From archive (archive) Path: herkules.sssab.se!isy!liuida!sunic!uupsi!rpi!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!uxa.cso.uiuc.edu!rcb33483 From: rcb33483@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (ArchTeryx) Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf-lovers Subject: Review of _Sparrowhawk_ **minor spoilers** Summary: Review/Summary of Thomas Easton's _Sparrowhawk_ Message-ID: <1990Oct28.194216.5373@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> Date: 28 Oct 90 19:42:16 GMT Sender: news@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (News) Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana Lines: 128 According to several articles and at least two books I've read, the dominant science of the 21st century would be a bioscience; more specifically, biotechnology. I have daydreamed, during boring classes, what this might eventually lead to. And still, the scenario presented in _Sparrowhawk_ was like nothing I ever imagined... _Sparrowhawk_, By Thomas Easton, is a rather complicated book, with many themes. Set in the year 2044, it envisions a world where "Bioengineering has replaced [mechanical] technology", to quote from the back cover. Engineering as we now know it has become obsolete; replacing it is "gengineering" or genetic engineering. In this Biological Revolution, two main classes of machines have been made obsolete: cars, and especially, airplanes. Cars have been replaced by special "genimals" (for genetically re-engineered animals), such as the Roachster, part cockroach, part lobster. Or, the Tortoise, which is the third-most-described genimal in the book. But the genimals that are the most advanced are the ones designed for air travel: giant birds, whose size ranges from that of the Junco JC-47 (as big as a Boeing 707) to the little Chickadee CD-14, only the size of a small single-engined plane. These steal the show from the other genimals, and are described in the greatest detail. I won't burden you with the technical descriptions given in the book. Just, the important thing to remember is that these genimals can't fly on their own (they need strap-on jet engines) and they are computer-controled. (For some, this makes the genimals biomechanoids or 'cyborgs' ;->). It is also these genimals that form the two major plot devices... _Sparrowhawk_ looks like a sci-fi on the surface, and has a sci-fi setting, but it's main theme is that of a whodunit. The book has two sets of main characters and two central plotlines, and even two separate resolutions. It starts by introducing the first set: the Gilman family. They are Nick, an unemployed literature major, Emily, a Gengineer, and their son, Andy. And in their backyard, there's a Chickadee. Not the ordinary 100 mm kind, but one over 12 _feet_ long. It does little except eat smaller birds, whole and alive. And yet, it is one of the two main plot devices. The other concerns a House Sparrow PD-54, about 110' long. In an opening that puts Arnold Schwarzenegger (sorry AS fans if my spelling is wrong) to shame, the Sparrow (owned by Palestine Airways) lands on a crowded expressway. The result is like a nuevo-Godzilla movie; the Sparrow starts eating the insectoid cars and people, creating quite a bloody mess. And that is where the second set of main characters make their introductory appearances. Bernie Fisher, a police detective and Sparrowhawk pilot, along with friends Connie Skoglund and Larry Randecker, answer the call. Using the new police vehicle Kestrel KLX-27, (armed with chain guns and razor-sharp beak and talons), they force the Sparrow into the air and rip off it's jet and passenger pods, sending it crashing to earth, and stopping it's rampage. During the cleanup of the whole mess, Bernie meets Emily. And it is the Day of the Sparrow that is the seed at the rest of the plot is grown from. Soon after, the incident, it is found that the Sparrow was sabotaged. Bernie gets assigned the case, hooks up with Emily (since she was the only gengineer at the scene), and the plot takes off from there. Who sabotaged the Sparrow? Why? Was it terrorists? Just a psychopath? Or a cleverly disguised assasination attempt? As the book moves on, both he and Emily become the victim of several assasination attempts, and the book becomes more and more involved, until finally reaching it's double conclusion. First off, the book's biggest flaw is rather weak writing. As the plot wears on from it's beginning at The Day of the Sparrow, both sets of main characters get involved in multiple romatic entanglements. This is fine; however, their timing and placement tend to draw attention away from the main plot and, with the exception of Connie Skoglund, does nothing for the character's development. Also, although Easton avoids biotech shop-talk, parts of the book are of a rather technical nature, and could be confusing to someone not familiar with the biological sciences. Also, parts of the book tend to drag, especially the parts that have to do characters (notably Chowhurdy's) backgrounds. Finally, the book bars no holds when it comes to violence, and at times (especially during the Day of the Sparrow scene) can be overwheming. But the book has many positive points as well. For starters, there is some rather earthy comic relief at various points. For example, when the world gets a little too much for Bernie, his response is to puke--violently. This turns into a small running gag between Bernie and Emily. The other main comic relief comes from the misunderstood Chickadee, as this short except shows: "[Emily] stared at the Chickadee on the roof, her mouth set in a rigid line. The huge bird shifted it's bulk from one leg to the other. A shingle came loose, slid down the slope of the roof, and fell to the ground. 'And now the roof is going to leak,' she said. 'I can fix it,' said Nick, 'I will.' 'But look at that!' She pointed at a long streak of birdlime. 'Look at WHAT it's going to leak!!'" Also, except for the few slow parts, the plot moves along quickly and logically, as any good whodunit should. And, the author uses an old trick: make one suspect REAL obvious, and then have him be only a middleman, with the REAL murderer being somebody else. Under this premise, the book has quite a surprise climax, and it's resolution holds a few surprises too. The plot is balanced, too, for there are almost no characters that don't contribute to the plot in some way. Even the villanous Chickadee plays a key role, and vindicates himself at the same time. By killing the Assassin Bird and saving Emily's life, it very briefly becomes a "good guy". And, as this kills it, it becomes the only genimal martyr in the book. It, like the Sparrow, is used in one form or another throught the book, in order to preserve the plot's continuity, and is the major vehicle of the Gilman family's character development. (the Sparrow, along with the Sparrowhawks, are the vehicles of Bernie Fisher's development). As a whodunit, the book, although by no means exceptional, is an overall success. As a sci-fi, this book is also an overall success. In fact, overall, it resembles nothing so much as the Patrick Swayze movie _Ghost_. _Ghost_, like _Sparrowhawk_, was also a story of mixed themes and messages. And, also like _Sparrowhawk_, parts dragged, and other parts suffered from rather poor writing, but the movie was still an overall success. As is _Sparrowhawk_. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Alfred Hitchcock have nothing to fear from Thomas Easton, but on a scale of -4 to +4, I give _Sparrowhawk_ a high +2. Definitely worth reading. ***DISCLAMER: I am not involved in the sci-fi vs. fantasy argument, so please don't flame me for the use of the word, "sci-fi!!" ***DISCLAMER2: Since this is my first public book review, it has the right for parts of it to also suffer from weak writing ;-> -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- R. Cody Buchmann ^.^ "Kehaar" "He tell *me* the plan...I *know* the email: rcb33483@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu plan!" -Watership Down. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------