science fiction – The Spine View

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

The cover is what piqued my interest in Starter Villain, the latest book from John Scalzi. At first pass, the story appears to be a lighthearted, frivolous tale that is served with a side of buffoonery. Upon closer inspection, Scalzi is actually taking a sartorial view into all things capitalism.

The protagonist, Charlie, is a down on his luck teacher struggling to make ends meet. He has been living in his father’s house, with his cat, since before his father’s death. He does not seem to have many prospects at the moment.

This all changes with the death of his billionaire uncle. He soon finds out he has inherited his uncle’s entire estate, including the title of Villain. Along with this title, he also inherits, a secluded island, high tech security in the form of talking dolphins and let’s not forget the talking cats who have had him under surveillance for several years.

While his money problems have been solved, he now has a whole host of others. Like being the target of other Villains who want to wheedle, bribe and/or cajole billions from him. Did I mention they also might want him dead? He finds he has to negotiate the land mines that are now his life with the help of his uncle’s assistant and his cat.

There are several laugh out loud moments in this book. Couple the humor with great dialogue and the insightfulness into corporate/billionaire idiotic, and dare I say, asinine behavior, it made for a highly entertaining read.

I highly recommend this to readers who appreciate a creative and humorous story about modern day capitalism. An entertaining read, for sure and I enjoyed the laugh I got at modern-day foolishness.

I received a free copy from the publisher, via Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

To Each This World by Julie E. Czerneda

To Each This World is a hard Sci-Fi novel. A great story filled with political intrigue, mystery, adventure and imaginative world building. A great find and glad I read it.

The main character Henry, is the Arbiter, the most important individual on New World. His main responsibility is being the go between Humans and the Alien species called the Kmet. Humans have entered into a pact or Duality, as it is called, between the two species.

The Kmet have given some technology to humans and the use of Portals that allow space ships to transit long distances in the blink of an eye. However, everything could be in jeopardy when a probe reaches New Earth with a message that a seed ship, sent centuries earlier, has arrived at its destinations and the humans there are prospering.

The Kmet on the Portal is beside itself. It insists that the other humans be rounded up and returned to New Earth before the Divider finds them and destroys them. As the Arbiter, Henry must assist with this task. Yet, he has many questions, and foremost is who is the Divider and why are they dangerous.

This book is one of the most original I have read in a while. I loved that the author presented Aliens as Alien. Nothing like humans and hard to understand, not only in speech but in motive. It felt plausible and the pacing was perfect. Yet, in the end it was the characters and the world building that made it such a good book.

There is just one negative for me, the writing style, which made the story hard to follow at times. I also struggled at first to get invested in the story. However, the characters of Henry and Killian were just so well developed and I fell in love with them and it made it up for so much.

Despite my one grip, if you are a Sci-Fi fan and like a more traditional story then this is a book for you. It is well worth being at the top of your TBR list.

I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Upgrade by Blake Crouch

I can describe this book in one word, fantastic! Crouch has hit it out of the ballpark again with his latest book, Upgrade. He never fails to surprise with his imaginative and realistic plots. To me, this book is what makes me want to read Science Fiction.

Unbeknownst to the main character, Logan Ramsey, he has received an upgrade. In short, his genome has been re-sequenced. Not only have errors been erased in his genes, they have been improved. His mind is sharper. He finds he can recall things from his childhood like they happened yesterday. His comprehension is now off the charts. What he struggled to understand before now seems so simple. But that is not all, his physical attributes are vastly improved. He is faster, stronger and heals quicker. However, is this necessarily a good thing for the entire population?

In order to avoid any spoilers, I am not going to say anything further. I will tell you that the pacing of this book was more like a thriller and I was on the edge of my seat for most of the time. It is a compelling story, filled with thought provoking ideas and a perfect blend of science and fiction.

The character of Logan was so well thought-out and perfectly executed. Crouch does know how to put you inside the head of a character so that you understand their problems and feel their emotions as if they were your own. It left me wondering what choices I would have made if I had been in Logan’s shoes. I love books in which I connect with the MC and I question myself in the process.

Crouch explored a lot of interesting ideas in this book. I especially liked that he asked the reader, is intelligence better than compassion? Also, can we lose our humanity if we become too smart? Because of these issues, and others, he raises, this is the perfect book for a Sci-Fi book club. There are a lot of interesting avenues to explore within the pages and you could talk for hours about some of them.

However, this is a great book for people who are not necessarily Sci-Fi fans because the science in this is not in your face. This is one of the most thought-provoking books I have read this year. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced book that also speaks to your heart.

I received a free copy, via Net Galley, in exchange for my honest review.

Mickey7 by Edward Ashton

What an oxymoron, essential and expendable. That is the situation the main character finds himself in in this fast paced Sci-Fi adventure. Mickey7, by Edward Ashton, is truly an inventive and realistic feeling story of what it might be like to live on a hostile alien planet. Very enjoyable. I need more books like this!

Mickey has the undesirable position of being the “Expendable” on an ice planet light years away from any human outpost. His position gives new meaning to the term dirty job. He gets tasks that are the most hazardous but necessary to everyone’s survival. It he dies while performing these tasks, no problem, just clone another Mickey. He is currently iteration 7, until he isn’t.

Where resources are more than scarce, and calorie intake is closely monitored, there can’t be two of him. Yet, by some fluke, or bad luck, there is now a Mickey8. To top it off, this planet has a hostile native species that is intent on killing the colonist. Will the Mickeys be able to keep it secret that there are now two of them? An even bigger question, will the colony even survive?

This is one of the most original Sci-Fi stories I have read in a while and there was some excellent world building to go along with it. I especially appreciated that the author showed us the gritty side of what it would be like to start a colony on a far flung planet. The risks involved, the mistakes and assumptions that are made well in advance that might doom a colony before it even steps foot on a new world. It is obvious the author did his homework and thought through what the consequences might be.

I also like the main character, Mickey7. He was compelling, snarky and even a little whiny at times. However, I felt sorry for him even though I know his situation was all his own doing. I do wish I had gotten a little bit more background on some of the minor characters. This is a minor detail I can easily overlook since the plot was fast paced and made the pages goes by quickly.

This book is not too heavy on the science, so it is a perfect pick for those readers who like more fiction than fact. Great story, with believable characters make this an easy recommendation to loves of Science Fiction, especially Space Opera.

I received a free copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik

This book, Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik, is a stellar start to a wonderful new Sci-Fi series. I am still getting goose bumps from this story days after reading it. This book is the real deal, it has all the feels and you don’t want to miss out on it.

Octavia (Tavi) Zarola and her small, close knit crew are contracted by Torran Fletcher, a dangerous Valoff, to help him find out who stole something very important from him and recover it. He is very vague about the item and insists that humans are behind the thief and he needs a human to help him recover it. Despite her misgivings, Tavi takes the job because it is so lucrative and if she can find this stolen item, in a short period of time, there will be a bonus. Of course, there is a caveat to the deal, Torran demands that he and his crew join forces with hers. Besides the hunt begins on the Valoff home world and Tavi will need him to provide safe passage there.

Once they get underway Tavi discovers there is much more to this ex-military commander than meets the eye. He infuriates and arouses her. In addition, she discovers there is a softer side to him that he keeps well-hidden and she is not the only one feeling the attraction. As they work to recover the item, they both learn that there are secrets that their governments have keep from them as well as secrets they are keeping from each other. The question will be, when it comes down to it, can they trust each other?

I was drawn into this story before the end of the first chapter because the characters were well done and I was intrigued to see how the relationship between the two crews would develop. There was obvious chemistry between different characters and as you learn more about them you can’t help to become invested in the outcome.

The plot was good and I thought some of the ideas presented worked well to move the story forward. I especially was intrigued by one idea in particular, that humans were seeded on other worlds, sometime in the past, and that two distinct lines of humanity have evolved very differently. It got me to thinking, if this could have happened, how closely related and how much DNA would have to be shared before a species can be considered human.

There is no cliffhanger; however, there is much more to this story and I am excited to see what happens next. I also want to know more about the other characters. Will any of those relationships bloom into something more? In addition, I get the impression that the various governments are not done meddling. Will we meet another race of aliens much more advanced? So many questions and so much to look forward to. I hope I am not kept waiting too long for the answers.

This is the perfect Space Opera for fans of The Interdependency series by John Scalzi. It is exciting and highly addictive. I highly recommend! I received a free copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

The Year Before the End by Vidar Hokstad

What a great start to an action packed Sci-Fi adventure series! The Year Before the End, by Vidar Hokstad, is just the kind of book I love to read. A bit of fiction and a bit of science equals total reading pleasure!

Zara (aka Zo) Ortega captains the Black Rain, a transport ship that usually smuggles weapons to rebel groups on Earth. Zo and her crew are no strangers to questionable jobs and this latest gig is most definitely questionable. They are tasked with breaking into the Vanguard Station, in the asteroid belt, one of the most secure space stations in the system.

They are to retrieve a capsule that contains information regarding a plot by the Mars separatists and the Centauri, an alien race which made first contact with Earth forty years ago, to rule the system. Of course their well made plans go awry when some Mars ships attack the station while they are attempting to retrieve the capsule.

Once they manage to get free of Vanguard Station they head for the rendezvous point only to discover along the way that things are not all as they seem. The person who hired them is none other than the head of Sovereign Earth and he plans to use the information in the capsule to start a war. It will be up to the crew to stop him.

There are a lot of good things going for this book. First off, I loved all the science behind this story. It was just the right amount to satisfy my inner nerd but not enough that I felt overwhelmed. I truly love when good science and good fiction come together to give you a fascinating and entertaining read.

The story is well written and thought out. It has a cast of likable characters that work well with the plot. Though I would have liked to have had a bit more character development. That being said, this is the first book of a series, I suspect there will be more development of the characters over time.

Lastly, I liked that the plot is fast paced once you get beyond the first couple of chapters. There are no huge plot twists but the book is centered on the action and because of this I felt it was not necessary.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of Science Fiction were the emphasis is on science. If you enjoyed The Martian you will enjoy this book too. I am already looking forward to what the next book has in store for the crew of The Black Rain. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Ice Lion by Kathleen O’Neal Gear

The Ice Lion is a dystopian story about climate change in the worst case scenario. Written by an expert in the field of archeology, there is a ring of truth to this fictional story of the struggle to survive in a frozen world. I found it to be a fascinating and terrifying look at what the future might hold for life on Earth.

The story is set in a future a thousand years off. The Earth is now in the grips of an Ice Age. In a last ditch attempt to preserve some higher life on Earth, scientists have recreated humans from the last Ice Age along with the prey and predators that they hunted and where hunted by. Now these early humans struggle to survive in a world that is still growing colder and is extremely hostile.

The Sealion Clan struggles to eke out a living in this world and predators like the Saber-Tooth Tiger and Dire Wolves are not their only enemies. They complete for resources with other tribes of humans. It is a very dangerous time to be alive.

The star of the show here are the characters. The author made characters that I liked. I understood and identified with them, though it took me a bit to like Lynx. The trials they were put through and how both Lynx and Quiller characters grew as the story progressed was done nicely. At first, I was not a fan of Lynx. However, the author was able to build his character and I began to see that there was more to him than what was on the surface. Not an easy thing to do and I appreciate the subtlety that took.

The plot was fast paced and there was lots of action to keep me excited about what was going to happen next. Though there were not any large plot twists to make you gasp, there were a few surprises that worked nicely in keeping the story interesting.

My only grip is with the world building. I wanted more. I felt the story would have worked better if I understood more of the events leading up to the recreation of prehistoric life. There were a few hints but not enough to slack my thirst for more information. Just a bit more additional information woven into Arakie’s story would gone a long way to making the story even better.

Despite that I didn’t get as much world building as I like, this is still a solid start to the series. I have no reservations in recommending it. Just note, this is not your typical Sci-Fi story and thus I feel it is best suited to those readers that like a mix of both the Fantasy and Sci-Fi genres within the same book. In addition, the book is a great pick for readers of Young Adult fiction. I am looking forward to the next installment and hoping I will learn more about Arakie’s past.

I received a free advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Leonard (My Life as a Cat) by Calie Sorosiak

After reading Leonard (My Life as a Cat) I will never look at a cat the same way. In fact, I just might have encountered an alien or two in my life time. Knowing the cats that have owned me, they no doubt think I’m the alien!

Leonard has an immortal life as a corporal being on a planet far from Earth. He has been anxiously awaiting his 300^th birthday. Three hundred is very special to his species as they are allowed to travel across the cosmos to Earth and for one month assume the body of any creature. Leonard chooses to be human and wants to be a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park. He has planned everything out, down to the smallest detail.

Then in the briefest moment of inattention on his trip to Earth, his well laid plans go awry. He crash lands in a tree during a tropical storm in South Carolina. He is miles and miles away from Yellowstone, which is both his drop off and pick up point. How will a cat get to Yellowstone? Fortunate for Leonard Olive rescues him and he embarks on an adventure more exciting and fulfilling the one he planned for himself.

This is a delightful, middle grade story. The plot is about what happens with things don’t go as planned. However, the message of the story is one of love, friendship and how they save us. The character of Leonard was quirky and perfect. His desire to experience things like movies and bowling made for some humorous moments. It also contains some excellent life lessons, such as it is okay to be different. I ask you, what is wrong with a cat walking on a leash?

I was originally drawn to this book because I am an animal lover. Yet, it is a story for all types of readers. I highly recommend this one for everyone who wants a funny, feel good story full of life lessons. I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Voyagers: Twelve Journeys Through Space and Time by Robert Silverberg

Voyagers is classic Science Fiction at its best and Silverberg is the master. I have read most of the author’s novels but few of his large collection of short stories. Therefore, I was excited to get my hands on this book for review. It totally cemented my love and respect for Silverberg as one of my favorites in the genre.

This collection of short stories, twelve in total, showcases his prowess at writing short fiction. All the stories have been published in the past, mainly in magazines. Silverberg has written a short introduction to each that I found insightful. Not only does he explain a bit about how the story came about, he gives us a small look into his world and thought processes as a writer.

All the stories in the collection center on the theme of travel. Some stories, such as the first, In Another Country, involve time travel. Other stories involve travel in other forms. An example of this is Looking For the Fountain which involves an alternate universe. My favorite of the group, and the longest in this collection, is We Are For the Dark which involves traveling vast distances across space.

Regardless of how you like your travel, these stories are a fabulous curation. I highly recommend this anthology to lovers of classic Science Fiction. This is a book anyone would be proud to have in their collection. I received a free copy from the publisher, via Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program, in exchange for my honest review.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

This is Andy Weir at his best! Project Hail Mary reminds me of his book The Martian in that it has this amazing main character that you fall for immediately and a sets of events that will have you on the edge of your seat. And did I mention, lots of great science. Folks… Weir is back!

Dr. Ryland Grace has been a junior high school teacher ever since he left the academic world over a controversial paper he wrote. In the paper he claimed that life does not need water to exist or evolve. Little did he know that this paper would lead him to be the expert on an alien life form and that would ultimately lead him to being part of a three person manned mission to another star to save humanity.

There is just one catch. He cannot remember any of this. He is awoken by an advanced medical robot protocol and at first he does not even know his name. All he knows is there are two corpses on beds next to him. Slowly his past comes back to him in bits and pieces as he works on finding a solution to Earth’s problem and avoiding the next mass extension event.

I know I am being obtuse here but I don’t want to spoil one minute of this excellent story. It is a mix of Space Opera and hard science. By the way, Weir does a beautiful job of marrying the two. The action is never ending. Just as Grace solves one problem another one arises. He also has a habit of plowing ahead while working on a problem and not thinking through all of the consequences. In other words, he is human.

Thinking of being human, Weir has created a character that is incredibly likeable. Grace is fallible in a believable way and this makes him relatable. A couple of times I wanted to shout to Grace, “What did you expect!” I love when I get so invested in a story that I want to talk to the character(s).

I know you can tell that I loved this one. However, If YOU loved The Martian as much as I did, you have to read this book. Even if you have never read a book by Weir be sure to pick this one up. I promise you it will be well worth it. Double kudos to Weir for writing such a wonderful book. I am looking forward to seeing this one on the big screen. I received a free ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, for my honest review.