Introduction
A thrilling read with a unique plot in a classic setting, Big Red by author Damien Larkin is sure to please any sci-fi fan out there. Published by Dancing Lemur Press LLC and sent to me directly in exchange for an honest review, the novel intertwines modern-day technology with imaginative futuristic innovations that make Mars seem like more than just a dusty red planet.
My Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis: "Suffering the side effects of Compression travel, soldier Darren Loughlin wakes up screaming from a gunshot wound that isn't there. Despite a fractured memory, he is forced to recount his year-long tour of duty on Mars to uncover the mysterious fate of Earth's off-world colonies and the whereabouts of his shattered battalion.
With time running out, Darren recalls his tour of duty with the Mars Occupation Force in New Berlin colony, their brutal MARSCORP masters, and the vicious war against the hostile alien natives.
But as he exposes the truth, Darren suspects that he is at the centre of a plot spanning forty years. He has one last mission to carry out. And his alien enemy may be more human than he is..." (via Goodreads)
Thoughts and Comments
Pros
- The opening chapter is strong and immediately captures the reader's attention. It gives enough background information without including too much exposition and propels the reader into the story.
- The first-person narrative was excellently executed and the main character was likable, which is always personally important to me as a reader.
- The plot is familiar and exciting and it brings a comforting, nostalgic factor to the modern sci-fi genre.
- The technological and biological inventions by the author are clever and realistic, and they spur the tension in the book onwards as the reader considers the plausibility of the novel's universe.
Cons
- Some spots could have used another round of editing, but it never distracted from the whole of the story.
- There were times where the pacing in a few places appeared rushed, particularly before a large action scene. It seemed as though the author was brushing over dialogue and narration in order to get to the action scenes, which, while exciting, required more attention to the buildup in order to be effective.
Conclusion
Space colonization has been an intriguing concept for decades, and with the advances of organizations such as NASA and SpaceX, the concept is becoming more of a feasible probability rather than just a possibility. Big Red captures these dreams of extraterrestrial exploration and adds the exciting question of "what if?" to life on other planets as we know it, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the final frontier.
Amazon Link: See here
Goodreads Link: See here
Riffle Link: See here
As I read the book from ratings of recent science fiction, given its score, I expected a novel of tight construction and execution. Whilst accepting of projections into the future in common with our more focused ideas nowadays, i.e. Mars, the restriction of scoping out what a life might be in FP past to soldiering, seems to me to be asking for trouble. I am currently reading this, at about page 40, and clutching for guidance. As a creative writing group storyteller, I am inexplicably numbed at the premise, whilst stirred with the readability of this book.
ReplyDeleteHello Reader,
DeleteThank you so much for reading BBN's review of Damien Larkin's "Big Red" -- especially so far after the publication date!
Your comment here is appreciated, and it also prompts discussion from others reading "Big Red". Authors are particularly grateful when readers leave reviews of their works in places like Goodreads or Amazon so that they can stay aware of what readers are experiencing within the novel. If you'd please consider posting this under the novel's Goodreads, Amazon, or Riffle page so that the author could read it, I know he'd really appreciate it.
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