Tag Archives: Science Fiction

General

The Alecto Initiative

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A series that stands out for its characters more than its plot is always a winner with me. Hunter and O’Neill have done that with this Lorralynn Kennrakis series.

It starts out with a young girl being sold into slavery – as one does. The story takes a bit of a turn after that. One thing that never changes is Lorralynn Kennrakis and her determination to succeed against all the odds. This series stands out in particular because it doesn’t fall into the “to make a woman strong, just give her a bigger gun” trap. Oh, she has guns, but it’s not the guns that make her strong.

I thoroughly enjoyed this but don’t take my word for it. As always, why not grab a sample and see for yourself?

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Space Carrier Avalon

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I’ve been a fan boy for Glynn Stewart for a while now. This wraps up his various SF franchises with the Castle Federation series. He has another series that’s Urban Fantasy, but I haven’t followed him out to that yet. No fault of Glynn. UF and I don’t see eye-to-eye.

Castle Federation – and Space Carrier Avalon – is straight up military SF in the finest tradition. I ripped through the first three books in this series in a matter of days last year but I missed the fourth book’s release. An oversight I intend to remedy. This series has enough pew-pew to scratch the itch for action and enough characterization to make you care about who gets killed. I thoroughly enjoyed these.

But don’t take my word for it. As always, grab a sample and see for yourself.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Star Thief

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I’ll be honest. It took me two tries to get into this book. I’m not sure why. Might have been just my brain at the time. When it kept showing up in my queue, I went back for a second try and I’m glad I did.

So, I’m a sucker for a good SF/R and there’s nothing like a good action/adventure with a collection of likable – even lovable – characters. I think my initial response was based on the kid. It felt too facile, too easy. Yeah. I was wrong about that, too.

I liked this book a lot and I just spotted book two in the series. I know what I’ll be reading next. Just don’t take my word for it. Why not grab a sample and see for yourself.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Discount Miracles

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Following Clarke’s Third Law (Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.) Brand has created an interesting tale of what happens when an advanced civilization imposes itself on a lost colony.

The story tells the tale of a salvage ship that crashes on a planet where the residents have adopted some rather odd – and often xenophobic – practices. To facilitate their rescue, the crew decides to perform some services for the residents which don’t exactly go as planned. Add in some intrigue with a dash of betrayal and the story unfolds with engaging precision.

This is one of my favorite Brand Gamblin stories, but don’t take my word for it. Why not grab a sample and see for yourself.

[Transparency disclaimer: I’ve known Brand for years and count him a friend. He hasn’t asked for a review nor has he offered anything for one. I just like the story.]

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Even The Wingless

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WARNING: This story is dark. Not dark like chocolate. Dark like blood. It runs – by turns – horrifying, grotesque, and utterly spellbinding.

Some time ago we had a review of Earthrise and MindTouch, both solid, feel-good stories if a bit on the offbeat side. The Prince’s Game series explores the darker side of her universe and how power binds those who wield it as much as those who are victims of it. If you want to appreciate the genius that is Maggie Hogarth, you need to read this unflinching tale of power, pain, and redemption.

As always, don’t take my word for it. Grab a sample and see for yourself – but don’t be surprised by how it makes you feel. I’ve warned you.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Paradigm Lost

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This is one of those books that disappointed me only in that the series ended at two. I don’t know what happened to Taylor that he didn’t continue. I’m sure there were other stories to tell in this universe, but be that as it may.

The story contains AIs, the threat of robot overlords, and a lot of likable characters. As I was reading this, I kept thinking “This guy knows how this is supposed to work.” Imagine my surprise when I looked up Taylor and found he has a background in intelligence and networks. It shows without being in-your-face about it.

I enjoyed this book. Looking at it now, it seems like a bit of a lost treasure in its own right. But don’t take my word for it. Why not grab a sample and start your own investigation?

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Forging Zero

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I found Forging Zero in March, 2015, and I’ve been following Sara King ever since. Jon Brazee reviewed Fortune’s Rising last August so when I saw this title in my list, I thought it was time to go back to the Sara King file. I recently discovered that we’re both SFWA members.

The Zero story starts as an alien invasion and rapidly becomes something very different. Military SF? Sure. Alien cultures? Check. A hero who wants to do the right thing even when he’s not sure what it might be? Of course. A story that stands on its own two feet, even as it acknowledges there’s more to come? That’s rare, but King pulls it off very nicely. From ancient alien prophecy (“It’s aliens”) to nail biting combat to – yes – even a little love story, I found myself rooting for Zero ever painful step of his journey.

But – as always – don’t take my word for it. Why not strap on your heavy weapons mind-set and grab a sample to see for yourself?

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Outlaw

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Transparency: I’ve known Ed Robertson virtually for a long time. In spite of that, I still like him and his books. This book – Outlaw – is the first of a trilogy that kept me flipping pages like a madman.

Ed has a way of spinning his characters and plots that keeps me guessing but still satisfies my “A-ha!” bump. Even his robots came off so well-rounded, I grieved for them in the end. According to my Amazon list, I zipped through all three of these books in a matter of days and I don’t do that unless there’s something there to pull me along. Something more than knowing the author virtually.

This action filled space opera worked for me, right from the start. Why not grab a sample and see if it works for you?

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Perilous Waif

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Somebody on my Facebook group recommended this book a few weeks ago and I grabbed it. The cover sold me. Her magenta handgun and the “what ever” expression made me snort.

Brown did a great job with the hook on this one. Clearly Alice Long is not your average orphan. She’s got a secret and a careful reader will know what it is long before Alice does. Not that she’s an unreliable narrator or anything. She’s just more concerned with other things. Like staying alive in a universe that appears to want her dead. Like wondering if she’s actually alive to begin with. Sure, there are some tropes in here that I think get overdone, but Brown executes them with aplomb.

I’m looking forward to the sequel but in the meantime, why not grab a sample and see what you think?

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Omega Rising

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Joshua Dalzelle doesn’t need my help in selling books. He’s got a whole cadre of people to help him and he’s doing great. If you haven’t heard of Dalzelle by now, you’re probably not trying.

Omega Rising is the first book of the series and it captured me from the start. From the strange ship in the night to the helpful robot sidekick to an adventure in deep space, Dalzelle creates a rollicking adventure story featuring Jason Burke, ex-pat Earthling. This is military sf in the grand tradition of shoot now and sort out the wreckage later. According to my Amazon content list, I waded through the first four books in this series in about eight days.

Yeah, I liked it a lot, but why not climb aboard a sample and see what happens when you push that button over there?

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]