Review: Refuge

Refuge by J.J. Blacklocke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A new and fresh take on Space Opera

Refuge is a unique tale that takes your standard space opera in a new direction. It has some fantastic world-building going on, and the setting is amazingly immersive and detailed. The story takes place on a space station called Tradepoint, which is a nexus for trade between alien species. Unlike typical science fiction, Refuge focuses less on technology and instead explores culture, social exchanges between species, and commerce. Every aspect is well thought out, with careful consideration for the practical problems usually glossed over in science fiction, like language, pathology, and biological adaptation issues.

The Vennan are definitely one of my favorite aspects of this book. They make the story appeal to both science fiction and fantasy fans, as they are a starfaring race that eschews technology in favor of their innate abilities. Their culture and spiritual beliefs are richly detailed, and yet they maintain a certain level of mystery and intrigue, which leaves you wanting to learn more. I know I'm mentioning the world-building a lot (as it's what really made this book great in my opinion), but the plot and cast of characters were also superb. Overall, Refuged managed to feel like an "epic" fantasy or space opera series sans excessive length and superfluous writing.

I have to admit that knowing Kate Reading narrated the audiobook version of Refuge sold me before even looking at the other details. I've loved her work, and she did not disappoint me in Refuge. Even if Refuge's description doesn't sound like it's a good fit for you, give the audiobook a chance just for the narration.

Special thanks to Aethon Books, who provided me this book free of charge at my request.

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Review: Interstellar Caveman

Interstellar Caveman by Karl Beecher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interstellar Caveman is what I imagine Buck Rogers would have been if the original story had been written by Douglas Adams. Our hapless hero, Colin, is thrust unwillingly into the future after a series of unfortunate events forces him into cryogenic sleep for an undetermined (but very long) time. Colin is not a military genius, action hero, or crack star pilot… he’s just an out of work, Luddite insurance analyst who bumbles through his new life and attempts to navigate a strange future society where human civilization has stretched across the stars and colonized multiple planets.

The storyline of Interstellar Caveman is quite fun and unpredictable; I never knew quite where it was going. The book is light-hearted fun, so you can’t take its vision of future society or new technology seriously, as it's meant more as a humorous satire than a serious science fiction novel (which Colin would have hated anyway). I do think at times that the parody and humor felt a bit too out of place and occasionally the pacing of the story and dialog felt a bit uneven, but all-in-all, it was a wonderful and diverting read.

Thank you to Aethon Books who provided me this book free of charge at my request.

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Review: Faulty Prophet

Faulty Prophet by Karl Beecher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Faulty Prophet is a fun and twisted sci-fi comedy reminiscent of Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker series. It features the continuing misadventures of Colin Douglass, who has been stumbling from one misfortune to another since his awakening from cryogenic sleep. Colin isn't anything close to your classic sci-fi hero and manages to get himself in and out of absurd situations by dumb luck.

I think this sequel to Interstellar Caveman was every bit as good as the first book. Both books use Colin's experiences in the future as a satirical take on the ridiculousness of the "modern" age. Most of the jokes are lighthearted and creative, but they could sometimes get ridiculous enough to distract from the story or highlight the implausibility of the futuristic setting. Overall, I found the entertainment value of the humor and jokes to outweigh the absurdity of the situations that Colin found himself in, but true die-hard science fiction fans may find it a bit too much.

Special thanks to Aethon Books, who provided me this book free of charge at my request.

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Review: The Roach

The Roach by Rhett C. Bruno
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Roach wasn't just a novel; it was an experience. The story is centered around a vigilante known as The Roach, who has been broken and forgotten by the city he helped make safe. The book's description had me expecting some type of superhero version of Ironside, but what I actually read was something so much better. The Roach has gone from a fear-inspiring legend to a crippled drunk. But this isn't some happy ending story of redemption and rehabilitation; it is a gritty and realistic journey through the damaged psyche of a broken man.

I make the story sound pretty gloomy, but it actually is full of different emotions and hits you on a few levels. It's part gritty drama, part dark comedy, and part psychological thriller. I laughed out loud, I got goose-bumps, I shivered, and I, honest-to-god, teared up at one point. The characters come to life, the plot is thick and unpredictable, and the premise is fresh and exciting. It's the best book I've read in 2021, and I'm pretty sure it's going to stay on top for a long, long time.

The audiobook is performed by R.C. Bray, and no one I've heard could have been a better Roach. It's like the character was written for Bray to narrate (spoiler alert: it actually was). If you are a fan of R.C. Bray, this book will be worth it for that alone.

Special thanks to Aethon Books, who provided me this book free of charge at my request.

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