One of the reasons I’m a fan of Jack McDevitt’s Science Fiction novels–I’ve read over a dozen of them–is McDevitt’s tendency to include a mystery in each of his novels. Infinity Beach (2000) concerns an effort to find alien civilizations. Humans have several populated planets and faster-than-light starships, but they haven’t found any aliens…yet.
Dr. Kimberly Brandywine is in charge of public relations for the Seabright Institute. The Institute plans a spectacular feat of stellar engineering in an attempt to signal hypothetical aliens: blowing up a star!
I like the character of Kimberly Brandywine because she’s smart and tenacious…and a bit reckless.
Brandywine’s receives a phone call from an old teacher that causes her to re-examine the circumstances of her sister’s disappearance and presumed death. Emily Brandywine disappeared twenty years earlier, shortly after the early return of an exploratory mission searching for aliens.
Brandywine starts to investigate the disappearance which police dismissed. What really happened? Was someone on the crew of that exploration starship a murderer? Did the crew find evidence of alien life? And then did they suppress their discovery? Why would they do that?
Infinity Beach was nominated for a Hugo Award. It didn’t win but McDevitt did win a Nebula Award for Seeker in 2006. If you’re looking for a SF novel with plenty of suspense and mystery, I recommend Infinity Beach. GRADE: B+
I’ve read quite a few of McDevitt’s books and have enjoyed them. He’s not a great writer but he’s entertaining. Some times that’s enough.
Steve, some reviewers compare Jack McDevitt’s books with Heinlein’s (especially the juveniles). Not great but entertaining works for me.
Yet another author I’ve never read. Sounds possible.
Jeff, if you want to give Jack McDevitt a try, I highly recommend SEEKER. Plenty of mystery!
Not a huge fan, but I only read one of his.
Rick, Jack McDevitt’s work reminds me of Heinlein, Poul Anderson, and Gordon R. Dickson. Good, solid story-telling and compelling characters.