Perfect Blend Of Science Fiction And Western Genres
920116
Full disclosure - I know Elliot a bit from KBoards and Goodreads. I'd first heard about his idea to write a post-apocalyptic western with a gruff android at the forefront sometime ago, and had been salivating to read it ever since. I received a free copy of his latest through his newsletter. He's currently giving away Part I (this novella), and will be giving away Part II, as well, in the coming months. It would behoove you to sign up for his newsletter at http://selliotbrandis.com ASAP.

All that said, I'd like to think that my familiarity with Elliot did not cause me to inflate my perceptions of how much I enjoyed Once Upon A Time At The End Of The World or prompt me to approach it with any undue bias.

The simple fact of the matter is, I freaking loved it. I loved the idea as soon as he told me about it, and after reading it, I love it even more.

The execution is terrific and his handling of the android in a western setting is adroit and even-handed. I was really thrilled with how well the high-tech science fiction aspect of his central character worked in the forsaken, dying Earth environment. This is a classical western story with some nifty, much-welcomed twists.

Once Upon A Time... is also a richly dark world. The author clues us in on the world's future-history, teasing out the information without sacrificing the story's quick pacing or bogging us down with overly long, dry lessons of background details. There was a war, and nukes and antimatter bombs decimated the world. Androids were enlisted into the military to fight the war on behalf of the humans, taking US drone policy to the next level. It's a smart way of bridging the two seemingly disparate genres of science fiction and western, but Brandis makes it work. Think of it as an old Eastwood spaghetti western flick by way of Firefly, but without the quirky humor or space travel.

In fact, there's not much to laugh at in Elliot's latest dystopian, with so much of the world bombed back into the hardscrabble living of two hundred-plus years past. Humanity has been stripped raw, and it seems like there's only two class of people left to fend for themselves: victims and potential victims. It's a stark, grim read, with a cast as dangerous as the desolate desert they inhabit.

While I can't help but think there's a good deal owed to Eastwood and Sergio Leone in terms of inspiration, there's also some pure Peckinpah at play here. This is The Wild Bunch by way of The Android With No Name. It's a bloody affair, right from the opening pages, where the android teaches an explicit lesson to an unlucky drunk on the difference between robots and androids. The scene is chillingly effective, and Elliot gets off to a fine start with his crazy genre hybrid.

Once Upon A Time At The End Of The World is the first in a four-part series of novellas, with the second due in December. Like I said earlier, do yourself a favor and sign-up for his newsletter. Not only will you get the first two parts of his post-apocalyptic western for free, but you'll also get to stay up to date on somebody that I believe is going to be a huge up-and-comer in the indie sci-fi/speculative fiction corner. Conversely, you can also buy the individual parts of this serial as they release, which is also a terrific way of supporting this author. Either way, S. Elliot Brandis is one to watch out for.
838650
This novel is a delightful combination of a (quoting the author) science fiction adventure and innocent, romantic longing. The author has quite artfully and seamlessly stitched together these two seemingly incongruous themes. There are two main characters, a princess and a male warrior. He is of a different species, and he spontaneously transforms into a dragon to eliminate or destroy any threat to the princess. Neither one has ever had the opportunity to explore  or feel in the case of the warrior  their attraction to the opposite gender; nor has either one ever been in a leadership position that required the making of decisions that balanced mercy versus justice, another engaging theme to add to the other two.

The experiencing of these two characters was so sensitively and skillfully portrayed  the primary reason for my 5* rating  I often felt that I was in full empathic contact with their individual struggles; i.e., their emerging and socially forbidden romantic feelings for each other, and in the case of the warrior his desire to be a more complete person. Theres also plenty of science fiction, several engaging supporting characters, as well as enough plot twists and turns and emergency situations that offer ample opportunity for the author to examine the several themes. Although apparently intended for adults, I heartily recommend this book for young adults as well, and as was noted by another reviewer.

I recommend this book for anyone who has a strong interest in a characters personal experiencing rather than in the behavioral exploits that are typically found in adventure stories. In this context, I found this story to be of comparable quality to the theme of the Star Trek series: The Next Generation, where the experiencing of the characters takes precedence over the technical gadgetry.
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Dragon-Warrior-and-the-Princess/dp/1482573040/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Dragon Warrior and the Princess</a><a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Dragon-Warrior-and-the-Princess/dp/1482573040/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Dragon Warrior and the Princess</a>
4706765
4.5 stars

DESERT RAINS was a contemporary western romance set on another planet, giving it a slight scifi feel. The characterizations and descriptions were all fabulous! I could envision the landscape, what the characters looked like, could feel the characters' emotions, became invested in them, and cheered them on. It had some great excitement, a little danger, and some sweet romance full of chemistry, a little heat, and some humor. A perfect combination for a romance. I also loved the uniqueness of the plot and of the circumstances the characters find themselves in. I basically was into this one from beginning to end and enjoyed every moment of the ride.

Let's talk about these characters... Richard is comparable to a city slicker (a very intelligent, creative, and handsome one) showing up on a working ranch and feeling like he got the short end of the stick. He wasn't used to roughing it or working with his hands, and especially not mucking dirty horse stalls. Then he finds that his boss is a lady. A lady that is feisty and has plenty of spirit. It's a little bit to swallow. One of my favorite things was watching Richard change, not only in his perceptions, but also finding joy in hard labor and a job well done, and falling for the lady who likes to rile him up. Charlene, or "Charlie," was such a great character. A tough woman who has to be that way, but still wants to feel and be treated like a lady sometimes. She has her own struggles, but she is one strong woman. They were a fantastic match. I also loved Charlie's brother (I'm hoping that there will be a story to come about him because there definitely is one there). There are also great secondary characters in the ranch hands, housekeeper, and villains - some definite snakes there.

The plot, as I said above, kept me engaged. I didn't feel overwhelmed by the setting. It felt enough like a real western with some nice twists and scifi additions that it just felt real, but also interesting. The romance was slow burning, with some serious chemistry, and friendship and admiration before something more, even though there was attraction from the start. It was pretty much perfect and definitely sweet. The ending... Well, I can't say anything but that it was intense and I was hanging on pretty tightly.

If you enjoy romance, light romantic scifi, or just sweet stories, I'd definitely recommend DESERT RAINS. This is one author I'm anticipating more from.

Content: Some mild swear words, some words related to working on a ranch, and innuendo, but fairly clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy for review from the author, which did not affect my review in any way.
4520271
A fantastic combination of mystery, sci-fi and western with well developed characters, a cracking plot, and world building I want more of. Please tell me there's a sequel!
3729223
Very enjoyable - a grand mix of sci-fi, gothic horror, speculative fiction. An engaging collection of what the Wild West coulda-shoulda-mighta been like in the darker weirder corners of the Pecos. It was re-a-a-a-lly tough to chose my favorites. Listed in order of occurrence in the book: Pixie Season by McGuire, Cards and Steel Hearts by Jeffs, Bloodsilver by Decker, Rainmaker by McGraw.
1951489
I read scifi/fantasy as my main genre, and this book has exactly what I look for. A tight plot, compelling characters, and a story that kept me guessing. There was enough background to get me engaged and then moved right into fast paced action, revealing more as I was carried away with the character's dilemma. The science behind the story is all very plausible, which makes everything believable even when the events themselves are extraordinary.  The main character is clever, as are those that are revealed along the way.  I felt like I was reading the perfect mix of a modernized "A Brave New World" with a main character that reminded me of the best parts of Ender from "Ender's Game." And as with the first book I read by the same author, it has the little things, the specific quirks of survival, which remind me of a Palahniuk novel. There's a social commentary embedded in the story, but one I thought was much deeper and more compelling than "The Hunger Games." And at the end, I was definitely left with a hunger for the next two books - as I read this one in a single sitting filled with thumb-blurring "next page" clicks on my Kindle.
3747363
I normally need my arm twisted to read SF, preferring watching it but this just washed over me so easily. I was brought up on science fiction like Star Wars, Babylon 5, Blakes 7 and this is refreshingly very much in that mould.

Having read the free prequel Arkship Countdown first (you don't need to) I look forward to the next one. The author clearly knows his Science Fiction and it shows. Its not swamped with technobabble but just a sprinkling of Cube drives here and a Golgore grid there, it lets the plot speed along. Characters are well rounded, with Reader Durante and Gorfal the hunterbot standing out for me. I like the fact that the action takes place either in space or on ships and isn't beaming down onto 'this weeks crazy planet'.

I've already preordered the next book, but have to wait 2 months... "Sol!"
3050297
This is one of those books that I went into already salivating over the summary, and East to West doesnt disappoint on the creativity front. Its a great mix of Wild West and apocalypse, with a fair amount of sci-fi thrown in there. Its a delightful crushing together of genre, and the result is great worldbuilding and atmosphere, and an entirely unique tone.

The pacing is also excellent. I realize that hearing good pacing isn't necessarily something that tends to excite the masses, but it serves the issue so well here. Information is dropped along the way, certain things are foreshadowed and hinted at, and it all comes together in neat little stitches that hint at conflicts to come, and histories yet to be revealed. At each new turn, I was intrigued and engaged. It builds suspense expertly, and it managed to get across a lot of worldbuilding and exposition without ever feeling monotonous.
428607
Oh, man, this is a fun ride!  I was in the mood for a good western having just watched Godless on Netflix, and this book ticked all the western genre boxes, plus the genre-bending addition of mysticism makes for an even more interesting read.  Really wonderful characters and the layered plot give you the sense of a personal element within the narrative, so I liked the author's note describing the genesis of this book.  The quality of the writing is what makes this story a standout, though, and the writer's infectious love of language has me using words like 'palaver' in everyday life.  I'll be sharing this book with friends and family.
4320148
This series conjures a post-apocalyptic world that draws the reader in and easily maintains the suspension of disbelief so necessary to science fiction. Robertson deftly achieves this feat with solid, relatable characters, a thrilling plot that isn't too predictable (yet somehow always turned out the way I wanted it to), and skillfully crafted sentences that flow with apt metaphors and believable dialogue. Rather than summarize the story arc, which is excellent, I will simply say that it contains all the elements of intrigue, lust, betrayal, tragedy and more that make for an enjoyable and unforgettable read.

There wasn't a single paragraph in any of the three books that I felt was extraneous; I never put these books down for lack of wanting to continue reading. The plot unfolded at a steady clip, changing viewpoints from time to time, with separate actor's lives interwoven in sometimes unexpected ways. I felt the emotions of the characters, understood their motives, wanted them to succeed (or fail) in their struggles. It's mainstream science fiction done exremely well, with an emphasis on people overcoming challenges rather than future tech or hard science. I wouldn't hesitate to put Robertson in the same league as Neal Stephenson and Dan Brown. The only flaw I can pick out in these books is a need for more proofreading and editing, but at the price I paid for the Kindle edition of the three-book set ($0.99), I can easily overlook that and give this series five stars.
4245679
It is rare to find a book that combines science fiction and a good police thriller.  Most of the time, science fiction is either about strange aliens or it involves a great deal of warfare.  I was hoping that S.J. Hunter's Longevity would be what I was looking for in this genre.  Hunter did not disappoint.

In this near-future earth, humans have learned how to "beat the system" when it comes to age.  You could, theoretically, live forever.  However, the State has determined that you may not live longer than 200 years.  If this had been the total package of Hunter's idea, it would have made for a great story.  However, she goes much deeper than that.  First of all, having children cuts down on the years you are allowed to have.  And the process is expensive, so there is a class distinction here that creates an imbalance.  Again, if Hunter had decided to stick with a have-nots against the haves, it would have made for a good story.  Again, she takes it deeper than that.

In this action-packed novel, we follow the officers from LLE, a special division that keeps a lid on the activities of scientists who are always pushing against the laws that restrain scientific enhancements in people.  Through the eyes of a rookie officer, newly transferred from working homicides, we get a beginner's view of Hunter's world.  It is a well design world, with some fun, unique "tech" that lifts it out of hum-drum sci-fi and puts it on a very entertaining level.

I'd rather not give much more than that away.  There is plenty of action, great interaction between well-developed characters, and some interesting themes that arise from the question of longevity.  Presently, there are three books in the series, and I have already downloaded the second book.  I look forward to reading all of the books.
4608964
It's been a long time since I read sci fi and this was an excellent reintroduction.  This story lured me in with its perfect mix of tech, planet hopping, psi, romance a tasty bit of intrigue to keep me hooked.  Looking forward to the next one in the series.
3299267
Just enough science fiction mixed with romance to make this a read you don't want to put down.  Juxtaposition of 1958 and 2011 is delicious and mind bending.
4852924
This anthology of strange tales is one that effortless blends the genres of science fiction and the paranormal. In many of the stories the author cleverly settles the reader into a world of complete normality, often just before plunging them into another dimension, the afterlife, or some other place in-between. There is good use of authentic dialogue and detail to both drive the stories forward, and to convey character. I would also say that many of the stories here are among some of the cleverest and most original Ive read in these genres, covering such topics as inter-dimensional travel, heroism, destiny and fate. Some of the stories employ the tried and tested twist in the tale style, whilst in others the author allows the conclusion to simply speak for itself, and to set the reader thinking. Although there was a running theme of Sci-Fi and mystery, there was great variety of settings and scenarios, and no two stories were alike, thus ensuring the reader was kept entertained throughout every tale.

For anyone who remembers watching and enjoying the Twilight Zone or Outer Limits, these stories will definitely appeal to those fans, as well as to all those who enjoy a sense or originality and mystery in their Sci-Fi. Extremely well written, and for an eBook, well presented and formatted too. Will certainly be reading and reviewing other books by this author in the future. Highly recommended!

*purchased via Amazon.co.uk, hence not appearing here as a verified purchase...
2932170
Sometimes I'm wary of cross-overs.  I like Romance just fine, but I've got to be in the mood for one (usually am just looking for a light, easy read).  I don't mind reading the SF-themed romances, but if I'm in the SF section of the bookstore, I really would prefer something a bit more hefty.

Well... These books have a LOT of Romance in them, but also enough story and action and complexity to be satisfying on the SF level as well.

I have to admit I used to really enjoy the Space Opera genre of past decades.  I think Catherine Asaro is doing her job to keep that alive single-handedly.  Sinclair's books have a lot of the old Space Opera feel.  Good space adventure with battles and intrigue and interplanetary travel mixed in--with good characters and personal relations mixed in.

This particular story also has quite a Star Wars like feel (first trilogy, 4-6), which was odd at times, but also good.  (Most of it was due to the term "droids" and the presence of a protocol droid that talked too much.)

The heroine is a rough and tumble girl from the wrong side of the tracks, running solo in her own rust-bucket of a ship, engaging in suspect trading runs.  The hero crash-lands almost in her lap, a dangerous military type engaged in an interstellar war.  And of course, these two opposites attract when they find mysterious plots against their peoples --and involving them personally.

So if you like Romance mixed with your SF, or even just a good old-fashioned SF adventure, I'd give this a try!
4883795
I was happy to finally get my pre-order copy of the book so I could leave a five star review.

This is one of the best science fiction books I've read in years, and I've read a few. The story has many surprises and they start off at the very beginning. I have always liked the multiple story lines and multiple perspectives, because it's nice to wonder "what will happen to Character A next?!?!" while thoroughly enjoying Character Bs story.

It was good enough to make me want to reread the previous Rho novels (I am finished with 4 of the 6). They are excellent as well, so if you haven't read them, treat yourself and do so.

I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review
1488087
I'm a science fiction and action/adventure reader but I've always loved western movies and TV shows. 'Wagons West' caught my attention because I like the tv show from the 50's called 'Wagon Train'. Two totally different stories and characters but the essence I like was there. Wagons West is written in a way that flows all the way through. It held my interest from the beginning. I was just two or three chapters in and  realized I was going to have to buy the next book in the series. It's been a long time since I read a book and cared, not only for the characters but cared for what happens to them next and where their journey will take them. An enjoyable read.