The central character has so MANY problems that the latest ones just cannot get her full attention.I liked the book, but it is a fever dream with all the hallucination you get in that state. The author has captured the feeling of being JUST short of understanding what is going on you get when events are flying past you so fast you just want to scream for it stop long enough for a long stint in the bed, a good meal and time to sort it all out.C.J Cherryh writes books like this, but does not do it as well as this author. Cherryh always makes it impossible to guess what is going on. This author at least gives you the feeling that you COULD know what is going on.

The commander of the deep space station Jocasta is blockaded by hostile creatures, communications & key systems are failing; rations are low & tensions between humans & aliens are at a flashpoint.What a good start for Maxine McArthur! Seldom do I find in an author';s first work the kind of character control that this one brings. She has really captured the cultural shock of first contact & its impact in a near future.From one end of this book to the other, the human characters are able to see their situations' changing advantages & disadvantages. I really like her confrontations of realities. Insofar as what you see is not always what you get & what you get is not always what you think it is. I liked that McArthur allows her characters to think, question & grow.This reader is looking forward to more from this intriguing author.

In 2023 the technologically and mentally superior Invidi species comes to earth and gives that planet tools to clean up the earth. When the people ended the petty wars that srung up all the time, the Confederacy of Allied Worlds admits Earth as a junior member. Eight other planets own junior membership while the four senior worlds divvy out crumbs to them.The Confederacy weighs heavily on the mind of Commander Halley of the Deep Space Station Jocasta, which is currently under siege by the Securas. The blockade leaves the space station residents in deep trouble and near surrender with the last hope being Confederacy intervention and that seems slimmer by the minute. While juggling solutions to other problems that could destroy Jocasta, Halley must find a way to remove the Securas from its orbit.Maxine McArthur's debut novel is an exciting space opera that will remind readers of Deep Space Nine. The various species seem real and their actions and motives genuine and understandable though not entirely by human values. TIME FUTURE is an engrossing work that will keep readers up till the moon wanes in the early morning sky.Harriet Klausner