"
Tor, Feb 2001, 25.95, 414 pp.
ISBN: 031287443X
Through insider trading a scandal destroyed a highly regarded company and led to a depressed economy. The dip forced the Treasury to move massive finances to keep social security afloat. Layoffs and bankruptcies became the norm and leaders turned narrow-minded and short sighted.
In 12017 scientists predict that an asteroid will ravage the earth in 2023 unless money is appropriated to create the technology to stop the destructive projectile. Visionaries from around the globe form an alliance to test various means to deflect the asteroid before it hits in six years. Soon the astronomers detect other asteroids heading towards the planet. The world needs heroes rather quickly or else face doomsday and both men and women quickly rise to meet the challenge.
FALLING STARS, the fourth book in this exciting series, brings all the characters back from the previous tales for a glorious finale. The story line is packed with non-stop action expected from a hard core science fiction novel, but surprisingly is character-driven as Michael Flynn
emphasizes the staff as much as the quest. Though the conclusion of a strong quartet, this novel easily stand alone as a great genre entry.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Michael Flynn Scholar
Click above for the new Obama Girl Parody video!
Overall Review
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
If an invasion, from Earth/human POV:
- fighting overt invasion (attacking aliens)
War or Invasion
Yes
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
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- natural phenomena
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an average amount
Setting
Terrain
- Planet surface, need spacesuit
- Asteroid
Earth setting:
- near future (later in 21st century)
Spaceship setting:
- futuristic human warship
- futuristic human freighter/transport
- really, really giant spaceship/station
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Takes place in spaceship?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a significant amount of technical jargon
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
