The Aftermath: Terra (The Aftermath Series Book 3) By Bradley James - Entertaining High Adventure Sci-fi

The Aftermath: Terra (The Aftermath Series Book 3) By Bradley James

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

The third installment of the Aftermath series is every bit as good as the previously two published works by Bradley James. Those previous works are The Aftermath: Lunar, and The Aftermath: Titan - click on the title to see my reviews of those books. The big difference with this third story is how the author has ramped up the intensity of the story.

This segment of the ongoing story picks up where the previous one leaves off. It hits the ground running and does not let up until the end, and is wide open, begging for a fourth book.

I eagerly await the next one!

While on the surface of the moon, astronaut Elliot Adams witnessed an asteroid strike on Earth, and that single event would have been enough to send him on a quest to survive in the harsh Lunar environment. But no, that wasn't enough. He discovered there was a permanent underground base on Earth's only natural satellite he knew nothing about. Then he discovered there were people living in that idyllic settlement. It was idyllic until he further discovered it was built and operated by a people calling themselves the Telvanni, who seem to want to take over Elliot's home world.

The Telvanni, and their leader, the General, have plucked yet another asteroid from its natural orbit and sent it hurdling toward Earth. Elliot and his Lunari friend, Mayto, hijack a Telvanni ship and head to Earth to stop that catastrophe, while Ava and her daughter remain on the Moon to once again face the General.

It's going to take some clever thinking, hard fighting, and the willingness to sacrifice to bring an end to the General and his gang of henchmen's attempt to rule what's left of the human race.

Aside from writing some amazing adventure tales, Bradley's strength as an author is bringing great characters to life.

Elliot and his friends are people a reader will come to care about. They all have their own special skill sets and work together to achieve seemingly impossible goals. Along with their problem-solving skills, they also have a sense of humor that made me laugh out loud while reading. 

Less appealing is the General. He has no redeeming qualities and has no reservations about torturing and killing people on a whim.

The characters in Aftermath: Terra are worth the price of the book.

My favorite point of plot in Aftermath: Terra is the description of what Elliot finds in the aftermath of the first asteroid strike. There are pockets of survivors who are just trying to live as best they can, and others that prey on them, almost seeming to help their antagonists. Adding to the intensity of the story is how the stakes have risen. Not only is Elliot trying to save a group of people trapped on the Moon, now he has taken on the responsibility for everyone left on Earth, too. It is no small task, and Elliot faces some huge obstacles to overcome.

There are two major themes that stood out to me in this segment of the story. The classic tale of good versus evil is prominent. With no other apparent purpose than conquering Earth, the Telvanni kill massive numbers of people. The General is cruel and seems to enjoy playing with his prey before going in for the kill. The second theme is it seems good cannot exist without evil. Even when evil is apparently stopped, it comes back with a vengeance and is even worse the next time around.

My takeaway is, when fighting evil, its defeat is not final - one must remain vigilant, always.

The Aftermath: Terra is an excellent sci-fi adventure story. It is full of twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing. Take nothing for granted if you enter Bradley's imaginary universe. 

I am recommending those interested in reading this series to start at the beginning and read all three books in order. Each subsequent book opens at the minute the previous one ends. The three novels are well worth the time to read. I've found the entire series highly entertaining and a fun rollercoaster ride into a saga with heroes to love and villains a reader will love to hate.

Highest recommendations for this book, as well as the entire series.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bradley James published his debut novel, The Aftermath: Lunar, in early 2024, realizing a long-held dream. Since then, he has been irreversibly bitten by the writing bug, immediately embarking on his next literary adventure without looking back. When not immersed in crafting narratives, Bradley can be found indulging in long runs, losing himself in books, consuming copious amounts of coffee, or passionately cheering on his favorite football team. Though born in London, he now resides in Southwest England, where the lush landscapes often serve as a backdrop for his creativity.

You can connect with Bradley on his website, https://bradleyjamesauthor.com/.

Well, there it is...

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A World Apart By Alan M. Weber - The Aliens Have Landed And Promise To Make Things Interesting

A World Apart by Alan M. Weber

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

This story is not like anything I have read before. Oh, I've read political thrillers, colonization sci-fi, and first-contact alien stories frequently, but in my personal recollection, nothing like A World Apart. I found it mesmerizing. And I loved everything about it.

Weber presents his tale at an easily digestible pace that goes by very quickly. I found it so engaging I probably could have read all 188 pages in one sitting, but one has to sleep sometime. The prose is also very accessible to those who are not fans of sci-fi full of technical jargon and complicated ideas. It is a character driven tale with people that are real in all the ways that count. The dialog between the characters advances the story without having to explain a lot of the plot in info-dumps.

Much of the time while I read this book, I saw shades of the movie, The Day the Earth Stood Still (the 1951 film directed by Robert Wise) and also could hear strains of John Lennon's song, Imagine. 

A World Apart opens with a scene between two neighbors, formerly friends, who are verbally bashing each other over their political philosophical differences. This scene really hit home as being very realistic, and not atypical of what might actually happen in any neighborhood. That scene is followed by other snapshots of life in today's social climate. Other than expressing anger and hate, the three scenes all have something else in common: no one notices the UFO's streaking overhead.

When the extraterrestrials land and introduce themselves, they have a bit of shocking news for the people of the Earth. They announce they are from a galactic organization that has been observing the planet since it came into being, and because of human short-sightedness, they have come to save us from ourselves because, by their estimation, we are on a path of extinction.

They explain they will "usurp" our autonomy and rid the world of those things that have "plagued" humans throughout our history and promise to do away with "increasing division, hatred, and ignorance." The manner they propose to use are set out in seven directives that will lead to sweeping changes designed to unify humans in a global population.

As one would expect, the proposals are met with various levels of acceptance or rejection. And the big question is, are they actually here with beneficial intentions, or are their reasons nefarious?

The principal character, Alan Zimmer, is a journalist of sorts. He had originally intended to be a serious journalist writing for a major newspaper, but when he needed a steady income, he began working for a tabloid, and had quite a bit of success. When he became popular, he lost his family and began a downward spiral into alcohol addiction.

Then, he was invited to become a human spokesperson for the aliens. His agreement to work with them came with changes to his life and he embraced the assignment with great vigor. But, along with a few successes came many failures, not on his part, but that of the people he needed to deliver the message to.

He is a good man who, while being accused of being a mere collaborator, stands by his convictions. Even when he is not sure of the purpose the aliens harbor, he follows through with his promise.

My favorite point of plot in this tale is the twist at the end. I'm going to leave this right here to avoid spoilers.

My takeaway is what I think is the purpose of the book is - Introspection. Alan Weber is challenging us to look inside ourselves for answers to the big questions. One might say the elephant in the room. Those things we deny are happening, or choose to ignore, or those things that cause us to be fearful of many things.

Alan is asking us to take a look inside ourselves for flaws and biases that may need to be resolved.

Beyond any message the author is challenging the reader with, it is just a great story I enjoyed reading. It is well written and easy to understand. There is plenty of action to hold one's attention, and every page-turn will spur the reader forward, wanting to know what happens next. There are a few social messages that one may derive from A World Apart, and they might cause some readers a little discomfort, but sometimes, change is drawn from a little discomfort. I didn't feel compelled to agree with any philosophical ideas in this tale, although there are points with which I agree strongly.

I would enjoy seeing this story being made into a film!

Along with the images I mentioned in the beginning (the film and the song I mentioned), I also felt as though I were reading something that might be a Twilight Zone episode. Realizing there is the famous episode of that series entitled To Serve Man (season 3, episode 24), the story in A World Apart is vaguely similar, but far different.

I recommend this story for both sci-fi fans and those who just want to read a good story.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alan M. Weber was born in the Bronx, NY, and now lives in Woodstock, NY. He was always a would-be writer, having given poetry readings around Manhattan's Greenwich Village in his early twenties, until such time as he realized he wasn't a very good poet. Having spent most of his college days engaged in political activism rather than career planning, and seeing no practical avenue for a career in non-commercial writing, he followed his tertiary passion into the field of education. He spent forty-three years in the field, as an early childhood teacher, then administrator, and, ultimately, professor of Early Childhood Education at a community college. During all of that time, his writing was largely restricted to essays within his field, the most notable of which was a piece entitled "The Misdirection of Modern American Education," which appeared in the May, 2014 edition of The Education Digest.

Nearing his retirement, he embarked on a second career, completing and publishing his first novel, Integrating the Chapters of a Life, a memoir of sorts, which was published under a pseudonym given its revealing content. While still teaching, now as an adjunct rather than full-time, he wrote his first children's book, Not for Hurting, a picture book on the understanding and effects of war for young children. Once officially retired, he ventured into fiction, publishing a political novel, The Wedge, a somewhat prescient warning of what was to come in 2016. But it was with The Wedge that he discovered his love for fiction and, particularly, dialog. What followed were two short stories of a meta-psychological nature, which he decided to combine into his next published book, Meins of Existence. The first of the stories, "The Matter of Mind," remains particularly close to his heart.

Another children's book, What Kimi Discovered, came next. Its premise, offering an alternative to the stereotyping and otherwise inappropriate teaching about indigenous peoples all too common during the period from Columbus Day to Thanksgiving, was something he had long wanted to do. It is now part of his home school district's social studies curriculum, along with being promoted at local Pow Wow's and other venues. Then the pandemic came, and challenging himself to write a book of pure humor, an element otherwise common to his writing but never fully explored, he wrote The Mensch (having reached the age where all humor is Jewish). But there had always been the dream of writing a science fiction styled allegory, the ultimate expression of those political ideals that were born in college and had never left him. It seemed too difficult of an undertaking until a combination of experience, confidence, newfound skills and the encouragement by the writers' group he was now a part of made A World Apart possible. He considers this his "epic" work, and though he doesn't know what will follow, publishing this book has provided him with a sense of completion he has never before felt.

Well, there it is...

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The Aftermath: Lunar By Bradley James - A Great Fascinating Debut Novel Worth Reading!

The Aftermath: Lunar by Bradley James

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

The Aftermath: Lunar is the debut novel and first part of a planned series by Bradley James.

When I saw the cover, I knew I had to read this one. Imagine standing on the surface of another world where you have had to bring everything you need to survive and then you witness the destruction of your home planet. Unimaginable, you say? Yes, it is. But the author of this brilliant first novel builds a world on another world to spark the imagination.

There are twists and turns galore at nearly every page turn, making this unlikely story seem plausible. It is packed with plenty of action that begins on the opening page and never lets up right through to the end. I found myself not wanting to put Aftermath down because the ends of most chapters are cliffhangers in miniature spurring one to read on.

Astronauts Elliot Adams and Franklin Lewis are on a mission to the Earth's Moon near the site of a base under construction. When they look up, they see rocks and boulders impacting the surface, kicking up dust and debris and seek to get undercover to wait the event out.

But that is only the beginning of the explorer's problems.

In the chaos, the pair dash for cover and become separated. Elliot notices a large shadow pass over the surface and can only watch as the Earth suffers from the impact of a huge asteroid. There isn't time for reminiscing, as survival is the first order of business. Elliot and Franklin become separated and lose communication. Elliot falls unconscious.

When he awakes, he literally stumbles into something that shouldn't be on the moon. What he finds is only the beginning of an adventure to boggle and fascinate the reader.

One of the author's major strengths in the writing of this story is a bullpen of well-developed characters. Many are characters the reader will certainly find themselves caring about, while others are shrouded in mystery. This makes for a fascinating and well-paced read. I will not talk too much about them because it would lead to some major spoilers.

The principal character, and the one whom we follow through the story, Elliot, is a strong character and the one we get to know the best. He is a good man with a solid moral base. Even with everything he faces, he doesn't lose his composure as he works out puzzles and navigates through and around obstacles the author places in his way. He also has some special skills that make him even more fun to read.

Another of Bradley James’ strengths in Aftermath is the world building and is my favorite plot point in the book.

Right from the beginning, during the meteor storm all the way to the end of the book are vivid and make an amazing backdrop for the characters to move through.

The major theme of this tale is survival. There are numerous and varied situations presented to challenge Elliot and others as they work to overcome them. There is never a dull moment in this book.

My takeaway from Aftermath is to remember that no matter how hopeless things may seem, there will always be a solution to problems as long as one doesn't stop thinking and acting while taking advantage of what one has at hand and remains open to learning something new.

The Aftermath: Lunar is just a fun and entertaining story that is hard to put down once the reader cracks the cover. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a fantastic journey. I think even those who are not sci-fi fans would enjoy this just for the humanity in it. It is a cracker-jack of a first novel that includes not only a great story but also great characters and some fine world building. It has everything one could want in a well-crafted tale of adventure and survival.

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bradley James published his debut novel, The Aftermath Lunar, in early 2024, realizing a long-held dream. Since then, he has been irreversibly bitten by the writing bug, immediately embarking on his next literary adventure without looking back. When not immersed in crafting narratives, Bradley can be found indulging in long runs, losing himself in books, consuming copious amounts of coffee, or passionately cheering on his favorite football team. Though born in London, he now resides in Southwest England, where the lush landscapes often serve as a backdrop for his creativity.

Find Bradley's website at https://bradleyjamesauthor.com/

Well, there it is...

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Bloodstained Skies: The Core Of Rage By Dagmar Rokita - Dark Sci-Fi Space Opera That May Remind You Of Halo And Star Wars

Bloodstained Skies: Core of Rage by Dagmar Rokita

Core of Rage is a dark, sci-fi space opera that is good for readers who enjoy Dune, Halo, Star Wars, and Warhammer. That is, according to Dagmar Rokita, the author of this tale.

I found it a little difficult to get into at first. I kind of missed the background, but what I got from context is there is a faction calling itself the Union that has taken over governance of numerous worlds, much as the Galactic Empire of Star Wars fame. However, the Union's grip is slipping to a very well-armed rebellion as they fight to take back what they have lost. There isn't a lot of detail about the Union. I can only assume there will be more detail about them as the series moves forward with details.

The strength of this book for me was in the principal character, Cerridwen Felvennis. Another strength I enjoyed was the battle scenes, both in space and hand-to-hand in nature. 

Here is the synopsis from the back of the book.

After years of tension, war has finally come to the Union worlds. Hordes of rebels, seeking revenge for their lost worlds, ravage the Peripheral Zones.

One of the leaders of the rebellion is Charon Antares, a strict and shrewd warrior who doesn't accept any weaknesses or cowardice. He has been struggling for years to liberate his planet, Zetherion, from Union control. When another one of his braver missions ends in disaster, the rich and powerful sovereign plans to deprive him of his authority. To save his status, Antares agrees to execute her insane order that may cost the lives of thousands of his people. 

A young and easy-going girl named Cerridwen lives in a peaceful world. One day, by accident, she comes in Antares way. When she finds out about the tragedy that happened to her family, she vows revenge, but without collaboration with Antares and the rebels, she cannot fulfill her plan. 

Meanwhile, a group of the Union scientists decides to end the rebel's invasions, once and for all - they build a deadly, inhumane weapon out of sight of the government.

The principal character, Cerridwen, is a twenty-year-old female character who is secure in her situation and in herself. She possesses skills that allow her to take care of herself and lives on with her father, who is a politician in the Union. She is captured and taken off planet where she is being held by a rebel who wants all the information she might have. When she learns her father has been murdered, she has a strong suspicion about who may be responsible and becomes obsessed with avenging herself upon the offending party. The problem is that she must allow herself to be used as she uses the rebels to achieve her goals.

The best point in the plot occurs later in the book when Cerridwen thinks her way out of an impossible situation to survive and continue her quest. I thought this was a brilliant bit of writing and I couldn't stop reading until the situation was resolved.

There is a devastating weapon introduced in the story that was also very interesting. A brutal killing machine that seemed unbeatable. It was an invention of the Union and designed to end the rebellion forever. If you're thinking Death Star, forget it. The ultimate weapon in this story is far more believable than any of those introduced in Star Wars, and it is on a much smaller scale, but nonetheless dangerous.

My takeaway from Core of Rage is to remember no matter how one thinks they may know the answer, one must also consider they may be wrong.

I would have to further say that the main theme that came to me from the book is obsession. It can sometimes be tragic when one throws caution to the wind and is willing to continue to chase a goal by compromising one’s own ideals.

I enjoyed Core of Rage for the most part. There were a few times I found myself a little confused because there are a lot of different factions to keep track of. Once in a while, I had trouble keeping track of just who was who in the story. Outside of that, I was engaged and entertained as I read. I look forward to more stories in this series as the author continues to grow and develop.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dagmar Rokita is a Polish writer and an artist. She writes and illustrates a dark sci-fi series called Bloodstained Skies. There are two things that inspire her: imaginary world of geek culture and the deepest corners of human psychology. Huge doses of heavy metal and history are her creative fuel. She wants to become a famous artist because she needs money to buy sophisticated food for her cat.

The Relatives by Billy White - A Great First Novel From Canada!

The Relatives by Billy White

I received an advance review copy of the book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Relatives is a sci-fi novel in the sub-genre of colonization. It is very well written with good characters one can relate to, or perhaps even recognize. The world-building suffices to set the story in.

I will admit, it took me a little time at the beginning to get invested in the story. After the first few chapters of exposition, I got into the meat of the story because of the characters and their various individual agendum that carried the story forward at a detailed, moderate pace. For what the tale is about, I found this book relaxing to read, but it was also disturbing in several elements of the story that paralleled recent events. The writing style is to show the story through the actions of the characters, but the action doesn't explode off the page. I enjoyed this style of writing and enjoyed this book.

***Spoilers Ahead***

When a philosophical rift developed on Earth between the leader, known as the Singular Sovereign and the head of a corporation who seeks to colonize other worlds, there are three ships dispatched to a planet suitable for colonization. One ship makes it, another remains in Earth orbit, and another is wandering through deep space.

Move forward to the year 2408. The colony has prospered and is being led by a man named Jordan Graham. He takes a chance and sends a message to the two ships that didn't arrive. The message is received by the wandering ship, and they make their way to join the colony. There is just one small problem: the passengers are infected with a disease called the Shakes. Eager to join the colony, they leave out they are infected and proceed to the colony in a return message.

When they arrive, there is much consternation in Graham's government about the possibility the plague is contagious and will destroy the colony. His solution is to isolate the people on the ship from the colony while others want to learn how this plague was started, and who was responsible. There are also those in the colony who would like to find a cure, and still others who believe it is time for a change in leadership.

Graham, who reserves sole rule over the colony, makes some decisions that have dire consequences. Then when an armada arrives from earth, there could be even more disastrous results if Graham's plan is carried out.

As I mentioned before, what appealed to me were the characters and their development in The Relatives.

Jordan Graham is the narcissistic, charismatic leader of the colony. He is surrounded by advisors who try to advise him, but mostly they are a group of yes-men. If someone has the gall to disagree with him, they will be sacked and shunned. Jordan is very popular amongst many in the colony, but there are those who feel that he, and his relatives time has passed, and it is time to elect a new government. Jordan is quite taken with himself and believes he is infallible. He pays a lot of attention to his appearance and knows how to work a crowd. He has no empathy for others and has no qualms about removing problem people from his scope, should the need arise.

My favorite character was a young woman from the wandering ship, Janey Allen. She is a somewhat naive girl who had known no other life than being aboard the ship. She enjoys cooking for people and is quite accomplished at doing so. When she arrives on the planet, she is full of wonder and comprehends what planet-life can be like, and she enjoys it, including the discovery of a budding relationship with a member of the colony. She is a bright spot in this tale. Unfortunately, her story also is tragic when the plague is discovered.

Gus and Call are two young men in the colony who have graduated to adulthood. They are playful and have fun, but soon learn there is more to life than having fun. They quickly learn how things work on the colony through their experience and begin to believe there needs to be change.

Lorena is a stenographer who has the lofty goal of being in a relationship with Jordan until she learns what he is actually like. She takes it upon herself to investigate the shadier happenings on the colony and is appalled at the things she finds. Her adventures are a series of discoveries that leads her to oppose Jordan, and she finds her opposition carries consequences.

Other characters included in the story are all well written and contribute in various ways to building a complete picture of life under Graham rule.

My favorite point of plot for The Relatives is how it made me think about recent world events and how so much is has been mishandled. The parallels are veiled, but also astoundingly clear, if the reader pays attention. For me, as a reader, this tale is a warning, and I think it will clearly reveal itself as one reads.

My takeaway from The Relatives is to be careful of charismatic leaders who do not have empathy for others. It is important that one who leads believes they are the best person for the job, but they also must remember they are not without human flaw and need to remember the needs of the people they lead. There are no uncomplicated answers when one leads a large population, and those who do must tap into their empathy to be effective.

Another theme that presented itself to me is hard decisions must be carefully considered. There is no room for knee-jerk reactions that hurt people. 

I loved The Relatives for many reasons. I enjoyed the relaxed, moderate pacing as the story unfolded. After a long day, it was nice to just sit down and read a well-written entertaining story that wasn't too much "in-your-face." The characters are interesting and are developed to the point they could be real people. I could hear the voice as they spoke, and each one was an individual with a well thought out personality and backstory. There are characters in this to like, and those to dislike, and they play off each other in fascinating ways. The story unfolds logically and steadily and is easy to understand and follow. I found myself immersed in this and wanted to read on and on.

The Relatives is a story that is complete in itself, not part of a series. I look forward to more of the author's work in the future.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Billy White’s novels include The Relatives (and nothing else—for now!). Billy is a soon-to-be lawyer, meandering giraffe, and novelist, who resides in Toronto, Canada.

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