Second Star

Star Svensdotter, Book 1

By: Dana Stabenow

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

"When the Betelgeuse message was detected, it changed a lot of things on Earth. We began to look seriously outward, not with the heady optimism of the early days, but with deliberate calculation. We knew that Someone was out there, and that eventually, they’d be coming. If Earth didn’t occupy the High Frontier, it could be ours to lose."

Esther "Star" Svensdotter’s job is overseeing the completion of the American Alliance’s first O’Neill cylinder - a massive space hub capable of supporting thousands of colonists. It’s just weeks away from commissioning, and she’ll be damned if Luddite terrorists, squabbling bureaucrats, military takeovers or rogue AIs will stand in the way. Frontier justice on Ellfive sometimes involves an airlock - you don’t want to be on the wrong side of justice. Or the wrong side of Star Svensdotter.

The first in Dana Stabenow’s Star Svensdotter trilogy, Second Star is a tale of first contact, declarations of independence, and new frontiers.

©1991 Dana Stabenow (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Stick to Alaska...

Would you recommend Second Star to your friends? Why or why not?

I purchased this book because of the quality of the author's Alaska books. It's a tedious book, and nowhere near the detailed quality of the two Alaska series. Not a bad buy for 5$ or less, but otherwise forgettable.

What does Marguerite Gavin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Most of the quality of the book comes from the narrator.

Interesting Space Opera

Any additional comments?

Stabenow worked hard to get some good science into her fiction. The influence of Heinlein on both plot device and characterization is strong, but the females in the story are given a more satisfactory personality than Heinlein usually did. It seems clear that the succeeding novels are being prepared for in this tale, although it is good in itself. I ended up listening to three quarters and reading the last quarter in e-text, since it was free. Both media compelled my interest.

Dana's 1st. Love her writing style!

Dana never ceases to keep me entertained. The velvety voice of Marguerite is amazing. I secretly hope for a fourth Star.

Not Another Sci Fi Heroine

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would suggest this one to some friends. It's not a book for Fantasy lovers. And not enough action for the Action lovers. But, enough of a story that I think it could go places.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

More action would certainly improve the book. It's not a bad start on a new series & certainly leaves several avenues that could be explored in subsequent books.

Could you see Second Star being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I can see this as a TV movie & it's just too damned bad that Kathleen Turner is way too old for the part!! But, I think Katie Holmes might fit the bill.

Any additional comments?

If Stabenow writes another book in the series, I'll buy it just because I love her Kate Shugak & Liam Campbell series. I'm hoping it develops into another good series of books.

Somebody was not checking on correct pronunciation

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would not hesitate to recommend the book. I would not hesitate to recommend Ms. Gavin's narration with the following warning. Either Ms. Gavin or her editor should be far more vigilant about finding out the way to correctly pronounce common scientific and mathematic terminology. It grates to hear words mispronounced when we all know it is possible to find out the accepted way to say all terms...it just take a layer of caring about the product which I have never encountered before in this narrator's performances. Ms. Gavin, the pleasure of listening to your nuanced characterization does not deserve to be reduced this way!

If you enjoy Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak and Liam Campbell, wrench yourself away from the wilds of Alaska and try a yarn set in a fabricated space ecosystem.

What other book might you compare Second Star to and why?

Early chapters, yet, but thus far similar to early Heinlein.

What three words best describe Marguerite Gavin’s performance?

nuanced, mispronounced, energetic

Any additional comments?

I will repeat that I do not think the blame for narration errors in a single person's error!

Good listen, but not perfect

What made the experience of listening to Second Star the most enjoyable?

The Story itself was good. Traditional SCI FI story. Characters were believable for the most part and situations had logical purposes. Descent attention to physics and how things would work in such a universe.

Have you listened to any of Marguerite Gavin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Have listened to several of Gavin's books before. She can seem somewhat forced when performing SCI FI. This does depend on how the author wrote the story, so that has to be considered.

Any additional comments?

The only issue is how the book comes across. The main character is a woman but the personality of that character is unfocused sometimes. Reactions don't always follow what you would expect, especially when dealing with other people the story. At one point she will be a strong willed space commander then turn around and act like a whiny teenager. Secondary characters too can be somewhat off.

Fun Trip.

It was not boring! 😀 Left me wanting a sequel! loved how big the space station felt.

Must listen!

Lots of fun “possible” future tech is described in just enough detail for the avid science fiction fan. Star Svensdotter sets a solid tone for how freedom and sensible capitalism could be handled judiciously in or first forays into space. And of course, Marguerite Gavin is brilliant, entertaining and masterful!! Thanks

first in ok series

overall this was a nice little series of the "daily life" aboard a future space station type. the influence of Clarke, Heinlein etc is very apparent several ways, especially Clarke of the early years and later 2001. I liked it for the most part, but had some trouble with the narrator who mispronounces some items, and ultimately by the end of the series i began to wonder if Stabenow couldn't make up her mind on what the series was to be. at one point or another almost all the stock elements of Scifi are present, which I thought detracted from the more interesting ideas she presented but didn't quite develop. "first contact" pops up, but in 2nd book seems not to have altered mankind's thinking much. then in 3rd book there is a search for yet another human precursor society which almost seems forgotten for much of the book, & then the book ends where it should be getting interesting. I wanted to like the set more, but kept feeling that the 3 books could have been condensed (in fact some entire scenes are repeated here and there )

When does the next one in the series come out????

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would recommend it...I have been waiting and hoping for this series to come out, and to have Marguerite Gavin as the reader was wonderful (I love her reading of the Kate Shugak books).

What was one of the most memorable moments of Second Star?

I want to be able to fly like the characters on EllFive!!! The scene where Star, Caleb, Elizabeth, and Paddy launch themselves off the mountains of EllFive (with their strapped-on wings) was wonderful.

Have you listened to any of Marguerite Gavin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I have listened to all of her Kate Shugak performances, and this is just as wonderful as those. She doesn't over-emote, but gives just the right amount of feeling, and doesn't fall into the trap many readers have of reading as if the listener needs a massive amount of help from his/her voice to decide what to feel at any particular point.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend anything by Dana Stabenow. Her three SF books didn't make much of a splash when they were first published, but I have worn out several copies of each, and I am pleased to now have the Audible version of the first in the series.