Second Chances

By Susan Shwartz

Book Overview

In a departure for this very well-reviewed fantasist, Susan Shwartz has returned to her science fiction roots with a riveting novel of honor and its loss, love and its betrayal, and the exploration of what it means to be a true hero.What Susan Shwartz has done is to take a well-loved tale and it in an unconventional setting. Second Chances is nothing less than an homage to Joseph Conrad-think of Lord Jim in space. Just as Conrad explored in great depth the perplexing, ambiguous problem of lost honor and guilt, expiation and heroism, Shwartz has created in her Jim a man haunted by guilt over an act of supposed cowardice and his lifelong efforts to somehow atone for that action-whether or not he merited the disgrace.As Conrad's Jim was a tragic and ultimately noble hero, so too is Shwartz's Jim. A professional soldier whose time has passed, Jim is stationed about the corporate BioShip Irian Jaya security for a commercial venture critical to humanity's continued survival. The war that sundered whole worlds is over and now he's just another "tin soldier," a prop for the military to look good to war-weary civilians. But he's never stopped caring about those who scorn him and the ideals that he still clings to. That caring is tested, however, when he is thrust into a scandal not of his making. He chooses to carry the burden of guilt, no matter what. Because of his pride . . . . and maybe because that's the one thing he has left. Out of this madness will come the biggest battle for his honor and his soul.And perhaps, a promise of a second chance.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312873425
• ISBN13: 9780312873424
• Release Date: August 2001
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Deserves better reviews. A good science fiction adaptation.

_Second Chances_ deserves far better reviews than it has been given here. The story adapts an old story, Joseph Conrad's _Lord Jim_ to a science fiction setting. This is a trend seen in other recent novels, such as Michael Flynn's _The Wreck of The River Of Stars_ and Sharon Shinn's _Jenna Starborn_.The prose and plotting are dense and take thought. But a reader who makes the effort will be rewarded. The action develops over time and is not forcefed to the reader. More important is watching the effect of events on the characters. Seeing Jim recover from the actions that made him an outcast among his peers... Seeing Cam Marlow trying to give Jim the help he needs, but won't accept because he feels he doesn't deserve it... Schwartz take recasts an old story into a new sphere and comes up with something definitely worth reading.

Very strong, intense SF

Susan Shwartz has created a very intense character driven story within a solid SF setting. When it comes to SF, I like it hard. :) The setting in Second Chances establishes a terrific foundation for some great story telling. She creates some wonderful and very memorable characters that stay with you. Heart wrenching is what this book is. Shwartz's writing is very evocative. Second Chances is set in the same universe as Shwartz's other SF book, Heritage Of Flight. It was the strength of that book and her co-authored Star Trek novels, that I sought out Second Chances, and I'm glad I did. I hope to see more SF from Shwartz and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll see more of some of the characters from Second Chances (Captain Marlow, in particular!)