Classic space opera needs a misfit group of mavericks, lots of space travel, aliens and a galaxy-wide threat. Missing Among the Stars can check all thClassic space opera needs a misfit group of mavericks, lots of space travel, aliens and a galaxy-wide threat. Missing Among the Stars can check all those with big, fat ticks. Our misfit mavericks are led by Kasey Mako - a traumatised hero still grieving the loss of his beloved, and who has a phobia around space travel. The team includes various aliens and a couple of cyborgs. Kasey and his team find themselves dealing with a virus which kills cyborgs, a missing colony and an attack by a supposedly extinct alien race out of nowhere. Through their investigations, they solve some old mysteries, right great wrongs and, of course, set out to save the galaxy. If they didn’t, this would not be the wonderful, classic space opera story it is. But there is a lot more in the story than heroism. There is reflection and sadness as well, with romance and friendship, adventure and exploration, nudging shoulders with tragedy, brutality and betrayal. I loved it. My only complaint was that the aliens were not alien enough. They were almost entirely based on earth-like creatures so we have cat people, bird people, insect people etc. I crave truly alien aliens in my sci-fi. But I’m not about to mark down a thunderingly good space opera adventure just for that quirk. If you like space opera you will really enjoy Missing Among the Stars. ...more
A very short and punchy dystopian tale of the oppressed fighting back against their oppressors, a theme which is found in such classics as Terry NatioA very short and punchy dystopian tale of the oppressed fighting back against their oppressors, a theme which is found in such classics as Terry Nation's Blakes 7, or HG Wells' The Time Machine. In fact, The Time Machine idea is played on in a very interesting way. Just as in Wells’ story, there is a class of mutated humans who live underground and perform industrial tasks whilst an elite live on their labour. Or so the story suggests at first. But it isn’t quite that simple by the end. There were a few points I felt where there was not enough explanation - for example, we never learn who is organising the Liberators, although we learn Piper is chosen by whoever in some way and when violence breaks out we are not told against whom. The story is written as a detached narration rather than diving into the heads of any characters which allows a broader-view sweep of events but does mean the reader is never really able to engage vicariously in the experience of Piper and her friends or build real empathy with them. Whilst I found the story as it played out interesting, because of the way it was written I never felt invested in the Liberators’ success or concerned for their failure. That detachment - the inability to immerse, to be involved, to care - is the biggest issue I had with this short story and why I can only give it three stars. Overall this is a retelling of the classic dystopian theme with a disturbing twist in its tail. I would also make any potential purchaser aware that this Kindle book has 28 pages (some of which are the intro to another story) so please note you are not paying £2.40/$2.99 for a full-length novel....more
Loading...
