Uranus, by Ben Bova

Uranus is the first in Ben Bova's promised Outer Planets trilogy.  This one starts with a promising and compelling basis.  A preacher and a billionaire have teamed up to create a space habitat orbiting Uranus.  Aptly called Haven, it is a "haven for Earth's poor, disenfranchised, forgotten men and women," a last resort for people who need a second chance.  Residents come from the lower classes and are screened for criminal tendencies, in hopes that, freed from the earth's economic struggles and stratification, they can thrive with a fresh start in space.

After a life on the streets, depending on prostitution and manipulation to survive, Raven Marchesi feels lucky to have a place on Haven.  Trying to start over and escape her past, yet using the street smarts acquired over many years, she quickly gains a spot in the inner circles of Haven's administration.  Kyle Umber, the preacher, has good intentions, but he has allowed Evan Waxman, the billionaire who largely funded Haven, to run the place in unsavory ways.

Uranus is a decently fun, melodramatic story, with a strong female central character, a couple of sleazy male characters, and a few others to feed the story.  For such a prolific writer, I was surprised by the simplicity of the plot and the predictability of the characters.  The subplot of scientific research on the history of Uranus and evidence of extraterrestrial life doesn't get the attention it should.  I would rather have seen this part of the story developed.  This is a decent book, but if you read it expecting a great story from a seasoned sci-fi writer, just prepare yourself for disappointment.

 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!