Author: Alexandra

Permafrost by Alastair Reynolds

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This incredibly short novella by Alastair Reynolds—all 176 pages of it—offers so much promise but, for me at least, it failed to deliver. I think if the author had bothered to write a full-length novel and added better depth to both the story itself never mind the characters, it might have been an over-all better read.

As it is, there is a total lack of credibility to the time travel aspect and theory, which, while an intriguing idea, is not expounded upon at any length or depth. And just comes across as sloppy writing.

Which is a shame, because the author could have come at it from any number of angels and we could have still believed better than as it stands.

Had Permafrost been presented as such, we might be able to suspend our sense of disbelief better. But then again, only if the characters themselves had been in any way, shape, or form, believable.

As it was I felt the MC was there more as an after thought. Permafrost seems to be more about the concept of time travel than an actual story about people involved in trying to time travel, especially as we are supposed to believe they are out to save the world. Though what from, other than—apparently—their own hubris, I don’t know.

Nothing is fully explained—whether that’s motivation, plot, or characters—nor is the concept of Permafrost’s time travel given more than a cursory explanation via a flimsy backstory. Then there is the whole ending which, quite honestly, left me laughing, and not in a pleasant way. It was ludicrous.

The story hinges on a set of parameters set up by the author, himself, about how the characters would time travel, and about the paradoxes that would be created up and down the timeline and then, ignores his own rules right at the end, without consequence.

Let me explain. The story hinges on the fact a character, Antti, is supposed to go back, find what everyone is looking for, then fly it to an exact location to be found in the book’s present by our main protagonist, Valentina. But … the main character destroys the experiment after being warned by Antti that they are creating a desolate future beyond their own present. So in destroying the experiment in her now, she stops Antti ever going back to begin with (still with me here?) so how is it, all this is ignored without time “grandfathering” up and down the time stream? Which would, of course, result in them all forgetting, and the item never arriving in the present in order to save the world, which it does?

All in all, this is a rather dull, uninteresting look at the possibility of time travel, via characters who are never fully fleshed out or given any depth. With sloppy science, never mind a flawed rational that flopped badly at the end because the author forgot the plot.

Be Authentic

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You don’t have to become an expert on a subject to write about it, but you do have to do research and due diligence in order to write with authority and make your work sound plausible. Authenticity is key, that’s why I love authors who do their research like Steph Broadribb, author of the Lori Anderson crime thriller series. Broadribb went to the US and learnt all should could by working as a bails bond person in order to lend authenticity to her characters and world building. 

You can’t get it anymore first hand than that.

Even science fiction authors have to start somewhere. Having a fundamental understanding of the sciences helps. Which is probably why I have such a hard time reading or taking horror or fantasy seriously, to my mind at least, most lack any cohesive background or believable world building.

That said, authors who do ground their work with structure, can knock it out of the ball park. Take S. A. Chakraborty’s Daevabad series. This author has put so much effort into her characters, setting, and palace politics, and grounded her magical realm with so much realism, as to make it all seem so very plausible. This makes her storytelling all the more compelling never mind enjoyable because she’s paid attention to every detail.

I suppose the same could be said about writing blog posts as writing a full-length novel, or even, short stories, after all, you could argue that each post we write and present is, in and of its self, a short story. It should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. It needs structure, logic, and while it can have whimsy as well, it also needs to, in the end, say something, if not about a subject or topic then, at least about us, as the author.

We are, after all, authors on a quest, world building our own habitat in the ether between the ones and zeros, looking to connect with other like minded people.

I guess whether it’s books or just blog posts, the key to connecting with our readers is to be as authentic to ourselves as possible. 

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

The Ashes of London by Andrew Taylor

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THE ASHES OF LONDON by Andrew Taylor is a well plotted murder-mystery set amid the aftermath of the Great Fire of London, in 1666, and the political turmoil following the Civil War. Wherein a number of the ‘Fifth Monarchists’ continue to fan the flames of sedition long after the failed Commonwealth in the belief they can still bring about the installation of King Jesus; And a heaven on earth.

The intertwining threads of this story are seen through the eyes of the two main characters: James Marwood, caring for his ageing father who’s suffering from the onset of dementia. This young man’s struggle is heartfelt; living down his father’s past while trying to make a living for them both, he’s caught in a web of lies, secrets, and betrayal while longing for a quiet ordinary life.

Catherine ‘Cat’ Lovett is the daughter of a fugitive ‘Regicide’ who, while in the care of her Aunt and Uncle, is raped by their son Edward. Throw in the fact that her Uncle has arranged a marriage of convenience and sold Cat’s inheritance to his own benefit, you can understand why she takes matters into her own hands. Not to spoil the reveal, Cat has her revenge but with devastating consequences for her, and those around her.

Andrew Taylor has fully fleshed out this unlikely pair, who carry quite the burden between them, both seemingly doomed by their fanatical fathers. Historical fact is blended seamlessly with fiction, blurring the lines with enough detail that brings every scene to life, so much so, you can almost smell smoke in the air. All of Taylor’s characters are true to their nature, and the age in which they live in, displaying the foibles and failings of the times. And in the case of Marwood—this wonderfully drawn character—there’s also a sense of duty and courage despite his situation and station in life.

All in all, a thoroughly engrossing read. I read this one in less than two days sucking up every last detail, learning a great deal along the way I didn’t already know, about this period in history. I highly recommend this one whether you are into historical fiction, or not. Well drawn, fully-fleshed out, plenty of intrigue and action, and a cast of characters Shakespeare or Marlowe might have conceived and written about.

Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire by Dan Hanks

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From the minute I saw the cover for Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire by Dan Hanks, I fell in love with it and knew I had to get my hands on a copy. Well, the cover conveyed everything this brilliant piece of escapist fun promised, and then some. A blisteringly fast-paced archaeological adventure populated with a number of dynamic characters, hell bent of either saving the world, or destroying it. In what is an imaginative and fresh take on a much loved trope.

This pulp-fiction fantasy is part Indiana Jones inspired, with a good measure of The Mummy movies thrown in, topped off with plenty of Tomb Raider action. You should know that from the get go, you are in for one hell of a roller coaster ride into the unknown. Chasing down legend and myth, along side a cracking character that had me cheering every time she punched the lights out of a Nazi bad guy!

Captain Samantha Moxley is a take no nonsense hero that even when bloody nosed and bleeding, struggles on because she knows it’s the right thing to do. And when it’s about saving family? You never give up, and you never give in. Having fought in, and lived through the war, Sam has seen enough for one lifetime, but when recruited by a shadowy US Government Agency, sees more than her fair share of the weird, macabre, and down right scary other worldly creatures.

And just when she thinks it’s time to hang up her gloves, she hears of a plot to kidnap her sister—a ruse possibly—to drag her back into the fray. And so, in battling monster in order to save her sister, once more gets dragged into the thick of the action. And finds herself, with her sister Jess, Jess’s archaeologist boyfriend, Will, chasing down fabled artefacts that will unlock a mythical and priceless treasure trove: the Hall of Records.

This is everything you could wish for in a pulpy action-filled fantasy, great characters—like Agent Taylor (lots of great shading) and the scary otherworldly Agent Smith (shivers), Teddy, an old friend of Sam’s from the war and fellow fighter pilot. Who, along with Sam, does most of the sleuthing to solve the various puzzles and riddles they come up against during the hunt.

Along with some really snappy dialogue, and crisp snarky banter between the feuding sisters, we are treated to a number of lighter moments that break up on the adrenaline pumping action. As Hanks show us he knows how to handle both character, dialogue, and pacing. Giving us well-balanced counter reasoning for Taylor’s motives and thus, showing us both sides of the argument to who is right. But is anyone every right?

When it comes down to it, Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire, is pure adrenaline-fuelled escapist fun. And if you’ve watched any of the Mummy or Indiana Jones movies, you know exactly what kind of ride you’re in for. From puzzles to boobytraps in the labyrinthine depths below Paris, to the dead rising, to bus chases across the Egyptian desert, with guns blazing. To painful choices, sacrifice, bloody scrapes, and near-death escapes, you certainly won’t have time to catch your breath. Believe me, I didn’t.

With an ending that said there was more to come, I can’t wait to see what Dan Hanks come up with next for both Sam, and maybe, Jess as well.