Blind Waves    by Steven Gould Order:  USA  Can Tor, 2001 (2000) Hardcover, Paperback Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Wesley Williamson This is a story of the comparatively near future, when the sea level has been raised by one hundred feet due to the melting of the polar ice caps. Hundreds of millions of people have been displaced from their homes and are now refugees in their own country. Patricia Beenan is still an American citizen but chooses, as her father had, to live on the floating city of New Galveston. Patricia is a wealthy woman, on the city council, and operates an underwater salvage business. She stumbles upon a freighter sunk by gunfire, with dozens of bodies of men, women and children locked in the hold, and evidence implicating a US government ship. She finds herself enmeshed in a web of intrigue and danger, along with a government investigator. The action is fast and furious, and the love affair developing between Patricia and the investigator is interesting and unusual. Both Patricia and her lover quote extensively from Shakespeare, particularly Twelfth Night, but the quotes are usually apposite, and add rather than detract from the progress of the story. Steven Gould is a most interesting writer. His first three books, Jumper, Wildside and Greenwar, were good, well written, and easily read science fiction. However his next, Helm, was in another much higher class, being one of the very limited number of books which I can read and reread. Blind Waves has to be placed in yet another category, and I can only look forward to his next with anticipation and raging curiosity. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more SF books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews