The main character in Eternity's End is Legroeder, a rigger on space ships that have (too much of) a close resemblance to ocean-going sailing ships. The story centers around this sailing analogy: pirates waylay commercial ships in deep space, capturing treasure and slaves. There is a ghost ship, similar to the Flying Dutchman. Carver describes travel in certain regions of space called the Flux as having waves and currents, clouds and sunsets, storms and becalming. This sailing analog is a big stretch, one that goes too far for me. I found much of this to be shear comic-book-level silliness, and most of my dislike of Eternity's End is based on this (failed) stretch.
There are some good science fiction elements in the book, including races that engage in different levels of cybernetic enhancements (with the pirates pushing the technology). Legroeder receives moderate augmentation about a third the way through the book, and then falls for a pirate female having major augmentation. Their relationship is interesting. Characterizations are a strong part of the book. And Carver writes well, in an easy-to-read, engaging prose.
