Gripping hard science fiction
352002
I read this book in one sitting, I could not put it down.  It is gripping hard science fiction that takes a hard look at the Fermi Paradox
1315771
Edens End is a voyage into the human condition. Curiosity, and our constant will for for pushing beyond frontiers and exploring both mind and space are central to the story, as are the forces that come into play with their motives and justifications. All this within a sphere of inevitability whose boundaries stretch as we push forward, forbidding yet inviting us to continue asking ourselves if there is a limit.

Covering scales from molecular to galactic, the story takes place in a universe populated with a variety of planets colonized by humans, who still have a connection with Earth that inevitably shakes as distances become larger. Expect cultural, political, economic, scientific and existential tensions that echo through space and time with extreme implications.

The plot and themes will interest all kinds of readers, even those new to Science Fiction. Of course, Sci-Fi fans will love it. It is crowded with notions that will fascinate avid readers of soft Sci-Fi; and yet does not fall short on technical features to satisfy demanding hard Sci-Fi fans. For me personally the central concept of Mind Flying was most interesting, and the way it is developed in the story makes it all the more compelling.

Prologue, part one, part two, and epilogue complement one another very well. The language is easy read without being simplistic and the story flows nicely. Readers of different ages and contexts will find the book accessible and clear.

Highly recommended!
4932243
Great story, hard sci-fi. Could easily be a PKD sci-fi novela.
A test-run of free will in the context of a phenomenon called "The Degredation" and a "Future machine" from a disturbing (and rather convincing) perspective on physics. Very well-written as well; great narration and dialogue throughout.
I'd recommend it to anyone looking to scratch that sci-fi itch in a single sitting. He's an author I'd definitely read again.
539179
Set in a vast empire entering a period of crisis brought on by the very methods (cloning, hierarchical social structure, ultra-sophisticated AI technology, military recycling of the bodies of conquered enemies, space travel) that ensured its success. The story is riveting, told from the perspective of a preternaturally skilled "ancillary," a reanimated (and partially rebuilt) body assimilated to the ancient AI of an immense troop ship (Justice of Toren) supporting the annexation of a conquered planet. The ancillary is, herself, in crisis, the lone surviving extension of its ship's AI, orphaned by a catastrophic development in the empire's structure of command. She (the female pronoun is the default term for all genders in the Radch empire) is a sentient machine in an almost fully human body, and the book achieves the rare feat of making this surprisingly sensitive "corpse soldier" fully believable, morally and psychologically compelling. The chapters alternate between present tense narration of Breq's unfolding showdown with those responsible for the loss of her ship, and the backstory consisting of events some 20 years earlier that led to Breq's current quest for--justice is not quite the right word, since she is also seeking to atone for her past choices, and make sense of what has gone awry in her world. The writing is tremendously agile, easily leading the reader through the complexities of shared minds and intersecting time-frames (the individual ancillary is both "young" and unimaginably old, given its participation in the thought-processes of an AI thousands of years old). Leckie has a real gift for visualizing distinctive places and cultures rich in sensory detail, yet with a minimum of fuss. At the story's start Breq, an unlikely Don Quijote, picks up a most unpromising, infuriating Sancho Panza (who's been in stasis after losing her ship, but Breq still remembers, not pleasantly, from her rotation a thousand years earlier in Justice of Toren); by the end of the book their partnership has come to seem inevitable, and taught us a great deal about Breq's moral temper, and the cultural peculiarities of the Radch empire. The story provides a satisfying narrative arc, yet it also opens the gateway for a sequel. This second volume is about to be published, and I can't wait.
4010636
This is one of the best SF books I have read recently. Bob, a 21st Century software engineer and avid science fiction fan, has his body cryogenically preserved after death. He awakens in the 23rd Century to find his mind has been destructively copied into a computer system that is to control a space probe searching for habitable worlds. When he finds a suitable world his instructions are to set up an automated space station to contact Earth, begin preparing the planet for colonization, make multiple copies of himself to begin searching for additional suitable worlds. The author has clearly thought out what would be involved, and provides logical explanations for how all this might be accomplished: Fusion reactors for almost unlimited power, ram scoops to collect interstellar hydrogen for almost unlimited fuel, self-replicating automatic factories with 3D printers capable of working down to the level of individual atoms, and automated asteroid mining machines for almost unlimited raw materials. Presumably, all this is possible in the 23rd Century. However, the author does not fall into the trap of making Bob all-powerful, there are serious limitations on Bob's capabilities that influence his decisions. Since the original Bob was an engineer, software Bob is able to make design improvements in himself and for future probes as well.
Bob finds a suitable star system, replicates himself, sends the replicates off on their own missions, then begins preparations for colonization. The story follows multiple Bobs as they search new star systems, and encounter various problems. The book makes fascinating reading as the Bobs go about their business, finding new planets, teraforming some, studying life on inhabited planets, and occasionally encountering hostile probes sent out by other Earth factions (there was a massive world-wide war involving several different factions at the time of Bob's launch). There is very little violence in the book, and only a few brief space battles; the emphasis is always on how Bob goes about accomplishing his goals.
Fascinating reading.
4950339
This book was very moving and engaging at the same time, full of action and emotion, amidst a well-done hard science fiction setting. Every character had depth, even the secondary ones, and they were faced with complex issues which usually had more than one answer. I commend the author for being able to convey all this in the form of a true page-turner, a book you would keep thinking about long after you are finished with it.
3782535
This rousing science fiction adventure yarn, in the space opera tradition, is far better crafted than today's average first novel.  Set in a far-future galaxy widely colonized by humans, who have come into contact with various alien races, it features interplanetary intrigue, strong plotting and characterization, and a LOT of well-written action.  But it also pays serious attention to interpersonal relationships and moral issues; this is not a shallow novel.

Our two main characters, Ziva and Aroska, are humanoid aliens of the Haphezian race, taller and stronger than Earth humans (and much in demand in the galaxy as military allies or mercenaries), but otherwise much like them, except for more varied and vivid hair/eye color and having two stomachs and only needing to eat every few days.  Both characters are agents of the Haphezian Special Police, newly assigned to work together against their planet's terrorist insugency; but Ziva also works as a government-employed assassin --in which capacity, a few years previously, she killed Aroska's brother.  And Haphez is in the middle of tense interactions between the human Federation, the rebels fighting against it, human fringe planets like Tantal that maintain their independence (and whose hereditary Governor and his son are currently on a diplomatic mission to Haphez) and the reptilian Sardons, who recently fought a war with Haphez --and might again.  All these conflicting agendas create plenty of tension; add in a sinister plot with nasty aims and homicidal tactics, and events come to a boil quickly.

Ziva is a wonderfully-drawn, complex character; and Aroska and the other major characters are very life-like as well.  Fisch throws some twists and turns into her plot, and the last chapters especially are suspenseful right up to the end.  (There's no sexual content here, and minimal bad language, strictly of the h- or d-word sort.)  Highly recommended for readers who like action SF, in which both genders get to be part of the action!
1784283
Trigger is the first complete novel by Todd Durrant, owner of A Different Drum record label. While A Different Drum is known for great modern Synthpop, Todd Durrant will quickly be known for great and philosophically thought provoking science-fiction. I was extremely impressed with this as a first work by him and anxiously look forward to more. The story was riveting and I couldn't put it down! It is the type of story with many interesting layers of plot revelation that keeps the reader on edge waiting to see what will happen next. I loved that it was not overly predictable as I find many stories both written and filmed to often be. Instead, this just seemed to get more curious with every page turned.

The most difficult thing about writing this review is that I really don't want to include too many, if any, spoilers as the greatest fun about reading it was the interesting turns the plot took as more information was revealed. Basically, the story takes place in two different timelines. In one, you have a group of human exiles from Earth who are trying to make their way in space after forcefully leaving the planet due to a an invasion by mechanical "lifeforms". In this timeline, there are divergent political perspectives revolving around either going back to retake Earth by force or expanding further into space and pioneering further development and growth. In the other timeline, which is pre-invasion, the focus revolves around a major corporation, scientific development, and a secret project to help prevent human annihilation by creating a device which is only activated after the calamity has occurred by using a trigger backwards in time to activate it.

The only criticism I have at all about this work is that I think more development could have been done on the desperation that humans faced in the future on these remote space colonies. However, in many ways the author did make it obvious and other readers may likely disagree with me on this one as much of the first part of the book does have quite a bit relating to this in it. However, I have to admit, character development is probably the most difficult aspect of writing a fiction novel and a marked improvement was shown as the story developed. Overall, I think Todd did a great job and I really liked the characters he created. They are all unique and interesting, no carbon copies, archetypical or stereotypes here except maybe where The Admiral is concerned but that is at it should be in my opinion. I also like that he has strong female characters and sensitive male characters. He also shows many situations where their actions are very human indeed, sometimes logical and sometimes purely emotional, but most often a combination of both as their plight is very unique and unusual. I also like the tech in this book and how he stuck to realistic descriptions regarding the physical dynamics of space, unlike the hollywood movies where you see and hear great explosions and flames in space.

Overall, the book has great technological ideas, interesting philosphical questions, multiple timelines, fairly well developed characters, mostly unpredictable plot lines and a very compelling story!

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Trigger/dp/1432711520/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Trigger</a>
632659
I'm a long time science fiction fan especially of the star fighter category. Starship Eternal surprised me with its tech and savvy writing. The book is fast paced, well written and riveting. Hard to put down.
2480714
It's been a long time since I've read a science fiction novel so good it kept me turning the pages on my Kindle for PC. As a teller of tales myself, some science fiction, others science fantasy or romance, I have my favorite authors--the Eddings, David and Leigh, JRR Tolkein, Anne McCaffrey, Gordon Dickson, and such. I'm now adding Joe Bergeron to my list. His characters are well-shaped, his worlds carefully developed, and his plots not easily guessed in advance. Even better, his science is solid and his understanding even clearer in some ways than the practitioners in the fields of physics and cosmology. I was starting to wonder if I was the only person who can glimpse the true nature of reality. I'm glad I am not.

Space Mariners is a great story for young adults (including the young at heart, like me), as it shows with almost painful clarity the confusion of the transition from childhood to adulthood. That transition is difficult enough without tossing into the mix an alien girl who may look like you, but most definitely is not, a robot known as the Prohibitor which is designed to keep you and your people in a state of relative innocence with respect to science and technology, and almost accidental access to forbidden knowledge. Only by finding ways to work together, despite the confusing storms of feelings that wash over them, are the heroes and heroines of this tale able to survive, escape the bounds of their world, and travel across space and time to a new world, on which they must deal with a whole new set of problems. In the end, they again succeed in escaping, but who knows where they will go next? I'm hoping there will be another tale about Valjhar and his friends.

I greatly appreciate all the work Amazon has done over the last ten years or so in developing the Kindle, as well as CreateSpace, to enable those of us who write very well, but whose stories the editors of the great publishing houses don't understand, or don't like, or don't think will ever gain enough of an audience to make it worth the money required to market our tales. Without Amazon, I would not be able to share my tales--and neither could Joe. While everyone else I listed among my favorites has been published by the great publishing houses, Joe has not--though that may change in time. Most of my favorite authors have been publishing for decades. The newer authors coming out of the great publishing houses don't write the kind of stories I like to read, and until now, I was starting to wonder if anyone did. It appears Joe does, though his tales are quite different than mine. That's okay. His tales stretch my mind, and I'm glad of that.

I plan to read the rest of his tales and share my thoughts about them in their own reviews. Meanwhile, if you like true science fiction and wonder whatever happened to it, try Space Mariners, as well as the other tales Joe tells. You won't regret it.
1093025
A nibble of science fiction that leaves the reader hungry for more.
3217686
After having some trouble getting comfortable with Phillip's writing style in Book 1, I settled down with an extremely engrossing story. Book 2: Immune, is a page turner that I couldn't put down.  This is one of the most finely detailed sci-fi conceptions I have read in quite a while. In fact, I haven't read science oriented Sci-fi this good since Arthur C. Clarke's Rama series.

The main characters begin as sheltered teenagers, conspicuously well socialized by their Los Alamos Lab parents but gain dimension and complexity at a fairly rapid and entertaining pace as the youth change from merely exceptional to otherworldly.

The science is imaginative and delivered masterfully. It starts with plausible, next gen stuff and extrapolates that into nearly magical technology that turns well intentioned scientists mad with power and somehow unhinges them from the ordinary tenants of morality most of us might take for granted - and some already unhinged into pretty frightening monsters. The deft presentation of several of the most repulsive characters imaginable is extremely effective, and all too believable. Fortunately, there are the angels, for lack of a better word, that contest these amoral forces with their own extraordinary talents. In that way, this work echoes Dean Koontz.

I'll probably fidget for the next months waiting for Wormhole.
1816070
Solid science fiction with characters that feel like real people.  Kress is such a good writer and her science here is compelling.  I'm still a little bereft that I've finished the book, as every sentence hums with understated emotion.  Great story, highly recommended.
2916445
This was agreat hard science science fiction book.  There wa a lot of biology and nanotechnoogy in it.  It also had overtones of social philosophy in it.  All this and is was a good read.
3934074
It's that thing where a story is gripping and eloquent and razor-sharp and scientifically impeccable but still depressing and not something I'd ever read again.

I love KSR and setting aside the relentless bad news and ruthless framework of consequences for brittle characters threading this entire epic story, AURORA is probably a watershed work of hard science fiction.  Honestly, the technical detail is staggering.  Every decision, every action, almost every moment is necessarily married to the science making a multi-generation voyage from Earth to an interstellar destination for colonizing possible.  I'm a fan of hard scifi and I have to admit that fully one of the three stars I've given this review is earned by KSR's gloriously dense technical prose.  It's a new standard I'll probably measure any future hard science fiction I read against.

It's almost ironic that my impression of AURORA is hoisted above a failing grade by the technical writing, because among a cast of bleak characters, the only truly likable one to emerge is the generation Ship's AI, a voice that serves as narrator and which grows in complexity and humanity in such a skillful way.  True to the book's commitment to optimism slain on the alter of realism, guess what happens to that, the story's only compelling character.

I wouldn't read this book again, but I can't say I regret reading it either.  If that's a recommendation, then I wonder if it's one the author would be pleased with.
468362
This was a hard book for me to get into. For one thing, I have a difficult time visualizing things in 3D and since this story focuses around a world that does almost everything in Virtual Reality, it took me probably at least half the book to really "feel" the story. Normally I would have quit reading before the halfway mark but I was understanding enough to be intrigued.

There are many great concepts in this story of a future Los Angeles - self-driving vehicles; zippering; I loved the idea of ghosting; KANGAROO KORT; and the PanOpts, which are VR glasses for law enforcement.

Author McPheeters has created a dense, scary view of what 2050 might look like. As I hinted at before, it's almost overwhelming. LAPD Detective Terri Pastuszka is assigned a case with her partner Zack Zendejas that starts snowballing immediately.

This story is chaotic and crazy and too believable at times. If you like cyberpunk, science fiction, post-apocalyptic/dystopian fiction check this out.

Oh, and I would have given a 4 star rating if the ending had been
beefed up. After pages and pages describing all the details of this future L.A., the author devoted very few pages to a satisfying ending. I do think the book is still worth reading but be forewarned about the ending.

I received this book from Talos Press through Edelweiss in exchange for my unbiased review.
4929686
It was with a degree of trepidation that I began reading Kryathaba Rising by William Bryan Miller. Fearful caution because, in the past, I have carefully avoided high tech and (what I call) hard-core science fiction as novels that I cant enjoy because I haven't the patience or inclination to wade through myriad paragraphs of detailed, mystifying science, regardless the scientific subdivision. My fears were realized in spades for the first three chapters as Mr. Miller laid the foundation for the story with complicated (for me) computer jargon and highly technical definitions/descriptions for the subterranean world in which this tale begins. Because the characters were developed quickly, I was very interested in their growth, so I continued to readevery worduntil suddenly, like the morning sun bursting over the top of a mountain top, everything became clear and the story, itself, assumed dominance. I was thoroughly hooked from that point onward.

Every character is exceedingly well developed and accurate to the wide variety of traits and characteristics common to the human psyche. (Subsequent to finishing the novel, I learned that Mr. Miller holds a degree in psychology.) The initial futuristic, post-apocalyptic world Mr. Miller creates is amazingly described, using all of the technical descriptive necessary while equalizing the difficult concepts with easy to understand narrative.  And thenwhat is already an addictive, believable story takes a side road into a fantasy world that, for the duration of the tale, runs concomitant to the initial futuristic plot. The original connection between these two worlds is clear; how they will interact as the characters and storyline develop remains to be seen in future episodes to the series, and therein, lies my single, critical comment.

I fully understand and applaud the use of cliff-hangars in novel series. With brilliant honesty, Mr. Miller explains the cliff-hangar ending in comments following the conclusion of the story. All well and goodbut for me, the cliffhanger conclusion was too steep. Still, though none of the story sub-plots was concluded and the point at which the story ends was, perhaps, not the best position, Kryathaba Rising stands an excellent chance of becoming an epic Sci-fi/Fantasy tale that I highly recommend. If only the second episode were readily available!