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Coyote Trilogy #3
Coyote Frontier: A Novel of Interstellar Colonization
"The revolution that won Coyote's independence from Earth is 20 years past. Coyote's aging computers, aircraft, and medical equipment are badly in need of replacement. And the colony's survival is in question. Now the colony's hard-won independence depends on the descendants of Coyote's original settlers-versus help from Earth that may be more of a detriment than a boon: Former freedom fighter Carlos Montero, now in his fifties and burdened with the responsibilities of leadership. Manuel Castro, the Savant and former Lieutenant Governor of New Florida, now a hermit who may hold the key to the survival of those whose company he has renounced. Jonas Whittaker, the genius inventor haunted by the loss of the wife and daughter he sacrificed to save. And Morgan Goldstein, an entrepreneur seeking to exploit Coyote's natural resources-even if it means ruining the planet itself. As Coyote's future hangs in the balance, a larger question looms: can the human race settle a new world without bringing forward the problems of the world it left behind?"
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First published December 6, 2005
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About the author
Allen M. Steele
235 books416 followersBefore becoming a science fiction writer, Allen Steele was a journalist for newspapers and magazines in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Missouri, and his home state of Tennessee. But science fiction was his first love, so he eventually ditched journalism and began producing that which had made him decide to become a writer in the first place.
Since then, Steele has published eighteen novels and nearly one hundred short stories. His work has received numerous accolades, including three Hugo Awards, and has been translated worldwide, mainly into languages he can’t read. He serves on the board of advisors for the Space Frontier Foundation and is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He also belongs to Sigma, a group of science fiction writers who frequently serve as unpaid consultants on matters regarding technology and security.
Allen Steele is a lifelong space buff, and this interest has not only influenced his writing, it has taken him to some interesting places. He has witnessed numerous space shuttle launches from Kennedy Space Center and has flown NASA’s shuttle cockpit simulator at the Johnson Space Center. In 2001, he testified before the US House of Representatives in hearings regarding the future of space exploration. He would like very much to go into orbit, and hopes that one day he’ll be able to afford to do so.
Steele lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, Linda, and a continual procession of adopted dogs. He collects vintage science fiction books and magazines, spacecraft model kits, and dreams.
Since then, Steele has published eighteen novels and nearly one hundred short stories. His work has received numerous accolades, including three Hugo Awards, and has been translated worldwide, mainly into languages he can’t read. He serves on the board of advisors for the Space Frontier Foundation and is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He also belongs to Sigma, a group of science fiction writers who frequently serve as unpaid consultants on matters regarding technology and security.
Allen Steele is a lifelong space buff, and this interest has not only influenced his writing, it has taken him to some interesting places. He has witnessed numerous space shuttle launches from Kennedy Space Center and has flown NASA’s shuttle cockpit simulator at the Johnson Space Center. In 2001, he testified before the US House of Representatives in hearings regarding the future of space exploration. He would like very much to go into orbit, and hopes that one day he’ll be able to afford to do so.
Steele lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, Linda, and a continual procession of adopted dogs. He collects vintage science fiction books and magazines, spacecraft model kits, and dreams.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
September 4, 2022
Steele continues the same linked short story format for the third installment of the Coyote Trilogy, with the focus here on the European Union's 'starbridge' that now connects Coyote and Earth, enabling the trip between the two to be instantaneous. Earth is dying slowly, and the every nation wants to found a colony on Coyote or at least open trade relations. Steele breaks down the 'meta' story with a series of adventures/tales both on Earth and Coyote. If you have come this far on the trilogy, you will not be disappointed!
October 12, 2024
One of the main focuses of the third book is the deeper interaction with the indigenous primitive creatures of Coyote. These primitive creatures made brief appearances in the first two books, maintaining an air of mystery. In the third book, they begin to be presented more comprehensively, revealing that they are indeed creatures with a certain level of civilization. They are not as hostile to humans as the tribe encountered in the second book (after all, that tribe was controlled by monsters). The interactions between Earth's immigrants and the primitive creature of Coyote accelerate the plot.
The root cause of the creature’s opposition to humans lies in humans' excessive destruction of their environment, which in turn has raised concerns among some Earthlings about protecting Coyote’s environment. After closer contact with the creature, an astronaut who escaped from an Earth spaceship and Susan, who studies Wolf Star's ecology, began to take real action to protect their new home.
The second focus of this book is the renewed confrontation with the Earth government.
Now the ownership of a newly discovered continent, does it belong to the original immigrants or to the original country of these immigrants? This will always be a contentious issue. The answer to this question always seems to depend on whose military force is stronger, or who holds the decisive link.
In the third book, this decisive link is the star bridge. Originally, it would take many years to reach Wolf Star, but with the star bridge, it is now instantaneous.
The fundamental reason for the dispute over ownership is nothing more than natural resources. The deteriorating environment on Earth has made the Earth government eager for Coyote. Some Earthlings on Coyote hope that its environment will not deteriorate like Earth's, while others hope to completely transform Coyote into a new Earth, and still others only care about how much money they can make. Such contradictions are bound to become a balancing act that Coyote will need to deal with for many years to come.
As humans explore Coyote, they have also attracted more advanced extraterrestrial civilizations. Everything is developing towards a prosperous future.
This book is such an adventure story, telling the various possibilities of humans immigrating to new planets. It's thrilling yet heartwarming, and it's easy to feel immersed in it.
3.3 / 5 stars
The root cause of the creature’s opposition to humans lies in humans' excessive destruction of their environment, which in turn has raised concerns among some Earthlings about protecting Coyote’s environment. After closer contact with the creature, an astronaut who escaped from an Earth spaceship and Susan, who studies Wolf Star's ecology, began to take real action to protect their new home.
The second focus of this book is the renewed confrontation with the Earth government.
Now the ownership of a newly discovered continent, does it belong to the original immigrants or to the original country of these immigrants? This will always be a contentious issue. The answer to this question always seems to depend on whose military force is stronger, or who holds the decisive link.
In the third book, this decisive link is the star bridge. Originally, it would take many years to reach Wolf Star, but with the star bridge, it is now instantaneous.
The fundamental reason for the dispute over ownership is nothing more than natural resources. The deteriorating environment on Earth has made the Earth government eager for Coyote. Some Earthlings on Coyote hope that its environment will not deteriorate like Earth's, while others hope to completely transform Coyote into a new Earth, and still others only care about how much money they can make. Such contradictions are bound to become a balancing act that Coyote will need to deal with for many years to come.
As humans explore Coyote, they have also attracted more advanced extraterrestrial civilizations. Everything is developing towards a prosperous future.
This book is such an adventure story, telling the various possibilities of humans immigrating to new planets. It's thrilling yet heartwarming, and it's easy to feel immersed in it.
3.3 / 5 stars
October 25, 2009
Something's been nagging me ever since I began reading Allen Steele's Coyote series. I enjoyed both
Coyote
and
Coyote Rising
, for the most part, yet something was missing. Coyote Frontier brings that missing piece of the puzzle to the series, for we finally get to see Earth with our own eyes, and Steele reminds us why space travel isn't just for science fiction.
In Coyote Frontier, a starship belonging to the European Alliance, rivals of the collectivist Western Hemisphere Union who tried to take over Coyote in the last book, arrives at Coyote claiming peaceful intentions. The ship, commanded by Captain Anastasia Tereshkova, reassembles itself into a "starbridge," your typical science fiction hyperspace wormhole device. Now that Coyote and Earth are mere hours apart instead of decades, Coyote has been thrust back into the spotlight of the fragmented, struggling survivors of a global climate holocaust. The colonists and various representatives of Earth's government jockey for position, each one trying to defend their own best interests. But who is looking out for humanity's interests?
Coyote Frontier had better writing than Coyote Rising and was pretty much on par with Coyote. My major dissatisfaction with Coyote Rising was how shallow made all of the political motivations of the main characters seem. There's a little bit of this shallowness in Coyote Frontier, particularly in the sections that deal with Susan Montero, Hawk Thompson, and Lars Thompson as they argue over the possible intelligence of Coyote's indigenous hominids, the chirreep. None of the characters of this series seem very deep or well-developed; the possible exceptions are Wendy and Carlos, whom we've seen mature from teenagers in Coyote to middle-aged and elderly by Coyote Frontier, and Hawk, who has to choose between family or higher principles. Otherwise, most of the characters aren't burdened with complex emotions or anything resembling moral dilemmas. Susan is unswervingly devoted to preserving Coyote's natural habitat and indigenous wildlife. Tereshkova and most of her crew are so enchanted with how pristine Coyote is that they "convert" to Coyote's side; former first officer Jonathan Parson embodies this philosophy to a tee.
Where this series excels is in the struggle to colonize another world. The first two books covered the actual effort to construct—and keep—a colony. In Coyote Frontier, we see the inevitable re-establishment of regular contact with Earth, and the consequences this has for both Earth and Coyote. Naturally, the Coyote Federation wants to become a sovereign nation and control who emigrates to their world. All the Earth governments are anxious for new, unexploited land. Steele is far from coy about the novel's role as an allegory for European colonization of the New World; it even includes an indigenous population that some colonists would rather wipe out than accommodate (notably, however, the chirreep are primitive homonids, whereas the indigenous peoples of the Americas were modern humans who merely had primitive technology). Some governments, like the European Alliance, are amenable to negotiating with Coyote on the latter's terms. Others, like the Western Hemisphere Union, are openly hostile. Although the story's main plot does come to a head before the end of the book, these overarching issues aren't fully resolved, to good effect.
For Steele may be writing a story set in the future, but he's writing about the present. The chief moral of the Coyote series is that humanity seldom learns from its mistakes; with each new frontier, we scramble for control as we quickly fill and consume all the resources we can. We've already seen the dangers of unchecked development and witnessed the horrors of genocide, yet with a fresh new world to exploit, suddenly the cautionary tale of our history is forgotten. Despite the futuristic technology and fictional political entities, the situations that Steele creates feel real and plausible. Fortunately, Steele doesn't present a uniformly bleak picture of our destiny. In fact, it's fair to say he's more than optimistic—as long as there are still good people to stand up for human principles, rather than the political principles of any particular country, we still have a chance. And if Steele is right, and we aren't alone in the universe, then it's even more vital that we put our best foot forward.
I would happily recommend the Coyote series to anyone. It's not my favourite series by any means, but it's still a wonderful treatment of important themes. For Coyote Frontier is a ringing endorsement of the necessity for us to strive for the stars. Especially in times of economic tension, people question the utility of space travel, especially attempts to establish manned space travel. What's the point? Simply put, as Coyote Frontier and its ilk do, we have outgrown this world. We need more resources and more room than the Earth can offer. If we can continue to avoid total environmental catastrophe, great; space is a bonus. If not, however, and like the denizens of Coyote's Earth we all become environmental refugees, then escape to the stars may be our only hope for survival as a species. Either way, we need the knowledge and the know-how to get there, preferably sooner rather than later. Coyote Frontier makes a compelling case for this argument, wrapped in an exciting story of old problems on a new world.
In Coyote Frontier, a starship belonging to the European Alliance, rivals of the collectivist Western Hemisphere Union who tried to take over Coyote in the last book, arrives at Coyote claiming peaceful intentions. The ship, commanded by Captain Anastasia Tereshkova, reassembles itself into a "starbridge," your typical science fiction hyperspace wormhole device. Now that Coyote and Earth are mere hours apart instead of decades, Coyote has been thrust back into the spotlight of the fragmented, struggling survivors of a global climate holocaust. The colonists and various representatives of Earth's government jockey for position, each one trying to defend their own best interests. But who is looking out for humanity's interests?
Coyote Frontier had better writing than Coyote Rising and was pretty much on par with Coyote. My major dissatisfaction with Coyote Rising was how shallow made all of the political motivations of the main characters seem. There's a little bit of this shallowness in Coyote Frontier, particularly in the sections that deal with Susan Montero, Hawk Thompson, and Lars Thompson as they argue over the possible intelligence of Coyote's indigenous hominids, the chirreep. None of the characters of this series seem very deep or well-developed; the possible exceptions are Wendy and Carlos, whom we've seen mature from teenagers in Coyote to middle-aged and elderly by Coyote Frontier, and Hawk, who has to choose between family or higher principles. Otherwise, most of the characters aren't burdened with complex emotions or anything resembling moral dilemmas. Susan is unswervingly devoted to preserving Coyote's natural habitat and indigenous wildlife. Tereshkova and most of her crew are so enchanted with how pristine Coyote is that they "convert" to Coyote's side; former first officer Jonathan Parson embodies this philosophy to a tee.
Where this series excels is in the struggle to colonize another world. The first two books covered the actual effort to construct—and keep—a colony. In Coyote Frontier, we see the inevitable re-establishment of regular contact with Earth, and the consequences this has for both Earth and Coyote. Naturally, the Coyote Federation wants to become a sovereign nation and control who emigrates to their world. All the Earth governments are anxious for new, unexploited land. Steele is far from coy about the novel's role as an allegory for European colonization of the New World; it even includes an indigenous population that some colonists would rather wipe out than accommodate (notably, however, the chirreep are primitive homonids, whereas the indigenous peoples of the Americas were modern humans who merely had primitive technology). Some governments, like the European Alliance, are amenable to negotiating with Coyote on the latter's terms. Others, like the Western Hemisphere Union, are openly hostile. Although the story's main plot does come to a head before the end of the book, these overarching issues aren't fully resolved, to good effect.
For Steele may be writing a story set in the future, but he's writing about the present. The chief moral of the Coyote series is that humanity seldom learns from its mistakes; with each new frontier, we scramble for control as we quickly fill and consume all the resources we can. We've already seen the dangers of unchecked development and witnessed the horrors of genocide, yet with a fresh new world to exploit, suddenly the cautionary tale of our history is forgotten. Despite the futuristic technology and fictional political entities, the situations that Steele creates feel real and plausible. Fortunately, Steele doesn't present a uniformly bleak picture of our destiny. In fact, it's fair to say he's more than optimistic—as long as there are still good people to stand up for human principles, rather than the political principles of any particular country, we still have a chance. And if Steele is right, and we aren't alone in the universe, then it's even more vital that we put our best foot forward.
I would happily recommend the Coyote series to anyone. It's not my favourite series by any means, but it's still a wonderful treatment of important themes. For Coyote Frontier is a ringing endorsement of the necessity for us to strive for the stars. Especially in times of economic tension, people question the utility of space travel, especially attempts to establish manned space travel. What's the point? Simply put, as Coyote Frontier and its ilk do, we have outgrown this world. We need more resources and more room than the Earth can offer. If we can continue to avoid total environmental catastrophe, great; space is a bonus. If not, however, and like the denizens of Coyote's Earth we all become environmental refugees, then escape to the stars may be our only hope for survival as a species. Either way, we need the knowledge and the know-how to get there, preferably sooner rather than later. Coyote Frontier makes a compelling case for this argument, wrapped in an exciting story of old problems on a new world.
May 27, 2024
The story continues, years later on a wider stage. Key characters continue to develop, fascinating new ones are introduced, and the events bring up new philosophical and ethical questions.
Being similarly older myself since I read the first two Coyote books, the personal changes rang true with me. I enjoyed this book and it left me both satisfied and wanting more. I've already ordered the final two Coyote books and am waiting for them to reach me.
Some of the best science fiction I've read. Highly recommended!
Being similarly older myself since I read the first two Coyote books, the personal changes rang true with me. I enjoyed this book and it left me both satisfied and wanting more. I've already ordered the final two Coyote books and am waiting for them to reach me.
Some of the best science fiction I've read. Highly recommended!
March 8, 2020
Like the previous two books, it starts slow and only gets exciting in the final third of the book. The ending was satisfactory, leaving the reader with the tease of future books on a new tangent hinted at in all three books in this series. I'm going to give it 3 Stars but I had issues with it. I found it tedious at times with the climate change hysteria. There was also a subtle (maybe not so subtle) anti-american and pro-russian undertone. Had other issues with the book too but it was ok overall.
August 25, 2024
DNF. The first two books were ok. The writing was good, and the characters interesting. But the planet and colonization plot were bland. Could have been any group of individuals settling a new area on earth.
The third book's opening was lackluster, so I decided to retire this series and move on.
The third book's opening was lackluster, so I decided to retire this series and move on.
December 20, 2011
Award-winning author Allen Steele brings his Coyote Trilogy to a close with Coyote Frontier. While this is not the end of the Coyote saga for Steele or his readers by any means, it nevertheless represents a closure to the in-depth development of the world of Coyote through its colonists, and the opening of a new chapter in this series.
As Coyote seems to be settling down somewhat with a stable form of government any would-be Social Collectivists from Earth having been sent packing, it seems like the colonists and now natives (who have been born there) of Coyote are getting by, only there aren’t many natural resources to offer, as people struggle to maintain what is essentially a medieval level of society. The only real solution to this is to seek some help from Earth through trade and diplomacy to important some of these necessary resources for the improvement of society for the Coyote colonists.
Meanwhile, back on Earth, things are pretty much going to hell, as humanity is doing its best to destroy the planet, but science has been pushed forward with the development of faster than light (FTL) travel and what are known as “star bridges” that allow spaceships to travel vast distances of space in an incredibly short time. A star bridge is soon built near Coyote, with another located in our solar system, and a diplomatic group from Coyote is sent to Earth to possibly create some trade agreements with various nations of Earth. But humans will be humans, and many greedily seek the land and possibility of Coyote, looking to harvest it for personal gain. Fortunately, the leader of this diplomatic group, the all too familiar Carlos Montero from the previous books, thinks he knows when to draw the line; only he’s not too sure about one Morgan Goldstein, who is one of the richest men on Earth, looking to improve the lives of everyone on Coyote, but also make a hefty profit.
Steele does what he did best with his previous two Coyote books, hooking the reader in with some incredible stories of Coyote and what its colonists are trying to do. Now he brings the question of the cost of land and the effects these colonists are starting to have on the ecosystems and native species of the planet, as well as using up what little resources it has. These are warning bells that any reader is already very familiar with, with what we’re doing with our own planet, which simply provide for some riveting reading, along with a high point of a finish and a big surprise that sets up for some very interesting future books in this ongoing saga.
Originally written on August 17, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews and exclusive interviews, go to the BookBanter site.
As Coyote seems to be settling down somewhat with a stable form of government any would-be Social Collectivists from Earth having been sent packing, it seems like the colonists and now natives (who have been born there) of Coyote are getting by, only there aren’t many natural resources to offer, as people struggle to maintain what is essentially a medieval level of society. The only real solution to this is to seek some help from Earth through trade and diplomacy to important some of these necessary resources for the improvement of society for the Coyote colonists.
Meanwhile, back on Earth, things are pretty much going to hell, as humanity is doing its best to destroy the planet, but science has been pushed forward with the development of faster than light (FTL) travel and what are known as “star bridges” that allow spaceships to travel vast distances of space in an incredibly short time. A star bridge is soon built near Coyote, with another located in our solar system, and a diplomatic group from Coyote is sent to Earth to possibly create some trade agreements with various nations of Earth. But humans will be humans, and many greedily seek the land and possibility of Coyote, looking to harvest it for personal gain. Fortunately, the leader of this diplomatic group, the all too familiar Carlos Montero from the previous books, thinks he knows when to draw the line; only he’s not too sure about one Morgan Goldstein, who is one of the richest men on Earth, looking to improve the lives of everyone on Coyote, but also make a hefty profit.
Steele does what he did best with his previous two Coyote books, hooking the reader in with some incredible stories of Coyote and what its colonists are trying to do. Now he brings the question of the cost of land and the effects these colonists are starting to have on the ecosystems and native species of the planet, as well as using up what little resources it has. These are warning bells that any reader is already very familiar with, with what we’re doing with our own planet, which simply provide for some riveting reading, along with a high point of a finish and a big surprise that sets up for some very interesting future books in this ongoing saga.
Originally written on August 17, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews and exclusive interviews, go to the BookBanter site.
August 16, 2023
Allen Steele's most significant body of work, the Coyote Trilogy (the kickoff to his larger Coyote Universe), comes to a close with *Coyote Frontier*, a novel of Interstellar Colonization. I picked up this trilogy at a local senior center book sale (of all places) and quite enjoyed the first book (8.5/10) but thought the second book, despite its riveting first half, had a schlocky ending and therefore only accrued an 8/10. Does *Coyote Frontier* continue the downward spiral that book two started, or will it return Coyote to its former narrative glory? Well, neither, really; it finds itself comfortably in between the two on a manner of quality. And while I admit that these books might not be as objectively good as I subjectively think they are, I do think that they're good fun and worth reading; I'll tell you why after my summary.
The first half of the book is composed of the same mosaic-style fragments as its precursors, albeit with a narrower scope, despite the fact that we start in the throes of the original capture of the *Alabama* back in the 2070s; we see a brilliant scientist who missed his opportunity to secure his and his family's place aboard the ship is secured by a high-ranking rebel who freezes him so he can help future governments build a bridge between stars that's basically a stargate. This government turns out being the European Alliance; hence, a European Alliance ships shows up over Coyote at the beginning of the book seeking to build the other end of a stargate link to Earth above Coyote. Carlos Montero is skeptical, and before we see more of his interactions with the EA folks, we see their second officer desert their ship and adopt a nomadic life on the run that takes him to the mountains above Lars Thompson's camp, where he meets an old "friend":
The second half of the book is fronted by clippings from Wendy Gunther's memoirs, which is something I'll never complain about, even when . Yeah. A lot happens in these books.
Since I just recounted it for you, it makes sense to talk about the plot first. Honestly, I feel it was a bit... herky jerky at times. There were a lot of scenes that I would've liked to have seen, but each piece of the mosaic ended too soon. I didn't have this problem with the other book, where endings were more tantalizing than frustrating, but it was mildly grating here. I do think that Steele pulls enough new plot elements in to keep this book from repeating its forerunners, which is always a good thing, and I also don't think that the book gets too out-there or cheap either, although I do have a comparison a little later in this review that some might find cheap.
I feel the same way about these characters that I did in books one and two; the characters themselves aren't too interesting, but their relationships with each other are and add a lot to the narrative. I also feel similarly about the prose in this book, which I still find intensely readable. It's not blocky or otherwise blockbustery prose, but it's sure not masterful literary prose either. In fact, I'd compare these books to - as I alluded to in the last paragraph - post-Nemesis Star Trek novels. For those of you who aren't Star Trek nerds like me, I'm talking about the 21st century novels that take place after the last *Star Trek: The Next Generation* movie, which continue the stories of beloved characters and their descendants (like these books seem to be doing) from many different Star Trek series with the best ones being written in an easy-going style not unlike this one. I don't think it's a bad thing to be compared to those Star Trek novels, but as always, your mileage may vary.
I do think that there's some missed opportunities thematically (skip to the next paragraph if you don't want mild, generalized spoilers): ... okay, so you want spoilers. Basically, I think that this book was trying to ask a very interesting question: if you had to choose between saving an overpopulated and misused Earth and keeping an exotic and beautiful virgin planet fair and just and unspoiled, which should you choose? Should the colonists of Coyote give a moral rip about their species' cradle? I think it's a fascinating question that should've been in the mix beyond just Susan screaming about habitat loss in a rather unprofessional manner, but it wasn't; I don't even think that the conservation status of the proto-sentient chireep got a worthy endcap, which it really should've, since their story was an integral book of the book's conservationist themes. At the end of the day, this could've been the most intellectually questioning book in the trilogy, but instead, it's largely just more fun. I mean, there's nothing wrong with that, but... it could've been more!
The thematic missed opportunities might be my biggest gripe with the book, but a close second is... what the Hell happened to that big volcanic eruption from book two that was supposed to be devastating or... something? Not even one reference besides someone mentioning Zolton? I mean... come on, man!
Still, despite the fact that this could've been "more" in my personal opinion, I still enjoyed my time reading this book, and think that even though the scale does widen significantly, it doesn't lose that familial focus that was part of the reason *Coyote* hit me where it did. *Coyote Frontier* still gets an 8/10 and caps this off as a successful trilogy. Now, these books are just the first in a "universe" of eight books surrounding our titular planet, so I'll have to read those as well - as it is, I already own *Coyote Horizon* and *Galaxy Blues* from the same critical senior center book sale I got the first three books at. I imagine I'll give the series some breathing room, though, as one might give some Star Trek novels some room post-binging (keep in mind that this whole "post-Nemesis Star Trek" analogy doesn't really relate to book one). I suppose you you guys might need some room from my obnoxiously long reviews too - unless you want to click on my profile name, of course. Anyways, I'll see you guys around, and hopefully, when the time comes to seize the *Alabama*, I'll see you on the ship - the *first* ship, that is.
The first half of the book is composed of the same mosaic-style fragments as its precursors, albeit with a narrower scope, despite the fact that we start in the throes of the original capture of the *Alabama* back in the 2070s; we see a brilliant scientist who missed his opportunity to secure his and his family's place aboard the ship is secured by a high-ranking rebel who freezes him so he can help future governments build a bridge between stars that's basically a stargate. This government turns out being the European Alliance; hence, a European Alliance ships shows up over Coyote at the beginning of the book seeking to build the other end of a stargate link to Earth above Coyote. Carlos Montero is skeptical, and before we see more of his interactions with the EA folks, we see their second officer desert their ship and adopt a nomadic life on the run that takes him to the mountains above Lars Thompson's camp, where he meets an old "friend":
The second half of the book is fronted by clippings from Wendy Gunther's memoirs, which is something I'll never complain about, even when . Yeah. A lot happens in these books.
Since I just recounted it for you, it makes sense to talk about the plot first. Honestly, I feel it was a bit... herky jerky at times. There were a lot of scenes that I would've liked to have seen, but each piece of the mosaic ended too soon. I didn't have this problem with the other book, where endings were more tantalizing than frustrating, but it was mildly grating here. I do think that Steele pulls enough new plot elements in to keep this book from repeating its forerunners, which is always a good thing, and I also don't think that the book gets too out-there or cheap either, although I do have a comparison a little later in this review that some might find cheap.
I feel the same way about these characters that I did in books one and two; the characters themselves aren't too interesting, but their relationships with each other are and add a lot to the narrative. I also feel similarly about the prose in this book, which I still find intensely readable. It's not blocky or otherwise blockbustery prose, but it's sure not masterful literary prose either. In fact, I'd compare these books to - as I alluded to in the last paragraph - post-Nemesis Star Trek novels. For those of you who aren't Star Trek nerds like me, I'm talking about the 21st century novels that take place after the last *Star Trek: The Next Generation* movie, which continue the stories of beloved characters and their descendants (like these books seem to be doing) from many different Star Trek series with the best ones being written in an easy-going style not unlike this one. I don't think it's a bad thing to be compared to those Star Trek novels, but as always, your mileage may vary.
I do think that there's some missed opportunities thematically (skip to the next paragraph if you don't want mild, generalized spoilers): ... okay, so you want spoilers. Basically, I think that this book was trying to ask a very interesting question: if you had to choose between saving an overpopulated and misused Earth and keeping an exotic and beautiful virgin planet fair and just and unspoiled, which should you choose? Should the colonists of Coyote give a moral rip about their species' cradle? I think it's a fascinating question that should've been in the mix beyond just Susan screaming about habitat loss in a rather unprofessional manner, but it wasn't; I don't even think that the conservation status of the proto-sentient chireep got a worthy endcap, which it really should've, since their story was an integral book of the book's conservationist themes. At the end of the day, this could've been the most intellectually questioning book in the trilogy, but instead, it's largely just more fun. I mean, there's nothing wrong with that, but... it could've been more!
The thematic missed opportunities might be my biggest gripe with the book, but a close second is... what the Hell happened to that big volcanic eruption from book two that was supposed to be devastating or... something? Not even one reference besides someone mentioning Zolton? I mean... come on, man!
Still, despite the fact that this could've been "more" in my personal opinion, I still enjoyed my time reading this book, and think that even though the scale does widen significantly, it doesn't lose that familial focus that was part of the reason *Coyote* hit me where it did. *Coyote Frontier* still gets an 8/10 and caps this off as a successful trilogy. Now, these books are just the first in a "universe" of eight books surrounding our titular planet, so I'll have to read those as well - as it is, I already own *Coyote Horizon* and *Galaxy Blues* from the same critical senior center book sale I got the first three books at. I imagine I'll give the series some breathing room, though, as one might give some Star Trek novels some room post-binging (keep in mind that this whole "post-Nemesis Star Trek" analogy doesn't really relate to book one). I suppose you you guys might need some room from my obnoxiously long reviews too - unless you want to click on my profile name, of course. Anyways, I'll see you guys around, and hopefully, when the time comes to seize the *Alabama*, I'll see you on the ship - the *first* ship, that is.
October 27, 2009
Narrated by
Peter Ganim, Allen Steele, Therese Plummer
17 hrs and 1 mins
I would have rated this 4 stars, except I really didn't like the initial male narrator - not sure which one he was. He seemed too dry, emotionless and computer-like - maybe that was intentional, but it didn't appeal to me. Despite that, I really enjoyed the story.
Publisher's Summary
The revolution that won Coyote's independence from Earth is 20 years past. Coyote's aging computers, aircraft, and medical equipment are badly in need of replacement. And the colony's survival is in question. Now the colony's hard-won independence depends on the descendants of Coyote's original settlers-versus help from Earth that may be more of a detriment than a boon.
Former freedom fighter Carlos Montero, now in his 50s and burdened with the responsibilities of leadership. Manuel Castro, the Savant and former Lieutenant Governor of New Florida, now a hermit who may hold the key to the survival of those whose company he has renounced. Jonas Whittaker, the genius inventor haunted by the loss of the wife and daughter he sacrificed to save. And Morgan Goldstein, an entrepreneur seeking to exploit Coyote's natural resources - even if it means ruining the planet itself. As Coyote's future hangs in the balance, a larger question looms: can the human race settle a new world without bringing forward the problems of the world it left behind?
BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction by author Allen Steele.
©2005 Allen Steele; (P)2008 Audible, Inc.
Peter Ganim, Allen Steele, Therese Plummer
17 hrs and 1 mins
I would have rated this 4 stars, except I really didn't like the initial male narrator - not sure which one he was. He seemed too dry, emotionless and computer-like - maybe that was intentional, but it didn't appeal to me. Despite that, I really enjoyed the story.
Publisher's Summary
The revolution that won Coyote's independence from Earth is 20 years past. Coyote's aging computers, aircraft, and medical equipment are badly in need of replacement. And the colony's survival is in question. Now the colony's hard-won independence depends on the descendants of Coyote's original settlers-versus help from Earth that may be more of a detriment than a boon.
Former freedom fighter Carlos Montero, now in his 50s and burdened with the responsibilities of leadership. Manuel Castro, the Savant and former Lieutenant Governor of New Florida, now a hermit who may hold the key to the survival of those whose company he has renounced. Jonas Whittaker, the genius inventor haunted by the loss of the wife and daughter he sacrificed to save. And Morgan Goldstein, an entrepreneur seeking to exploit Coyote's natural resources - even if it means ruining the planet itself. As Coyote's future hangs in the balance, a larger question looms: can the human race settle a new world without bringing forward the problems of the world it left behind?
BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction by author Allen Steele.
©2005 Allen Steele; (P)2008 Audible, Inc.
January 17, 2012
This series just continues to get better. Allen Steele expands on the Coyote world and universe. Coyote's first generation of settlers are aging and a new generation has come of age. He continues to develop rich and entertaining characters and relationships and weaves them into multiple simultaneous plot lines. The story is anchored with the technology that they have brought from earth and the primitive environment they are taming and shaping into a new world and new society.
Earth has continued to advance exponentially in technological advances in the 300 years that have passed since the first Coyote pioneers entered hyper-sleep and sailed through the vastness of interstellar space to the earth-like world of Coyote. Excitingly, Steele has realized a way to join the Coyote of today with the earth of today such that they now have a real-time relationship and introduces a whole new set of problems for everyone to work out.
I'm anxious to read the next installment. I'm also enjoying Steele's writing and development of characters and story lines. He is very reminiscent of my favorite author Robert Heinlein. Steele manages to make similar observations and commentary as Heinlein of humanity and political and socially accepted norms. I've read all of Heinlien's material and exhausted articles and books about his life. It's refreshing to find a writer continuing in the tradition of the great Robert Heinlein.
Earth has continued to advance exponentially in technological advances in the 300 years that have passed since the first Coyote pioneers entered hyper-sleep and sailed through the vastness of interstellar space to the earth-like world of Coyote. Excitingly, Steele has realized a way to join the Coyote of today with the earth of today such that they now have a real-time relationship and introduces a whole new set of problems for everyone to work out.
I'm anxious to read the next installment. I'm also enjoying Steele's writing and development of characters and story lines. He is very reminiscent of my favorite author Robert Heinlein. Steele manages to make similar observations and commentary as Heinlein of humanity and political and socially accepted norms. I've read all of Heinlien's material and exhausted articles and books about his life. It's refreshing to find a writer continuing in the tradition of the great Robert Heinlein.
November 2, 2011
Book three in the Coyote series, this novel takes us once more to the colony planet Coyote. But there’s a new twist. Earth has developed a technology for instantaneous travel between stars, meaning close contact with Earth is possible once more. Coyote seems like paradise to inhabitants of Earth wracked with overcrowding and catastrophic climate change. Will the budding Coyote Federation be able to withstand the onslaught? The original colonists have grown middle aged and responsible, but now their children rebel. It is a classic dichotomy. The old and wise versus the young and energetic. Steele plays to his strength in character creation and development, making this perhaps the most enjoyable of the Coyote books.
Unlike the two previous books, this one is not a collection of previously written short stories with interlude pieces. However, Steele has still kept some of that feel. The narrative changes pace, viewpoint and even style between sections. But the episodes are less self contained than before. This effect still takes some getting used to, but it works well.
The epilogue, after the action proper has been concluded and loose ends tied up, is a bit surprising. We are left dangling after a momentous first contact. Said first contact is described in Steele’s novel Spindrift. Blatant plug? Perhaps. But it also reminds us that the story of the colony is still unfolding.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1336
Unlike the two previous books, this one is not a collection of previously written short stories with interlude pieces. However, Steele has still kept some of that feel. The narrative changes pace, viewpoint and even style between sections. But the episodes are less self contained than before. This effect still takes some getting used to, but it works well.
The epilogue, after the action proper has been concluded and loose ends tied up, is a bit surprising. We are left dangling after a momentous first contact. Said first contact is described in Steele’s novel Spindrift. Blatant plug? Perhaps. But it also reminds us that the story of the colony is still unfolding.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1336
March 2, 2024
Continuing hard-ish science fiction interstellar colonization/political thriller in which Earth’s first interstellar colony founded by libertarian American dissidents enters the arena of a dying Earth's politics. Third book in a series.
My dead tree version was 382-pages long. It had a US 2005 copyright. The book included: a Dramatis Personae, maps, a diagram, and a (now dated) Sources list of non-fiction on planetology.
Allen Steele is an American journalist and science fiction writer. He is the author of more than 20 science fiction novels in several series, and many short stories. This is the third book in an eight (8) book series. I’ve read a few books by the author in the past. The most recent being Coyote Rising (Coyote Trilogy, #2) (my review).
Recently, I found all three of the Coyote Trilogy books with their spines unbroken in a box. These were the first books in the series, which eventually grew to be eight books total. They had been there forgotten for about 15-years. I’ve been reading this 20-year old science fiction as pop-corn reads when the spirit has moved me. Lately, that’s been somewhat frequently.
As with all Serial Fiction, its strongly recommended that Coyote and Coyote Rising be read before reading this. While there is some backstory given, without having read these previous books, the characters and plotlines started in them would not be easily grasped.
It’s about 35-years since the Coyote colony had evicted the occupying Western Hemisphere Union. While not exactly flourishing, the Coyote colony is at least slowly growing. Prosperity is hampered by the limited amount, and age of their tech. This is even with The Union’s abandoned stores. A sleeper ship from Earth’s European Alliance arrives, with Wormhole tech that can reduce travel time between Earth and Coyote from decades to hours. This contact embroils the fledgling colony, in the politics of the dying, Earth. However, it also gives them access to the tech needed to develop the planet. Story ties-up hanging plotlines from the first and second books and sets-up for future books in the series.
This book continued with the characters of the first book with no significant additions. It continues the format of ‘internal’ Books, which were really a collection of several, related, short stories with POV changes on the general themes of: Coyote frontier life, interactions with the indigenous Chirreep and Coyote/Earth politics.
All my sentiments on Steele and the story found in my review of Coyote and Coyote Rising remain. However, I continue to think the future dying Earth, its tech and its solar possessions would have made a better story than the Coyote story. In particular, that Climate Change was an insurmountable disaster, which could not be remediated with the available tech and off-planet migration into the solar system.
Some of the continuity issues identified in the first two books were resolved, although larger ones loomed.
For example, everyone has been drinking Earth coffee on Coyote for decades. This was long after all other imported foodstuffs were a dim memory. In this book it was revealed that the colonists were growing coffee. That the colony’s northern temperate zone geography and climate were not appropriate for coffee growing were ignored by the author. (You can grow coffee plants next to your turnips.)
Likewise, Coyote now has a significant infrastructure, like: bridges, roads, mills, and factories. The general level of development was mid-1800’s, with steam engines, but no railroads. There was passing mention having: mines, steel mills, and metal-working manufactories, as well as quarries for: limestone, sand, clay and iron and plants to produce cement.
However, Steele continued to wave his hands to produce the industrial infrastructure and a population to develop it.
I was surprised that everyone did not either know or "know of" everyone else on the planet? Steel seemed to think folks could be 'strangers' on Coyote. At the end of Coyote Rising, the human population was about 6000. That’s with the original 100 American libertarian colonists, and the five Union socialist colony ships, with about 1000 colonists each.
A back-of-the-envelope calculation, of a starting human population of about 6000, reproducing normally for 35-years, with the high mortality and a low birth rate (2.5) for a wilderness planet, results in a population of about 13,000 humans. Even if the population was 300% larger (~40,000) Coyote couldn’t have the development described. There would not be enough “pairs of hands”, with the available "frontier tech' to have built and maintained the infrastructure described. Steele described a planet being changed by hundreds of thousands of folks, not the scant tens of thousands mathematically possible.
I did think that for a book written in 2005, its depiction of the eventual effects of Earth's Climate Change to be ‘advanced’, although its progressing faster than Steele described. However, I did take exception at the lack of effect that an exceedingly well-developed space infrastructure, centered on the Moon had for humanity. Even with space industry and resource extraction (like asteroid mining) the majority of humanity was living on an immutable Crapsack World and Coyote was a virgin, natural paradise.
This book finishes my stock of “Coyote Fiction”. I’m not going to be reading any more books in the series. I’m just not that fond of the science fiction sub-genre of Frontier Fiction. I’ve also thought that Steele’s libertarian politics to be too on the nose, for my liberal sensibilities. However, while the world building was a tad antique, the space opera aspects of the story, before the Wormhole reared its ugly head, were very good. Unfortunately, I think the author wrote the wrong series. The more interesting part of the story (to me), wasn’t on Coyote, it was on Earth and the Moon.
My dead tree version was 382-pages long. It had a US 2005 copyright. The book included: a Dramatis Personae, maps, a diagram, and a (now dated) Sources list of non-fiction on planetology.
Allen Steele is an American journalist and science fiction writer. He is the author of more than 20 science fiction novels in several series, and many short stories. This is the third book in an eight (8) book series. I’ve read a few books by the author in the past. The most recent being Coyote Rising (Coyote Trilogy, #2) (my review).
Recently, I found all three of the Coyote Trilogy books with their spines unbroken in a box. These were the first books in the series, which eventually grew to be eight books total. They had been there forgotten for about 15-years. I’ve been reading this 20-year old science fiction as pop-corn reads when the spirit has moved me. Lately, that’s been somewhat frequently.
As with all Serial Fiction, its strongly recommended that Coyote and Coyote Rising be read before reading this. While there is some backstory given, without having read these previous books, the characters and plotlines started in them would not be easily grasped.
It’s about 35-years since the Coyote colony had evicted the occupying Western Hemisphere Union. While not exactly flourishing, the Coyote colony is at least slowly growing. Prosperity is hampered by the limited amount, and age of their tech. This is even with The Union’s abandoned stores. A sleeper ship from Earth’s European Alliance arrives, with Wormhole tech that can reduce travel time between Earth and Coyote from decades to hours. This contact embroils the fledgling colony, in the politics of the dying, Earth. However, it also gives them access to the tech needed to develop the planet. Story ties-up hanging plotlines from the first and second books and sets-up for future books in the series.
This book continued with the characters of the first book with no significant additions. It continues the format of ‘internal’ Books, which were really a collection of several, related, short stories with POV changes on the general themes of: Coyote frontier life, interactions with the indigenous Chirreep and Coyote/Earth politics.
All my sentiments on Steele and the story found in my review of Coyote and Coyote Rising remain. However, I continue to think the future dying Earth, its tech and its solar possessions would have made a better story than the Coyote story. In particular, that Climate Change was an insurmountable disaster, which could not be remediated with the available tech and off-planet migration into the solar system.
Some of the continuity issues identified in the first two books were resolved, although larger ones loomed.
For example, everyone has been drinking Earth coffee on Coyote for decades. This was long after all other imported foodstuffs were a dim memory. In this book it was revealed that the colonists were growing coffee. That the colony’s northern temperate zone geography and climate were not appropriate for coffee growing were ignored by the author. (You can grow coffee plants next to your turnips.)
Likewise, Coyote now has a significant infrastructure, like: bridges, roads, mills, and factories. The general level of development was mid-1800’s, with steam engines, but no railroads. There was passing mention having: mines, steel mills, and metal-working manufactories, as well as quarries for: limestone, sand, clay and iron and plants to produce cement.
However, Steele continued to wave his hands to produce the industrial infrastructure and a population to develop it.
I was surprised that everyone did not either know or "know of" everyone else on the planet? Steel seemed to think folks could be 'strangers' on Coyote. At the end of Coyote Rising, the human population was about 6000. That’s with the original 100 American libertarian colonists, and the five Union socialist colony ships, with about 1000 colonists each.
A back-of-the-envelope calculation, of a starting human population of about 6000, reproducing normally for 35-years, with the high mortality and a low birth rate (2.5) for a wilderness planet, results in a population of about 13,000 humans. Even if the population was 300% larger (~40,000) Coyote couldn’t have the development described. There would not be enough “pairs of hands”, with the available "frontier tech' to have built and maintained the infrastructure described. Steele described a planet being changed by hundreds of thousands of folks, not the scant tens of thousands mathematically possible.
I did think that for a book written in 2005, its depiction of the eventual effects of Earth's Climate Change to be ‘advanced’, although its progressing faster than Steele described. However, I did take exception at the lack of effect that an exceedingly well-developed space infrastructure, centered on the Moon had for humanity. Even with space industry and resource extraction (like asteroid mining) the majority of humanity was living on an immutable Crapsack World and Coyote was a virgin, natural paradise.
This book finishes my stock of “Coyote Fiction”. I’m not going to be reading any more books in the series. I’m just not that fond of the science fiction sub-genre of Frontier Fiction. I’ve also thought that Steele’s libertarian politics to be too on the nose, for my liberal sensibilities. However, while the world building was a tad antique, the space opera aspects of the story, before the Wormhole reared its ugly head, were very good. Unfortunately, I think the author wrote the wrong series. The more interesting part of the story (to me), wasn’t on Coyote, it was on Earth and the Moon.
January 24, 2016
Nice ending to the Coyote trilogy, although there are two ancillary books out there based in the universe I guess. Continues the story of Coyote, with a few new issues added. A wormhole-type travel method between Earth and Coyote is developed which allows for much faster travel between the two planets (actually planet and moon) which causes problems which mirror those of present-day earth like possible overpopulation, resource overuse, what to do with the native flora and fauna. Overall it was a really good sci-fi series and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the next two books.
May 28, 2011
I am hopelessly lost in the Coyote universe created by this author. I have now read the original three books in the cycle, and a novelette set on this planet. I am currently reading a fourth book, and the beginning of a new cycle of novels about Coyote. I can't wait to get to my Kindle at every opportunity to get back into that world. I haven't been this entranced by a fictional since the Harry Potter series. I have been an avid science fiction fan most of my life, but have never read anything by this author before. He is very, very good.
November 15, 2008
More fuel for my Coyote fire.
I enjoyed this series because it made me think of what it would be like to be among the first on a new world. And while I may have written the books differently, I nonetheless respect the work Steele has done in creating a stage for our imagination.
If you've made it through the 3 Coyote novels, try Spindrift which is loosely connected to Coyote. And then, like me, you'll just have to wait until 2009 when Coyote Horizon comes out.
I enjoyed this series because it made me think of what it would be like to be among the first on a new world. And while I may have written the books differently, I nonetheless respect the work Steele has done in creating a stage for our imagination.
If you've made it through the 3 Coyote novels, try Spindrift which is loosely connected to Coyote. And then, like me, you'll just have to wait until 2009 when Coyote Horizon comes out.
December 9, 2010
Allen Steele is one of the best science fiction writers of our time. I felt like I was with these characters on Coyote every step of the way and I felt what they felt, waked where they walked. Coyote Frontier is a wonderful wrap up of the Coyote Trilogy. This series is a must read for any sci-fi lover!
August 18, 2009
This book wrapped up the Coyote trilogy nicely. Though Steele relies here and there on a few typical sci-fi clichés, he stills manages to write engaging stories. I'll have to keep my eyes open for more of his stuff.
August 4, 2011
352 pages Science fiction. Book continues the story of the colonists of the planet Coyote. I enjoyed the story and agreed with the message of limited develpment on a new planet. I did think the ending of the story and it's surprise was a bit forced. None less I want more stories from this world.
September 11, 2010
Allen Steele has simply a captivating style of writing...his books suck you in and you can't put them down.
January 15, 2012
More good short stories in a overall story universe.
August 6, 2008
The final (for now) book in a great sci-fi series about the first colony outside our solar system.
August 1, 2022
VALUTAZIONE PERSONALE: 4,0
Terzo episodio della Coyote Trilogy, Coyote Frontier prosegue l'epopea della colonizzazione della luna Coyote, nel sistema 47 Ursae Majoris: in seguito alla Rivoluzione che ha permesso ai coloni originari di riconquistare l'indipendenza dal giogo oppressivo dell'UEO, la neonata Federazione di Coyote si troverà ben presto ad avere a che fare con gli altri governi di una Terra ormai sull'orlo del collasso a causa dei drastici ed irreversibili cambiamenti climatici che ne stanno definitivamente pregiudicando l'abitabilità, soprattutto in seguito all'introduzione di una tecnologia che, di fatto, annulla definitivamente le distanze siderali che separano i due mondi. Almeno, fino a poco tempo prima.
Se da un lato questo consente il riconoscimento ufficiale dell'entità politica autonoma costituitasi sul nuovo mondo e renderà possibile la stipulazione di proficui trattati commerciali interplanetari (considerando in particolare la disperata necessità di nuove tecnologie di cui gli abitanti di Coyote hanno sempre di più un disperato bisogno, a causa del deterioramento e del guasto di quelle residue dalle precedenti spedizioni terrestri), dall'altro spalancherà le porte all'immigrazione incontrollata, alla devastazione dei vergini ecosistemi di Coyote e alla subdola politica dei governi terrestri i quali, nonostante gli accordi firmati, cercheranno sempre di volgere la frittata a proprio vantaggio e di accaparrarsi quanto più possibile.
Al termine del romanzo, infine, si getterà luce anche su uno dei misteri che accompagna il lettore fin dalle prime pagine e i cui risvolti, credo, sono stati sviluppati in due spin-off della serie non ancora editi in italiano, purtroppo.
In linea con i due precedenti, anche il capitolo conclusivo della trilogia si avvale del semplice, chiaro ma allo stesso tempo coinvolgente stile di scrittura dell'autore. C'è da dire, tuttavia, che la descrizione dei paesaggi di Coyote, della flora e della fauna autoctona è in verità mai sufficientemente approfondita ed avrei sicuramente apprezzato una attenzione maggiore a questi dettagli così come alle tecnologie utilizzate dalle astronavi, sebbene non manchino scorci suggestivi e che forniscono al lettore una immagine mentale di quanto si legge sufficientemente apprezzabile; inoltre, anche la caratterizzazione psicologica dei personaggi lascia il tempo che trova, ad eccezione di qualcuno meglio rappresentato. Insomma, non ci troviamo di fronte a delle opere che fanno gridare al capolavoro, ci mancherebbe, ma Allen Steele è un ottimo mestierante e se il suo scopo principale è quello di fornire al pubblico una letteratura di pura evasione e senza troppe pretese, direi che ci riesce alla grande.
Nell'edizione Urania Jumbo sono stati inseriti, inoltre, due racconti finalisti del premio Urania short del 2017: Rumore Vuoto di Andrea Montalbò, una classica distopia sociologica che mi è piaciuta davvero molto e Madri di Diego Matteucci, piuttosto originale non tanto nelle tematiche quanto nello svolgimento delle stesse ma che, ahimè, non mi ha personalmente entusiasmato molto, sebbene si tratti comunque di un ottimo racconto.
Terzo episodio della Coyote Trilogy, Coyote Frontier prosegue l'epopea della colonizzazione della luna Coyote, nel sistema 47 Ursae Majoris: in seguito alla Rivoluzione che ha permesso ai coloni originari di riconquistare l'indipendenza dal giogo oppressivo dell'UEO, la neonata Federazione di Coyote si troverà ben presto ad avere a che fare con gli altri governi di una Terra ormai sull'orlo del collasso a causa dei drastici ed irreversibili cambiamenti climatici che ne stanno definitivamente pregiudicando l'abitabilità, soprattutto in seguito all'introduzione di una tecnologia che, di fatto, annulla definitivamente le distanze siderali che separano i due mondi. Almeno, fino a poco tempo prima.
Se da un lato questo consente il riconoscimento ufficiale dell'entità politica autonoma costituitasi sul nuovo mondo e renderà possibile la stipulazione di proficui trattati commerciali interplanetari (considerando in particolare la disperata necessità di nuove tecnologie di cui gli abitanti di Coyote hanno sempre di più un disperato bisogno, a causa del deterioramento e del guasto di quelle residue dalle precedenti spedizioni terrestri), dall'altro spalancherà le porte all'immigrazione incontrollata, alla devastazione dei vergini ecosistemi di Coyote e alla subdola politica dei governi terrestri i quali, nonostante gli accordi firmati, cercheranno sempre di volgere la frittata a proprio vantaggio e di accaparrarsi quanto più possibile.
Al termine del romanzo, infine, si getterà luce anche su uno dei misteri che accompagna il lettore fin dalle prime pagine e i cui risvolti, credo, sono stati sviluppati in due spin-off della serie non ancora editi in italiano, purtroppo.
In linea con i due precedenti, anche il capitolo conclusivo della trilogia si avvale del semplice, chiaro ma allo stesso tempo coinvolgente stile di scrittura dell'autore. C'è da dire, tuttavia, che la descrizione dei paesaggi di Coyote, della flora e della fauna autoctona è in verità mai sufficientemente approfondita ed avrei sicuramente apprezzato una attenzione maggiore a questi dettagli così come alle tecnologie utilizzate dalle astronavi, sebbene non manchino scorci suggestivi e che forniscono al lettore una immagine mentale di quanto si legge sufficientemente apprezzabile; inoltre, anche la caratterizzazione psicologica dei personaggi lascia il tempo che trova, ad eccezione di qualcuno meglio rappresentato. Insomma, non ci troviamo di fronte a delle opere che fanno gridare al capolavoro, ci mancherebbe, ma Allen Steele è un ottimo mestierante e se il suo scopo principale è quello di fornire al pubblico una letteratura di pura evasione e senza troppe pretese, direi che ci riesce alla grande.
Nell'edizione Urania Jumbo sono stati inseriti, inoltre, due racconti finalisti del premio Urania short del 2017: Rumore Vuoto di Andrea Montalbò, una classica distopia sociologica che mi è piaciuta davvero molto e Madri di Diego Matteucci, piuttosto originale non tanto nelle tematiche quanto nello svolgimento delle stesse ma che, ahimè, non mi ha personalmente entusiasmato molto, sebbene si tratti comunque di un ottimo racconto.
August 1, 2020
I read this book when I was young and it was one of the works that got me much more interested in hard science fiction. From a solely hard science fiction standpoint, the story and the worldbuilding excels. It's the little details like the starship captain suggesting they try a different radio band since "that's the frequency range used by older spacecraft" that really make the universe come alive.
The issues I find with this novel, however, are continuations of the issues I find with the series as a whole. The Coyote trilogy is a hard sci-fi political thriller, yet the contemporary trends of socioeconomic and political convictions are shunned in order to bring a cold-war era story where all political convictions and behavior boils down to horseshoe theory, an already wildly inaccurate "model" of different political convictions made all the more cursed by the fact that the series declares the "sensible center" to be Jeffersonian style agricultural democracy, a viewpoint you'd be hard pressed to find in nearly anyone today.
The political aspect of the story is also infused with a more-than-subtle amount of American exceptionalism, and generally tends to just re-tell the American Revolution in SPAAAAACCCEE! but absolves the reader of any guilt over the very real issues at the time of the American Revolution such as the enslavement of Africans and the displacement/genocide of the Native Americans by excluding analogies for those issues entirely. Some attempt to address the issue of colonization is made with the Chireep, but attributing characteristics of real life marginalized groups to a fictional non-human species often winds up accidentally using the colonial language of "well group [x] isn't really human" to try and weave a counter-colonial narrative that winds up still reinforcing those colonial hierarchies, but supposedly 'benevolent' colonial hierarchies.
In short Coyote Frontier works as a hard science fiction story, but as a political science fiction story it falls apart under any closer examination of the themes.
The issues I find with this novel, however, are continuations of the issues I find with the series as a whole. The Coyote trilogy is a hard sci-fi political thriller, yet the contemporary trends of socioeconomic and political convictions are shunned in order to bring a cold-war era story where all political convictions and behavior boils down to horseshoe theory, an already wildly inaccurate "model" of different political convictions made all the more cursed by the fact that the series declares the "sensible center" to be Jeffersonian style agricultural democracy, a viewpoint you'd be hard pressed to find in nearly anyone today.
The political aspect of the story is also infused with a more-than-subtle amount of American exceptionalism, and generally tends to just re-tell the American Revolution in SPAAAAACCCEE! but absolves the reader of any guilt over the very real issues at the time of the American Revolution such as the enslavement of Africans and the displacement/genocide of the Native Americans by excluding analogies for those issues entirely. Some attempt to address the issue of colonization is made with the Chireep, but attributing characteristics of real life marginalized groups to a fictional non-human species often winds up accidentally using the colonial language of "well group [x] isn't really human" to try and weave a counter-colonial narrative that winds up still reinforcing those colonial hierarchies, but supposedly 'benevolent' colonial hierarchies.
In short Coyote Frontier works as a hard science fiction story, but as a political science fiction story it falls apart under any closer examination of the themes.
December 23, 2017
This is the third book in the Coyote trilogy by Allen Steele. In this one Earth has sent a ship to Coyote with a new technology. It has the means to build a stargate so that a ship can travel from Earth to Coyote in just minutes instead of many years. The people are naturally leery of contact with Earth after their problems with the Western Hemisphere Union, but this new ship is from the European Alliance. The European Alliance has a more democratic form of government but as the colonists on Coyote soon learn they have their own agenda too. As the government of Coyote sends representatives to Earth to negotiate with the UN which represents all of Earth's governments it is discovered that Coyote has an intelligent, although primitive, species living in some of the unexplored parts of the planet. Some of the colonists take it upon themselves to protect this species as well as their habitat. It soon looks like there may be another revolution even if it is against the Earth government as well as the Coyote government. This book is a good read in this trilogy and a surprise ending sets up the continuation of the Coyote Universe story line. I recommend it to fans of Allen Steele.
November 14, 2018
Satisfying conclusion to the Coyote Trilogy.
Steele has done a masterful job of world-building with his imagining of Earth's first attempt to colonize a planet outside the home solar system, and turns his lens this time on what might happen to the tough little world if it had to grow up and put on shoes.
Technological advances since the original colonizing ship left Earth have broken the FTL barrier, and what had been a remote and struggling society now must cope with becoming a functioning member of a galactic partnership. Their ability to export raw materials to a dying Earth, and to import technologies to solidify their foothold on Coyote bring both practical and ethical challenges. And just to put the cherry on top, Steele harkens back to something planted early in the first novel, which sends things spinning off in an entirely new plane, even as the trilogy's basic story is winding down.
Steele has done a masterful job of world-building with his imagining of Earth's first attempt to colonize a planet outside the home solar system, and turns his lens this time on what might happen to the tough little world if it had to grow up and put on shoes.
Technological advances since the original colonizing ship left Earth have broken the FTL barrier, and what had been a remote and struggling society now must cope with becoming a functioning member of a galactic partnership. Their ability to export raw materials to a dying Earth, and to import technologies to solidify their foothold on Coyote bring both practical and ethical challenges. And just to put the cherry on top, Steele harkens back to something planted early in the first novel, which sends things spinning off in an entirely new plane, even as the trilogy's basic story is winding down.
March 16, 2023
It's been a few years since defeat of the Western Hemisphere Union and things have settled down on Coyote. Enough time for a little world building by the author. Since the world has been pretty much built out in the previous two books it's mostly character building. The first half of the book is filled with catching up on the main characters, what they are doing now and such. Some of it is of really minor importance to the plot which starts suddenly with the arrival of another Earth ship.
The second half of the book is about the negotiations with Earth and whether or not Coyote wants anything to do with those people at all. Disagreements on this account lead to some serious developments later on.
The book spends a great deal of time building tension and potential conflict without much actually happening. Even so, it's well written and entertaining. A decent ending to the trilogy and apparently the start of the next trilogy.
The second half of the book is about the negotiations with Earth and whether or not Coyote wants anything to do with those people at all. Disagreements on this account lead to some serious developments later on.
The book spends a great deal of time building tension and potential conflict without much actually happening. Even so, it's well written and entertaining. A decent ending to the trilogy and apparently the start of the next trilogy.
July 26, 2023
First read – 27 August 2008 - ****.
1 Coyote (2002)
2 Coyote Rising (2004)
3 Coyote Frontier (2005)
Unlike the first two books in the series, this one is not a fix-up of separately published stories. However, it is still told in episodes. In this volume, the frontier world of Coyote faces its third adversary - the European Union which comes into contact through an instantaneous stargate. Looking forward, Earth is in a long downward spiral of climate degradation, while Coyote is running out of repairable technology artifacts. The two worlds need each other, but is any sort of trade equilibrium possible? While somewhat predictable, this conclusion to the trilogy is still engaging and highly readable.
1 Coyote (2002)
2 Coyote Rising (2004)
3 Coyote Frontier (2005)
Unlike the first two books in the series, this one is not a fix-up of separately published stories. However, it is still told in episodes. In this volume, the frontier world of Coyote faces its third adversary - the European Union which comes into contact through an instantaneous stargate. Looking forward, Earth is in a long downward spiral of climate degradation, while Coyote is running out of repairable technology artifacts. The two worlds need each other, but is any sort of trade equilibrium possible? While somewhat predictable, this conclusion to the trilogy is still engaging and highly readable.
July 22, 2024
Steele was really prescient about some things (the rise of American fascism, artificial intelligence, political divides and concerns), and very much a product of his time in others (the treatment of the female characters and the minorities, mainly). The characters aren't the most complex or compelling.
But I remembered the Coyote books fondly because of the depth of world building that went into them, and the realistic political and human struggles to survive there. And that's held up.
But I remembered the Coyote books fondly because of the depth of world building that went into them, and the realistic political and human struggles to survive there. And that's held up.
June 13, 2019
Decent story but the last hundred pages or so are mostly a tedious anti religious screed that would make Richard Dawkins yawn. We get it, you think religion is stupid. So do the majority of science fiction readers. You’re preaching to the choir and doing so in the very clumsily written dialogue of your characters.
December 26, 2019
I've now read all three volumes in this engrossing science fiction series.
This is exactly the type of science fiction that I enjoy reading.
The author keeps the language simple and tells a great story.
I hate science fiction that's filled with hard-to-pronounce names and technical jargon that makes no sense. Allen Steele avoids that in his writing.
This is exactly the type of science fiction that I enjoy reading.
The author keeps the language simple and tells a great story.
I hate science fiction that's filled with hard-to-pronounce names and technical jargon that makes no sense. Allen Steele avoids that in his writing.
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