Capella's Golden Eyes

First Published: 1980

File size/Pages: 645KB / 218pp

Ebook Publisher: Gateway

Ebook Date: Sept 2011

The first book of Sci-Fi Month is Christopher Evan's novel published originally by Faber and Faber in the UK back in 1980. It is available for a very reasonable £1.99 on Amazon UK.

Evans is a new author to me, I'd not heard of him, or read any of his other works before starting this. Internet searching reveals that there is very little known about him. He has a sparse Wikipedia entry that tells me he was born in 1950, a native of the south-eastern Welsh town called Tredegar. He was educated at Cardiff University from 1969 to 1972, and then Swansea University until 1974.

It's possible that he crossed paths with noted fantasy and science fiction writer Robert Holdstock whilst at university (Holdstock attended another Welsh institution, Bangor University in the late sixties and early seventies). Regardless of whether that is true, they combined to edit the Science Fiction Writers Magazine, Focus from 1979 to 1981. The magazine contained many essays on writing SF by noted persons, such as Ken Bulmer, Christopher Priest, Richard Cowper, David Wingrove (Note to self: I really must review one of his Chung Kuo books), and Holdstock/Evans. There were also stories, but it mainly served as the British Science Fiction Association's (BSFA) book for potential or established SF writers.

Evans again worked with Holdstock when they edited the anthologies Other Edens I, II and III, all published in a three-year run during the late eighties. He won the BSFA Award for Best Novel of 1993 with Aztec Century, a novel about an alternate history where the Aztec Empire conquers Britain. He has also written under the pen names of Christopher Carpenter, John Lyon, Nathan Elliott and Robert Knight. He later became a Chemistry teacher in London.

Capella's Golden Eyes was Evans first novel. The title is a reference to the twin suns of the planet Gaia, part of the Capella star system. Generations ago, man travelled to Gaia in a space vessel designed to support its occupants upon landfall. The human colonists struggled to survive, using what resources they could utilise from the land as well as the craft. Just as long-term survival was beginning to look unlikely, a mysterious alien race arrived on a nearby island to the main settlement. The aliens, called M'threnni, allowed the 'Gaians' to prosper by providing resources and guidance. They co-existed together for a short time, but then the M'threnni retreated into their helical structure and rarely ventured outside. All they asked of the settlers was that a few chosen humans would freely volunteer to live with the aliens, becoming in effect their Voices to allow communication to continue with as little interaction with the growing population as possible.

The humans lived happily with this status quo for generation upon generation - the M'threnni spaceships visiting Gaia regularly to replenish stocks - and the humans developing their society in line with the technological development permitted by the M'threnni cooperation.

Into this situation, we are introduced to Jax, Annia and David - young people on the verge of adulthood. On thier last visit to the main town of Helixport before they must undergo their rite of passage into becoming adult citizens, they visit a dream parlour. David is disturbed by his experience but says nothing. On their return to the commune where they have lived all their lives so far, David is the first to reach the age where he must decide what he wants to do with his life. Because of his academic achievements, he is offered a place in the University at Helixport, a place the three of them have only ever dreamed about living. 

David accepts, and leaves Annia and Jax behind in the hillside commune, knowing that it will only be a matter of months before they too must make a similar decision. Life in Helixport and at the University is perfect for David. He forms a relationship with fellow student Wendi, and he does well in his studies.

Eventually, Annia contacts him to arrange a visit before her own ceremony of advancement. She arrives in Helixport, and David is keen to show her all the best parts of his new life in the city. During the day, they witness a very rare moment. A M'threnni floater vehicle passes them by, and a Voice collapses out of the machine. They try to help but the person dies on front of their eyes. They also meet the M'threnni in the floater car, but cannot communicate with it. They are taken to a government building and interviewed about the incident.

At the end of the day, Annia leaves to return to the commune. David promises to see her again soon. However, all of a sudden, her normally regular letters and messages cease, and David's own attempts to contact her or Jax are met with total silence. finally contacting his commune leaders, David learns that Annia contracted a virus and died soon after getting back from Helixport. Jax, distraught at her death, has absconded, and cannot be found...

Capella's Golden Eyes is a very skilfully written novel. It is not an overstatement to say that it is beautifully written. The story simply flows off its pages, and it is a joy to read. Evans makes storytelling seem so effortless. At first, the book feels like an extremely good young adult title (he did write some YA titles later in his career) but it moves beyond this format as the plot thickens. 

Some of the sequences of David's time in the commune or, later in the novel, travelling on a barge across the outskirts of the human colony, are incredibly atmospheric and moving in a way that surprised me. At one point I did feel like there were echoes of Dickens Great Expectations, and even the Tripods trilogy by John Christopher. 

The plot touches upon distasteful aspects such as colonisation and the oppression of primitive societies by interlopers but it never overstays its welcome, and steers satisfyingly into subjects like political cover-ups, rebellion and even genetic engineering.

My only negative thought on the book? Towards its end, Capella's Golden Eyes veers away from the main action and Evans takes us on a bit of a 'side-quest'. This wouldn't have been so bad, if it amounted to anything significant - but I wouldn't agree it did. At one point the main characters are updated on what has happened while they have been away, and my brain screamed "that sounds more interesting that what I've just read, why didn't I get to experience it!"

Don't let that last comment put you off though. This novel is a lovely book and a great read. If you are unsure whether you would enjoy Science Fiction, I'd say give this a go. It's a good introduction without being too 'sciencey'.