Review: Spinward Fringe Series
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 9, 2011
Having read the entire series, I'm impressed with this author's skill at creating exciting, action-packed plot twists and turns.  His real strength lies in that ability, and it's virtually impossible to put down the series once begun.  We truly want to know what happens to the valiant Captain Valance and his crew, which is the most sought-after response from readers a writer can receive.He does a credible enough job with character development as well, although some of the interaction between those characters is at times a tiny bit awkward and stilted.  However, other scenes flow naturally and with an honesty that adds dimension and depth.I would also prefer a bit less in the high-tech descriptive department.  It's interesting to know details about the ship; its propulsion systems, armament, life support provisions, etc. - but each vessel, no matter how fascinating, "smart" or impressive, is a relatively minor character in the final analysis - and a little condensation in those areas would, I believe, make for a smoother read.Overall, Lalonde has created a compelling vision of future possibilities and tells his tale well.  If a reader can be kept interested and turning the page, the writer can turn off his PC each night knowing his/her work will continue to draw interest.That said, this writer also badly needs a talented and ruthless editor.  In this series there are numerous, glaring errors such as "tow" for "toe", "he poured over" rather than "pored over," and "their" where it should be "there."  Misused syntax is jolting and distracting for many of us, and as long as good dictionaries exist there's simply no excuse for it.Lalonde's grasp of language is good, the concepts are outstanding - and I'm sure, given his storytelling strengths, that he will have continued success.  But it would be nice to see more polish in the final versions.