Other Worlds

Click On Cover for Purchasing Information

Title:	Voice of the Whirlwind
Author:	Walter Jon Williams
Copyright Date:	1987
Publisher:	Tom Doherty Associates, Inc

Plot

"Steward is a clone. A beta. His memories are fifteen years old, because his alpha never did have a brain-scan update. And in those fifteen years, the entire world has changed: The Orbital Policorp which held his allegiance has collapsed; dozens of his friends died in an off-planet war which he survivec; an alien race has established relations with humanity; both his first and second wives have divorced him.
And someone has murdered him."
Setting

This story is set in the future but I don't believe a date is ever given. The location alters often from major cities on earth to orbital stations to the tramp ship Max Born. The setting isn't dealt with much in the story unless it impacts the character in some way. Much like when we ignore our surroundings in familiar places and only look for specific things. It felt true to the character but I'm not familiar with the locations in the book and would have liked a bit more detail.
Characters

The main character is Etienne Jjagi Steward (Beta), a first generation clone resurrected after the the death of the Alpha.
Griffith, a fellow veteran of the Artifact wars. He arranges Steward a few jobs.
Reese, ship engineer that helps steward into space.
De Prey, leader of Steward's old Policorp that sold out his Alpha.

Overall

I liked this one but there isn't much to it. It has a tight plot that reads like a detective novel but the setting and character development is barely touched. The action was well-paced and the climax was unexpected. (That's a good thing) The character's investigation of his own death intrigued me and the trail contained several twists to make it a pleasant read.

Plot
"Steward is a clone. A beta. His memories are fifteen years old, because his alpha never did have a brain-scan update. And in those fifteen years, the entire world has changed: The Orbital Policorp which held his allegiance has collapsed; dozens of his friends died in an off-planet war which he survivec; an alien race has established relations with humanity; both his first and second wives have divorced him. And someone has murdered him."
Setting
This story is set in the future but I don't believe a date is ever given. The location alters often from major cities on earth to orbital stations to the tramp ship Max Born. The setting isn't dealt with much in the story unless it impacts the character in some way. Much like when we ignore our surroundings in familiar places and only look for specific things. It felt true to the character but I'm not familiar with the locations in the book and would have liked a bit more detail.
Characters
The main character is Etienne Jjagi Steward (Beta), a first generation clone resurrected after the the death of the Alpha. Griffith, a fellow veteran of the Artifact wars. He arranges Steward a few jobs. Reese, ship engineer that helps steward into space. De Prey, leader of Steward's old Policorp that sold out his Alpha.
Overall
I liked this one but there isn't much to it. It has a tight plot that reads like a detective novel but the setting and character development is barely touched. The action was well-paced and the climax was unexpected. (That's a good thing) The character's investigation of his own death intrigued me and the trail contained several twists to make it a pleasant read.