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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780441012107
ISBN number: 0441012108
Label: Ace
Manufacturer: Ace
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 512
Printing Date: October 26, 2004
Publishing house: Ace
Sale Popularity Level: 156883
Studio: Ace
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
A civilization-destroying omega cloud has switched direction, heading straight for a previously unexplored planetary system--and its alien society. And suddenly, a handful of brave humans must try to save an entire world--without revealing their existence.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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After recently discovering McDevitt, I've been burning through the Hutch/Academy series, of which this is the fourth book. However, this one had brought be to a stop, at least for now.
In many respects, it's a fine novel. Once again McDevitt has a good idea and the world he creates at the center of the book is interesting. Sure, it contains the usual McDevitt standards, like somewhat shallow characters and the inevitable "moment of chance that changes everything" that's plays a prominent role in almost all of his books, but regular readers aren't going to let those hold them back.
So why didn't it work? For me it's because Hutch, the central character of the previous three novels, is not the central character here. Sure, McDevitt spends some time with her, but in the end it felt like she wasn't really necessary. Some other person could have filled the role. And instead of Hutch on the front lines, we get a substitute character, introduced in a previous novel in the series, who is basically a younger version of the same basic character.
I understand why McDevitt did it, I suppose, but if he felt the need to ease Hutch out, he might as well end the series.
Rated by buyers 
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Omega is a nice round up for the series. Chindi and Engines of God were both very good, and Omega is no slouch. It follows the same course of the other two books in which there is a long buildup and an explosive ending. McDivit is amazing at portraying the possible direction of extraterrestrial civilizations. His portrayal of the peace loving Goombas in this book is very extraordinary and yet lends itself to inductive reasoning. Simply an enthralling book.
Rated by buyers -
General Outline:
Priscilla "Hutch" Hutchens is just trying to enjoy her new directors job at the academy when one of those pesky omega clouds (if its not natural the cloud descends on it and destroys whatever intelligent life it finds, space ships, planets,etc) turns up. Unfortunatley since they were very first discovered, by her on her very first mission, there hasn't been much progress on doing anything about them. After all what's the big deal, it's 1000 years away from earth, its sombody elses problem. This cloud though does not want to follow the rules and it turns when it detects life on a planet the humans were not aware of. So starts the race to either destroy the cloud or turn it away from the defenseless planet and maybe finally understand what the clouds are exactly.
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If you like books that have a lot of detail but keeps the story moving you proably wont be able to put this book down. If on the other hand you dont like a story that bounces around a bit between the numerous characters with a few fast forwards and then rewinds and then slows down towards the middle... don't put the book down the end makes up for when the omega cloud finally reaches the planet. Then its *focused*. I really like this book, these type don't seem to come around much where the author makes the nuts and bolts of things really interesting. The only thing that was a little annoying was the fact that most of the main characters from the previous books are older, therefore in some cases they can't do what they want due to careers (Hutch), tunnel vision(David), and various other minor charaters(this book is definetly THE END for some characters)it may be realistic but its annoying because there annoyed that they cant go out there beat the alien baddie up. All in all would recommend this to anyone who likes good fast paced scifi.
Rated by buyers 
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Most novels follow a story relatively tightly, and generally the relatively few characters are important throughout the whole plot.
"Omega" is not such a novel. There are two main threads, loosely linked. In the far future, a destructive cloud called an 'Omega' will wreak havoc on Earth. The very first thread is what most people would imagine would be the primary thread, the discovery of just what these Omega Clouds are. Instead, it's the second thread, the efforts to save another planetary civilization from another Omega Cloud, which takes center stage.
For those who find Priscilla Hutchins their favorite character in this 'series' (a loose series at best, as it's generally possible to read any given book without reading the others), disappointment likely awaits. She's relegated to a much different, and lesser, role than in the previous books. McDevitt also generally introduces a great many characters in his books, and this is no exception. Many of the characters are described and appear in what seems a prominent role, only to be relegated to the sidelines. Characters die, sometimes with shocking suddenness. Questions are brought up and then seemingly ignored (although he rather 'tidily' answers all questions at the end in an odd 'voice'. It's written much like the text that appears at the end of movies, describing what happens to everyone after the main events, and feels a bit jarring.
Other than what felt like a jarring ending, the book was well done. The writing style is clear and evocative, and I like that there are touches like 'newspaper headlines' at the end of some chapters to give a hint at the kind of world the characters live in outside of the events of the story. The characters are well defined, in spite of the number of them, but sometimes inconsistency in their reactions occur. At least they appear inconsistent because we as the reader, don't get enough time to learn about most of the characters in depth due to the sheer number of them. The pacing goes from slow and leisurely to fast and furious.
In short, this doesn't come across as a highly technical, tight, piece of writing. It comes across instead much as life does. There are flaws yes, but it's worth a read for those wanting intelligent, thoughtful sci-fi.
Rated by buyers -
Nearly a decade after her exploits in *Chindi*, Prscilla "Hutch" Hutchins has hung up her wings and settled down into an administrative position with the Academy of Space and Technology. Like most of humanity, she is only worried about the impending doom from the Omega Clouds - which travel the galaxy destroying anything the seems to be created by sentient life - when she is thinking about it; but, since that confrontation is 900 years away, it seems remote and something for tomorrow.
But, everything changes when a routine science expedition observes an Omega Cloud change course and head for an unexplored star system. They soon discover a world populated by a pre-technological civilization. Suddenly, the threat of the Omega Clouds become an obsession with Earth as everyone is moved by the plight of the cute and lovable humanoid creatures (a reaction not unlike people's reaction to cute and endangered species on Earth like the panda or koala). Hutch finds herself at the center of it all as she struggles to summon the spacefaring resources and technology of Earth in a desperate effort to save the unsuspecting planet from destruction - all while trying to not interfere with the developing species or reveal their presence.
*Omega* is all action from start to finish, but of course it is also an intelligent science fiction story as all McDevitt books are. A superb ending to this chapter of the "Chronicles of Hutch".
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A Guide to my Book Rating System:
1 star = The fibre pulp would have been better utilized as toilet paper.
2 stars = Don't bother, clean your bathroom instead.
3 stars = Wasn't a waste of time, but it was time wasted.
4 stars = Good book, but not life altering.
5 stars = This book changed my world in at least some small way.
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