SPSFC2 – Semi-Final round up..
The Self Published Science Fiction Competition is now in its semi-final stages as the various teams work through each other’s top three choices. As each group takes on two other team’s top quarter-finalists, to make a group of six, the various books get the opportunity to be read by a wider selection of judges. It’s intriguing to see what made it through to this round and, below, I’ve put together a brief review on my crew’s reads.
First up, Aestus: Book 1 The City by S. Z Atwell. A dystopian novel featuring an underground city that still requires its inhabitants to harvest sunlight. Years after her brother was snatched by things above ground, Jossey is now a solar engineer. After saving others from another attack, she finds herself at the centre of adventures, larger than she thought possible.
Though this is marketed as an adult novel, it did have strong YA elements and an ending clearly targeted to push the second book in the series.
The Diamond Device by M. H Thaung is a steampunk adventure featuring some fun characters. A down on his luck noble forced into thievery and a one-legged former factory labourer end up working together to foil plans an international conflict. With the new diamond technology changing all manner of things, it seems there’s more to it than first meets the eye.
A fun, light-hearted adventure with two likeable protagonists, it’s an enjoyable read.
End of the world sci-fi Earthship by John Triptych is as different as could be. When a rogue planet destabilises the Sun, spelling the end for planet Earth, it’s up to a cast of characters to try to save the day. Strange cults, billionaire entrepreneurs, scientists and astronauts all end up in the mix as the clock ticks down.
A busy book with a huge list of actors, Earthship also tries to inject some social commentary into the narrative which might not work for everyone.
Taking a much more lighthearted approach to the end of humanity Justin Woolley’s Shakedowners is a sci-fi with a heavy comedic leaning. A cargo ship captain, with a penchant for breaking stuff, is asked to test out the most advanced spaceship in the galaxy and iron out any issues. What ensues is contact with a deadly alien entity determined to wipe out sentient life.
Everything here is turned into a joke and Shakedowners is a clever satire of standard sci-fi. Smart quips, absurd scenarios and silliness in spades.
Empire Reborn by A. K DuBoff is part of a sprawling interconnected series. When a trade ship is destroyed, a family of agents, each with the gift of telekinesis, must try to discover what has broken the peace in the Taran Empire.
An ensemble cast and a mysterious enemy to confront, this book signals the start of a new series.
The final semi-finalist book, Hammer and Crucible by Cameron Cooper is a similarly huge, intergalactic tale. Hoping to die from old age, a former colonel is confronted with information that her son wasn’t the disgraced soldier the Emperor has painted him to be. Along with her granddaughter, she begins to track down leads, hoping to discover the truth. What she finds is an AI ship way in advance of anything seen before and an Empire at the mercy of the wormhole technology it uses to cross the universe.
Well written, with a decent twist in its tail, Hammer and Crucible blends solid world building with an interesting plot to decent effect.
Scores are about to be collated, and the next stage should be announced soon. Stay tuned for more and to find out who has made it into the final rounds.
