Unforgettable Legacy
Written: Nov 25 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fast moving and imaginative. Rapid story development. A grand adventure.
Cons: May not appeal to non-Sci-Fi fans.
The Bottom Line: A fast-moving adventure by one of the Masters of Science Fiction: Greg Bear.
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| shurie's Full Review: Greg Bear - Legacy |
Legacy is a slightly different approach to Science Fiction than the typical high-technology novel that many readers have come to expect from the genre. Although the original home of our main character is filled with technology, the majority of the story centers on the unique biology of the planet Lamarkia and the human struggles that unfold there. From raw survival and conflict to political intrigue, scientific discovery, and ethical debate, the story never fails to engage the imagination.
The prequel to Eon, Greg Bear’s award-winning novel about the asteroid/spaceship Thistledown, Legacy is an entirely different kind of story. While Eon (and its sequel, Legacy) focus on high technology and grand philosophical questions, Legacy is pure adventure.
Nautical Adventure
Those who love the sea will find the story of great interest, because much of it takes place during a scientific voyage on the seas of the new world, Lamarkia. I found the book to be a realistic portrayal of life at sea – and educational as well. If you are not familiar with sailing ships, keep a good dictionary handy. Be sure to look up every nautical term you encounter and you will find the book to be a great learning experience as well as a grand adventure!
The Story
Somewhat bored with his mediocre rank in the defense corps, ripe for a challenge to test and develop his skills, Olmy is offered a grand assignment filled with risk – and opportunity. His achievements will earn him status and respect, as well as test his mettle – if he can only survive the experience. Unbeknownst to his superiors, Olmy has other reasons to hone his skills. But we will not learn of those reasons until the next book in the series. As the author puts it: ”This is the way history sometimes works. Simple connections, simple decisions, with untold consequences.”
Thus begins the grand adventure that keeps us spellbound throughout Legacy.
Olmy is transported to a primitive new world in pursuit of information about a group of religious followers who mysteriously and illegally emigrated there. Little is known about the world and the impact humans may have on its unique ecosystems. Olmy’s mission is to gather information, assess the situation, and somehow find the one remaining ‘clavicle’ that will enable him to return.
Immediately upon his arrival, Olmy stumbles upon the scene of a massacre – his first introduction to the infighting that has resulted from long years of struggling to survive in a harsh environment. As an outsider, his motives and status are questioned, but he eventually begins to earn the trust of the inhabitants through his hard work and good deeds.
Olmy manages to join a scientific voyage to explore the diverse biology on the planet. For him, it is simply a way to reach the continent where the clavicle may be found. Yet he will never reach it. Along the way he becomes deeply involved in the achievements and the risks of the voyage, and nearly perishes when the ship is lost at sea.
Miraculously rescued, he continues on to play a major role in the ensuing battle between major factions, and the reconciliation that follows. In the process he discovers that the clavicle, his only chance for return to his own world, has been destroyed.
Along the way he has learned a bit about love and companionship, and finds himself content to live out his days on Lamarkia, with no possibility of returning home. But after many years, the planet becomes too hostile for humans to survive. Olmy and the remaining colonists are returned, and he is seen as a hero.
The Series
Although each of the three books Legacy, Eon, and Eternity can stand completely on their own, there is a common thread that ties them all together. They were not written as a trilogy, yet I believe the reader will benefit from reading them in chronological order, rather than the order they were published.
Summary
A fast-moving adventure by one of the Masters of Science Fiction: Greg Bear.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
shurie
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Location: Southern California
Reviews written: 36
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About Me:
Computer nut with lots of interests - and always an opinion!
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