Hestia 2781

Overview: So good! Longer Overview: Directly continuing the story of [b:Hera 2781 28259047 Hera 2781 (Drago Tell Dramis #0.5) Janet Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1450710941l/28259047.SY75.jpg 48298865] this is an excellent work of character and world building, clearly laying the foundations for the climactic third story [b:Sol 2781 57183948 Sol 2781 (Drago Tell Dramis #3) Janet Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1614072335l/57183948.SY75.jpg 88055472].Detailed thoughts (avoiding spoilers): I'm a big fan of Science Fiction (SF), really getting into it by diving in at the deep end with [b:Second Foundation 13457053 Second Foundation (Foundation, #3) Isaac Asimov https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1355355187l/13457053.SY75.jpg 64823] by Isaac Asimov and [b:Rendezvous with Rama 112537 Rendezvous with Rama (Rama, #1) Arthur C. Clarke https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405456427l/112537.SY75.jpg 1882772] by Arthur C. Clarke. These so-called “Golden Age”, “Hard SF” books aren't exactly famous for character development or action sequences - they go in for big ideas that blow your mind or amazing scenes that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up due to the sense of wonder that they bring.I later stumbled onto [a:Anne McCaffrey 26 Anne McCaffrey https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1599324585p2/26.jpg]'s SF stories. These were totally different. Ms McCaffrey still made you think, but she wrote about characters that you really cared for, that became almost real in your mind. When a book finished I really missed them. She wrote about complex societies that by the end of a book felt like somewhere you could actually visit. Clarke and Asimov were brilliant thinkers, but I feel that McCaffrey was far and away the better storyteller. [b:Hera 28259047 Hera 2781 (Drago Tell Dramis #0.5) Janet Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1450710941l/28259047.SY75.jpg 48298865] and [b:Hestia 58435981 Hestia 2781 (Drago Tell Dramis #1) Janet Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624976040l/58435981.SY75.jpg 91705539] (they really are one story) really combine the best of “Hard SF” with McCaffrey's genius for storytelling. Hestia has moments in it which felt almost pure Asimov gold, early in the story there is a long conversation over a game of chess, it's basically just two people talking - no action, no explosions, and yet it had me on the edge of my seat holding my breath as I discovered point after point about the world and a complex puzzle was slowly built. The pacing was perfect and I really think that this is the best example of this sort of scene since Asimov.This book also gave me a huge dose of the “sense of wonder” as well, there are some moments when Drago looks out on the solar sails that really gave me that magical feel, almost like when the astronauts enter Rama for the first time. It was just wow. These scenes had no explosions, but the book has plenty of action too. In her recent releases Ms Edwards has flexed her action writing muscles, practically giving me a heart attack in her last book, [b:Earth Prime 55119019 Earth Prime (The Earth Girl Aftermath Stories #1) Janet Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1598362606l/55119019.SY75.jpg 85923167]. The action and adventure scenes in this book are spaced out... I tried to think of how to explain the pacing and I came up with “it's like a fireworks show”. Good fireworks shows go “crackle, crackle, spark, BOOM, whoosh, crackle...pause....BOOM BOOM BOOM...pause...BOOM” the quiet moments make the loud more exciting, and the glorious explosions make the quiet moments more magical. That's how I felt about the structure of the book. I can confirm that the action scenes were well written due to the actual genuine sweat-hand-prints on my ereader cover. (OK, it may be gross, but it's physical evidence).What really makes the action scenes work is Ms Edwards' greatest skill - creating characters you care about. I mean if a character is a cardboard cut-out I'm not fussed if they are in danger - but this is Drago, I know him! He's a good guy! I don't want him hurt! Not again, that poor doctor has enough on her plate without having to patch him up again. It's the characters, their backgrounds, their fears passions and growth that drive this book, and all of Ms Edwards stories. Combine this with a world that is just utterly fascinating and getting more complex and interesting with every page turn and you can see why I was annoyed about things like having to sleep for getting in the way of reading. I didn't want to finish this book because I knew what was going to happen. I keep feeling like I have to check in with my friends Drago and Jaxon to see how they are doing. I've got to be honest and say that I can't place my finger on how she does it, but when Ms Edwards writes a character they really come alive. In this way, and in her worldbuilding, I find Ms Edwards reminds me of Anne McCaffrey more than any other writer. Then again, Ms Edwards is my favorite writer publishing books today.I'm waiting with excitement for the next Drago book: [b:Sol 2781: A Drago Novel 57183948 Sol 2781 (Drago Tell Dramis #3) Janet Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1614072335l/57183948.SY75.jpg 88055472], I want to spend more time exploring this universe (I need to invest in a cloak...) and I can't wait to see what trouble Drago gets himself into (and out of) this time!Thank you Janet Edwards!