Search - Omega (Academy, Bk 4)

"'Omega' may be one of the best Jack McDevitts I've read so far. He stopped relying on tense-jam-everyone-must-get-out-of after tense-jam-everyone-must-get-out-of and started delving into ideas with more focus than he's shown in this series since the first novel, "The Engines of God". He raises some interesting questions about religion and human nature without beating you over the head with a message, and wraps it up in a pretty good yarn with some fine moments. Some aspects of the alien society he creates are a little difficult to swallow in that they're way too human - but in some ways, that's kind of the point. The civilization presented here are an innocent, almost idealized version of what we could be if we abandoned war and the like."
- Eric San Juan

A fascinating book of the series. The Omega Clouds were a fascinating construct when introduced, and I was glad to see them revisited in this adventure. In the future of space exploration, we discover these clouds that seem programmed to wipe out anything in their path that shows geometric regularity, endangering Earth and other planets that previously or currently host intelligent life.

When a cloud breaks formation and heads to a planetary system, a society is discovered that has much in common with humanity, but is unaware of the danger they are in. How do we intervene in an ancient Greek/Roman level society to save the lives of the citizens with limited time?

Good stuff.

author is always interesting.....

Like the other McDevitt books I've read this was a love hate relationship. I enjoyed the story A LOT, but he drifts off into silly side stories that add nothing to the plot and just annoy the reader. I think he does it to heighten suspense, but after reading a few of his book I've learned to skim about 50% of the text and get to the interesting parts.
Omega had an above average ending for a McDevitt book. I give him 3 stars due to his outstanding imagination and his ability to keep me interested even while slogging through his literary mud.