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Plot Summary of The Avatar
"A new kind of technologically advanced spaceship is discovered that lets people explore the farthest reaches of the galaxy."
C.E. Mosher, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of The Avatar
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%




Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - exploring a wondrous planet or phenomena - lost in spaceship
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - wealthy
Age: - 40's-50's
Eccentric: Yes - eccentric
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - politician/elected ruler
Eccentric: Yes - emotionally unstable
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount

Setting
Terrain - Water - Mountains - Planet surface, need spacesuit - Space, need spacesuit
Earth setting: - near future (later in 21st century)
Spaceship setting: - alien spaceship - a space station - futuristic human freighter/transport
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - inhabited by friendly aliens - neutral aliens - primitive aliens - empty, or nearly empty world
Takes place on Earth? Yes
Planet outside solar system? Yes
Takes place in spaceship? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - quite a lot of techical jargon
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only - descript of kissing - descript of touching personal anatomy
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog
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Wildside by Steven Gould
The Engines of God by Jack McDevitt


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Poul Anderson Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Alan Tompkins  

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