In
1945, Murray Leinster published a short story entitled “First Contact”
which recounted a meeting between humans and extraterrestrials in a system
which was not native to either species.
While they were able to communicate, neither side felt they could
trust the other side and a solution had to be discovered to make sure that
neither species could find the other’s home world.
Infinity Beach (Slow Lightning in the UK), is Jack
McDevitt examination of a similar situation.
For
centuries, humans have been attempting to find proof that they are not alone
in the universe. Since all
attempts have failed, the Institute on Greenway has elected to try an
audacious beacon project by igniting a series of novae in a set pattern.
Dr. Kim Brandywine, whose sister vanished shortly after taking part
in the last attempt to discover possible “celestials” aboard the Hunter,
is working on the beacon project as a public relations specialist until an
enigmatic contact from Sheyol Tolliver, a former professor, makes Kim begin
to wonder if it was possible that the Hunter had actually discovered
celestials.
McDevitt’s
novel touches on several philosophical and moral issues, ranging from
treatment of possible alien species to the decision to destroy stars, to the
role of government. However
much of the novel is a mixture of thriller and mystery and Kim and her
various companions lowly begin to uncover clues about what really happened
aboard the Hunter.
Infinity
Beach presents a society which has existed for several centuries and
incorporates both legends and history which give the society a sense of
depth and reality. McDevitt has
exhibited this ability in such works as The
Engines of God and Eternity Road.
At the same time, he allows his readers and his characters to
question the truth behind their legends, much as he did in A
Talent for War.
While
McDevitt employs a straight-forward story-telling technique, he manages to
incorporate many twists and turns in his plot and motivations which belie
the apparent simplicity of the story. However,
his presentation means that certain scenes are less than successful, most
notably sequences such as Kim’s first encounter at Lake Remorse which
relies a little too heavily on a sense of the weird and eerie than McDevitt
is able to pull off.
McDevitt’s
initial meeting between humans and celestials is not as controlled as the
one in Leinster’s short story. Fear
and happenstance get in the way of making a logical and mutually beneficial
arrangement. Kim’s mission
becomes one of determining what happened and how it can be rectified, if at
all. In order to do this, Kim
becomes involved with a variety of criminal acts, which the authorities must
overlook, however it seems as if the notoriety she gains must hinder her
performance in ways not revealed in the novel.
McDevitt
creates several interesting and highly different characters, ranging from
Tolliver, whose conspiracy paranoia sparks Kim’s search, to Solly Hobbs,
Kim’s doubting friend who accompanies her not through any deep conviction
but because of his friendship.
While McDevitt leaves many interesting issue
unexplored in Infinity Beach, he has written a novel full of
interesting ideas, exotic locations and fully realized characters and their
culture. While building on the
themes of his earlier novels and stories, Infinity Beach stands on
its own as both a story and an examination of those themes.
