Review: Shows Promise
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 06 28, 2014
"Black Redneck vs. Space Zombies" definitely qualifies as an attention-grabbing title. And the cover is also attention-getting, with a 50s pulp fiction/space opera/comic book kind of look. So when the author asked me to review the book, I jumped at the opportunity.The basic story is that Jefferson Balladeer is an adopted black child, raised by a redneck family in Mississippi, and he, at first, swallows up the culture whole, vowing to be the first Black Redneck. In his teens, Jefferson hears an unpleasant story about the origin of his adoption, a story that is at least partially confirmed by his brother, Beau. Hurt, Jefferson doesn't wait to hear the rest but packs up and leaves, vowing to never return. He throws off his country ways and becomes a best-selling author, until his brother is killed in a tragic accident and leaves the farm to Jefferson. Jefferson returns, but (he thinks) for only long enough to parcel up the farm and turn it into a housing development.While this is going on, a devouring space beast escapes from its cell on a ship that is passing through the solar system and finds its way to Earth and to Jefferson's farm, where it begins its plot to take over the world and turn the human race into zombies. Can Jefferson return to his roots, find traces of the Black Redneck again, saving the farm and the world, and getting the girl? What do you think?There is some good material in this book, with concepts both original and borrowed, but the writing is a bit clumsy in spots, with too much told to us rather than shown to us or left to our imaginations, with flashbacks prefaced with the word "Flashback," with some awkward transitions, with dialog that's a bit clumsy in spots, and with characters that are more caricature than real.The author tried to walk a fine line, combining elements of horror, humor, satire, romance, and emotional depth. This is tough to do even by the best of authors, and Steven Roy doesn't quite have the skill to pull it off. If his Amazon Author's Page is any guide, this is Steven's first book and I think it shows. Based on his bio, Steven is describing people and characters he knows well, having moved to Mississippi when he was four, but the caricatures and satire come across as a bit mean-spirited at times and it's hard to love any of these characters, even the hero and heroine.In reading over this review again, I think it comes across as harsher than is warranted. As I noted above, there is some good material in the book and it's not like I had to struggle to finish it. I think Steven shows promise and that the rough edges that were exposed in this first book can be smoothed over as he gets more comfortable with his characters and his craft. Based on the sub-title of this book, ("A Black Redneck Adventure Book 1"), it appears as though Steven intends this to be the first of a series. I think it will be interesting to see what he does with the second volume of this series.Disclaimer: the author provided a free copy of the book for review purposes with no restrictions on the review outcome. I have no personal or financial connection to the author.