Sept 2022 READER Boundary by Flint and Spoor

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

The September 2022 Reader Pick is Boundary by Eric Flint and Ryk Spoor. Please use this thread to post questions, comments, and reviews, at any time.

Official description:
What is a palaeontologist doing on Mars? A strange shaped fossil could help to explain one of the greatest mysteries of Earth's past. It warranted a big dig, one that could lead to the mother lode, and professional immortality. But, what Dr Helen Sutter didn't realise was that it would take her all the way to Mars!

Note: this book is available as a free ebook (permafree) as well as other formats that cost money.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I have read the first three books of this series twice already. The associated short stories were interesting but the free preview of the fourth novel didn’t grab me enough to buy it.

I’ll be rereading Boundary again in September. A large part of the first book is on Earth. The second and third books are pure space opera. It’s interesting having a paleontologist as a main character in a space opera!

[Audrey]

I started reading this book a couple of days ago. I am on Chapter 19 and really enjoying it so far.

[Audrey]

I noticed a few nods to some classic science fiction - Andre Norton, Doctor Who (Tom Baker years, of course!), and Star Trek. Maybe more that I missed.

[Shawnie]

It sounds good. I'll start it tonight.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’ve started my reread. About 7% in the “Grand Fenwickian” reference would be to The Mouse That Roared and The Mouse on the Moon by Leonard Wibberley. I’ll try to post comments here for each literary reference I spot. Hmmm I wonder whether Mouse on the Moon would be considered enough space opera to be nominated for next month. It’s dated but hilarious.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

All the SF references might not be possible. It’s hard to avoid spoilers. There’s a reference to “To Serve Man” which is an old first contact short story that was made into a Twilight Zone episode. Multiple variations of Bug Eyed Monster (BEM).

Hopefully this comment manages to avoid outright spoilers.

[Audrey]

I also found numerous references to Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars series of books.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’m about 33% in. All the characters are still on Earth but they are getting data from Phobos and it’s clear that at least some of the main characters will be going there as soon as they can build a spaceship. Having a lot of fun on this reread.

[Shawnie]

I'm reading it in between other books right now but I'm enjoying it. Only at about 10%. I like the humor. The science is pretty techy but it's not putting me off at all.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

The book reads more like hard SF than space opera, but the characterization is decent. Different characters are actually different, and several of them I like enough to care about what happens to them. When the dialog isn’t technical it is often amusing.

[Audrey]

I have a technical background, so the tech references are more interesting than not. The humor and SF references are enjoyable. At this point in my reading, some of the characters have found a need to go beyond Phobos. Not saying more in order to avoid spoilers.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

About halfway. Our heroes are in orbit, soon to depart for Phobos.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Yesterday one of the characters clearly quoted from Star Trek (original series). There was at least one reference to a horror film. Today there’s a mention of Cthulhu. I haven’t spotted Burroughs references yet but I know they are coming, because I remember from my previous reread something being named Thuvia.

[Shawnie]

This morning I came across the Saruman and Dr. Gupta voice references. :)

[Shawnie]

I'm really lagging but I just read the celebration dinner and argument over Mars funding/ownership after the successful nuclear rocket launch test.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I really like the way that different characters have different opinions on whether people should be allowed to own land on Mars, but they argue about it in a civilized fashion and remain friends. Agree to disagree.

[Shawnie]

Yes! I really like it too. They get pretty heated and then, Hey, stop, let's enjoy this amazing steak and lobster together. :)

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

About 70% in the Edgar Rice Burroughs references start. Already had two and haven’t reached the Thuvia one yet.

[Audrey]

I am 91% in and still lots of action.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Okay my memory was not accurate, unless something else turns up to get named Thuvia. The item I remembered as being named that is dubbed Thoat instead.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Reference spotted to War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. I almost missed it, quite sneaky.
(view spoiler)[ "Well, they better get used to it. It's payback for what they did to England back in the 1890s." (hide spoiler)]

[Audrey]

Finished!

[Audrey]

I give it a solid 4 stars. It ended basically presenting a question I kept asking myself for the entire second half of the book. Good read.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

And I’m finished too now. Since I nominated the sequel for the October group read, I’ll refrain from doing a binge of this series this month.