Contact with Chaos (Freehold Series Book 3)

Contact with Chaos: Freehold, Book 4 (Unabridged)

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I did have a hard time keeping track of some of the secondary characters. A dramatis personae would have been great. Williamson is at his best when describing the effects of weapons and other technology. Many other authors would have turned this book into a boring scholarly piece, but Williamson manages to keep the technology discussions both entertaining and fascinating.

The story has many interesting twists to keep it going. A lot less boom than the last MZW books I read. Traders from the Freehold of Grainne, a libertarian capitalist society, discover a planet with a nonhuman sentient species.

The UN, a bureaucratic octopus now spanning twenty worlds, is also interested in contact with this new culture. And there are various corporate interests from both Grainne and the UN looking for a slice of the pie as well. And no one really knows what the aliens want I liked it a lot. More to think about than "things are going to crap, start shooting" although there is a bit of that toward the end. May 30, Scott rated it liked it. I enjoyed this book, but it was very different from earlier books in the series.

It takes place at least 20 years after the last book, and is entirely different.

Same universe, very different characters and problems to solve. Interesting idea, of how to deal with an entirely new species, and the different ways it might be approached. I like the underlying idea, of a single human planet that has minimal government, and its interactions with a confederation of human planets that have LOTS of gover I enjoyed this book, but it was very different from earlier books in the series. I like the underlying idea, of a single human planet that has minimal government, and its interactions with a confederation of human planets that have LOTS of government.

For most of the book, nothing really happens. But it's still a decent read. I'll read more books in the series. Aug 05, Shane rated it really liked it Shelves: What an exciting change from the last Williamson book I read. The story has mystery and suspense along with plenty of action. There is a real sense of wonder as we follow the first, first contact in this universe. The pacing is exceptional making the book hard to put down at any point after the first few chapters.

The only downside, was the characters mostly seemed under-developed. They were interesting, but not entirely or even mostly believable. It was a very fun read of a well constructed sto What an exciting change from the last Williamson book I read. It was a very fun read of a well constructed story. Dec 18, Chuck Springer rated it really liked it. This book is the third in a series, but could almost stand on its own.

It is set as a first contact novel. It was quite an intriguing tale as this book focuses on the interactions between the aliens and the humans, with both sides trying to learn as much as possible about the other without giving away too much information too early.

I thought that this was an excellent story that plays well on several levels, this is a worthy addition to the Freehold series. Sep 16, Alpha rated it liked it Shelves: The standard for a "first contact" book in my opinion is A Mote in God's Eye, which is admittedly a pretty high bar to meet.

Freehold Series

Contact with Chaos was refreshing in its realism, with only the characters' being too rational for me to wholly believe. I could have overlooked the lack of conflict, if the alien species were more interesting. Feb 25, Greg rated it really liked it Shelves: I thought this book moved a lot slower and had a lot less action then most of Williamson's work that I read but I loved the world building.

I thought Williamson did a great job with the first contact concepts. He also looked at how differences in culture and access to material could change technological and social development in a group and handled it in an interesting and believable way. Aug 23, Steve M. Best since Freehold 1. May 10, Nihonjoe rated it did not like it Recommends it for: I ust don't like the style of the writing in this book. To me, it's very kludgy and doesn't flow. I just stopped reading it. Great series As with every other book by Mr. Williamson, this one has a great story, fantastically written characters, and a firm grasp of military tactics.

A Desert Called Peace. A Call to Vengeance. Chronicles of Athena Lee, Collection 3. Come and Take Them. The Rods and the Axe. Kris Longknife - Emissary. Chronicles of Athena Lee, Collection 1. Death Comes But Once. Islands of Rage and Hope. The Sword of the South. Like Stars in Heaven. The Sea Without a Shore. Tiger By the Tail. The Path of Duty. A Call to Duty. A Long Time Until Now. Better to Beg Forgiveness.

by Michael Z. Williamson

How to write a great review. The review must be at least 50 characters long. Another book in this excellent series. This time a mining company literally stumbles on to a new sentient life form on a previously undiscovered planet. The Freehold, Earth, scientists and the independent companies all want to have control of introducing themselves to this new life form.

This is a slow and patient reveal of what could and maybe should happen to a life form that has not developed space exploration themselves. So it is interesting in that the writer uses patient understanding and not warfare to developed the characters and the situations as they explore this chance to introduce the new sentient life form to the worlds they come from. This is a first-contact novel -- the first sentient species encountered by humans.

The Freehold of Grainne is first on the spot, although the United Nations gets involved quickly. The intelligent aliens have a highly technological society with almost no metals, and this complicates things considerably. The premise of the story is that the aliens' home planet is highly differentiated, with nearly all the iron and other transition metals in the planet's core. I have some serious problems with the geochemistry of this. Iron could well be isolated in the core, but the chalcophile metals such as copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, and so on would still tend to occur in the crust, since their sulfides are of reasonably low density.

The aliens' blood oxygen carrier is based on aluminum and magnesium. Al and Mg do not have convenient multiple oxidation states that would bind and release oxygen.

A copper-based compound like hemocyanin which is used by some terrestrial animals, e. However, in spite of the scientific discrepancies, this is a first-rate novel. It is very internally consistent. The surprises keep happening, and the book lives up to Williamson's usual quality. It kept me riveted right to the last page. I like how this wasn't your average space contact story. Humans make a first contact with what at first appearances looks like a technological inferior species. I really like the thought that went into the new species culture and technological development and the care that the Freeholders are trying to take to not overrun and effectively enslave the new 'aliens'.

A well thought out and even thought provoking read. We ever become a space faring race, this book should become the handbook for real first contact situation. Excellent development of a totally foreign.

The culmination of the Freehold series and does not disappoint. Excellent development of a totally foreign, sentient species and their reaction to a technologically superior alien species us. The Freehold special forces are as totally superior warriors as ever and their story and fame is once again center stage in resolving the conflict with the newly discovered alien world. Exciting and suspenseful and very well written. A pager turner and another dose of Freehold, loved it. Surprisingly non-military and diplomatic. Reminded me of all of my IB Theory Of Knowledge texts and the hundreds of hours spent reading history of civilization encounters.

Works (13)

Yeah; we can be idiots. If we choose to study history, learn from it, and honor the lessons earned through the pain and blood shed of those long past; we can do great things. After reading all of Elizabeth Moon's books many times over, I discovered this offer. Although, to be honest, I don't believe he's at the same level of refinement as EM, he he does have a very vibrant and active Style that kept me fascinated through most of the book. The aliens are well crafted. The action is, as always, excellent.

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