Brown focuses his easily-digestible and page-turning narrative around the crew and the handful of aliens they meet during their travels, worming their way between the tiers of the Big Dumb Object. (Is a BDO still considered Dumb if its inclusion evokes enough wonder for several science fiction stories?) The characters of Helix are memorable because they are well drawn: the crew's voice of reason Joe Hendry; tough cryogenics specialist Sissy Kaluchek; standoffish doctor Gina Carrelli; super-pessimistic Engineer Friday Olembe; alien engineer magnate Ehrin Telsa and his betrothed Sereth; strict alien Church Elder Cannak. The characters also carry enough dramatic baggage to challenge any daytime soap. Whether it was the uncomfortable friction between Kaluchek and Olembe, or the religious contention between furry, alien lovebirds Ehrin and Sereth, I was drawn to these back stories for their imaginative renderings and tension. Returning to Helix between reading sessions was like visiting old friends.
...
Helix is equal parts adventure, drama and wonder. Sometimes they work alone, providing a raw dose of science fiction. Other times, Brown uses them in concert to spin an irresistible blend that pulls the narrative along almost faster than you can keep up. However it's served, Helix is a delightful read and is an excellent reminder of why we read science fiction: it's fun!
4.5 stars (out of 5)
-- sfsignal
The latest in the pantheon of Big Dumb Objects – a wonderful journey across the surface of a spiral-shaped world.
-- Steven Baxter
Classic science-fiction components and a general reverence for science make this tale of intergalactic travel a worthy, occasionally awe-inspiring read... Brown’s spectacular creativity creates a constantly compelling read... Brown offers a memorable addition to the genre.
-- Kirkus Reviews
Helix is essentially a romp – a gloriously old-fashioned slice of science fiction... What gives the novel a unique spin is its intertwining parallel plots. It's smart, fun, page-turning stuff, with an engaging cast and plenty of twists. Human stories – one of the colonists bears a long-standing grudge against one of the others; another is mourning the loss of his daughter – sit alongside mad spaceship dashes between worlds, last-minute rescues and daring escapes... A hugely entertaining read.
-- SFX Magazine
The story keeps an exciting, fast pace throughout most of the novel, as mortal danger constantly looms. Reminiscent of the Catholic church in the times of the Inquisition, the religious fanatical aliens are the main threat. Though the description of the interplanetary ziggurat structures was a bit confusing, I found it was a minor detail in an otherwise unique idea. Far from being hard science fiction, Helix is an ideal space opera, complete with larger than life characters and a bit of romance.
-- SciFiChick
The world has gone to cack. No, not this one, the one in the book. The world is dying, poisoned by the greed and thoughtlessness of too many generations. The last dying breath of the European Space authorities is to send the colony ship Lovelock out towards a distant planet, its 4000 colonists in deep sleep. Something goes wrong on the ship and it's forced to land on the nearest possible place, a huge Helix of planets wrapped around a star. A handful of the crew are awoken by the emergency and are forced to venture from the wreckage in search of somewhere to take the colonists to wake them up.
I was hooked on this book from page one. It goes straight into the story, no messing about. This is classic SF but written in a modern style. Totally absorbing and always believable, even when describing alien beings and landscapes. The characters are all complete, the baddies never bad for the sake of it, but with their own beliefs and motivations. The plot flows and builds to a satisfactory ending.
There are several quotes in the book from some well known writers, for once I agree with them all.
-- Steve Dean, BFS Magazine
The parallel plotting lends the novel much of its energy with Brown alternating his focus from on chapter to the next and often leaving each thread on a cliff-hanger. The other thing that Brown does well I balance the big concepts with the character drama. The mystery of the Helix... rumbles on in the background while the drama between the human crew unfolds in the foreground... Their respective pasts unfold with the action in a manner that’s reminiscent of LOST. Brown’s prose is very readable... You’ll have a good time with it.
-- Deathray Magazine
Brown concentrates on stunning landscapes and in the way he conveys the conflicting points of view between races... No matter how familiar each character becomes, they continue to appear completely alien when viewed through the opposing set of eyes. Brown has a casual and unpretentious style and... the accessibility, the tenderness between characters and more importantly the scale of wonder involved are what makes this highly enjoyable escapism.
-- Kevin Stone, Interzone #211
A very well plotted and exciting book that gets you turning the pages and genuinely wanting to know what happens next... Eric Brown is a masterful storyteller. Helix is put together extraordinarily well, jumping between the POVs of Hendry and Ehrin, holding back on key bits of information and delaying inevitable moments with leaps of perspective timed precisely to make us want to read to the end. It's a fun read... the action is all worked through with great finesse... One thing Brown is very good at doing is showing us events from the perspective of alien eyes... All the elements are here for something great: a massive construct, first contact with an alien species, an autocratic government... Eric Brown is often lauded as the next big thing in science fiction and you can see why...
-- Strange Horizons
Helix is an unashamed adventure story... there is much to be enjoyed here. Comparison with Niven’s Ringworld books is inevitable. Brown treads similar ground: vast planetary construct? Check. Alien allies and enemies? Check. Obligatory sex scene? Check. Mystery surrounding the artifact’s origin? Check. Two-dimensional characterisation? Ah. That’s a different matter. Niven’s book was bold, innovative, and a fascinating read. His characterisations, however, were two-dimensional and ill-considered. The protagonists in Helix are simply portrayed, but they have layers. At first glance it seems that Brown has fallen into the same trap as Niven, and made his world more interesting than his main characters, but as the book progresses we discover more about what makes these people do what they do, and we uncover some interesting revelations. An enjoyable romp.
-- The Hub
