The Quantum Magician by Derek KünskenMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Full disclosure, I know the author personally - on a first name basis, in fact (humble-brag) - and I like him. He's good people. That said, this review is pretty impartial (in my reckoning). If I didn't like the book, I'd just not review it.
I really liked this book.
Hard science fiction isn't really my jam. Most of the hard sci fi books I've read have been rather dry. If I wanted things explained to me in excruciating detail, I'd read a text book. Give me stories. Give me characters. Give me something other than how much you personally know about stuff.
This isn't the case here. Yes, there is hard science, but it's delivered in manageable pieces and even then, it's only the stuff you need to know in relation to the characters and events. There is also an awful lot of character stuff - the stuff I absolutely revel in. Characters make or break a story for me, and I'm happy to report that Derek managed that part well. A goodly number of hard sci fi has missed the mark here.
I was particularly delighted by the names of some of the characters, which are all familiar to me, and really enjoyed the character of Marie. Also, there are inclusions of inside jokes that made me giggle, which the average reader likely won't get, but I was ridiculously tickled by. There were probably more inside-type jokes which completely flew over my head that others who know Derek will adore.
Though I'm not particularly enamoured of heist stories, the plot was intriguing enough, and the characters interesting (and often hilarious) enough that I kept reading all the way through. It was worth it.
A few times I was particularly struck by interactions between characters, particularly Belisarius and Cassandra, not because I found their romance especially interesting (no offence to those who love it, but romance in general isn't really interesting to me usually), but because both were highly individual, and that created believable conflict. One of the lines that struck a deep chord with me is when Cassandra admonishes Belisarius with the words, "You cannot offer to diminish me and call it more." Or something to that effect. I remember that line (more or less) in particular because it struck so true.
The happy ending irked me, because I'm a monster and don't really like them all that much, but that's just me. It was fine as an ending; both a resolution to the major conflicts, and open enough that more shenanigans can occur at a later date.
I'm not just being kind because I know the author and like the guy. This is a great book. I'm not a fan of hard sci fi for many reasons, but the writing here is accessible, and the plot and characters well-developed and interesting.
I'm very glad I own a copy, and I'm really looking forward to the next in the series.
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