Clark Hays's Blog - Posts Tagged "mars"
Review of Scorched Earth
This review originally appeared on Chapter Break Book Blog for Scorched Earth, the second book in our new Halo Trilogy.
Thanks for the review, Lynn!
Review
What I really enjoy about the Halo Trilogy series, and Scorched Earth in particular, is the mash-up of hard-boiled detective with science fiction. Crucial is detecting and crime solving across two planets! If you are asking yourself how is it possible to mash together two very different genres, let me provide some examples.
On the hard-boiled detective side:
* Over on Mars, Crucial is tasked with solving the murder of one of the First Five Families. And oh yeah, his ex’s fiancée is charged with the crime. No conflicts there, that’s for sure!
* Also, what’s with all the brains in blue goo?
* Back on Earth, who are the ‘fake’ resistance fighters? And what are they doing in the Sunbelt – that dried out middle of the continent?
On the Sci Fi side:
* Halo, the sentient AI in the series, is still there, tracking every movement, every thought, reminding me more of Thunderhead from the Scythe series this time around. I love this quote from Essential:
“AI is built by humans, an as long as we can control it – which isn’t necessarily for much longer – it’s anchored in human values. And right now, those values are defined by the Five Families.”
* Sanders, the cybanism (cybernetic humanoid type), is learning to be “more human”, including drinking alcohol. He even tries switching his blue blood (so no one thinks he’s human at an accident) to red.
* Nanites. So many nanites.
We meet the Saurians, a race of humans who were genetically crossed with lizards and now live in the Sunbelt. With tails, scales, third eyes, and the ability to camouflage themselves, they are thriving while Halo cannot see them.
McFall and Hays show some serious writing skills in blending these genres and ideas.
On a personal note, I’m on the fence about having an OCD (ocular communications device). Sure, it would be cool to have the internet ALWAYS there. But also, always there seems loud and invasive. If the recent pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that I do not always need to be connected to the internet. I need a break sometimes. And the interesting fact that we learn in Scorched Earth about the OCDs – they are implanted on day two of a baby’s life. DAY. TWO.
The pacing of Scorched Earth is fast and page turning. From the opening scene (a shoot-out, btw), I was engaged and following along, like I was there with Crucial. From the baking heat of the Sunbelt to a q-rocket that somehow MISSES Earth on the way back, I was turning pages as fast as I could. I read most of the book in one day because I HAD to find out what was going to happen next!
I genuinely like the characters in these novels. They are well-written, believable, and flawed. I found myself attached and worried about each one of them when they are put in peril by the authors. Crucial is cranky, disillusioned, and a brilliant detective. Essential is the activist we all want to be. I absolutely love Sanders and his attempts at being human.
Scorched Earth is the second novel in a series but could be read by itself. McFall and Hays do a great job in the first chapters of the novel summarizing the plot points of Gates of Mars (book #1 of The Halo Trilogy) for new readers. But not so much recap as to be dull for someone who read the first novel. But honestly, you should check out Gates of Mars. It was recently named a Foreword INDIES Finalist!
Amazing writing, fast-paced, fab world-building, authentic characters, and outstanding crime solving had me turning the pages as fast as I could. Scorched Earth fits right in with my pandemic sci fi obsession. Hopefully my review has intrigued you to pick up this series. I know I’m excited for the next installment!
Five stars!
Thanks for the review, Lynn!
Review
What I really enjoy about the Halo Trilogy series, and Scorched Earth in particular, is the mash-up of hard-boiled detective with science fiction. Crucial is detecting and crime solving across two planets! If you are asking yourself how is it possible to mash together two very different genres, let me provide some examples.
On the hard-boiled detective side:
* Over on Mars, Crucial is tasked with solving the murder of one of the First Five Families. And oh yeah, his ex’s fiancée is charged with the crime. No conflicts there, that’s for sure!
* Also, what’s with all the brains in blue goo?
* Back on Earth, who are the ‘fake’ resistance fighters? And what are they doing in the Sunbelt – that dried out middle of the continent?
On the Sci Fi side:
* Halo, the sentient AI in the series, is still there, tracking every movement, every thought, reminding me more of Thunderhead from the Scythe series this time around. I love this quote from Essential:
“AI is built by humans, an as long as we can control it – which isn’t necessarily for much longer – it’s anchored in human values. And right now, those values are defined by the Five Families.”
* Sanders, the cybanism (cybernetic humanoid type), is learning to be “more human”, including drinking alcohol. He even tries switching his blue blood (so no one thinks he’s human at an accident) to red.
* Nanites. So many nanites.
We meet the Saurians, a race of humans who were genetically crossed with lizards and now live in the Sunbelt. With tails, scales, third eyes, and the ability to camouflage themselves, they are thriving while Halo cannot see them.
McFall and Hays show some serious writing skills in blending these genres and ideas.
On a personal note, I’m on the fence about having an OCD (ocular communications device). Sure, it would be cool to have the internet ALWAYS there. But also, always there seems loud and invasive. If the recent pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that I do not always need to be connected to the internet. I need a break sometimes. And the interesting fact that we learn in Scorched Earth about the OCDs – they are implanted on day two of a baby’s life. DAY. TWO.
The pacing of Scorched Earth is fast and page turning. From the opening scene (a shoot-out, btw), I was engaged and following along, like I was there with Crucial. From the baking heat of the Sunbelt to a q-rocket that somehow MISSES Earth on the way back, I was turning pages as fast as I could. I read most of the book in one day because I HAD to find out what was going to happen next!
I genuinely like the characters in these novels. They are well-written, believable, and flawed. I found myself attached and worried about each one of them when they are put in peril by the authors. Crucial is cranky, disillusioned, and a brilliant detective. Essential is the activist we all want to be. I absolutely love Sanders and his attempts at being human.
Scorched Earth is the second novel in a series but could be read by itself. McFall and Hays do a great job in the first chapters of the novel summarizing the plot points of Gates of Mars (book #1 of The Halo Trilogy) for new readers. But not so much recap as to be dull for someone who read the first novel. But honestly, you should check out Gates of Mars. It was recently named a Foreword INDIES Finalist!
Amazing writing, fast-paced, fab world-building, authentic characters, and outstanding crime solving had me turning the pages as fast as I could. Scorched Earth fits right in with my pandemic sci fi obsession. Hopefully my review has intrigued you to pick up this series. I know I’m excited for the next installment!
Five stars!
Scorched Earth Review: Futuristic Science Fiction meets NCIS
This review originally appeared on The Page Unbound Book Blog for Scorched Earth, the second book in our new Halo Trilogy.
Review
Futuristic Science Fiction meets NCIS in this gripping murder mystery that takes place on the planet Mars. Crucial, a labor cop, is controlled by an advanced AI called Halo, as is everyone else on earth. Crucial does what he can to send secret messages to his team as they use nanites to disrupt Halo’s abilities. He’s happy what he’s doing, fighting the good fight, helping his sister Essential whom is a leader in the resistance. But then he gets a call from his ex Melinda who needs his help to clear her fiance’s name whom has been charged with murder. Though Crucial never wanted to return to Mars, he will do it for Melinda.
However, Mars is ruled by the Five Families, the wealthy elite. People that Crucial believes are futile to fight against. His investigation however leads him back to Earth, to a genetic experiment that has created lizard like cannibals. And Crucial will do what he can to find the truth, clear Melinda’s finances name, and stay alive, of course.
I must say Scorched Earth was very intriguing. It took a little to get used to all the scientific names for things, as I’m not used to reading futurist science fiction books. There’s alot of terminology that I had to stop and think about to understand what it was Crucial was describing. Once I got used to the narration the story flowed more easily. I loved how detailed and complex Scorched Earth was, but at the root of it is this investigation that leads Crucial down a path that lets us really explore these two worlds. Especially with things happening now, with the Mars Mission that is going to happen in our lifetime, it was fun to envision a world where people lived on Mars.
Crucial is such a wonderful character. He’s honorable and dependable. He doesn’t give up on people or himself. He’s definitely the “good cop” in this story, and you’re left rooting for him every step of the way. The depth of his character development had me flipping through each page. To be submerged in this world was unlike anything I have read before! And what Crucial ends up investigating was so beyond the stars, that I had to keep going to figure out how the story was going to unfold. It’s exciting, and a little horrifying, to be honest. But a little dark elements sure was the icing on the cake for me.
Though Scorched is the second in the trilogy, I read it before reading any of the others and it did fine as a stand alone, though now I am interested in the other books in the series!
Scorched is definitely a gripping read! It’s vivid and engrossing. A read for anyone that loves a good, dark, murder mystery, especially for those science fiction lovers out there! Be sure to check it out!
Rating: 4/5
Check out Gates of Mars, book one in the Halo Trilogy.
Review
Futuristic Science Fiction meets NCIS in this gripping murder mystery that takes place on the planet Mars. Crucial, a labor cop, is controlled by an advanced AI called Halo, as is everyone else on earth. Crucial does what he can to send secret messages to his team as they use nanites to disrupt Halo’s abilities. He’s happy what he’s doing, fighting the good fight, helping his sister Essential whom is a leader in the resistance. But then he gets a call from his ex Melinda who needs his help to clear her fiance’s name whom has been charged with murder. Though Crucial never wanted to return to Mars, he will do it for Melinda.
However, Mars is ruled by the Five Families, the wealthy elite. People that Crucial believes are futile to fight against. His investigation however leads him back to Earth, to a genetic experiment that has created lizard like cannibals. And Crucial will do what he can to find the truth, clear Melinda’s finances name, and stay alive, of course.
I must say Scorched Earth was very intriguing. It took a little to get used to all the scientific names for things, as I’m not used to reading futurist science fiction books. There’s alot of terminology that I had to stop and think about to understand what it was Crucial was describing. Once I got used to the narration the story flowed more easily. I loved how detailed and complex Scorched Earth was, but at the root of it is this investigation that leads Crucial down a path that lets us really explore these two worlds. Especially with things happening now, with the Mars Mission that is going to happen in our lifetime, it was fun to envision a world where people lived on Mars.
Crucial is such a wonderful character. He’s honorable and dependable. He doesn’t give up on people or himself. He’s definitely the “good cop” in this story, and you’re left rooting for him every step of the way. The depth of his character development had me flipping through each page. To be submerged in this world was unlike anything I have read before! And what Crucial ends up investigating was so beyond the stars, that I had to keep going to figure out how the story was going to unfold. It’s exciting, and a little horrifying, to be honest. But a little dark elements sure was the icing on the cake for me.
Though Scorched is the second in the trilogy, I read it before reading any of the others and it did fine as a stand alone, though now I am interested in the other books in the series!
Scorched is definitely a gripping read! It’s vivid and engrossing. A read for anyone that loves a good, dark, murder mystery, especially for those science fiction lovers out there! Be sure to check it out!
Rating: 4/5
Check out Gates of Mars, book one in the Halo Trilogy.
Gates of Mars wins INDIES gold
Kathleen McFall and I got some terrific news this week — Gates of Mars, the first book in our new scifi series, won a gold medal in the Foreword Reviews 2020 INDIES book of the year award (science fiction category). Learn more here and check out all the other winners — it’s a great round up of talented indie authors and a whole raft of books to add to your to-read list.
And be sure to check out Scorched Earth, the second book in our Halo trilogy.
And be sure to check out Scorched Earth, the second book in our Halo trilogy.
Mars Adrift launched
Kathleen McFall and I are excited to announce the launch of our tenth book together, Mars Adrift. It’s the third book in our sci-fi trilogy and possibly the best thing we’ve written together yet. We’re releasing it on Valentine's Day because: 1) One of the main characters is named Lauren Valentine; 2) It takes a durable and very flexible kind of loves to write fiction together; and, 3) the series, through the relationship of Crucial and Mel, has a lot to say about what it’s like to actually be in love. Mars Adrift is available in all the expected places, including our website: https://www.PumpjackPress.com.
Get caught up on the first two books: Gates of Mars and Scorched Earth.
Get caught up on the first two books: Gates of Mars and Scorched Earth.
