Only Human (2018) Sylvain Neuvel

Only Human(2018) Sylvain Neuvel

Book three of Neuval’s Themis Files series.  My least favorite. (Sleeping Giants and Waking Gods)  This is basically a family affair with Victor and Eva (and Rose as a surrogate mother) trying to work out what actually happened on the world of Esat Ekt.  Eva’s alien boyfriend, Ekim, becomes a casualty of their escape back to Earth with itself has become a world dominated by the remaining giant robot, Lapetus, which the USA is using to dominate the rest of the world.  When Victor, Rose, and Eva return with Themis it is the Russians that take control of them and it is game on.  Of course Rose figures it out with the help of Mr. Burns who is not in jail for his sin of alien heritage.  

It is an interesting concept but I had hoped for a little more imagination in books two and three rather then just dragging out a really good book one idea.  Of course the is the standard for SF now a days.  Take a good book and stretch it to 3 -  maybe 5 or 6.   Hopefully Sylvain Neuval will come out with something new soon. 

Book Review: Waking Gods (2017). Sylvain Neuvel

Waking Gods (2017) Sylvain Neuvel

Well I guessed Giants Awake so not that far off.  In this – Book 2 (of three?)  -  we find that the aliens come in 13 robots and rain havoc on the Earth.  Death rays and death fogs which kill off two of my favorite characters.   Rose Franklin was brought back at the end of the first book and spends a good part of this one trying to figure out who she is.  Mr. Burns makes his reappearance at the Chinese Restaurant giving out his riddles.  The answer is Kung Pa Chicken. The ending is pretty flakey if you ask me.  I won’t give it away but it seemed more fantasy then SF to me.  The third (hopefully final) book will hopefully tie up some loose ends.  What will the title be?  Napping Alien?  I do enjoy the characters in this series and I like the way the plot is delivered in a series of reports etc.  It makes it worth putting up with the strange plot twists.

Book Review: Sleeping Giants (2016) Sylvain Neuvel

Sleeping Giants (2016)  Sylvain Neuvel

An interesting SF concept – Aliens leave a weapon on Earth that we recover and learn to use -  NOT.  OK,  Pretty overused concept but I really like this book.  Kara, the tough soldier who is also vulnerable, Ryan, also a soldier who is in love with Kara (bad idea),  Vincent, the reluctant hero,  Rose Franklin the loving boss, and Alyssa the psychopath.   Oh wait, there is also our guide – the man with no name.   There is also the giant (20 stories) high weapon that brings these people all together.  Basically, they find pieces of this giant robot machine buried all of the earth 6,000 years ago.  Only Kara and Vincent are able to drive the thing.  Oh, did I say it is invincible.  Also, the aliens who built it are watching and judging us to decide if we should be annihilated.   It is ripe for a sequel -  Maybe Giant Awakes?  We’ll see.