If you know the term ‘grindhouse’ – often associated with a style of film – then think of this as grindhouse fiction. Oubliette is a floating prison colony.  It is not just that the worst prisoners are sent there – and they are – but due to massive poverty, parents will sometimes send their children… Continue reading

I managed to rate Tim Pratt’s previous book (The Wrong Stars) 3.5 stars, despite some serious issues I had with the book.  I did not feel that those issues, specifically the unnecessary focus on a homosexual relationship, was as much an issue here. The Axiom is the name for an ancient alien race that are… Continue reading

Rhia Harlyn is a noblewoman in Shen.  Being of noble blood she’s been sheltered from much of common life and the only person she’s been able to share that with, who understands her, is her brother, Etyan.  But Etyan is missing and becomes a suspect in a local murder. Rhia wants to find him …… Continue reading

Military science fiction certainly has a long history. I grew up reading the Tom Corbett, Space Cadet series, and Isaac Asimov’s (as Paul French) David Starr, Space Ranger books, Robert Heinlein, and then the military sci-fi of Jerry Pournelle in the 1970’s. Despite this background, I would not consider myself a fan of the military… Continue reading

The Bala are a race commonly referred to as ‘Space Unicorns.’ They have tremendous healing abilities and their unicorn horns are the only known means to power faster-the-light-speed ships. So of course humans have hunted the Bala nearly into extinction. It’s pretty hard to hunt something to extinction when it can practically resurrect itself with… Continue reading

Bo Benitez doesn’t hold a grudge. She is currently visiting the planet Zant, which is home to the aliens who recently tried to eat Bo. But she’s a holo-(television)-star and this is great for her image, even if it’s really hard for her to do. But things only get harder for Bo as she learns… Continue reading

Anyone who wants to write fantasy really should read this book.  Study this book. This is how you capture a reader’s attention, and hold on to it by building a dynamic story. Sancia Grado is a young, tough, very talented thief. She is on a job to steal a scribed device. ‘Scribing’ is a cross… Continue reading