Max Barry: Providence (2020, Cengage Gale)
492 pages
English language
Published Aug. 7, 2020 by Cengage Gale.
Max Barry's speculative fiction has often been published just ahead of big cultural moments it is well suited to shed light on. This novel from 2020 focuses on AI and PR in a way that seems perfectly suited for the 2022-2023 surge in AI use. There are thrilling space war trappings, but Barry's wit and those presently pressing concerns make it more than just another sci fi adventure.
Although I’m generally a big fan of Max Barry, I liked this book the least of those I’ve read. Providence is much more conventional than his other novels and far less satisfying to me. It feels like basic space opera sci-fi, but it’s definitely not hard SF. The science is weak, with FTL travel and communications completely glossed over. There’s also a highly unlikely planetary landing, and meanwhile back on Earth global warming, species collapse, and resource depletion are totally ignored.
The author is smart enough to know all this, so I’m wondering whether he dumbed the science down in hopes of reaching more of a mass audience, or if perhaps the whole thing is supposed to be read as allegory…?
Ripped through this in about six hours. The story is simple. A few characters, an implacable foe, and an insane mission. Don't let the first chapter turn you off.
A superb read
Having read a lot of Max Barry novels it's safe to say this is my favourite. I love them all of course, but this is a superb read.
Highly recommended.
Here Barry is straying even further out of his corporate-thriller comfort zone and it pays off in a big way. Space opera refreshed with updated technology and ideas.
So I really REALLY enjoyed aspects of this book a lot. But I feel like it could have been much stronger with some strategic construction decisions.
The back of the book description really propped this up as a dive into the relationship with humanity and AI that is so advanced it's intentions become unknowable. And for the most part, that's what this book was about, and I REALLY loved those parts. The discussions between Gilly and Talia about what AI is and their relationship with the ship as almost "lesser beings" was fantastic. I also loved the "marketing war" parts of this book, like how Talia viewed her role on the crew, the need to have human crews on automated ships, and Anders' difficult relationship with his role in the war.
I enjoyed how the actual war served as more of a backdrop for the real story between the crew …
So I really REALLY enjoyed aspects of this book a lot. But I feel like it could have been much stronger with some strategic construction decisions.
The back of the book description really propped this up as a dive into the relationship with humanity and AI that is so advanced it's intentions become unknowable. And for the most part, that's what this book was about, and I REALLY loved those parts. The discussions between Gilly and Talia about what AI is and their relationship with the ship as almost "lesser beings" was fantastic. I also loved the "marketing war" parts of this book, like how Talia viewed her role on the crew, the need to have human crews on automated ships, and Anders' difficult relationship with his role in the war.
I enjoyed how the actual war served as more of a backdrop for the real story between the crew members and the ship. The battles were less about the action, but rather served as a plot device to introduce conflict and doubt among the crew which I thought was so creative.
But the last 60-70 pages of the book really lost me. It essentially took all of that interesting plot and threw it out the window with the crash landing on the planet. I would have preferred the salamanders remain this abstract antagonist than having the crew interact with them on their world. They seemed far more "alien" in space, and I can't help but feel that their image was ruined for me when we learned that they're essentially just ants/bees. Why have them resemble Earth-like beings? Why introduce their "culture" at all? The nail in the coffin was Martian learning rudimentary communication with Gilly. This whole subplot was so unnecessary and uncharacteristic of Gilly. I struggle to understand what the point of this subplot was rather than just having Anders find and rescue Gilly without a watered down version of Arrival.
I personally feel like the story would have been much stronger if the crash landing on the planet was entirely cut out. I'm certainly no writer, but I can't help but think ending the book with the crew realizing that they mischaracterized the intentions of the ship to their own demise, only to be rescued by it (or perish, your choice!) was a total missed opportunity that I find it hard to look beyond.
Anyway, I'd still highly recommend this book to a friend.
