The Kuyper Rogue by C.P. Schaefer - Sci-Fi Adventure Worth Reading!

The Kuyper Rogue by C.P. Schaefer

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

What attracted me to read The Kuiper Rogue was the book's description. The author set the story on Saturn’s moon, Titan. I don't recall ever reading a story set on that particular world. The concept of a large research station, in this case, Gaia 3, got my attention and spurred me to download and read this book. I enjoyed the story for the most part. It is a combination of several concepts, including Hard Sci-Fi, Post Apocalyptic, Space Opera, Thriller, and Adventure. The action starts in the very beginning and as the story unfolds, the tension ramps up to a fever pitch.

I enjoyed this story and recommend it for those who are looking for an entertaining story. The characters, for the most part, are believable and well written.

Astronomer Will Vandolah, is part of a crew who live and work in a living ecosphere known as Gaia 3. It is a delicately balanced environmental microcosm that requires constant attention to details to sustain life. When that balance starts to break down, numerous problems arise, and the crew works feverishly to analyze and solve the problems. As they work, Will discovers a very large comet moving toward Saturn. As the comet approaches, it has properties that cause mayhem with Saturn's rings, and causing the release of deadly radiation causing even more problems in Gaia 3.

Will finds that the object, a very long-period comet, will pass close to Earth. In the meantime, Gaia 3's crew begin to show signs of delirium that grows into all-out insanity as the effects of the strange radiation manifest. The comet not only affects the people in the biosphere, but it also causes problems with communication with Earth.

The Gaia 3 commander and what is left of the crew decide that they must leave Titan and travel to Earth to warn them of the effects it will have on the population.

I enjoyed the characters Schaefer created for this story. They are developed well enough to feel like I was reading about real people.

Will is an astronomer who is searching for celestial objects, but not having a lot of luck. Then he stumbles on to the find of enormous size, moving through the solar system. He determines the object has come unusual properties and, in his research, determines it is a long-period comet that has passed through the solar system before.

Soon, he finds himself facing situations he has no previous experience with and has to use his wit and creativity to survive and save as many of his crew as he possibly can.

Fortunately, he has the help of his mother, Gaia 3's commander, to help. 

Margaret Vandolah seemed to be the principal character in this story, even more so than Will. She is tough, smart, and knows her business. While the problems mount in the station, she not only has to make sure the crew take care of their specialties, but she also has to do a lot of improvisation and keep those who are still functioning alive and doing their jobs. The breakdown of the biosphere and the radiation make her tasks almost impossible, and she has to come up with creative ways to solve the problems.

My favorite point of plot in Kuyper Rogue is the world building the author used as the backdrop for the characters. Gaia 3 is an amazing place, but it also depends on everyone doing their part to keep the delicate balance needed to sustain life. If one person doesn't take care of their system, other systems begin to breakdown and fall like dominoes.

Therefore, my takeaway from this story is how everyone needs to do their part to protect the environment they live in. In the case of this tale, it is a small, delicately balanced place that requires constant attention. But I think that perhaps, the author was also addressing not only the microcosm of Gaia 3, but he also wants the reader to think about the environment in the macrocosm of the planet we live on.

The Kuyper Rogue is a solid and entertaining story. I think any Sci-Fi Fan would enjoy. Part of the blurb from the back of the book describes it as a "high-octane techno-sci-fi adventure rooted on sound, hard science. It is a stellar showcase of the terrible power and the sublime complexity of the human experience."

I look forward to C.P. Shaefer's future novel, Western Lights.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

C.P. Schaefer is an American writer and Engineer. He has been a Structural Engineer in private practice for over forty years and written two science fiction novels called The Kuyper Rogue and Western Lights.

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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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The Defector (The Apollo Murders Series Book 2) By Chris Hadfield - A Russian Pilot Delivers A Gift Too Good To Be True

The Defector (Book 2 of the Apollo Murders Series) by Chris Hadfield

It has been nearly two years since I read Hadfield's first novel, The Apollo Murders, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. While scrolling through the Kindle store, The Defector showed up on the list of books I might also like. Outside of the book being written by Hadfield, I was attracted by the cover art.

I got into this story and found it to be a lightening paced tale of intrigue in a fascinating setting. It grabbed me from the opening and didn't let me down at all. Hadfield's writing style is like authors I enjoyed who wrote books during the 1970s and 1980s when I was deep into reading military Science Fiction. Set during the Cold War, a time when tensions were high between the world's superpowers, it feels plausible. It is written to be a believable idea with solid characters who the reader can care about. The backdrops used to paint pictures in the mind's eye provide completeness to the story, and I think this is a must read for those who enjoy stories of espionage and intrigue.

As Israel prepares for the Yom Kippur war of October 1973, a Russian pilot stationed in Syria climbs aboard his MiG 25 Foxbat on an apparent routine flight. Celebrated Soviet pilot, Alexander Vasilyevich Abramovich, known as Grief, flies his MiG to the Lod Airport (now known as the Ben Gurion International Airport) and lands creating quite a stir. To top that off, he pops the canopy and announces his desire to defect to the United States.

Former fighter pilot and astronaut candidate, Kazimieras (Kaz) Zimeckis of the US Navy is brought in to aid in discovering if Grief's claim to defect is legitimate When it is determined Grief is telling the truth, he and his aircraft are taken to Groom Lake, Nevada, which is also known as Area 51, as well as many other names.

There the plane is deconstructed and Grief shares secrets about his craft with the scientists and engineers. Grief also learns about other aircraft and happenings at the top-secret airbase and becomes friends with several personnel there.

It isn't long before things start to go a little sideways and problems arise. Discoveries are made, and not all of them are good.

There are two principal characters in this story.

First there is Kazimieras Zemeckis commonly known as Kaz. In Hadfield's first novel, The Apollo Murders, we met Kaz, a test pilot and astronaut candidate. In that story, Kaz lost sight in one eye when he struck a bird that came through his canopy. He continues working as a commander in the US Navy without flight status. He is a levelheaded man who likes to get to the bottom of problems. When he is assigned to keep an eye on the Soviet defector, he takes on the job with vigor. After all, there are numerous secrets to be learned from both the defector and his aircraft. One of Kaz's best qualities is to stay cool under fire and work problems until he finds solutions. This character reminds me a lot of Dirk Pitt, one of Clive Cussler's favorite characters, but Kaz is far more believable as a real human being.

The defector, Alexander Vasilyevich Abramovich is identified in the book going by his call sign, Grief. He is a Soviet top pilot, well respected by his peers in the service. It would seem unlikely he would be one to defect, but according to his story, he just wants to go to the United States and fly the best planes in the world. That's his story, but he has a much deeper story he isn't telling. 

The funny thing about Grief is, he is a likable guy, and he gets along well with the engineers at Groom Lake. But we also learn he has a stone-cold, ruthless side to him, and when that is revealed in the book, it's weird, but one might almost find themselves rooting for his success, but only to a point.

My favorite point of plot in this story is how the author uses the Yom Kippur War of 1973. It was a conflict in which a coalition of Arab states led by Syria and Egypt made it their goal to take back Israeli held lands on the border between Egypt and Israel on the Sinai Pennsula and the Golan Heights. In this story, the Israelis are monitoring troop buildups along their held territories and are planning their response. Things are thrown into chaos when Grief lands his MiG in a major airport on Israeli soil. I this story, we get a close look at the Prime Minister Golda Meir and her Minister of Defense, Moshe Dayan. I remember hearing those names in 1973 when I was much younger, still in my teens. There isn't a great deal about the war in the rest of the story, but for those who remember those days and the tensions in the world, it did well in setting the attitudes of the characters in the book.

My takeaway from The Defector is to remember that a gift can sometimes be a Trojan Horse. A Soviet pilot gives his advanced fighter to the enemy and wants nothing more than to fly the US's most advanced aircraft in return. Well, as the story unfolds, Grief wants much more than the freedom to fly, he has been sent on a mission of espionage, and he has some support, but mostly has to rely on his own wits, which he seems to have in ample supply.

This was a great spy story written much like those I read in the 1970s by Cussler and others in the genre. The characters are realistic and there are relevant historical references to help shape them and their attitudes. The action in this book starts with the first page and continues through the entire book to the end. I read this in just a few days because I couldn't put it down. This story is intense on various levels, with many humorous moments, and there is also plenty of violent action. While I wouldn't call this a purely Science Fiction novel, there are numerous elements of science and advanced engineering. From the author, as a former astronaut, test pilot, and fighter pilot, we get a lot of factual perspective, but it is presented in a way that the technical aspects don't get in the way of the story.

This is the second book of The Apollo Murders Series, but it reads very well as a stand alone novel.

All in all, this story was a satisfying and fun read. I recommend The Defector to those who enjoy Military Sci-Fi as well as stories of espionage.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Chris Hadfield is one of the most seasoned and accomplished astronauts in the world. He was the top test pilot in both the US Air Force and the US Navy, and a Cold War fighter pilot intercepting armed Soviet bombers in Canadian air space. A veteran of three space flights, he served as capsule communicator - CAPCOM - for 25 shuttle missions, as NASA's director of operations in Russia, and as commander of the International Space Station. Hadfield's books, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, You Are Here, and The Darkest Dark have all been international bestsellers, and topped the charts for months in Canada. His debut novel, The Apollo Murders, became an instant #1 bestseller in his homeland.

The Little Blue Log Book by Roman Lando - A Teaser Novelette For An Upcoming Novel

The Little Blue Log Book by Roman Lando

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

I was alerted to this novelette through an email because I follow the author on Amazon.

Nearly a year ago, I was introduced to Roman Lando when he offered me the opportunity to enjoy his first novel, Progress Report. It is the story of a guy who gets caught up in a mission to prevent a devastating nuclear war.

The Little Blue Log Book is a teaser for what is a planned second novel and stand-alone sequel to Progress Report. If this novelette is any indication of what is coming in the next book, it promises to be another great story worth waiting for.

Crack Air Force pilot Vince Ortega faces the end of his brilliant career. He is being replaced by Artificial Intelligence. His choice is either to leave the service or become a pilot in a top-secret government program. Since he will be allowed to continue flying, he takes the second choice and works to get himself ready for a flight in a special craft that will take him to investigate a strange situation.

He finds himself in a competition with fellow pilot, Val, who can fly as well as he can. Vince edges Val out because of his combat experience. Soon, he finds himself in control of an amazing flying headed to a place one only reads about in Sci-Fi novels.

As I mentioned, this is only a small teaser from a much larger story, and you can bet the rent, I'll be first in line to grab this one when it becomes available. It is going to be a great story full of twists and turns.

You can download The Little Blue Log Book for the Kindle at https://www.amazon.com/Little-Blue-Log-Book-ebook/dp/B0CK55SR14?ref_=ast_author_dp

You cannot beat the price for this one.

Roman, the author of the Little Blue Log Book and a sci-fi thriller novel, Progress Report, is a composer, musician, and 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 lifelong love and passion for hard sci-fi take a special place in his heart. Reading was never enough. The only way to satisfy this 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

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WIne Dark Deep (Book 1) By R. Peter Keith - A Hard Sci-Fi Novella Packed Full Of Greatness!

Wine Dark Deep: Wine Dark Deep Book 1 By R. Peter Keith

I downloaded this book for free from Kindle Unlimited and am leaving this review voluntarily.

A couple of weeks ago, I realized I actually had a little time to read something that I wanted to read for a change. I had no promises for reviews and was between Honor Harrington books for the podcast, so I could just read for fun. I searched through my Kindle library to see if there was anything there I’d been putting off. I found this one that has been sitting on my reader for a few months. Seeing it was only 144 pages, decided to give it a look.

Wine Dark Deep is the first of a set of three novellas and is the story of a mission commander working to avert disaster for his ship and crew. There is a lot in this story, and it moves at a breakneck pace. It is full of easy-to-understand hard science and focuses on the main character's exploits to keep from being marooned in our solar system’s asteroid belt.

I read it in two sittings, loved it, and am looking forward to the next two installments of the series.

Ulysses mission commander, Calvin Scott, awaits a delivery of fuel as his ship runs dangerously low. He learns that the crew of the Ceres mining station, where his fuel is expected to arrive from, is no longer serving Earth-based ships. It seems the people who live and work on the asteroid have decided they are not being properly represented back home and are making their point by taking over from their bosses.

Whether Cal agrees with the dissenters or not, he has a ship and crew depending on him for their survival in deep space, and far as he is concerned, failure is not an option. His solution is to take the Ulysses to Ceres and get the fuel he needs by any means necessary.

The principal character of Wine Dark Deep, Calvin Scott, is a take charge commander who puts the safety of his ship and crew above all else. When the fuel wouldn't come to him, he knew he needed to go and get it to complete the mission as well as simply survive. What I liked most about him was how cool he was under fire. He understands that launching into a panic will not solve the problem. He would prefer not to get into a squabble with the rebellious workers on the asteroid but is quite capable of doing so if necessary.

I am hoping for more development of this character as we revisit him in future novellas.

My favorite point of plot for this story is how well the technology is handled. This is hard sci-fi, but any reader should be able to access what is contained in this novel easily enough.

My takeaway from Wine Dark Deep is to remember that sometimes, if a job needs doing, one must do it themselves.

I immensely enjoyed this opening story of the Wine Dark Deep trilogy. There isn't a lot of fluff in the book and the fast pace of the story will drive a reader to finish it quickly. The blurb states the story is inspired by The Expanse, Star Trek, and The Martian. It is clear to see the influences of all three of those franchises contained in these pages. Cal is as professional as Kirk, the workers on the asteroid seek the equality enjoyed by everyone else as in the Expanse novels, and the element of survival in an extremely hostile environment comes from The Martian.

As mentioned before, it is a fast read and most will want to read this in one sitting. It is available to borrow on Kindle Unlimited, and if one chooses, it is available for the Kindle for $1.

I recommend Wine Dark Deep for fans of Science Fiction and Space Opera.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

R. Peter Keith is the creative director of a NASA Space Act Agreement partner company that specializes in the design, fabrication, and exhibition of museum exhibits and interactive experiences. He's flown the NASA-Langley Lunar Lander Simulator to a landing in front of the Moon McDonalds (there really is a McDonalds on the moon in that NASA simulator, he has pics) and has spent time inside an original Apollo LM and the Orion Spacecraft with one of its engineers.

Keith collaborated with NASA to produce a simulation-Based exhibition that focused on the basic concepts of spaceflight and their possible application in the colonization of our solar system. On its premier, the exhibition broke all attendance records for Space Center Houston, the official NASA Visitor Center for the Johnson Space Center, home of the astronaut program.

The many long, thoughtful, and technical conversations with NASA experts and advisors from Houston, Langly, and JPL that occurred during the creation of this exhibition and its seven simulators and related programs provided the germ of the idea that became the Wine Dark Deep series.

Keith lives in Vermont with his wife, kids, and dogs. He has hung on to an old car for so long it has become cool again and has done the same with a few pairs of pants. He has an unreasonable love for all speculative fiction, having grown up with both classic literary and film works as well as the wonders of Marvel Comics, Star Trek, and Star blazers. He's an avid video game fan as well as a voracious reader.

Josh and Sen Save The Multiverse Book 1: The Path of One by D.P. Behling - First Installment of a Fun Story!

Josh and Sen Save The Multiverse Book 1: The Path of One by D.P. Behling

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

What is the nature of the multiverse? Well, you never know what is going to happen next. You never know who you are going to meet. You never know who your enemies might be; even a little old lady in an elevator can be very dangerous.

The book "Josh and Sen" tells the story of an unlikely pair of characters who have different goals but are forced to work together. There is some violence in the story, but the reader cannot help but laugh now and then. The humor in the story is a tad not unlike that of Douglas Adams’ style. One should read carefully to get it.

I will admit, at the opening of this story, I almost set the book aside. The prologue was loaded with jargon and big words I didn't understand, and I was confused with what this book was about. I didn't stop reading and as I got into the first chapter, things became clearer. Following the opening, Josh and Sen quickly became a book that I didn't want to put down, and I read it in a couple of days.

Terran, Joshua Tanner, has had a spotty past, but he is working hard to get his life together and be able to be with his daughter, Sophie, again. Working to be responsible, he studies to be an attorney. While riding an elevator, he begins hearing a voice in his head warning him he is about to be attacked by an old woman on an elevator. It turns out the voice is correct when the old woman pulls out a knife from her shopping bag and goes after josh in that small space.

Josh is no stranger to fighting and, thanks to the use of his briefcase, he defends himself, and he stops the old woman's relentless attack by beating her to death with the valise that saved his life.

Senyak Marztanak fails his grandfather's examinations to gain his family's ruling seat. Zenyak, his grandfather, strips Sen of his immortality and starts him in a re-training program, administered by himself.

Josh and Sen are joined in the multiverse by Karma and have to work together to achieve their individual goals.

All the while, the Oblivion comes closer, threatening to end everything.

While Josh and Sen, along with Zenyak, are the center of the story, I enjoyed the immortal characters the two protagonists meet along the way. None of them behaved as one expects as they, and we meet them. Zenyak challenges the protagonists to gain their powers and abilities by performing tasks. Some tasks include defeating dangerous enemies, other tasks allow the pair to meet immortal figures who are not at all as they are portrayed in mythology and literature. This brought an interesting dimension to the book that fascinated me.

My favorite point of plot is how the characters face some impossible odds as they go on their various quests, but they use their observations to adapt to the various obstacles in their way. The author's video gaming influence is apparent in that, after each success, the protagonists experience they get a report on the increase of their abilities in a very gaming sort of way. They grow stronger as they complete tasks and acquire items.

My takeaway from this book is, no matter how weird life can seem, it can always get weirder - take nothing for granted!

After my initial confusion at the very beginning of the story, once I settled in, I found Josh and Sen an enjoyable read that mixes fantasy with science fiction in a satisfying way. The characters are interesting, and the story unfolds by ramping up the tension and then giving release. The story is full of twists and turns and the solutions to problems are not always obvious. We get a look at the thought processes of the protagonists that add depth to the story. This is the first installment of a series, and I can only think that the stakes are going to continue to rise as the character's challenges become more difficult. I recommend this story for its straight to the point approach after a rather confusing introduction that almost didn't hook me. Your milage may vary.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

David Behling is a Chicago born sci-fi, fantasy author, and a video game admirer. When he was younger and stronger, he was able to fight off his infatuation long enough to work as a Honolulu-based plaintiff's malpractice lawyer for five years before attending med school and residency. Now he treats his patients on Oahu, where his office has been for the last fifteen years.

He has trained in several fields of martial arts over the year, including Tae Kwon Do, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Older now, he would rather be surfing, snowboarding, and skating when he is brave enough!

Most importantly, he is the proud father of four amazing children: Indigo, Tristan, Kireina, and Nina. They even text him sometimes. He is also the lucky owner of the world's cutest chihuahua, Rosie.

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The Age Of Heroes By Mikhail Gladkikh - Historical Sci-Fi Adventure To Stimulate The Imagination

The Age of Heroes by Mikhail Gladkikh

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

After reading this author's first novel, Out of Time, I wanted more from him. I was thrilled when he contacted me, telling me about his new novel, The Age of Heroes. I was surprised to learn it is a sci-fi tale set in the late Bronze Age, a time when people explained events they didn't understand through mythology rather than science.

What I kind of expected was a retelling of the ancient stories of destruction retold for a more modern audience, i.e., the story from Homer's Iliad. Although the siege and sacking of Troy is included in the tale, it is not simply a retelling of Homer's epic. The Age of Heroes is a completely new story covering the strife in locations all around the Mediterranean. Constant conflict was the order of the day, including the sacking of cities, starvation, and the dispersion of large populations reduced to having to be hunter-gatherers, as in even more ancient times.

Out of this tale, heroes arise, but everyone seems to know that their age is coming to an end and will give way to a new age, and those not willing to embrace change will be condemned to oblivion.

I have always been fascinated with mythology and how people reasoned in ancient times. As stated in the Foreward, this book is not intended to be a retelling of history, nor is it intended to be an alternative to actual events. It is intended to be entertaining and thought provoking. It is a speculative story of imagination and adventure and a fun read.

What the populations of several city-states perceive as their gods is actually a group of aliens who are on a mission to survey and learn about the people of the earth. The gods, who are an alien race called Soarers, have made their presence known in numerous cultures and are worshipped and feared by the people. When the commander calls the group together to decide how to proceed with their relationships with Earth's population, an argument breaks out. Some see the humans as a growing society to be nurtured into the future, while others see humans as a dangerous race who, if allowed to grow and explore the stars, would bring death and destruction with them, maybe even causing the extinction of the Soarers themselves. The council splits and the commander of the alien crew loses control, and the gods start using their vast technology to cause even more mayhem among the already constantly warring population.

One aspect that stands out for me is the character development of the major players in this story.

There are numerous characters to keep track of, with many diverse cultural roots and beliefs who clash along the way. Some are quite compassionate, while others set themselves up as oppressors of their people and cause much strife for others.

The Soarers all have different jobs in the crew and have different ideas about what to do. Whether to actively interfere or stand back and observe the lively happenings among the humans. Their leader, known to the Greeks as Zeus, is a kind of sad figure who wants the mission to succeed. He is powerful, but so are his fellow crew members. They all have vastly advanced technology at their command. I felt sad for Commander as he worked to keep his group in order, but ran into failure at every turn.

The greatest hero of the story was Echelaos, the Achaean Prince of Pylos, who goes on a quest. He is driven to be reunited with his beloved Helen, who, while betrothed to him, is also promised to the prince of Troy. It is a journey he pursues through the entire tale and illustrates how heroism often comes with a lot of pain and suffering.

My favorite point of plot in The Age of Heroes is the colorful descriptions of the places we get to visit. I also found the characters remarkable in how well we get to know them early in the story. They are human in every way, quite vulnerable, and have to rely on their wits to keep going, especially Echelaos.

There are numerous scenes of battle that capture the brutality of the age. Those are also well described and can be disturbing to readers sensitive to descriptions of battle, destruction, and death.

For me, my takeaway was in the theme of how hubris can play both a positive, but more often a negative, role in the affairs of humans. Commander is surrounded by beings who have been manipulating people with great success for so long, they begin to believe in their human-given roles as gods. Even with their immense power, they think themselves beyond what they really are and sometimes overstep their bounds. Many become corrupted by the self-perceived power leading to the downfall of them all.

This makes The Age of Heroes worth reading if for no other reason.

I give high recommendations for The Age of Heroes. As a fan of mythology and sci-fi, it is an excellent story that will provide fodder for thought. It is a fascinating tale of speculation on a period of history we are still exploring and learning about. There are great characters in a story that moves along at a good pace and is loaded with vivid descriptions of people, places, and events that will trigger the imagination. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About Mikhail...

I'm a technologist and a science fiction author.

My professional career provides me with a unique perspective on the technologies of the future. I am working at the forefront of the 4th Industrial Revolution, advancing 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Supply Chain, and Energy Transition. You can read my fiction and connect with me at my website, mikhailgladkikh.com.

Join me in my quest to imagine the future world!

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