Review: It is (only) a beginning
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 16, 2013
<Update 12/28/13:> The author commented on my review today to let me know the larger story has now been published (was apparently delayed due to life events). Based upon how good this short story was, I'll be buying the full-sized sequel immediately - called "An Unproven Concept". <End of update>First understand that you are buying a story 62 pages long. Is it good? What there is of it, yes.Is it stand-alone / complete? No. The best analogy is possibly a prologue or first chapter of a story. A lot happens really fast and it "sets the hook" in you as a reader. It would be awesome as a prologue / intro. It would also be awesome as a teaser story for a larger series.However, the important thing to point out at this time (2/16/2013) is that there isn't a series to dive into once you've consumed this appetizer. "Vergassy Chronicles"? Maybe one day... but today "Vergassy Chronicles" consist of a 62-page tease. This story was written quite well and will leave you wanting something more that the abrupt conclusion offers.What's the story really like / about? This is basically spaceship combat / military sci-fi. While it does technically involve first contact, the story has no actual first contact beyond the race's spaceship(s).The 62 pages are great. However, having read this story I regret doing so because as a stand-alone it failed to introduce me to either a good series or a good author. There's simply nothing else available for either.Therefore I strongly advise waiting until something else is available from James Young, and more specifically the "Vergassy Chronicles" before you read this sample.