Humanity's
Saving Grace
by
Alex Binkley
Loose
Cannon Press
Ottawa 2013
ISBN
978-0986787966
Reviewed
by Mike Young
Ottawa
science fiction author Alex Binkley' debut novel explores a fresh
take on the classic sci-fi theme of first encounters with aliens.
This is not an invasion. Calling themselves Beings, the aliens
approach very cautiously and peacefully, claiming to need our help to
defeat a threat to their planets - and eventually to ours. They have
bred any warlike tendencies out of themselves, so are in need of our
blend of aggression and primitiveness.
These
Beings share their society with vast numbers of manufactured helpers,
who at first seem to be merely tools. However, maybe there is more to
these servants than is first apparent. And what are the links from
our past with the Beings and their enemy, the Nameless? The stage
soon fills with characters from all sides, and leads to a series of
battles worthy of any space opera, via technology that is a good
stretch, yet believable.
Alex
gives us a skilful blend of dialogue and description, with a generous
sprinkling of tongue-in-cheek references to various sci-fi books and
movies, and a bit of romance. All in all it's a good read.
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