Murphy's Gambit

by Syne Mitchell

Book Overview

Thiadora Murphy is a "floater." Born and raised to withstand a zero-gravity environment, the floaters are considered the dregs of the universe-an outcast society of space workers who have been... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451458095
• ISBN13: 9780451458094
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Roc
• Length: 377 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

Lousy science, good story

Given the author's background, I was surprised at how loose some aspects of science are played with in this book. That and the 9 as a prime number. But these elements stand out because the book has a general hard science fiction feeling to it.But as far as the *story* goes, it is pretty good. Thia Murphy, six weeks from graduating from academy at the top of her class, is set up by an unscrupulous corporation whose job offer she snobbed, expelled, and then left no choice but to take up that offer or being forced into indentured service and bought by them all the same. On the run, without money or options, she is offered a job by a rival corporation: to steal the very ship the first corporation wanted her to pilot. A path that will turn her into a criminal, a fugitive with a huge price on her head, a path that will endanger those close to her and will turn her into the very thing she entered the academy to escape: a floater rebel, daughter of her father.One foot on each culture, grounder and floter, accepted by neither, she tries to find herself, to discover who she is as she desperately fights to stay alive and free.

A GREAT DEBUT NOVEL!

This is a fast-paced story with a great protagonist. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. You'll find yourself rooting for Murphy even as everyone tries to bring her down. The realistic sci-fi world was nicely balanced with down-to-earth problems. The ending left me hopeful that Murphy will be undertaking another journey soon.

Ripping Good Story!

Science fiction with real people and real science is vanishingly rare. This is a classic "underdog makes good" story with really tough problems that get resolved in surprising but believable ways, and a pace that just keeps pounding on. Buy this book!

Definitely a keeper!

In Syne Mitchell's future, corporations rule. Profit is the bottom line, and people are cheap. Especially floaters: once you adapt to zero G there's no going back, and everything you need, right down to the air you breathe, comes through the corporations. And you thought you had it bad! Murphy's Gambit is a great adventure story set in a plausible universe - one that (for a change) takes advantage of the possibilities and limits of space, as well as those of human nature. Try it, you'll like it!

Strong debut novel!

Murphy's Gambit is a strong debut novel of hard science fiction. There's lots of cool world building, interesting culture clashes, and science that is right for a change. The plight of the floaters compares well to those in Lois McMasters Bujold's universe. The plot twists in all the right ways as well making the book a good read unlike some hard sf. Syne Mitchell has previously been known for fantasy short stories, a regular in the Sword and Sorceress anthologies, but she sure can write sf, too.