Book Review – The Journey of Atlantis

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Jeff Knoblauch https://www.jeffknoblauch.com has published two novels. The Journey of Atlantis was published in 2017 and is the first book in his Atlantis series. This is the 10th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! I categorize this book/novel as G.

Astronomers at the Keck Observatory discover a new neutron star. After some calculations, they determine that the star is on a trajectory that will take it through the Solar System. In just 84 years, life will be extinguished.

If humanity is to survive, the people of Earth must put aside their differences and cooperate. A ship must be built and launched that will carry the seeds of humanity to a new home. Most get behind the effort, but some dissenters protest and take action against the project. Compared to Earth’s population, only a hand full will be saved on the starship Atlantis.

The novel gives a series of snapshots of progress and problems as the project progresses. These are spaced about ten years apart. As the years pass, old characters die, and new ones are introduced. They struggle with science and engineering problems. The looming deadline of the neutron star’s catastrophic arrival drives them to complete the project.

I enjoyed the 8 hours I spent reading this 301-page science fiction novel. This novel is different. It deals with many different people over almost 100 years. The story is more of a high-level summary of the project than a detailed plot. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Battle for Earth: Journal One

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Hammer Trollkin https://hammertrollkin.com/ is the author of five novels. Battle for Earth: Journal One was published in 2020 and is the first in his Shockwave series. This is the 8th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.

A group of teens is visiting a secret DARPA laboratory when explosions cover them in unique nanites. The explosions are caused by an alien attack. The bug-like invaders have technological superiority, but the teens become a force to be reckoned with as each develops unique powers.

The team, which comes to be known as Shockwave, is made up of an odd collection of characters. The leader, referred to as Mr. T, is a DARPA scientist. 17-year-old Elizabeth ‘Viz’ is Mr. T’s granddaughter. Her special skill is invisibility. Also part of the team is 16-year-old Mia, Viz’s younger sister. Known to the team as ‘Para’, her special skill is becoming super dense.

The 16-year-old identical twin boys Tom and Bill are known as ‘Rock’ and ‘Roll’. Their ability is nonlocality – they can transport. There is also Muncle. He is a spider monkey. But he is an exceptionally smart monkey with enhanced eyesight. Lastly is Mr. T, who can read a person’s mind if he can touch them. Lastly is Communal, a sentient artificial intelligence.

The Shockwave team strikes out against the invaders at every opportunity.

I thought that the 10.5 hours I spent reading this 265-page young adult science fiction novel were interesting. The plot and writing are tailored to young adult readers. The book is full of action. I do like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 3 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – The Cendovian

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – This is the first publication by Mark Hennessy. The Cendovian was published in 2020 and is the first book in his Cendovian Chronicles series. This is the 6th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of minor violence, I categorize this novel as PG.

Victor, Marisa, and Connor are attending their first day of classes at Stanford. Unknown to them, their professor, Richard Nelson, is plotting to draw them into his plans to save humanity. Nelson, with neuroscientist colleague Pari, is secretly working to build a digital copy of a human brain and personality. A project that will enable humans to virtually live forever.

I enjoyed the 11 hours I spent reading this 383-page science fiction novel. The AI aspects of the story and the moral questions were interesting. A plot didn’t emerge until well past halfway through the novel, and then it was weak. The chosen cover art is eye catching. I give this novel a rating of 3.8 (rounded to 4) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Debt of Loyalty

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Christopher G. Nuttall is the author of more than 100 novels. Debt of Loyalty was published in 2020 and is the second book in his Ember of War series. This is the 2nd book I completed in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to some violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character is Admiral Lady Katherine Falcone.

The Commonwealth has been engulfed in a civil war. Falcone had to make a hard decision as civil war became inevitable. Should she stay loyal to the King and the colony worlds or remain with the Tyre Navy and her family. She has sided with King Hadrian and has enabled his escape from Tyre.

The planet Caledonia has become the rebel stronghold and has allied with a handful of colony worlds against the Commonwealth parliament.

Falcone had to make a hard decision as civil war became inevitable. Should she stay loyal to the King and the colony worlds, or remain with the Tyre Navy and her family.

Falcone is given command of the King’s fleet and engages the Tyre forces. They skirmish, but the big battle will be in Tyre space. The plan is risky, but if the war is not taken to Tyre, Caledonia will fall under attack. Falcone wants to win the engagement and bring the civil war to an end. She may have to settle for striking a hard blow and withdrawing in defeat.

I enjoyed the 10.5+ hours I spent reading this 401-page science fiction novel. With this book, I have read six excellent books by Mr. Nuttall. The others are The Oncoming Storm, Falcone Strike, Cursed Command, The Hyperspace Trap, and Debt of Honor. While this novel can be read stand-alone, the novels listed above, except for The Hyperspace Trap should be read first. I enjoy ‘space opera’ stories, and Debt of Loyalty is one of the best. The plot is laced with action, politics, and intrigue. I like the cover art chosen for this novel. I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Black sheep

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Rachel Aukes https://www.rachelaukes.com/ is the author of more than 40 books. _Black Sheep: A Space Opera Adventure _ was published in 2020 and is the first in her Flight of the Javelin series. This was the 100th book I completed in 2022.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character is spacecraft Captain Halit ‘Throttle’ Reyne.

Reyene and her crew are 15 years into a 20-year voyage when her colony ship, the Gabriela, has a breakdown. The catastrophic failure means Renene and her crew must abandon the Colony ship and the thousand colonists in cryo-sleep aboard. The only chance for the colonists is for the crew to find help.

They are surprised when they stumble across a derelict ship. It will be the find of a lifetime if Reyene and her crew can get it to civilized space. They find the ship intact and fully operational once they have boarded it. The onboard AI, who they name Rusty, has no memory of the ship’s origin or mission.

Reyene thinks their problem has been solved with the discovery of the ship. They head back to the Colony ship. When they arrive, they find that the Gabriela has been taken by pirates. They are forced to follow the pirates to the Jade-8 Terra orbital colony.

The Gabriela is docked at the station, but it is hardly the safe haven Reyene was looking for. The space station is run by pirates and gangsters. The inhabitants are virtual slaves to the two siblings that are in power.

Reyene and her crew’s freedom is in question and the future of the colonists looks dire. Can they escape Jade-8? Will they have to abandon the colonists?

I enjoyed the 6.5+ hours I spent reading this 262-page science fiction novel. I do like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Fleet Opposed

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Chuck Grossart https://www.chuckgrossart.com is the author of more than a dozen novels. Fleet Opposed was published in 2019 and is the first volume in his Han Wars series. This was the 85th book I completed in 2022.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character is Republic Commander Jackson Flynn.

It has been nearly a century since the Republic was at war with the Han Bloc. Peace has filled the years, and the Republic has grown less vigilant. Without warning, the Han launch a sneak attack on the Republic.

Flynn is Captain of the Republic cruiser RSS Repulse. They witness the destruction of nearly the entire Combine Fleet by the Han. Only the Repulse and a handful of other ships manage to escape the vicious attack.

Flynn and the crew of the Repulse are determined to fight on. Mere survival will not be easy. They must contend with Han warships, as well as former Republic ships now controlled by the Han or their Republic sympathizers.

But all is not what it appears. A quiet conspiracy has been in the works. A conspiracy to bring the Republic and Han back to war.

I enjoyed the 9 hours I spent reading this 403-page science fiction novel. I have also had the opportunity to read one of Grossart’s earlier novels The Phoenix Descent. I enjoyed that novel, but I think this one is much better. The chosen cover is simple but eye-catching. I like it. I give this novel a rating of 4.8 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Echoes of Time

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – James Murdo https://www.jamesmurdo.com is the author of eight novels. Echoes of Time was published in 2022 and is the second volume in the Tapache’s Promise Trilogy. This is the 82nd book I completed in 2022.

I received an ARC of this book through a promotion on StoryOrigin with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.

The machine AI Tapache has sent several groups over centuries to find out the truth about the Source. The story continues with Paran, Kera, Diyan, and Yena. An attempt is made to capture the Breaker, but that fails. The effort does uncover an ancient structure lost to history.

I spent 9 hours reading this 478-page science fiction novel. I found this novel a bit slow and confusing. In hindsight, I should have called a Rule of 50 on it. I recommend reading the first novel in the series, Echoes of Gravity, before this one. The cover art grabs your attention, though I am not sure it relates to the story. I give this novel a rating of 3.3 (rounded down to a 3) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Edge of Castatrophe

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Jane Killick is the author of nine novels. Edge of Catastrophe was published in 2022 and is the second in her Terraforming Mars series. This is the 81st book I completed in 2022.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! I categorize this novel as PG.

It is the 26th century, and the colony on Mars is thriving. Ecoline scientist Mel Erdan is on the cutting edge of research. Her work may go a long way in helping to feed the growing population. But her work is still an experiment in the lab.

When fields of crops turn from lush green to black, it signals a catastrophe for Mars. It becomes a personal tragedy for Erdan when the dead and dying plants are traced back to her research. She is arrested for sabotaging the crops.

The resulting food shortage threatens the entire population of Mars causing violent riots. Erdan feels that she has already been convicted. No one is looking for the truth.

She seizes on an opportunity and escapes from custody. The only way she will avoid a conviction is to find the truth herself.

I enjoyed the 7+ hours I spent reading this 330-page science fiction novel. The basic plot was good, but the conspiracy behind the crop failure seemed weak. This is not an edge-of-your-seat thriller. I do like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 3.9 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Cyborg Assassin 2

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Rayner Ye https://www.facebook.com/scifiandspacefantasy/ is the author of more than 10 novels. Cyborg Assassin 2 was published in 2022. It is my 69th book to complete in 2022. It is the second novel in her Cyborg Assassin series.

I received a copy of the novel through StoryOrigin with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own!

This novel picks up where the first in the series ended. It has the same basic cast of characters.

I spent about an hour reading this 234-page science fiction novel before I called a Rule of 50 and quit. By that point I had made it just shy of 20% of the way through. I had read the first novel in the series Cyborg Assassin 1, and hoped to enjoy this one. The plot is a bit weird and I was having problems making sense of it. I was not enjoying it. That is why I called the Rule of 50. The chosen cover art is OK. I give this novel a rating of 2 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Project Hail Mary

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – This is the third novel by author Andy Weir https://andyweirauthor.com. Project Hail Mary was published in 2021. It is my 68th book to complete in 2022.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! I categorize this novel as G.

When High School science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up, he can’t remember who he is or why he is aboard the spacecraft. All he knows is that he has been asleep for a very long time and the other two crew members are dead.

As time passes, his memory begins to slowly return though it is very fuzzy. Slowly the Earth’s sun began to dim. The mission is the culmination of a planet-wide project to send a spacecraft and crew millions of miles in a last-ditch attempt to save humanity. The only hope is that the solution to the problem can be discovered at Tau Ceti. As Grace progresses, he encounters several problems. He is able to overcome them through his understanding of basic science.

Grace is faced with more than one life-threatening situation that he must overcome. He is shocked when his full memory finally returns, and he remembers his last few hours on Earth. As he does his research, he finds assistance and friendship from a very unexpected source. With the clock ticking on Earth’s survival, will he be able to find an answer in time to save humanity? And what will happen to him?

I enjoyed the 13.5 hours I spent reading this 482-page science fiction novel. I have been fortunate to have read all three of Mr. Weir’s novels. I have found them to be exceptional. The others that I have read are Artemis and The Martian. Grace uses a wide range of math and science to solve problems. This would make this a great novel to use in a STEM project. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).