skygiants

I just read this last night! (also coincidentally just after posting on someone else's FB about how just thinking about the cave scene in Alan Garner's Weirdstone of Brisingamen always gives me massive claustrophobia). I did find it effectively tense in terms of logistics (batteries, food, silt, light etc), I loved the tight set up (and the fact that it starts with Gyre already underground), and her symbiotic/dysfunctional relationship with her suit, and I pretty much read it in one massive gulp, but I really wish Starling had pulled it together at the ending.

[spoiler space]




Why not do something with Eli once you've revealed he's there? Why have a rescue route into Camp 4 that has apparently been there all along but couldn't be used to deliver supplies or drop down cavers? Who is the second figure in the rescue anyway? Why was every other more experienced caver so much less skilled than Gyre? (I could have bought maybe a dozen previous deaths, but over 20?)? Why not more sf worldbuilding within the cave (what does the tunneler eat, for a start, but also what about this ore that everyone's looking for? Em mentions that some of the previous candidates have tried to excavate deposits rather than do her mission, but Gyre never seems to come across any).

I will definitely read her next book, though.