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Right to Know
From the Aurora Award-winning author of Marseguro (DAW Books) comes a fast-paced space opera about first contact – with a difference. When Art Stoddard, civilian information officer of the generation starship Mayflower II , is kidnapped by a secret military organization determined to overthrow the power of the Captain and Crew, he becomes embroiled in a conflict that tests everything he believed to be true, forced to choose between preserving social order and restoring the people’s right to know. Art's problems only escalate when he is ripped from the safety of his ship by the mysterious residents of Peregrine. He becomes a pawn in a game that will determine the fate of ship and planet alike. As he and his newfound friends rush to save both, he faces questions of courage, loyalty and moral responsibility. Praise for Right to Know “An inspiring tale of redemption and courage, set in an all too plausible future in space. Well done!” – Julie Czerneda, author of The Clan Chronicles “…a wildly entertaining read…the novel had romance, an ego-maniacal supporting antagonist, family drama, intrigue, and plenty of action…if you want a fun and rollicking SF yarn that I found to be pretty suitable for most age groups, Right to Know is a great selection.” – Jon Guenther, SF Revu “This is a fast-paced SF novel, with jailbreaks, rocket-rides and wilderness adventures on a strange planet. It also features clear themes. Freedom of the Press is foremost, and the need to prioritize freedom over security plays a part, too…Recommended for anyone who likes SF with a rapid pace and a clear message.” – Timothy Gwyn
- GenresScience Fiction
254 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 2013
About the author
Edward Willett
174 books119 followersEdward Willett is an award-winning author of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction for both children and adults.
Born in Silver City, New Mexico, Willett lived in Bayard, New Mexico and Lubbock and Tulia, Texas, before moving to Weyburn, Saskatchewan with his family when he was eight years old.
He studied journalism at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, then returned to Weyburn as a reporter/photographer for the weekly Weyburn Review, eventually becoming news editor. In 1988 he moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, as communications officer for the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and in 1993 he became a fulltime freelance writer. He still resides in Regina.
Willett is now the author or co-author of more than 60 books, ranging from computer books and other nonfiction titles for both children and adults, to science fiction and fantasy for all ages.
His science fiction novel Marseguro (DAW Books) won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author. He has also won a Saskatchewan Book Award for his YA fantasy Spirit Singer. He has been shortlisted for the Aurora Award and Saskatchewan Book Awards multiple times.
His most recent novels include Worldshaper and Master of the World, the first two books in his new series Worldshapers, and The Cityborn, a stand-alone science fiction novel from DAW Books; the Masks of Aygrima trilogy, YA/adult crossover novels published by DAW and written as E.C. Blake; the five-book YA fantasy series The Shards of Excalibur, published by Coteau Books; and the stand-alone YA fantasy Flames of Nevyana (Rebelight Publishing). He's also the author of the Peregrine Rising duology for Bundoran Press (Right to Know and Falcon's Egg).
Other novels include SF novel Lost in Translation (DAW Books), Terra Insegura (sequel to Marseguro, DAW Books), Magebane (DAW Books, written as Lee Arthur Chane), YA SF novels Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star, Andy Nebula: Double Trouble, and The Chosen; and YA ghost story The Haunted Horn.
Shadowpaw Press recently released his short story collection Paths to the Stars and re-released Spirit Singer, a YA fantasy that won a Saskatchewan Book Award and other awards.
His non-fiction titles run the gamut from science books for children on topics as diverse as Ebola Virus and the Milky Way to local history books like Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw for Red Deer Press, awarded a Municipal Heritage Award by the City of Regina in the education category and A Safe and Prosperous Future: 100 years of engineering and geoscience achievements in Saskatchewan, published by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS). He's also written biographies for children of Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Andy Warhol, Orson Scott Card, J.R.R. Tolkien and the Ayatollah Khomeini.
You can find Ed online at www.edwardwillett.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter @ewillett.
His is represented by literary agent Ethan Ellenberg (www.ethanellenberg.com).
Besides being a writer, Willett is a professional actor and singer who has performed in dozens of plays, musicals and operas in and around Saskatchewan, hosted local television programs, and emceed numerous public events.
He's married to a telecommunications engineer and has one daughter.
Born in Silver City, New Mexico, Willett lived in Bayard, New Mexico and Lubbock and Tulia, Texas, before moving to Weyburn, Saskatchewan with his family when he was eight years old.
He studied journalism at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, then returned to Weyburn as a reporter/photographer for the weekly Weyburn Review, eventually becoming news editor. In 1988 he moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, as communications officer for the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and in 1993 he became a fulltime freelance writer. He still resides in Regina.
Willett is now the author or co-author of more than 60 books, ranging from computer books and other nonfiction titles for both children and adults, to science fiction and fantasy for all ages.
His science fiction novel Marseguro (DAW Books) won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author. He has also won a Saskatchewan Book Award for his YA fantasy Spirit Singer. He has been shortlisted for the Aurora Award and Saskatchewan Book Awards multiple times.
His most recent novels include Worldshaper and Master of the World, the first two books in his new series Worldshapers, and The Cityborn, a stand-alone science fiction novel from DAW Books; the Masks of Aygrima trilogy, YA/adult crossover novels published by DAW and written as E.C. Blake; the five-book YA fantasy series The Shards of Excalibur, published by Coteau Books; and the stand-alone YA fantasy Flames of Nevyana (Rebelight Publishing). He's also the author of the Peregrine Rising duology for Bundoran Press (Right to Know and Falcon's Egg).
Other novels include SF novel Lost in Translation (DAW Books), Terra Insegura (sequel to Marseguro, DAW Books), Magebane (DAW Books, written as Lee Arthur Chane), YA SF novels Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star, Andy Nebula: Double Trouble, and The Chosen; and YA ghost story The Haunted Horn.
Shadowpaw Press recently released his short story collection Paths to the Stars and re-released Spirit Singer, a YA fantasy that won a Saskatchewan Book Award and other awards.
His non-fiction titles run the gamut from science books for children on topics as diverse as Ebola Virus and the Milky Way to local history books like Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw for Red Deer Press, awarded a Municipal Heritage Award by the City of Regina in the education category and A Safe and Prosperous Future: 100 years of engineering and geoscience achievements in Saskatchewan, published by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS). He's also written biographies for children of Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Andy Warhol, Orson Scott Card, J.R.R. Tolkien and the Ayatollah Khomeini.
You can find Ed online at www.edwardwillett.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter @ewillett.
His is represented by literary agent Ethan Ellenberg (www.ethanellenberg.com).
Besides being a writer, Willett is a professional actor and singer who has performed in dozens of plays, musicals and operas in and around Saskatchewan, hosted local television programs, and emceed numerous public events.
He's married to a telecommunications engineer and has one daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 30, 2016
Very enjoyable. A story about humans travelling in space looking for a new land to populate with a clever twist. Good action and pacing with an appropriate amount of political and personal intrigue to make it more than just a good adventure. The story pokes at themes of political control of the media, and celebrity privilege, with a heavy dose of doing the right thing. Characters were generally credible and quite a few of them memorable. A good read.
June 22, 2014
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was impressed with the easy-to-read style of writing by the author. Sometimes for my sci-fi books can be a little overwhelming, but this one was easy to follow. The characters are well-developed and the storyline was impressive. Hope to see more from the author in the future.
I was impressed with the easy-to-read style of writing by the author. Sometimes for my sci-fi books can be a little overwhelming, but this one was easy to follow. The characters are well-developed and the storyline was impressive. Hope to see more from the author in the future.
December 20, 2018
This story begins on a generation ship, where Art Stoddard is the sole news reporter for the city-sized population. Lately, he's been increasingly censored by the authoritarian Crew, and when an underground organization kidnaps him to share a terrible truth, things turn really nasty.
This is a face-paced SF novel, with jailbreaks, rocket-rides and wilderness adventures on a strange planet.
It also features clear themes. Freedom of the Press is foremost, and the need to prioritize freedom over security plays a part, too.
It took me a little while to warm up to the main character, as he starts the novel as a rather passive type. It was worth sticking with the story though, as Art discovers he can take action to live up to his principles.
Recommended for anyone who likes SF with a rapid pace and a clear message.
This is a face-paced SF novel, with jailbreaks, rocket-rides and wilderness adventures on a strange planet.
It also features clear themes. Freedom of the Press is foremost, and the need to prioritize freedom over security plays a part, too.
It took me a little while to warm up to the main character, as he starts the novel as a rather passive type. It was worth sticking with the story though, as Art discovers he can take action to live up to his principles.
Recommended for anyone who likes SF with a rapid pace and a clear message.
November 12, 2015
This review was first published on Kurt's Frontier.
Synopsis:
Arthur “Art” Stoddard is the civilian information officer on the generation ship Mayflower II. The captain and crew rule with an iron fist, judging what information is too dangerous for public consumption. When he meets with a contact, he is kidnapped by a secret rebel organization that wants to over throw the power of Captain and crew. They want him to release dangerous knowledge to the passengers. They are approaching a habitable planet. This is information gets him arrested by the ship’s security and brought before the captain. Kidnapped again by the planet’s own intelligence service, he learns they are human. In a stunning “déjà vu all over again,” rebels against the planet’s repressive government kidnap him.
With weapons pointed at the ship and planet, Art must figure out how to save both. The only tool he has is knowledge. Knowledge that can cause the death of millions or save them.
Review:
This is a novel from a Canadian science fiction publisher. It is a well-written story dealing with a first contact with a twist. A ship launched before Earth had developed faster than light travel arrives at a world that was colonized as part of a vast Earth empire. The planet was cut off when the secret to faster than light travel was lost. Edward Willet makes use of an author’s greatest tool: “What if…” Art Stoddard starts off as an irresponsible celebrity. He embarks on a wild adventure where he must find a way to save two civilizations. There are two corrupt governments with devastating weapons pointed at each other, religious fanatics, and rebels that want to restore people’s right to know, ultimately for both sides. The story is well written though the romantic elements could have been better developed.
Synopsis:
Arthur “Art” Stoddard is the civilian information officer on the generation ship Mayflower II. The captain and crew rule with an iron fist, judging what information is too dangerous for public consumption. When he meets with a contact, he is kidnapped by a secret rebel organization that wants to over throw the power of Captain and crew. They want him to release dangerous knowledge to the passengers. They are approaching a habitable planet. This is information gets him arrested by the ship’s security and brought before the captain. Kidnapped again by the planet’s own intelligence service, he learns they are human. In a stunning “déjà vu all over again,” rebels against the planet’s repressive government kidnap him.
With weapons pointed at the ship and planet, Art must figure out how to save both. The only tool he has is knowledge. Knowledge that can cause the death of millions or save them.
Review:
This is a novel from a Canadian science fiction publisher. It is a well-written story dealing with a first contact with a twist. A ship launched before Earth had developed faster than light travel arrives at a world that was colonized as part of a vast Earth empire. The planet was cut off when the secret to faster than light travel was lost. Edward Willet makes use of an author’s greatest tool: “What if…” Art Stoddard starts off as an irresponsible celebrity. He embarks on a wild adventure where he must find a way to save two civilizations. There are two corrupt governments with devastating weapons pointed at each other, religious fanatics, and rebels that want to restore people’s right to know, ultimately for both sides. The story is well written though the romantic elements could have been better developed.
January 25, 2019
One of the high points in the story is, oddly, also one of the low points. Art’s character arc is all about him learning to act in his life, to do things rather than simply exist. It’s a very good and believable character arc. But in the first half of the book he has so little agency–he gets kidnapped multiple times, and takes almost no direct actions–it gets a bit frustrating to read. Other than that one quasi-problem, Art is a great main character. He grows without changing unrealistically (in my opinion). There are good reasons why he changes.
The mild romance isn’t handled very well. There’s little chemistry between the characters, and it isn’t built up much at all. It’s something of a distraction, honestly. Some of the other characters also lack the depth that was put into Art.
The worldbuilding is interesting. The colony ship basically has a caste system, where the Crew are seen as better than the Passengers and have near-total control over them. Peregrine, the planet, has its own tightly-controlled government, plus a super-zealous cult. Both planets have a few rebels who are willing to give Art a hand as he comes to the realization that he has to do something.
This book didn’t wow me, but it was a solidly good read.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/01/r...
The mild romance isn’t handled very well. There’s little chemistry between the characters, and it isn’t built up much at all. It’s something of a distraction, honestly. Some of the other characters also lack the depth that was put into Art.
The worldbuilding is interesting. The colony ship basically has a caste system, where the Crew are seen as better than the Passengers and have near-total control over them. Peregrine, the planet, has its own tightly-controlled government, plus a super-zealous cult. Both planets have a few rebels who are willing to give Art a hand as he comes to the realization that he has to do something.
This book didn’t wow me, but it was a solidly good read.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/01/r...
October 24, 2019
I nearly stopped reading it because the main character just had things happen to him and didn't propel anything forward. Glancing at other people's reviews, however, indicated that was actually part of the plot and there was some character growth. It didn't seem clear that was the point, but it helped once the character realized he was like that. It's not an amazing book, but it was interesting enough to finish. The romance felt contrived. Not a bad book, but I doubt I'll read it again.
November 17, 2019
He who controls the information, controls the world. A story about fighting off learned passivity, finding the courage to fight for your beliefs, of making space a better place. With lasers and spaceships and robots.
May 27, 2018
I have to say the very title gets it right. Both on the big action picture and in the heart of one man.
August 1, 2015
I found this a very enjoyable science fiction novel - though quite small for the genre at a little over 200 pages. It is well written with a good story line and a main character that the reader can easily relate to.
Living on board the spaceship Mayflower II, Art Stoddard is the civilian information officer working as the mouthpiece of the Captain and Crew. He is a man that has drifted through a reasonably privileged life until the moment when he becomes unwittingly involved in a conspiracy. Things go from bad to worse for Art and he eventually finds himself away from the ship - I'm not going to say anything else about that as it would spoil everything - and on the surface of a nearby planet which is where the fun really starts.
To my mind this book owes a great deal to the science fiction films of the 1950's and earlier serials. The setting for the Skywatcher lair reminded me of the 1959 Journey to the Centre of the Earth with its tunnels, strange plants and other oddities. Another scene where Art's costume for his part in a ceremony is described is straight out of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon.
The characters that Art meets along the way are good science fiction stalwarts, for instance, the rescuer with a family to protect but a will to help, the stowaway youngster who wants to aid the hero, blinkered followers of the villain and the romantic interest. The ship and its reasons for being where it is are plausible and this central plot device gives the book its title - Do the people on board the 'Right To Know' everything or should those in charge be the only ones with all the knowledge...
My only small issue (and it is a very small one) was the romance aspect which was entirely unnecessary but in keeping with 50's feel so I guess it had to be there. All in all a great read that I would highly recommend.
Living on board the spaceship Mayflower II, Art Stoddard is the civilian information officer working as the mouthpiece of the Captain and Crew. He is a man that has drifted through a reasonably privileged life until the moment when he becomes unwittingly involved in a conspiracy. Things go from bad to worse for Art and he eventually finds himself away from the ship - I'm not going to say anything else about that as it would spoil everything - and on the surface of a nearby planet which is where the fun really starts.
To my mind this book owes a great deal to the science fiction films of the 1950's and earlier serials. The setting for the Skywatcher lair reminded me of the 1959 Journey to the Centre of the Earth with its tunnels, strange plants and other oddities. Another scene where Art's costume for his part in a ceremony is described is straight out of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon.
The characters that Art meets along the way are good science fiction stalwarts, for instance, the rescuer with a family to protect but a will to help, the stowaway youngster who wants to aid the hero, blinkered followers of the villain and the romantic interest. The ship and its reasons for being where it is are plausible and this central plot device gives the book its title - Do the people on board the 'Right To Know' everything or should those in charge be the only ones with all the knowledge...
My only small issue (and it is a very small one) was the romance aspect which was entirely unnecessary but in keeping with 50's feel so I guess it had to be there. All in all a great read that I would highly recommend.
May 24, 2014
For the most part this book was a solidly good read. There are three major problems to address in near-but-less-than-light-speed colony ships (a multi-generational approach, small things still do big damage at speed, and "what if new technology causes later colony ships to outpace you"), and Right to Know handled all three quite well.
My only real complaint about this book is the unnecessary (and ill-fitting) "romance" element that developed between Art and Iznar. The fact that it was both obviously about to happen and obviously didn't belong literally made me audibly groan.
So, if you ignore the uncalled for romance, you'll have an enjoyable read with some interesting characters, interesting places, well-thought out setting, and, of course, the debate on how much The Government should tell The People.
* Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book free of charge from the publisher.
My only real complaint about this book is the unnecessary (and ill-fitting) "romance" element that developed between Art and Iznar. The fact that it was both obviously about to happen and obviously didn't belong literally made me audibly groan.
So, if you ignore the uncalled for romance, you'll have an enjoyable read with some interesting characters, interesting places, well-thought out setting, and, of course, the debate on how much The Government should tell The People.
* Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book free of charge from the publisher.
October 11, 2013
I like this book. I was surprised to learn this author is so young. The writing is polished and cohesive. Come join Art in space and enjoy a fun well-paced narrative. This is easier to read than most science fiction.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews