I just recently read Niven’s Ringworld for the first time, and was really enthralled by both the concept (a ring-world surrounding a sun that provided everything a planet can provide in absolutely absurd quantities) and the novel itself. Given my great experience with that book, my interest was piqued when I saw Destiny’s Road. The premise of the novel is fairly interesting - a colony world that features a unique “road” that was put in place generations ago by the founders of the colony.
The story follows the character of Jemmy, who throughout the story has to assume numerous names and identities to keep himself safe from the suspecting eyes of the merchants that he fears will have his head if they know his real secret - and his real past. Destiny’s Road is an enthralling tale, featuring a unique planet similar to Earth but with numerous challenges that face those living on the planet Destiny. Fundamentally, it’s a travellers story - Jemmy journeys from one end of the “Crab” (the region populated by the colony settlers) to the other. In between, Jemmy experiences not only the growth from boy to man, but also the discovery that everything is not as it seemed to him as a child growing up in Sprial Town.
The story centers around a few key concepts… A road has been carved in the planet that is essentially impenetrable. There is “settler magic” - energy-based technology that the current survivors on Destiny cannot repair (that is starting to degrade). There is a species of sentient and intelligent creatures that are able to communicate but are unable to take some of the most basic steps outside of their own realm. And most importantly, the humans on the planet are involved in a collosal feud with the planet’s natural ecology. Potassium-withdrawl makes for some intriguing science fiction, I can tell you that much.
Destiny’s Road has some interesting plot twists, but it does take a little time to actually get in to the rhythm of the story. The protagonist is pretty straightforward (Jemmy) but the antagonists - the things he’s running from - are more complicated than meets the eye, and in many situation he actually has to discover that the people he’s surrounded by are less ally than adversary (or vice-versa). At some points, I found myself wondering why Jemmy was making the decisions he was - not because they were bad decisions but because the motivation for his action didn’t seem apparent at the time. The story also spans a significant chunk of time - essentially Jemmy’s entire adult life. If you’re looking for quick resolutions, don’t count on ‘em!
Overall, Destiny’s Road is a great read - fast paced and with a great range of characters, settings, and challenges that Jemmy encounters. Niven is obviously a writer of exceptional talent that has thought through all the aspects of the world he’s creating. I’ve done a little digging and I’m amazed to discover there’s no sequel to Destiny’s Road nor an alternative story (perhaps prequel or same-world, different characters) written. There’s plenty of material inside here to write an entire series of novels.
Entries (RSS)