Gravity of a Distant Sun is a sequel to R. E. Sterns’ Barbary Stationand Mutiny at Vesta. Once again, Adda and Iridian are in trouble. They are bounced all over the Solar System as they try to catch a ride on the first interstellar expedition. Along the way, they must deal with Casey, a newly self-aware ship’s AI that can influence their behavior by hacking into their neural implants. Sterns does a good job sewing up some loose ends from the first two books. ( )

This gave me everything I expected (heists, computer hacking, competence porn, seedy settings, sticking it to corporate overlords), a fair bit of new world-building and some cool new characters, and a satisfying conclusion to the awakened AI arc within the series, but either because I knew what to expect or because I was reading this at the start of a global pandemic, I was never quite as hooked as I was for the last couple books. That said, I definitely want more in the world, if not more with these characters! Stearns’ blend of sci-fi elements and her approach to plot has impressed me that much.

I don’t know if there’s a whole lot more I can say about this without spoiling it or the series. (Also it’s been like five months because I’m super behind on reviews.) I still love how Adda and Iridian have each others’ backs, though, the way they build and manage their teams, and the way they’re able to out-think anything the solar system throws at them. I still think the AIs are written is a brilliant blend of sympathetic personalities and godawful creepiness, and I still like the way Stearns throws in plot twists that are telegraphed just enough to be gotchas without giving the whole thing away. I was, as usual, on the same level with Adda solving the mystery, if not half a step behind her.

I think my favourite parts of this book were the settings, though. There’s a prison and a slum of a space station and a hospital and all sorts of places in between, and they all feel fully realised and thought-out without ever quite funny to cliché. The station, for instance, is exactly as cobbled together and weird as anything out of TV sci-fi, but with more diversity, more grime, and more detail as to structural realities. (To be honest, that sort of detail’s been a running thing for me through the series.)

Beyond that, I just have to say I liked this but I didn’t feel like I was tearing through it or caught up in the adventure enough to “love” it. I wasn’t disappointed or wowed, either. It was pretty much exactly what I wanted and thought I’d be getting, without being predictable. I’m going to be watching to see if Stearns writes more in this world, but if she doesn’t, I’ll be satisfied anyway.

To bear in mind: contains mind control and other violations of autonomy and consent (but not of a sexual nature)

6.5/10 ( )