John J. Vinacci

I've been wanting to read this book for some time as it's on every Booktuber's hotlist of modern first-contact, hard sci-fi. For the most part, I was not disappointed... The book begins set during China's cultural revolution which serves to highlight man's cruelty to man and the tension between science and politics. In fact, a good portion of the book - almost it's entire first half - is dedicated to driving this point home. While not a major strike against the book, it does serve notice that the book does not move along at breakneck speed and often spends vast amounts of time dedicated to particular scenes. Fortunately, the book is so beautifully written (or should I say beautifully translated save some remote juvenile-sounding passages) that I completely forgave this particular criticism. The story is vast and infused with intriguing ideas both scientific and philosophical - and I love this - which ultimately culminates in contact with an alien civilization th...

Baldwin could not help but drag the tip of the broadsword through the dank cavern and over dunes of gold. The sword had belonged to his father and his father before that; it was a family heirloom he hoped to become worthy of. It was almost as big as Baldwin, though, and weighty. A weapon worthy of a king, it had certainly seen more bloodshed than the fledgling knight. Today, this boy on the verge of manhood – this boy just more than half his father’s stature – hoped his heart could help bear the load. For today he was going to slay Black Veritas, the dragon that once every hundred years laid waste to the kingdom. Today his victory over the beast would come before its latest awakening, thereby winning the heart of the princess, Princess Ardel.   Upon summiting the largest mound of gold coins yet, Baldwin held a hand out to stem the glare of treasure as a single ray of light from above bounced around infinitely. He stood in awe of the wealth strewn across the hundred meter cavern...