Notice...

The purpose of this blog is to have a little fun. It is NOT to start arguments. I don't profess to be an expert on Sci-fi, nor do I aspire to become an expert. You are welcome to comment on any and all content you find here. If my opinion differs from yours, as far as I am concerned, it's all okay. I will never say that you are wrong because you disagree with me, and I expect the same from those that comment here. Also, my audience on the blog will include some young people. Please govern your language when posting comments.

Posts will hopefully be regular based on the movies I see, the television shows I watch, and the books I read as well as what ever strikes me as noteworthy.


***SPOILER ALERT***
Spoilers will appear here and are welcome.

Autograph Collecting

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Echo: A Space Opera Duology (Book 2) by Michael Listen - Fun And Thoughtful Space Opera

Echo: A Space Opera Duology (Book 2) by Michael Listen

The second installment of the Echo space opera duology is a satisfying end to a story that I found spellbinding and just plain fun to read.

In the first book, the reader gets to know Kai Randall, a bit of a pirate with a good heart and a solid sense of justice. He becomes an unlikely hero when he rescues Shreya Nova, a scientist and military officer whom he rescues despite the beating she gives him during their first meeting. Added to those two are Perri Hasana, a young woman who has ambitions of being a pilot but is an apprentice to Kai (click here to see my review of the previous book). Together, Kai and Perri gains Shreya's trust sufficiently enough for them to help find her missing husband who was kidnapped during the test flight of a new propulsion system.

Echo 1 was loaded with gut busting humor in an otherwise tragic story of loss and brutality. This volume takes a bit of a darker turn and is terrifying when we finally meet the alien race responsible for the kidnapping and all of Shreya's heartaches. Add to that the continuation of one of the most despicable characters I have ever met in a story, and you get an amazing story to tug at your emotions and might even take you to the breaking point.

Ignoring all available evidence to the contrary, Shreya refuses to accept that her husband is dead and will continue to search for him until she has evidence otherwise, and she is willing to go to any lengths to learn the truth. Kai wakes after healing from injuries he sustained in the previous novel and realizes the feelings he has for his young apprentice.

With a bounty on his head, Kai and his crew head off to an uncharted region of the galaxy and encounter a race of beings so powerful, it is doubtful they will survive.

The action and adventure ramps up to a captivating and satisfying conclusion that will absolutely break the reader's heart along the way. Be sure to have a box of tissues handy as you read this one!

My favorite plot point for this second book revolves around one of the most powerfully compelling characters in any story I have ever read. That would be in the person of Parri Hasana. She is quick-witted, highly intelligent, and able to adapt to unfamiliar situations. I place Parri at the top of my list of the greatest of female characters along with Ellen Ripley.

My takeaway from both parts of Michael's duology is the role of persistence in them. I once saw a quote: "Success is not the absence of failure; it's the persistence through failure." The quote is attributed to Aisha Tyler. First, there is Kai. He could have easily just walked away from Shreya at any time, yet something inside him spurs him on and emphasizes his humane side. Shreya will not give up on her husband, no matter what. And Parri continues to follow her heart. She will not give up on winning Kai's heart.

Even the villains show monumental persistence. The evil commander who tortured Shreya in Echo 1 is back, and he is not giving up seeking his revenge. And there are the aliens who have persistence at their very nature.

In short, the Echo Space Opera Duology, is among the best Sci-Fi I have ever read. It is an amazing, well-told saga that runs a full gamut of emotional content. It will entertain and inspire readers, and I give it my highest recommendations. Don't miss this one. The story unfolds at a good pace and is hard to set aside once you start reading.

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Michael Listen lives in Oklahoma with his wife and two children. After his time in the Navy, he moved into the Information Technology profession. However, he has always had a passion for art and creativity. He enjoys crafting stories for role-playing sessions with friends or writing short stories for his wife. His first full-length published book was a two-part science fiction space opera titled Echo.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

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