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Tor, Sep 2003, 23.95, 256 pp.
ISBN: 0765308576
The twin planets Kainui and Kaihapa are covered by water and orbit a binary star system. Polynesians settled on Kainui, a planet with deep oceans and a poisoned atmosphere. The horrendous climatic conditions include a horrific noise way over acceptable decibel levels requiring special equipments to survive the racket and the pollution. The inhabitants of this watery orb live on floating cities developed by biotechnology.
Maori Earthling Mike Hoani arrives on Kainui to study the changes in language since colonization. Trader Captain Wanaka accompanied by her husband and a ten-year-old apprentice takes the off-worlder on her boat. Their boat becomes damaged and soon they drift towards the South Pole. There on the edge of the frozen realm they encounter inhabitants of an ice city. Neither race knew of the existence of the other, but confrontation is the reaction.
Upfront the story line seems a bit weak as the novel feels more like an exciting anthropologic study tale than an action adventure science fiction thriller. The Kainui environs are superbly drawn so that the audience has a feel for the floating culture and to a lesser degree the civilization of the ice men. Fans who appreciate a strange different realm will enjoy this water world tale.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Hal Clement 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 - 20% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 50%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Cultural problems, alien culture
Yes
Culture clash-
- one culture tries to impose its culture on another group
Intense exploration of society's culture?
Yes
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
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an entire race
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Setting
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a primitive/fantasy society
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 dialog than descript
