Echo: A Space Opera Duology (Book 1) By Michael Listen - This Story Has It All - Great Space Opera

Echo: A Space Opera Duology (Book 1) By Michael Listen

Every now and then, I discover a story that is so compelling, I cannot stop reading for hours at a time. Such a story unfolds in my mind like a movie and is filled with characters who jump off the page and become like real people I care about and invest in. I've been told there should be a surprise in every chapter, on every page, in every paragraph, and in every sentence. This work by Michael Listen is just such a novel.

This story is supercharged with a full range of emotion, from gut-busting laughter at the humor to an evil character so appalling. I cannot wait to see him getting his due.

In this time when anyone can publish their work in the blink of an eye, this is an example of a story that will rise to the top and scream, "Read Me Now!" I cannot imagine any fan of sci-fi space opera that wouldn’t enjoy this story.

It finally happened. All the fossil fuels on Earth were all used up, and humanity had to move away and live among the stars. In the galaxy's vastness, factions arose, and wars broke out and there were those who did their best to make a living. Such was the lot of Kai Randal, the master of a small shuttle. He, along with his apprentice, Parri Hasana, travel around moving small cargos from one place to another, and they also seek opportunities to earn a living and keep their small ship running.

Shreya Nova is a scientist and soldier in the Ursae Dynasty who, along with her husband, are working under a deadline to develop a propulsion system that will allow ships to travel vast distances quickly. She is used to living very well, but when a test fails to provide the desired results, Shreya's husband is lost when the test vehicle is destroyed on the return trip. The failure results in Shreya being ruined and doomed to indentured servitude to a despotic commander who bankrolled the project.

Kai and Parri are on hand for the events as they try to steal the files from the tests. Kai becomes the unlikely hero, saving Shreya from death in the vacuum in space and so begins a precarious relationship where survival is uncertain.

The characters in Echo are amazingly well developed, interesting, and are what drives this story. They all have personalities and flaws as one would expect in reality.

Kai is a forty-something veteran of the Unified Corporate Colonies (UCC) Navy. Retired from the military, he makes a marginal living providing services as he moves between systems. He has a sense of justice and is strongly opposed to slavery, his big motive for working so hard to keep Shreya safe. It also has a moral center that seems quite sound. As he travels with Parri, a young woman who is half his age, he knows his boundaries and sticks to them even though Parri often makes it difficult.

Parri wants to be a pilot. She is in her early to mid-twenties and can be brattish and one gets the impression she is used to getting her way most of the time. But she is also smart and tough. Parri is a very dynamic character, and one cannot help but like this kid. She has a quick wit and is constantly on Kai's case about one thing or another.

These two characters are a source of humor in the story and are brilliantly written. Their relationship is full of tension, but through it all, Kai loves her as a mentor, but Parri wants more from their relationship, maybe more than Kai is willing to give. Parri seems to be in too much of a hurry to grow up.

Shreya Aurelia is on a quest to learn the fate of her lost husband. She refuses to believe he is dead and will not give up until she knows his fate for certain. Shreya has a strong personality and bounces back even in the worse of situations. She has an aristocratic tendency to take charge of things because that is the way of her culture, which often clashes with Kai's culture.

The evil antagonist in the novel is Prefect Marcus Ovius of the Ursaen Legion. He is a despotic commander in charge of getting a new faster-than-light drive built and running, and he has used his own funds to complete the project. This character has no redeeming qualities, and it isn't long before the reader will find him downright despicable.

At one point in the story, Kai, Parri, and Shreya pay a visit to Parri's home planet. Without going into too much detail, Parri displays a desire to take her and Kai's relationship to a new level. This point of the plot allows for a major relief in the tension the author has built in the story and is a source for numerous surprises and a lot of hilarity. While it is a break in the action, it also serves to build tension between our heroes. It gives the reader a chance to catch their breath before the tension builds to the end of the book, which ends in a cliffhanger.

Another plot point I enjoyed is the extensive world building. Listen does an amazing job of setting the scene all the way through this tale and the reader can easily visualize the backdrops behind the story. The details are astounding but not overstated. It is obvious the author has put in a lot of thought to build a universe in which the action can unfold naturally.

My takeaway from Echo is how it demonstrates that all glory is fleeting. No matter how powerful or wealthy one becomes, it can all be lost in the blink of an eye. There is a very thin line between wealth and poverty, freedom and slavery, and benevolence and despotism. While Shreya learns this as a member of a system that allows for it, Kai and Parri see it from the outside. Kai is appalled by what he deems unjust and is willing to fight it, even though it may cost him his life. 

Echo Book 1 is an excellent first novel from author Michael Listen. I hope for more in the future. He has a real handle on writing sci-fi including great world building and characters one can enjoy reading about. 

I loved this first book and will be reporting back with a review of the second book soon.

This is one that space opera fans should not pass by. It is fun, entertaining, hilarious, and appalling (in the right ways). There are characters to love and some to hate. The science isn't too farfetched for those who can take a little time and suspend their disbelief. I give Echo #1 my highest recommendations for some great Sci-Fi!

If you are interested in further information on this book, go to https://authormichaelliste.wixsite.com/authormlisten for more material, histories, maps, and behind the scenes information related directly to this book.

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, Michael 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.

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Progress Report By Roman Lando - Fast Paced And Humorous With Serious Overtones

Progress Report by Roman Lando

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

I received an email from the author who offered me a copy of Progress Report and asked if I would consider reviewing it on my blog and other places I leave reviews. The first thing that got my attention was the cover design, and the synopsis sealed the deal.

Progress Report is a sci-fi adventure technothriller that is full of twists and turns and is written with a sense of humor approaching that of Douglas Adams, author of the Hitchhiker's Guide books. While it is not as bizarre as Adams' work, I found myself smiling all the way through it, and occasionally laughing out loud. There are numerous references to today's pop-culture making it a fun book to read.

But don't be fooled by the humor. There are some serious implications included in the text that will make one think, should one desire to do so.

Progress Report is well written and easy to follow. It is entertaining and is a fun rollercoaster ride. The characters are people I found myself caring about. Should one read between the lines, there is a story that should be taken seriously, and some commentary that is worth a second look. I especially appreciated how the author put so much of himself in this tale of intrigue.

Art, an ordinary guy, he just wants to be left alone to do his own thing. He enjoys flying his drones and taking life one day at a time. Unfortunately, for him, one of his older quad-copters encounters an invisible barrier and crashes. The incident gets the attention of some advanced aliens who immediately begin a life-threatening chase. He barely escaped with his life and soon finds himself charged with becoming an unlikely hero on a mission to save humanity. With the use of an alien artifact, he has the adventure of a lifetime with a mission ahead of him, and aliens with nefarious intent behind him.

I like Art. Just a regular, if not somewhat reclusive, character who knows his technology. He is unsure of himself, especially when it comes to female companionship. He also seems to be a bit clumsey, but has solid survival instincts. He is comfortable with artificial intelligence, which is very much to his benefit in Progress Report.

Along the way, he meets Tia. I cannot write too much about this character because it would be a major spoiler. I'll just say she is the embodiment of people are often not what they seem to be. She is, in a word, fascinating. Art also thinks she is.

My favorite point of plot is the angle the story comes from. The first chapter is titled "74%," indicating the amount of battery life in a cell phone that Art is using to chronicle the events that follow. All the chapters are percentages of battery life and I feel it is a race for art to complete his story before the phone goes dead.

I also enjoyed how Art injected humor into the story. It drove the plot forward and was never over the top. He has a unique way of seeing the world and I appreciated it immensely.

My takeaway from Progress Report is how a hero can emerge from a character, especially when they aren't looking to be a hero. Does anyone wake up in the morning and say to themselves, "I'm going to do something heroic today?" That's not the way it works. Super heroes don't exist in the real world. In Art's case, he was just out minding his own business, flying his drone, and he was forced into being a hero by the circumstances. He learned there was a situation and did what was needed to resolve it to everyone's benefit.

I give my highest recommendations to Progress Report as a fast-paced sci-fi adventure story with great characters. If you enjoy tales, including futuristic technology and first contact scenarios, this is the book for you. I look forward to future work from this author. His debut novel is full of swerves and surprises. It is engaging from the very first page with just a few places where the action slows a little to give the reader a chance to catch his/her breath. 

This is the first book completed in 2023, and it was a great start to my year of reading.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Roman Lando, author of Progress Report, is a composer, musician, web and new media designer, and positively has too many passions, interests, and hobbies in his life.

When he’s not writing books or music, he can be found sailing, playing keys in a prog rock band, flying his drones, building crazy flight simulation rigs, and LARPing. His life long love and passion for hard Sci-Fi take a special place in his heart. Reading was never enough. The only way to satisfy the obsession was to write his debut novel. He hopes to share his love for true Science Fiction, along with his interest in history, science, philosophy, and technology with his readers.

After living in three countries on three continents, and speaking three languages, Roman has finally settled in Toronto, where he lives with his wife and two daughters. No dogs or cats are involved - his drones are his pets. He is now working on his second novel.

You can get in touch with Roman and subscribe to his mailing list at the Progress Report website: https://progressreport.romandesign.ca

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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Sands of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson - Four Excellent Tales From The Dune Universe

Sands of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

This is a collection of four novellas from the Dune universe intended to add some perspective to the series’ mythos. The four stories are about events that took place outside of the tale told in the full novels by Frank Herbert and the team of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

In this volume, the four stories are:

The Edge of a Crysknife: What was the Shadout Mapes like before she became the head housekeeper for the Atreides? Well, she was a fierce Fremmen warrior. This is a great tale, and many say it is their favorite in the book.

Blood of the Sardukar: Even though the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV is complicit in the Baron Harkonnen killing Duke Leto Atreides, he has ordered that the Duke not be tortured and made to suffer before he dies. A Sardukar warrior has taken it upon himself to see that Shaddam's wishes are carried out. Mostly seen as merciless killers, this particular Sardukar's background has allowed him to keep a certain amount of compassion.

The Waters of Kanly: In this tale, Gurney Halleck is at the center. He knows the Duke has been captured and killed and thinks the same has happened to the young Paul and his mother, the Lady Jessica. He has taken up with a band of smugglers and is using them to further his vow to avenge himself upon the Harkonnen for the Duke and Paul, as well as what they did to him before he came into the employ of the Atreides.

Imperial Court: A tale set ten-thousand years before the events in Frank Herbert's Dune, It chronicles more of what took place between the Atreides and Harkonnens to make them blood enemies.

I enjoyed all the four stories, but my favorite was The Waters of Kanly. 

As one would expect, these are all well-written stories with a lot of action involving characters Dune fans would know, and some new ones we only see in this volume. It is well worth the time to pick this up if you are a fan of the extended Dune universe.

What I enjoyed the most was how well these stories dovetail right into the universe with the same feeling I get when reading any of the books in the saga. Whenever I pick up new material, I always feel like I am getting a visit from friends I haven’t seen for a while. The stories contained in this volume are all entertaining and after I finished reading, I wanted more.

Just a little side note here. I was recently in a local Starbucks for a coffee break. I happened to have on a t-shirt that depicted a sandworm and a group of Fremmen around it. On the back is printed the litany against fear. The young woman who was getting my order together asked me if my shirt was about Dune. Of course, I answered that it was, and we had a brief conversation about how both us enjoyed the new film. It would appear there is a Dune revival currently taking place, and no one is happier about that than I am.

My Highest Recommendations for Sands of Dune!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Brian Herbert, the son of Frank Herbert, wrote the definitive biography of him, Dreamer of Dune, which was a Hugo Award finalist. Herbert is also president of the company directing the legacy of Frank Herbert and is an executive producer of the new motion picture Dune, as well as of the forthcoming TV series Dune: The Sisterhood. He is the author or coauthor of more than forty-five books, including multiple New York Times bestsellers, has been nominated for the Nebula Award, and is always working on several projects at once. He and his wife, Jan, have traveled to all seven continents, where they experienced a diversity of cultures that often find their way into his writing. In 2019, they took a fascinating trip to Budapest to observe the filming of Dune.

Kevin J Anderson has written dozens of national bestsellers and has been nominated for the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the SFX Readers' Choice Award. His critically acclaimed original novels include the ambitious space opera series The Saga of Seven Suns, the epic fantasy trilogy Wake the Dragon, the steampunk adventures Clockwork Angels and Clockwork Lives (with legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart), as well as the thrillers Stake and Kill Zone (with Doug Beason). He is the publisher of WorldFire Press and the director of the graduate publishing program for Western Colorado University. He also set the Guinness-certified world record for the largest single-author book signing.

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Jumping off the Planet: The Far Side of the Sky, Book 1 by David Gerrold - A Bittersweet Tale Of A Dysfunctional Family On A Smart Kid

Jumping off the Planet: The Far Side of the Sky, Book 1 by David Gerrold

One thing I really enjoy is a tale told in the style of classic science fiction, which is why the writing of David Gerrold appeals to me in a big way. Jumping off the Planet is a great, character driven story with descriptions of settings to whet the reader's imagination. It contains science that is not with us yet, but it is so well researched that one cannot argue with its plausibility.

The funny thing is, as I started reading this book, I realized it was very familiar for some strange reason, and then it hit me, this story was also included in a collection I bought several years ago directly from the author when he visited the town of Beatrice, Nebraska for a celebration of the life of Gene L. Coon. The collection, which includes four stories, is entitled A Promise of Stars: Stories from Beyond the Sky.

Jumping off the Planet is a sci-fi story that focuses on a dysfunctional family in the not-too-distant future where one can travel into space on a space elevator, and even catch a ride to the moon. Unfortunately, resources on Earth are scarce and availability is an ever-increasing problem, so the more affluent members of the human race live and work on stations along the length of the elevator. There is a lot of sadness and in this story, but it is balanced with some triumph for the principal character, a young man often referred to as "Chigger," a nickname given to him by his grandfather.

Charles "Chigger" Dingillian along with his two brothers and mother live in a Texas shanty town where they try to carve out a decent lifestyle. One day, Chigger's dad shows up with a seemingly fantastic offer. During his time with the boys, he is allowed by a custody agreement, he proposes to the boys they go on a vacation to the moon. The boys are skeptical, believing their dad to be making yet another promise he cannot, or will not, keep.

In effect, Max Dingillian kidnaps his three sons and races off on a cross-country adventure to Ecuador, where he plans to take his sons off the planet and away from their mother.

It isn't long after they depart the planet that Max's plan is discovered, and the chase is on to stop him. 

Chigger has had enough of the situation between his estranged parents and thinks about a solution to end his torment and hopefully give him and his brothers a chance at a better life. He has two choices: either go back to what it has been or divorce his parents.

Charles finds joy in almost nothing. All he wants out of life is to be left to himself and be allowed to listen to his music, the only thing that gives him solace. He really seems to hate his family, but it isn't true. It's not the people in his family he hates, but the situation they had put him in, particularly his mother and father, who are more interested in their own agendas than what is best for their kids. 

What I appreciated most about young Charles is his thoughtfulness about everything. Jumping off the Planet revolves around the inner workings of a kid who is brilliant in many ways. He takes note of his surroundings and comments on them, sometimes negatively, but he doesn't miss a thing. It is tragic knowing what he could be if only had the proper nurturing from adults who could provide an example of what it is to be adults.

One of my favorite things about this story is how Charles finds refuge in music, particularly in the music of John Coltrane. This is not surprising to me when one thinks about his style of jazz he dubbed "sheets of sound." As the sideman for the great Miles Davis, Coltrane invented his technique by the playing of rapid passages of notes that wove themselves together in a curtain of sound. That Charles latched on to them shows an advanced appreciation for music. 

This advanced appreciation is, of course, an extension of the David Gerrold's own appreciation for music of all kinds. One of the most profound statements offered in the book is a nearly perfect description of what the style of jazz music is about:

"Jazz isn't music. Jazz is what happens when the music disappears and all that is left is the sound and the emotion connected to it. Jazz is a scream or a rant or a sigh. Or whatever else is inside, trying to get out."

Gerrold, David. Jumping Off the Planet (p. 73). BenBella Books. Kindle Edition.

As a musician myself, I find this quote not only profound but also poetic and spot on!

My takeaway from Jumping off the Planet is the tragedy of what happens when parents fall out of love with each other and proceed to use their children as weapons against each other. This is idea is clearly illustrated in the text of this tale and hangs like a pall over the entire story.

No one is born knowing how to be a parent. There are no manuals or coaches to teach one how to be a parent. This story has a message to those that would be parents. When a man or a woman begin to feel sorry for themselves enough to put themselves in the center of their universe, they must remember that the small life they brought into the world is, and should be, the center of their universe. A child never asks to be born and in no case do they owe their parents anything, but their parents do owe their children everything.

I recommend Jumping off the Planet as an outstanding work of sci-fi that is also a deep character study of a family in turmoil that has gotten to a point unbearable for the children involved. It is often a disturbing tale with moments of laugh-out-loud irony and an ending that is not only triumphant, but leaves the question of what's next for these youngsters? Fortunately, there are two more books in this series, and I look forward to the continued saga of what will happen to the Dingillian clan and how the characters, particularly Charles, will grow.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

David Gerrold lives in California with his son, daughter-in-law, and his toddler grandson. He is the winner of numerous awards for his writing. You can follow him on Facebook or through his Patreon page. He is a self-described curmudgeon, and you are highly advised not to tread on his lawn.

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The Fate Unfollowed: Dark Ocean Saga Volume 1 by Philip J. Peterson - This Author's First Novel Is A Great Read!

The Fate Unfollowed: Dark Ocean Saga Volume 1 by Philip J. Peterson

I found this book because of a post by the author on a Facebook page. I went to Amazon and looked at the cover and blurb and both intrigued me.

Fate Unfollowed is a well written and edited post-apocalyptic science fiction story well worth the time to read. As a debut novel, it is a great start to a promising career. There is plenty of action, great characters that grow through the story, and some incredible world building included in this story.

In a world that has suffered a cataclysm, people work to survive as best they can. The planet they are on has been plunged into a dismal place where there are constant storms under darkened skies. Nearly everyone is exploited by politicians who have promised better conditions, and a despotic capitalist who wants power over everything, but isn't particularly interested in being recognized as the seat of governance.

Akara is a young man who isn't what he appears to be. He is actually a member of a race of beings that are thought to be extinct. He moved among the humans disguised as one and is in a relationship with a human woman named Marianne. She has no idea what he is, but they are very much in love. One of the things Marianne doesn't know is that Akara has a destiny beyond masquerading as a human.

Daemon Pramoore sits atop a tower that dominates the skyline of the city, quietly directing the fates of the people who live on the surface. He maintains control through the use of several henchmen who do his bidding without question. He also controls a large army of people with psychic abilities to make sure the non-human residents of the planet, if there are any left, do not cause him problems. But he also has a dark secret in the form of an army of genetically manipulated creatures standing by to enforce his will should they be needed.

Underground live the refugees of the beings thought to be extinct.

When it is discovered, the underground beings are still around, all hell breaks loose and the city is plunged into a bloody conflict that makes Akara have to fulfill the destiny he has so long denied.

The characters in this tale are at the center of the story. We get to know them and their ambitions. Many are characters one can care about as they go about their business, and their growth is amazing. Akara experiences the most growth in a journey of self-discovery when he finds himself pulled between his destiny and his relationship with Marianne. It causes a strain on his relationship with his father and his best friend and finally finds him having to make a difficult choice. Akara's story is a tragic one that will take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride from the heights of happiness to the depths of despair.

But Akara isn't the only character worth watching, there are a plethora of others. There is a teacher and his pupil from the psychics that share a triumphant journey through this story. There is also some focus on Daemon’s minions that help flesh out the tale and paint a complete picture of life at the upper echelons of this society.

My favorite thing about this book is the world building. Peterson sets the stage with descriptions of the people and places that are almost poetic. I also enjoyed the noir feeling I got while reading this. The city is a desolate place that seems to hold little hope for those living in the city. The constant storms are a pall that hang over everything, making the mood dark and sometimes depressing.

Peterson's descriptions are full of metaphors that make the setting palpable. One can feel the feelings, sense the smells, and see the sights of this place.

My takeaway from this story is the theme that no matter how hard one tries, one cannot escape his or her destiny. This applies to Akara more than other characters, but it can be extended to them as well. The reader will see what I mean when they get into the book.

Fate Unfollowed is an outstanding story that will stimulate a reader's imagination. It is a tragic and triumphant story at the same time. Don't pass this one by; it is worth the time to read, and I give it high recommendations for readers who like a great sci-fi tale. I read this very quickly because every time I set it aside, all I could think about was getting back to it as soon as possible.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Phillip J. Peterson was born into poverty and grew up in a very old, barely painted house in central Wisconsin. It was a rundown centerpiece on a grassy plot of land, the kind of great big nowhere that neighbors don’t ask questions and the sounds of shouting fade off before they reach the tree line.

For reasons of self-preservation, he kept to himself, creating private worlds with his stuffed animals and flea market action figures. This seclusion led to an adolescence of poor decisions and social disparagement, which ultimately ended with him as an ostracized teen, hungry and homeless on the wintery streets of Wisconsin.

It was there that he returned to his fictional worlds, scribbling ideas onto the backs of placemats from 24-hour diners. In the long, slow hours of his mind’s eye theater, he followed each story to its inevitable conclusion – tragedy. That realization was all the spark he needed to reinvent himself and begin building a different life.

There were many more adventures in the years that followed, but he eventually found himself in a safe harbor. He now shares a warm home with the love of his life. They sing together and dance together. They take vacations. They cook meals, drink wine, and watch movies.

When fairy tales end with “-they lived happily ever after”, this is what they mean.

He writes these stories now, partially as remembrance, a testament to where he’s been, and partially as a beacon for others, a lighthouse to find their way through the murk and mire of their lives. It’s his hope that these tales will protect others as they did him, and inspire them to carry on, to reach their own happy ending.

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