A Rudyard Kipling-esque SF Western with Aikido

First, let's talk about what 7th Sigma is and is not. Much like Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book was based on the Jungle Book, this is a retelling of another Rudyard Kipling novel - Kim. This is a coming of age adventure story, with SF elements, set against a southwestern backdrop. Yes, there are bugs that eat metal, but this is NOT a Crichton-esque techno thriller or a post-apocalyptic survival story, as it seems to be marketed.

Like Kipling's Kim, this is told as a serial novel, centering around a young boy named Kimble who is growing up - the major SF divergence is that it takes place in The Territory, where bugs eat everything metal. The people who choose to stay here learn to make due without metal - be it the rivets in their jeans, the lead in their rifles, or chips in their computers. But that's really just the setting, and it sounds more gritty than it is. In general, it's a sweet little coming of age story about Kimble finding his place in the world beside his mentor and sensei Ruth, and Col. Bentham, who he occasionally works for.

There's lots about it that's fun - aikido, heliographs, porcelain ammunition, gyrorifles, espionage, and - of course - metal eating bugs. Fred Berman's narration is fine - his reading is crisp, and he read the few Spanish sections impressively.

Unfortunately, since Kimble is such a capable and intelligent aikido student, whenever there is conflict, there's never really any doubt who will come out on top. And one of the few times when Kimble gets in over his head, happens outside the narrative. As a result, the espionage bits that make up the second half of the book drag a bit. Additionally, there's little shades of grey in this half - the bad guys might as well be wearing black hats. There's an honesty to the narrative when it's focusing on Kimble's relationships and interactions to the people he cares about in The Territory, and that's when the book is most rewarding. But when it veers off to him learning to be a spy, it didn't work as well for me.

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8 people found this helpful

Not the best, yet not the worst!

I really like this author, most of his books are written well and interesting. On this one, I kinda found my self losing the touch with the story, and having to rewind few times. It got better more towards the end though.

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good book but really, not a Sci-Fi book

I like the book; however, I do not see it is a Sci-Fi book. I kept waiting for something to happen but the book just went on and on about the life of this boy. The writing is great, but I felt I was reading a diary.

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10 people found this helpful

Worth the Credit!

I just finished listening to this book for the second time since I originally downloaded it several months ago. It's that good! Steven Gould is an excellent writer, and his unusual scenarios set him apart from other sci-fi writers.

Kimball is a street child in The Territory, a place where metal and EM cannot be used because of 'bugs' - metal and EM loving tiny robots, that mindlessly destroy anything in their way if they sense either substance. The idea of no cell phones or cars! Aaaaah! Kim's adventures are riveting. You will enjoy it! Now, if Steven would just write a sequel....

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3 people found this helpful

Searched forbthe narrator and found this

The book just has too much going on. It's Karate Kid. It's a spy novel. It's a science fiction with runaway metal eating bugs (why? would't mankind make plastic eaters long before metal eaters?). It's post apocalyptic but not everywhere! Only in the Southwest around New Mexico. So...why would anyone be living there?

Speaking of New Mexico, it's also an encyclopedia of the state's geography and plants. It's as if the author drove around the state and wrote the story as he went, and not very realistically. These places are way too far apart for the donkey trail. Why would the boy travel so much on donkey back? It doesn't make sense. Why would anyone be dumping metals and attracting deadly bugs along the rivers in a desert biome? I think they'd be dumping in the deserts, not the precious water source. Riparian zones would be the first areas cleaned up IF anyone was really going to live in this now deadly region.

It's also a coming of age story.

It was interestimg enough and the narrator does it justice, but it could be better.

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What if you couldn't use metal ever again?

This is a novelization of Gould's short story, "Bugs of the Arroyo," which is included with little rewriting as part of the story arc. It's a great coming-of-age story set in the desert southwest of the U.S. where a mysterious new technology has forced the abandonment of any and all technologies that require the use of metal. The thoughtful and thought-provoking descriptions of how this would force people to adapt are worth the price of admission all by themselves. In the bargain you get a story of human resilience and adaptability wrapped in some vivid and evocative descriptions of the physical and social world in which the story is set. The only flaw here is a rough and somewhat jarring transition between the new material and the original story (the new material is much better written). It is clear, by the way, that this is the first of at least two books because the mystery of the invasive technology is far from resolved at the end of this volume. Narrator Fred Berman is the perfect reader, so this is a great listen all 'round.

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11 people found this helpful

Hoped for more

The relative weakness of the reading would have been acceptable if the story were stronger. Both it and the presentation just missed on several level, which made for an overall "meh" book.

The story never seemed to find a rhythm or coalesce around a cohesive plot direction. Several times it felt like a new and potentially interesting thread was being introduced, only to have the story slide back into the mundane.

The reader was not particularly compelling, either. I found myself grinding my jaw often when some of the characters would speak, wishing Mr. Herman would dial back the characterization or simply read in his own voice. Actually, I'm not entirely sure he ever did read in his own voice. The entire narration sounded as if it were being "Acted".

The sci-fi element of the story was disappointing, though the world created by the author was fully formed and intriguing. The ending of the book left many plot threads hanging. The author seemed more interested in keeping an opening for a sequel than in tying up the many loose ends.

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10 people found this helpful

learning to live without metal!!!

Where does 7th Sigma rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

one of my favorites

What did you like best about this story?

imagine living without metal

Which character – as performed by Fred Berman – was your favorite?

of course Kim

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

the ending, as Kim's future begins

Any additional comments?

only problem was the missprounced words in Spamish

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3 people found this helpful

A favorite book since 2011

I bought this book new in 2011. I enjoy the quiet way Stephen Gould’s main characters solve their problems. The heroes are smart and resourceful; too many current mc’s are just idiots, making stupid decisions as a plot point. Gould’s characters own their mistakes like intelligent people.

Outstanding, 5/5, highly recommend.

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7th Sigma

One of the best books he has written, highly recomend... I like it way better the the book Kim that it is inspired by. I hope he does a sequal to this one

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