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Firstborn (A Time Odyssey)
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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780345491572
ISBN: 0345491572
Label: Del Rey
Manufacturer: Del Rey
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 384
Publication Date: December 26, 2007
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: December 26, 2007
Studio: Del Rey
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Editorial Review:
The Firstborn–the mysterious race of aliens who first became known to science fiction fans as the builders of the iconic black monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey–have inhabited legendary master of science fiction Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s writing for decades. With Time’s Eye and Sunstorm, the first two books in their acclaimed Time Odyssey series, Clarke and his brilliant co-author Stephen Baxter imagined a near-future in which the Firstborn seek to stop the advance of human civilization by employing a technology indistinguishable from magic.Their first act was the Discontinuity, in which Earth was carved into sections from different eras of history, restitched into a patchwork world, and renamed Mir. Mir’s inhabitants included such notables as Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and United Nations peacekeeper Bisesa Dutt. For reasons unknown to her, Bisesa entered into communication with an alien artifact of inscrutable purpose and godlike power–a power that eventually returned her to Earth. There, she played an instrumental role in humanity’s race against time to stop a doomsday event: a massive solar storm triggered by the alien Firstborn designed to eradicate all life from the planet. That fate was averted at an inconceivable price. Now, twenty-seven years later, the Firstborn are back.This time, they are pulling no punches: They have sent a “quantum bomb.” Speeding toward Earth, it is a device that human scientists can barely comprehend, that cannot be stopped or destroyed–and one that will obliterate Earth.Bisesa’s desperate quest for answers sends her first to Mars and then to Mir, which is itself threatened with extinction. The end seems inevitable. But as shocking new insights emerge into the nature of the Firstborn and their chilling plans for mankind, an unexpected ally appears from light-years away.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - He did better alone...
As a lifelong fan of Sir Arthur, I admit to having lost my taste for his work since he collaborated with others. In one of his earlier collaborations, I could easily figure out what lines Clarke wrote, into the story written, obviously, by the other.
This book just didn't...catch me! I tried, I really did. But the first in this series of three struck me as a cross between the themes of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and the old "Time Tunnel" television series. The ideas weren't engaging, and ... Read More
Rating:  - Another messy meandering mishmash
I think I have finally figured out what happened to Arthur C. Clarke and his slow but steady literary decline. In an age of biotech, nanotech, artificial intelligence, robotics and other such wonders, Clarke is an infant, still stuck in the orthodox school of rockets, space and First Contact. In light of that, his Earthly futures sound about as realistic as Santa Claus. The Time series can only be described (charitably) as a final ride down a literary roller coaster - an unmitigated mess. This is ... Read More
Rating:  - A Nice Send-Off for Arthur...
Truly sorry to hear about the passing of Arthur C. Clarke - he turned me on to "hard" science fiction - and this third book in the trilogy is great - yet to be completed, but even if the end stinks, the ideas and scientific possibilities these two authors explore are worth the read - and I doubt this will have a poor ending. Then on to read Baxter on his own merits.
Rating: - Not quite the end ?
The Three books of the Time Odyssey Series are both very satisfying and very frustrating. The first book - Time's Eye - with the fractured history on a recreated earth - is mind boggling. The Second one - Sunstorm - with earth working together to ward off the effects of an artificially induced solar flare - is amazing, in a more techincal way. The last book - Firstborn - also presents us with a peril that must be deflected - a quantum bomb. It is not a spoiler to say that in the end the problem is ... Read More
Rating:  - Into the future
There are many complaints in the reviews about the length of passages that are really intended to show us how people might live in a future supported by the technology described. In other words, it is old-fashioned science fiction. Some of us are technically inclined (and became that way from reading science fiction), so it is old home week with the descriptions provided. A spaceship made of "paper"... well who saw that coming?
There are a lot of really fine passages, some quite poignant ... Read More
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