n 2070, a repressive right-wing government controls most of a balkanized United States. In "Stealing Alabama," the captain and crew of Earth's first starship, Alabama, hijack it and leave Earth to colonize a planet 50 light-years away, taking a group of "dissident intellectuals." With a group of security police trapped onboard, they enter biostasis for the 230-year trip.
"The Days Between" begins just three months later, as one crewman, Leslie Gillis, awakens alone and realizes he will have to live his life aboard the ship between the stars. Bouts of depression, alcoholism and contemplated suicide are halted when Gillis sees what can only be another starship. He is then inspired to author a long series of fantasy stories. In "Coming to Coyote" Alabama arrives in the new star system, and the passengers awaken to find the results of Gillis' years alone. The captain must deal with a saboteur as they transport everyone down to Coyote.
In "Liberty Journals," they begin to establish themselves to prepare for the upcoming winter, and begin to learn about the local ecosystem, including the vicious flightless avian "boids." In "The Boid Hunt," a group of men decide to hunt and kill a boid, with disastrous consequences.
"Across the Eastern Divide" is about a group of young colonists who run away in boats to explore the planet. After being attacked by a sea creature, all are rescued but Carlos, who decides to continue alone. In "Lonesome and a Long Way From Home," Carlos makes more discoveries, including a small, apparently intelligent indigenous species. In the concluding section, "Glorious Destiny," the colonists see an approaching starship. Is it human or alien? When they discover the truth, they must decide whether to stay or abandon their settlement.
Hard science fiction with a lot of heart
Steele's latest novel is actually a series of eight shorter works, all of which have been published over the past two years, mostly in Asimov's SF Magazine. Each of these stories can be read separately, and, I believe, they are actually stronger as individual stories. Steele has always been at his best in shorter fiction, and in the case of Coyote, the sum is not greater than the parts.
The parts, however, are often very good indeed. "The Days Between" is a particularly affecting tale, as Gillis goes through an emotional roller coaster trying to decide what to do alone on the ship. The two stories involving exploration of Coyote are also compelling, leaving one wishing to learn more about the planet's geography and ecology. Steele continues to write hard science fiction with a lot of heart.
But while Steele's stories and characters are emotionally satisfying, there are also annoying logical and factual flaws. The first group landing on Coyote tests the breathability of the air by removing their helmets. They refuel their shuttles by taking hydrogen from the nitrogen/oxygen atmosphere (where no free hydrogen could exist). They navigate rivers, complete with dangerous rapids, on an island described as flat and only a few feet above sea level. And the denouement, while feeling right, makes about as much intellectual sense as having thousands of yuppies buy a cruise ship to go take over a small village of third-world subsistence farmers. There are also many loose ends—what were those ships Gillis saw? Is the native species Carlos discovered really intelligent?
These kinds of flaws are additive, and become more noticeable in novels than shorter works. With this book, Steele's significant strengths as a writer can be better appreciated if these stories are read one at a time.
