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| Firstborn (A Time Odyssey) | 
 enlarge | Authors: Arthur C. Clarke, Stephen Baxter
Publisher: Del Rey
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy Used: $7.34
You Save: $18.61 (72%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 119044
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3
ISBN: 0345491572
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780345491572
ASIN: 0345491572
Publication Date: December 26, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Stamp inside front cover (ex-library copy, but no other markings), tear/wrinkling along top of dust cover (tear about 1/4") some wear to edges of book and dust cover, friction wear from shelving, a few folded pages inside, part of dust cover that overlaps on back cover inside book has fold in it.
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Product Description
The Firstborn–the mysterious race of aliens who first became known to science fiction fans as the builders of the iconic black monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey–have inhabited legendary master of science fiction Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s writing for decades. With Time’s Eye and Sunstorm, the first two books in their acclaimed Time Odyssey series, Clarke and his brilliant co-author Stephen Baxter imagined a near-future in which the Firstborn seek to stop the advance of human civilization by employing a technology indistinguishable from magic.
Their first act was the Discontinuity, in which Earth was carved into sections from different eras of history, restitched into a patchwork world, and renamed Mir. Mir’s inhabitants included such notables as Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and United Nations peacekeeper Bisesa Dutt. For reasons unknown to her, Bisesa entered into communication with an alien artifact of inscrutable purpose and godlike power–a power that eventually returned her to Earth. There, she played an instrumental role in humanity’s race against time to stop a doomsday event: a massive solar storm triggered by the alien Firstborn designed to eradicate all life from the planet. That fate was averted at an inconceivable price. Now, twenty-seven years later, the Firstborn are back.
This time, they are pulling no punches: They have sent a “quantum bomb.” Speeding toward Earth, it is a device that human scientists can barely comprehend, that cannot be stopped or destroyed–and one that will obliterate Earth.
Bisesa’s desperate quest for answers sends her first to Mars and then to Mir, which is itself threatened with extinction. The end seems inevitable. But as shocking new insights emerge into the nature of the Firstborn and their chilling plans for mankind, an unexpected ally appears from light-years away.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
 Firstborn is far from Arthur C. Clarke's best; but still worthwhile December 31, 2007
18 out of 19 found this review helpful
Firstborn is the concluding volume in Sir Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter's Time Odyssey trilogy. The preceding two books in this science-fiction series are Time's Eye (2003) and Sunstorm (2005). Each prior novel was vivid, innovative, and compelling. I cannot say the same thing about Firstborn. The final installment is a disappointing capstone.
Without spoiling the story, Firstborn leaves us with as many questions as it answers. It lacks finality. Readers are left wanting more. Yet there is nothing more for Clarke and Baxter to give, after they seem to write themselves into a corner.
The concluding chapters of the book are increasingly ambiguous. Clarke and Baxter seem distracted by their own storyline. It becomes ever more complex as Firstborn unravels. As the end nears, Firstborn becomes tenuous and unconvincing.
This is in contrast to most of Clarke's writing over the past 60 years. I credit Clarke and author Robert Heinlein (1907-1988) as being the best at weaving science, engineering, physics, and futurism into their works of science fiction. Unfortunately, in Firstborn, the concepts Baxter and Clarke select - particularly the theoretical physics they invoke - are simply unrealistic. To the extent that any of it is credible, the writers fail to properly explain core principals. Unlike Clarke and Baxter's former works, the technology in Firstborn does not buttress the narrative. It detracts from it.
I concede that there is lengthy discussion in the book of space elevators and anti-matter rocket motors. As to the first, it is a rehash of a concept Clarke wrote about 25 years ago in The Fountains of Paradise (1979). As to the second - anti-matter rockets - the discussion of this technology is pedestrian and under-developed. Clarke and Baxter seem to know as much/little about it as some sophisticated readers know. It makes the technological application and discussion in Firstborn seem far-fetched and contrived.
Character development in Firstborn is also disappointing. There are several strong female characters. We met some of them before in Sunstorm and Time's Eye. In Firstborn, however, they are not easy to warm up to. Their demeanors, amid massive catastrophes and suffering, are measured and stiff. Certain male protagonists exhibit the opposite problem: they are caricatures and impossible to identify with. Many lesser characters are unmemorable. This is despite excellent creative opportunities which could have been leveraged in the "Mir" universe.
The writing in Firstborn simply does not compare with Clarke's past work. In other books he easily and vividly communicated joy, pain, courage, and suffering. He was at his best, for example, in Songs of Distant Earth (1986) and Childhood's End (1953), which better explore love, friendship, family and a range of human emotions in the context of a space-faring society. Firstborn falls far short of his own standards.
Please do not let this review dissuade you from reading other Arthur C. Clarke novels. He is one of my favorite writers of all time. It is in fact difficult for me to write this less-than-favorable review of Firstborn. Clarke ties Heinlein in my mind for being the best science fiction writer in history. Significantly, Clarke's vision, including early work on geostationary satellites, transcends science fiction. He is legitimately celebrated for contributions to "science fact."
It is therefore not my opinion that Firstborn is a poorly-written book; it is only lacking when compared to Clarke (and Baxter's) prior works.
J. Christopher Robbins
Aviation & Space Law Department
Robbins Equitas, P.A.
 He did better alone... July 3, 2008
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
As a lifelong fan of Sir Arthur, I admit to having lost my taste for his work since he collaborated with others. In one of his earlier collaborations, I could easily figure out what lines Clarke wrote, into the story written, obviously, by the other.
This book just didn't...catch me! I tried, I really did. But the first in this series of three struck me as a cross between the themes of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and the old "Time Tunnel" television series. The ideas weren't engaging, and the story not really worth the time it took to read it.
This went downhill from there.
Maybe when I get some time--yeah, that's likely to occur--I'll read all three of them and, wow, I'll have an insight and change my reviews. But for now, I'm awaiting Sir Arthur's last collaboration, of which I read in his Washington Post obituary (and I've ordered but it won't be here for another month or so). And I hope to the heavens that it's better than the last few.
Rest in Peace, Arthur. I'll always remember you for your better work.
Lacking in Scope, Cohesion, and Resolution January 8, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Firstborn is the continuation, and supposed, conclusion to the Time Odyssey trilogy. The book floats between several settings, including Mars, Earth, and Mir (the alternate world created in Time's Eye). This book attempts to tie in all of the previous elements of Time's Eye and Sunstorm. Once again, we follow Bisea Dutt between space and between universes, all the way back to Mir. The Firstborn are on the attack again. This time, they are lobbing a "Q bomb" at the Earth. The Q bomb will wipe out the whole of Earth, if it hits.
I can see what Clarke and Baxter were trying to accomplish with this novel. However, the ideas and writing are underdeveloped and lacking in cohesion. The novel starts out promisingly enough, with Bisea Dutt waking from suspended animation and running away from authorities. However the novel quickly loses its focus and edge by indulging in half-plots and contrived conflicts.
Much of the novel is focused on humanity's attempts to defeat the Q bomb. Without spoiling the story, the novel focuses on the conventional, government lead attempts to stop the bomb and a less conventional attempt, involving Mir.
At every step in the plot, it seems Clarke is a few pages from a great concept, chapter and book. However, he falls short - consistently. The world he initially creates is, seemingly, supposed to be more paranoid, authoritative and divided, but that is barely conveyed with the simple technical devices he creates (ex. a mandatory ident tattoo on everyone's cheek). Close to the novel's resolution, the sweeping changes in society are empty and uninspiring.
To the dismay of those who enjoyed Time's Eye, Alexander is reduced to a shell of what he could be and the Babylonian court is barely touched on. This exhibits none of the wonderful counter-factual history Time's Eye exhibited. At the same time, it does not explore any ground breaking scientific material (the Q bomb is never truly explored), nor does it give a sense of human drama as Sunstorm did.
Though it's far from out of character for Clarke, the conclusion of the book leaves another open ending and feels very unsatisfying for a true end of a trilogy. I sat puzzled and had to reread the last sentences a couple times, just to make sure I read them correctly. Sometimes needing to reread the last few sentences of a book is very satisfying, but this was not the case for Firstborn.
Lastly, in terms of the trilogy as a whole, I thoroughly enjoyed the first two installments in the series. Yet, when taken holistically with this last installment, I can't help but think there could have been a better job done of interwoven story lines, resolution and character development throughout the trilogy itself. The first two novels were excellent on their own merits, but this third installment seems as though it's trying to weave together two incompatible stories.
If you've read the two previous novels, I'd still recommend you read Firstborn, but don't get your hopes up, and wait for the paperback.
 exhilarating science fiction thriller December 26, 2007
3 out of 10 found this review helpful
The Firstborn previously attacked the earth with a solar flare; this essence refuses to allow any sentient race to live that might have the potential one day to be an adversarial rival. The Earth surprised the Firstborn by surviving the assault as no one endures an attack by this super being.
The Firstborn changes tactics by sending the Q-bomb from deep space towards Earth. When efforts to deflect the meteor like weapon fails, dissension on and off the planet slows down reactions as differing groups push forth an agenda. The Spacers on Mars and Mir are already cutting ties with the mother planet; they want nothing to do with the confrontation with Firstborn as they feel they can endure the destruction of the Earth. Many of those living on Earth want to take the war to the Firstborn, but are not sure how. Meanwhile defrosted Bisesa Dutt has returned to the living after fifteen years of being cryogenically frozen and with her daughter Myra discover the government wants them. With the help of Spacer Alexei they escape and soon meet scientists studying the Eye, an artifact of the Firstborn, in hopes of finding a way to counter the invincible.
The third Time Odyssey tale is an exhilarating science fiction thriller that targets fans who read the previous stories (see SUNSTORM and TIME'S EYE). Newcomers will be confused (and some of us old timers too) by the world hopping between Mir, Mars, and Earth. The key to the tale is that life on Mars, Mir, future earth, and to a much lesser degree Venus seem genuine. Those living on the different orbs behave as expected as things that seem different to a reader is treated as normal even the time bending of people and species from different earth eras living in fragile co-existence. Fans who appreciate a strong dose of quantum physics will enjoy this fine entry although a cliffhanger leaves room for another novel in this entertaining saga and we still wait for that encounter of the first kind with Firstborn.
Harriet Klausner
Good ideas, flawed execution January 3, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is the 3rd book in the series, the collaboration between Clarke and Baxter further explores both authors interests in god-like aliens and the Fermi paradox. Unfortunately for me, it was a disappointment.
As in the previous Sunstorm, earth is threatened with extinction, this time by an "unstoppable" cosmological bomb. This is the device to keep the plot moving along, which it does, although ultinmtely the solution is poorly thought out and unsatisfying.
The better points of the book are the trademark descriptions of technology. Unfortunately we have read about them before. The space elevator, now updated from the Fountains of Paradise, are exactly as envisaged by Brad Edwards "The Space Elevator". The solar sail spacecraft are updated from Clarke's "The Wind from the sun" written over 40 years ago, but are essentially the same. We have anti-matter spaceships, not that dissimilar from Baxter's steam punk "Anti-Ice". The AIs are domesticated and benevolent HAL 9000s. Other ideas, such as the inflatable Martian habitats are current Nasa models and the re-wilding of the US is lifted in whole cloth from a SciAm article.
The bad points of the book are the poor plot and unnecessary events. We are given glimpses of a dying alien world around Procyon and hints that the Firstborn are systematically wiping out other races. We return our heroine, Bisesa Dutt to Mir again, but for no real reason as she plays little part in the resolution of the threat to earth, so the events are more of a distraction from where the real action is taking place. The bomb is unstoppable except that luckily the Last Martian in the Mir universe is contacted in a roundabout way, and using almost no information, correctly determines a course of action that fortuitously results in the bomb not destroying earth, but Mars instead. Very convenient, almost Deus ex Machina.
So we are left with more questions unanswered. Who are the Firstborn? Why do they really want to destroy technological life (a hint is given)? Why is Bisesa Dutt so special that she can travel between the 2 universes and why is her phone allowed to communicate between the worlds? Why was Mir created, yet for an apparently short lifetime? Are we going to get answers, or will they just remain plot devices, and for what real purpose?
Overall the ideas and plot are a mish-mash of ideas and plots that Clarke and Baxter have explored before, in better works. The space elevator journey is almost boring here, as is the solar sail space craft journey. Mir is conceptually similar to Manifold: Origins, yet the events are almost prosaic.
The book ends on a cliff-hanger. Let me guess, the next book will be entitled "Lastborn"?
It is a shame that this book feels so cobbled together. Clarke and Baxter are both great writers, but Clarke's age (and loss of control?) and Baxter's prolific output, have resulted in a relatively poor quality product. I hope the next novel does not disappoint.
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