Deepsix - Jack McDevitt Book Review

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Review Summary

HarperCollins Eos, Mar 2001, 25.00, 432 pp.
ISBN: 0061051241

    In 2204, an exploratory mission to the planet Maieva III abruptly ends in tragedy with several of the crew killed. An innocent looking local redbird in masses had systematically attacked, killed, died, and retreated only to start the cycle over with new military like vigor. Some of the human team manages to escape leaving behind things like their lander. The Academy of Science and Technology places the planet off limits.

    Over two decades later, the Academy of Science and Technology reconsiders its decision when evidence surfaces that a bloated gas giant will soon destroy Maieva III. A new team arrives to document the last days of the planet. Better prepared, the new team is led by Priscilla Hutchins and includes a survivor from the unfortunate previous crew, Randall Nightingale. As they begin to uncover perplexing clues about a previous lost civilization, the unthinkable occurs when an earthquake destroys their only escape from the dying planet. Less than three weeks remain with chances of getting off-planet remote and their one wild hope remains items left behind from Nightingale's doomed previous expedition.

    DEEPSIX is a powerful science ficiton novel that makes space exploration seem like it is an everyday occureence. The story line is fast-paced, filled with action, and loaded with alien fauna and flora that shows how dangerous the universe is. The characters seem real especially Nightingale who took the hit for the earlier disaster. Readers who want realism and excitement while visiting strange planets will want to read Jack McDevitt's superb look at the Cosmos.

Harriet Klausner

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of Deepsix

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - exploring a wondrous planet or phenomena - stranded on alien planet, fighting aliens to survive
Spying & Investigations Yes
What is main char. doing? - rescue mission/escape from confinement
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - fighter (air/space) pilot
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - natural phenomena

Setting
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - empty, or nearly empty world
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog

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

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