science fiction

Cold as Ice - Charles Sheffield Book Review

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"Cold as Ice"
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Review Summaries
"It is 25 years after the end of the Great War which pitted Earth and Mars against the residents of the asteroid belt, and which resulted in billions of deaths on both side. A controversy has arisen over a plan to make Europa habitable. Leading those in favor of the plan is Cyrus Mobarak who is the wealthy and powerful inventor of the fusion engine. Opposing him is Wilma Brandt, adminstrator of Europa, who wants it kept as a scientific research station. Brandt's position is strengthened when possible life is discovered in the ocean under Europa's surface ice because if this life form really exists, then Europa will remain free of development. Jon Perry, an earth oceanographer, is brought to Europa to investigate. Also, a composer, two astromers, and a newspaper reporter will also become involved in this controversy, and a secret will be revealed which will link some of them to mysterious events which took place during the Great War. "
Linda Bertland, Resident Charles Sheffield Scholar


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Overall Review
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40%




Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - exploring a wondrous planet or phenomena
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - preventing/managing clash/war between govts/kingdoms
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - scientist
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 60's-90's
Profession/status: - bureaucrat
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Terrain - Water - Domed/Underground City
Which planet? - Jupiter
Not Earth, in Solar System? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a fair amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books by Gordonator ranking
The Crack in Space by Philip K. Dick
Schild's Ladder by Greg Egan
Descent Into Europa by Michael D. Cooper
Immortality Machine by Paul Kieniewicz
The Murdered Sun - Star Trek Voyager 6 by Christie Golden




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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