The Killing of Worlds - Scott Westerfeld Book Review

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Review Summaries

" Tor, Oct 2003, 25.95, 336 pp. ISBN: 0765308509 The Risen Immortal Emperor blames Imperial frigate Captain Laurent Zai for the death of his sister, the Child Empress. Though innocent, Zai handles suicide missions with little chance of survival. His ship the Lynx's current assignment is to keep a more powerful vessel of the enemy the machine-human Rix from reaching the planet Legis. Zai knows his crew will pay the price for the Emperor's belief that his actions killed his sibling. On Legis, the Rix have been forging a special combine that interconnects all artificial intelligence into one mind. Plan A of the Emperor is to destroy the orb in anticipation of Zai's failure. Only Zai's lover Senator Nara Oxham, who has doubts about the impact of immortality on humanity, stands in the way of the Emperor bombing the planet causing millions of humans to die unless somehow Zai succeeds in time to stop him. She also wonders what the Emperor has to fear from the Rix. The sequel to THE RISEN EMPIRE, THE KILLINGOF WORLDS, is a taut military-political science fiction thriller. The story line is loaded with action while encouraging the audience to ponder the effects of immortality on humanity. That latter subplot especially espoused by Oxham is the key additional element that adds a cerebral philosophical feel and deep characters to an action packed military tale. Those fans of both sub-genres will cherish. Harriet Klausner "
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scott Westerfield 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 - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - factions fight within govt for control
If an invasion, from Earth/human POV: - fighting overt invasion (attacking aliens)
War or Invasion Yes
Major kinds of combat: - spaceship battles
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - fighter (air/space) pilot
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - 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: - an entire race
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Genius (really!)

Setting
Earth setting: - medium future 22-24th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

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

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