Teaser

Decades ago, the crew and passengers of the Polaris disappeared without a trace. Speculation and conspiracy theories have run wild ever since, but now famed antiquities dealer Alex Benedict may be close to the truth . . .

Review

I have a great many habits that other readers consider unusual, if not downright weird. There’s my extensive spreadsheet keeping. My insistence on not DNFing books. My occasional habit of rolling dice to see which book I read next. One of my many harmless quirks is that I don’t mind reading series out of order. Obviously, I prefer to read series in some semblance of an order, either publication or chronological, but that’s not always possible. I read a lot of out-of-print books, and if I can only get my grubby little mitts on books one, three, and four of a series, am I really supposed to leave them on my shelves until I stumble across book two? Methinks not. That’s why I I’ve already read book three of the Alex Benedict series, and have only this month gone back to book two.

In fairness, Alex Benedict has somewhat less than traditional structure as a series. The first book, A Talent for War, was released in 1989 as a standalone, and didn’t get a follow-up until 2004. Sequels have followed at regular intervals since then, with a ninth novel releasing in 2023. Author Jack McDevitt turns ninety next month, but as far as I am aware, he is still writing. Each of the Alex Benedict novels works as a standalone, so it doesn’t matter too much that I’m missing books in the series. It’s like reading Hound of the Baskervilles without A Study in Scarlet. The characters are in different places, but the story works just fine. In another Holmesian connection, and with the exception of A Talent for War, the Alex Benedict books are narrated by Chase Kolpath, assistant to the man from whom the series derives its title.

Polaris is that perfect combination of space opera and archaeological investigation that McDevitt excels at. It’s never quite detail-oriented enough to be hard SF, but you can tell how much thought has gone into the rich future history McDevitt is weaving with this series. Whereas some space operas handwave over the details, McDeviit thinks them through. It’s not just a straight line into the future history, it’s a crooked jigsaw puzzle with dead ends and false stars in abundance. A history every bit as realistic and convoluted as that metaphor I just mangled.

The mystery behind the Polaris incident is exciting, and the eventual solution dabbles with both fascinating social issues, and uniquely science fictional concepts. But while any good mystery can be made or broken by its eventual resolution, the route taken to get there can often be more interesting. The twists and turns of the investigation don’t always bring answers. Indeed, McDevitt delights in offering up red herrings, but every avenue pursued has something of interest. Some new corner of the future exposing its secrets, or some wonderful new character to spend time with.

All of this, along with McDevitt’s gentle prose and meandering style leads to a book that draws you in slowly, inviting you to pay attention to every little breadcrumb in case it’s the one that leads you home. Polaris is a book that you can’t just dive into. You have to sink in slowly, enjoying the warmth as it pulls you under. Polaris is packed with action and intrigue, but ultimately it’s rather comfortable. Like a cup of hot chocolate, or an episode of Midsomer Murders. Whatever happens on the next page, you know you’re in safe hands.

Going back to Polaris means I’ve filled in a gap in my McDevitt reading, and I can head into The Devil’s Eye with all the prior knowledge McDevitt intended for me. This is a great series, and one often overlooked, so I encourage everyone to check it out.

Book Stats

• Alex Benedict #2
• First Published 2004
• 385 Pages