I’ve read all of Jack McDevitt’s wonderful Alex Benedict/Chase Kolpath SF mysteries. Firebird is the latest book in the series. Benedict is a merchant in historical artifacts. Kolpath is his pilot. They’re confronted with the mystery of a missing physicist with the unlikely name of Christopher Robin. Robin was a controversial figure who insisted there were an infinite number of dimensions and he was going to find the doorway to them. Then, he disappeared. Benedict and Kolpath follow the clues and find something very unexpected. There’s also a subplot about Artificial Intelligences. If you enjoy mysteries with a science fiction twist, Firebird, and all the previous books in this series (especially the Nebula Award winner, Seeker), will give you hours of enjoyment. GRADE: B+
I guess this sounds like something I should try. I’ll check out the first one.
The Alex Benedict series can be read in just about any order, Jeff. The best book is SEEKER. Bill Crider liked it, too.
I’ve got several of them, SLEEPER included, but haven’t read them yet. Some of his early ones I have.
The early Alex Benedict books are available online at several sites, Randy. They’re not hard to come by. But the early books are the weaker books.
I enjoy the Alex Benedict series but thought his Time Traveler novel from a couple years back just awful.
Time travel is part of several of McDevitt’s books, Steve. TIME TRAVELERS NEVER DIE is not one of his stronger works.
They had three of his books on the shelf at the local library but none from this series. I’ll look for SEEKER.
If I can find a copy of SEEKER, I’ll ship it off to you, Jeff.
I read a couple of his early books, not the Alex Benedict/Chase Kolpath series, and thought they were just so-so. I should thy this series.
If you can find a copy of SEEKER, Rick, that’s the book I’d recommend. It’s a Nebula Award winner and the best book in the series.
I tried this series once and for some reason it just didn’t click with me but I really should try it again. There is just something incredibly WRONG about me not loving a series that consistently has such great John Harris covers.
The Alex Benedict series is uneven, Carl. SEEKER is the best book. Since the novels basically stand alone and don’t need to be read in sequence, I’d recommend you try SEEKER.
Thanks, I’ll remember that. I believe I used to have a copy of it but I gave it away or sold it. I did actually buy a copy of Echo last year when it came out in hardback just because orange is a favorite color and I loved Harris’ art for it. Which is also why Firebird tempted me earlier this week when I saw it in the store.
Those marvelous John Harris covers attract me, too, Carl. Actually, the cover on ECHO is better than the novel!
That is what I gather from what I’ve heard, which is sad. I just picked up the Jan. 2012 (how wrong is that) issue of Asimov’s, again, largely because of the cover, this time a Michael Whelan reprint from one of the Foundation novels. It has a Jack McDevitt short story in it about the character Priscilla Hutchins.
The original oil painting for Echo is up on his site for sale for $1950. I tell you that if I had the money I think I’d be snagging that. I don’t have any original work from any of the people I consider “Masters”–Frazetta, Harris, Berkey, Powers…and the list goes on. I’d love to snag a Harris at some point.
I’m with you, Carl. I’d even settle for some Harris prints. Original artwork is pricey. Books or artwork…tough choice.