“Eclipse” starts out like a standard Space Opera, in the middle of a thrilling escape from an exploding spaceship. Once the story starts, though, it is light on the science end, with the setting element concentrated on visual descriptions of the vessels, living spaces and clothing styles of this future environment. The emotional content of […]
“The Fate of the Universe: Pawn” by Rumour Lee
This novel is Romance Sci-Fi, with a definite accent on the romantic side. Too much so, unfortunately. There is a reason why novels usually have multiple conflict levels. Sci-Fi books usually have a romantic plot thread. Then there is often inter-personal conflict, always some kind of technical conflict, and usually both physical and political external […]
“The Retribution, Gallows Gold Book 2” by James Thomson
I reviewed the first book in the series, “The Agreement,” last summer, and while the second book stands alone pretty well, I suggest you read the first book first. The second book is more of the same, so then you’ll know whether you want to pick it up as well. I recommended “The Agreement,” and I […]
“The String Conspiracy” by Candace Freilich
This is a difficult book to review, because its greatest asset is also its main weakness, and I run the risk of damning it with faint praise. Allow me to explain. It is advertised as Science Fiction, but believe me, it resides in that narrow band where Sci-Fi and Fantasy overlap. The technical wizardry is […]
“Sandorn’s Command” by Thom Bedford
To enjoy Science Fiction, the reader must suspend the disbelief that all those technological wonders are possible. Fans of Space Opera need to practise this technique to a greater degree, because the situations and the coincidences are even harder to believe. We are willing to trade this effort for the enjoyment we get from the […]
“SPVCE” by A. W. Karin
This novel is definitely a one-off. It starts out as standard “training school” Sci-Fi, where elite students are chosen for a secret program. But that’s as far as the normal plotline goes. This group is placed in a Pinteresque situation where they are moved through a repetitive series of environments and given endless, meaningless tasks […]
“Thrill Switch” by Tim Hawkin
Welcome to a Sci-Fi version of Silence of the Lambs. It involves the psychological conflict of a detective trying to persuade a convicted serial killer to help solve a continued —or new — killing spree, never sure whether her incarcerated client isn’t still functioning in the cyberworld. The writing is in first person, so we […]
“Cut from Stone” by Brendan O’Meara
The start of a Fantasy Military Action series, this book is mainly concerned with the training of a Special Ops team and their first live engagement. It presents a sanitized version of the usual training-up-to-fight plotline. Competition is minimized, bullying and hazing are not present. These are people focused on becoming the best of the […]
“Breach of Contract: Shattered Stars Book I” by Vance Huxley
This is a great adventure/action novel, a reworking of an old storyline set in a dystopian future. It is the story of a group of renegades brought together in a military unit who use their disparate talents and irreverent attitude to succeed where no other unit can, much to the dismay and horror of their […]
“In Synthient Skin” by G.W. Darcie
First-person narrative is nothing new, but when the main character is an android, we get a different twist on the technique. It’s not an unusual choice for Science Fiction, but in this case, the situation has been handled with great skill. A lot of the enjoyment of the read is because of interesting conflicts. The […]