Before you read any further, please note that this review may contain spoilers.
Saddened by the news of Pratchett's passing on March 12, I figured it was time to pick up one of his books. Pratchett has often been recommended to me with my first delve into his writing being Good Omens earlier this year, a novel he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman (that I haven't yet written a review for). As Strata is on my PopSugar reading challenge list as the book published the year I was born, I decided I needed to pay my own small homage to the man who entertained so many with his wit and intellect.
The third novel from the author and only one of a few sci-fi novels he wrote, and although the story features a disc world, it is not part of his Discworld series.
Kin Arad, high ranking officer of 'The Company' finds herself chastising a couple of her young charges, for adding fossils not only to the wrong strata of earth, but with the added addition of a "end nuclear testing now" sign, suspending them for three weeks without payment. Payment from the Company is in days, days with which you can extend your life, as Kin Arad had done, by hundreds of years.
The Company is in the business of planet terra-forming, sculpting planets to suit the species which will inhabit the finished product, using strata machines to complete the projects. The company didn't build these strata machines, they were discovered, artifacts of the Spindle Kings who built planets before evolution had allowed human kind to to be a space faring species.
As Kin reflected on her own misadventure in planet scultping, a mountain range in the shape of her initials, a strange man appeared in her office, Jago Jalo. The man spoke of a strange disc shaped planet. Intrigued, Kin agreed to listen to his tale and eventually agreed to head along on a voyage to see the planet for herself, even if she didn't believe such a thing existed, the logistics just weren't viable.
Kin, along with two others that Jalo had spoken to, Marco a, slender, 4 armed Kung raised on earth and Silver, a bear like creature called Shand, embarked on a journey of discovery and historical significance, using their knowledge and skills to transverse the disc planet and discover its origins.
Strata is well written, Pratchett was a natural story teller. The characters were well written and had a depth to them that really brings a story to life. My one disappointment, it lacked the humour that I enjoyed in Good Omens. Though over all, I'm not sure humour would have been beneficial from the story.
I gave Strata 4.5 stars out of 5. Losing that half a point for the lack of humour I've come to love.
Kin Arad, high ranking officer of 'The Company' finds herself chastising a couple of her young charges, for adding fossils not only to the wrong strata of earth, but with the added addition of a "end nuclear testing now" sign, suspending them for three weeks without payment. Payment from the Company is in days, days with which you can extend your life, as Kin Arad had done, by hundreds of years.
The Company is in the business of planet terra-forming, sculpting planets to suit the species which will inhabit the finished product, using strata machines to complete the projects. The company didn't build these strata machines, they were discovered, artifacts of the Spindle Kings who built planets before evolution had allowed human kind to to be a space faring species.
As Kin reflected on her own misadventure in planet scultping, a mountain range in the shape of her initials, a strange man appeared in her office, Jago Jalo. The man spoke of a strange disc shaped planet. Intrigued, Kin agreed to listen to his tale and eventually agreed to head along on a voyage to see the planet for herself, even if she didn't believe such a thing existed, the logistics just weren't viable.
Kin, along with two others that Jalo had spoken to, Marco a, slender, 4 armed Kung raised on earth and Silver, a bear like creature called Shand, embarked on a journey of discovery and historical significance, using their knowledge and skills to transverse the disc planet and discover its origins.
Strata is well written, Pratchett was a natural story teller. The characters were well written and had a depth to them that really brings a story to life. My one disappointment, it lacked the humour that I enjoyed in Good Omens. Though over all, I'm not sure humour would have been beneficial from the story.
I gave Strata 4.5 stars out of 5. Losing that half a point for the lack of humour I've come to love.
No comments:
Post a Comment