The Silver Ship and the Sea

By Brenda Cooper

Book Overview

Young prisoners of war for as long as they can remember . . .

Prisoners of a war they barely remember, Fremont's Children must find a way to survive in a world that abhors their very nature. Or they must discover a way to leave it...

Six genetically enhanced children are stranded on the colony planet Fremont in a war between genetic purists and those that would tinker with the code. Orphaned, the children have few remnants of their heritage other than an old woman who was abandoned at the end of the war, and a mysterious silver ship that appears to have no doors.

To keep themselves alive, the children must leave the safety of the insular community and brave the beautiful but dangerous wilds of Fremont. Is it an echo of their own natures, or a proving ground of their genetic worth?

In this battle of wills and principles, what does the future hold for Fremont's Children?

"Fast-paced and full-bodied, "Silver Ship" is character-driven hard SF at its best."- The Seattle Times

"Distinctive characterizations, well-limned interrelationships, and the vividly realized Fremont contribute to an exciting coming-of-age story with a strong message about the evils of prejudice."

"YAs are sure to relate to the travails and exploits of these extraordinary young people."-Booklist, Starred Review

"This is an adventure story, because life on this planet can be treacherous, but it is also a story about the relationships between insiders and outsiders, between adults and the teens who are about to surpass them, and between people who need each other in order to survive."- School Library Journal

"Cooper's ...first solo effort combines the feel of classic sf adventure with strong, character-driven storytelling and lays the foundation for other tales set in her brave new world.... Suitable for both adult and YA sf collections."- Library Journal

"Good plot, with some nice touches...Characterizations were particularly well done."-Locus"The relationships and issues are more than intricate enough to satisfy more mature readers. But the protagonists are young, and the themes are ones that must necessarily speak to young adult readers. Enjoy."-Analog

Selected by Booklist as one of the top ten 2007 adult books for youth to read.

Winner of the Endeavour Award

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 168057602X
• ISBN13: 9781680576023
• Release Date: August 2017
• Publisher: Wordfire Press
• Length: 410 Pages
• Weight: 1.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A worthy successor.

My favorite author is Anne McCaffrey. I have 79 of her books. I will now be collecting and reading Brenda Cooper's works.

Authors first novel

Wow, this is her first full length book, I am very impressed. And the main character was very real to me - love science fiction that focus on the impact of advanced science on society, not on guns and gadgets.

Endeavour Award winner is a good story for YA and Adults

Brenda Cooper has written a strong and engaging book. I found her characterizations credible because she used no blatant archetypes: I probably know someone like almost everyone in the book, including the "altered" teens. There is no arch-villain, instead the teens face prejudice from influential adults. She deftly handles the questions of "who do you trust," "who do you love," and "who do you tolerate." I found the pacing of the story kept me reading. There is very little physical violence, as in real life the question of how one survives is much more complicated than that. It is no wonder the book won the 2008 Endeavour Award for science fiction literature.

"SOLID!"

My reason for buying this book was that I read the excellent novel (Building Harlequins' Moon) A project between Brenda Cooper and Larry Niven. Larry Niven is one of the greatest S.F. authors of all time. I can't say I have read "EVERYTHING" he has ever written,,but it is on my list of things to do before I die! Brenda Cooper is an author to watch! I expect great things from her. As great as Larry? (Maybe!) This novel is her first solo effort. It is a solid one! If I could write a novel half as good as this I could die a happy man! (Now For some criticism!) The character development is a bit off. There are too many characters to keep track of in the beginning. That is one thing that bothers me,,"25 characters all introduced in the first 2 pages that you have to keep track of or you will become lost! Or at least you will have to flip back and find out where you read that name before! I had to flip back a few times! I agree with some of the other reviews that the story is a bit Slow/Flat at times. Overall it is a good story. It has a lot of emotion. I think Cooper has a lot of potential. I am looking forward to her next book!

An engrossing planetary adventure.

An engrossing planetary adventure. I am looking forward to Ms. Cooper's next novel.

coming of age science fiction

The planet Fremont was considered a dangerous place for colonization due to its odd lethal flora and fauna as much as from the meteorites that crash on its surface and it's volcanic and quake activity. However, in spite of a need to cooperate twelve years ago war exploded between the original human settlers and the second group bioengineered to fit the orb. Near Artistos, the only town on the planet, is the deadly Grass Plains and in its center lays the single silver spaceship that humans fear. Six altered children left orphaned by the hostilities and unwanted by the purebreds except as slaves, dream of freedom. Abetting their hopes is the last altered adult Jenna the crazy woman as Chelo Lee leads the other five on a quest to find either escape from the planet via the abandoned ship or establish a new home where they can live free. This coming of age science fiction is a fun lighthearted read. The story line focuses on the children as they seek their own way in hostile environs made worse by rampant prejudice towards their kind. However, though fun to follow their exploits in search of freedom, Chelo and her comrades fail to show the impact of being raised by people who fear them while wanting to use (and abuse) their altered gifts. Still this is a fine tale of six courageous youths on a quest for freedom. Harriet Klausner