Compass Reach (Volume 1 of The Secantis Sequence) by Mark W. Tiedmann
01/04/2003 . Source: Paul Skevington 

Pub: Meisha Merlin, Atlanta. 340 page enlarged paperback. Price: $16.00 (US) . ISBN: 189206539-8.

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'Hmmm. I think I know how we can get out of this situation, Captain. If only we can find some way to de-badger the urge-wave modulator, we might have a chance of streisanding the sub-yoyo which would slump the anti-calligraphy machine. Then we'd be home free!'

'If only it were that simple, Jimmy. If only...'

I'm not the biggest fan of unexplained technological terms as a narrative tool in Science Fiction. I just thought I'd mention that in case my incredibly subtle opening hadn't quite struck home yet.

Unfortunately, upon first opening ‘Compass Reach’ you're going to find a whole bunch of them. As I started to read, I began to feel the need to raise my hand in the air and ask, 'Please sir, what's a TEG link?'

It was only when I finished the book that I discovered to my horror that there was a glossary of terms at the back. This is an experience that I have had too many times. You think by now I would have learned but I tend not to look at the back of a book until I finish it for fear of reading, 'and who would have guessed that the great Zoontax was actually a mouse in a wig. THE END'.

It is my opinion that glossaries (particularly unexpected ones) should be avoided like the plague. If it’s likely your audience isn't going to understand your terminology, it’s more appropriate to give them hints within the text than it is to expect them to have read your own private dictionary.

Once you get over that little technicality though, ‘Compass Reach’ becomes a really enjoyable piece of fiction. The opening is appropriately action packed, placing you at the side of the novels narrator Fargo as he rummages through the trash of a small planetary colony. Fargo is a Freerider, a kind of intergalactic hobo, who lives his life travelling from starship to starship avoiding the gaze of the Pan Humana.

The Pan Humana is the term used for all of the planets and colonies established by the race of humanity. It is a highly class-based and rigidly governed organisation. There are four classes, Disinvested (like Fargo), Invested, Vested and Primary Vested. The Disinvested are the lowest class possible having had their id removed from them, making them effectively non-existent as far as the authorities are concerned.

The status quo of this structure has been challenged by the discovery of the Seti's (sentient extra-terrestrial intelligence, ie aliens) who threaten the balance of trade and social position within the Pan Humana.

The novel recounts the tale of how Fargo encounters these beings on his journey to the mother planet, Earth. Along the way, we meet denizens of all the classes and we watch as Fargo attempts to find a new identity in his changing universe.

The trip itself is very entertaining and the characters are a likeable bunch of rogues and misfits. Perhaps they are not as distinct as I would have liked, I have my doubts as to whether I'll remember much about them for very long after I finish this review. The author seems more intent on involving the reader in a dialogue regarding the ideas and concepts the novel introduces.

This is not a bad thing, as the universe he builds around Fargo's voyage is fascinating. Tiedemann admits in his biography to being influenced by the sixties, the period of his youth, and this is evident in the Pan's class system. It is a cutting indictment of capitalism and its inhibiting limitations as a social paradigm.

The way in which the ruling class of the Pan manage to create restrictions on the life-styles of its citizens, despite possessing almost limitless resources, is reminiscent of the way in which wealth and prosperity are so unevenly distributed within our own world.

Like many advocates of change though, Tiedemann fails to come up with a viable alternative to the Pan's hierarchical structure. He seems to be pointing us towards the Seti's culture as a possible option, as the aliens have no concept of class. These particular little green men can't hope to bear the burden of this task.

Their society is possibly 'better' but we never discover much about the way it functions. Perhaps this is why the aliens themselves seem to be a bit generic, their 'alien' nature lying more in their funky abilities and their predisposition to talk in a stilted 'we come in peace' manner then in any real difference to the human characters.

Despite all of this, it is easy to like this novel. When you finish it, you will want to travel further into Fargo's world. You will be astounded by some of the ideas presented to you, the explanation behind Telelogging (a form of telepathy) is particularly well thought out.

It is evident that in this first novel of the sequence, not all of the flaws have been smoothed out yet. However, the moments of magic and wonder are frequent enough to make me look forward to reading the next ‘Secantis’ novel. Tiedemann is definitely an author to watch and I believe his writing will only get better.

Oh, and watch out for the zero-g space nooky. I bet you won't see that in ‘Solaris’!

Paul Skevington