Nocturne

Jue Neuce
Aio Publishing Company, LLC (2005)
ISBN 1933083018
Reviewed by Susan Pettrone for Reader Views (9/06)

In “Nocturne,” the reader is, from the first sentence, swept into the world of “Nocturne” and its people. A colony far in space, light years from earth, finds itself undergoing a crisis of such epic proportions that it is forced to ask for help. It seems one of the major food storage units is so heavily damaged that there is no recourse left but one for the colonists. This paves the way for an event that alters their world and opens their lives to changes they never contemplated ever happening! The help they receive is far from what they expected. Instead of help in the guise of people such as themselves, Nocturne colonists find an entirely different type of people in their midst, people who not only think differently than themselves, but people who challenge their very way of life. The two groups of people are so at odds culturally and socially that there seems no way there will ever be a peaceful agreement for the planet Nocturne.

The social relationships within Nocturne, with their decidedly vivid lines drawn, cause so much hatred and resentment that the reader is oftentimes left weary of the struggles between the groups. I personally felt overwhelmed by the characters and oftentimes wanted more in terms of individual characterization and setting to more easily put into perspective what was transpiring within this book. But, despite any confusion the reader may have as to the world of Nocturne, the storyline enlightens, the language enchants and the characters engage. All of this comes together to weave a story of conflict, confusion, love, loyalty and strength of character...not to mention determination.  What will it take to save Nocturne? Who is loyal to whom and why did all of this happen? These questions appear to the reader, which have no real answer. In fact, if the reader were to substitute the word “Earth” for “Nocturne” you would find these questions are as old as time and still have no answer. It seems, Nocturne grew and evolved past the point where it could help itself and it is at that point where Nocturne began to change, never to be as it was.

I, as a reader, found the differences between the first colonists with a scientific bent and the later arrivals who seemed “hard-work oriented” to be so stark and vivid, that I wished for some sort of agreement or compromise between the two so harmony and life as it was, could be restored to Nocturne. But strangely enough, when the compromise didn’t come, I wasn’t surprised either. In fact, it seemed only right for the groups to move apart and co-exist on Nocturne as they did.

“Nocturne” is a book that would appeal to a wide range of readers, from young adults on up. It would be an interesting book for a book club, readers group or simply for a solitary reader who enjoys books, which ask more questions within the story than they answer. When the reader keeps in mind the differences between Nocturne’s societies, “Nocturne” proves a sobering parallel to today’s world in all its prejudice, hatred and even love. It is a book to read, and a book to be contemplated not only in a group but also most importantly, alone.  As we all know, it is the questions in life which have no answers to be those that haunt us the most. And that fact alone is worth the time spent visiting “Nocturne” and its people within the pages of this book.

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