Lightless

September 15, 2015

Several hundred years in the future humanity has spread across the solar system, with all settlements ruled from Earth. Computer scientist Althea has dedicated her life to developing the computer and AI system for Ananke, an experimental military ship, and she's deep into her experiments when pirates launch simultaneous cyber and physical attacks. When the invaders turn out to be among the most wanted criminals in the system, Althea's world is turned upside down. With constant surveillance and a totalitarian government, it's not easy to rebel, or even think subversive thoughts. Yet Ivan, the charismatic criminal, seems to do both. As Ananke races toward the edge of the solar system, can Althea save her ship and herself from the combined forces of rebellion and government? VERDICT This debut novel is an excellent choice for fans of James S.A. Corey's "Expanse" series.--JM

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June 29, 2015
Debut author Higgins blends political philosophy into space opera adventure with moderate success in a series launch that rewards a patient reader. The experimental spaceship Ananke moves slowly across a solar system ruled by a ruthless Earth-based government too literally named the System. After two thieves with revolutionary leanings come on board, the ship—and its caretaker, Althea—will change forever. Higgins struggles a bit with the pacing after setting up the main characters, spending too long matching wits between thief Ivan, a jaded, unbreakable man who questions the System, and ambitious interrogator Ida, a flat example of government evil, while Althea tries to fix a ship that is transforming in response to the behavior of Ivan’s partner, Mattie. However, the pace improves as the characters find common ground, and Higgins brings deep questions to the fore along with serious consequences for the characters’ actions. There’s plenty more to explore in this world for readers who can forgive a few newbie stumbles.

Starred review from July 15, 2015
A tense psychodrama set on a malfunctioning spaceship.There should only be three people on the Ananke: Domitian, the captain; Gagnon, the senior scientist; and Althea, the mechanic who monitors every inch of the ship and every line of code to make sure it's in good repair. So when two strangers show up out of the blackness of space, it's bad news. But Althea, at least, is not as worried about these intruders' possible terrorist connections as she is about how they tricked the Ananke into letting them board or what one of them might have done to damage her beautiful ship's code. Even as one of the intruders slips out of the crew's grasp and a coldhearted intelligence officer named Ida Stays arrives to interrogate the remaining prisoner, a handsome, manipulative charmer named Ivanov who may or may not know the identity of the wanted terrorist known as the Mallt-y-Nos, all Althea can think about is Ananke and what kind of virus might be worming its way toward the ship's heart. Meanwhile, always, everywhere, the all-powerful surveillance state that rules our solar system, and brooks no disobedience, is watching. The stakes in this story are high-life and death, rebellion and betrayal-and debut novelist Higgins continually ratchets up the tension as the handful of people on board the Ananke struggle to uncover one another's secrets. A suspenseful, emotional story that asks plenty of big questions about identity and freedom, this is a debut not to be missed.

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