Books like The Seeds of Earth

And he awoke to the steel pains of his aged, wounded body, lying on a cold seabed on an alien world in an alien universe.There is a clear divide here, as far as the reviews are concerned. Some people really enjoyed this novel, while others, well, really didn’t. I’d read some of the reviews before starting Seeds of Earth, so I was actively on the lookout for reasons to dislike it, but surprisingly didn’t find any. True, the first third of the book isn’t paced as hastily as some might like, but it’s interesting stuff all round and it speeds up quite a bit once the story starts emerging. Then again, perhaps it’s the politicking that gets to people: there’s quite a bit of that. Personally, I thought the whole premise of the story was quite cool. There’s an object lesson here: don’t take every review at face value (yes – not even this one), because tastes do differ.At best, it’s a cracking space adventure that aspires to the finest of the old school. At worst, it’s the triumph of atmosphere (style) over substance, but I’m OK with that, because it pulled me in and I enjoyed the ride. Think Star Wars as opposed to 2001: A Space Odyssey: surely there is enough space in this universe for both! Remember the old Sierra Space Quest adventures? The set pieces that feature in Seeds of Earth, such as droid graveyards, lush planets, hidden ruins, space-ship warehouses (refer Tagreli OpenPort), and more, evoked some similar memories. I want sense of wonder in my Sci Fi!This is Space Opera in the truest sense: no wonder there is an Iain M. Banks blurb on the cover.I should probably make some mention of the way Cobley skips ahead of himself, in effect leaving out key details and events. It seems this was a gripe for some readers, but it didn’t bother me: I am an accomplished enough reader and I have a good imagination, so I don’t need to be spoon-fed; I could follow everything well enough. ‘What was … that … thing? …’‘Abfagul,’ said Hover-Reski as it hummed off downslope. ‘Small one …’There is just a smattering of Fantasy in here, as well, but it is ensconced in Sci Fi… and some scenes are so cinematic you can smell the popcorn!I considered rating the novel five stars, but it probably (just) falls short. Next up: The Orphaned WorldsMy favourite bit – using human music to barter with aliens:‘Hmm, yes, very good, Kaachi, very good indeed, a most intriguing range of styles and execution.Your species appears to have dedicated a great deal of thought and effort to this pastime, resulting in some fascinating, hmm, product.’‘Do you have any favourites yet?’ Kao Chih said.‘I’m not so keen on that electroniki you recommended – very mannered and precise yet somehow bloodless – but this rokinrol is, ah, crude, harsh and fully alive, especially the Deep Purple, the Black Sabbath and the Led Zeppelin.’My sentiments exactly!