Grimspace

Grimspace, by Ann Aguirre

Not terrible, but after 50 pages or so, failed to hold my interest. Since those pages covered a jail break, a dangerous cross-galaxy jump, and a firefight, I think that gives a fair indication of the author's inability to dial up the excitement.

Aguirre also tripped over two of my science fiction pet peeves:

• If you're going to make up a swear word, don't make it sound just like a substitute for "fuck" and then use it as though it were "fuck"
• Do not, for the love of God, label common animals, events, and sayings as "Old Earth" or "Old Terra." If you really NEED to convey the idea that horses, say, are now extinct or otherwise unfamiliar, at least do it with a little dialog: "I could eat a horse." "What's a horse?" "Oh, you know, that riding animal they used to have on Earth? Big, four legs, ran really fast?" Otherwise, just accept that your characters know these things and move on.