Space Opera | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Devil’s Dragon by Jason F. Boggs

Dystopian near-future novels are all the rage in recent years, and The Devil’s Dragon by Jason Boggs is the exciting first installment of a new series set less than a century in the future. Despite the plethora of books in this freshly popular vein of writing, this novel stands out for a number of reasons, primarily the depth of character development and the comprehensive world-building on display.

The world as we know it has changed at the turn of the 22nd century, and for new recruit Nelson Jones, joining the military means proving that he’s the best, and finding some […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-10-10T11:39:39+02:00September 10th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Jason F. Boggs, Science Fiction, Space Opera|

Review: Enemy Immortal by Jim Meeks-Johnson

Two centuries in the future, our world will look very different, but hopefully it won’t turn out anything like the vision Jim Meeks-Johnson’s presents in Enemy Immortal, his debut work of science fiction.

Two alien empires – the Entanglement and the Immoral Ascendency – are vying for control of the galaxy, and the fate of Earth may hang in the balance. Lieutenant Jade Mahelona works for the Solar Defense Force, and is tasked with investigating a lost colony on a distant world with a motley crew of bizarre companions. Little do any of them know that they are placing […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-09-14T07:29:22+02:00April 30th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Jim Meeks-Johnson, Science Fiction, Space Opera|

Galactic Mandate: A Radical Cause by M.R. Richardson

Being the heir to galactic reign may seem like the foundation of an easy life, but in the incredible world of Galactic Mandate, author M.R. Richardson turns that assumption on its head.

Devante, the protagonist of this story, is a troubled young man whose loyalties become savagely split, and as his destiny is revealed, he must choose between what he has been trained for, and the truth he knows in his heart. The galaxy is divided and heading for a catastrophic conflict between the Clone Defense Force and the Acolyte Empire. This is far from a simple story of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-09-11T10:38:34+02:00September 11th, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction, Space Opera|

Review: Space Fandango: Backstabber’s Blues by Henry Mosquera

On the scorching, misfit-filled planet Abraxias, an enigmatic doctor assembles a crew of brawlers, outcasts, and outlaws to deliver a stolen, dangerous payload to the other side of an area known as Freespace. Cops, assassins and criminals give chase, while the crew of the Acheron participate in bar-fighting, starring in a murderous reality show, and competing in brawl ball, the number one sport in the universe.

In Space Fandango: Backstabber’s Blues, an incredibly wild and entertaining novel, author Henry Mosquera conjures up an array of beings for readers to fascinate over, making each character as page-turning as the story […]

Greg Rideout2018-07-05T11:52:22+02:00May 17th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction, Space Opera|

Children of the Empire by Lara Nance

In Children of the Empire by Lara Nance, a brilliant new science fiction universe is introduced that’s packed with intrigue, betrayal, deception, and redemption.

The plot structure of the novel is reminiscent of many fantasy sagas, where multiple destinations and increasingly difficult challenges lie in the path of the bold adventurers’ end goal. In the case of this novel, the key figures of Min and Ruffian are familiar, but they’re perfectly crafted and supported by a growing cast of detailed and original figures.

Aside from the clever premise of this novel, the writing is engaging and fast-paced. However, the dialogue […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-08-24T05:22:50+02:00August 22nd, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction, Space Opera|

Review: The Ephialtes Shorts Collection by Gavin E. Parker

Following on the heels of the first book in the epic space opera Ephialtes, author Gavin E. Parker brings readers a collection of shorts from his carefully crafted world, with the intention of bridging the first and second installments of the trilogy. The second installment of the epic is planned for a fall release in 2017.

The Ephialtes universe is a rich tapestry, with the first book in the series based around the end of World War IV in 2241, where the huge and powerful air warship Ephialtes is refitted for interplanetary space travel by the dominant ruling forces […]

James Grimsby2019-02-11T09:19:07+02:00May 2nd, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Space Opera|