Review: A diamond in the rough ... really, really rough
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 09 19, 2011
The year is 2070 and the Earth has turned inwards after a plague outbreak that has left people wary of traveling to other countries let alone into outer space. When a bumbling alien who isn't legally allowed to visit the Earth accidentally gives a university student plans for small portable cold fusion units along with a field that can nullify gravity, the student and the planet find themselves thrust into Galactic trading, ready or not.If this plot appeals to you, you will get your .99 worth out of this book. But before you click "buy" understand that plot is all you will get. The characters are tissue paper thin, and the writing is some of the worst I've ever read. Yet, read it I did because the plot was so darn engaging.There are numerous typos, a severe lack of editing (there's even one page where an entire paragraph is repeated), and a lot of truly awkward prose. It's almost as if the book were written in one sitting as a 'stream of consciousness' first draft and then never polished before being published.You won't believe how awkward it is at places unless I give you some examples so here's two choice quotes;1. "The ship began took on its finished shape..."2. "The reality turned out to be a bit different as there was little 'control' but many inherited problems. The World Government was incompetent, as most government are incompetent, but the oversight actually provided competency where there was little to none before. The reality of a distant, weak, slightly incompetent government actually worked. It didn't work everywhere because culture and corruption was so endemic but that is reality."Say what? Honestly, I can't believe that I didn't quit reading after I got to that last example. But that plot! Man, I found the plot engaging.I'm convinced that if the author would pony up for a proper editor, he might have a hit on his hands something along the lines of theSolar Clipper Trader Tales, but as it stands I'd be embarrassed to recommend this book to a friend because as much as I enjoyed reading it, it really is a nothing more than a first draft.Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book.