Roboteer is the first book in debut author Alex Lamb’s Roboteer trilogy. Released in 2015, Roboteer is the kind of novel that calls to me to read – it has everything that I want in a science fiction novel. However, despite trying to read it on its release, I couldn’t fully immerse myself in the story. With the mass-market paperback out in February 2016, it reminded me to return to the novel and give it another go, hoping that I was in a better frame of mind to enjoy what was on offer. And enjoy it I did, though not without some reservations.
From the publisher:
The starship Ariel is on a mission of the utmost secrecy, upon which the fate of thousands of lives depend. Though the ship is a mile long, its six crew are crammed into a space barely large enough for them to stand. Five are officers, geniuses in their field. The other is Will Kuno-Monet, the man responsible for single-handedly running a ship comprised of the most dangerous and delicate technology that mankind has ever devised. He is the Roboteer.
Roboteer is a hard-SF novel set in a future in which the colonization of the stars has turned out to be anything but easy, and civilization on Earth has collapsed under the pressure of relentless mutual terrorism. Small human settlements cling to barely habitable planets. Without support from a home-world they have had to develop ways of life heavily dependent on robotics and genetic engineering. Then out of the ruins of Earth’s once great empire, a new force arises – a world-spanning religion bent on the conversion of all mankind to its creed. It sends fleets of starships to reclaim the colonies. But the colonies don’t want to be reclaimed. Mankind’s first interstellar war begins. It is dirty, dangerous and hideously costly.
Will is a man bred to interface with the robots that his home-world Galatea desperately needs to survive. He finds himself sent behind enemy lines to discover the secret of their newest weapon. What he discovers will transform their understanding of both science and civilization forever… but at a cost.
Roboteer starts with a bang – a space battle to control an antimatter refuelling station in a system that will give the victor a strong base for either offensive or defensive reasons. We see the forces of Galatea, a colony founded by rich corporations that left Earth as its resources dwindled, defending against the religiously hard-line forces of Earth, though not all is straightforward. While Galatea has a clear technological advantage due to its embracing nature of genetic adaption and AI technology, Earth has the weight of numbers – and a seemingly new and extremely powerful technology. It’s from here that Lamb launches us into the interstellar battle for humanity’s future, and one that is fraught with danger, intrigue, and secrets millions of years old.
We follow events that are told through the eyes of our protagonists, Will Kuno-Monet, a roboteer who controls the robots aboard starships, and Ira Baron-Lecke, captain of the soft-combat ship, Ariel. These points of view are also joined by an antagonist, Gustav Ulanu, a general and scientist in the Church of Truism’s space fleet. It’s an interesting mix of characters, but they work well in telling the story within Roboteer, and each give a unique viewpoint on the matters at hand. Will is, by far, the main man here, and it’s his interactions that drive the plot forward, especially once he secret that Earth is hiding come to the fore and firmly establishes itself as the driving motivator. Ira is a counterpoint to Will in many ways, the captain of the Ariel and a man still reeling from losing his previous roboteer due to high g combat manoeuvres that he fears Will cannot stand up to, should they be needed. He’s focused, yet trusts his crew with their input, and the interactions between them all really help build a sense of camaraderie on the ship – at least when you take Will out of the picture. Gustav, however, is a strange character to include as the main viewpoint for the enemy. While we learn much of the Church and the Prophet through his eyes, he very often comes across as not committed to the goal of the Church, and also at odds with its doctrine. Add to this a supporting cast around him that highlights this point at almost every turn, especially Disciple Rodriguez, appointed to Gustav’s staff by the Prophet himself, and there’s a deeply motivated and complex persona at play.
This brings me to the main issue I had with Roboteer, and one I have whenever I read anything in science fiction with a religious group featuring prominently: it’s very difficult to give depth to an enemy that has religious fervour in its driving seat. That’s not to say that Alex Lamb doesn’t make a good case throughout Roboteer, but simply that by choosing to split humanity into two distinct factions, each with their own views – one oppressively so – he faces an uphill battle to present the society in a relatable way. However, I did enjoy the inherently classic depiction of good vs evil that this scenario can provide, and Lamb’s writing raised the story enough to put these issues to one side for the most part.
As for the good in Roboteer, well, there is much to praise. Putting aside a story that jumps from event to revelation to event, keeping you guessing and turning the pages, Roboteer is the kind of novel that packs in plenty of science to go with the fiction. From robotics to spaceflight to alien enigmas, not only is there more than enough to please any SF fan, but Lamb weaves it all into a narrative that makes the best use of all the tools at its disposal.
Alex Lamb has delivered a debut novel in Roboteer that is much fun to read. It’s not perfect and I still have issues with the religious aspect of the novel, but looking past that can show what science fiction is all about: wonder and entertainment. Recommended.
Publisher: https://www.orionbooks.co.uk
Author: http://alexlamb.com/
February 2016, 448 Pages
Paperback, ISBN: 9781473206090
Review copy received from the publisher
© 2016 Mark Chitty
