Second Star

Star Svensdotter, Book 1

De: Dana Stabenow

Narrado por: Marguerite Gavin

"When the Betelgeuse message was detected, it changed a lot of things on Earth. We began to look seriously outward, not with the heady optimism of the early days, but with deliberate calculation. We knew that Someone was out there, and that eventually, they’d be coming. If Earth didn’t occupy the High Frontier, it could be ours to lose."

Esther "Star" Svensdotter’s job is overseeing the completion of the American Alliance’s first O’Neill cylinder - a massive space hub capable of supporting thousands of colonists. It’s just weeks away from commissioning, and she’ll be damned if Luddite terrorists, squabbling bureaucrats, military takeovers or rogue AIs will stand in the way. Frontier justice on Ellfive sometimes involves an airlock - you don’t want to be on the wrong side of justice. Or the wrong side of Star Svensdotter.

The first in Dana Stabenow’s Star Svensdotter trilogy, Second Star is a tale of first contact, declarations of independence, and new frontiers.

©1991 Dana Stabenow (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Interesting Space Opera

Any additional comments?

Stabenow worked hard to get some good science into her fiction. The influence of Heinlein on both plot device and characterization is strong, but the females in the story are given a more satisfactory personality than Heinlein usually did. It seems clear that the succeeding novels are being prepared for in this tale, although it is good in itself. I ended up listening to three quarters and reading the last quarter in e-text, since it was free. Both media compelled my interest.

Dana's 1st. Love her writing style!

Dana never ceases to keep me entertained. The velvety voice of Marguerite is amazing. I secretly hope for a fourth Star.

Not Another Sci Fi Heroine

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would suggest this one to some friends. It's not a book for Fantasy lovers. And not enough action for the Action lovers. But, enough of a story that I think it could go places.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

More action would certainly improve the book. It's not a bad start on a new series & certainly leaves several avenues that could be explored in subsequent books.

Could you see Second Star being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I can see this as a TV movie & it's just too damned bad that Kathleen Turner is way too old for the part!! But, I think Katie Holmes might fit the bill.

Any additional comments?

If Stabenow writes another book in the series, I'll buy it just because I love her Kate Shugak & Liam Campbell series. I'm hoping it develops into another good series of books.

Stick to Alaska...

Would you recommend Second Star to your friends? Why or why not?

I purchased this book because of the quality of the author's Alaska books. It's a tedious book, and nowhere near the detailed quality of the two Alaska series. Not a bad buy for 5$ or less, but otherwise forgettable.

What does Marguerite Gavin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Most of the quality of the book comes from the narrator.

Somebody was not checking on correct pronunciation

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would not hesitate to recommend the book. I would not hesitate to recommend Ms. Gavin's narration with the following warning. Either Ms. Gavin or her editor should be far more vigilant about finding out the way to correctly pronounce common scientific and mathematic terminology. It grates to hear words mispronounced when we all know it is possible to find out the accepted way to say all terms...it just take a layer of caring about the product which I have never encountered before in this narrator's performances. Ms. Gavin, the pleasure of listening to your nuanced characterization does not deserve to be reduced this way!

If you enjoy Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak and Liam Campbell, wrench yourself away from the wilds of Alaska and try a yarn set in a fabricated space ecosystem.

What other book might you compare Second Star to and why?

Early chapters, yet, but thus far similar to early Heinlein.

What three words best describe Marguerite Gavin’s performance?

nuanced, mispronounced, energetic

Any additional comments?

I will repeat that I do not think the blame for narration errors in a single person's error!