Hugo Nominations: Kevin J. Anderson's The Dark Between the Stars

[bibliogramma]

I tried. I really, really tried. But I just could not get into Kevin Anderson's The Dark Between the Stars.

Let me make this very clear. I enjoy a good space opera as much as the next sf fan. I grew up reading space operas, from Doc Smith's Lensman series to Frank Herbert's Dune. I read Edmond Hamilton and Jack Williamson and Poul Anderson and Gordon Dickson. In more recent years, I've been delighted by Catherine Asaro's Skolian Saga, Lois Bujold's Vorkosigan saga, John Scalzi's Old Man's War series, Tanya Huff's Confederation series, the books of C. J. Cherryh and Elizabeth Moon. I even liked the first half-dozen Honor Harrington books. But I bounced hard when I tried to read The Dark Between the Stars.

I gave it a fair chance to capture my interest, but 60-odd pages in, I still have no sense of the characters or the overall thrust of the story. The prose is pedestrian, even awkward at times. Dialogue is stilted. In my opinion, it's just not an example of good, let alone great science fiction.

I appreciate that Anderson has fans, but I'm not one of them. And since I'm not a professional reviewer, I'm not obligated to finish the book, something that makes me happy.