I’ve been on a run of captivating self-published novels, and The Fall is All There is was no exception. The is grimdark meets palace intrigue with its own unique twists and turns. Something like Prince of Thorns meets The Goblin Emperor. There’s a lot going on that Caplan takes time to reveal to us without it feeling info dumpy, but ultimately this story is a family drama.
The dynamics between Petre Mercy and his siblings are what make this novel go. Amidst the palace intrigue, the cyborg horses, and the possessed humans we encounter on the road, we have a family that doesn’t trust each other, with a broken past, a mess present, and a future I’m yearning to find out more about.
Petre trusts none of them and yet is now in the middle of everything… and he though he ostensibly resents that, he also appears to long to trust them all. At every turn he is hoping they’ll open up to him and be honest about everything… he’s always disappointed, but to be fair, he’s not exactly an open book to them either.
I’ve bloviated long enough, because there are some stellar reviews out there of this book that will get you more excited than mine. This one from Andy Peloquin absolutely blew me away and if I wasn’t already mid novel when he wrote it, I’d have quickly moved it to the top of the pile.
I’ve been diving into some indie fantasy lately, and I’m thrilled I dove into this one. This was an absurdly great debut novel. It’s a fantasy novel, full of magic, that focuses on colonialism, more specifically the victims of colonialism. The focus throughout the story is on the changing world, and the victims of those changes. But that focus isn’t heavy handed, it is explored within the context of deep, well realized characters.
The story takes place over two timelines, one present time, and one the not-so-distant past, as the main character tells the story of his life to his apprentice. It’s a storytelling device done effectively in novels like The Name of the Wind, and here, Dulin uses it deftly. The past tense story really becomes the heart of the novel, but I never feel like Dulin is giving the present tense story short shift. In fact, both collide in a meaningful way at the end of the book and leave the reader anxious for book 2 (which thankfully is already out).
The story contains tragedy, a fascinating magic system, great character work, and a well thought out exploration of colonialism in a world where magic is at the center of everything. Dulin reveals how the magic works and how the folks in the world interact with the magic from their understanding of it, to the religious beliefs that surround it, to their practical use of it, but it never feels info dumpy. That is a testament to the author. This will be a series I continue in the near future.
The Blighted Stars is my favorite book I read this year. It’s loaded with things I like in science fiction: great action, compelling characters, complicated worldbuilding that isn’t spoon fed to the reader, and a mystery where the stakes just get bigger and bigger. It’s a five star and will undoubtedly find a place in my 100 favorite SFF novels list when I revisit the rankings.
The reader is immediately thrown into the action as something we don’t quite understand (involving misprints…you’ll get it later) is happening on a spaceship above the blighted planet and our characters must escape. They do, to the planet below and now must survive. But survival also involves understanding of the lichen that is devouring worlds (including this planet) and each little reveal regarding the lichen adds to the tension and stakes.
We experience the story primarily through the two main characters. One is the son of what seems to be the most powerful man in the most powerful family in the galaxy, who is leading the expedition. The other perspective is from a girl who is not who she says she is and is trying to bring down that powerful family. Their relationship ultimately becomes the heart of the story, as both characters are complicated, and likeable. Their interactions are filled with tension and complicated feelings they are both trying to understand. Both are easy to root for, even if they aren’t exactly on the same side.
I can’t wait to continue this series. The novel works in so many ways, and there is plenty more to explore in the universe…and an incredibly high stakes problem still to solve.
Part 2 of my Level’s of Science Fiction and Fantasy Series
I look at this group of novels as something you would pick up in 4th to 6th grade that could draw you into the fantasy/science fiction universe. When I was in that age group, I read all of the Wrinkle in Time series and loved it. I also read Jurassic Park, The Lost World and Sphere and loved them, but don’t think I was the target and wouldn’t fit them in this group. Despite loving those books, I really didn’t get into other fantasy or science fiction until later. But if you’re trying to build some love of Science Fiction and Fantasy from a young age, these would be some good choices.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone- This seems the obvious choice. It’s the book and series that got so many into reading generally. It has so many great aspects of fantasy: the world building, the layered plot where more and more is revealed as the series goes on, the interesting, fantastical elements. It’s incredibly accessible as the story consistently follows one main character with very few deviations. It’s easy to read but that doesn’t take away from its magic.
The Giver- Few books could get young readers into dystopian science fiction than this highly accessible and well written novel.
The Hunger Games- Deals with some older themes so it’s probably on the edge with level 2, but its writing and structure are simple enough that I think a young reader could really appreciate it. The story is engaging, the characters are interesting, it hits the right emotional notes. The kind of book that can show how fun dystopian science fiction can be.
A Wrinkle in Time- A blend of fantasy and science fiction. I loved this book so much as a child and really enjoyed the follow-up novels (especially A Swiftly Titling Planet). It doesn’t deal with a ton of concepts but I remember how intriguing the idea of the tesseract was to me as someone new to science fiction. I was fascinated by the idea of folding space to travel.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe- I did not fully get into the Narnia novels, but they are incredibly accessible and many love them. I was a big fan of the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe on my first reading. Finding that fantasy world within your own home was an exciting proposition.
The Hobbit- Tolkein is the king of fantasy and this is a fun, engaging, less serious story that young readers could certainly enjoy.
The Golden Compass- So much going on in this alternate, magical earth. I think it’s very accessible, but some of the ideas in the last two novels might be difficult for younger readers. Personally I liked The Golden Compass better than the last two in the series and think it is one that could easily get young readers into fantasy.
Redwall- I never actually read this, but it is one that comes to mind based on talking to others I know who loved Fantasy novels.
Another of the great modern Space Opera writers, Martine delivers a fitting and fun conclusion to the Teixcalaan duology. You can tell Martine is having fun with the names, cultures, and world-building. It’s a unique spin, impeccably written, and undeniably fun.
While the first story dealt with the mystery of the previous ambassador’s death and the political intrigue surrounding it, this deals with an outside threat. A mysterious alien species is wreaking havoc and the Teixcalaan Empire must figure out how to deal with it or if they can even communicate with it. The palace intrigue is still there though more on the periphery and playing out in fleet politics. We also get more of the Lsel Station politics and the ramifications to Mahit from her actions in the prior novel.
Desolation certainly lived up to its predecessor and in some ways surpassed it.
I was very excited to listen to this book, as I really enjoyed Bruno’s previous novel, In the Orbit of Sirens, and I was familiar with the narrator, Kyle Snyder, who did a fantastic job narrating both my novels, Felan’s Rescue and The Descendants of Prontoth. Neither the story nor the narration disappointed. Down Below Beyond was a fast-paced, galaxy-spanning, adventure travelogue. The characters were fun, diverse, and interesting. Though self-contained, the universe feels big and lived in. Few novels achieve the continued sense of fun and discovery that Down Below Beyond manages throughout.
Our main perspective into this universe is a prospector named Levort Aatra, who stakes a claim to a salvage on Tayoxe. That claim sets the stage for a story that moves quickly, with Aatra discovering much of the forgotten history of Lodespace. He jumps around worlds after the gift of a portal, allowing him to travel like Rick Sanchez, though with far less control over where he is going. The planets and species populating them are diverse and the characters he finds along the way are a joy. And the characters he meets along the way, become an incredible, found-family supporting cast.
Meanwhile, Levort is being followed across the galaxy by his friend, who wants to both protect Levort from the trouble he believes Levort to be in, but also sees an opportunity for himself. His friend is not going to let anything get in the way of his quest.
I highly recommend this book, particularly if you are looking for a fun, stand-alone novel. And of course, Kyle Snyder’s narration is on point.
This last year has been marked by my full immersion into the Self-Published Science Fiction world. There have been so many great reviewers and writers that promote the stuff they love, and it’s been very exciting discovering what these many great authors have to offer. In Those Left Behind, I found my favorite Self-Published novel to date. It’s full of exciting ideas, mystery, and fascinating characters. The writing is beautiful and as the story pushed forward I found myself not wanting to put it down. I will undoubtedly revisit the series soon.
New Pallas is dying and all the people that live there will perish with it, but a great, ancient structure called a waystation may offer a chance at salvation. A variety of characters with different views, backgrounds, and prejudices leave on a mission to find that chance. But there are other ancient waystations, and something is happening to them. Our characters must wrestle with that great mystery, navigate the complex galactic civilization they discover after passing through the waystation, and combat the amoral interests of some of their own, to try to save the humans of New Pallas.
I grew to love each of the characters’ arcs in their own way and can’t wait to see what happens as all these stories converge. The story is definitely a spiritual successor to Mass Effect and The Expanse…maybe that’s why I was so drawn to it. If you are firmly in the self-published world and haven’t read this one, get to it. If you haven’t read any self-published stuff, but love The Expanse and stories like it and want to throw yourself into a self-published series, this is a great place to start.
I really liked Wool. It was different than your typical dystopian science fiction. I loved Shift, which allowed us to dig deeper into how the Silos came to be. I’m a sucker for unique story structures when there is a purpose to them, and I thought the way this story jumped from before the Silos and to the various silos at different times was handled deftly. As with Wool, there was a momentum to this book that made it impossible to put down.
If you’re looking to just jump right back into where Wool left off, you may be a bit disappointed by Shift, but give it time and trust in Howey to get you where you need to go. Beginning with the story in Wool, then shifting (see what I did there) to this more divergent story that unravels the mystery from new perspectives and at earlier times was a great story telling choice. Shift is that much better having read Wool.
I would say I can’t wait to read Dust, but I stayed up late and nearly finished Dust last night. Rest assured, that review is coming soon.
Another self-published Science Fiction Novel that really caught my eye (What a cool cover!) and various reviewers were talking about, Stellar Instinct was an action packed, intriguing ride. The author calls it a “spy thriller and space opera / adventure”, but there is a lot of “techno thriller” to it was well. The techno thriller thing isn’t always my cup of tea but the author paints a great picture of the world (or galaxy as it happens) and keeps it moving. If you read and liked Hannu Rajaniemi’s The Quantum Thief, this novel should really appeal to you.
March is my slowest reading month because of the inordinate amount of basketball I watch instead, but I finally finished this book. It was excellent. I thought the story structure worked really well, though it changes fairly quickly. Early on we get a present-day story on Kamaria interspersed with flashbacks to the past and one of our main characters back in the Solar System. As the story progresses the past narrative jumps to the present story, but we get new, more recent, flashbacks that develop the Sirens and the mysteries of the planet. I thought both structures were deftly handled.
Kamaria feels meticulously imagined, with the author exploring the unique life and environments of the planet. The action scenes are well crafted and cinematically explored, and if you understand the author’s background that makes a lot of sense. But for me, the best part of the novel is the Sirens. Bruno really brings them to life. They are mysterious, scary, and a uniquely perfect villain to the story. Though very different in how they operate, I couldn’t help but think of Meiville’s Slake-Moths as the mysteries of the Sirens were revealed.
I look forward to continuing my journey through Kamaria down the road.
