book 2 of Across Realtime

by Vernor Vinge

isbn: 0671656473
subject: Fiction and Literature, SF
finished: 12/5/1997

The end-of-semester science fiction reading continues! Marooned in Realtime is the more interesting sequel to The Peace War; it deals with the handful of people who were inside bobbles when virtually the entire human race mysteriously disappeared sometime during the 24th century. Their attempt to reestablish civilization is jeopardized when a leader is "murdered" by being left behind while everybody else continues forward in time in bobbles; the identity of the murderer is the central mystery of the book. Marooned in Realtime is very good science fiction -- Vinge's extrapolation and use of the bobble technology are great. Unfortunately, as a mystery it doesn't work; not enough clues are given for the reader to have a chance to figure out who done it. It's a good book anyway.