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Strained Sigma Bonds
Embark on adventures to discover stories about science, magic, the tarot, Haitian vodou, the clash of epistemologies, and addiction.
These stories are about people trying to control their environment, their sense of self, even the smallest of things within their power…
…and failing.
These stories are about people trying to control their environment, their sense of self, even the smallest of things within their power…
…and failing.
169 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 3, 2025
The collection altogether was a great mix of all different genres and story types and did not leave you bored. You could tell that the author had a background in science with a lot of her stories having scientist as the main character as well as a lot of very specific scientific facts and this made the stories more interesting and believable as you know he was coming from his own experience. I definitely will look forward to reading some longer novellas and novels from him, as well as some other short story collections.
Penalties of Entropy- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this was a powerful short read and a great way to start the book. An astronaut is trying to find a way out of certain disaster and a demon visits him to give him company in his last days. This really hit in the feels.
Given Pain, ∆S universe ≥ 0- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ an interesting story. A demon has the responsibility/power to destroy universes when they become destructive to themselves. The major problem with it is that the demon lives and lives in each world until the time to destroy is there. Once the world is destroyed, all the memories of that lifetime are gone, but emptiness remains. Beautifully written through the many lifetimes, it hits a interesting mix of sci-fi with the mundane interpersonal lifetimes (with a few fun speculative twists). The last quote was quite beautiful: “the remotely improbable became certainty, when approaching infinity”
Magnetization and Resistance- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A single human fights back against getting replaced by robots a second time. After robots replaced her professorship and took her lab, a tenured professor has to take a job as a cleaning lady in the place she once taught. Now they are trying to replace her again and she is fighting back.
Regret in Blue Sharp- ⭐️⭐️“"Not everything can be approached with scientific rationality," she'd said often. "Music is part of the irrational human truth."” - An abusive alcoholic husband who has a superiority complex over his musician wife now appreciates her music after her death. He journeys to hear her music once more. This was odd and a bit hard to follow, but the message of appreciate who and what you have when you have it is strong.
Big Water Protect You- ⭐️⭐️⭐️“Surely, I’d be promoted from lieutenant cannon fodder to captain expendable meat” - A quick and different take on the normal zombie apocalypse story. A plane is felled over the Jungle with one survivor, a former inhabitant of that country who escaped for a ‘better life’ in the US. They got drafted when all went down and now are becoming one with their now zombified ancestors. A bit weird but a good native revenge story.
Flavor of Lab- ⭐️⭐️- Odd and hard to follow, I had to read it twice to really figure out the story. A biologist is studying aliens’ DNA to get her PhD and finds that she possesses the special gene to teleport. She finds this out on a show where the aliens eat and taste the science, and flavor is a theme throughout. She gets to travel to the alien world where she gets to try their foods, one of which induces a hallucinogenic experience.
Conservation of Cold- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Everyone had stress, and sometimes the difference between swimming in an endless ocean of anxiety or drowning in a glass of water was the perspective we took.” This story took a bit to get going but once it did and you figured out what was happening it was a great story. A PhD candidate does hard drugs to cope with the extreme stress of the science world as a student and overdoses. She lives with her abuela, a strict catholic, who believes she is now in Hell, but actually her soul is still in the house. She learns that she now has to get energy from humans (almost psychic vampire style) and that can allow her to interact more with the world around her, as well as let the people around her see her. She first does this to her abuela, who thinks she is a demon, then to a nosy neighbor who is ‘helping’ her abuela. She then finds out her abuela is very sick and she dies next to her. When abuela sees her and not her imagined heaven, she attacks her granddaughter as she still believes it is a demon and sends her to a different world. It might be Hell, and it is definitely that to her, as she is by herself without light or warmth and writing her story in blood on the walls. It was the perfect balance of creepy, supernatural and normal family drama.
The Greater Secrets of Carbocations- ⭐️⭐️⭐️- This was definitely the creepiest so far and reads like it could be an urban legend. A professor dies and two of his students/assistants are grieving. One finds a flash drive with a creepy video that cannot be removed, but also changes every time they watch it. In the video the professor makes a speech that is the same, but then draws tarot cards in numerical order. This just doesn’t do anything until the last card, and then the second student finds themselves possibly buried, possibly switched places with the professor. Definitely had a great creepy vibe, but the story itself was super open ended and that is not always good
One Step Forward, Two Steps Starways, Three Steps Plop!- ⭐️⭐️ This was just weird. An alien goes to Earth to consult with a psychic to find a relic to help them dance. As the alien is not well versed in Earth customs, antics ensue and it leads to the psychic getting hit on the head and just muttering nonsense. The alien translates this into something real and kidnaps the psychic to go and find the relic. Really short and a story like this almost needs more composition and background to make it better.
Trompe-l’oeil- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Who had time for begging to diva gods who pretended to be deaf?’ - A man who is going through a rough divorce turns to alcohol, unfortunately his bartender is also his wife’s lover now. He is trying to get his family back by getting a favor from a loa, a god, and is warned that it does not come free. The man does it anyway. This story was ok, but not my favorite, it was a bit confusing at first.
The Organometallic God- ⭐️⭐️⭐️‘struggling against chronic disease for years to only then lose most of her physical self to a supposed cure, but the fear of loss lingered, transforming into the terror of losing her identity, the last bastion in her defeated territory.’ A woman deals with the afterlife after her husband tries to create a cure for her cancer. She was supposed to have him come with her, but she lost faith in him as he went mad, trying to make sure she was cured instead of trying to make her more comfortable. Overall, more of a weird sad story and not the best out of the bunch.
Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️‘but you could sell anything online, and postdoctoral salaries in academia flirted dangerously close to the poverty line.’- a prisoner works to get freedom by participating in a dangerous race on a new planet. The race is a swimming race, but the water is not regular water. It is highly saline and to protect themselves, the prisoners have to cover themselves in lard or some sort of fat to make sure that their body doesn’t turn into beef jerky. This prisoner is in for involuntary manslaughter, and he really wants to get his freedom by the end of this race. He is very far behind, but then pulls a miracle out by utilizing some of the scientific principles he knows from his academia days and catapults to the finish and wins is freedom. Unfortunately his freedom doesn’t mean that he will live a wonderful amazing life, it just means that he gets to go home, but he still is an ex-con and can’t do much. The story was quite entertaining and fun, and I really enjoyed it.
Drowned in Mindfulness-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Imagine living your entire life waiting to start ‘living’ after you die. Ridiculous.’ this story seems to take place in the same universe as the conservation of cold story. I really enjoyed that one as well and this one is no different. A scientist has taken his life and finds himself in front of a wall that is infinite and gives him a bit of pleasure when he writes scientific principles or truths on the wall he has to write these on the wall with his blood, and he also writes his story in between bits of scientific writing. The scientist decided to kill himself right at the happiest moments of his life and justified his way to a but realizes that maybe he might have been wrong by the end of the story, but he finds comfort in the wall in the wall and stop bringing him to be part of it. This story is weird, creepy and all over just excellent.
First Blink- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Unlike sex, you're probably going to enjoy the first part of this transmission more than the very end.’ This was a very, very short story as it was only three pages and was a bit confusing but also intriguing at the same time. It seems that some sort of superior being or robot are taking over the world, and there is a bit of human resistance as well. There are some robots that are resisting against this regime and our ending of acting more like humans. Those robots get punished and decommissioned or destroyed, and one of the robots that has this had this happen to them is dictating this letter currently. This is like I said before really intriguing and I like the premise and I almost want to see a whole large book based on it. It’s almost like someone mixed I, Robot and the Terminator.
The Chroma of Home- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘“You seem like a soldier-type. I know that, because you lack a personality.”’ a wonderful dark fantasy short story. A soldier goes after the prince who is wanted for some evil deeds. This particular soldier is known for not killing anyone because he doesn’t want it on his consciousness when he retires. Many other soldiers he’s known have ended up killing themselves due to the guilt and shame from all the people they have killed. The soldier also is a shape shifter and can use drawings to become whoever he needs to be to catch the bad guy. The soldier goes into a town of goblins where the evil prince is hiding, and becomes a goblin to sneak into the princes’ hideaway. The prince figures out the soldiers disguise right away, and there’s the soldier to swallow the piece of paper that he uses to keep us disguise. The soldier goes through and swallows the paper and starts actually melting and disintegrating as the paper is digested by his stomach acid, but then puts on another disguise and escapes. The prince also gets his comeuppance, and the soldier retires in a different way than he imagined. The story was pretty and very, fairy tale like with a bit of a dark bent overall one of the best in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Penalties of Entropy- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this was a powerful short read and a great way to start the book. An astronaut is trying to find a way out of certain disaster and a demon visits him to give him company in his last days. This really hit in the feels.
Given Pain, ∆S universe ≥ 0- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ an interesting story. A demon has the responsibility/power to destroy universes when they become destructive to themselves. The major problem with it is that the demon lives and lives in each world until the time to destroy is there. Once the world is destroyed, all the memories of that lifetime are gone, but emptiness remains. Beautifully written through the many lifetimes, it hits a interesting mix of sci-fi with the mundane interpersonal lifetimes (with a few fun speculative twists). The last quote was quite beautiful: “the remotely improbable became certainty, when approaching infinity”
Magnetization and Resistance- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A single human fights back against getting replaced by robots a second time. After robots replaced her professorship and took her lab, a tenured professor has to take a job as a cleaning lady in the place she once taught. Now they are trying to replace her again and she is fighting back.
Regret in Blue Sharp- ⭐️⭐️“"Not everything can be approached with scientific rationality," she'd said often. "Music is part of the irrational human truth."” - An abusive alcoholic husband who has a superiority complex over his musician wife now appreciates her music after her death. He journeys to hear her music once more. This was odd and a bit hard to follow, but the message of appreciate who and what you have when you have it is strong.
Big Water Protect You- ⭐️⭐️⭐️“Surely, I’d be promoted from lieutenant cannon fodder to captain expendable meat” - A quick and different take on the normal zombie apocalypse story. A plane is felled over the Jungle with one survivor, a former inhabitant of that country who escaped for a ‘better life’ in the US. They got drafted when all went down and now are becoming one with their now zombified ancestors. A bit weird but a good native revenge story.
Flavor of Lab- ⭐️⭐️- Odd and hard to follow, I had to read it twice to really figure out the story. A biologist is studying aliens’ DNA to get her PhD and finds that she possesses the special gene to teleport. She finds this out on a show where the aliens eat and taste the science, and flavor is a theme throughout. She gets to travel to the alien world where she gets to try their foods, one of which induces a hallucinogenic experience.
Conservation of Cold- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Everyone had stress, and sometimes the difference between swimming in an endless ocean of anxiety or drowning in a glass of water was the perspective we took.” This story took a bit to get going but once it did and you figured out what was happening it was a great story. A PhD candidate does hard drugs to cope with the extreme stress of the science world as a student and overdoses. She lives with her abuela, a strict catholic, who believes she is now in Hell, but actually her soul is still in the house. She learns that she now has to get energy from humans (almost psychic vampire style) and that can allow her to interact more with the world around her, as well as let the people around her see her. She first does this to her abuela, who thinks she is a demon, then to a nosy neighbor who is ‘helping’ her abuela. She then finds out her abuela is very sick and she dies next to her. When abuela sees her and not her imagined heaven, she attacks her granddaughter as she still believes it is a demon and sends her to a different world. It might be Hell, and it is definitely that to her, as she is by herself without light or warmth and writing her story in blood on the walls. It was the perfect balance of creepy, supernatural and normal family drama.
The Greater Secrets of Carbocations- ⭐️⭐️⭐️- This was definitely the creepiest so far and reads like it could be an urban legend. A professor dies and two of his students/assistants are grieving. One finds a flash drive with a creepy video that cannot be removed, but also changes every time they watch it. In the video the professor makes a speech that is the same, but then draws tarot cards in numerical order. This just doesn’t do anything until the last card, and then the second student finds themselves possibly buried, possibly switched places with the professor. Definitely had a great creepy vibe, but the story itself was super open ended and that is not always good
One Step Forward, Two Steps Starways, Three Steps Plop!- ⭐️⭐️ This was just weird. An alien goes to Earth to consult with a psychic to find a relic to help them dance. As the alien is not well versed in Earth customs, antics ensue and it leads to the psychic getting hit on the head and just muttering nonsense. The alien translates this into something real and kidnaps the psychic to go and find the relic. Really short and a story like this almost needs more composition and background to make it better.
Trompe-l’oeil- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Who had time for begging to diva gods who pretended to be deaf?’ - A man who is going through a rough divorce turns to alcohol, unfortunately his bartender is also his wife’s lover now. He is trying to get his family back by getting a favor from a loa, a god, and is warned that it does not come free. The man does it anyway. This story was ok, but not my favorite, it was a bit confusing at first.
The Organometallic God- ⭐️⭐️⭐️‘struggling against chronic disease for years to only then lose most of her physical self to a supposed cure, but the fear of loss lingered, transforming into the terror of losing her identity, the last bastion in her defeated territory.’ A woman deals with the afterlife after her husband tries to create a cure for her cancer. She was supposed to have him come with her, but she lost faith in him as he went mad, trying to make sure she was cured instead of trying to make her more comfortable. Overall, more of a weird sad story and not the best out of the bunch.
Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️‘but you could sell anything online, and postdoctoral salaries in academia flirted dangerously close to the poverty line.’- a prisoner works to get freedom by participating in a dangerous race on a new planet. The race is a swimming race, but the water is not regular water. It is highly saline and to protect themselves, the prisoners have to cover themselves in lard or some sort of fat to make sure that their body doesn’t turn into beef jerky. This prisoner is in for involuntary manslaughter, and he really wants to get his freedom by the end of this race. He is very far behind, but then pulls a miracle out by utilizing some of the scientific principles he knows from his academia days and catapults to the finish and wins is freedom. Unfortunately his freedom doesn’t mean that he will live a wonderful amazing life, it just means that he gets to go home, but he still is an ex-con and can’t do much. The story was quite entertaining and fun, and I really enjoyed it.
Drowned in Mindfulness-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Imagine living your entire life waiting to start ‘living’ after you die. Ridiculous.’ this story seems to take place in the same universe as the conservation of cold story. I really enjoyed that one as well and this one is no different. A scientist has taken his life and finds himself in front of a wall that is infinite and gives him a bit of pleasure when he writes scientific principles or truths on the wall he has to write these on the wall with his blood, and he also writes his story in between bits of scientific writing. The scientist decided to kill himself right at the happiest moments of his life and justified his way to a but realizes that maybe he might have been wrong by the end of the story, but he finds comfort in the wall in the wall and stop bringing him to be part of it. This story is weird, creepy and all over just excellent.
First Blink- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Unlike sex, you're probably going to enjoy the first part of this transmission more than the very end.’ This was a very, very short story as it was only three pages and was a bit confusing but also intriguing at the same time. It seems that some sort of superior being or robot are taking over the world, and there is a bit of human resistance as well. There are some robots that are resisting against this regime and our ending of acting more like humans. Those robots get punished and decommissioned or destroyed, and one of the robots that has this had this happen to them is dictating this letter currently. This is like I said before really intriguing and I like the premise and I almost want to see a whole large book based on it. It’s almost like someone mixed I, Robot and the Terminator.
The Chroma of Home- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘“You seem like a soldier-type. I know that, because you lack a personality.”’ a wonderful dark fantasy short story. A soldier goes after the prince who is wanted for some evil deeds. This particular soldier is known for not killing anyone because he doesn’t want it on his consciousness when he retires. Many other soldiers he’s known have ended up killing themselves due to the guilt and shame from all the people they have killed. The soldier also is a shape shifter and can use drawings to become whoever he needs to be to catch the bad guy. The soldier goes into a town of goblins where the evil prince is hiding, and becomes a goblin to sneak into the princes’ hideaway. The prince figures out the soldiers disguise right away, and there’s the soldier to swallow the piece of paper that he uses to keep us disguise. The soldier goes through and swallows the paper and starts actually melting and disintegrating as the paper is digested by his stomach acid, but then puts on another disguise and escapes. The prince also gets his comeuppance, and the soldier retires in a different way than he imagined. The story was pretty and very, fairy tale like with a bit of a dark bent overall one of the best in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2024
Campeche’s collection of stories in Strained Sigma Bonds range from intellectually thought provoking to utterly strange. The way each story intertwines science in some form makes his stories stand out from the crowd. While some have strong biochemistry themes (influenced from his PhD in the same area) they are easy to digest. Whether you’re in the science field or have just been interested in the way things work, Campeche’s collection has something for everyone.
October 2, 2025
This short story collection was amazing!! I've never read anything like it, for real. As a fellow academic, I feel strongly that academia-horror and academia-sci-fi are genres that the world needs more of. These stories contained vivid imagery, compelling characters, intriguing thought experiments, and often quite a bit of humor as well. Another strong point was the inclusion of aspects of hispanic culture, coming from an authentic place as the author is Puerto Rican.
My favorite stories included Penalties of Entropy, Magnetization and Resistance, Big Water Protect You, Flavor of Lab, Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways, and The Chroma of Home.
Looking forward to more thought-provoking and imaginative stories from this author!!
My favorite stories included Penalties of Entropy, Magnetization and Resistance, Big Water Protect You, Flavor of Lab, Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways, and The Chroma of Home.
Looking forward to more thought-provoking and imaginative stories from this author!!
July 2, 2024
This collection of short stories combines science and sci-fi/horror. I liked that you don't need to know too much about biochemistry and still be able to follow the story and get engrossed in each one. A big plus is that some of the characters are Hispanic and there's some Spanish dialogue.
My Review:
This short story collection expertly combines the workings of science with an intense narrative. The author explores the complexities of chemical concepts and uses them to create engaging stories that are accessible to both academics and curious readers alike. His writing style is as captivating as it is informative, blending personal tales, that are often narrated in the first person, with scientific insight. The language is descriptive and lures the reader into the story: “...following me through the forest like a slow-moving orgy ascendant from hell.”
Stories include:
Penalties of Entropy
Given Pain,
Magnetization and Resistance
Regret in Blue Sharp
Big Water Protect You
Flavor of Lab
Conservation of Cold
The Greater Secrets of Carbocations
One Step Forward, Two Steps Starways, Three Steps Plop!
Trompe-l’oeil
The Organometallic God
Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways
Drowned in Mindfulness
First Blink
The Chroma of Home
Highlights:
Big Water Protect You – a survivor of a plane crash in the Puerto Rican rainforest, who has a PhD in biochemistry but was drafted into the army and sent to solve The Plague, encounters man made zombies. The CRISPR/Cas9 technology that was used to help cure many illnesses had inadvertently re-animated the dead. “That the ancient dead could be revived was one thing, but biting a bullet out of a wound…Signs of intelligence were a whole new problem.”
Conservation of Cold – Alicia dies from a heroin OD but her spirit is trapped at home with her grandmother. She doesn’t have the mass necessary to move objects but she can absorb people’s heat to move around, similar to a Carnot engine that transforms heat into mechanical energy. When her grandmother dies later that same day, her spirit is also trapped at home. Furious that she is not in heaven, she blames Alicia and attacks her and gouges her eyes out. Now Alicia can’t see and she is freezing cold. Her only hope is that someone eventually hears her. “…a chill spiraled up my spine like fingers flicking air out of a syringe.”
This is science meets horror and sci-fi at its best and Campeche uses it to successfully explore the darker aspects of the human condition with themes such as redemption, love, death, and survival. The stories are deep and reflective and the characters are relatable, each dealing with his or her own demons, whether real, imagined, or tech/science-related.
Overall, ‘Strained Sigma Bonds’ is a brilliant collection of short stories that has science, especially biochemistry, at its core. The author manages to make it easy to understand and follow, so that even if you’re not a science person, you will appreciate how it enriches the narrative. It is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the intersection of biochemistry and human interest, offering not just knowledge but a profound appreciation for the elegance of scientific inquiry. Fans of thought provoking science fiction, horror, and especially speculative fiction will find it fascinating.
My Review:
This short story collection expertly combines the workings of science with an intense narrative. The author explores the complexities of chemical concepts and uses them to create engaging stories that are accessible to both academics and curious readers alike. His writing style is as captivating as it is informative, blending personal tales, that are often narrated in the first person, with scientific insight. The language is descriptive and lures the reader into the story: “...following me through the forest like a slow-moving orgy ascendant from hell.”
Stories include:
Penalties of Entropy
Given Pain,
Magnetization and Resistance
Regret in Blue Sharp
Big Water Protect You
Flavor of Lab
Conservation of Cold
The Greater Secrets of Carbocations
One Step Forward, Two Steps Starways, Three Steps Plop!
Trompe-l’oeil
The Organometallic God
Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways
Drowned in Mindfulness
First Blink
The Chroma of Home
Highlights:
Big Water Protect You – a survivor of a plane crash in the Puerto Rican rainforest, who has a PhD in biochemistry but was drafted into the army and sent to solve The Plague, encounters man made zombies. The CRISPR/Cas9 technology that was used to help cure many illnesses had inadvertently re-animated the dead. “That the ancient dead could be revived was one thing, but biting a bullet out of a wound…Signs of intelligence were a whole new problem.”
Conservation of Cold – Alicia dies from a heroin OD but her spirit is trapped at home with her grandmother. She doesn’t have the mass necessary to move objects but she can absorb people’s heat to move around, similar to a Carnot engine that transforms heat into mechanical energy. When her grandmother dies later that same day, her spirit is also trapped at home. Furious that she is not in heaven, she blames Alicia and attacks her and gouges her eyes out. Now Alicia can’t see and she is freezing cold. Her only hope is that someone eventually hears her. “…a chill spiraled up my spine like fingers flicking air out of a syringe.”
This is science meets horror and sci-fi at its best and Campeche uses it to successfully explore the darker aspects of the human condition with themes such as redemption, love, death, and survival. The stories are deep and reflective and the characters are relatable, each dealing with his or her own demons, whether real, imagined, or tech/science-related.
Overall, ‘Strained Sigma Bonds’ is a brilliant collection of short stories that has science, especially biochemistry, at its core. The author manages to make it easy to understand and follow, so that even if you’re not a science person, you will appreciate how it enriches the narrative. It is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the intersection of biochemistry and human interest, offering not just knowledge but a profound appreciation for the elegance of scientific inquiry. Fans of thought provoking science fiction, horror, and especially speculative fiction will find it fascinating.
August 4, 2024
"In science, you were either obsessed or lucky, and trying to tell the difference was a waste of time; time that was better spent obsessing or being lucky."
I would like to thank Book Sirens for an e-ARC for an exchange of a honest review. It is a collection of hardcore, gritty, and realistic science fiction / fantasy / horror short stories. The major themes are love, loneliness, addiction, struggle and a lot of chemistry!
The Collection: The first story is Penalties of Entropy where the author brings in a flavor of loneliness and unlimited power to destroy the universes. It really showcases the reality of the human being's significance in the gigantic universe. After that, the stories keep on ramping up. Some of my liked stories are Conservation of Cold, Magnetization and Resistance, and Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways. I was always left asking for more after finishing these stories and that's what I crave from the short stories. Since the author is from Puerto Rico, it is a good thing that he had kept the Puerto Rico culture in the stories and added a touch of Spanish as well.
Trompe-l'oeil: If I could pick up the best of the lot, it is no doubt Trompe-l'oeil for me. It is a heart-touching story which covers all the aspects of love and loneliness and the alcohol addiction. I cried a couple of times while reading it. The writing, the story-telling and the climax - everything is top-notch here.
The Potential of a Novel? One of the most impressive stories is the last one - The Chroma of Home. It is a beautifully imagined and executed perfectly. Without going into the spoilers, I believe that the main character deserves a novel at least (if not the series) on his own. I would love to read more about their adventures and the drawings & paintings within the book.
In a nutshell, I liked a few stories and loved some. I am looking forward to read more works from Arasibo Campeche.
I would like to thank Book Sirens for an e-ARC for an exchange of a honest review. It is a collection of hardcore, gritty, and realistic science fiction / fantasy / horror short stories. The major themes are love, loneliness, addiction, struggle and a lot of chemistry!
The Collection: The first story is Penalties of Entropy where the author brings in a flavor of loneliness and unlimited power to destroy the universes. It really showcases the reality of the human being's significance in the gigantic universe. After that, the stories keep on ramping up. Some of my liked stories are Conservation of Cold, Magnetization and Resistance, and Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways. I was always left asking for more after finishing these stories and that's what I crave from the short stories. Since the author is from Puerto Rico, it is a good thing that he had kept the Puerto Rico culture in the stories and added a touch of Spanish as well.
Trompe-l'oeil: If I could pick up the best of the lot, it is no doubt Trompe-l'oeil for me. It is a heart-touching story which covers all the aspects of love and loneliness and the alcohol addiction. I cried a couple of times while reading it. The writing, the story-telling and the climax - everything is top-notch here.
The Potential of a Novel? One of the most impressive stories is the last one - The Chroma of Home. It is a beautifully imagined and executed perfectly. Without going into the spoilers, I believe that the main character deserves a novel at least (if not the series) on his own. I would love to read more about their adventures and the drawings & paintings within the book.
In a nutshell, I liked a few stories and loved some. I am looking forward to read more works from Arasibo Campeche.
Read
July 9, 2024"Strained Sigma Bonds" by Arasibo offers an in-depth exploration of a crucial aspect of organic chemistry, focusing on the intricate world of strained sigma bonds. The book is a comprehensive guide authored by Arasibo, a recognized expert in the field, who skillfully navigates through theoretical foundations, practical applications, and historical insights.
Arasibo's expertise shines as the book carefully progresses from fundamental concepts to advanced theories, ensuring clarity and accessibility for both seasoned chemists and newcomers. The author's structured approach facilitates a deep understanding of strained sigma bonds, supported by historical contexts and real-world examples that highlight their significance in organic chemistry's evolution.
The strength of "Strained Sigma Bonds" lies in its balanced presentation of theoretical frameworks and practical implications. Arasibo not only explores the theoretical underpinnings and computational models but also provides practical guidance on synthesis and applications in organic synthesis and materials science. This dual focus enhances the book's utility for researchers and practitioners alike.
Arasibo's writing style is precise and engaging, maintaining scientific rigor without overwhelming readers with technical jargon. The clarity of exposition and logical progression of ideas make "Strained Sigma Bonds" an indispensable resource for those interested in exploring the complexities of chemical bonding.
In summary, "Strained Sigma Bonds" by Arasibo is a valuable resource that delves into the intriguing realm of strained sigma bonds, offering profound insights and practical applications. Whether for educational purposes or professional reference, this book stands out as an exemplary exploration of its subject matter.
Arasibo's expertise shines as the book carefully progresses from fundamental concepts to advanced theories, ensuring clarity and accessibility for both seasoned chemists and newcomers. The author's structured approach facilitates a deep understanding of strained sigma bonds, supported by historical contexts and real-world examples that highlight their significance in organic chemistry's evolution.
The strength of "Strained Sigma Bonds" lies in its balanced presentation of theoretical frameworks and practical implications. Arasibo not only explores the theoretical underpinnings and computational models but also provides practical guidance on synthesis and applications in organic synthesis and materials science. This dual focus enhances the book's utility for researchers and practitioners alike.
Arasibo's writing style is precise and engaging, maintaining scientific rigor without overwhelming readers with technical jargon. The clarity of exposition and logical progression of ideas make "Strained Sigma Bonds" an indispensable resource for those interested in exploring the complexities of chemical bonding.
In summary, "Strained Sigma Bonds" by Arasibo is a valuable resource that delves into the intriguing realm of strained sigma bonds, offering profound insights and practical applications. Whether for educational purposes or professional reference, this book stands out as an exemplary exploration of its subject matter.
July 1, 2024
Fantastic Short Stories!
The author, Arasibo Campeche, writes wonderful, touching short stories with honest emotions. His characters are people from different backgrounds and living in different situations. I was drawn into the characters' lives and can't help but sympathize with some of them and their struggles. The stories have dark themes and don't shy away from portraying the harsh realities of life. I was so captivated by the stories that I wanted to know more
The stories have themes such as love, free will, regret, betrayal, and science. All the stories are great, but here are my favorite:
*Regret in Blue Sharp: Dr. Markson is a geologist who is haunted by his past failures and is seeking reconciliation.
*Big Water Protect You: This is about a lone survivor who flees a plane crash in Puerto Rico's rainforest.
*The Greater Secrets of Carbocations: The story follows two grad students, Gerardo and Mara, who are grieving their professor, Dr. Ramos. They find a strange video on a jump drive that shows Dr. Ramos performing a ritual with tarot cards.
*Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways: Theodore, a wrongfully convicted man, is imprisoned on an alien planet where brine racing is a popular sport.
*First Blink: An alien agent warns a newly activated agent about the dangers of "intangibles" like love.
Overall, this is thought-provoking, well-written, and engaging. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves sci-fi and speculative fiction.
The author, Arasibo Campeche, writes wonderful, touching short stories with honest emotions. His characters are people from different backgrounds and living in different situations. I was drawn into the characters' lives and can't help but sympathize with some of them and their struggles. The stories have dark themes and don't shy away from portraying the harsh realities of life. I was so captivated by the stories that I wanted to know more
The stories have themes such as love, free will, regret, betrayal, and science. All the stories are great, but here are my favorite:
*Regret in Blue Sharp: Dr. Markson is a geologist who is haunted by his past failures and is seeking reconciliation.
*Big Water Protect You: This is about a lone survivor who flees a plane crash in Puerto Rico's rainforest.
*The Greater Secrets of Carbocations: The story follows two grad students, Gerardo and Mara, who are grieving their professor, Dr. Ramos. They find a strange video on a jump drive that shows Dr. Ramos performing a ritual with tarot cards.
*Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways: Theodore, a wrongfully convicted man, is imprisoned on an alien planet where brine racing is a popular sport.
*First Blink: An alien agent warns a newly activated agent about the dangers of "intangibles" like love.
Overall, this is thought-provoking, well-written, and engaging. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves sci-fi and speculative fiction.
June 25, 2024
I love short story anthologies and I was very excited to get a review copy of this book, Strained Sigma Bonds to check out and tell you about. First, this is speculative fiction/ science fiction and inside there are 15 individual short stories that will skillfully combine science, magic, and profound human experiences. This book explores human resilience in the face of the uncontrollable, going beyond a simple trip through the mystical and scientific.
I love that it’s formatted in bite-sized pieces, so you can read each short story separately in a different sitting, making for easy stop points. However, I was eager to get the next story every time, because I was enjoying it so much. I read the entire book in two days on the weekend and I do think I’ll be going back and reading some of the stories over again. Some of my favorites are “Conservation of Cold” and “Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways”.
For people who like reading stories that provoke thought, emotion, and inquiry, Strained Sigma Bonds is a must-read.
I love that it’s formatted in bite-sized pieces, so you can read each short story separately in a different sitting, making for easy stop points. However, I was eager to get the next story every time, because I was enjoying it so much. I read the entire book in two days on the weekend and I do think I’ll be going back and reading some of the stories over again. Some of my favorites are “Conservation of Cold” and “Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways”.
For people who like reading stories that provoke thought, emotion, and inquiry, Strained Sigma Bonds is a must-read.
July 6, 2024
Wow! This is a unique collection of short stories that blend science, love, demons, addiction, and so much more together in an absolutely seamless manner. Arasibo Campeche shows true writing skill with each story bringing characters to life and allowing readers to truly feel what it is like for them while the scientific perspectives and explanations makes this book the one-of-a-kind experience that all readers can (and should) enjoy! This book has excerpts that are perfect to read one a day or binge them all if you find yourself as engulfed as I was!
I highly recommend this collection for anyone and everyone to enjoy, my personal favorites had to be Big Water Protect You, Conservation of Cold, and Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways. I am excited to read more from this author as quickly as possible! 5/5
I highly recommend this collection for anyone and everyone to enjoy, my personal favorites had to be Big Water Protect You, Conservation of Cold, and Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways. I am excited to read more from this author as quickly as possible! 5/5
October 10, 2024
This was a collection of short stories that really piqued my interests. I really struggled with the first story and I worried this was going to be a bit too big brain for me, but from the second story on I really enjoyed! I think this author really shined with the shorter stories. Some of the longer stories didn't quite hit for me.
One of my favorites was "One Step Forward, Two Steps Starways, Three Steps Plop!" I love love looove stories with first contact where there is a communication barrier. This story was done so well and had me giggling.
Even if I didn't love every single story, they all had wonderful and powerful quotes. I definitely recommend giving this book a shot if you like scifi anthologies!
I received an advance review copy for free after requesting this book from BookSires, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
One of my favorites was "One Step Forward, Two Steps Starways, Three Steps Plop!" I love love looove stories with first contact where there is a communication barrier. This story was done so well and had me giggling.
Even if I didn't love every single story, they all had wonderful and powerful quotes. I definitely recommend giving this book a shot if you like scifi anthologies!
I received an advance review copy for free after requesting this book from BookSires, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 15, 2024
Thank you to BookSirens for providing a review copy.
This book is an interesting mix of hard science, science fiction, and horror, often in the same story. Some of the more science-y bits lost me a little, but others enhanced the horror. 3.5 stars
Penalties of Entropy ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Magnetization and Resistance ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Regret in Blue Sharp ⭐⭐⭐.5
Big Water Protect You ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flavor of Lab ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Conservation of Cold ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Greater Secrets of Carbocations ⭐⭐
One Step Forward, Two Steps Starways, Three Steps Plop! ⭐⭐⭐
Trompe-l’oeil ⭐⭐⭐.75
The Organometallic God ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways ⭐⭐⭐
Drowned in Mindfulness ⭐⭐⭐.75
First Blink ⭐⭐⭐
The Chroma of Home DNF
This book is an interesting mix of hard science, science fiction, and horror, often in the same story. Some of the more science-y bits lost me a little, but others enhanced the horror. 3.5 stars
Penalties of Entropy ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Magnetization and Resistance ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Regret in Blue Sharp ⭐⭐⭐.5
Big Water Protect You ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flavor of Lab ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Conservation of Cold ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Greater Secrets of Carbocations ⭐⭐
One Step Forward, Two Steps Starways, Three Steps Plop! ⭐⭐⭐
Trompe-l’oeil ⭐⭐⭐.75
The Organometallic God ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways ⭐⭐⭐
Drowned in Mindfulness ⭐⭐⭐.75
First Blink ⭐⭐⭐
The Chroma of Home DNF
September 16, 2024
This collection of fourteen short stories was a mixed experience for me.
Ranging from deeply scientific biochemical elements to an examination of the purpose of humanity, I wasn’t sure what each story was going to show me.
The diverse subject matter and structures make the collection feel very random, and I'm unsure what benefit bringing the stories together offered me as a reader.
There are also a few spelling and grammatical errors that impact the story delivery.
Trompe-l'oeil is definitely the strongest story and my favourite of the collection.
*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
Ranging from deeply scientific biochemical elements to an examination of the purpose of humanity, I wasn’t sure what each story was going to show me.
The diverse subject matter and structures make the collection feel very random, and I'm unsure what benefit bringing the stories together offered me as a reader.
There are also a few spelling and grammatical errors that impact the story delivery.
Trompe-l'oeil is definitely the strongest story and my favourite of the collection.
*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
July 9, 2024
I received a review copy for free via BookSirens and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
I'm not a sci fi fan but the sample of this book made me think I'd enjoy it and I did. Very competently written, the stories are highly original and often thought provoking. There were a couple of more obscure stories which I didn't "get" at all which I put down to my own failings rather than the authors. Ideally I'd give this 4.5 stars as I haven't read a collection this intriguing for some time. I'd definitely read more by the author.
I'm not a sci fi fan but the sample of this book made me think I'd enjoy it and I did. Very competently written, the stories are highly original and often thought provoking. There were a couple of more obscure stories which I didn't "get" at all which I put down to my own failings rather than the authors. Ideally I'd give this 4.5 stars as I haven't read a collection this intriguing for some time. I'd definitely read more by the author.
July 21, 2024
I loved that this is a book full of short stories. Heavy on Sci-fi themes. The stories relate to what ifs, last chances/moments. Looking into those moments of being vulnerable and human. You don't need to know a lot of science but if you are a science nerd you'll know more than I, and if it is real, could be fun for you.
Thank You Booksirens, Water Dragon Publishing, and Arasibo Campeche
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank You Booksirens, Water Dragon Publishing, and Arasibo Campeche
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 1, 2024
This was a great selection of short stories. Everything from shapeshifters to being on an alien planet. Not quite horror, but definitely dealing in the darker side of life.
My only criticism would be the heavy use of scientific verbiage. I was able to parse through it and it didn’t really make it hard to read, but sometimes it felt like the stories would have been fine with some of it toned down.
I received an ARC of this book. I am leaving a voluntary review.
My only criticism would be the heavy use of scientific verbiage. I was able to parse through it and it didn’t really make it hard to read, but sometimes it felt like the stories would have been fine with some of it toned down.
I received an ARC of this book. I am leaving a voluntary review.
July 7, 2024
An absolutely splendid collection of short stories that are deep and thoughtful while having the perfect blend of science and magic. Humans facing their innermost demons whether imagined or real, how do they respond and what impact do they make. This collection will have you enthralled from the first page until the last story is resolved.
August 21, 2024
An interesting collection of short stories that featured death and dying. I did not find them distressing or upsetting, most tended to be thought provoking looks at what happens next. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Currently reading
April 1, 2025Wow! This book grabbed my attention just by the cover! I know they say "don't judge a book by its cover," but I can't help it. I cannot wait to read this fine piece of literature and give it to my philosophy class. NO SPOILERS about the sigma bonds!🤩
November 9, 2024
I recieved a free copy of this book through BookSirens.
That said, this book was a very mixed experience for me.
I love short story collections, and I tend to really like sci-fi, spec-fic, and things in that genre. However, this book unfortunately fell flat for me in a lot of ways. Some of the stories were intriguing, and had interesting ideas behind them, but overall it left me feeling unfulfilled.
My biggest complaint was that this book sorely needed another pass for editing. I counted a good number of typos, strange grammar/dialogue, and style mistakes (such as Spanish often, but not always, being italicized, or one sentence just not starting with a capital letter for no reason). I also think many of these stories went a little too heavy on the science terms and explanations, in a way that makes your average reader feel a little stupid. Of course sci-fi is always going to have both made-up and real science and technical terms, but this book really beats you over the head with it in a majority of the stories, going above and beyond to keep reminding you that the author has a PhD (as do a ton of the characters in these stories). A lot of the dialogue was also stilted and weird, having characters speak in ways that felt unnatural, taking me out of the experience.
The stories near the middle of the book were my favorites, and "Big Water Protect You" was my favorite, especially as a Native American, but unfortunately this one was extremely short (I believe the shortest one...?). Not that it needed to be longer specifically, but some of the longest ones felt like they went on a bit too long in comparison. "Flavor of Lab" was also very interesting (and funny, especially one brief part near the end), but one of the worst offenders for needing a look-over for typos (I remember spotting at least two).
Overall, the ideas were good, but the execution was lacking. A strong editor could have saved a lot of this, but overall, it really wasn't for me.
That said, this book was a very mixed experience for me.
I love short story collections, and I tend to really like sci-fi, spec-fic, and things in that genre. However, this book unfortunately fell flat for me in a lot of ways. Some of the stories were intriguing, and had interesting ideas behind them, but overall it left me feeling unfulfilled.
My biggest complaint was that this book sorely needed another pass for editing. I counted a good number of typos, strange grammar/dialogue, and style mistakes (such as Spanish often, but not always, being italicized, or one sentence just not starting with a capital letter for no reason). I also think many of these stories went a little too heavy on the science terms and explanations, in a way that makes your average reader feel a little stupid. Of course sci-fi is always going to have both made-up and real science and technical terms, but this book really beats you over the head with it in a majority of the stories, going above and beyond to keep reminding you that the author has a PhD (as do a ton of the characters in these stories). A lot of the dialogue was also stilted and weird, having characters speak in ways that felt unnatural, taking me out of the experience.
The stories near the middle of the book were my favorites, and "Big Water Protect You" was my favorite, especially as a Native American, but unfortunately this one was extremely short (I believe the shortest one...?). Not that it needed to be longer specifically, but some of the longest ones felt like they went on a bit too long in comparison. "Flavor of Lab" was also very interesting (and funny, especially one brief part near the end), but one of the worst offenders for needing a look-over for typos (I remember spotting at least two).
Overall, the ideas were good, but the execution was lacking. A strong editor could have saved a lot of this, but overall, it really wasn't for me.
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