It is a time when civilization has extended itself far into the outer reaches of the solar system, and in doing so has developed into something remarkable. But humanity's progeny -- the nanotechnological artificial intelligences called "free converts" -- face extermination at the hands of the tyrant Amés and his invincible armies, and once the Napoleonesque Director develops superluminal flight, his "Final Solution" will be all but assured.

But hope remains alive in the outer system. From the fleeing refugees of a dozen moons and asteroids, General Roger Sherman has amassed an effective and adaptable military force, already forged into a formidable weapon in the fires of battle.

However, time is a commodity the courageous Federal Army lacks, as total war erupts between the vast cloudships of the outer system and the deadly armada of the Met, a glorious and terrible conflict that will rage among the stars ... and within the hearts and minds of every human being.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 17 reviews)

Amazing

This book, a sequel to the amazing Metaplanetary, was meant as one more part of the epic series that started with Metaplanetary. Unfortunately, his publisher at Eos decided not to continue his contract with them and so he was unable to finish the series. Personally, I find that very tragic, these two books are some of the best SF I've read, interesting and intriguing in some of the very original concepts put forth. The way the author presents the ideas behind time towers and LAPs (Large Array Personalities) is fascinating; the entire culture he creates is very unique among the other SF I've read. He hopes to one day find a way to finish the story, and I truly hope he does, this story really needs to be finished.
June 18, 2008

Great sequel, need another!

This was a very well done sequel to Metaplanatery, but (a) I didn't like how abruptly it ended; (b) how the publisher and/or author made the book thick (promising a longer story) by stuffing the back with ELEVEN appendices; and, (c) the statements I've read in other reviews that there is no concluding sequel in the works. I think this definitely deserves a third book -- but only one more.
September 25, 2006

The Story Continues...

Daniel's continues the story he started in Metaplanetary. The Department of Immunity Enforcement Division (DIED) forces have been building up their fleet in preparation for an all-out attack on the fremden (basically rebels) Triton. Also, Aubry has finally found her free-convert mother and is set to make an attempt to rescue her.

These events, along with Director Ames's further scheming to co-opt all of humanity, make Superluminal an easy page-turner. Unfortunately, Daniel's character development is hit and miss. He does a wonderful job delving into the burgeoning romance of a free-convert (all 1's and 0's) and aspect (flesh and blood)...but then lacks development of characters on other fronts...like Aubry and Jill...their lives as partisans fighting against Ames were skipped over almost completely.

What it all boils down to is a fun read...unfortunately, the depth Daniel's does show in his characters is hardly enough to sate readers but on the most cursory of levels. This being said, I do look forward to a continuation? ending? to Daniel's story.
June 30, 2006

Ending on a middle book

After finishing Superluminal I was dissapointed to find out that plans for a third book are on hold for the foreseeable future. While Superluminal was not as good as Metaplanetary it is still an enjoyable read with interesting SF elements. It does have a strong case of middlebookitis in that plot elements are not fully resolved and the ending is a cliffhanger.

On the positive side, Tony Daniel succeeds in making Director Ames a truly creepy entity and his characterization of a semisentient jeep was well done. On the other hand, several of the other characters are not as well fleshed out. Also, in juggling many plot lines at once, the author tends to focus on just a few and leaves the rest too bare. Considering that there were around a hundred pages worth of appendices that space would have been better utilized on the minor characters and their storylines.

Hopefully, the author's next project will be successful enough so that he can revisit this universe and provide a proper conclusion.
June 07, 2005

Amazing book -- but the publisher should be shot

This novel is as good as all the other reviewers say it is -- each chapter really does have enough new ideas to sustain an entire book!

My issue is with the publisher. They're pulling the same shoddy trick they tried with the first volume of the series, Metaplanetary. Just as that book was ruined for many readers because nowhere on the cover did it state that it was the first novel in a series, anyone who hasn't read the first book could pick up this second volume with the expectation that they're starting a stand-alone novel. The only place the true nature of Superluminal is mentioned is in the author's bio on the inside back cover.

This is clearly intentional on the publisher's part, but you have to wonder why are they doing it? Why are they positioning these two novels as stand-alones, rather than as parts of a series? Guess they just don't believe in the power of the entire trilogy to sell itself. This is just stupid!
March 28, 2005

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Metaplanetary: A Novel of Interplanetary Civil War
by Tony Daniel

Dauntless (The Lost Fleet, Book 1)
by Jack Campbell

Fearless (The Lost Fleet, Book 2)
by Jack Campbell

The Last Colony
by John Scalzi

The Ghost Brigades
by John Scalzi