The Artifact By Joshua T. Calvert - A Great Sci-Fi Thriller to Stimulate The Imagination!

The Artifact by Joshua T. Calvert

At the end of The Artifact, the author explains that the story he penned is his "first foray into the thriller genre." I'm happy to testify that Mr. Calvert did a great job crafting a story full of non-stop action that is full of thrills. The tension in this tale is on full blast as the characters are placed into situations that seem impossible to get out of. It is also full of twists and turns for all three principal characters, two of whom are the chief point-of-view characters.

Along with being a thriller, it is also a science fiction story, but the sci-fi is on the lighter side. 

I enjoyed this story, and it should appeal to a wide audience. At 340 pages, it is a fast read, and the action moves the story ahead at a good pace.

A group of four people from the United States are performing archeological studies at the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan in Mexico. After making an astonishing discovery of an artifact in an unknown chamber of the pyramid, the team is attacked by unknown assailants. One of the team, Marcus, watches from a distance as three of his colleagues, including the group leader, are brutally murdered. Marcus panics and leaves the site to avoid suffering the same fate. Now, he has to make his way over 1700 miles to Tijuana, where he intends to cross the border with the artifact. Unfortunately, in his haste, Marcus has left his passport, identification, and money behind in his haste to leave, no doubt a perilous journey.

Meanwhile, the Mexican authorities begin an investigation into the heinous crime, aided by two American FBI special agents who are seeking Marcus and the crystalline artifact.

There are many strange circumstances surrounding the object found in the pyramid, and it seems everyone wants to get their hands on it, and Marcus is in constant danger.

So, what is it about the artifact that makes it an object of interest to the Mexican authorities, the FBI, and a dangerous group of covert operators? It appears some things are better left unfound.

The three principal characters of The Artifact are well-developed and believable. We get to know them through much of the story with reveals here and there in the narrative, and through their dialog.

Marcus is a graduate student working on a master's degree at Stanford University. He is invited to the Pyramid of the Sun by his teacher and degree supervisor, Dr. Charles Bowen, a prominent and controversial archaeologist. Marcus has no training in survival under pursuit and has to survive by his wits and sheer dumb luck throughout this tale. It isn't an easy journey for him, and because of some choices he makes, it also isn't easy for those who want to save him.

That would include the Special Agents, Maya Wilson and Thor Dejeune. These two make an unlikely pair because they are such polar opposites. Both are well trained and experienced agents. While Maya is driven by emotions, Thor is driven by logic. Maya is a bit of a mess, and Thor is neat and organized. Their strengths, however, complement each other as they work to understand the mystery. Their dialog is often humorous as they pick at each other, but it isn't difficult to see that they actually respect each other.

The artifact itself is a great MacGuffin that drives the story forward and keeps it focused where it needs to be. We get a few hints as to the nature of the object of everyone's desire, but not very many deep secrets, which the author is holding for the sequel.

I enjoyed everything in this tale of conspiracy and intrigue, but my favorite plot point was the portrayal of the people of Mexico Marcus encountered along his journey of peril. Often in film, television, and books, the people of foreign countries are vilified. The police are all corrupt and cruel, and the people a character may encounter are villains who are out to do evil against innocent tourists. That is not the case in this story, and I applaud the author for his portrayal of the people of Mexico. Yes, there are evil people in the story, but there are also good people. In one scene, I was caught out expecting something to happen that never did, and the outcome was exactly the opposite of what I expected. I found this a refreshing turn of events and a test of my own intrinsic biases thanks to the influence of American media.

The theme that stood out to me the most was that of conspiracy and misinformation surrounding the artifact itself. With so many different entities trying to get their hands on this, either to expose or conceal whatever information the crystal may contain, makes for a great setup for the sequel where, hopefully, all will be revealed. The artifact is surrounded by unknowns that promise a great payoff by the end of the two-volume epic.

My takeaway from The Artifact illustrates how mysteries and secrets can drive people to great lengths. Information is knowledge, and it can be both informative and dangerous at the same time.

Joshua T. Calvert is a well-traveled and intelligent writer. Everything I have read from him so far has been entertaining. The Artifact is no exception. The first volume of the story serves to introduce the major players and the object of their quest. It does so wrapped in a well-written and entertaining tale that unfolds in the mind's eye smoothly and efficiently. This thriller includes elements of science fiction, but is not dominated by the genre, so I think it would be a good story for readers who enjoy a good intrigue. It is gritty at times, but has a sense of humor, too. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Joshua T. Calvert is an award-winning author whose books have sold more than one million copies. He has traveled the world—on foot, by Jeep, by bicycle, by motorcycle, and lots of other ways besides. As you might imagine, he’s seen many things most people never see – including an Iranian prison cell, from the inside! In Kyrgyzstan, he fared slightly better, narrowly avoiding being kidnapped for ransom. Skydiver, scuba diver, martial artist, adventurer – his goal is to experience everything possible and then make it real to you in his books. And he’s made a good run of it so far: in the Philippines, he did police training on multiple types of firearms (despite being no fan of guns himself); dove in Asian waters among sharks and shipwrecks; and patrolled with Sumatran jungle rangers.

That’s what defines Calvert’s approach to method writing: pushing himself beyond his own limits, to experience first-hand what his characters experience, to make your immersion in his stories as deep as it can be.

For Ganymede Rises, after a slight detour with some smugglers in the deserts of Uzbekistan and the steppes of Mongolia, he traveled by dogsled and snowshoe to the Arctic Circle to experience first-hand what it’s like to be utterly isolated in the coldest place on Earth. For his book The Fossil, he sat with professional pilots in flight simulators for Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft to learn what it’s like to fly a passenger jet. His latest adventure: a parabolic flight with European Space Agency astronauts, to experience zero-gravity. All so he can describe it to you, in his own words.

You can see Joshua's other books and sign up for his newsletter at https://www.joshuatcalvert.com/

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The Last Nuclear War By Hazem Abdelmowla - A Good But Challenging Book

The Last Nuclear War by Hazem Abdelmowla

When I see a title like The Last Nuclear War, I expect to read an account of death and destruction on a massive scale. However, that is not the case for this tale by Hazem Abdelmowla. Instead, this book is written to be a lifetime collection of entries in the principal character's diary. For me, it was a little difficult to get into at the beginning, but once I figured out that this one must be read slowly, as the author suggests. So, as one reads, one must forgive the grammar and punctuation. Those "errors" are not there by accident. For me, I accepted the writing style to illustrate the cultural background of Mousa, the principal character, and also considering he is writing in a diary chronicling his thoughts and experiences over a long period of time.

My overall experience reading The Last Nuclear War was that it is a good story that deals with some painful realities, including bigotry, injustice, inequality, and cruelty. But there is also the pursuit of knowledge, empathy and understanding, hope for positive change, and work toward improving conditions for all humanity.

The story opens in the year 2110 in a world that has been ravaged by pandemics and severe resource depletion. The geopolitical landscape finds the planet divided into four quadrants. Each quadrant has its own characteristics. The North is the most powerful region. Mousa, the point of view character, is from the Eastern region.

Mousa is an intelligent young man who loves to learn. He also has a dream of preventing war, investigating how to produce abundant energy, and improving life for everyone on a global scale. As he grows and learns, Mousa attends a university where he meets other intelligent people and learns physics. He creates and obtains funding for his projects to achieve his goals.

Unfortunately, the lust for wealth and power is as alive as ever, and Mousa, who would rather work toward his goals, also has to navigate an often hostile political landscape.

Mousa is a great character who questions everything. He is a driven humanitarian who devotes his life to making the world a better, safer place for everyone. He doesn't understand the prejudices he encounters in his younger life because he believes all people are equal. Mousa doesn't care about wealth or accolades unless they advance his pursuits. Despite discouraging situations, he never quits and endures numerous hardships along the way. Mousa befriends Zed, a Northerner who has overcome the prejudices of Northern societal norms. He is very supportive of Mousa and encourages him often. Mousa's mother is the most influential to him, and thanks to her encouragement, Mousa can achieve at the highest levels of his science.

One of my favorite plot points in The Last Nuclear War is the emphasis on the importance of education in a person's growth. Mousa's education includes pure science that is not influenced by dogma; however, his experiences in life outside of academic pursuits teach him how to recognize those things that differentiate belief from fact.

Another plot point I appreciate is the handling of science in the story. While it is not the central focus of the book, it is an element that is presented very well, and in a way that makes it easy to understand. While some of the newly discovered elements go beyond the periodic table, the author assures the reader that he has done his research and apologizes in advance for any blatant inaccuracies.

The theme that stands out to me the most is how needed change can happen when people come together for a common cause. In the world Hazem created, if humankind is to survive, change is necessary. Mousa is the person who can bring people together to help make a better world. In the case of this story, there are leaders who are afraid of losing the reins of power, and that is a difficult thing to overcome.

My takeaway from The Last Nuclear War: one person can be the spark of change and inspire others to follow.

The Last Nuclear War is not a military sci-fi novel. If you're seeking an apocalyptic story, this is not the book you are looking for. It is a thoughtful look into the human condition with an emphasis on social interactions of people with varied backgrounds. This one will make the reader think and perhaps cause some to look inside themselves and re-evaluate one's own intrinsic biases. I would recommend this story for those readers who don't mind a slower-paced book. I enjoyed the book because of the message I took from it, and because of the characters we get to know as the story unfolds. In a word, I would say this book is challenging.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hazem Abdelmowla is a dental surgeon, an entrepreneur and a writer who simply dreams of a better world.

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Remember Me: A Love Against Time by Tony Bible - Time Travel And Romance Making A Great Mix!

Remember Me: A Love Against Time by Tony Bible

Recently, I reviewed another story by this author entitled The Photo Jumper. It was a great first novel, and I loved it. Remember Me, Tony's second novel, raises the bar and presents a story a reader can become completely absorbed in.

I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn't let go until I got all the way to the end. Tony combines a time travel story with a romance, creating a dilemma for one of the two principal characters, Eli Leb.

This tale opens in a dystopian future and moves to the present time and then progresses at a rapid pace, which left me exhausted by the end. It isn't a long book at around 130 pages for the Kindle edition. However, for that short length, there is a lot of character development, action, and suspense.

Eli Leb starts out as a young man learning the art of survival from his mother and her colleagues at a military base near Boston. The Earth has been ruined, and survivors are forced to forage for supplies. When they leave the base perimeter, the people who have survived are in danger of being set upon by victims of a man-made plague that turns them into what are called "Lurkers." Eli learns not only about survival, but studies numerous disciplines, including heavy doses of science.

When Eli comes of age, he is selected to take a one-way trip back in time to stop the development of the plague by stopping Dr. Edrie Kazimira, the scientist who is blamed for the release of the contagion that plagues the dwindling population in the future.

Upon arrival, Eli is confronted by a world he could only dream about as a young man and sees that everything is not as he originally envisioned. Dr. Kazimira appears not to be the mad scientist Eli learned about as a youngster, not by a long shot.

One of the many high points of Remember Me is character development. Everything is not revealed all at once, especially for Edrie. We learn about her in the same way Eli does, just a little at a time through most of the story. Eli learns about himself, and Edrie experiences a lot of great growth as their relationship grows. All is not smooth for these two people, who have issues in their past they want to keep to themselves, but eventually, the secrets have to come out.

But there is also a wildcard in the mix. That's all you get on that - read the book.

My favorite plot point is Eli's dilemma. He has been charged with saving the future of all of humanity by stopping Edrie from completing her task and creating a contagion that will end humanity. But he finds Edrie is not the mad scientist he was led to believe, and after a time, he even falls for her. Edrie's journey takes a little more time because she is pinpoint focused on completing her task. This causes a lot of uncomfortable moments for the couple, but the reader cannot help but hope that all will work out in the end.

Eli's dilemma is the main theme and what drives the story forward.

My takeaway from Remember Me is to remember that the sacrifices one makes now can greatly impact the successes in the future. Live today but also live for tomorrow.

Tony Bible is only beginning to publish stories to fascinate and entertain. This is an author who bears watching. His tales are thoughtful and inspiring, and I look forward to his future work.

Remember Me is a great story in which the author explores people and how they deal with dilemmas in their lives, and how choices can affect what happens in the days to come. The characters are realistic people who have goals that often are not compatible. The world-building is well done, and Eli's discoveries about the distant past make this a highly entertaining tale. The details of this story are amazing, and the science presented results from painstaking research on the author's part. The romantic aspects are plausible and not over the top; there are times when things move smoothly, and there are some bumps in the road, as would be expected in real life.

Highest Recommendations for Remember Me!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About Tony

Writing stories like no other.

Tony’s passion is writing science fiction and fantasy with an emotional punch. Raised with humble beginnings in Georgia, his early childhood limited travel. The only way to experience other places was with voracious reading and imagination. He draws inspiration from fantasy/fiction genres, dreams, comics, the supernatural, and roleplaying games. He applies his degree in world history to deliver relatable but unpredictable storytelling that readers demand.

Tony is never not writing, but breaks away to burn new recipes in the kitchen, neglect chores to obsess over football, and play with his dog. He is based in San Antonio, TX, happily married, raising two children and works in the financial industry.

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After the Before: A Post-Apocalyptic Novel by Ernie Gammage - Lots Of Action Thoughtfully Written

After the Before: A Post-Apocalyptic Novel by Ernie Gammage

This is a thoughtful look 300 years into a dystopian future. After the Before is about two young people on a journey of discovery in more ways than one and the challenges they face along the way. It is set in a small part of the United States that has been ravaged by an apparent war. The landscape is distressed, and people are forced to scavenge for things they need. But all the while, they must also be aware of the machines they call the A-Eye, which are also scavenging for people.

This novel is an easy to access sci-fi story that will leave the reader with many questions. I think the story could be easily enjoyed by readers who aren't necessarily sci-fi fans because of the many varied themes. Along with the dystopian elements, there is a little romance, a lot of tension, some triumph, and some tragedy. It is loaded with unexpected twists and turns, and there are mysteries that will leave the reader wondering.

In a scarred land ravaged by a past catastrophe, two young people search craters for items that may be useful. When Sophie and Markus discover a box they cannot open. The box is translucent, and there is an item inside that may hold answers to questions the pair have wondered about. They take the box to their village leader, who suggests a trip into the city where there may be someone who can figure out how to open the container and reveal long-forgotten secrets.

Sophie, Markus, Jen and Barth depart on a journey of discovery and peril, hoping the rewards will outweigh the risks.

Their journey is fraught with obstacles that must be overcome. The quartet encounters good people just looking to survive, a fanatic with a nefarious agenda, and the dreaded, flesh-eating A-Eye.

I enjoyed reading the story chiefly because of the well-developed characters. 

The principal characters, Sophie and Markus, face many challenges, not the least of which are a discovery of themselves. They have been together all their lives, searching the landscape for helpful things. As they spend time together, they find feelings awakening in them they don't understand, especially about each other. They have also had to grow up fast and learn the ways of survival in a hostile land. Their plight is compelling and fascinating.

Jen is a wise older woman whose guidance is invaluable to the two youngsters. Her past has a big influence in the story. She is mysterious, while at the same time, endearing. Her companion, Barth, is also a bit of an enigma. He is a man of few words, but he is also a man of action. He appears to have devoted his life to keeping Jen safe. The reader will also find Barth a character who is captivating through his actions.

The chief antagonist is a fanatic who seems to be able to justify anything he does as right. He is cruel and doesn't have any redeeming qualities.

Then, there are the A-Eye that are artifacts from a past long forgotten. They move about the landscape in search of anything they can use for energy, but especially human flesh. The A-Eye are a constant threat, always present even in their absence.

My favorite plot point in this story is more in what is not explained. As I read through the narrative, I kept looking for reveals.

Foremost in my mind was the question of what apocalyptic event took place to create the world's condition in After the Before? There are small hints, but no conclusions. Another was the item in the box. What was its nature, and does it have the answers everyone seems to have on their minds about the past? Personally, I love a story that leaves questions unanswered.

The theme that stands out the most for me involves the box. Is it just an item to advance the story, or is it a metaphor for a deeper theme? Does it symbolize hope? My takeaway from After the Before is to think about the goal (or what's in the box?), or is it more the journey? The item in the box may or may not have the answers everyone is seeking, but the characters in the story learn so much more as they traverse the landscape on their way to the city, where they might uncover wonders they have never dreamed of.

After the Before is an excellent book for those who enjoy dystopian science fiction. However, the characters and their adventure could be appealing to anyone who enjoys a great story. While the principal characters are young people, I would not call it a YA novel. Young readers in their late high school years may find some of the content appeals to them. There are some intense scenes of violence therein. It isn't a long read, coming in at 236 pages that can be read in a couple of sittings, but there is a lot of story packed into those pages. The pacing is steady. I enjoyed the unexpected twists and turns. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Writers are readers. Ernie's been an avid reader since he was a kid. In elementary school, he could order those nifty two-book paperbacks with a novel on one side and a different novel on the other and was drawn to science fiction as it was called in those days, now more broadly known as speculative fiction. The first post-apocalyptic novel he read was Pat Frank's Alas, Babylon, published in 1959. He was fifteen.

Although he wrote his first science fiction story when he was 12 years old, most of his writing has been as a songwriter. Whether it's a song, a short story, or a novel, it's all stories. Truth be told, he prefers writing fiction because it has fewer limitations than a song with its meter, rhyme scheme, and phrasing constraints.

As a musician, Ernie has appeared twice on PBS's Austin City Limits and is a member of the Texas Songwriters Association Texas Music Legends Hall of Fame. As an artist, he exhibits at art markets around the state. His art, music videos, and writing can be found on his website, www.ernies-artmusic.com.

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The Worst Ship in the Fleet (Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes Book 1) by Skyler Ramirez - Curiously Refreshing Military Space Opera

The Worst Ship in the Fleet (Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes Book 1) by Skyler Ramirez

When I see a title like The Worst Ship in the Fleet, I know I absolutely must read it! Now that I have read it, I have only one question: What the hell did I just read? I ask that in a good way.

Worst Ship is the first in a seven-book series (so far). It is not a long book, 137 pages for the Kindle edition. Yeah, it is a fast read, but is it ever packed with story that includes two reasonably well-developed characters. I found it to be a great space opera perfect for what I enjoy reading, but I had my doubts at the beginning.

This tale hits the ground running and doesn't let up all the way to the end. It is packed with lots of plot twists and unexpected action, with some of the backstory of the principal characters revealed through most of the book.

The story opens as we meet Brad Mendoza, a captain in the Prometheus Navy, being dressed down by his commander and branded an idiot. Mendoza is being blamed for the deaths of over 500 people, but there are questions about his guilt. He is given the opportunity to resign, but refuses and is assigned to command the HMS Persephone, a small, poorly equipped and maintained frigate mostly assigned to patrol duty. In the case of Mendoza, it would seem the perfect place for a disgraced officer with a myriad of problems of his own. 

Brad takes command of his ship and meets his new First Officer, Jessica Lyn. She is pretty, intelligent, and can think on her feet. She also has personal issues to deal with because of some dark secrets in her past.

Together, along with their ragtag crew of misfits, they go out on patrol and encounter something completely unexpected, and very deadly to the Persephone and her crew. A number of secrets are uncovered that will shake things up to the highest levels of government!

The principal characters are among two of the most interestingly flawed I have found in books I've read. I guess I would classify them as anti-heroes in this story. 

To call Brad Mendoza a flawed character would be a gross understatement. His commanding officer calls him an idiot, and Brad is in full agreement with that assessment, and has accepted it as an accurate description. He has multiple problems, including a marriage gone wrong, raging alcoholism, low self-esteem, depression, and an almost total loss of self-confidence. There is also a good amount of PTSD involved as he has considered taking his own life occasionally. Just when it seems he has no redeeming qualities as a human being, there is a spark when he is present at an incident between Jessica and another crew member.

Jessica Lyn has a few skeletons in her closet; she fights hard to keep them from interfering with her duties. As an officer, she was on the fast track to command through rapid promotions until it all got derailed through no fault of her own.

Together, they somehow find ways to support each other, but it is a bumpy road.

My favorite plot point in Worst Ship is how the author uses humor. There are some funny moments in the narrative and dialog, but those moments are often veiled by circumstances. I found myself trying not to read too fast, making sure I didn't miss anything.

The theme that spoke loudest to me was that of redemption. Let's face it, everyone makes mistakes. Brad is the embodiment of making mistakes one after another. In this tale, the man has bottomed out in nearly every category there is. But eventually, he does find something to show he may be redeemable. He doesn't seem to recognize it right away, but as a reader, we see it, and it felt like a moment of triumph to me.

My takeaway from Worst Ship is stated in the author's bio: "Everyone, no matter how life has dealt with them, or how they've dealt with life, deserves a second chance..."

When I first started reading The Worst Ship in the Fleet, I wasn't sure I would finish it. The Mendoza character was someone I didn't want to know. But I stayed with the story, and even if the character was initially reprehensible, I began sympathizing with him and understand what had happened to this man who seemed beyond hope. He grew on me. I also stayed with the book because the story itself was moving in a fascinating direction.

I do enjoy space opera and military sci-fi, and this is a great story to kick off what should prove to be an interesting series. I am a latecomer to the Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes series by Skyler Ramirez, but I intend to continue reading the series as time goes on.

I recommend this story to those who enjoy space-going military sci-fi.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I just love writing. My goal is to write books that my readers enjoy and that celebrate everyday imperfect heroes. I want to show that everyone, no matter how life has dealt with them or how they've dealt with life, deserves a second chance and can go on to do amazing things. Just look at Brad and Jessica in Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes or Jinny Ambrosia and Tyrus Tyne in The Four Worlds.

It's important to me that everyone be able to read my books, including my teenage children, so I purposefully leave out any swearing or graphic scenes, though I don't shy away from serious topics. In this, I follow a tradition set by many (far better) writers before me, most notably in my life, Louis L'Amour.

As for the personal side, I live in Texas with my wife and four children (and often a revolving door of exchange students), and I work for a major tech company in my spare time. But writing is my passion, and I often toil into the early hours of the morning, especially on weekends, and it's all worth it when I see people enjoy my books.

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She Stole My Buddy's Starship by Myles Christensen - Excellent Sequel to My Buddy Gave Me A Starship!

She Stole My Buddy's Starship by Myles Christensen

Since I read the first book in the series, My Buddy Gave Me A Starship, just over a year ago, I have been eagerly awaiting a continuation of the adventures of Mitch aboard the starship Starfire. Well, I'm not disappointed with the second installment of this saga in any way. She Stole My Buddy's Starship continues the fun as Mitch gets way more than he bargained for in both good and bad ways.

Once again, Myles has written another book that is exciting, intense, and just plain fun to read. The characters have a wit a light year long, and the tale is full of twists and turns couched in non-stop action and hilarity. As with the first book, I loved the dialog. 

Science Fiction fans who enjoy the lighter side of the genre should appreciate this series, and once one gets to know the characters in the first book, can expect satisfaction with the reading of the second book in the series.

In the first installment of the story, Mitch, a man down on his luck, loses his job and meets his long-time friend, Gabe, in a diner as Mitch tries to drown his sorrows in a large bowl of ice cream. Gabe invites Mitch to his place for a visit where Gabe has a starship hidden in his barn. It isn't long before another starship lands on Gabe's property and uniform-clad soldiers attempt to take the ship away. They kill Gabe, and Mitch gets away thanks to the help of an artificially intelligent copy of Gabe's deceased wife, Tera.

Tera takes Gabe to a place where a beautiful alien female named Vrynn awaits a delivery. She joins Mitch, Tera, an android copy of Gabe, and a bear-sized animal that behaves like a puppy.

Later, they run into a ruthless alien named Gralik who very much wants the Starfire for himself.

In this book; as the Starfire sits in a hangar on an out of the way world, Vrynn tricks Mitch into giving her access to all ship operations. They seem to have fallen for each other, at least a little. While Mitch is sleeping, Vrynn apparently betrays Mitch's trust and takes the Starfire to continue her quest on her own. Mitch takes a clunky, old shuttle and goes seeking Vrynn.

After that, well, Mitch finds himself in a desperate battle for the freedom of an entire planet!

And at the bottom of the whole thing is Gralik, who still obsesses over the Starfire, and will stop at nothing to possess it.

In this continuation of the story, Mitch proves himself to be quite resourceful and a good commander of the Starfire. A lot of that is because of the personalities he surrounds himself with. Vrynn is thoughtful, but she is also a brave fighter for freedom. Even though Tera and Gabe are computers, they support Mitch and Vrynn well and behave more as humans. What the biologicals are trying to accomplish would not even be possible without their intelligence. As the story moves forward, we meet a number of other characters, all of them endearing in one way or another. That is, except for Gralik. The more we learn about him, the more villainous he is. All are excellently written, and Myles has written brilliant dialog for them to give them depth of character and bring them to life.

I have to be careful with my favorite plot point. Yes, Vrynn steals the Starfire, but sometimes people do the right thing for the wrong reason. My takeaway from this tale is that appearances can be deceiving. I'm being cryptic here to avoid spoilers. To discover what I'm talking about, you're just going to have to read the book.

The theme that stands out most for me is to show how perseverance and intelligence plays a large part in the success or failure of the achievement of a goal. Everyone in the book has their own agenda. Some of those are compatible with others, but teamwork will give one an edge toward success. Another theme shows how obsession can also lead one to stumble and lose what they have gained as their focus shifts.

She Stole My Buddy's Starship is an excellent sequel to My Buddy Gave Me A Starship. The tone of the story is on the lighter side, making it another fun read. The characters are excellent; the dialog is top-notch, and the story flows, making it another page-turner. Once one picks it up, one will not want to put it down. I recommend this story to space opera fans and those who might enjoy watching a budding romance continue to grow. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Myles Christensen loves to write exciting adventures because he loves to read exciting adventures. The hopeless romantic in him will usually a teensy bit of romance into his stories. While writing, he listens to music that matches - and sometimes inspires - the story line.

His mild-mannered alter ego is a product development engineer, university professor, and game inventor. He lives in Utah with his wife and children.

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The Call of Abaddon (The Abaddon Cycle Book 1) by Colin Searle - Amazing Story and World-Building!

The Call of Abaddon (The Abaddon Cycle Book 1) by Colin Searle

This is a multifaceted post-apocalyptic tale revolving around the principal characters, while at the same time, it brings in multiple story threads that all come together to complete this part of the story. One might think this makes it a complicated story, but in the case of The Call of Abaddon, it is so well written that it is an excellent, cohesive story I found to be entertaining. It has several characters for a reader to care about, and some that are terrifying.

One of the best parts of this story is world-building! A reader will be given a tour of a ruined Earth following a war that has made the planet's surface uninhabitable. People are forced to live in sealed cities. Call of Abaddon focuses on New Toronto, a self-sufficient and often dangerous place that serves as the capital of the United Earth Federation. Life isn't easy, but it is livable if one is willing to work and play their part.

The principal characters include three young adults who face challenges in reaching a goal. But this is not a young-adult story. There are several elements that might make sensitive readers uncomfortable.

Here is the book's description from the cover to avoid spoilers...

To save the human race from the ultimate cosmic threat, Jason will have to become something far beyond human.

New Toronto is a fractured city-arcology on a dying Earth, where hope is as scarce as clean air. For Jason, survival means scavenging the ruins beneath the city — where any day could be his last.

But everything changes when an ancient alien obelisk — the ABADDON BEACON — attacks Jason’s mind from afar, making his dormant psychic abilities spiral out of control. After barely surviving Abaddon’s psionic possession attempt, Jason and his companions are left with no choice but to find the obelisk before it consumes him.

Problem is, Abaddon has been sealed within a top-secret United Earth Federation research lab for over a century, silently worming its alien technologies into human society, presented as gifts with a far darker purpose. The Beacon doesn’t just speak; it infects, projecting its viral energies far beyond the walls of the lab.

And Jason isn’t the only one hearing Abaddon’s call. Across the Solar System, a ruthless Emperor will stop at nothing to seize the Beacon’s power for himself.

As the Imperial invasion of Earth looms, Jason’s quest to confront Abaddon will force him into a critical choice: master the strange power growing inside him ... or succumb to the Beacon's godlike influence, ushering in mankind's doom.

The Call of Abaddon is a gripping mythological tale of humanity's struggle to overcome an unimaginable darkness, blending the political intrigue of Dune with the eldritch terror of Lovecraft, and the explosive world-building of The Expanse.

There are several characters to follow in Call of Abaddon. Among my favorites are Jason, David, and Sam. These three are a team that works well together. Jason is smart, but troubled. He is plagued by voices transmitted to him from an alien device. He is in constant danger of losing himself to the Abaddon Beacon. It is an alien device that works to bring those with psionic powers under its control. Jason is forced to rely on a drug to keep himself under control.

Jason's brother, David, is the pragmatic one of the trio. He sees the practical side of things and works to keep himself, his brother, and Sam grounded. He often points out the folly of his friends decisions and finds solutions to problems that work.

Sam is the technical wizard and warrior of the group. She has abilities beyond many others and saves the day quite often. Sam is also susceptible to psionic episodes, although she seems to be able to control them better than Jason.

Talos is a combat robot Sam has reprogrammed to help the trio. But there is one aspect Talos adds; he has a great ability to point out absurdities as the team works to perform their tasks. Talos' deadpan delivery adds a lot of comic relief to lighten the otherwise grim realities of the story. Talos often made me think of Marvin the Paranoid Android from The Hitchhiker's Guide. I often found myself laughing while reading his lines and wanted more!

Anne and Zeke Oakfield are two heroic characters. They have made it their mission to bring down Mariko, the despotic, megalomaniacal, self-appointed Emperor, who intends to bring Earth under his heel and take control of the Abaddon Beacon.

My favorite plot points, along with Talos' dry wit, are the relationships and conversations between the principal characters. Jason, David, and Sam care deeply for one another and would easily sacrifice themselves for the other two. They work well together and are more like family, depending on each other for nearly everything, but especially emotional support. They have a tendency to pick at each other, but they all understand it is just talk to break the tension. Their dialog was a high point of the story for me.

Another favorite part was when Zeke Oakfield leads a large group of people in a rallying song. The tune is based on a familiar old American song, but the author's lyrics are incredible! If one reads this story, when one gets to this part of the book, and you can figure out the tune, I dare you not to sing along.

The theme that stood out the most to me was Jason's battle to keep his identity. While he has a strong personality, the Abaddon Beacon is a powerful alien device urging Jason on to do its bidding. The only way Jason can resist completely losing himself is to take a drug to silence the voices he hears.

Another prominent theme involves the megalomaniac, Emperor Maiko. He is obsessed with thinking he can control the Abaddon Beacon and the people of Earth with ruthless tyranny.

The Call of Abaddon is a story with many various threads that weave into a complete tapestry. While there are numerous characters to keep track of, and a lot of detail, the story is so well written, the story never eludes the reader. The characters are memorable, and they are involved in plenty of action that helps this story move at a great pace. Descriptions of the action and backdrops are detailed and colorful, and the themes are well explored. One will experience a good spectrum of emotions from laughter to tears, and there are plenty of thrills, twists, and turns to keep one reading to the end.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the author's website (https://colinsearle.com/)

Hi! I'm Colin Searle, an illustrator, visual designer and storyboard artist who was drawing and telling stories before I could walk. A steady diet of books, comics and pop culture classics started a chain reaction in my head. Whole universes were born.

Seven years ago, I started as an artist in the animation and gaming industries with a plan to eventually tell those stories. That time has come. I've learned from many mentors and fantastic clients to pick up the visual and storytelling skills necessary to write my own words into existence. While I will always continue working as an artist, bring novels like The Call of Abaddon to life is the real dream.

I'm currently based in Toronto, where I work remotely out of my home studio and participate in the vibrant creative culture of the city, attending industry events (XP Game Summit), speaking at colleges (Sheridan), and spending time with my girlfriend. I'm also an avid traveler, visiting almost every Canadian province for recent fan convention appearances.