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Threads
It’s the year 2576 and the Fabric of the Universe will never be the same
Socialism is dead.Unfortunately, man’s inhumanity to his fellow man is not. In a universe full of opportunity for all, a chance encounter plants an evil seed and a psychotic killer begins stalking the female population of the MetroStellar.
In another part of the galaxy, a lone USS Marshal on a routine undercover mission stumbles into a 300-year-old cover-up. Things are never what they seem to be and both cases begin and end with the Intra Stellar Transportation and Exploration Company (ISTEC) and the planet they control, Exodus.
To close both cases will require the combined skills of the marshal and his twin brother, as they use their special bond to overcome the forces working against them and seek justice for those they have sworn to protect.
This is a story about family, the illusion of security and that things are not always what they seem. “Threads” shines a light on the what makes us great, as well as the darker side of man. It is the story of two brothers who discover they are stronger together, but they must first find the strength and greatness in themselves.
This is a Scifi Psychological Thriller spanning the known galaxy and the next 500 years of human history in a unique future and universe created by its author.
The author has committed that 10% of the profits from Threads will go to fund ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) research and patient care.
Socialism is dead.Unfortunately, man’s inhumanity to his fellow man is not. In a universe full of opportunity for all, a chance encounter plants an evil seed and a psychotic killer begins stalking the female population of the MetroStellar.
In another part of the galaxy, a lone USS Marshal on a routine undercover mission stumbles into a 300-year-old cover-up. Things are never what they seem to be and both cases begin and end with the Intra Stellar Transportation and Exploration Company (ISTEC) and the planet they control, Exodus.
To close both cases will require the combined skills of the marshal and his twin brother, as they use their special bond to overcome the forces working against them and seek justice for those they have sworn to protect.
This is a story about family, the illusion of security and that things are not always what they seem. “Threads” shines a light on the what makes us great, as well as the darker side of man. It is the story of two brothers who discover they are stronger together, but they must first find the strength and greatness in themselves.
This is a Scifi Psychological Thriller spanning the known galaxy and the next 500 years of human history in a unique future and universe created by its author.
The author has committed that 10% of the profits from Threads will go to fund ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) research and patient care.
- GenresScience Fiction
520 pages, ebook
First published August 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Tom Tinney
5 books16 followersI'm the Biker-Nerd. I've published numerous Science Fiction (Space Opera, Action, Adventure, Military), Fantasy (High and Urban) and Biker stories.
With the exception of an occasional profile update, I also don't visit Goodreads...at all.
Unfortunately, the platform that had promise to help folks "Find my next book", has now become a destructive, troll-filled hate-factory driven by a crowd more worried about "WHO" wrote the book, than WHAT the book is about and HOW well it is written.
I laugh at the current mantra being thrown at writers. "Why don't you include more/stronger XXXX characters in your writing? Are you XXXX-phobic, or an YYYY-ist?" (XXXX being whatever the Cause Du Jour is in).
Of course, that is followed by "You're not an XXXX, so you writing about them is appropriating their culture/lifestyle. YOU MUST stop that now!" The writer's Kobayashi Maru.
My rule#1 for the perpetually offended: I'll never make them happy, so just ignore them. AT every level and for every gripe they have. Not worth the time or effort. Write for the Fans, not the fanatics.
And, of course, there are the obligatory "revenge reviews" by fellow "Authors" that have an ax to grind over other social media commentary (Hey...don't ask me to read your book by soliciting input and criticism, and then get mad when I explain why it's poorly written and filled with "talking points", not plot arcs or decent characters. Maybe stick to writing non-fiction opinion books from now on.)
I've joined, and now left, quite a few Goodreads groups. The activity seems to be oriented to trolling of authors for political reasons, soap boxing "From one side of the aisle only", and a general lack of caring about keeping the group/platform legitimately focused on the works
That's to bad. Potential squandered.
In closing...if you want to read good stories about the WHAT, WHERE, WHY and WHEN...and aren't worried about "WHO" wrote them, come along for a ride with the Biker-Nerd. Want to enjoy more? Come to my Facebook group or subscribe to my website...that's where I hang out.
With the exception of an occasional profile update, I also don't visit Goodreads...at all.
Unfortunately, the platform that had promise to help folks "Find my next book", has now become a destructive, troll-filled hate-factory driven by a crowd more worried about "WHO" wrote the book, than WHAT the book is about and HOW well it is written.
I laugh at the current mantra being thrown at writers. "Why don't you include more/stronger XXXX characters in your writing? Are you XXXX-phobic, or an YYYY-ist?" (XXXX being whatever the Cause Du Jour is in).
Of course, that is followed by "You're not an XXXX, so you writing about them is appropriating their culture/lifestyle. YOU MUST stop that now!" The writer's Kobayashi Maru.
My rule#1 for the perpetually offended: I'll never make them happy, so just ignore them. AT every level and for every gripe they have. Not worth the time or effort. Write for the Fans, not the fanatics.
And, of course, there are the obligatory "revenge reviews" by fellow "Authors" that have an ax to grind over other social media commentary (Hey...don't ask me to read your book by soliciting input and criticism, and then get mad when I explain why it's poorly written and filled with "talking points", not plot arcs or decent characters. Maybe stick to writing non-fiction opinion books from now on.)
I've joined, and now left, quite a few Goodreads groups. The activity seems to be oriented to trolling of authors for political reasons, soap boxing "From one side of the aisle only", and a general lack of caring about keeping the group/platform legitimately focused on the works
That's to bad. Potential squandered.
In closing...if you want to read good stories about the WHAT, WHERE, WHY and WHEN...and aren't worried about "WHO" wrote them, come along for a ride with the Biker-Nerd. Want to enjoy more? Come to my Facebook group or subscribe to my website...that's where I hang out.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 14, 2014
Initially I squirmed at the start of Threads not because of the characters, such as Billy Ray, assigned to the Royal Mongolian Space Navy Destroyer 119, the Admiral Khan, but the pages of info-dumping as the reader learns about the Mark IV implant in Billy Ray's head. Then again in Chapter 2 on ISTEC company history. Many science fiction writers use this technique with the risk of losing readers with too much Tell in order to get over the mass of new information they need to handle the story. Get past it and the characters are real enough so let’s enjoy.
Marshall Matt and his twin Mark use an enhanced telepathy link - the eponymous Threads - with each other. It’s this concept that brings a unique element to this novel and one which shapes the whole plot in a clever way.
As a former teacher, who had to demonstrate this, it’s really good to see the Coriolis Effect get a mention no less than three times.
After encountering this medical development used more in this novel as a weapon let me warn you to never shake hands with Tom Tinney, he'll be palming a derm patch with a powerful analgesic so that you'll be on the floor before you know it!
Threads has a political agenda and uses the wonderful medium of science fiction as the author's 'if only' and 'what if' future making the unlikely come possible. An example:
“In 2079 a group of businessmen collected 1/3rd of the world's wealth onto a 200-vessel 'Freedom Fleet' protected by former US carriers. The fleet negotiated with Hawaii to make it a landfall base but the 'new' UN, who's demanded the money back and distributed to the poor heard of the talks and nuked Hawaii. 4 years later the fleet negotiated with a new liberated Cuba to make them rich and lead the world to a socialist-free paradise.” Kinda, because not everything is what it seems.
I like the relationship between the two paraplegics, Mark and Phyllis. Funny that she'd compliment him on his sense of humour with, 'You're funny when you're not in the middle of a paradigm-shifting incident that could bring the known galaxy to a standstill.' If only I had a girlfriend who could talk like that. Hang on, I do!
Interesting plot premise with alien ships randomly and devastatingly attacking Earth ships but are they really? A cunning ploy that takes the telepathic Threads and deep undercover work that makes this otherwise often slow-paced novel worth the persistence.
Beware of some sdm scenes such as that affecting Allison Winslow. I'm (spoiler but hope I'm forgiven) glad to say she survives butbutbut not all is as it seems. The perpetrator is something else indeed. Of course you should suspect that Threads isn't only a communication system for exceptional twins, especially when you consider other species, but I don't want to spoil...
Usually, the important and Earthly thing to do when you think you see a strange enemy coming at you is to open fire, but wait! Typified by a terrific chapter heading: The End of an Error.
Normally, I knee-jerk against cliché but having read Threads I now take back and delete my quibbles over such cliché as 'snug as a bug in a rug. The author possesses a wit beyond part one, and those cliché snippets become real!
Threads is a complex novel(s) with its shocks, innovations, socio-political subplots and pseudo-science, none of which are what they initially seem. You don't just become engaged with a main character but their 'distant' and yet close twin, and their ‘squeezes’. Buy this book and you'll receive far more than you deserve.
Marshall Matt and his twin Mark use an enhanced telepathy link - the eponymous Threads - with each other. It’s this concept that brings a unique element to this novel and one which shapes the whole plot in a clever way.
As a former teacher, who had to demonstrate this, it’s really good to see the Coriolis Effect get a mention no less than three times.
After encountering this medical development used more in this novel as a weapon let me warn you to never shake hands with Tom Tinney, he'll be palming a derm patch with a powerful analgesic so that you'll be on the floor before you know it!
Threads has a political agenda and uses the wonderful medium of science fiction as the author's 'if only' and 'what if' future making the unlikely come possible. An example:
“In 2079 a group of businessmen collected 1/3rd of the world's wealth onto a 200-vessel 'Freedom Fleet' protected by former US carriers. The fleet negotiated with Hawaii to make it a landfall base but the 'new' UN, who's demanded the money back and distributed to the poor heard of the talks and nuked Hawaii. 4 years later the fleet negotiated with a new liberated Cuba to make them rich and lead the world to a socialist-free paradise.” Kinda, because not everything is what it seems.
I like the relationship between the two paraplegics, Mark and Phyllis. Funny that she'd compliment him on his sense of humour with, 'You're funny when you're not in the middle of a paradigm-shifting incident that could bring the known galaxy to a standstill.' If only I had a girlfriend who could talk like that. Hang on, I do!
Interesting plot premise with alien ships randomly and devastatingly attacking Earth ships but are they really? A cunning ploy that takes the telepathic Threads and deep undercover work that makes this otherwise often slow-paced novel worth the persistence.
Beware of some sdm scenes such as that affecting Allison Winslow. I'm (spoiler but hope I'm forgiven) glad to say she survives butbutbut not all is as it seems. The perpetrator is something else indeed. Of course you should suspect that Threads isn't only a communication system for exceptional twins, especially when you consider other species, but I don't want to spoil...
Usually, the important and Earthly thing to do when you think you see a strange enemy coming at you is to open fire, but wait! Typified by a terrific chapter heading: The End of an Error.
Normally, I knee-jerk against cliché but having read Threads I now take back and delete my quibbles over such cliché as 'snug as a bug in a rug. The author possesses a wit beyond part one, and those cliché snippets become real!
Threads is a complex novel(s) with its shocks, innovations, socio-political subplots and pseudo-science, none of which are what they initially seem. You don't just become engaged with a main character but their 'distant' and yet close twin, and their ‘squeezes’. Buy this book and you'll receive far more than you deserve.
May 24, 2014
Threads is a science fiction book with a great story. The title, Threads, has more than one connotation, and Tom Tinney uses it to weave several different plot lines together throughout the the story, and then ties them neatly into a knot at the finale. There are just enough loose ends by the conclusion, that I'm imagining that there might well be a sequel on the way.
The plot is intricate, but the timeline works.
The one thing that I struggled with while reading this book, was the writing. Although Tom Tinney spells correctly and his grammar is generally correct, there are a few problems that should have been picked up by a good editor.
Firstly: Info dumps. Like many Sci-fi stories, there is a lot of information to impart. At the beginning there are a couple of whoppers, and every now and then there's a new one. It's difficult, but integrating them into the story can be done more subtly, which makes the reader less likely to skip sections, which is what I found myself doing at times.
Secondly: Show versus Tell. This is something that every writers has to learn how to do. There is a lot of telling in this book, and not a lot of showing, which is part of the issue with the info dumps. It's a hard line to walk, and one that requires learning how to recognise that you're doing it.
Thirdly: Tense changes. The book is written in past tense, third person, from several points of view, but there are jarring drops into present tense. 'The last thing to check before taking another step is that the left pocket is empty. It was. The system worked.' or 'Then, in 2291, they mysteriously up and moved the entire company and all of its ship building operations away. Apparently they moved very far away. They are well off the travelled grid and some attempts to find them with space telescopes met with serious ire.' This is much more prevalent in the first half of the book, where it almost prevented me finishing the story because it occurred so often.
Fourthly: Wooden dialogue. Contractions are used very rarely when a character is speaking. A typical sentence: "Sorry, Marshall, but you are the last line of defence here," Matt said. "I am not about to take an accidental bullet in the back." 'I am' was almost exclusively used, even in action scenes, which made everyone sound as if they were being excessively polite, or reading from a cue card, even while they were swearing. Again, it did improve towards the end of the book, but it has a fair way to go before it flows.
Tom Tinney has a great imagination, and as I originally stated, I really enjoyed the story. With some tweaks, this could be a truly fabulous book. The characters showed great promise, the plot was nicely done, and the world building was clever. There was enough unpredictability built into the story to keep the plot line ticking over nicely, and I will keep an eye out for the next installation.
A nice gesture is that the some of the proceeds of this book go to support funding for ALS (MND) research and patient care funding. It's a cause close to my heart.
The plot is intricate, but the timeline works.
The one thing that I struggled with while reading this book, was the writing. Although Tom Tinney spells correctly and his grammar is generally correct, there are a few problems that should have been picked up by a good editor.
Firstly: Info dumps. Like many Sci-fi stories, there is a lot of information to impart. At the beginning there are a couple of whoppers, and every now and then there's a new one. It's difficult, but integrating them into the story can be done more subtly, which makes the reader less likely to skip sections, which is what I found myself doing at times.
Secondly: Show versus Tell. This is something that every writers has to learn how to do. There is a lot of telling in this book, and not a lot of showing, which is part of the issue with the info dumps. It's a hard line to walk, and one that requires learning how to recognise that you're doing it.
Thirdly: Tense changes. The book is written in past tense, third person, from several points of view, but there are jarring drops into present tense. 'The last thing to check before taking another step is that the left pocket is empty. It was. The system worked.' or 'Then, in 2291, they mysteriously up and moved the entire company and all of its ship building operations away. Apparently they moved very far away. They are well off the travelled grid and some attempts to find them with space telescopes met with serious ire.' This is much more prevalent in the first half of the book, where it almost prevented me finishing the story because it occurred so often.
Fourthly: Wooden dialogue. Contractions are used very rarely when a character is speaking. A typical sentence: "Sorry, Marshall, but you are the last line of defence here," Matt said. "I am not about to take an accidental bullet in the back." 'I am' was almost exclusively used, even in action scenes, which made everyone sound as if they were being excessively polite, or reading from a cue card, even while they were swearing. Again, it did improve towards the end of the book, but it has a fair way to go before it flows.
Tom Tinney has a great imagination, and as I originally stated, I really enjoyed the story. With some tweaks, this could be a truly fabulous book. The characters showed great promise, the plot was nicely done, and the world building was clever. There was enough unpredictability built into the story to keep the plot line ticking over nicely, and I will keep an eye out for the next installation.
A nice gesture is that the some of the proceeds of this book go to support funding for ALS (MND) research and patient care funding. It's a cause close to my heart.
February 17, 2014
THREADS could be summed up as a detective story, with the good guys pursuing the bad ones. To leave it there would be as incomplete as saying that Philip K. Dick’s MINORITY REPORT is merely a detective story. Even though villains are predictably evil and creature motivations remain largely unchanged, the detectives in both stories pursue their targets with cutting-edge technology. Today’s science is preparing for mind implants, but at what risks for humanity? Mr. Tinney tells us. If that technology weren’t sufficient, he introduces additional layers. His world also enjoys travel, even though the secrets of its speed are tightly controlled by a governmental alliance with a private corporation that has chosen to erect its headquarters on a distant planet. Lovers of Frank Herbert’s Dune series will recognize Mr. Tinney’s control of a scarce resource, which he introduces by invoking the “spice.” The secret to folding space is entangled with the killer’s motivations.
THREADS is a complex sci-fi action tale. It is not for a casual reader seeking a quick and breezy read. Like the novels of Neal Stephenson and Philip K. Dick, true science fiction is at its best when it grabs nascent technology and imagines its future, like a luminous arrow lighting the way forward through the fog. “World building” is not an easy task, but is essential for a reader to appreciate nuances. We are beyond the days of H. G. Wells’ WAR OF THE WORLDS, when science fiction could be simplistically explained to the masses as us-versus-them technology. With the advanced technology on our own horizons, its implications cannot be understood unless one is willing to, at least some degree, delve into the details of what’s in the pipeline. Mr. Tinney provides that light through the darkness.
THREADS is a complex sci-fi action tale. It is not for a casual reader seeking a quick and breezy read. Like the novels of Neal Stephenson and Philip K. Dick, true science fiction is at its best when it grabs nascent technology and imagines its future, like a luminous arrow lighting the way forward through the fog. “World building” is not an easy task, but is essential for a reader to appreciate nuances. We are beyond the days of H. G. Wells’ WAR OF THE WORLDS, when science fiction could be simplistically explained to the masses as us-versus-them technology. With the advanced technology on our own horizons, its implications cannot be understood unless one is willing to, at least some degree, delve into the details of what’s in the pipeline. Mr. Tinney provides that light through the darkness.
June 20, 2014
Threads by Tom Tinney was something a little different for me. It stepped outside of my nice, safe, chick lit, mystery genre and took me into a world of space travel and aliens, which isn’t somewhere I usually frequent. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Star Trek or Star Wars movie - I was raised on it by a fanatical sci-fi father, but actually picking a sci-fi book up and deliberately reading it was something else.
I have to say that I loved it. Usually when aliens appear in a movie, I glare at my husband with disdain because he probably promised that there wouldn’t be any rubbery, unrealistic beasties appearing in front of me, but the author’s skill was paramount as I found myself emotionally attached to the Kutari Penant, and invested in their plight.
The marshals are expertly characterised. Who couldn’t fall in love with the strong, masculine warriors who protect the universe? My biggest dilemma would have been which one I picked to run away with! The scene setting and imaginative direction was fantastic and I was never left in any doubt as to which space transport I was on or in which universe, which could have been potentially confusing.
The storyline was strong throughout, getting better and better as the novel progressed, throwing the reader into twists and turns that left my head spinning. Well placed hints at the start made me think that I had already identified the killer but I couldn’t have been further off base. Just when I thought that I had it all sorted, the next chapter showed me that I really didn’t.
I’m rating it a 5 based on how much I enjoyed it and how thoroughly it impressed me.
I have to say that I loved it. Usually when aliens appear in a movie, I glare at my husband with disdain because he probably promised that there wouldn’t be any rubbery, unrealistic beasties appearing in front of me, but the author’s skill was paramount as I found myself emotionally attached to the Kutari Penant, and invested in their plight.
The marshals are expertly characterised. Who couldn’t fall in love with the strong, masculine warriors who protect the universe? My biggest dilemma would have been which one I picked to run away with! The scene setting and imaginative direction was fantastic and I was never left in any doubt as to which space transport I was on or in which universe, which could have been potentially confusing.
The storyline was strong throughout, getting better and better as the novel progressed, throwing the reader into twists and turns that left my head spinning. Well placed hints at the start made me think that I had already identified the killer but I couldn’t have been further off base. Just when I thought that I had it all sorted, the next chapter showed me that I really didn’t.
I’m rating it a 5 based on how much I enjoyed it and how thoroughly it impressed me.
December 23, 2013
Threads by Tom Tinney
Goodreads Author
This story is in the year 2576. Twins are selected for special assignments. Implants are installed
in humans that give them a variety of special programs. They are able to move around the solar system
to different planets in tubes and modules. This is an amazing science fiction story. This author has
the skills for writing a great science fiction novel.
Goodreads Author
This story is in the year 2576. Twins are selected for special assignments. Implants are installed
in humans that give them a variety of special programs. They are able to move around the solar system
to different planets in tubes and modules. This is an amazing science fiction story. This author has
the skills for writing a great science fiction novel.
August 12, 2014
It is 560 years into the future, about 300 years after the Intra Stellar Transportation and Exploration Company (ISTEC) discovered the means to build Directional Spherical Mass Multipliers (DSMM) allowing space ships to create Folds to travel light years in short jumps within our galaxy. After setting up a system of unmanned ships called Pigeons to map the galaxy and prevent manned ships from folding into stars or planets and main Drive Modules (IDM) to ferry manned ships within the galaxy for a fee, ITSEC set up operations on their own terra-formed planet to hide their technological secrets and create a wealthy neutral monopoly of interstellar transport within the new MetroStellar colonies and free trade zones. However, when a couple of IDMs and the parasite ships attached to them are seemingly destroyed after coming out of a Fold by an unknown alien attack, the USS Marshal Service, responsible for law enforcement within the MetroStellar zone, sends one of their best to go undercover on a military ship to discover the cause of these attacks. Equipped with hi-tech bio-ware that creates a chameleon identity and seamlessly hacks into nearly any tech system, the agent has an even more secret tool at his command, the ability to communicate with his twin brother back at HQ through a "thread" that connects them throughout the galaxy. When the military ship comes under attack and is destroyed, the agent is able to escape with a suspicious ISTEC character on an escape pod. Meanwhile, another HQ agent has gone rogue, tracking a psychotic serial killer that has high connections and was responsible for killing the agent's twin who was heading the field investigation. As the rogue agent hides from his brethren marshals while doggedly hunting down his mysterious foe, his broken "thread" mysteriously connects with another strange voice demanding that he seek the owner of the voice. Little does either agent or the USS Marshal Service know, but both cases are connected and will lead to unveiling ITSEC's deeply kept secret and putting the entire galaxy in danger. This is an epic book with an excitingly complex adventure to tell, which should please any ardent fan of good science fiction. However, the author unfortunately fills the first third of the book with character back story and future history that is at times too detailed, is provided too early before a character is properly revealed to be in proper context, and in one stretch becomes a political rant that has no bearing on the main story. This will likely turn most readers off who could walk away from the tale before the exciting adventure begins.
April 30, 2014
As the title implies, there are many disconnected threads in this plot. As the story slowly progresses, the stray threads start weaving into a pattern you think you recognize. Then, boom, you realize you’re looking at the design backwards and upside down. Made me step back and go WOW! Okay, didn’t see that coming.
The premise of the plot was original and very well thought out. Tinny also does a great job explaining the background of each society i.e.: Exodus, MetroStellar and the Kutari Panant. If you are a techno-nerd or a hard sci-fi buff, this is the story for you. Every gadget and environment explained in detail. Actually, too much detail for my taste. All that detail really bogs down the pace of the story, especially in the first half of the book. The only techno gadgets I didn’t think was plausible were the body mods that the USS Marshals wore. The pain would be incredible.
Lots of characters in this story, but none of them lost in each other, unless done intentionally. The main characters are Matt & his brother Mark. I also felt for the lost soul of Jon Brooks and the plight of Popilla. And then there is the sadistic and evil pervert. Tinney does have problems with dialogue, too stilted and stuffy. Towards the end, he actually loosens up a bit. And a little more description of emotions would have been helpful too.
The book is 500 plus pages with a lot of back story. Most help with the plot, but the Freedom Fleet and the mini story with Brooklyn’s daughter reciting the rise of the current political system did not help the plot move along. These are some “Darlings” that should have been cut.
The writing style is passive, past tense. The pace of the story would benefit greatly if it was written in more of an aggressive style, present tense. The story would flow better and the readers could get more involved with the action and characters.
Before I got to the end, I hoped there would be a sequel. And there is. Tinny leaves enough unanswered questions for the reader to want to read the next book. What did Berlin Wright have to do with Jon Brook and his brother James? HMMM.
I really did enjoy this story but there were times I started skimming pages because of the overabundance of unnecessary information. And then there were the numerous proofreading errors.
As stated above, if you like hard core sci-fi and techno gadgets, I highly recommend the book, but if you’re only into light sci-fi, maybe not. I would give this book a 3.5 feathers, so have to round up to 4 feathers.
The premise of the plot was original and very well thought out. Tinny also does a great job explaining the background of each society i.e.: Exodus, MetroStellar and the Kutari Panant. If you are a techno-nerd or a hard sci-fi buff, this is the story for you. Every gadget and environment explained in detail. Actually, too much detail for my taste. All that detail really bogs down the pace of the story, especially in the first half of the book. The only techno gadgets I didn’t think was plausible were the body mods that the USS Marshals wore. The pain would be incredible.
Lots of characters in this story, but none of them lost in each other, unless done intentionally. The main characters are Matt & his brother Mark. I also felt for the lost soul of Jon Brooks and the plight of Popilla. And then there is the sadistic and evil pervert. Tinney does have problems with dialogue, too stilted and stuffy. Towards the end, he actually loosens up a bit. And a little more description of emotions would have been helpful too.
The book is 500 plus pages with a lot of back story. Most help with the plot, but the Freedom Fleet and the mini story with Brooklyn’s daughter reciting the rise of the current political system did not help the plot move along. These are some “Darlings” that should have been cut.
The writing style is passive, past tense. The pace of the story would benefit greatly if it was written in more of an aggressive style, present tense. The story would flow better and the readers could get more involved with the action and characters.
Before I got to the end, I hoped there would be a sequel. And there is. Tinny leaves enough unanswered questions for the reader to want to read the next book. What did Berlin Wright have to do with Jon Brook and his brother James? HMMM.
I really did enjoy this story but there were times I started skimming pages because of the overabundance of unnecessary information. And then there were the numerous proofreading errors.
As stated above, if you like hard core sci-fi and techno gadgets, I highly recommend the book, but if you’re only into light sci-fi, maybe not. I would give this book a 3.5 feathers, so have to round up to 4 feathers.
Read
March 31, 2014The blurb promised a detective story in space. The story starts with poor old Billy Ray, a guy who got a bum brain implant who's now forced to work menial electrical engineering jobs due to the instability of the implant. Insert engineering manual here. Almost literally.
The story splits off to a farm family and then we get a snippet of a man torturing a girl while wearing a mask and then we're back to Billy Ray.
This is a 500 page book. Somewhere around page eighty you find out Billy Ray is a cover for a USS Marshal and the implant isn't a dud, it's the greatest thing since sliced white bread. It has all the capabilities of an on board computer system and can mutate/morph the body of the Marshal to look like anyone he needs to. This includes changes to bones that either lengthen or shorten, rendering height changes.
We've now skipped from a hard science beginning to fantasy and then straight from the year 2500 plus to the years of the telegraph - when the brain implant that can make bone appear out of nowhere uses Morse Code to talk to HQ - by tugging on some kind of ethereal or psychic thread (get it, threads) that taps out the message.
Okay, so this book pretty much lost me right there. I'm no longer believing the world build or the characters. I did read on a bit further - I'm not sure why. The amount of sheer minutia in this story is overwhelming. There are references to Batman and Superman, because in five hundred years those will still be the classics. There are also political statements and anecdotes that reflect current events, pulling you straight out of the world build that is accomplished.
One of those anecdotes takes place while the marshal is undercover as Billy Ray and it comes from Billy Ray's pov. It's a flashback to a rape that single handedly changed Cuba's healthcare system from socialized medicine to a far superior system after the much loved social figure involved couldn't get appropriate care and, bleeding, takes to the streets. Politics aside, this flashback doesn't relate to anything in Billy Ray's life other than the fact that he was raised in Cuba and we're told this is one of his favorite stories from home; he smiles when he thinks of it - which renders him creepy as hell, (actually considered he might the torturer) and then we find out he's not Billy Ray, he's a Marshal, and then this event makes even less sense. It certainly didn't render the Marshal a character I cared about.
The story splits off to a farm family and then we get a snippet of a man torturing a girl while wearing a mask and then we're back to Billy Ray.
This is a 500 page book. Somewhere around page eighty you find out Billy Ray is a cover for a USS Marshal and the implant isn't a dud, it's the greatest thing since sliced white bread. It has all the capabilities of an on board computer system and can mutate/morph the body of the Marshal to look like anyone he needs to. This includes changes to bones that either lengthen or shorten, rendering height changes.
We've now skipped from a hard science beginning to fantasy and then straight from the year 2500 plus to the years of the telegraph - when the brain implant that can make bone appear out of nowhere uses Morse Code to talk to HQ - by tugging on some kind of ethereal or psychic thread (get it, threads) that taps out the message.
Okay, so this book pretty much lost me right there. I'm no longer believing the world build or the characters. I did read on a bit further - I'm not sure why. The amount of sheer minutia in this story is overwhelming. There are references to Batman and Superman, because in five hundred years those will still be the classics. There are also political statements and anecdotes that reflect current events, pulling you straight out of the world build that is accomplished.
One of those anecdotes takes place while the marshal is undercover as Billy Ray and it comes from Billy Ray's pov. It's a flashback to a rape that single handedly changed Cuba's healthcare system from socialized medicine to a far superior system after the much loved social figure involved couldn't get appropriate care and, bleeding, takes to the streets. Politics aside, this flashback doesn't relate to anything in Billy Ray's life other than the fact that he was raised in Cuba and we're told this is one of his favorite stories from home; he smiles when he thinks of it - which renders him creepy as hell, (actually considered he might the torturer) and then we find out he's not Billy Ray, he's a Marshal, and then this event makes even less sense. It certainly didn't render the Marshal a character I cared about.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2014
We’re told the story of twins Mark and Matt Williams right from the moment they get selected for a special military program exclusive to twins only, while being introduced to a set of twin mysteries; one involving a serial rapist targeting young women, the other focusing on a large corporate cover up of randomly exploding interstellar space tech. From the beginning, we’re immersed in a rich world full of intricate details, which the author goes to great lengths to describe, history lesson included.
This is the sort of tale that’s perfect for people who love short chapters that are roughly 4 to 8 pages long, can indulged in pages of technical details explaining the technology of the age which is typical of a high science fiction tale, and have no issue with just as lengthy historical ‘catching up’.
If it’s not, don’t let that put you off, it usually pretty safe to skip a few pages and keep reading. It is actually a pretty good story, and not at all a bad start from what I’m led to believe is the author’s first attempt. That said, it is of this reviewers opinion that the book could have been condensed rather significantly and the story would have been much better for it. It felt like the author just didn’t know where to start his story and chose to just include it all, just in case.
The only really off-putting part of the book is what is coming across as the author’s political view which is highly anti-socialist; there is a small possibility that he meant those extreme views to be satire, but with how often he makes a point to mention how terrible socialism is... it was pretty distracting.
Once again, this book is still a great read and well worth the time.
This is the sort of tale that’s perfect for people who love short chapters that are roughly 4 to 8 pages long, can indulged in pages of technical details explaining the technology of the age which is typical of a high science fiction tale, and have no issue with just as lengthy historical ‘catching up’.
If it’s not, don’t let that put you off, it usually pretty safe to skip a few pages and keep reading. It is actually a pretty good story, and not at all a bad start from what I’m led to believe is the author’s first attempt. That said, it is of this reviewers opinion that the book could have been condensed rather significantly and the story would have been much better for it. It felt like the author just didn’t know where to start his story and chose to just include it all, just in case.
The only really off-putting part of the book is what is coming across as the author’s political view which is highly anti-socialist; there is a small possibility that he meant those extreme views to be satire, but with how often he makes a point to mention how terrible socialism is... it was pretty distracting.
Once again, this book is still a great read and well worth the time.
June 13, 2015
An intricate SF story with a unique element.
"Threads" is an intricate story that weaves (no pun intended) together many sub-plots to a conclusion that affects future humanity and their fundamental understanding of the universe.
The telling of the complex nature of this future universe comes with strengths and weaknesses. The massive amount of information provided at the beginning of the story does well to establish a very real and believable future, but – for me – it takes on the feeling of reading an essay rather than a story. However, it's broken up with character and actions scenes, so it never failed to lose me. There were times amongst this information where I had to just grab the important points and let the rest slide, but that did not affect my understanding of the story. If you enjoy navigating a complex world, then I'm sure you will enjoy the set up.
Once the universe is established, as well as the characters and plots, the story picks up and is very enjoyable to read. It's a multifaceted story: part detective, part political, part science, part humanitarian (and I use the word "humanitarian" most generally because, well – spoilers!) It's well written and all comes together in a satisfying conclusion.
I found the concept of the "threading" to be most innovative, and put a very unique and fun spin into the story as a whole. So, even if the first half may require some patience to get through, it is worth the effort, and I would recommend this story for its well-executed depth.
"Threads" is an intricate story that weaves (no pun intended) together many sub-plots to a conclusion that affects future humanity and their fundamental understanding of the universe.
The telling of the complex nature of this future universe comes with strengths and weaknesses. The massive amount of information provided at the beginning of the story does well to establish a very real and believable future, but – for me – it takes on the feeling of reading an essay rather than a story. However, it's broken up with character and actions scenes, so it never failed to lose me. There were times amongst this information where I had to just grab the important points and let the rest slide, but that did not affect my understanding of the story. If you enjoy navigating a complex world, then I'm sure you will enjoy the set up.
Once the universe is established, as well as the characters and plots, the story picks up and is very enjoyable to read. It's a multifaceted story: part detective, part political, part science, part humanitarian (and I use the word "humanitarian" most generally because, well – spoilers!) It's well written and all comes together in a satisfying conclusion.
I found the concept of the "threading" to be most innovative, and put a very unique and fun spin into the story as a whole. So, even if the first half may require some patience to get through, it is worth the effort, and I would recommend this story for its well-executed depth.
August 27, 2016
Threads is book one of the Fabric of the Universe series by Tom Tinney. A sci-fi novel set several hundred years into the future, inter space travel is possible.
The USS Marshal Service polices the galaxy with the help of their highly trained marshals. ISTEC holds the super-secret technology that allows the inner space jumps that make travel possible. These two organizations are put to the test over the course of the book, and we meet several fascinating characters from each.
I had a hard time getting into Threads at first, because I got lost in the Techno-Babble (and I'm an engineer, so that's saying something). But I kept going and found that the book was absolutely worth it! The plot line drags you in, tying together several seemingly unrelated subplots into one massive climax. We discover how the Marshal service is so effective over long distances and how ISTEC powers its space travel.
But the characters I will never forget are Matt and Mark Williams, two USS Marshals on a course to save the world. Quite literally. Using their special bond and their high level of training, the Williams brothers are set to make Marshal history. If they can survive, that is.
The USS Marshal Service polices the galaxy with the help of their highly trained marshals. ISTEC holds the super-secret technology that allows the inner space jumps that make travel possible. These two organizations are put to the test over the course of the book, and we meet several fascinating characters from each.
I had a hard time getting into Threads at first, because I got lost in the Techno-Babble (and I'm an engineer, so that's saying something). But I kept going and found that the book was absolutely worth it! The plot line drags you in, tying together several seemingly unrelated subplots into one massive climax. We discover how the Marshal service is so effective over long distances and how ISTEC powers its space travel.
But the characters I will never forget are Matt and Mark Williams, two USS Marshals on a course to save the world. Quite literally. Using their special bond and their high level of training, the Williams brothers are set to make Marshal history. If they can survive, that is.
August 6, 2014
Threads is a sprawling sci-fi tale, reminiscent of the great works of Clarke, Asimov and Hamilton.
Riffing on the title theme, the universe is presented as a broad and varied tapestry, and when one end comes loose, so are there ramifications for all in this slick stalker-slasher-meets-The-X-Files-meets-The-Common-Wealth-Saga
What I particularly enjoyed was the expanse of this fictional universe. This is world building on an epic scale – there is not just history, but also politics and religion that is spread throughout the space-faring worlds and provides texture to the story.
The aspect of the twins was nice, and I suspect that more can be made of this in future installments of the series.
Ultimately, this is an immersive story with numerous plots that ultimately collide to shape the future of humanity.
An enjoyable read.
Riffing on the title theme, the universe is presented as a broad and varied tapestry, and when one end comes loose, so are there ramifications for all in this slick stalker-slasher-meets-The-X-Files-meets-The-Common-Wealth-Saga
What I particularly enjoyed was the expanse of this fictional universe. This is world building on an epic scale – there is not just history, but also politics and religion that is spread throughout the space-faring worlds and provides texture to the story.
The aspect of the twins was nice, and I suspect that more can be made of this in future installments of the series.
Ultimately, this is an immersive story with numerous plots that ultimately collide to shape the future of humanity.
An enjoyable read.
January 28, 2014
An Epic Science Fiction Psychological Thriller
A brutal sociopath is on the loose. With intergalactic travel, he has an entire universe as his hunting ground. With secret motivations and widespread ramifications, the Threads are woven in the Fabric.
Tom Tinney's debut novel Threads is the first in the Fabric of the Universe series. Mr. Tinney offers a well-written and well-imagined epic science fiction psychological thriller. Set over five hundred years in the future and across the universe, Threads offers both breadth and depth. Many sci-fi aficionados love plenty of tech. Threads provides a wealth of technological detail. The Pigeon and Egg are entertaining examples of the colorful details in the book. There is a certain amount of violence, but it is pertinent to the story.
A brutal sociopath is on the loose. With intergalactic travel, he has an entire universe as his hunting ground. With secret motivations and widespread ramifications, the Threads are woven in the Fabric.
Tom Tinney's debut novel Threads is the first in the Fabric of the Universe series. Mr. Tinney offers a well-written and well-imagined epic science fiction psychological thriller. Set over five hundred years in the future and across the universe, Threads offers both breadth and depth. Many sci-fi aficionados love plenty of tech. Threads provides a wealth of technological detail. The Pigeon and Egg are entertaining examples of the colorful details in the book. There is a certain amount of violence, but it is pertinent to the story.
May 30, 2014
Good stuff. Threads has a great plot, very unique and well defined characters, and the world building is phenomenal. There are some parts of the book that slow down as backstory is given and the universe of Threads is created. Most of this is in the first half of the book. Once past that, the action begins. Don't make major plans for when you get to this section of the book. I'm in the midst of moving and found myself sneaking off from packing to read "just a few more pages." As to feedback, the dialogue I found off at times, mostly surrounding contractions, or lack thereof. There's a lot of technical writing, so be prepared for that, but all in all a very pleasant read with outstanding vision. I look forward to the sequel.
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