Artifact Space is one of the best science fiction novels I’ve
ever read.
I’ve been a fan of Miles (Christian) Cameron for some time.
He brings the same great storytelling and world-building to his science fiction
that I’ve experienced in his fantasy and historical fiction.
Cameron is a terrific storyteller. In Artifact Space, we
follow Marca Nbaro, a troubled orphan who illegally gains a commission as a
junior officer on a massive Greatship. Nbaro is a great protagonist, and
Cameron does a wonderful job with her development over the course of the novel.
When I say Greatship, think supercarrier crossed with a giant
container ship. The Greatships are massive merchant ships and are the lifeblood
of human civilization. Cameron served in the United States Navy as an intelligence
officer and crewmember of an S-3 Viking. These experiences shine through in his
realistic depiction of life on a massive spaceship. One of the things I most love
about Cameron’s books is how he brings out the details of life (clothing,
training, technology, social structure, economics, and more) without lecturing
the audience. Everything comes out organically in the story and adds tremendous
depth to the world he’s creating.
Artifact Space is a grittier, more realistic style of
science fiction. It’s not magical fantasy (Star Wars) in space. Cameron pays
attention to physics, Newtonian laws, and realistic technology (The Expanse). It
is a style I much prefer in my science fiction.
I’m not going to go into the details of the story. I’ll just
say that it is part spy thriller, military space epic, and space exploration
novel in one package. Cameron makes it all work together seamlessly. I give
Artifact Space my highest recommendation.
