Made in DNA
LOVED IT! Old skool 90s cyberpunk vibe but none of the “era” trappings. Slick writing made it a fast, enjoyable read that was difficult to put down and easy to get into. Relatable characters. It was nice NOT to be annoyed by the cliched and often overbearing cookie cutter characters of SO MANY cyberpunk novels. Great buildup made for a tense read wherein I was worried for the protagonist, his associates and family as well as genuinely left stunned at the end. Excellent editing by the good people at Fahrenheit means I'll be going back to this indie publisher for future work from both Mr. Gomez and other authors. WANT MORE!
The Goddess Gambit is an ambitious novel melding fantasy, mythology and science fiction (specifically mecha, robots and transhumanism). As a lover of role-playing games (TRPGs), the world struck me as RIFTS like in scope, featuring different dimensions, aliens, monsters and mystical powers, but is certainly NO COPY OF. The author did a fantastic job of world-building and pulling all the elements together in a fine-tuned novel that is expected to span further volumes, with this first one ending on a tense, foreboding note that was completely unexpected. This is definitely a novel that spans a variety of genres and will easily appeal to a great number of readers.
A thought-provoking collection of slick, smart science fiction heavy with transhuman and cyberpunk themes with none of the pretension that comes with the standard “cyberpunk” fare. The author introduces the reader to worlds akin to Clarke and Asimov but with a firm grounding in our own human history and cultures.
A bittersweet ballad of death...
Mr. Knox sings a sweet song - a modern take on tale as old as human society and culture itself. Death comes for us all - comes, gives us two weeks notice, and then collects. Death's current incarnation is a young black man killed by gun/gang violence, but he takes it upon himself to be the BEST Death he can be.
A collection of vignettes in sixteen chapters, each one revealing a new, raw layer of the learning curve of what it's like to be in Death's shoes. It's not a game, it's not a grand time, it's not easy - it can be a visceral slap in the face, and our man Sippian has a lot of learning to do.
A smooth, enchanting read by a charmer of an author who understands his genre and his audience. Modern Black Folklore/Blaxploitation
Future Horrorscape!
From the moment I dove into the book, I was gobsmacked. This is the absolute perfect blend of The Twilight Zone and cyberpunk with the endings leaning more toward the horror spectrum. This is not your hologram girlfriends and robotic servants, this is visceral nightmares steeped deeply in reality and the human consciousness. Stories range in length and style. Great for a quick read. Perfect for cleansing the palate when you need a break from a longer work (I like to read multiple works at once myself).
Originally published as The Goddess Gambit, Invasive Species is an ambitious novel melding fantasy, mythology and science fiction (specifically mecha, robots and transhumanism). As a lover of role-playing games (TRPGs), the world struck me as RIFTS like in scope, featuring different dimensions, aliens, monsters and mystical powers, but is certainly NO COPY OF. The author did a fantastic job of world-building and pulling all the elements together in a fine-tuned novel that is expected to span further volumes, with this first one ending on a tense, foreboding note that was completely unexpected. This is definitely a novel that spans a variety of genres and will easily appeal to a great number of readers.
Set several decades after a “limited” nuclear holocaust, the story revolves around a small group of characters on all sides of the drama that unfolds. While most fiction revolves around the point of view of just one or two characters, usually protagonists, in Scorched Earth, the author creates an eerie verisimilitude to an already chilling reality by allowing the readers to see into the minds of all the major characters concerned. In doing so, it's becomes all too clear that “good” and “evil” overlap with such intensity that we can see ourselves in the mirror.
While clearly a “last stand against the darkness” post-apocalypse vision, the author didn't just stop there, creating a universe of vast potential. Just a few of the more overt science fiction elements of the book include time portals (a surprising, but well-done element), super soldiers (one of the more disturbing aspect of the novel), and longevity drugs. Each of the elements was introduced a pace that allows readers plenty of time to soak up each element. There's no rush which may stun readers into suspension of disbelief, and yet, nothing is forced either. Excellent pacing.
Both character and world building are, again, created through the eyes of every character introduced, of course, giving their versions of how they see the world, and allowing us to create the larger picture over all.
All said and done, Scorched Earth is a great action-suspense thriller. Highly recommended.
It is difficult to pinpoint where the novel thrives; it is at once fiction and yet flows in and out of theology, philosophy and “faux” non-fiction like a tide caressing a beach. Truly unique in vision and scope, it is not completely for the casual fiction reader, but those dedicated readers who love complete focus as they follow the protagonist Cleric20 through L2, a post-cyberpunk world of grim quirk and loud guns to go from zero to hero all at the behest of the very devil himself. Imaginative and bold.
Shining Tomorrow is the story of Irma, a young woman living in an alternate history American where the Axis defeated the Allies. A member of YELOW (Young Elegant Ladies of the West), she is caring, giving, and a paragon of femininity, so what is she to do when her beloved city and friends come under attack? Surely becoming a masked superheroine to take up piloting a giant mech is out of the question! But Irma also has heart and strength, and these give her the resolve to step forward and take up the mantle.
The first volume in author Rawle Nyanzi's retro remix world is a nod to not only Man in the High Castle but Peter Tieryas' acclaimed United States of Japan series. His knowledge of Japanese culture and anime is deftly balanced and blended with American sci-fi tropes and norms for a creative reading powerhouse. Well-written, well-edited, and well-received, it is surely a welcome addition to any bookshelf. This is the kind of fiction that evokes a more golden age of science fiction when things were less complicated and the world more defined.
Absolutely wretched. I honestly cannot fathom the appeal of this novel, let alone a series of novels centered on this character. I forced myself to read as much as possible as I honestly thought it sounded like it would be fun. I could not have been more disappointed. Everything from the cardboard cutout characterization to the thin plot was just subpar. But it seems that I am in the minority on this, so, kudos to the author for being able to pump out a ton of novels.
From the poetry of the prose on the page to the plot and the characters, readers will recognize that the author is no stranger to history and fact-research. Furthermore, it is matched by the rich tapestry of world-building employed. The whole novel carefully weaves an unforgettable tale of cruel fate, hard life, bloody war and young love, each balanced via a multitude of perspectives. Cannot praise this debut work more. Looking forward to future work.
Set in a dystopian future where America is now run by amoral religious nuts, Cyberpunk Jihad is a collection of interwoven short stories that gives the middle finger to the establishment. Reminiscent of handcopied, stapled indie fiction zines of the 80s and 90s, this novel takes no prisoners with its attitude and wears its colors clearly on its sleeve. It is disturbingly raw, powerful, twisted, and funny. Looking forward to future work.
Not really what I was hoping it would be. Set in the same universe as Left Alone, a short story which is a FAR better. Had a hard time relating what it was that the author was trying to relay through the varied layers of the story, especially the comparisons of the First Martian culture to the Jomon era peoples. If you are into (very) slow, thought-provoking SF, this might be right up your alley. Frankly, I was not really impressed. I think the translation needed a bit more editing as well as there were some really rough spots compared to the eloquence of most of the book.
This, while thought-provoking on some levels, really didn't pack much punch. The characters discover the mystery of a missing month, and are determined work it out, and yet, the author just kind of has them walk through it, like not much happened. In the end, it IS a very poignant story about mass hysteria and the lengths some governments might be willing to go (or currently ARE implementing) to cover up dirty little secrets that might very well tear down the very fabric of society if citizens were determined enough to face it straight on.
Hardcore from beginning to end. Gabino Iglesias has always been a top tier indie author, but Zero Saints is a whole new level of crime thriller. Tense and gut-wrenching it holds your cojones in a vice for the entire novel. Filled with blood, gore and violence, yet every word is an exercise in elegance. The author digs deep into the darkness within all our hearts – our doubts, fears, the skeletons we thought we'd buried, the waking nightmares we cannot outrun – and exposes them in our reading relationship to the protagonist. Well-thought out. Perfectly paced. Realistically crafted. Just beautiful.
Set in the far future when humanity has spread to the stars and met other spacefaring cultures, this novel (like all good works) is lightly modeled on current events and indeed history in general. Humanity can be both graceful and grotesque in a myriad of aspects, and Exelby expertly tells the story of dragon bone-harvester, Markio Edi, who, through no fault of his own, is inescapably thrust into deep conspiracy and possible war.
While this is his first book, it is clear that the author is no stranger to worldbuilding or storytelling. Excellently edited and well-paced, this is an engrossing novel that does NOT overgloss the situation that the protagonist is in, but scrutinizes every nook and cranny in an effort to understand the path set before him. Epic space opera.
If you loved “Roller Ball Murder” (or the stunning 1975 film starring James Caan), then this book is for you. It's a Max Headroom-esque look at the future where evil corporations run football in the 20oos, whipping fans into a frenzied watch-fervor with pay-per replays and murder/mayhem reel highlights of street football during the week. Mix in a bit of political satire and you have for a lean, mean, gutsy novel.
The description reads “in the spirit of Pacific Rim, Macross, Transformers, Robotech, Gundam, Evangelion, and more”, but to be honest, there are ZERO stories inspired by Macross (aka Robotech), Gundam or Transformers. This is book was inspired by solely Pacific Rim and possibly Evangelion. For potential readers not familiar with the mecha genre, or those only familiar with Pacific Rim, this means this collection is packed with stories about giant robots versus monsters (aka kaiju) – which is a fine if that's what you like. Unfortunately, that's not the whole genre, only a subset. Nor is it really all that appealing to the fans like myself who are enamored with the space opera aspect ala Macross, Gundam, L-Gaim, Dougram, Votoms, et al.
I wanted this book to be so much more. I backed it on Kickstarter and waited for it for the longest time (and then I had problems loading my preferred version into my phone, and it took months of working with the publisher to get it to work). And it is a flat disappointment. I couldn't get through more than 30% of this book. I'm going to jump to the back and read Martha Wells (who always spins a great yarn), but I'm not hopeful as it seems even Kevin J. Anderson phoned in his story. That said, no matter how good it is, it will NOT be able to save this collection...
It. Stinks.
I was NOT expecting this book to be as good as it was. I picked it up for cheap and expected it to be one of the million run-of-the-mill amateur military SF novels. What I got was two ex-military professionals turned novelists channeling David Drake – pure excellence. What really set this 5-star review in stone was the fact that this first novel is a full novel in and of itself – there's nothing more to buy. The authors are not trying to capitalize on a multi-part novel that forces you to purchase 3 books to get the full story. Gritty, bloodsoaked, intelligent. I will be picking up further novels in this series.
The first book is the inspiration for the classic sci-fi film The Forbin Project, and while much is the same, the book is a very much a product of its time. No doubt this set of novels would be condemned as a product of “toxic masculinity”, and by all counts, it did make me cringe on more than one occasion. That aside, there is an excellent story outlining the dangers of technology within. Set in a future where the Cold War still has humanity teetering on the edge of extinction, in steps Forbin and his scientists who create a master computer to watch over the defenses of the United States. It's a well thought out novel on what could go wrong. Unfortunately books 2 and 3 take a weird turn starting with the end of book 1 and soon involve computer intelligence from Mars. Sounds exciting in theory, but the whole of the original concept created in the first book is chucked out the door by the later novels, and one wonders if they weren't a product of forced publication rather than what the author originally intended. Skip books 2 and 3 if possible and just enjoy the first novel (Colossus).
Romero zombie fans will recognize this campy take on the genre for what it is and run with it. Written in first person, we follow the adventures of Cerra Romero as she runs through the LA Basin in an attempt to outrun the antagonists, both flesh-eating and live. Following her through a year of her life, the work (sometimes jarringly) skips ahead months at a time. While this did not diminish enjoyment of the book, the overall work might have benefited from the expansion and detail. Fortunately the author did not skip out on the important details, and has carefully planned and crafted the world. A quick, entertaining read that is meant to be enjoyed like a late Saturday night film on commercial TV.
The Goddess Gambit is an ambitious novel melding fantasy, mythology and science fiction (specifically mecha, robots and transhumanism). As a lover of role-playing games (TRPGs), the world struck me as RIFTS like in scope, featuring different dimensions, aliens, monsters and mystical powers, but is certainly NO COPY OF. The author did a fantastic job of world-building and pulling all the elements together in a fine-tuned novel that is expected to span further volumes, with this first one ending on a tense, foreboding note that was completely unexpected. This is definitely a novel that spans a variety of genres and will easily appeal to a great number of readers.