Review of Comets of Omen

[Sean Patrick Tracy]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Comets of Omen" by Charles Weindorf.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Comets of Omen: The Presser Arc by Charles Weindorf is a science fiction novel that depicts wormpipe worlds with humans, AI, and aliens in collaboration under the super-regulating body of Triad High Command. Thus, at the base of the series is Darian Tobr, an ill-tempered trader whose avarice upsets this balance by using advanced technology to enrich himself. He hires Dr. Argo Zet to create artificial intelligence to help him predict the future of the market, more specifically to manipulate the alien Pressers with the ability to predict the future with the help of the artificially created man, Thad Jaron. As Darian’s greed exacerbates, the empire sees tensions and power struggles escalating. Ethical questions involving control, manipulation by AI, and using other space creatures as resources rise and progress the story to the showdown. It also envisages exotic alien environments and the survival instincts of creatures such as the Pressers and Terradozers. While the wormpipe worlds are on the brink of their demise, Thad weakens the AI’s grip on him, giving him slow freedom to battle Darian for the future of wormpipes.

The book has a hopeful view of the compatibility of humans, AI, and other off-Earth intelligence entities, which I find comforting in the current time when both AI and alien contacts appear to often pose threats. That is what Weindorf does here, not just positing the philosophical concept but revealing the general principle through the episode of ‘living together,’ which is by no means easy.

Another aspect that I like is the description of alien species like the Pressers and Terradozers, which are depicted as people who cannot discern either sight or hearing, albeit they have an unimaginable gift of foresight. It turns them into mere objects while at the same time presenting them as thinking and feeling beings, which forces the reader to rethink the concept of being ‘advanced’. Their journey across the galaxy challenges conventional human thought, and it is about this journey that the novel spends time explaining, thus enriching the plot and bringing out how getting to know an enemy often helps in not destroying him at first instance.

I also loved how the story incorporates the elements of thrilling high-stakes conflicts like the TobrNet conspiracy or Colonel Basil Deerborne’s mission while finally providing an exploration of the philosophical question regarding the proper usage of AI as well as inter-species interaction. In the book, the author managed to interweave the elements of the plot and the concepts, which allow not only enjoying the suspense of the events but also thinking about the destiny of the world.

I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because there’s nothing I did not like about it. It has been edited exceptionally well, and I also appreciate the writing style used because it is simple and follows a certain pattern, making the book quite interesting.

It is a perfect story for people interested in the future moral and social implications of AI and sci-fi enthusiasts who enjoy the subject of alien and interspecies negotiations. Those attracted to the questions of morality that arise from technology, human desire, and the colonial expeditions from one star to the other will find themselves pleased here. Although the story contains warfare and suspense, the most powerful ideas involve the ways by which different types of existence may join to embrace the concept of togetherness and tolerance.

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Comets of Omen
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[NetMassimo]

I'm happy to see a science fiction novel that depicts a future that's not doom and gloom, so the moral issues are developed with the nuances can come from situations that have high-stakes but are not necessarily apocalyptic. Thank you for your great review!