- Shopping Bag ( 0 items )
Lieutenant Patricia Kelly Elizabeth Strickland-otherwise known as Podkayne-has joined the Music, Arts, and Drama Division of the Martian Navy, passing the audition with a little help from some higher-ups. And now she's going to Europa, one of Jupiter's many moons, to be an entertainer. But she's about to learn that there can be plenty of danger to go around in the Martian Navy, even if youfive just signed on to sing.
Nebula and Hugo-winner Varley continues the space opera saga of the Garcia-Strickland clan (last encountered in 2006's Red Lightning) in this enjoyable if simplistic tale. Patricia Kelly Elizabeth Podkayne Strickland-Garcia-Redmond, daughter of an earlier series hero, Ray Garcia-Strickland, is glad for any excuse to escape her job as the Martian consul in California, but the news calling her home is dire: her great grandmother is ill and about to go into suspended animation. After a family reunion, Podkayne heads to Europa, where a disaster forces her own suspension. The solar system she awakens to 10 years later is radically different. Podkayne learns of looming trials threatening the survival of mankind and tackles them with undiminished determination. Varley has deliberately made Podkayne an uncomplicated figure who lets major events and traumas roll right off her, rendering her a less than satisfying protagonist despite her heroics. (Mar.)
Copyright 2007Reed Business InformationIn the distant future, Mars is a colony of Earth, and Lt. Patricia Podkayne is a third-generation Martian with something to prove. As a member of the Music, Arts, and Drama Division of the Martian Navy, she accepts an assignment as an entertainer on the planet Europa, not realizing that trouble is brewing on that world. Three-time Hugo Award winner Varley's style of future sf is immediate and gritty, filled with realistic details and believable characters. His conclusion to a trilogy begun with Red Lightning and Red Thunder demonstrates his skill as both raconteur and master of science-based fiction.
—Jackie Cassada
dr_phantasmagorical
Posted June 12, 2010
I Also Recommend:
It wasn't quite what I expected but it was good. I didn't think it was quite as good as the first two in the series but it was still good. It was a little slow in the middle for a little bit but it did pick up. It has enough back ground or tie-in information to the other books to stand on its own with out having to read the others. The old characters are all there. As well as the bubble tech. It was well worth the money I paid for it and lots more to be sure. (4.95) It wraps things up for an ending of the trilogy. But without spoilling the ending it might make a good jumping off point for a new book or series. I guess thats up John Varley.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 1, 2012
I guess only reviews that basically give you a summary of the story and if they liked it-
Instead of one that discusses other things, like that in this series its no big deal to smoke pot on the moon-are allowed to stay here- if THAT offended someone then how did anyone ACTUALLY READ the book(s)?-because they are FULL of sex and other "offensive" subject matter - so basically if you cant handle this review don't buy ANY John Varley books - one of them has a psychoactive gel you spread on your privates...
Anonymous
Posted April 23, 2012
Here wolves will be rallied for raids, informed of deaths, births, and of betrayals, where second in command wolves will be chosen, where news will be spread. The moon always shines bright on the path to the and on the Wolves of Thunder Rock. - Lightningstrike, leader of the wolves of thunder
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Rolling Thunder John Varley Ace, March 2008, $24.95, 352 pp. ISBN: 9780441015634 Mars is an independent republic with colonies of its own having won the war with Earth and keeping the bubble technology for itself. The wave killed millions of people all over the land and made much of the land unusable for growing crops. It is considered hardship duty for anyone from the Martian military to be assigned earthside but Ensign Podkayne Strickland is a one woman show at the California when she is summoned home to say good bye to her ailing grandmother who is going into stasis until they find a cure for her. Now Podkayne is a lieutenant assigned to the music, arts, and drama division based on Europa where the Crystal Mountains are a popular tourist sight. They send out very powerful radio waves but nobody knows what they mean or if there is life forms in the mountains. Podkayne is visiting the tourist attraction and she sees the crystal mountain named grumpy lift off. She goes into stasis and when she wakes up ten years have passed. Grumpy and six other mountaineers have landed on earth totally decimating the planet. Mars can¿t take all the people who want to immigrate to earth, and fearful that the mountains will one day turn to Mars, Podkayne and her uncle Travis subsidize a way to avoid that possibility. --- ROLLING THUNDER takes place sometime in the twenty-first century when humans have colonized the solar system. Podkayne is an interesting multi-faceted character, a singer who is in the military yet thinks like a Martian as she was born and raised there. The allure of Mars and their relationship to a slowly deteriorating earth is examined in much detail. The socio-political events are witnessed through Podkayne¿s eyes and readers will empathize with the plight of earth yet like the Martians realize the people of the Red Planet can¿t save everyone. --- Harriet Klausner
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 28, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted April 24, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted December 19, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted January 3, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted May 30, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Lieutenant Patricia Kelly Elizabeth Strickland-otherwise known as Podkayne-has joined the Music, Arts, and Drama Division of the Martian Navy, passing the audition with a little help from some higher-ups. And now she's going to Europa, one of Jupiter's many moons, to be an entertainer. But she's about to learn that there can be plenty of danger to go around in the Martian Navy, even if youfive just signed on to sing.