A thrilling space opera sequel that follows Marca Nbaro and her crew aboard the Greatship Athens as they navigate interstellar threats, complex relationships, and enigmatic alien encounters, all while facing the looming specter of war. With a mix of suspense, romance, intricate world-building, and intense space battles, the story delves into themes of personal growth, loyalty, and the consequences of navigating a universe on the brink of change.

Reader Review Summary

Here is my review of the book Deep Black by Miles Cameron:

Deep Black is a magnificent follow-up to Cameron's stellar debut novel Artifact Space. It takes the engaging worldbuilding, richly drawn characters, and taut sci-fi thrills of the first book and elevates them to new heights. This is a space opera of the highest caliber - immersive, thought-provoking, and endlessly entertaining.

The story picks up right where Artifact Space left off, with protagonist Marca Nbaro and her crewmates aboard the massive merchant spacecraft Athens making first contact with the enigmatic, starfish-like Hin aliens. Cameron's depiction of this alien civilization is a masterstroke, portraying their strangeness in a way that feels utterly authentic rather than like humans in costume. From their incomprehensible biology to their inscrutably alien thought processes, interactions with the Hin brim with a wondrous sense of the unknowable.

But the Hin are just one facet of the intricate galaxy Cameron has constructed. Deep Black takes the reader deeper into the labyrinthine politics, fragile economy, and feuding human factions that give this far-future milieu such a compelling sense of history and realism. As tensions escalate and long-simmering plots come to light, Nbaro finds herself entangled in intrigues that could reshape human civilization itself. Cameron's deft juggling of these complex, intertwining plot threads is nothing short of virtuosic.

For all its cosmic scope, Deep Black remains grounded by its phenomenally well-rendered characters. Nbaro's continued evolution from the traumatized underdog of book one into a young woman grappling with newfound agency, responsibility, and the first flushes of romance is naturalistic and emotionally resonant. Her relationship with officer Dorcas is sweet and complicated in equal measure, adding lovely grace notes of humanity amid the galactic pyrotechnics. Cameron's ear for casual banter and eye for thrumming workplace camaraderie makes every crew interaction aboard the Athens ring true.

And the action set pieces? Breathtaking. Cameron's experience as an intelligence officer brings an unmatched level of verisimilitude to the space battles and strategic maneuverings that punctuate the story. The scope and kineticism of these sequences is staggering, playing out in three dimensions with tactical complexities that force the reader to engage their imaginative muscles. It's like witnessing the most epic tabletop wargame brought exhilaratingly to life.

For those who came for the spaceships and stayed for the depth of imagination, Deep Black will not disappoint. It's a seamlessly crafted tale that expands upon its predecessor in all the right ways - probing deeper into its mysteries while conjuring up entirely new wonders in turn. Cameron has cemented himself as one of the most exciting voices in modern sci-fi. Strap in and savor this wild ride.