Baxter, Stephen

Already a best seller in the UK, Baxter's second take on Wells, after The Time Ships, his sequel to The Time Machine, is appropriate for young adult audiences, with violence that is both moderate and not too explicit. Sf aficionados and in particular Wells admirers will want to place this title on their "To-Read" shelves. [See Prepub Alert, 2/27/17.]

This is the final novel in the series completed by Pratchett in his lifetime and so will be cherished for that reason alone. Beyond that, the combination of a detailed speculative world and deep contemplation of society evokes the best of Kim Stanley Robinson or Larry Niven. A true gem. [See Prepub Alert, 12/8/14.]

The latest from award-winning Baxter ("Xeelee Sequence" series) is satisfying, big-scale sf that shows us that even in the far future or on an alien world all the best and worst of humanity would remain. He creates an intriguing new life- form and seeds enough mysteries to provide fodder for several sequels.