Book Review "A Darkling Sea" by James L Cambias

James Cambias' debut novel is something special.  Hard science that is relentlessly readable with action, humor, and asking a good deal of philosophical questions.  The excitement and dangers of first contact with an alien species along with the political and ideological pitfalls dealing with a third species all set in light-less depths of a vast sea under 20 kilometers of ice in a different world.

5/5 Stars

Gordon’s Ratings Guide:

                                1/5 - Blech! Don't Bother

                                2/5 - Nothing Special

                                3/5 - Entertaining and worth a read

                                4/5 - Amazing! You should definitely read.

                                5/5 -  Truly an outstanding title. MUST read!

From the moment I cracked open this book, I knew I was in for something special.  Cambias conveys the light-less depths of Ilmatar with such descriptiveness that I often found myself feeling cold and claustrophobic.  And the silent horror of the event that kicks off the action of the novel, the mistaken dissection of a human researcher by an Ilmataran, is sure to make your mouth run dry in horror.  After this beginning, one expects a quick paced book of action and revenge, but Cambias goes a different route.  The news of the researchers death has reached the Sholen (another alien race).  They arrive at the human research station on Ilmatar under the guise of investigating the unfortunate death, but their conclusion was long ago decided - quarantine of the human species to our home system.  But even this isn't a simple case of right and wrong.  The Sholen have some legitimate concerns regarding the imperial nature of humanity's history, despite the human's assurances that the expedition is purely for scientific research.  Likewise, the researchers on Ilmatar have valid reasoning to continue their work.  The result is a growing impasse, with the human researchers firmly entrenched and the Sholen adamant that the humans should vacate Ilmatar.  Passive resistance and pranks by the researchers go too far and provoke a more stringent response from the Sholen which results in further misunderstandings and deaths on both sides.  Amid this confusion the Ilmatarans, themselves, slowly end up involved on both sides while the beginnings of a possible interstellar war unfold on their home planet.
Cambias' story jumps from well-drawn character to well-drawn character, from Sholen to human to Ilmataran and you'll find yourself cheering for most of them, regardless of their species.  There is not much in the way of a clear "bad guy" in the novel, just different individuals, cultures, and ideologies struggling to do what they believe is right and misunderstanding the others every step of the way.  You will find yourself despising a character one moment and then find yourself right behind them in the next moment.  
Cambias does an excellent job portraying the clashing of cultures and concepts in a way that is incredibly engaging and page-turning and his depictions of life under kilometers of ocean are incredibly well constructed.  This is no pretty seaworld vacation, life is grimy, dangerous, and tough down on the bottom of an ocean.  A reality of life that is exponentially more difficult due to that ocean being in another planetary system.  The hard science he uses to build his environment is interesting and engaging instead of off-putting, resulting in a solid and realistic world that is intense and easy to get lost in.
If you love good sci-fi, political drama, cultural studies, or just a damn good read, pick up this book, you will not regret the time you spend at the bottom of Ilatar's oceans.