Black Void: Nowhere To Run By Paul Yantus - Sci-Fi Action And High Adventure On A Global Scale

Black Void: Nowhere to Run by Paul Yantus

It has been quite a few years since I've read a book like this one. Many years ago, I took a deep-dive into the stories of Dirk Pitt as written by author Clive Cussler. I read everything from Cussler I could get my hands on and loved every one of them. Black Void is a story in that tradition, with high adventure on a global scale in the modern era.

It is a fast-paced story with almost no downtime. The science occurs mostly at the beginning of the story, and the rest is characters doing their best to survive as they are chased all around Europe, and into the United States.

I was entertained while reading and didn't want to stop reading.

If you enjoy a tale of high adventure, readers should find this a thrill-ride that is satisfying. Black Void is part of a planned series of books, but this one will standalone, having a definite end point. But the ending blatantly hints at a sequel that I will watch for.

A group of scientists, mathematicians, and computer experts gather at the CERN Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland to test the theories of a Dr. Greene. The project is headed by a brilliant physicist, Dr. Andrea Coster, who believes what Greene has suggested can be done. The object is to prove that the team can create and control a micro black hole in the laboratory. The way it is first envisioned is not working for various reasons, but the team soon comes up with an alternative idea.

Success!

Well, sort of. The team comes up with a method that works, but it is a tad bit bigger than they had hoped it would be. Their discovery does exactly what a black hole is supposed to do, annihilates all the matter in a radius around it. That includes living matter too. Gone without a trace.

There are those who learn about this discovery and have nefarious reasons for wanting it. Andrea wants to make sure the knowledge never falls into the hands of those who want to use it as a weapon. With the help of an ex-soldier, she has to go on the run to protect the world from getting its hands on something very dangerous.

It isn't easy playing keep-away from a large, very wealthy and ambitious group of people who have eyes and ears everywhere. But for the sake of humankind, she and her companion must find a way.

Andrea Coster is a brilliant scientist who has both a professional and a personal stake in seeing the black hole project is a success. She is good at managing the project and is excellent at managing people, unlike her egotistical boss, Dr. Greene. She is relentless in her pursuit of achieving her goals and has skills beyond being a scientist.

Jack Agnew is an ex-soldier who has seen too much and suffers from PTSD. His skills are beyond those of a common grunt. He has had enough of his former life and just wants a job that doesn't require a lot of death and destruction. His story isn't revealed all immediately, but by bits and pieces through the story. He starts out as the team's liaison officer, but becomes a key character in evading his and Andrea's destruction.

Petra Neumann is a wiz with technology who becomes a guardian angel to Andrea and Jack. She starts as a reclusive person, but Andrea befriends her and she opens up. She is also my favorite character in this story.

Petra is not only my favorite character, but her storyline is my favorite plot point. She is so cool and competent, and she knows her stuff. I hope she is back for the sequel!

My takeaway from Black Void is always to be aware of those who bring you gifts, especially ones that are of great benefit. Usually, the things they are doing for you aren't actually for you; they are more to advance their own agendas, and will eventually come with a very high price tag.

This applies to an unfortunate character who appears in the story's opening. 'Nuff said on that.

As I moved through the story, I wondered how much of the science involved actual fact and what was made up. That is when I went to the author's webpage and started doing some exploring (webpage address below). I found that much of what Yantus writes about is based in fact and was impressed by the amount of research he must have done to bring this story to life. As a matter of fact, there is quite a bit of information on the author's page that one will find interesting and informative, but it also might be a little spoilery, so I might suggest one reads the book before exploring the web page.

While I enjoyed this book, I also found a few plot holes and some things that I wasn't clear about. I will not go into detail about my thoughts on this because I do not want to be misunderstood. As I said, I liked this story, and I think a wide range of sci-fi fans and those who like adventure stories will also enjoy it.

I thought the backdrops provided were described well, and I could picture what was going on in my mind as I read.

This is Paul Yantus's first novel, and it is a good one! I cannot wait to see his growth as a storyteller as he continues to develop his craft. To him I say, keep writing; you did great!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Paul Yantus was born and raised in Detroit. He’s been married for over 30 years and has four children and two dogs.

Paul earned degrees in technology and business. After a successful career as a technology entrepreneur, he has channeled his voracious appetite for technology and science into writing science fiction.

Find more information about Paul and about Black Void on his website: https://paulyantus.com/

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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/.

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The Aftermath: Titan (The Aftermath Series Book 2) By Bradley James - Loaded With Action, Surprises, And Superior Characters!

The Aftermath: Titan (The Aftermath Series Book 2) by Bradley James

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

Note: This title is due to go public on October 18, 2024

To start, I will share a quote from Bradley appearing at the beginning of this book:

"Whoa, Not So Fast!"

"The Aftermath: Titan is the second book in The Aftermath series. If you have not yet read the first book in the series, then it is recommended that you start there."

As the author politely says, it is recommended to start with the first book in the series, The Aftermath: Lunar. I would not only agree with Bradley, but I would also say it is a must! I will reference the first novel in this review, so if you haven't read Lunar, I urge you to close this blog post and read it first!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

The Aftermath: Titan is the continuing story of an Earth astronaut who witnessed the apparent destruction of his home planet while on a mission to the moon. His original mission was scrapped, and his only focus became survival.

In Titan, the story of Elliot Adams continues, and the stakes get ramped up ever higher than before.

I absolutely ripped through this book with such fervor and finished it in five days between other things I was supposed to be doing. After having to set it aside, I thought about it, and couldn't wait to get back to it at the earliest opportunity. Titan flows like a fast river, as one reads. It is chock full of action, suspense, battle, humor, and it is all driven by a cast of excellently written characters a reader will become invested in!

Bradley has mastered writing some great sci-fi that unfolds on an epic scale. The world building and setting of the story's scenes is vivid and one can almost feel the environment the characters move through.

***Spoiler Alert***

The Lunari live a primitive life under the surface of the moon. However, they are actually being, more or less, enslaved by the aliens who call themselves the Telvanni. When the Lunari learn the truth about what they once considered their gods, they rise up, and with the help of stranded astronaut, Elliot Adams, they are victorious in defeating the Telvanni.

The Telvanni are led by a cruel master known only as the General who is killed in the uprising, and those of his troops who survive are imprisoned in their base.

But before he dies, the General reveals something very disturbing to Elliot. It is something called a Death Shepherd.

Elliot is accepted by the Lunari and develops strong relationships with many of the people living there.

***End Spoilers***

Eliot learns what the Death Shepherd is, thanks to Dax, a technology expert who worked for the Lunari under duress. Elliot realizes he must go to Titan, the moon orbiting Saturn, where the Telvanni have established their main base in the solar system. Elliot and his befriended Lunari embark on a perilous mission to accomplish several goals, including saving lives on two worlds.

Nothing is easy, and the odds are stacked against Elliot and his companions.

Elliot is not only an astronaut, he is also a trained soldier. Thanks to his being from Earth, he also has a secret weapon that will serve him well on his quest. He is a good and kind man but is not to be underestimated. He can deal out some violence when the occasion arises, and it does. But, like any great hero, he needs help from others as well, and he has some good and skillful people on his side.

Dax is little more than a slave because of something the Telvanni hold over his head. When he has the opportunity, he teams up with Elliot and the other Lunari. Although some would see him as a cowardly collaborator, Dax is anything but cowardly.

Mayto, the son of the Lunari Chief, did not like Elliot initially, but he warms up and the two develop a great friendship. They have each other's backs and work well together. Mayto has a temper that can get out of control, and often does, but Elliot and others remind him he must not let his temper control him. He must learn to control his temper and through this, he will have far more success. He learns this lesson well, with reminders, of course.

Ava and Bella are a mother and daughter team. Ava's husband is presumed dead, and she and Elliot strike up a relationship during the events of the first novel in the series. Their plight is mostly separate from Elliot and is, in itself, a great story.

There are a few truly cruel and evil characters in this tale. The Supreme Telvarch is the leader of the Telvanni and is truly drunk with power. He will stop at nothing to gather more and more power. His main henchman, Dravix, is a man who loves killing and making people suffer under his torture. These two are monumental villains with no redeeming characteristics whatsoever. Of course, this only adds to the fun that is Aftermath: Titan!

My first favorite point of plot is the epic battle scenes in the story. They are huge in scope; with dire consequences should our heroes fail to achieve their goals. The consequences are just as dire for the bad guys should they fail. There are victories on both sides as the scenes unfold and the outcomes offer some amazing plot twists, one of the major strengths of this tale.

Second, I loved the dialog between characters! Another of Bradley's strengths as a writer is creating dialog that is witty and, at times, hilarious, but also shows great compassion and the deep friendships the characters share. The witty banter happens at moments where the reader may need a break in the tension to catch their breath, but the action continues to ramp up, after those moments of relief, to greater and greater heights.

And last, but not least, are the plot twists and turns! There is a surprise at nearly every page turn which drives the reader on to the end, and when the end comes, the reader is going to want more!

The theme that stands out for me, and my takeaway from The Aftermath: Titan, is to remember how heroes never go into a situation to become heroes. A real hero is someone who sees a situation, or a need for change, and does what it takes to get the job done.

I give my highest recommendations for The Aftermath: Titan, and for the previous novel in the series, The Aftermath: Lunar, as an unfolding sci-fi space opera saga that is exciting, filled with on-the-edge-of-your-seat action, and just plain fun to read. There is never a dull moment in these stories, and the current installment is jam-packed with all manners of emotional content. The reader will feel great triumph, disappointment and despair, deep sadness, and much joy all the way through this fast-paced story. It is well worth the investment of time to read and will not disappoint sci-fi fans. Bradley has written a masterpiece with his very first series of novels and I am so happy to have found them!

Remember, read BOTH books in order. Lunar is full of background information that will help in understanding the universe created by this amazing author.

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.

Look at Bradley's website: https://bradleyjamesauthor.com and join his Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/948989713645274

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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.

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