Review: Gripping Sci Fi Novel with Thought-Provoking Themes
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 21, 2014
“FreeFormed Hybrids” is an entertaining science fiction novel that’s vaguely apocalyptic and brings up a frightening concept—what if the aliens were human, but humans who had progressed so far in technology that Earth humans don’t stand much of a chance?When Steve’s friend Joe tells him he’s from outer space, at first Steve scoffs—until Joe proves it with a stunt involving a Mars rover. Soon, Joe is meeting with the President of the United States and taking a select group of Earth humans to a monitoring outpost—it turns out there are colonies of humans all over the galaxy, with the homeworlds observing and playing puppeteer. However, the humans there are slowly giving into dissolution, and darker secrets lie beyond the initial dazzle of the homeworlds.I don’t think the description on Amazon does this book justice—I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others. It’s light science fiction, using technology and space travel and aliens without getting too technical, and it’s actually thought-provoking (which most science fiction aims to be, and few such books achieve). Steve, as the everyman observer character, is a calm and steady with a good moral compass, an excellent foil to Joe, whose affability hides a core that’s less than upstanding. There’s a bit of romance, a lot of suspense, and a rich array of themes, including what makes us human and what takes that humanity away. “FreeFormed Hybrids” is also well-written and grabbed my interest enough that I would read the second book in the series when it comes out. Recommended to readers who enjoy thoughtful science fiction with a unique premise and plot, especially one that’s darker than it first appears (in fact, it reminded me a bit of movies like “Logan’s Run” in tone).