What do you think?
Rate this book
April #6
And What Goes Around
The nation of Home and their ally Central seems to have bought some safety by moving Mitsubishi 3 from Low Earth Orbit to a halo orbit around L2 beyond the moon. It has added expenses, but it has unexpected advantages too, when Earth has its own problems. A little extra distance works just fine. Like April and her close friends Heather and Jeff, Home is growing, developing its own character, and becoming more independent.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2015
191 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Mackey Chandler
56 books224 followersMackey (Mac') Chandler is retired to Rochester Michigan from a working life that spanned a large number of occupations. Mold maker, aerospace machinist, plumber, mechanic and dozen more as well as owning several businesses. This life experience and travel show in the depth and variety of his writing.
A life long time reader of Science Fiction, the authors at Baen's Bar and their evening chat room motivated him to try his own hand at writing. His first effort was a short story titled "Common Ground" which sold to the short-lived Jim Baen's Universe.
His personal favorite book is "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Other favorite authors include Michael Z. Williamson and C.J.Cherryh.
A life long time reader of Science Fiction, the authors at Baen's Bar and their evening chat room motivated him to try his own hand at writing. His first effort was a short story titled "Common Ground" which sold to the short-lived Jim Baen's Universe.
His personal favorite book is "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Other favorite authors include Michael Z. Williamson and C.J.Cherryh.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 30, 2022
Very good.
July 11, 2019
Another entry into the 'April' saga, this time focusing more on the gene-mod contriversy and the hinted influenza outbreak from the previous book. This one is in some ways bleaker than even the telling of the second civil war within China from the earlier book with the detailing of an influenza pandemic with a truly disturbing mortality rate.
We also see the inhabitants of Home and Central pushing further towards self-suffiency in a desperate scramble to keep their populations fed and safe while the already drastically decreased orbital lift capabilities of Earth are further reduced from influenza spreading across the globe.Sadly there are still a lot of spelling, grammar and punctation errors in this installment and I am beginning to wonder if Mr. Chandler doesn't actually have a proofreader for his manuscripts. However, I will still be carrying on to the next book in the series as the narrative is, to me at least, quite compelling and intriguing.
August 19, 2025
2020 is still too close to forget and comparisons are inevitable.
I don't mean the political agenda, but the reactions of people to the (potentially) infected. Rumors, mobs, scarcity (I was waiting for a toilet paper reference until I clued in on the publishing date...). And of course the blame game and the people thinking they are exempt from rules.
It's all been one long case of déja-vu and I was a bit horrified to see this was first published in 2015. I want to think the best of others, but apparently the human race is quite predictable in its bad behaviour.
I don't mean the political agenda, but the reactions of people to the (potentially) infected. Rumors, mobs, scarcity (I was waiting for a toilet paper reference until I clued in on the publishing date...). And of course the blame game and the people thinking they are exempt from rules.
It's all been one long case of déja-vu and I was a bit horrified to see this was first published in 2015. I want to think the best of others, but apparently the human race is quite predictable in its bad behaviour.
December 30, 2018
Another great addition to the
April series. We don't see a whole lot of the moon colony here, but it's getting there, Home is doing well (well, mostly), and things are proceeding on the various ventures Jeff has up and running. All and all, an excellent continuation of the story. I'm really liking this series.
April series. We don't see a whole lot of the moon colony here, but it's getting there, Home is doing well (well, mostly), and things are proceeding on the various ventures Jeff has up and running. All and all, an excellent continuation of the story. I'm really liking this series.
April 28, 2024
An excellent read
This book deals with the fallout from a genetically modified virus that is meant to kill those people who had life extension treatments but spreads throughout the population and devastates the Earth's population and infrastructure. Highly relatable given the COVID 19 crisis we had and entertaining read. Highly recommend.
This book deals with the fallout from a genetically modified virus that is meant to kill those people who had life extension treatments but spreads throughout the population and devastates the Earth's population and infrastructure. Highly relatable given the COVID 19 crisis we had and entertaining read. Highly recommend.
February 29, 2020
I like it!!
I don't want to review it, I want to go read the next one as soon as I can. Question? You allude to kids having sex, include words on BC. Getting pregnant too young can be fatal. Or did you cover that and I missed it?
I don't want to review it, I want to go read the next one as soon as I can. Question? You allude to kids having sex, include words on BC. Getting pregnant too young can be fatal. Or did you cover that and I missed it?
January 1, 2026
This book shares the same problem of bloat with its forebears.
While there is as much going on as normal, the conflict arcs are not resolved within this book. It just ends at a random point, expecting the reader to pick up the next book. I may do that, but my patience is wearing thin.
While there is as much going on as normal, the conflict arcs are not resolved within this book. It just ends at a random point, expecting the reader to pick up the next book. I may do that, but my patience is wearing thin.
September 23, 2017
Good story
The political intrigue co rubies as Home and Central try to grow. If you've enjoyed the series you'll enjoy this book.
The political intrigue co rubies as Home and Central try to grow. If you've enjoyed the series you'll enjoy this book.
November 10, 2017
Fun next step in the series.
January 27, 2018
Great series!
I found it after reading the newest series "Family Law". It was just as good as this one. A character driven book with lots of action as well as humor!
I found it after reading the newest series "Family Law". It was just as good as this one. A character driven book with lots of action as well as humor!
October 1, 2020
Decent enough story
Good words in a row! Written well enough that I keep interested in the story (in the people) and the technology.
Good words in a row! Written well enough that I keep interested in the story (in the people) and the technology.
September 22, 2025
3.5 stars
September 23, 2019
Okay, I am only on chapter two and I have to comment. I've decided again to no longer take the time to edit the spelling and grammar in these books but come on. By the second sentence there are two errors in both within one or two lines! I've moved on without comment but now after another ten or twenty pages it's everywhere. Okay, now I am done and there are edits everywhere ( ? notes)
November 29, 2021
Earth’s Mess
This is the sixth book in a continuing series. You need to read the preceding books for this one to make sense. It ends at a natural break in the narrative but the story goes on in future books. There is another series set in the future of this one, Family Law, that shares some characters. The current reading order for both series is given in this post.
Out at L2 Home is feeling a little better about their distance from Earth. Their supplying costs have increased, but not as much as might be expected from the extra distance, because most costs are associated with just lifting from Earth. Things seem to be progressing and Heather’s work on Central is going slowly but steadily. April has land there along with a tunnel and small space dug out, but she really only uses it for storage and never really visits. Heather comes back to Home infrequently and April misses her. But April is learning to take the long view, as knowing she could live for hundreds of years takes the pressure off to get things done immediately.
Jeff is up to his eyeballs in work, as always, but still tries to make time for April. April has a little more time and is using it to study economics, like Jeff asked, to support their work with their bank. They both are starting to see patterns on Earth that they don’t like. Things are going to be rocky for a while down there and they don’t know how badly it’s going to affect Home.
This book feels less about the emotional side of April’s life and more about the political and economical side, especially how Earth is impacting her and her loved ones. This makes the book feel a little more cerebral than emotional and it moves the plot along quickly.
Barak plays a bigger part in this book than he has previously and he seems to be coming into his own since making his move on April. He’s becoming more assertive and learning who he is and what he wants, even if he is out by Jupiter whilst he’s doing it.
TRIGGER WARNING: There were some eerie predictions of what a pandemic would look like and if you find it difficult to read about the impact of those predictions on the world then you might not enjoy this book.
Despite the weird echoes of pandemic life I still enjoyed this book. Probably because the main characters aren’t stuck in the middle of it, unlike ourselves. Though plot based, there is still enough about the characters I’ve grown to like to ensure I feel connected to them still, especially April, Jeff and Heather. These three characters are very extraordinary young people, but you can still believe in their existence because they continue to learn and grow in each book.
I’m off to read the next one. I’ll be sad when I run out of these books because I’m enjoying them a lot.
This is the sixth book in a continuing series. You need to read the preceding books for this one to make sense. It ends at a natural break in the narrative but the story goes on in future books. There is another series set in the future of this one, Family Law, that shares some characters. The current reading order for both series is given in this post.
Out at L2 Home is feeling a little better about their distance from Earth. Their supplying costs have increased, but not as much as might be expected from the extra distance, because most costs are associated with just lifting from Earth. Things seem to be progressing and Heather’s work on Central is going slowly but steadily. April has land there along with a tunnel and small space dug out, but she really only uses it for storage and never really visits. Heather comes back to Home infrequently and April misses her. But April is learning to take the long view, as knowing she could live for hundreds of years takes the pressure off to get things done immediately.
Jeff is up to his eyeballs in work, as always, but still tries to make time for April. April has a little more time and is using it to study economics, like Jeff asked, to support their work with their bank. They both are starting to see patterns on Earth that they don’t like. Things are going to be rocky for a while down there and they don’t know how badly it’s going to affect Home.
This book feels less about the emotional side of April’s life and more about the political and economical side, especially how Earth is impacting her and her loved ones. This makes the book feel a little more cerebral than emotional and it moves the plot along quickly.
Barak plays a bigger part in this book than he has previously and he seems to be coming into his own since making his move on April. He’s becoming more assertive and learning who he is and what he wants, even if he is out by Jupiter whilst he’s doing it.
TRIGGER WARNING: There were some eerie predictions of what a pandemic would look like and if you find it difficult to read about the impact of those predictions on the world then you might not enjoy this book.
Despite the weird echoes of pandemic life I still enjoyed this book. Probably because the main characters aren’t stuck in the middle of it, unlike ourselves. Though plot based, there is still enough about the characters I’ve grown to like to ensure I feel connected to them still, especially April, Jeff and Heather. These three characters are very extraordinary young people, but you can still believe in their existence because they continue to learn and grow in each book.
I’m off to read the next one. I’ll be sad when I run out of these books because I’m enjoying them a lot.
January 28, 2017
The Goodness Continues
This is the sixth book by Mackey Chandler I have read in the last two days. Each and every one so far has been worth it. I like all of his characters. Mackey has that touch really good wordsmiths have, to make you care about the characters and what happens to them, something that I look for in an author. Mackey also has a technique that I have seen in a few of my favorite authors, he inserts material that makes his readers look up at their world and see it from a different perspective and ask themselves Why? Robert Heinlein, James Schmitt, Louis Bujold, C. J. Cherryh, John Ringo, John Birmingham, Steve Miller and Sharon Green, James Young, all favorite authors of mine share this ability - they teach you to THINK, to look around your self and ask why is That? With out being preachy. They do it with stealth, entertaining you so well you don't even notice, until later when the idea, concept, perspective smacks the target, right between your eyes. Then you say to yourself, oh, I See!
Mackey creates a rich, full universe in a verbal sketch. A few lines of prose and it comes to life, enriching yours. Read this book. You'll be glad you did. Well worth your hard earned dime and your time.
This is the sixth book by Mackey Chandler I have read in the last two days. Each and every one so far has been worth it. I like all of his characters. Mackey has that touch really good wordsmiths have, to make you care about the characters and what happens to them, something that I look for in an author. Mackey also has a technique that I have seen in a few of my favorite authors, he inserts material that makes his readers look up at their world and see it from a different perspective and ask themselves Why? Robert Heinlein, James Schmitt, Louis Bujold, C. J. Cherryh, John Ringo, John Birmingham, Steve Miller and Sharon Green, James Young, all favorite authors of mine share this ability - they teach you to THINK, to look around your self and ask why is That? With out being preachy. They do it with stealth, entertaining you so well you don't even notice, until later when the idea, concept, perspective smacks the target, right between your eyes. Then you say to yourself, oh, I See!
Mackey creates a rich, full universe in a verbal sketch. A few lines of prose and it comes to life, enriching yours. Read this book. You'll be glad you did. Well worth your hard earned dime and your time.
December 24, 2015
Number 6, Very interesting
I find I am out of superlatives. Number 6 has more love, hate, a possible murder and subsequent suicide, a very long voyage for a snowball, illness and death and small, really little, flying things made of metal and ceramic called "bugs" used for surveillance. And did I mention the fact HOME is closed to new people for a while. The wait for #7 has begun, hopefully we won't have to wait a year.
I find I am out of superlatives. Number 6 has more love, hate, a possible murder and subsequent suicide, a very long voyage for a snowball, illness and death and small, really little, flying things made of metal and ceramic called "bugs" used for surveillance. And did I mention the fact HOME is closed to new people for a while. The wait for #7 has begun, hopefully we won't have to wait a year.
March 28, 2015
I have read every book this guy writes and you should, too.
These just keep getting better with each book. I'm not kidding, nor am I given to faint praise or erudite critiques. Buy it and see for yourself.
These just keep getting better with each book. I'm not kidding, nor am I given to faint praise or erudite critiques. Buy it and see for yourself.
November 8, 2015
This book was more in the style of book 4 "A Different Perspective". The series is still developing, but the characters have a lot of depth and breadth to them by now. There were many fewer typos and errors then previous books in the series, but it still could use a good copy edit.
February 12, 2016
Good :-)
Well written. It is believable. The people are interesting and the science is good. It was an enjoyable read I wish there were more books in this series.
Well written. It is believable. The people are interesting and the science is good. It was an enjoyable read I wish there were more books in this series.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews