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Alex Benedict #5
Echo
A new novel of the fantastic unknown by the national bestselling author of Time Travelers Never Die .
Eccentric Sunset Tuttle spent his life searching in vain for forms of alien life. Thirty years after his death, a stone tablet inscribed with cryptic, indecipherable symbols is found in the possession of Tuttle's onetime lover, and antiquities dealer Alex Benedict is anxious to discover what secret the tablet holds. It could be proof that Tuttle had found what he was looking for. To find out, Benedict and his assistant embark on their own voyage of discovery-one that will lead them directly into the path of a very determined assassin who doesn't want those secrets revealed.
Eccentric Sunset Tuttle spent his life searching in vain for forms of alien life. Thirty years after his death, a stone tablet inscribed with cryptic, indecipherable symbols is found in the possession of Tuttle's onetime lover, and antiquities dealer Alex Benedict is anxious to discover what secret the tablet holds. It could be proof that Tuttle had found what he was looking for. To find out, Benedict and his assistant embark on their own voyage of discovery-one that will lead them directly into the path of a very determined assassin who doesn't want those secrets revealed.
371 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2010
54 people are currently reading
1047 people want to read
About the author
Jack McDevitt
184Ìýbooks1,325ÌýfollowersJack McDevitt is a former English teacher, naval officer, Philadelphia taxi driver, customs officer and motivational trainer. His work has been on the final ballot for the Nebula Awards for 12 of the past 13 years. His first novel, The Hercules Text, was published in the celebrated Ace Specials series and won the Philip K. Dick Special Award. In 1991, McDevitt won the first $10,000 UPC International Prize for his novella, "Ships in the Night." The Engines of God was a finalist for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and his novella, "Time Travelers Never Die," was nominated for both the Hugo and the Nebula awards.
McDevitt lives in Georgia with his wife, Maureen, where he plays chess, reads mysteries and eats lunch regularly with his cronies.
McDevitt lives in Georgia with his wife, Maureen, where he plays chess, reads mysteries and eats lunch regularly with his cronies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
February 9, 2017
Historians In Space!!!!
Well, if anyone has followed this far in the series, you know this is nothing new. It's nearly 30,000 years after humanity has spread from Earth and we're all over the galaxy and there are very very few alien species out there. But humans being humans, we fall apart and lose touch and certain facts, places, and even people tend to drop off the map and the history books and any other kind of archive. This is known. Plus, space and time is very big. It's easy to lose track of anything. And that's where Chase and Alex come in, Space Opera Slueths, historians, adventurers, crack-shots, detectives, and assassin foilers. :) And let's not forget their trusty AI to help them out on the technical stuff, no?
None of that is particularly new, of course, but the plots continue to surprise and get better with each installment.
We dive deep into a mystery tablet left to Alex by an eccentric explorer. We're fighting off assassins set on keeping the discoveries under wraps. We hunt for tragic missing persons and the secrets they hold. And we even get a heavy dose of plain-ole world exploration with the demise of lost human settlements, possible traces of alien civilizations, and the final reveal as to what caused the tragic end of a certain individual and a whole lot more.
The novel kinda started out slow for me, but past a certain point, it was truly hard to put down again. I'm so glad I kept with the series. It's truly a Space-Opera potboiler par-excellence. :)
Well, if anyone has followed this far in the series, you know this is nothing new. It's nearly 30,000 years after humanity has spread from Earth and we're all over the galaxy and there are very very few alien species out there. But humans being humans, we fall apart and lose touch and certain facts, places, and even people tend to drop off the map and the history books and any other kind of archive. This is known. Plus, space and time is very big. It's easy to lose track of anything. And that's where Chase and Alex come in, Space Opera Slueths, historians, adventurers, crack-shots, detectives, and assassin foilers. :) And let's not forget their trusty AI to help them out on the technical stuff, no?
None of that is particularly new, of course, but the plots continue to surprise and get better with each installment.
We dive deep into a mystery tablet left to Alex by an eccentric explorer. We're fighting off assassins set on keeping the discoveries under wraps. We hunt for tragic missing persons and the secrets they hold. And we even get a heavy dose of plain-ole world exploration with the demise of lost human settlements, possible traces of alien civilizations, and the final reveal as to what caused the tragic end of a certain individual and a whole lot more.
The novel kinda started out slow for me, but past a certain point, it was truly hard to put down again. I'm so glad I kept with the series. It's truly a Space-Opera potboiler par-excellence. :)
March 3, 2012
A step-by-step way to write a Jack McDevitt/Alex Benedict book:
1. Introduce a mysterious artifact/person (the mystery should be more vague with each succeeding book).
2. Have Alex's/Chase's residence burgled or otherwise infiltrated in an attempt to prevent the mystery from being solved.
3. Have Chase remark that Alex isn't that easily persuaded (then have Chase suggested two or three times during the novel that they should stop investigating the mystery).
4. Throw in some references to Chase's boyfriend of the month, who she feels really strongly about, then never mention them again.
5. Have the vast majority of the male characters mention in some way or other how beautiful Chase is.
6. Now would be a good time for an attempt on either Alex or Chase's life. Bonus points if either of them ends up in a river/the ocean. Extra bonus points if it was caused by a sabotaged craft.
7. Remember to remind the reader numerous times that Chase loves partying.
8. Have Alex figure some stuff out before Chase, but not tell her straight away. This creates TENSION.
9. As they're en route to the mystery destination (or as they arrive there), add another attempt on their life.
10. Bonus points if your mystery reveal contains a scene from "Death from the Skies", by Phil Plait.
11. Remember to get some basic science wrong.
More specific criticism:
Rachel Bannister was so guilt-ridden by what she'd allowed to happen, that she commited suicide. You'd think that she and Tuttle would've thought to search the entire planet before deciding that the whole of the civilisation had been wiped out. Given how easily Alex and Chase did it (and the equipment Bannister and Tuttle had at their disposal), this is a big flaw.
Also, the fact that the scout simply didn't do his job right before deciding that the planet was devoid of life (he only did a scan for radio signals), seems ludicrous. We're to believe that although eating meat from actual animals are considered primitive and that animals aren't killed unless necessary, this guy was happy to send a whole planet full of live creatures to their doom, simply because they weren't capable of producing radio signals?!
Furthermore, various character accuse Alex and Chase of being looters/grave robbers, yet it has been stated a number of times that the vast majority of Rainbow Enterprises business resolves around mediating between sellers and buyers, and authenticating objects.
I doubt anyone will ever read McDevitt for the words - his prose is sufficient, but no more. The strength of the novels lie in the stories themselves. The plots are usually good and exciting, even though the last two books have been weaker than the preceding ones.
1. Introduce a mysterious artifact/person (the mystery should be more vague with each succeeding book).
2. Have Alex's/Chase's residence burgled or otherwise infiltrated in an attempt to prevent the mystery from being solved.
3. Have Chase remark that Alex isn't that easily persuaded (then have Chase suggested two or three times during the novel that they should stop investigating the mystery).
4. Throw in some references to Chase's boyfriend of the month, who she feels really strongly about, then never mention them again.
5. Have the vast majority of the male characters mention in some way or other how beautiful Chase is.
6. Now would be a good time for an attempt on either Alex or Chase's life. Bonus points if either of them ends up in a river/the ocean. Extra bonus points if it was caused by a sabotaged craft.
7. Remember to remind the reader numerous times that Chase loves partying.
8. Have Alex figure some stuff out before Chase, but not tell her straight away. This creates TENSION.
9. As they're en route to the mystery destination (or as they arrive there), add another attempt on their life.
10. Bonus points if your mystery reveal contains a scene from "Death from the Skies", by Phil Plait.
11. Remember to get some basic science wrong.
More specific criticism:
Rachel Bannister was so guilt-ridden by what she'd allowed to happen, that she commited suicide. You'd think that she and Tuttle would've thought to search the entire planet before deciding that the whole of the civilisation had been wiped out. Given how easily Alex and Chase did it (and the equipment Bannister and Tuttle had at their disposal), this is a big flaw.
Also, the fact that the scout simply didn't do his job right before deciding that the planet was devoid of life (he only did a scan for radio signals), seems ludicrous. We're to believe that although eating meat from actual animals are considered primitive and that animals aren't killed unless necessary, this guy was happy to send a whole planet full of live creatures to their doom, simply because they weren't capable of producing radio signals?!
Furthermore, various character accuse Alex and Chase of being looters/grave robbers, yet it has been stated a number of times that the vast majority of Rainbow Enterprises business resolves around mediating between sellers and buyers, and authenticating objects.
I doubt anyone will ever read McDevitt for the words - his prose is sufficient, but no more. The strength of the novels lie in the stories themselves. The plots are usually good and exciting, even though the last two books have been weaker than the preceding ones.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2021
One thing I've noticed about Jack McDevitt's Alex Benedict novels is that humanity is largely alone in the universe. Intelligent life is rare. This is also the case with his Priscilla Hutchins novels--I'm not certain whether she and Benedict exist in the same continuity or not; haven't read enough McDevitt yet. As Echo begins, despite the investigation of countless inhabitable worlds, only one other intelligent race has been discovered.
Sunset Tuttle devoted his life to the search for aliens, but never succeeded in his quest. Twenty-five years after his death, a stone covered with strange markings is discovered, markings unknown in any language. The stone was found on a property formerly belonging to Tuttle. Did he succeed after all? And, if so, why did he not announce the discovery that would have vindicated his life's work? Alex Benedict is intrigued. And it soon becomes clear that, whatever secret is being kept, it is one that people are willing to kill for.
This is one of the better McDevitt novels that I've read recently. They've all been good, but this one's got just a little bit more oomph to it. It has thrilling moments, an engaging mystery, and a satisfying ending. Recommended!
Sunset Tuttle devoted his life to the search for aliens, but never succeeded in his quest. Twenty-five years after his death, a stone covered with strange markings is discovered, markings unknown in any language. The stone was found on a property formerly belonging to Tuttle. Did he succeed after all? And, if so, why did he not announce the discovery that would have vindicated his life's work? Alex Benedict is intrigued. And it soon becomes clear that, whatever secret is being kept, it is one that people are willing to kill for.
This is one of the better McDevitt novels that I've read recently. They've all been good, but this one's got just a little bit more oomph to it. It has thrilling moments, an engaging mystery, and a satisfying ending. Recommended!
November 28, 2010
Not up to the standards of the series in the end. It did make me want to immediately reread the entire series, though.
The central mystery is great -possibly the best set-up in the series- but the resolution has a major groaner that made me shake my head in disappointment.(spoiler:Star Trek Style aliens that are so indistinguishable from humans that they find Chase sexually attractive!)
Also, I have the feeling that he (or his editors) pulled back from a much more disturbing truth for some reason. spoiler:It seems they are setting it up for a character to have caused a genocidal incident. Instead, she ends up as merely a witness to a natural disaster.
Jack McDevitt books are must buys for me. This series is among my favorites of all time. I desperately want more and soon. It sounds like I am being unduly harsh on this entry. But I had a great time reading it and will undoubtedly read it again.
The central mystery is great -possibly the best set-up in the series- but the resolution has a major groaner that made me shake my head in disappointment.(spoiler:
Also, I have the feeling that he (or his editors) pulled back from a much more disturbing truth for some reason. spoiler:
Jack McDevitt books are must buys for me. This series is among my favorites of all time. I desperately want more and soon. It sounds like I am being unduly harsh on this entry. But I had a great time reading it and will undoubtedly read it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2011
This is extremely well written, but shows signs of being a really great short story or short novella that has been padded to novel length.
I really had the feeling that it was going to be one of those novels where in the end, nothing has happened.
BUT... that was not the case: in the last few chapters the pace picks way up and there is a lot of action.
Am I grumpy. Yes. Because of this novel? Not really, but it wasn't helping.
If you like alien artifacts, you will like this novel. If you like lost civilizations or lost human colonies you will like it (and saying that does NOT give the secret away).
I really had the feeling that it was going to be one of those novels where in the end, nothing has happened.
BUT... that was not the case: in the last few chapters the pace picks way up and there is a lot of action.
Am I grumpy. Yes. Because of this novel? Not really, but it wasn't helping.
If you like alien artifacts, you will like this novel. If you like lost civilizations or lost human colonies you will like it (and saying that does NOT give the secret away).
December 30, 2022
I watched an interview with Jack McDevitt, where he mentions something to the effect that he doesn’t foresee humanity changing all that much all that quickly (that’s to say that humans in the far future will probably still have the same basic needs and desires as humans today, even though technology will change). Or, to paraphrase, discussion around the campfire will not change significantly in the next few thousand years.
Which is probably why the future the author envisions in the Alex Benedict books is so identifiable. Even though these stories take place 10,000+ years in the future they do not deal with transcended humanity, or anything such. There is nary a post-human character in sight; people still go to restaurants, and they still go sightseeing, and do all the things people do today (albeit over a much, MUCH bigger canvass).
There is Faster Than Light travel in McDevitt’s future, but it is consistently improved upon as the series progresses, and is a prominent plot feature of . As such, a substantial portion of the Orion arm of the Milky Way has been colonized, and there is a lot of space (no pun intended) for plot devices such as lost colonies (post diaspora) and more than 10 millennia’s worth of future history and archaeological mystery.
As with the previous books in the series, the plot of Echo is revealed in a leisurely fashion, a lot of it through investigative dialogue. The book is divided into three parts (not counting the epilogue), each encompassing roughly a third of the novel. If you have read previous entries in the series (and I suggest you do), you will be familiar with McDevitt’s approach.
The Alex Benedict novels are essentially mystery novels in a futuristic setting and can also be likened to old-school detective stories (think Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, where narrator and main protagonist are not the same person, and the protagonist has the habit of not revealing a lot of what they already understand about unfolding events, thereby keeping the narrator (and, subsequently, the reader) in the dark). It’s quite clever, all in all. Discerning readers can probably, by now, start picking up on the nuances of the seemingly unrelated dialogues and events, and how the perceptive Alex Benedict has the disarming ability of reading between the lines.
Obviously, things inevitably aren’t quite what they seem.
I would argue this is a bit of a niche, even as far as Science Fiction is concerned.
There isn’t a lot of action (although there is some, this certainly isn’t Indiana Jones in space). At this point in the series, character development is a key focus, and I am not sure Echo is a good place to start the series. This is one of those series� where you really have to try and read the books in order. That way you will also quickly determine whether McDevitt’s style is to your liking or not.
As for me � I continue enjoying these stories.
Which is probably why the future the author envisions in the Alex Benedict books is so identifiable. Even though these stories take place 10,000+ years in the future they do not deal with transcended humanity, or anything such. There is nary a post-human character in sight; people still go to restaurants, and they still go sightseeing, and do all the things people do today (albeit over a much, MUCH bigger canvass).
There is Faster Than Light travel in McDevitt’s future, but it is consistently improved upon as the series progresses, and is a prominent plot feature of . As such, a substantial portion of the Orion arm of the Milky Way has been colonized, and there is a lot of space (no pun intended) for plot devices such as lost colonies (post diaspora) and more than 10 millennia’s worth of future history and archaeological mystery.
As with the previous books in the series, the plot of Echo is revealed in a leisurely fashion, a lot of it through investigative dialogue. The book is divided into three parts (not counting the epilogue), each encompassing roughly a third of the novel. If you have read previous entries in the series (and I suggest you do), you will be familiar with McDevitt’s approach.
The Alex Benedict novels are essentially mystery novels in a futuristic setting and can also be likened to old-school detective stories (think Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, where narrator and main protagonist are not the same person, and the protagonist has the habit of not revealing a lot of what they already understand about unfolding events, thereby keeping the narrator (and, subsequently, the reader) in the dark). It’s quite clever, all in all. Discerning readers can probably, by now, start picking up on the nuances of the seemingly unrelated dialogues and events, and how the perceptive Alex Benedict has the disarming ability of reading between the lines.
Obviously, things inevitably aren’t quite what they seem.
I would argue this is a bit of a niche, even as far as Science Fiction is concerned.
There isn’t a lot of action (although there is some, this certainly isn’t Indiana Jones in space). At this point in the series, character development is a key focus, and I am not sure Echo is a good place to start the series. This is one of those series� where you really have to try and read the books in order. That way you will also quickly determine whether McDevitt’s style is to your liking or not.
As for me � I continue enjoying these stories.
April 24, 2021
Okay, confession time:
Back in early 2012, I misplaced a copy of this book.
Worse yet, it came from a library I didn't use that often; it wasn't the one closest to me nor the one where I was employed at the time.
I searched high and low for it, even calling other libraries. It got to the point where I was nearly ready to shell out cash for it...until I happened to see the name of a library system under my old computer desk. I got something with a long handle--maybe a broom, but probably a mop--and out came that book.
Despite that negative memory, I found that I could still enjoy this story; it's neither the author's nor the publisher's fault what happened, and I've heard it said that the best way to overcome a bad memory is to replace it with a good one.
So...what did I think of the book? Like usual for this author, this was a fun portrait of the future of our society. Alex and Chase are interesting characters.
Back in early 2012, I misplaced a copy of this book.
Worse yet, it came from a library I didn't use that often; it wasn't the one closest to me nor the one where I was employed at the time.
I searched high and low for it, even calling other libraries. It got to the point where I was nearly ready to shell out cash for it...until I happened to see the name of a library system under my old computer desk. I got something with a long handle--maybe a broom, but probably a mop--and out came that book.
Despite that negative memory, I found that I could still enjoy this story; it's neither the author's nor the publisher's fault what happened, and I've heard it said that the best way to overcome a bad memory is to replace it with a good one.
So...what did I think of the book? Like usual for this author, this was a fun portrait of the future of our society. Alex and Chase are interesting characters.
Read
February 9, 2015I ve started reading Alex Benedict's adventures 6 years ago, still these books are one of my favorite sci-fi books. It's fun to read Jack McDevitt books.
The story in this book is not as great as the seeker but still I enjoyed reading it. It's like visiting an old friend.
McDevitt s books remind asimovs universe, humanity has colonized lots of planets and still trying to.colonize more. And our character Alex Benedict is trying to solve mysterious mostly there is dead in these mysteries.
Probably I will buy the next 2 books of the series this year and finish the series.
The story in this book is not as great as the seeker but still I enjoyed reading it. It's like visiting an old friend.
McDevitt s books remind asimovs universe, humanity has colonized lots of planets and still trying to.colonize more. And our character Alex Benedict is trying to solve mysterious mostly there is dead in these mysteries.
Probably I will buy the next 2 books of the series this year and finish the series.
January 23, 2019
Wow, a triple shot of meh for this one. Barely 2 Stars. Pointless wandering around for hundreds of pages with very little reward at the end. Least interesting entry into this series so far and the last I shall read. Yawn....
June 20, 2023
Abandoned due to boredom.
November 7, 2012
It's hard to believe an entry in this series won a Nebula Award. This book, 5th in the series, certainly isn't written at that elevated level.
Echo revolves around a mystery of where a stone tablet originated from. It was found in the yard of a deceased space explorer whose purpose in life was to find intelligent alien life. Supposedly he never found any---but perhaps this tablet is proof that he did. In any case that's what Case and Alex try to find out.
I found the first two hundred pages very slow going. It did pick up after that but due to numerous plot shortcuts I found the book's payoff to be annoying and poorly executed. I can't recommend this book---but it's got a number of 5-star reviews so who knows, you might like it.
Echo revolves around a mystery of where a stone tablet originated from. It was found in the yard of a deceased space explorer whose purpose in life was to find intelligent alien life. Supposedly he never found any---but perhaps this tablet is proof that he did. In any case that's what Case and Alex try to find out.
I found the first two hundred pages very slow going. It did pick up after that but due to numerous plot shortcuts I found the book's payoff to be annoying and poorly executed. I can't recommend this book---but it's got a number of 5-star reviews so who knows, you might like it.
October 3, 2010
Another excellent "Alex Benedict and Chase Kolpath" book from Jack McDevitt. This one seemed a little darker, a little more uncomfortable at times than previous outings with the antiquities brokers/adventurers. But that didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. It made the world, the characters all that more real.
As these characters grow older (which doesn't mean much in a future where most people live at least a couple of centuries), they are definitely experiencing character growth as well. Chase becomes uncomfortable with her seemingly stagnate unadventurous role as a glorified secretary/pilot and in dealing with the fallout of Alex's reputation in some fields. Though he is great at exposing mysteries and discovering answers, he's seen more as a looter or tomb robber - selling artifacts to the highest bidder.
Their investigations this time have some disasterous implications for some people, opening up a can of worms that they've tried to hide for 25 years. Chase and Alex struggle to make it right.
I love setting in these novels. Jack McDevitt tells the story (or Chase does) as if the reader is intimately familiar with the world(s), the technology, etc. And makes the reader feel right at home, come in, have a cup of coffee. It's always good to get back to this world.
If your a fan of the Alex Benedict novels, read it! If you've never read one, go start further back in the series and work your way to this one and get to know the characters before embarking on this adventure with them.
Echo was provided to me by the publisher for the purpose of review. Ace is awesome like that!
As these characters grow older (which doesn't mean much in a future where most people live at least a couple of centuries), they are definitely experiencing character growth as well. Chase becomes uncomfortable with her seemingly stagnate unadventurous role as a glorified secretary/pilot and in dealing with the fallout of Alex's reputation in some fields. Though he is great at exposing mysteries and discovering answers, he's seen more as a looter or tomb robber - selling artifacts to the highest bidder.
Their investigations this time have some disasterous implications for some people, opening up a can of worms that they've tried to hide for 25 years. Chase and Alex struggle to make it right.
I love setting in these novels. Jack McDevitt tells the story (or Chase does) as if the reader is intimately familiar with the world(s), the technology, etc. And makes the reader feel right at home, come in, have a cup of coffee. It's always good to get back to this world.
If your a fan of the Alex Benedict novels, read it! If you've never read one, go start further back in the series and work your way to this one and get to know the characters before embarking on this adventure with them.
Echo was provided to me by the publisher for the purpose of review. Ace is awesome like that!
February 11, 2012
Couldn't put it down. Have been in a reading slump for quite awhile. Was Jonesing for a good Sci Fi book and this did the job. This is a SciFi book that I think any Mystery lover would enjoy. It's one of the Alex Benedict/Chase Kolpath character books. The next one in the series is Firebird and I just picked it up at the library. I just love this series. I had burned thru all of them that had been written I think year before last. Then I had a brain fart and couldn't remember who the author was or what Alex's last name was... so even a Google search had been turning up nothing. Then by chance I was skimming thru something on my Kindle and saw the Alex Benedict series and whooped! This book did not let me down.
If you're not familiar with them or Jack McDevitt... this series takes place approximately 10,000 years in the future. But don't let that scare you off. All it means is that we finally got out of our solar system ;) and can do Interstellar Travel without dying before we reach Jupiter :) These books usually deal with coming upon a deserted ancient settlement or artifact (or ship) that Alex and Chase try to run down the mystery of.
Even if you don't think this is your cup of tea... if you love mystery and thoughts and ideas about what our future could hold, thoughts about lost or deserteed civilizations, ancient artifacts, give it a shot.
If you're not familiar with them or Jack McDevitt... this series takes place approximately 10,000 years in the future. But don't let that scare you off. All it means is that we finally got out of our solar system ;) and can do Interstellar Travel without dying before we reach Jupiter :) These books usually deal with coming upon a deserted ancient settlement or artifact (or ship) that Alex and Chase try to run down the mystery of.
Even if you don't think this is your cup of tea... if you love mystery and thoughts and ideas about what our future could hold, thoughts about lost or deserteed civilizations, ancient artifacts, give it a shot.
March 14, 2011
Chase and Alex, two people who sound like they might appear in some of McDevitt's earlier fiction, as well (yup, this is "Alex Benedict #5"), investigate the origins of a mysterious stone tablet found in the yard of "Sunset" Tuttle, an oddball explorer who died two decades earlier (and who did appear in some of McDevitt's earlier fiction). Then someone tries to kill them. Again and again.
The story was entertaining enough, but it seemed unfocused to me. Somehow I never managed to believe that Chase and Alex really had their lives threatened. I found both them and their world to be unconvincing and irritating at the same time. I was frankly surprised to find this book nominated for a Nebula. McDevitt has written far better stories than this one.
The story was entertaining enough, but it seemed unfocused to me. Somehow I never managed to believe that Chase and Alex really had their lives threatened. I found both them and their world to be unconvincing and irritating at the same time. I was frankly surprised to find this book nominated for a Nebula. McDevitt has written far better stories than this one.
November 1, 2010
Finally the "dated-ness" caught up with this series in this installment where the weight of taking place 8000 years in the future in a society similar to our own (plus some fifties staples like AG, FTL...) crushes the book badly; fast and engaging may the author' style be - and it shows especially in the last 150 pages - but this book cannot manage the least amount of suspension of disbelief for a long time.
If there is more in the series, I will try them but I hope this one will retire Alex and Chase for good and have Mr McDevitt use his considerable storytelling skills without this weight crushing them.
If there is more in the series, I will try them but I hope this one will retire Alex and Chase for good and have Mr McDevitt use his considerable storytelling skills without this weight crushing them.
November 13, 2010
This is a classic McDevitt, classic Benedict SF mystery. It is somewhat darker than prior novels in the series. The protagonists actually question some of their motivations. Several new threads perhaps fortell the direction of Alex Benedict novels.
October 13, 2021
3.5 stars.
February 26, 2019
Encore une entrée solide dans cette série qui suis Alex Benedict et Chase Kolpath dans leurs aventures.
Sunset Turttle était un chercheur d'extraterrestres passionné, toute sa vie a été consacré à ce but. Mais malheureusement il est mort sans avoir rien trouvé, un peu comme la grande honte de sa vie.
Quelques années après, Alex et Chase sont contactés par les nouveau propriétaires de sa maison car ils ont trouvé une étrange tablette de pierre avec une écriture inconnue qui servait d'ornement dans le jardin et qu'ils aimeraient bien l'expertiser et s'en débarrasser.
Mais alors qu'ils ont fait le trajet pour s’acquitter de cette tache, quelqu'un les a devancé et c'est emparé de la tablette avant eux. Mieux encore, cette personne, une ancienne amie proche de Sunset, leur ment délibérément sur ce qu'elle a fait de la tablette et les envoie sur une fausse piste après l'autre.
Les deux comparses commence à vraiment s’intéresser à l'affaire à ce moment la. Pourquoi une ancienne pilote exploratrice ne veut pas qu'ils puisse mettre la main sur la tablette? Quel secret cache-t-elle?
****
Pour ceux qui ne seraient pas familier avec la série, nous suivons ici Alex Benedict et Chase Kolpath dans ce qui est approximativement le 9ième millénaire après notre ère. Ceux ci sont des experts en antiquités (de leur époque, du coup de notre futur), qu'ils revendent ou aident à revendre d'un collectionneur à un autre. Il leur arrive aussi d'aller eux même en chercher quand ils ont une piste prometteuse qui leur arrive sous la main.
Leur point fort n'est pas que de faire des recherches sur l'élément qu'ils veulent découvrir mais aussi sur la façon dont la piste leur est arrivé dans les mains. Par exemple si un homme lui remet un bol provenant d'un vaisseau disparu qui appartenait à son grand père, les deux comparses vont aller fouiller la vie du grand père pour essayer de trouver comment lui est entré en contact avec l'artefact et ainsi remonter la piste de la personne qui l'a réellement découvert.
C'est le cas dans ce tome ou nos amis vont se mettre à fouiller la vie de la pilote suspecte dans tout les sens pour savoir quel est son lien avec la tablette dans le but de retrouver l'origine de celle ci, malgré le fait qu'ils n'aient aucune idée de ce à quoi ressemble la tablette vu qu'elle leur a été dérobée avant qu'ils puissent la voir.
Ce tome est indépendant des précédents (comme tout les tomes de la série). On peut très bien commencer par celui la, même si on n'aura forcement pas une image complète du background et de l'univers.
Le principal défaut que j'avais sur les premiers tomes de cette série était leur trop grande similarité dans la façon dont l'intrigue était menée (même si les sujets étaient vraiment différents). Mais comme dans le précédent tome, l'auteur change ici suffisamment sa formule ici pour nous donner envie d'en savoir plus jusqu'au bout.
En repensant aux tome précédents, je me suis aperçu qu'un des points que j'adorais dans cette série était le fait qu'à chaque fois (quasiment) le secret qu'ils finissent par découvrir n'est pas seulement une grosse découverte archéologique, mais aussi quelque chose de plus vaste, qui concerne l'humanité au présent du livre d'une manière générale.
Ce tome ci ne fait pas défaut à cette règle. Le résultat est vraiment très triste et aussi sombre que celui découvert par exemple dans The Devil's Eye, le tome précédent. On a envie de crier à la stupidité de la race humaine qui met toujours le profil avant la sécurité. C'est un tel gâchis au final, une telle perte que ça ne peut que briser le cœur.
Par contre malgré tout ce que j'ai dis sur la série, une chose qu'on ne peut pas leur reprocher est d'avoir trop d'action. On est plus sur de la recherche d'éléments, en détail, ce qui prend beaucoup de temps. Ne vous attendez pas à des livres au rythme rapide, et ce tome ci en est l'exemple parfait.
Au final je dirais que j'ai beaucoup apprécié ce tome ci, il était divertissant, il changeait un peu et j'ai passé un excellent moment. Si vous avez aimé les précédents, vous ne serez surement pas déçu.
16.5/20
December 18, 2011
It's a light read indeed, and IMHO far short of Nebula quality. Well short of past efforts in this series, too.
As others have noted, the ending sort of goes Pbllffft.
And, two big beefs:
I am OK with casual use of AG and FTL, even in a world that otherwise seems exactly the same as today. It does seem a bit over the top that
Credit for having some AI/ship technology that is not infinitely smart, capable and indestructible.
But, ya know, as I write this I am liking the book less and less. Here's another beef:
As others have noted, the ending sort of goes Pbllffft.
And, two big beefs:
I am OK with casual use of AG and FTL, even in a world that otherwise seems exactly the same as today. It does seem a bit over the top that
Credit for having some AI/ship technology that is not infinitely smart, capable and indestructible.
But, ya know, as I write this I am liking the book less and less. Here's another beef:
June 2, 2011
Well, I've often said about this writer: "it's true, they tend to blend together and resemble each other after a while, but a day with a bad Jack McDevitt novel is better than a day without ANY Jack McDevitt novel". This story, ECHO, is set in the "Alex Benedict Universe" which is the setting for what I consider McDevitt's finest novel to date, A TALENT FOR WAR. The Alex Benedict sequence is uniformly narrated by his assistant, Chase Kolpath, and perhaps he is allowing her to become more blase as the series matures, but I'm not as charmed by her I once was-- maybe because we've all read about Chases' motivations and concerns several times in the past and they never seem to progress beyond "I work for a guy who gets no respect" and "I guess I should settle down some day, but not this week".
The plot is concerned about Aliens. Not the mutes, who were discovered before the series began, but OTHER aliens... or maybe not. Of course, like many McDevitt plots, the whole story starts with an innocuous object discovered in chapter one, which leads to discovery after discovery, near misses, assassination attempts, long space flights, a near fatal encounter in the last chapter, and of course, a fantastic discovery for Mr. Alex Benedict. That's been the plot trajectory for most McDevitt stories for a while now. That is, believe it or not, okay with me. I love these.. I can eat them up in one sitting (it took me less than a day to read ECHO). True, they are becoming somewhat predictable but I still enjoy them tremendously.
The plot is concerned about Aliens. Not the mutes, who were discovered before the series began, but OTHER aliens... or maybe not. Of course, like many McDevitt plots, the whole story starts with an innocuous object discovered in chapter one, which leads to discovery after discovery, near misses, assassination attempts, long space flights, a near fatal encounter in the last chapter, and of course, a fantastic discovery for Mr. Alex Benedict. That's been the plot trajectory for most McDevitt stories for a while now. That is, believe it or not, okay with me. I love these.. I can eat them up in one sitting (it took me less than a day to read ECHO). True, they are becoming somewhat predictable but I still enjoy them tremendously.
June 5, 2012
This is my first "Alex Benedict" novel and I will definately be looking for more. Even though this is number 5 in this series, I didn't feel lost at all reading this book. The premise is a antique seller/finder (Alex) is called by a local woman to pick up a rock/post she's had in front of her house for years. To Alex, the writing may be alien--which would be the first proof of alien life in the galaxy. However, when Alex's movers go to get it, the item has already been taken by someone else. The mystery is then on: who took it? Why? Is it alien writing? Will it change humaniy's vision of the galaxy? These and other questions are answered cleanly, though the ending, fitting as it is, may be a little of a let down for some (think the movie version of 'Contact'). Still, highly enjoyable, easy to read science fiction adventure/mystery that left me looking for more by this outstanding author.
April 9, 2014
A sadly diappointing book in a generally excellent series. It felt like a novella that had been stretched way beyond its natural length. There just wasn't enough plot to fill the book (the first half is particularly plodding) and the big shock ending was a very damp squib. On the other hand, Chase and Alex are as interesting a pair of characters as ever and the plot does have some interesting twists. It's worth reading if you know the series, but don't make this the first Alex Benedict book you read or you may not stick around for the rest- and with that, you'd be missing a treat!
December 2, 2024
This Alex Benedect adventure while occasionally fun, felt rather formulaic and let me down. I am still going to read at least, but this particular story was just a bit of a mess after the rather exceptional and the good (and different plot-wise) . I think he got into a rut with describing Chase as his own fantasy of the perfect middle-aged woman and got carried away with it at the expense of a good story and any kind of interesting character arc for Alex.
June 4, 2018
Echo is one of those bad McDevitt's books: very boring in his first half, not terrible in his second, despite some good passages.
The issues glimpsed at the beginning of the novel slowly deflate throughout the book. The characters are bland.
There was material to write a good novella, no more.
In the end a very minor opus of the duo Chase / Alex, far removed from the two previous masterpieces (Seeker and The Devil's Eye).
The issues glimpsed at the beginning of the novel slowly deflate throughout the book. The characters are bland.
There was material to write a good novella, no more.
In the end a very minor opus of the duo Chase / Alex, far removed from the two previous masterpieces (Seeker and The Devil's Eye).
October 12, 2021
Notes:
The first half was really well done! The last half needed to be longer. Sheesh. =P
The first half was really well done! The last half needed to be longer. Sheesh. =P
March 19, 2019
This book started off slowly as a mystery. It wasn't until the last third of the book, in which the characters ventured to another planet, that I really got interested.
April 7, 2019
Since I'm working my way through these using audiobooks, I'll give this one a shot even though my previous review gives me some pause. Honestly though, I have been surprised at how much I've been enjoying the series in audio so perhaps this rereading will change my mind.
Final - I remembered absolutely nothing of this mystery, as it turns out, but enjoyed it enough in audiobook form that I raised the rating by a star. It was not as good as the previous mysteries in the series ... and I did guess the solution to what was being hidden halfway through again, but was still entertained the whole way through. And the last third I found riveting.
My first review is below.
========
This book was a surprising let down. It followed the usual pattern of Alex and Chase coming across an anomaly that leads to a mystery everyone denies. Alex won't give up, Chase begrudgingly goes along, and there are attempts to silence them permanently. Undaunted, they persevere and discover The Truth.
I don't mind a formula and McDevitt has, until this point, always surprised me with his inventive solutions. I must admit that the previous book was something of a space opera but I was willing to let that go. This book had no such elements but I was very disappointed to find that I immediately knew the mystery's solution as soon as I found out what one person did for a living.
Wow. I never figure out mysteries that easily unless someone just isn't trying. Not to mention that I also knew who was gunning for them as soon as a certain description was made. It stood out like a sore thumb.
There is just one book left in the series at this point and I've requested it from the library on the off chance that this is a random instance of simplicity. We shall see what the future holds.
Final - I remembered absolutely nothing of this mystery, as it turns out, but enjoyed it enough in audiobook form that I raised the rating by a star. It was not as good as the previous mysteries in the series ... and I did guess the solution to what was being hidden halfway through again, but was still entertained the whole way through. And the last third I found riveting.
My first review is below.
========
This book was a surprising let down. It followed the usual pattern of Alex and Chase coming across an anomaly that leads to a mystery everyone denies. Alex won't give up, Chase begrudgingly goes along, and there are attempts to silence them permanently. Undaunted, they persevere and discover The Truth.
I don't mind a formula and McDevitt has, until this point, always surprised me with his inventive solutions. I must admit that the previous book was something of a space opera but I was willing to let that go. This book had no such elements but I was very disappointed to find that I immediately knew the mystery's solution as soon as I found out what one person did for a living.
Wow. I never figure out mysteries that easily unless someone just isn't trying. Not to mention that I also knew who was gunning for them as soon as a certain description was made. It stood out like a sore thumb.
There is just one book left in the series at this point and I've requested it from the library on the off chance that this is a random instance of simplicity. We shall see what the future holds.
July 27, 2015
I don't understand why this isn't the Chase Kolpath series, rather than the Alex Benedict series, since while Alex is the guy in charge, it's Chase that the books are about. In any case, while just as friendly and readable as McDevitt's other books, Echo isn't the best of the series. Perhaps, as with the Priscilla Hutchins series, McDevitt has simply run out of steam towards the end.
Echo is a good mystery story in the tradition of the Benedict series, but it suffers from a couple of defects. First, it sets up what seems a token effort at Chase-Alex conflict, which brings a welcome uncertainty into the book, but which McDevitt never really commits to. Second, the book has Chase and especially Alex pursuing an investigation at a very high cost - so high that not only is it not really credible, but it succeeds at the difficult task of making our heroes a lot less likeable. The book doesn't really recover from that.It means that while I have the next book in the series, Firebird, on my shelf, I'm less excited to read it.
Finally, the final reveal and denouement don't really fulfill the promise of the early chapters. They could have been successful with a different lead in, but here, it's a bit of a disappointment.
If you're a serious fan of the Benedict series, by all means, buy this - you'll enjoy, even if it's not your favorite in the series. If you're new to the series, go back to A Talent for War or Polaris and start there. If you've sort of enjoyed the series, but not loved it, skip this and go one to one of McDevitt's other excellent books - try Eternity Road or The Engines of God.
Echo is a good mystery story in the tradition of the Benedict series, but it suffers from a couple of defects. First, it sets up what seems a token effort at Chase-Alex conflict, which brings a welcome uncertainty into the book, but which McDevitt never really commits to. Second, the book has Chase and especially Alex pursuing an investigation at a very high cost - so high that not only is it not really credible, but it succeeds at the difficult task of making our heroes a lot less likeable. The book doesn't really recover from that.It means that while I have the next book in the series, Firebird, on my shelf, I'm less excited to read it.
Finally, the final reveal and denouement don't really fulfill the promise of the early chapters. They could have been successful with a different lead in, but here, it's a bit of a disappointment.
If you're a serious fan of the Benedict series, by all means, buy this - you'll enjoy, even if it's not your favorite in the series. If you're new to the series, go back to A Talent for War or Polaris and start there. If you've sort of enjoyed the series, but not loved it, skip this and go one to one of McDevitt's other excellent books - try Eternity Road or The Engines of God.
April 3, 2012
Another decent space mystery featuring the Holmes-Watson-esque team of antique dealer Alex Benedict and his assistant Chase Kolpath. I do have to admit that at this point the basic stories are becoming slightly formulaic, and I think I groaned inwardly when once again there was an attempt on their lives while they were in pursuit of this volume's mystery. Even the detective in the story asks them if they have any idea "who wants [them] dead this time." (At least this time it does not involve a sabotaged skimmer.) Other than that I enjoyed it, and as always I like the science that's worked in. But they are becoming increasingly cozy and I hope the author tries something different next time. I already have the next book on the shelf.
April 14, 2011
I read this book because it was on the Nebula ballot, with no familiarity with McDevitt's other work. Having not read the previous books in the series, I had a tough time connecting with the characters, and was confused throughout the book by unexplained references to past events. I particularly had trouble understanding why the Mutes "didn't count" as alien contact, and they were never explained in the book, either.
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