Binding: Mass Market Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914 EAN: 9780345491589 ISBN: 0345491580 Label: Del Rey Manufacturer: Del Rey Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 416 Publication Date: October 28, 2008 Publisher: Del Rey Release Date: October 28, 2008 Sales Rank: 30361 Studio: Del Rey
Product DescriptionThe Firstborn–the mysterious race of aliens who first became known to science fiction fans as the builders of the iconic black monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey–have inhabited legendary master of science fiction Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s writing for decades. With Time’s Eye and Sunstorm, the first two books in their acclaimed Time Odyssey series, Clarke and his brilliant co-author Stephen Baxter imagined a near-future in which the Firstborn seek to stop the advance of human civilization by employing a technology indistinguishable from magic.
Their first act was the Discontinuity, in which Earth was carved into sections from different eras of history, restitched into a patchwork world, and renamed Mir. Mir’s inhabitants included such notables as Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and United Nations peacekeeper Bisesa Dutt. For reasons unknown to her, Bisesa entered into communication with an alien artifact of inscrutable purpose and godlike power–a power that eventually returned her to Earth. There, she played an instrumental role in humanity’s race against time to stop a doomsday event: a massive solar storm triggered by the alien Firstborn designed to eradicate all life from the planet. That fate was averted at an inconceivable price. Now, twenty-seven years later, the Firstborn are back.
This time, they are pulling no punches: They have sent a “quantum bomb.” Speeding toward Earth, it is a device that human scientists can barely comprehend, that cannot be stopped or destroyed–and one that will obliterate Earth.
Bisesa’s desperate quest for answers sends her first to Mars and then to Mir, which is itself threatened with extinction. The end seems inevitable. But as shocking new insights emerge into the nature of the Firstborn and their chilling plans for mankind, an unexpected ally appears from light-years away.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Not up to Clarke's HIGH standards
I've read at least nine Arthur C. Clarke novels because I genuinely love his writing. And I actually had a very good time reading this trilogy despite my following complaints. That being said, I threw this book down when I finished because I could not believe I was left with how it ended! After the first two very engaging books that give a realistic perspective of the future, comment on our world politics, and develop appealing characters, Firstborn seems to just race to the end without resolving ... Read More
Rating: - This is how the series ends? Not with a bang but a whimper?
I share the prevailing opinions of the other reviewers. Both authors can do better than this - and have. I suspect that the problem was Clarke's approaching date with destiny. My speculation is that they agreed to spend the last chapters building up the suspense for a sequel which it would be up to Baxter to write by himself. I'm sure he is up to it. I look forward to his writing it. I do not think he will call it "Last Born" And I think he will have a better explanation for the activities of ... Read More
Rating: - He did better alone...
As a lifelong fan of Sir Arthur, I admit to having lost my taste for his work since he collaborated with others. In one of his earlier collaborations, I could easily figure out what lines Clarke wrote, into the story written, obviously, by the other.
This book just didn't...catch me! I tried, I really did. But the first in this series of three struck me as a cross between the themes of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and the old "Time Tunnel" television series. The ideas weren't engaging, and the ... Read More
Rating: - Another messy meandering mishmash
I think I have finally figured out what happened to Arthur C. Clarke and his slow but steady literary decline. In an age of biotech, nanotech, artificial intelligence, robotics and other such wonders, Clarke is an infant, still stuck in the orthodox school of rockets, space and First Contact. In light of that, his Earthly futures sound about as realistic as Santa Claus. The Time series can only be described (charitably) as a final ride down a literary roller coaster - an unmitigated mess. This is especially ... Read More
Rating: - A Nice Send-Off for Arthur...
Truly sorry to hear about the passing of Arthur C. Clarke - he turned me on to "hard" science fiction - and this third book in the trilogy is great - yet to be completed, but even if the end stinks, the ideas and scientific possibilities these two authors explore are worth the read - and I doubt this will have a poor ending. Then on to read Baxter on his own merits.
- Not up to Clarke's HIGH standards
- He did better alone...
- Another messy meandering mishmash
- A Nice Send-Off for Arthur...
