Grimspace (Sirantha Jax, #1) in Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library

Jul 19, 2011 Mike rated it it was amazing

Shelves: scifi

With her first shot out of the barrel, Grimspace, Ms Ann Aguirre has leapt onto my “Buy on Sight” list. You know how some books take 50 or more pages to get going? Not her book… by page 80 you are practically begging her to give you a rest from all the action. The story centers around Sirantha Jax, a hyperspace “navigator”, a member of a rare group with the ability to enable FTL travel. Ms. Jax is haunted by the death of all aboard the last spaceship she crewed, believing she was responsible for ...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Harold Ogle rated it it was ok

Shelves: science-fantasy, mercenaries

This book was more of a departure for me than I expected when I selected it from the library. In many respects, it reminds me of Dead Witch Walking, which many of my friends really enjoyed but which I found curiously difficult to enjoy. Like that book, Grimspace has a LOT of plot, but that plot seems rushed and inconsequential at the same time. It feels like each scene/sequence is there just as a backdrop for Jax's budding romance with the brooding March. From the beginning, when Jax is on death This book was more of a departure for me than I expected when I selected it from the library. In many respects, it reminds me of Dead Witch Walking, which many of my friends really enjoyed but which I found curiously difficult to enjoy. Like that book, Grimspace has a LOT of plot, but that plot seems rushed and inconsequential at the same time. It feels like each scene/sequence is there just as a backdrop for Jax's budding romance with the brooding March. From the beginning, when Jax is on death row for a crime she didn't commit and March appears, she has a knee-jerk negative reaction to him as cold and ruthless, but simultaneously admires his handsome face and lean, muscular body (I don't think she checks out his ass until they escape the station, but I could be wrong). Most of the rest of the book continues this schizoid dichotomy: they keep saying "no," but their eyes (and everything else) keep saying "Yes... Yes! YES!" It quickly reaches the point of nonsense; they're both very clearly attracted to each other, they're obviously in a situation of great, knee-shaking intimacy (he acts as her pilot during hyperspace jumps, during which their minds merge as one), and they both perform acts of kindness, selflessness and tenderness toward one another. But at the same time, their words are cruel, spiteful and judgmental, talking about how annoying the other is and how they can't stand each other. It's like the dialogue and the plot are taken from different books, or at least alternative reality versions of themselves: in one universe, they're fabulous to each other (the sex is apparently good, too), and in the other universe, they rail at each other like opposing protesters at a political rally.

The plot ostensibly revolves around Jax trying to find out what happened on the ship she was supposed to have sabotaged (why she was on death row), and why. Lots of characters are introduced and then killed, and the locations change (through interplanetary travel) faster than on a weekly SF TV show. There are betrayals, narrow escapes, foul-mouthed lesbian bull dykes with hearts of gold, flesh-eating dinosaurs, wild west gunslingers in space....it's all here, but to little point. The story really had no tension for me. ...more

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Mar 28, 2008 Kimberly rated it really liked it

This is a terrific science fiction story full of action, romance, and a touch of humor. Sirantha Jax is a jumper, born with the J-gene which allows her to navigate grimspace but decreases her life expectancy. When her ship crashes and she is the only survivor, Jax is imprisoned under suspicion of having planned the whole thing. Her only way out is to join the mysterious March, who has a plan to break the Corp monopoly on interplanetary travel. . .Jax is engagingly mouthy and a true survivor, who ...more

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Apr 30, 2008 Sara Brookes rated it really liked it

Shelves: science_fiction

It's been a while since I picked up a straight out "science fiction" book. To be honest, the cover is what first caught my eye on this one. After reading the back cover, I was interested enough to go ahead and pick it up. I was highly pleased that I did.

I immediately liked the lead character and all her flaws and missing bits of memory. Add in a mix of interesting characters and the story fills out nicely. Surprisingly, take away some of the technology and futuristic worlds and you could file t ...more

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Jun 08, 2008 April rated it really liked it

I thought the premise of this book sounded fun, so I picked it up at the bookstore, and discovered yet another great female lead.
Jax is a woman all her own. Driven to the point of breaking down in a political scandal laid at her feet, her and her rescuers have to find out the true story while managing to keep their jumper safe. She has a rare gene that allows her to navigate FTL space, a prize highly sought by a corporation that essentially has a monopoly on such flight.
Action, adventure, and ...more

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Jan 27, 2009 Kati rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, look-for-more, in-english, work-reviews, 2013

A fast-paced sci-fi adventure. Exactly the kind I love!

I'm very picky when it comes to heroines - most of them get on my last nerve! - but Sirantha Jax was very likable and far from perfect and I loved her flippancy. There was only one instance where I didn't agree with her at all - about what she did on Gehenna. You just don't leave people who depend on you dangling.

My favorite part was Jax's relationship with March, that was wonderful. I'm curious if March's Psi-abilities will be explored in f ...more

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Oct 20, 2014 Cindywho rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy-sf

Fun girly Sci-Fi - Siri's got a special power, a traumatic recent past, and a FTL adventure and psychic romance. ...more

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Jun 18, 2010 NebulousGloom (FK) rated it it was amazing

An excellent SF romance. If you like Linnea Sinclair, you'll like this book. ...more

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Apr 14, 2008 Gbina rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance-scifi

First person, present tense. Not typical in my reading experience but I am getting use to it and she seems to be pulling it off.

Update - This books ended rather abruptly. I am glad I didn't pick it up when it was brand new as I would have had a long time to wait for book two.

I enjoyed the story quite a bit and pre-ordered book two. I hope to see Ann Aguirre at Worldcon this year. ...more

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Oct 01, 2008 Tani rated it it was amazing

Shelves: scifi, female-author, 2012

I had a pretty good review typed up, and then Goodreads had a glitch and I lost it and I am far too lazy to attempt to recreate it.

Abbreviated summary: It started slow and had a few technical difficulties, but I fell in love with the characters, and that's all that really matters. ...more

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