Review: IndieReader Review
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 26, 2012
It is 2210 and a rebellion is underway in the outer reaches of human settlement. Earth doesn't know about that yet, as the rebels have disabled the long-distance communication infrastructure. Scat (Sebastian Scatkiewicz) is leading a motley group of rebels--many of whom only recently switched to his side--against the powerful corporations that run Trevon and other planets in this region of space. Corporations hold all the power here; a few people want to change that and declare independence. But, the corporations have their own security forces and control all the communication systems. So, a handful of rebels have captured a space ship and are busy taking down those communication systems.The story is fast paced and action packed, the rebels racing to stay ahead of the powerful Petroff and his security forces. They have lots of great gadgets and weaponry to keep sci-fi geeks happy. And the novel is chock-full of interesting characters: the creepy Petroff who leads from behind; the slightly psychotic security specialist Cummings who has several "enhancements," including eye implants, that enable him to do his job better; and Lieutenant Alfred H. Day, a quintessential Englishman who figures that he may as well not be paid by the rebels as by his former masters. Everyone has a backstory, most of which are cleverly stitched into the novel, and their own reasons for picking or changing sides.The action descends from the skies to a wonderfully strange swamp forest brimful with dangerous wildlife as threatening to the people as their own weaponry.All that is lacking is a better sense of why the rebellion is happening now and, especially, a better sense of why Scat is leading it and who he is. But, this is the second in a series, so no doubt that is old ground covered elsewhere.Reviewed by Brid Nowlan for IndieReader