Review: Science Fiction / Mystery / Police drama all wrapped in one
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 9, 2014
I am not someone who normally reads futuristic science fiction novels.  But, I was asked to take a look at this book from S.F. Chapman.  When I picked it up and started to read Chapman makes a comment in the introduction that this is book 2 in his series and if you haven't read book one you really should.So, I purchased book one and started to read.  I finished it and started this book.  I must say that I really didn't want to like the book, because I don't like science fiction.  But the books drew me in and the characters developed so well that I just kept reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen and who would survive and who wouldn't.As with most science fiction there is a whole new language to learn.  There is lots of science talk and lots of futuristic environments that you need to read through.  Some of it seems overly indulgent and some of it seems to go backwards into the 1960's and the flower child movement.  The Enlightenment Crusade is a group of young people who want to set free slaves, but they harken back to free love, free sex, free drugs, free alcohol abuse, etc.  The writing is done well and not too pushy about the life style, but it is one that seems strange for a book written about the year 2446.Ryo Trop our investigator has retired from his work after book one.  But he is called back into action here in book two because they need to solve the mystery of why someone is murdering space junk collectors.  Who would want them dead and why?  It is not a flashy job and they don't harm anything or anyone so why target them?Trop will work with his usual set of characters and solve the issue.The plot works.  The story is intriguing and will draw you in.  It is a quick read, but a somewhat fun read.For my first venture into this type of writing I was captured enough to want to finish the book.  I certainly will look forward to book number 3 in the series.Enjoy!