Motus By P.A. Kramer - Underground Life Is Challenging!

Motus by P.A. Kramer

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

From the moment I opened Motus all the way through to the end, I was completely engaged.

Motus is a hard sci-fi look into a society living an underground existence. Among the things I enjoyed about this tale were the principal characters, Corun and Cassi. Supporting characters were also well-written and added to the story. The world building was easy to visualize, and the descriptions of the surroundings were colorful. I also thought the science was plausible and easy to understand.

There wasn't anything I didn't like about this tale, and I didn't want to set it aside.

The civilization of Motus has been around for a very long time. Corun, a man who digs to provide the people with the resources necessary for life, find a strange rock he has never seen before. He hopes his find will help him change his life, and perhaps even elevate him in the strict caste system governing Motus. But alas, the substance he found is simple slag from the city's own furnaces.

Employing a little deductive reasoning, Corun is a bit alarmed to realize he is living in a city that moves through the same places over and over. He also realizes that this could mean the end of the city as resources are used up.

Corun meets Cassi, a smart woman who has a secret. She is advocating for change, which could get her into a lot of trouble. When she isn't working her assigned job, she writes pamphlets that will hopefully inspire people to fight for better conditions for all the people in Motus, not just the elites.

Together, Corun and Cassi deduce that change is necessary, and they are the ones who have to lead it. Their choices, other than following the status quo, are to either dig deeper into the rock, or dig up to the surface of the planet. They have been told all their lives that the surface is uninhabitable by the elites, but is that the truth? Corun decides it is time to find out.

Corun, the principal character of Motus, is a worker who can be depended on for an honest day's work. He is good at his job and respected among his peers. Like any typical miner, he is tough, and the people he associates with are also just as tough. They work hard, and they play hard. But Corun is also a thinking man. There are some things that don't seem right with Motus, and it takes Cassi to help him better understand the city's situation.

Cassi is a young woman with roots in the elite class, but she is also well-educated and knows and has access to resources that few others have. She thinks and studies and writes about the evils of the current system and passes what she learns on to others to inspire them to think about change for the better.

Together, these two might just change the world.

My favorite plot point is that, thanks to Corun's discovery, the workers establish how they are actually mining their own graves by digging through their own waste material. They realize that there must be a major change in their direction to stave off disaster in the near future as their resources are used up and soon to disappear.

This is also related to what is, for me, the major theme of the book.

The theme of a struggle against stagnation is rooted in the politics of Motus. There are three major philosophies in the story. One is the Ascensionists, who believe that they need to move toward the surface of the planet and see if the legends about its habitability are accurate. There are the Descensionists who feel they need to dig deeper into the planet to uncover new resources. Then there are the Lateralists, the elite who are in charge of making decisions.

The Lateralists are imposing their wishes on everyone despite the promise of doom in order to preserve their hold onto power. They know the consequences and what will eventually happen, but maintaining their power pulls them to ignore the consequences.

My takeaway from Motus is to remember a quote from a politician: "It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it." — Aung San Suu Kyi

But political considerations aside, this is just a plain good story. The story is paced well, with the action always moving forward. I appreciated the focus of the tale on the characters who were allowed to tell the overall story through their thoughts and dialog. I appreciated how the relationship between the principal characters developed over time, slowly. I also enjoyed the lighter banter that would occasionally crop up and remind me that the characters are human. I also loved the intensity and urgency the characters felt after the discovery Corus made at the beginning of the book. Motus is a well-written speculative look into reasonable actions people can take when they find themselves facing the end of their existence.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

P. A. Kramer is a scientist and science fiction writer who also publishes under the name Philip A. Kramer. He has short fiction and non-fiction published by Baen Books, Writer’s Digest, The Colored Lens, Eldritch Science, and in several anthologies with award-winning and best-selling authors. He is the winner of the 2017 Baen Memorial Short Story Award and the 2017 N3F short story contest. After obtaining a doctorate in Biomedical Science, he now helps authors write with scientific authenticity on his blog. He is formerly a resident of Seattle but now lives in North Carolina with his wife and daughter.

For updates on his books, visit his website at pakramer.com and subscribe to his newsletter. 

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Artifacts And Enigmas: Mysteries From Redemption By Darran M. Handshaw - An Excellent And Entertaining Collection Of Short Stories

Artifacts and Enigmas: Mysteries from Redemption by Darran M. Handshaw

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Not long ago, I read and reviewed the first book in the Chronicles of Actaeon series by Darran. When I learned there was a short story collection in that universe, I was all in.

Artifacts and Enigmas is a science fiction/mystery collection of eleven stories. Each one is separate, but they also tie in together by the end of the book. The book is set in more of a fantasy-like setting, but the characters explain events in scientific terms. The stories are from the point of view of two characters who are learned and expert in their given roles. Together, they go about solving and explaining a variety of bizarre crimes and is loaded with fascinating plot twists and turns, making it a very entertaining read.

In the ancient, ruined city of Redemption, Knight Investigator Aethelgard goes about his business solving crimes. He uses his powers of observation and deduction, and nothing gets by his keen senses. But when he is confronted with crimes involving Artifacts of the Ancients, he finds himself in need of help from his friend and Prince Engineer Actaeon, who is an expert in the areas of uncovering the mysteries of science. Together, these two are a team that gets to the bottom of all sorts of criminal activity that threatens the people of Redemption as their city is rebuilt.

Underlying everything lurks Aethelgard's longtime nemesis, who must be defeated.

My favorite plot point throughout all eleven stories is the friendship Aethelgard and Actaeon enjoy. For the most part, their relationship is excellent, although they don't always agree. Their friendship is tested along the way, but because of their sense of purpose and their understanding of the way the world works, and how people think and behave, they can resolve their differences to the benefit of both, and the people of Redemption.

My takeaway from Artifacts and Enigmas is the importance of teamwork. Each of the two principal characters have their areas of expertise, and when they are together, they are an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.

I enjoyed this collection of stories. They are all high quality and fun to read. I didn't find any of the tales predictable, and each one has plot twists, making the reading experience enjoyable. This collection is highly entertaining and very well written. I recommend Artifacts and Enigmas for readers who like stories in the combined Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, or for those who are seeking something uncommon in science fiction.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Darran M. Handshaw is the author of The Engineer and The Dark Heart of Redemption. In addition to writing, Darran works as an R&D Concept Engineer at a technology company where he invents and designs new products. He holds more than 110 patents in data capture, vision systems, and emergency services. Darran also volunteers as a firefighter with his local fire department, where he serves as an Ex-Chief and active firefighter and teaches fire prevention to the children of his community. Darran hails from Long Island, NY, where he lives with his beautiful wife, Stefanie, and incredible son, Corwin, who fill his life with love, wisdom, and endless adventures.

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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.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!