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Tor, Jul 2002, 25.95, 336 pp.
ISBN: 0312877269
In the twenty-first century in New York State retiree Lester Ordway enjoys spending time in his garden. However, his repose ends when a weird bug stings Lester right between the eyes. Lester becomes dizzy and sees his memories flash past him before grabbing the insect.
Lester regains consciousness in a hospital where he releases the bug, which has multiplied into several insects. Medical lab technician Pilar Ramirez grabs one of the bugs so that entomologist Maybelle Terwilliger can study it. Maybelle declares that the insect is mechanical and probably otherworldly gathering information about humans. Soon a stranger comes after Pilar planning to silent her and her cohorts before they can persuade a skeptical government that an alien invasion is imminent.
Few stories start as creative as Argonauts begins with its intelligent but strange alien invades the earth premise. The story line bites the audience from the moment that the weird bug stings Lester through Maybelle's pronouncement that the bug is a form of a listening device. However, the tale loses its sting when it becomes standard “David/Davidettes” saving a disbelieving world from an alien invasion. Though overall unique and intriguing, fans will feel a bit disappointed that Stanley Schmidt turns this distinctive tale into typical sub-genre fodder.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Stanley Schmidt Scholar
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Overall Review
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dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 20% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Spying & Investigations
Yes
What is main char. doing?
- unraveling a conspiracy
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- scientist
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
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an entire race
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Setting
Earth setting:
- near future (later in 21st century)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a fair amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue?
- significantly more dialog than descript
