The Wooden Spaceships

The Ragged Astranauts: 2

ISBN: 0-671-69830-3 Order from: Amazon.com

At times exciting, but mainly disappointing novel in the innovative world created by its predecessor, this book's interesting characters and unusual world are compromised by an improbable conclusion.

Reviewed by David on March 19, 2000

Genre: Science Fiction (Space Opera)

Synopsis: In the near-classic The Ragged Atranauts, Bob Shaw created an unusual but seemingly plausible world where early-nineteenth century technology allows interplanetary travel. In this sequel, a combination of ennui and a new menace propell Toller Maraquine, the flight pioneer, into a further adventure.

Full Review: The novel weaves its plot from several viewpoints, all lightly interconnecting. The combat in space using wooden spaceships is entertaining and solidly constructed, but provides little originality. The characters are sketched ilghtly, but deftly, and appear realistic and sympathetic.

The otherwise entertaining if no longer so original science fiction is marred by a subplot that comes to fruition at the end of the book. Unlike previous inventions, the new subplot seems significanlty more fantastic, and requires significant hand-waving. One almost gets the impression that the author was eager to complete the novel without working out the details of the plot.

Overall: 5; Plot: 4.5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5; World-building: 6; Originality: 7;

ISBN: 0-671-69830-3 Order from: Amazon.com