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Adiamante
Adiamante by Jr.,L. E. Modesitt. [1998] Paperback
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
25 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
About the author
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
187Ìýbooks2,531ÌýfollowersL. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 10, 2022
There are more than a handful of SF novels that tackle the moral and practical idea of conservatism, ecological or otherwise, that need a little love from us readers.
In this particular case, it's clothed in a very solid space-opera skin, peopled with realistic characters mired in their own worldviews, and each insists that they are entirely in the right.
Of course, we're also dealing with post-cyberpunk civilizations 10k years after an interstellar war, with a fleet of super-strong battleships returning to what is left of Old Earth.
The moral, ecological, cultural clashes are handled extremely well. It's also a freaking great tragedy from the very start.
Communication failures, worldview failures, even logic failures dominate this text, and yet that is entirely the point. All of us can successfully argue our worldviews and be fully, logically consistent, and yet be utterly WRONG.
I've always enjoyed L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s even-keeled fantasy, his focus on balance and reason. Apparently, his SF shares many of the same qualities and proves, at least to me, that we are all SF authors of our own demise.
In this particular case, it's clothed in a very solid space-opera skin, peopled with realistic characters mired in their own worldviews, and each insists that they are entirely in the right.
Of course, we're also dealing with post-cyberpunk civilizations 10k years after an interstellar war, with a fleet of super-strong battleships returning to what is left of Old Earth.
The moral, ecological, cultural clashes are handled extremely well. It's also a freaking great tragedy from the very start.
Communication failures, worldview failures, even logic failures dominate this text, and yet that is entirely the point. All of us can successfully argue our worldviews and be fully, logically consistent, and yet be utterly WRONG.
I've always enjoyed L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s even-keeled fantasy, his focus on balance and reason. Apparently, his SF shares many of the same qualities and proves, at least to me, that we are all SF authors of our own demise.
June 6, 2011
This is one of my favorite books. Not just because it's a good sci-fi story, but because there's a pervasive idea throughout about taking care of the environment and wastefulness.
There's this great story about the cybs coming back to Earth after generations to kind of get their own back from the home of their ancestors, so they show up with twelve adiamante hulled ships. The demis on Earth scramble around to try and figure out how to stop them without being the ones to make the first aggressive move.
The demis welcome the cybs, show them around, and try to warn them without warning them. And the way they do it, and the imagery that's presented, really starts getting you to think about how wasteful we are and how much we affect the environment around us with the things we do.
This book basically turned me off of the idea of CDs. It made me think about how wiping out one species affects the life of another. It made me want to bake my own bread and install solar paneling. The fact that it did all that while being an interesting story and not preaching at me is why this is one of the books that has a permanent place on my bookshelf.
There's this great story about the cybs coming back to Earth after generations to kind of get their own back from the home of their ancestors, so they show up with twelve adiamante hulled ships. The demis on Earth scramble around to try and figure out how to stop them without being the ones to make the first aggressive move.
The demis welcome the cybs, show them around, and try to warn them without warning them. And the way they do it, and the imagery that's presented, really starts getting you to think about how wasteful we are and how much we affect the environment around us with the things we do.
This book basically turned me off of the idea of CDs. It made me think about how wiping out one species affects the life of another. It made me want to bake my own bread and install solar paneling. The fact that it did all that while being an interesting story and not preaching at me is why this is one of the books that has a permanent place on my bookshelf.
December 4, 2022
An excellent novel, well worth rereading. This is my third read, and I think this is his best straight-SF novel. Moral philosophy plus exploding spaceships! And his setting, in a far-future southwest Utah near his home, adds to the appeal. Tom Easton of Analog called it a “tough-minded utopia�. Not to be missed.
Here's the review to read:
Scroll down, in this confusingly-formatted archived copy. I miss Gerald Jonas's reviews. His tastes & mine were almost identical!
Excerpt:
"How can the manifestly decent people of Old Earth defend themselves against aggression without violating their deeply held beliefs? The answer is both morally persuasive and emotionally wrenching."
Here's the review to read:
Scroll down, in this confusingly-formatted archived copy. I miss Gerald Jonas's reviews. His tastes & mine were almost identical!
Excerpt:
"How can the manifestly decent people of Old Earth defend themselves against aggression without violating their deeply held beliefs? The answer is both morally persuasive and emotionally wrenching."
March 4, 2008
Probably my favorite book of all time.
April 9, 2021
Interesting concept, but once the scenario was set, entirely predictable. Cartoon characters with no personality, just minds. I kinda liked the bad guys more than the big brains by the end—at least they retained some passion. This Kumbaya stuff—at least here, backed with a fist—leaves me cold. Tell ‘um about the fist first if you’re really so pacifistic.
October 23, 2014
In the far future, Earth is a backwater with a small population struggling to heal the scars man has created. Descendants of Earth, a race of cyborgs, return to exact some revenge for a defeat centuries before. The populace tries to show them what happened, the consequences of their philosophy, without engaging in conflict, but the cyborgs don't get the message. Frankly, I wouldn't have either. It was too subtle for the type of people they were. I don't think he did a great job of balancing his 'reality' against the message being sent.
Again, typical of many of his books, is a message of responsibility both with power & resources. The hero is very typical (actually the same) as most of his books & while his view of Earth's possible future is interesting, it didn't grab me as well as some of his others have.
It wasn't a bad book, by any means. It was entertaining & gave some food for thought, but it isn't one of my favorite of his. It's quick to read & interesting.
Again, typical of many of his books, is a message of responsibility both with power & resources. The hero is very typical (actually the same) as most of his books & while his view of Earth's possible future is interesting, it didn't grab me as well as some of his others have.
It wasn't a bad book, by any means. It was entertaining & gave some food for thought, but it isn't one of my favorite of his. It's quick to read & interesting.
July 2, 2010
Modesitt creates his ideal society on an Earth still recovering millennia after the ecosystem collapsed. Earth's inhabitants have learned how to live in harmony with earth, creating the least damage and the most healing. Now return the "cybs," who were driven off Earth and still haven't learned the value of cooperating with their environment. The cybs want nothing but revenge, no matter the consequences.
I enjoyed this one because of the sense of community in which everything else is embedded. The society makes sense to me. The reason I didn't give it 4 stars is the impersonality. With all associates living according to common values and behavior patterns, few of its personalities have enough individuality to be warm to the touch. One of those, fortunately, is our hero Ecktor, appointed Coordinator for the crisis.
I enjoyed this one because of the sense of community in which everything else is embedded. The society makes sense to me. The reason I didn't give it 4 stars is the impersonality. With all associates living according to common values and behavior patterns, few of its personalities have enough individuality to be warm to the touch. One of those, fortunately, is our hero Ecktor, appointed Coordinator for the crisis.
April 28, 2013
I read this book many years ago, when I was still figuring out my place in the world, and its ideas and philosophies strongly influenced my thinking. Its notion of threats and their effect on trust relationships greatly affected me and changed my behavior towards others.
It's been quite a while since the last time I reread it, so I just picked it up again on my Kindle to give it another go-round. I'm very excited.
It's been quite a while since the last time I reread it, so I just picked it up again on my Kindle to give it another go-round. I'm very excited.
November 10, 2015
Earth had entered a period when they developed intelligent cyborgs. When the cyborgs tried to take over a war resulted in the use of an awesome weapon. Over the generations earthlings evolved and retreated from space. Now the cyborgs have returned seeking revenge. The story is a little confusing at times.
July 11, 2013
Den börjar inte så lovande. Mer åt "i samklang med naturen" à la Avatar än sci-fi. Men sedan tar det fart och blir intressant med filosofiska diskussioner och mer teknik och rymd. Från andra halvan var det ett nöje att läsa.
April 3, 2019
Really enjoyable book. The multiple layers of fine balancing acts going on, and the recognition that all the words there are can never be enough to bridge the gap between warring ideologies and change minds... but that you still have to try.
May 18, 2023
The synthetic material adiamante has only one use - defensive. It is used in starship hulls and for hardened bunkers. Thousands of years after a devastating war between humans and cyborgs (cybs) which resulted in the cybs being exiled from Earth, twelve huge adiamante warships appear in the skies of Earth. The remaining humans have evolved into a much more pacific race (at least on the surface) and their comps have deduced that the cybs have returned to exact retribution and most likely destroy the planet. Electing Ecktor to be a human Coordinator to meet with the Cybs, the humans must delay the planned Cyb destruction as long as possible to get certain defensive measures up and running. Ecktor wishes to avert a slaughter similar to the one which caused the original Flight of the Cybs but the pseudo-humans either will not see their peril or refuse to believe it. As time ticks down the humans start to exhibit behaviours which the Cybs should find threatening but only a very few understand their danger. The book is a cautionary tale about the acceptable uses of power and the results of its misuse, and while the ending is never really in doubt it is the shape of that ending that supplies the interest and intrigue. A very enjoyable read from L. E. Modesitt Jr. (The plot resembles an early episode of Star Trek original series in some ways.)
June 7, 2019
Very nice read.
Pros
1.Only the main character is fleshed out but the way the book flows that's all you need. I'd like more exposure to the "alien" cyb minds but this works just fine.
2. The world (a future post-cataclysmic earth) is well described. It is a colorful dangerous place. Lots of flavor tho it might make people that enjoy only "hack n' slash" or "guns blazing 24-7" type of books to get a little bored.
3. When there was combat the action was well depicted.
4. The main hero and the rest of the cast were solid. No actions that wouldn't match their character or stupid choices just to further the plot.
5. Tech was plausible but for the 1 con. (maybe i missed something. Please post a reply if i did)
Cons
1. The tech behind the demi and syb creation remains too damn vague. Also during the last battle the demis used something that comes out of a fantasy book rather than a sci-fi one. Not nice Mr. L. E. Modesitt Jr. Not nice at all.
Pros
1.Only the main character is fleshed out but the way the book flows that's all you need. I'd like more exposure to the "alien" cyb minds but this works just fine.
2. The world (a future post-cataclysmic earth) is well described. It is a colorful dangerous place. Lots of flavor tho it might make people that enjoy only "hack n' slash" or "guns blazing 24-7" type of books to get a little bored.
3. When there was combat the action was well depicted.
4. The main hero and the rest of the cast were solid. No actions that wouldn't match their character or stupid choices just to further the plot.
5. Tech was plausible but for the 1 con. (maybe i missed something. Please post a reply if i did)
Cons
1. The tech behind the demi and syb creation remains too damn vague. Also during the last battle the demis used something that comes out of a fantasy book rather than a sci-fi one. Not nice Mr. L. E. Modesitt Jr. Not nice at all.
August 1, 2019
Interesting end-of-the-world premise, with cyber-warriors
This is the first Modesitt book I've picked up in years (perhaps decades). His clean style and ability to shift between action and reflection at just the right time made Adiamante a pleasure to read.
While occasionally preachy (in a way that reminds me of Sheri S. Tepper's cultural commentary), this book picks up on worrisome trends in our modern existence and casts them into a future that is all the more frightening for being a logical extension of the path we're on. Such futurecasting is one of my favorite aspects of speculative fiction.
I don't remember now why I stopped reading Modesitt. I'm determined now to try more of his recent books.
This is the first Modesitt book I've picked up in years (perhaps decades). His clean style and ability to shift between action and reflection at just the right time made Adiamante a pleasure to read.
While occasionally preachy (in a way that reminds me of Sheri S. Tepper's cultural commentary), this book picks up on worrisome trends in our modern existence and casts them into a future that is all the more frightening for being a logical extension of the path we're on. Such futurecasting is one of my favorite aspects of speculative fiction.
I don't remember now why I stopped reading Modesitt. I'm determined now to try more of his recent books.
August 2, 2018
Adiamante is excellent Science Fiction, subcategory Space Opera, about Earth far into the future being visited by hostile remnants of trigger happy former earthlings.
The story is focused and goes in a straight line from beginning to end. Modesitt succeeds well at building tension making this a page turner. There is also plenty of political principles built in with some depth. The science revolves around cyber issues. Adiamantes length is about right, it can be read in 6-7 hours.
All SF fans really should read this book!
The story is focused and goes in a straight line from beginning to end. Modesitt succeeds well at building tension making this a page turner. There is also plenty of political principles built in with some depth. The science revolves around cyber issues. Adiamantes length is about right, it can be read in 6-7 hours.
All SF fans really should read this book!
August 3, 2020
Excellent easy read stand alone non-dry sci-fi with good characters within a steadily building plot. The differentiator here is the society built upon eco and social rules based on mistakes from the past vs a competing society that has not learnt any lessons. Good messages throughout to stimulate ideas all very relevant to how we live today. Enjoyable and relevant (without falling into lecture-mode).
May 22, 2023
Astonishing. Beautifully written, as expected from Modesitt, and a feat of both imagination and understanding. It is related in the first person by a fully-drawn character who is a reliable narrator though a complicated one. The author has constructed not only an entire technical and scientific history for his setting, but a moral and philosophical framework within which the action takes place. It is simultaneously thoroughly human and utterly strange. I will be rereading this.
March 12, 2020
Another excellent sci-fi by Modesitt. The themes and ideas in this one really appeal to me. It would be quite interesting to see how the philosophy he proposes in this book would work in real life (or in theory). The world is well imagined and critiques some of the choices of modern society.
An excellent read.
An excellent read.
March 20, 2019
I don't know why I find this rather bleak tale of ecological disaster and political brinkmanship comforting, but I do? I think there's a weird meditative quality and an underlying hopefulness that sacrifice will bring results. Re-read.
November 28, 2020
I love this kind of SciFi for how it can take contemporary issues and fold it into a great story. You know it worked when you are left contemplating concepts in the story and talking to people about them. Rarely give five stars, this is one of them.
October 3, 2024
This book focuses on the connection between the environment and politics in a sci-fi earth. I find the way the connection is explored really interesting and I love the focus on preserving the environment.
February 12, 2019
A great futuristic, philosophical book
April 17, 2020
A pacifist war leader must defeat an invasion of cybernetically enhanced humans without striking the first blow.
June 27, 2020
Writing style was a little to... Poetic? For me. Maybe there is a better word and I just dont know it. Just not my style.
March 10, 2021
I love the ending of this book.
January 2, 2023
Pretty good story about a clash of cultures in a far future -- with emphasis on
CLASH
. (Some folks just see what they want to see and refuse to learn. Sound familiar?)
This was my first Modesitt read. I will read more.
Solid 4 stars.
This was my first Modesitt read. I will read more.
Solid 4 stars.
April 30, 2023
classic modesitt
Classic tale of simple living, technology use only where absolutely necessary, and restrained use of overwhelming force. That pretty much sums it up
Classic tale of simple living, technology use only where absolutely necessary, and restrained use of overwhelming force. That pretty much sums it up
January 28, 2013
This was a really cool read. There is fascinating examinations on how morality is critical for a functional and successful society, but governments are prone to corruption and thus immorality, or at least a bastardization of the values it claims to uphold and represent. "Old Earth" in this book has a very interesting system worked out in that they don't reward the government or leadership positions. They compensate those in power with manual labor after they've done their duty. This results in decreasing the likelihood of corruption. Actually, it's kind of brilliant. Dare I say more effective than "checks and balances". Having all this illustrated by the backdrop of a 10,000 year old banished race of cyborgs (cybs) returning to Earth to get revenge and/or steal technology and resources is pretty sci-fi awesomeness, too.
January 31, 2014
This was an excellent read, not only because it was a well written scifi story, but because of the pervasive theme of morality and power.
The "cybs" seem to have all the power and not the morality while the "demis" have the morality and seem to lack power. With neither side understanding the other's view.
Without being preachy the need for repairing and sustaining our own ecosystem is presented in a well thought out manner.
I have loved Mr. Modessitt's fantasy books for a long time, now I must add him to my favorite scifi authors.
The only reason this book did not earn the 5th star, the back story begs to be told, and while this book was a good stand alone; knowing how both societies evolved into their future selves would be fascinating!
The "cybs" seem to have all the power and not the morality while the "demis" have the morality and seem to lack power. With neither side understanding the other's view.
Without being preachy the need for repairing and sustaining our own ecosystem is presented in a well thought out manner.
I have loved Mr. Modessitt's fantasy books for a long time, now I must add him to my favorite scifi authors.
The only reason this book did not earn the 5th star, the back story begs to be told, and while this book was a good stand alone; knowing how both societies evolved into their future selves would be fascinating!
January 27, 2015
I enjoyed this book as I do most of L.E. Modesitt Jr's books but it was a little "preachy" about the environment. Also the social system described is, for all practical purposes, a very restrictive, totalitarian state. You are not supposed to own too many clothes or music CD's or any other "luxary" items, supposedly necessary to save the environment. I would not enjoy living in this world. Also I found the alternative spelling of words most annoying. If you are a fan of L.E. Modesitt Jr. I would say read this book, but if you are not familiar with his work I would not recommend it as a first read.
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