John Varley'sThunder and Lightning books have been compared to Heinlein's young adult science fiction. As a big fan of Heinlein's Have Spacesuit, Will Travel I can see the resemblance, but Varley's books (although the main characters tend to be young adults/new adults) have a level of sophistication that Heinlein's stories lack. Swashes are definitely buckled but DARK LIGHTNING and it's predecessors fall just shy of typical space opera.

The setting of DARK LIGHTNING is intriguing; a closed system spaceship created from a hollowed-out asteroid that is based in general terms on a Dyson sphere. Although there is a certain level of violence, on the whole DARK LIGHTNING is a bit easier to read than some of the earlier books, with none of the horrors of cleaning up after tidal waves as part of the story. I enjoyed all of the Thunder and Lightning books but was glad to have a lighter-themed novel to read this time.

I have had a wonderful time this week reading all four of the Thunder and Lightning novels in preparation for this review, and it was an absolutely pleasurable reading experience. I particularly enjoyed the shifting points of view from generation to generation as I went from one book to the next without having to give up the connection to the earlier characters. It didn't hurt that these very human stories were set against John Varley's plausible and fascinating imagined universe. With DARK LIGHTNING I was able to happily round off the four course meal of satisfying science fiction the series provided (but I have to admit I am still hoping for a fifth book, for dessert.)

Book Summary

On a voyage to New Earth, the starship Rolling Thunder is powered by an energy no one understands, except for its eccentric inventor Jubal Broussard. Like many of the ship’s inhabitants, Jubal rests in a state of suspended animation for years at a time, asleep yet never aging.

The moments when Jubal emerges from suspended animation are usually a cause for celebration for his family, including his twin daughters—Cassie and Polly—and their uncle who is captain of the Rolling Thunder. But this time, Jubal makes a shocking announcement…

The ship must stop, or everyone will die.

These words from the mission’s founder, the man responsible for the very existence of the Rolling Thunder, will send shock waves throughout the starship—and divide its passengers into those who believe and those who doubt. And it will be up to Cassie and Polly to stop a mutiny, discover the truth, and usher the ship into a new age of exploration…