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Anghazi #1
Casimir Bridge
A manned, interstellar survey ship has gone missing.
A nuclear terror plot is thwarted just outside Washington, D.C. And it’s an election year. Mandisa “Mandi” Nkosi is a young reporter who, while on a trip to Johannesburg to connect with her roots, is contacted by an anonymous source with evidence that material seized from a nuclear terror plot will point squarely at one of humanity’s most important companies as the supplier. The source also unveils that the “evidence” against the company - Applied Interstellar Corporation (AIC), a science and technology behemoth with more corporate and political foes than can be counted - is a setup, and part of a plot to destroy AIC and gain control of its technological secrets. The deeper Mandi digs, the more of a target she becomes. What follows is a heart-pounding, unforgettable ride through the hallowed halls of big government, far-flung star systems, and the revelation of a conspiracy that runs so deep, Mandi’s life, and the future of humanity, are put at stake.
˃˃˃ A thrilling, fast-paced technothriller story that spans two planets, four star systems, and crosses the depths of space.Winner: 2016 Beverly Hills Book Award (Science Fiction)
Winner: 2016 Readers Favorite Bronze Metal (Thriller)
Winner: 2016 Pinnacle Achievement Award
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 17, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
January 18, 2018
Who would not be fascinated by the stories about the space travels?
And this is Hard Science Fiction, guys!
In an era where traveling to millions of light-years' - distance is possible. Well developed characters and smooth flow of writing. Ending with a cliffhanger, it was an entertaining, knowledgeable and enjoyable read.
Beyer showcases both politics and science hand in hand. An interesting blend of both these genre makes the book more interesting. A package that contained a lot of action and mystery. A fast paced novel for those who love science and space.
A well fabricated story with twists and turns that fuels the excitement. The characters are believable and amazing to listen to. The political aspects put the icing on the cake. You get to know the insider stories. There is love, humor and lot of science.
I look forward to reading other installments in the series.
Recommended to Sci-fi readers.
And this is Hard Science Fiction, guys!
In an era where traveling to millions of light-years' - distance is possible. Well developed characters and smooth flow of writing. Ending with a cliffhanger, it was an entertaining, knowledgeable and enjoyable read.
Beyer showcases both politics and science hand in hand. An interesting blend of both these genre makes the book more interesting. A package that contained a lot of action and mystery. A fast paced novel for those who love science and space.
A well fabricated story with twists and turns that fuels the excitement. The characters are believable and amazing to listen to. The political aspects put the icing on the cake. You get to know the insider stories. There is love, humor and lot of science.
I look forward to reading other installments in the series.
Recommended to Sci-fi readers.
April 23, 2016
For a novel that billed itself as one that adhered to real science, I was slightly worried that it would lose sight of the one thing that no Fiction, let alone Science Fiction, should ever ignore. That is: A Good Story.
Fortunately, I had a good time. There was plenty of good science, but above the Campbellian ideal, this author never lost sight of the fact that interesting characters and an exciting story will always carry the day.
This is a thriller. Mind you, it's a technical thriller, but it is still a thriller to its core. There's lots of action and intrigue and it spans across several star systems thanks to at least one or two slight stretches of Handwavium in the "discovered" elements that allowed us to manufacture our own naked wormholes. There's also the matter of nanotech advancement, but I didn't say that this was a novel based on our current level of science or that I was going to rule out possible unforeseen discoveries. Hyperium and the last reveal of the novel aren't outside of the realm of possibility, mind you, but it is much easier to swallow when we imagine both as having been manufactured by an intelligence rather than being mysteriously "found". In this respect, the author is moving no further outside of the lines than Arthur C. Clarke ever did, and I think that's rather the point.
The author focused on story, political and economical pressures, and most of all, on love.
We readers do love to feel a connection to the characters, don't we? :) Well, I did. I wasn't quite sure I would, and a few pages made me wonder, but I'm very happy that I stuck with it. There wasn't a wasted passage.
I'll absolutely continue on with the series and wish the author all the very best luck! Here's to a grand adventure!
And lastly, thank you for the ARC. I was certainly not disappointed with the story nor the science. :)
Fortunately, I had a good time. There was plenty of good science, but above the Campbellian ideal, this author never lost sight of the fact that interesting characters and an exciting story will always carry the day.
This is a thriller. Mind you, it's a technical thriller, but it is still a thriller to its core. There's lots of action and intrigue and it spans across several star systems thanks to at least one or two slight stretches of Handwavium in the "discovered" elements that allowed us to manufacture our own naked wormholes. There's also the matter of nanotech advancement, but I didn't say that this was a novel based on our current level of science or that I was going to rule out possible unforeseen discoveries. Hyperium and the last reveal of the novel aren't outside of the realm of possibility, mind you, but it is much easier to swallow when we imagine both as having been manufactured by an intelligence rather than being mysteriously "found". In this respect, the author is moving no further outside of the lines than Arthur C. Clarke ever did, and I think that's rather the point.
The author focused on story, political and economical pressures, and most of all, on love.
We readers do love to feel a connection to the characters, don't we? :) Well, I did. I wasn't quite sure I would, and a few pages made me wonder, but I'm very happy that I stuck with it. There wasn't a wasted passage.
I'll absolutely continue on with the series and wish the author all the very best luck! Here's to a grand adventure!
And lastly, thank you for the ARC. I was certainly not disappointed with the story nor the science. :)
April 20, 2016
This is not usually the type of book that I’m drawn to but it caught my attention. For one thing, the author is a former NASA Space Shuttle engineer. Plus I’ve always been fascinated with space travel.
This book takes place about 100 years in the future and travel to planets many light years away is now a possibility. A reporter, Mandi Nkosi, stumbles upon a conspiracy involving the government, terrorists and Applied Interstellar Corporation, which is a powerful science and technology company. AIC is the discoverer of hyperium, which has greatly speeded up interplanetary travel. The weird thing is that hyperium can only be found one place in the entire universe – Saturn’s moon of Hyperion.
I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more about the finding of hyperiuim and thought there might be an alien twist involved. And I got lost in some of the scientific explanations but then again I’m not normally a sci fi reader so those who are more used to this genre may be better able to follow that part. But the book was a fun ride regardless. I enjoyed reading this author’s perception of what our world will be like 100 years from now. It’s quite a suspenseful book and has a couple of sub-plots involving Mandi’s mother and the loss of one of their scientists, Sophie, that make it even more enjoyable. This is the first book in the Anghazi Series so there’s an open ending to it. So if you enjoy this one, there’s a promise of more to come.
This book was given to me by Smith Publicity in return for an honest review.
This book takes place about 100 years in the future and travel to planets many light years away is now a possibility. A reporter, Mandi Nkosi, stumbles upon a conspiracy involving the government, terrorists and Applied Interstellar Corporation, which is a powerful science and technology company. AIC is the discoverer of hyperium, which has greatly speeded up interplanetary travel. The weird thing is that hyperium can only be found one place in the entire universe – Saturn’s moon of Hyperion.
I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more about the finding of hyperiuim and thought there might be an alien twist involved. And I got lost in some of the scientific explanations but then again I’m not normally a sci fi reader so those who are more used to this genre may be better able to follow that part. But the book was a fun ride regardless. I enjoyed reading this author’s perception of what our world will be like 100 years from now. It’s quite a suspenseful book and has a couple of sub-plots involving Mandi’s mother and the loss of one of their scientists, Sophie, that make it even more enjoyable. This is the first book in the Anghazi Series so there’s an open ending to it. So if you enjoy this one, there’s a promise of more to come.
This book was given to me by Smith Publicity in return for an honest review.
April 24, 2016
SciFi and politics, what could be better? If you add in the realism of NASA backed information it is much better. Darren Bayer has taken around five years to produce this first instalment but for me the wait was worth it. He has combined his extensive knowledge of space related things to a very good storyline to produce an entertaining and exciting novel. Mandi is a journalist who uncovers some evidence of a dark plot to take over the interests of one of the world largest corporations AIC and their revolutionary technology. This technology has allowed interstellar travel and the discovery of new worlds including Eridani where AIC are now head-quartered. The book gathers pace all the time and has very exciting final chapters but most of all it is a very believable view of the future
March 31, 2020
For the record: I won a free Kindle copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway … over two years ago. Hi. My name is Stewart, and I'm a Kindle-Giveaway-aholic. Given my backlog, a saner person would have stopped entering giveaways a long time ago. I suppose there are worse problems to have …
To be fair, at least some of the blame for the length of time that I took to finish this particular book rests squarely with me. If I’ve got my tablet in hand, I’m usually doing any one of hundreds of other things instead of using the Kindle app: checking email, browsing Facebook, surfing the web, chatting with friends, doing puzzles … and then I see the charge has run down, so plug it in and read a physical book while it's charging.
It's certainly not a bad book, by any means. AIC, a corporation based in the Eridani system has brought forth a revolution in space travel, allowing humanity to begin reaching for the stars. But there are ruthless forces on Earth who will stop at nothing to discover their corporate secrets …
It's a cracking good SF thriller, well-paced, decent characters … it's perhaps more about momentum than depth, and it does end with the stage set for the next book. It's one of those books that is entertaining while reading it, but that fades from memory pretty quickly afterward. It's not terrible or anything, just … average. SF is traditionally a literature of ideas, and, when you get right down to it, this book doesn't have many new ones. Fun, but inconsequential.
To be fair, at least some of the blame for the length of time that I took to finish this particular book rests squarely with me. If I’ve got my tablet in hand, I’m usually doing any one of hundreds of other things instead of using the Kindle app: checking email, browsing Facebook, surfing the web, chatting with friends, doing puzzles … and then I see the charge has run down, so plug it in and read a physical book while it's charging.
It's certainly not a bad book, by any means. AIC, a corporation based in the Eridani system has brought forth a revolution in space travel, allowing humanity to begin reaching for the stars. But there are ruthless forces on Earth who will stop at nothing to discover their corporate secrets …
It's a cracking good SF thriller, well-paced, decent characters … it's perhaps more about momentum than depth, and it does end with the stage set for the next book. It's one of those books that is entertaining while reading it, but that fades from memory pretty quickly afterward. It's not terrible or anything, just … average. SF is traditionally a literature of ideas, and, when you get right down to it, this book doesn't have many new ones. Fun, but inconsequential.
August 7, 2018
This is a lively SF thriller set in a future when Cape Canaveral is rusting and overgrown, and a media producer called Mandi gets a tipoff about the enrichment of uranium somewhere for some purpose. Next thing her car is tampered with and the GPS system drives it off a bridge.
We also see future America, not so nicely the subject of politics, and up in space around a planet like Earth, with slightly less gravity, is a spaceship with folks happy to call home New Reykjavik. I was not that interested in any of the male characters, who seemed one-dimensional, but perhaps that was just by contrast with the warm Mandi, who goes to visit some Zulu people from her mother's tribe, for a celebration, while in Africa.
Plenty of tensions, allegations about aliens and a rare element found on just one moon in the Solar System. And a space battle at the end. I liked this book but didn't love it, but having done the work of setting up for the series, it's fine, and the next books might grab me more.
I availed of a free download day. This is an unbiased review.
We also see future America, not so nicely the subject of politics, and up in space around a planet like Earth, with slightly less gravity, is a spaceship with folks happy to call home New Reykjavik. I was not that interested in any of the male characters, who seemed one-dimensional, but perhaps that was just by contrast with the warm Mandi, who goes to visit some Zulu people from her mother's tribe, for a celebration, while in Africa.
Plenty of tensions, allegations about aliens and a rare element found on just one moon in the Solar System. And a space battle at the end. I liked this book but didn't love it, but having done the work of setting up for the series, it's fine, and the next books might grab me more.
I availed of a free download day. This is an unbiased review.
January 20, 2019
"Casimir Bridge" is an award-winning technothriller that combines deep space exploration and advanced technology with vicious corporate intrigue and global power struggles. The last thing I expected when I started this book, was to be abandoning it at 75%.
For me, the book got off to a weak start with a device I hate, a prologue. It was a short chapter that started in the middle of some action, ended with violence and was followed by a "One Week Earlier" heading before chapter two. The prologue wasn't badly done but I think it was a poor editing decision. To me, it shows a lack of confidence in either the reader or the writing. It says "let's show them some action at the beginning so we don't lose them while we're setting up."
I enjoyed the next part, which set up the good guys, the bad guys, and the likeable outsider to whom everything could be explained, in this case, a young reporter who actually investigates things.. There was some explanation of the technology and a little world building. Then, for reasons I still don't understand, we headed off for a Zulu dance festival where our young reporter turns out to be part of the privileged elite. What that added to the plot or the characterisation still isn't clear to me.
By thirty-two per cent I was wondering if I would continue with the book. I liked the idea of intrigue on an interplanetary scale, larded with big dollops of hard science but I wasn't connecting with it on a personal level. Then the plot took a turn, our young reporter was rescued from a dire situation by a tall, dark and handsome, respectful, competent, quietly-alpha male and real thriller stuff started to happen at some speed.
So I continued, initially because I wanted to know what would happen next, and then because the science was interesting.
I stopped at seventy-five per cent when I realised I no longer had anything more than a mild curiosity about what would happen next.
When I'm reading a thriller, I expect to be keen to find out what happens and or be committed to the success of at least one character.. Neither the lead good guy nor the lead bad guy had much going for them to hold my interest. The politics was too superficial to offer any surprises and, although our young reporter still offered some interest, the action was constantly slowed while we examined some aspect of space technology.
More Larry Niven than Michael Crichton, "Casimir Bridge" does Hard SF well but struggles for traction as a thriller. If your main interest is in space science, spiced with strategy games, I think you'll have fun with this. If you really want a thriller, I doubt this will do it for you.
For me, the book got off to a weak start with a device I hate, a prologue. It was a short chapter that started in the middle of some action, ended with violence and was followed by a "One Week Earlier" heading before chapter two. The prologue wasn't badly done but I think it was a poor editing decision. To me, it shows a lack of confidence in either the reader or the writing. It says "let's show them some action at the beginning so we don't lose them while we're setting up."
I enjoyed the next part, which set up the good guys, the bad guys, and the likeable outsider to whom everything could be explained, in this case, a young reporter who actually investigates things.. There was some explanation of the technology and a little world building. Then, for reasons I still don't understand, we headed off for a Zulu dance festival where our young reporter turns out to be part of the privileged elite. What that added to the plot or the characterisation still isn't clear to me.
By thirty-two per cent I was wondering if I would continue with the book. I liked the idea of intrigue on an interplanetary scale, larded with big dollops of hard science but I wasn't connecting with it on a personal level. Then the plot took a turn, our young reporter was rescued from a dire situation by a tall, dark and handsome, respectful, competent, quietly-alpha male and real thriller stuff started to happen at some speed.
So I continued, initially because I wanted to know what would happen next, and then because the science was interesting.
I stopped at seventy-five per cent when I realised I no longer had anything more than a mild curiosity about what would happen next.
When I'm reading a thriller, I expect to be keen to find out what happens and or be committed to the success of at least one character.. Neither the lead good guy nor the lead bad guy had much going for them to hold my interest. The politics was too superficial to offer any surprises and, although our young reporter still offered some interest, the action was constantly slowed while we examined some aspect of space technology.
More Larry Niven than Michael Crichton, "Casimir Bridge" does Hard SF well but struggles for traction as a thriller. If your main interest is in space science, spiced with strategy games, I think you'll have fun with this. If you really want a thriller, I doubt this will do it for you.
May 3, 2016
“Casimir Bridge” eBook was published in 2016 and was written by Darren Beyer. This is Mr. Beyer’s first novel.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. This Science Fiction novel is set in the future where not only has the Solar System been colonized, but outposts on nearby stars have as well.
The primary character is Mandi Nkasi, a reporter. She is trying to find the details that will give her an exclusive, ground breaking story. Instead she is almost killed and must flee if she is to save herself.
What she had stumbled on was a power struggle between Jans Mikel, CEO of Applied Interstellar Corporation (AIC) and Gregory Andrews former CEO of TSI. Andrews, having officially given up the reigns of TSI, still wields plenty of power. He is willing to do anything to obtain the technology that AIC has develeloped.
Mikel had move much of his corporate offices and research to another star system. He knows there will be a confrontation with Earth, and AIC has already lost a few ships under mysterious conditions. He thinks that his preparations will keep AIC safe, but does he know the full extent of the powers arrayed against him?
It becomes a race to see if AIC can clear itself of allegations that it is aligned with terrorists, before Andrews manipulates things to take AIC over. There is considerable action, as well as a touch of romance as the story unfolds. I liked the characters in this novel and look forward to the next installment in the “Anghazi Series”. Without giving away any spoilers, I can say that the book ends in a cliff hanger promising an exciting sequel. I give this novel a 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. This Science Fiction novel is set in the future where not only has the Solar System been colonized, but outposts on nearby stars have as well.
The primary character is Mandi Nkasi, a reporter. She is trying to find the details that will give her an exclusive, ground breaking story. Instead she is almost killed and must flee if she is to save herself.
What she had stumbled on was a power struggle between Jans Mikel, CEO of Applied Interstellar Corporation (AIC) and Gregory Andrews former CEO of TSI. Andrews, having officially given up the reigns of TSI, still wields plenty of power. He is willing to do anything to obtain the technology that AIC has develeloped.
Mikel had move much of his corporate offices and research to another star system. He knows there will be a confrontation with Earth, and AIC has already lost a few ships under mysterious conditions. He thinks that his preparations will keep AIC safe, but does he know the full extent of the powers arrayed against him?
It becomes a race to see if AIC can clear itself of allegations that it is aligned with terrorists, before Andrews manipulates things to take AIC over. There is considerable action, as well as a touch of romance as the story unfolds. I liked the characters in this novel and look forward to the next installment in the “Anghazi Series”. Without giving away any spoilers, I can say that the book ends in a cliff hanger promising an exciting sequel. I give this novel a 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
October 1, 2016
An epic tale reminiscent of older science fiction
4.5 out of 5 stars
I used to be obsessed with science fiction books. Anything I could get my hands on by Arthur C. Clarke and the likes I would just eat them up. I still love a good sci-fi book, but a lot of them have fallen short of the pedestal that I put some of these books on. Casimir Bridge has been one of the closest I've found in a long time. It reminded me of older sci-fi, the meaty and well thought out science fiction of 10 years ago.
The other unique part of this is that it seems to combine two of my favorite genres, science fiction, and thrillers into an epic story about space, politics, and more. Beyer definitely knows a thing or two about the things he writes about and it oozes out of every page. The knowledge is definitely there and it's given to readers in an easy to digest way too.
Casimir Bridge is the first book in the Anghazi series, and it really kicks it off with a bang. It was quickly paced with good character development. Sometimes books like these can get lost in the details, but Beyer was able to pull it off nicely while still giving readers juicy morsels of detail.
Overall, Casimir Bridge was a really enjoyable book that ended in a cliffhanger. It definitely left me wanting to know what happens in book 2.
I think that Beyer would also benefit from turning this into an audiobook, but I know that the task feels incredibly daunting and expensive. I'm not sure how much it would/could cost him, but I think that it would benefit this series greatly.
4.5 out of 5 stars
I used to be obsessed with science fiction books. Anything I could get my hands on by Arthur C. Clarke and the likes I would just eat them up. I still love a good sci-fi book, but a lot of them have fallen short of the pedestal that I put some of these books on. Casimir Bridge has been one of the closest I've found in a long time. It reminded me of older sci-fi, the meaty and well thought out science fiction of 10 years ago.
The other unique part of this is that it seems to combine two of my favorite genres, science fiction, and thrillers into an epic story about space, politics, and more. Beyer definitely knows a thing or two about the things he writes about and it oozes out of every page. The knowledge is definitely there and it's given to readers in an easy to digest way too.
Casimir Bridge is the first book in the Anghazi series, and it really kicks it off with a bang. It was quickly paced with good character development. Sometimes books like these can get lost in the details, but Beyer was able to pull it off nicely while still giving readers juicy morsels of detail.
Overall, Casimir Bridge was a really enjoyable book that ended in a cliffhanger. It definitely left me wanting to know what happens in book 2.
I think that Beyer would also benefit from turning this into an audiobook, but I know that the task feels incredibly daunting and expensive. I'm not sure how much it would/could cost him, but I think that it would benefit this series greatly.
May 16, 2016
Casimir Bridge is an interstellar who done it. It starts with danger and ramps up from there. Mandisa Nkosi is a reporter who thinks that she has a great story only to have it bumped off the air. What follows is a bigger story that leads her into the world of corporate intrigue and out of the solar system. With the help of Grae Raymus and other great characters an interesting back story along with great world building keeps the story moving. There is a lot of action left for the next books in the series so read Casimire Bridge and then watch for the next book in the series.
December 20, 2017
Sci-fi meets thriller
"The theory is that the entry creates a small wormhole, and the exit anchors it—the entry sends a carrier signal, and the exit responds with precise position and environmental data allowing the wormhole to stabilize and grow."
Mandi Nkosi is an investigative journalist who finds herself caught up in a massive conspiracy that has interplanetary connotations. A company called Applied Interstellar Corporation that has found something to speed up space travel - a rare element that is only found on one of Saturn's moons. This can be used to create the Casimir Bridge of the title. Then, of course, there are dark forces that want to use this new technology for evil ends...
This is a really fast-paced, action-filled romp with enough science to make make nerds and geeks (What is the difference? Is there one?) very happy and enough handwavium in the whole Hyperium thing to prevent it becoming too bogged down by the rather dull reality that would make it all impossible.
“External Propulsion Independent of Controller. The name’s a little mundane. We just like the acronym.”
This book is well written and easy to dive through. The story has a lot of interesting twists and turns, some well thought out political intrigue and some cool action. The world building is well done creating a believable view of how things could be as humanity begins reaching out into space. The dialogue is catchy and believable and there are nice touches of humour here and there.
'Suddenly, her somberness was replaced with excitement, her sorrow with growing euphoria.'
So what was not to like? Well for me Mandi was just a bit too much of a Mary-Sue at times. She seemed to just happen to have a few too many convenient skills, areas of knowledge or abilities that were not really what you would expect from the background we are given. It was borderline, but it did grate for me. The other major crime in my eyes is one another reader might not mind about. That was the first chapter. At the end of it, you are left assuming Mandi is dead and the next chapter that starts 'One Week Earlier' does little to remove that assumption. Why would I want to read about a character I know is going to die? All tension is lost for me in the story that follows and if, by chance, it turns out the character is not in fact dead then it feels to me like a really cheap author trick and that irritates me no end.
My personal caveats aside, this is a book that will appeal to people who like solid sci-fi thrillers. It is certainly well worth the investment of your time to read that 'Look Inside' as it might well be one you really enjoy!
"The theory is that the entry creates a small wormhole, and the exit anchors it—the entry sends a carrier signal, and the exit responds with precise position and environmental data allowing the wormhole to stabilize and grow."
Mandi Nkosi is an investigative journalist who finds herself caught up in a massive conspiracy that has interplanetary connotations. A company called Applied Interstellar Corporation that has found something to speed up space travel - a rare element that is only found on one of Saturn's moons. This can be used to create the Casimir Bridge of the title. Then, of course, there are dark forces that want to use this new technology for evil ends...
This is a really fast-paced, action-filled romp with enough science to make make nerds and geeks (What is the difference? Is there one?) very happy and enough handwavium in the whole Hyperium thing to prevent it becoming too bogged down by the rather dull reality that would make it all impossible.
“External Propulsion Independent of Controller. The name’s a little mundane. We just like the acronym.”
This book is well written and easy to dive through. The story has a lot of interesting twists and turns, some well thought out political intrigue and some cool action. The world building is well done creating a believable view of how things could be as humanity begins reaching out into space. The dialogue is catchy and believable and there are nice touches of humour here and there.
'Suddenly, her somberness was replaced with excitement, her sorrow with growing euphoria.'
So what was not to like? Well for me Mandi was just a bit too much of a Mary-Sue at times. She seemed to just happen to have a few too many convenient skills, areas of knowledge or abilities that were not really what you would expect from the background we are given. It was borderline, but it did grate for me. The other major crime in my eyes is one another reader might not mind about. That was the first chapter. At the end of it, you are left assuming Mandi is dead and the next chapter that starts 'One Week Earlier' does little to remove that assumption. Why would I want to read about a character I know is going to die? All tension is lost for me in the story that follows and if, by chance, it turns out the character is not in fact dead then it feels to me like a really cheap author trick and that irritates me no end.
My personal caveats aside, this is a book that will appeal to people who like solid sci-fi thrillers. It is certainly well worth the investment of your time to read that 'Look Inside' as it might well be one you really enjoy!
February 18, 2018
First, sincere apologies to Darren Beyer. He offered me this book more than a year ago in exchange for an honest review. I finally realized with so many books in my "to read" stack, I really should not be accepting any more review copies so Beyer's book was the last one over the moat before I raised the drawbridge and I finally got to it.
I was initially attracted to the story due to Beyer's background as a NASA scientist. I felt this would lead to some realism with regard to the space based portions of the tale. I was also impressed with his descriptive powers regarding the area around Cape Canaveral as I have spent a fair amount of time in the area.
I think the discovery of an element that has the power to create worm holes to permit interstellar travel is a bit of a stretch, but who knows, it is science fiction after all. Still, interesting story weaving politics, corporate greed and nefarious deeds so held my interest. Should be enjoyable to the majority of sci-fi fans!
I was initially attracted to the story due to Beyer's background as a NASA scientist. I felt this would lead to some realism with regard to the space based portions of the tale. I was also impressed with his descriptive powers regarding the area around Cape Canaveral as I have spent a fair amount of time in the area.
I think the discovery of an element that has the power to create worm holes to permit interstellar travel is a bit of a stretch, but who knows, it is science fiction after all. Still, interesting story weaving politics, corporate greed and nefarious deeds so held my interest. Should be enjoyable to the majority of sci-fi fans!
May 12, 2016
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2016/05/1...
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent
Publishing Date: February 2016
ISBN: 9781530164080
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 2.7/5
Publishers Description: What follows is a heart-pounding, unforgettable ride through the hallowed halls of big government, AIC’s outer space headquarters, and the revelation of a conspiracy that runs so deep, Mandi’s life – and the future of humanity – are put at stake.
Review: The early chapters seemed as if constructed to please a television producers mien. “Oh, Mandi well you came and you gave without taking….but I sent you away….”. The initial development of Mandi is rather patterned and clichéd. Nothing can kill her bubbling optimism in the face of multiple assassination attempts. She just KNOWS TOO MUCH! She comes off rather smug but can behave badly because she is super hot and sexy and intelligent and caring and carefree and popular and tough yet tender…..well you get the picture.
On the positive side, the supporting characters were developed with superb rendition and the world building was crazy good. The science fiction has a lot of artistic license yet is rendered so well it becomes considered fact. This could be a great novel and an even better sequel if Mandi disappears into a black hole and pops out the other side to ruin an alternate universes novel.
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent
Publishing Date: February 2016
ISBN: 9781530164080
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 2.7/5
Publishers Description: What follows is a heart-pounding, unforgettable ride through the hallowed halls of big government, AIC’s outer space headquarters, and the revelation of a conspiracy that runs so deep, Mandi’s life – and the future of humanity – are put at stake.
Review: The early chapters seemed as if constructed to please a television producers mien. “Oh, Mandi well you came and you gave without taking….but I sent you away….”. The initial development of Mandi is rather patterned and clichéd. Nothing can kill her bubbling optimism in the face of multiple assassination attempts. She just KNOWS TOO MUCH! She comes off rather smug but can behave badly because she is super hot and sexy and intelligent and caring and carefree and popular and tough yet tender…..well you get the picture.
On the positive side, the supporting characters were developed with superb rendition and the world building was crazy good. The science fiction has a lot of artistic license yet is rendered so well it becomes considered fact. This could be a great novel and an even better sequel if Mandi disappears into a black hole and pops out the other side to ruin an alternate universes novel.
April 21, 2016
When I saw Casimir Bridge on NetGalley, I missed the part about the author working for NASA. I also missed the part about how the author interviewed a bunch of experts to make sure the story was hard science fiction. None of that mattered because I saw a cover with a space-suited figure working on something presumably in space with a star field behind it.
As far a ‘hard’ sci-fi, this story is still full of things that make is hard to suspend my disbelief. I wouldn’t usually mention this unless it was a serious issue, but in Casimir Bridge, the description went so far as to tout the expertise and research the author went into. Other than the magic element that is so rare, but seems to magically make space travel work – akin to unobtainium from the movie Avatar.
I’ll read bad sci-fi. It’s just by bag. Casimir Bridge is pretty good sci-fi. The ending left me a little wanting, but it wasn’t as bad as some endings I’ve had to suffer through. A few of the characters were clichéd, and more than one plot device was predictable.
Overall, I would recommend Casimir Bridge. It’s average sci-fi from an apparently above average knowledgeable author. I’d give it 3.5 stars.
As far a ‘hard’ sci-fi, this story is still full of things that make is hard to suspend my disbelief. I wouldn’t usually mention this unless it was a serious issue, but in Casimir Bridge, the description went so far as to tout the expertise and research the author went into. Other than the magic element that is so rare, but seems to magically make space travel work – akin to unobtainium from the movie Avatar.
I’ll read bad sci-fi. It’s just by bag. Casimir Bridge is pretty good sci-fi. The ending left me a little wanting, but it wasn’t as bad as some endings I’ve had to suffer through. A few of the characters were clichéd, and more than one plot device was predictable.
Overall, I would recommend Casimir Bridge. It’s average sci-fi from an apparently above average knowledgeable author. I’d give it 3.5 stars.
August 23, 2020
Overall, the story was interesting, but a couple of things left me very dissatisfied:
1: As is far too common nowadays, the first book simply ends in the middle of the story, with nothing concluded. A series of books should each have their own beginning, middle and end, telling part of the story, but still coming to at least a partial conclusion for that book. Just chopping a long, continuous story into pieces and calling each one a book is not a series, it's a serial. And I hate the serial format.
2: Spoiler if you haven't read it yet: Wondering how that was possible throughout the story greatly reduced my enjoyment of it.
Without that second one nagging at me throughout the story, I would have enjoyed it much more.
1: As is far too common nowadays, the first book simply ends in the middle of the story, with nothing concluded. A series of books should each have their own beginning, middle and end, telling part of the story, but still coming to at least a partial conclusion for that book. Just chopping a long, continuous story into pieces and calling each one a book is not a series, it's a serial. And I hate the serial format.
2: Spoiler if you haven't read it yet: Wondering how that was possible throughout the story greatly reduced my enjoyment of it.
Without that second one nagging at me throughout the story, I would have enjoyed it much more.
May 12, 2016
I was asked to read this book by the author because of another book I had read and reviewed. I was leery this looked pretty high tech and it was. This book was so much more than expected. As you read this book you realize how much time and effort this author has spent creating this book and all it's characters and technology. I could not put it down. The technology is explained simply and yet it's complicated at the same time but some how it all makes sense. An amazing story that I've very glad I read and I will be reading more in the series. This guy knows his stuff!
September 6, 2016
I received a free copy from Goodreads’ First Reads program
This is a good story – but I think it would work even better in a movie format in order to better showcase both the technology and science described (there are some BIG set pieces here) and to better show how much movement and action is involved. These characters hardly ever get a chance to catch their breath as they race from one plot point to the next.
So, overall, a good story but it reads much more as a script than a book.
Hope the movie gets made! :-)
September 11, 2016
Science fiction but so much more. Reading like a movie rather than a book, this is a fast paced thriller about the twenty second century when big business manipulates the system for sinister advancement. Add a curious news reporter with a mysterious past and a lot of action and you have a well-crafted space story for grown-ups. No R2D2's here. Beyer's vision of the future is as realistic as it is a roller coaster techno ride for any sci-fi enthusiast.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
April 30, 2016
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This is a pretty good Sci fi read with politics and science fiction involved.
All right you have to believe certain things will happen in the future but the story itself is very enjoyable.
This is a pretty good Sci fi read with politics and science fiction involved.
All right you have to believe certain things will happen in the future but the story itself is very enjoyable.
January 29, 2018
Intrigue, Action and a Little Romance
In my reviews, I usually skip a brief plot synopsis because the book description covers it along with several previous reviews by other people. I have a checklist I follow when reviewing a story (although I order it differently for each review):
Settings – Descriptions to the third power – that’s the best way to describe this work. The author does an excellent job here, placing the reader right on the spot without slowing the story.
Theme(s) – The dark side of materialistic human nature is one of the themes presented in this book. I pointed that out in particular since it’s a main driving force of the story, and again, the author handles this theme very well.
Characters – All the characters in Casimir Bridge are memorable, which I believe is one of the most important aspects of any book. Every character has a story purpose, but more importantly, they have individual distinguishing traits that make them three-dimensional.
Plot / Story – This area is well done, but I have some issues as noted in the pacing / structure topic below that tie in with the plot.
Pacing and Structure – The pacing of the story starts off ok, but slows down as the main characters are introduced and doesn’t pick up until after the first 30 some pages. A lot of the chapters are too short and produce a choppy effect that becomes tiresome since it doesn’t vary. Lengthening or combining some chapters can mitigate this staccato pace and make it more interesting. Chapter 17 is particularly jarring since events occur that aren’t fully explained until chapter 19.
Dialog – The dialog needs work – especially with the use of contractions. In some dialog, contractions are mixed with the long form of words – this isn’t consistent with the way someone would normally speak. Also, dialog tags are not your enemy, although some authors believe that. After approximately the fourth line of dialog, some attribution to the speaker is needed so the reader doesn’t lose track of who is speaking. Also, without attribution, the characters just become talking heads. One way to eliminate dialog tags and show attribution is to include character action during the dialog, but over usage of this slows the story and adds to the length of the work.
Research / Technical – There are too many acronyms (a lot of them unexplained) which tends to patronize the reader after the first several usages. Another issue I have with the technical side of the story is the mix of technology in some areas. Example: if the characters have access to fabulous tech that can take them to another star system, they surely wouldn’t use chain-link fence to secure the perimeter of their base.
Grammar / Punctuation – While there are no obvious errors in this area, there are several instances of weak verb construction in this story. This might seem nit-picky, but if an author strives to get everything else right, why not this too?
In summary, Casimir Bridge is worth your time to read. My feedback is directed at the author to help that person to grow as a writer, and it’s just my opinion.
In my reviews, I usually skip a brief plot synopsis because the book description covers it along with several previous reviews by other people. I have a checklist I follow when reviewing a story (although I order it differently for each review):
Settings – Descriptions to the third power – that’s the best way to describe this work. The author does an excellent job here, placing the reader right on the spot without slowing the story.
Theme(s) – The dark side of materialistic human nature is one of the themes presented in this book. I pointed that out in particular since it’s a main driving force of the story, and again, the author handles this theme very well.
Characters – All the characters in Casimir Bridge are memorable, which I believe is one of the most important aspects of any book. Every character has a story purpose, but more importantly, they have individual distinguishing traits that make them three-dimensional.
Plot / Story – This area is well done, but I have some issues as noted in the pacing / structure topic below that tie in with the plot.
Pacing and Structure – The pacing of the story starts off ok, but slows down as the main characters are introduced and doesn’t pick up until after the first 30 some pages. A lot of the chapters are too short and produce a choppy effect that becomes tiresome since it doesn’t vary. Lengthening or combining some chapters can mitigate this staccato pace and make it more interesting. Chapter 17 is particularly jarring since events occur that aren’t fully explained until chapter 19.
Dialog – The dialog needs work – especially with the use of contractions. In some dialog, contractions are mixed with the long form of words – this isn’t consistent with the way someone would normally speak. Also, dialog tags are not your enemy, although some authors believe that. After approximately the fourth line of dialog, some attribution to the speaker is needed so the reader doesn’t lose track of who is speaking. Also, without attribution, the characters just become talking heads. One way to eliminate dialog tags and show attribution is to include character action during the dialog, but over usage of this slows the story and adds to the length of the work.
Research / Technical – There are too many acronyms (a lot of them unexplained) which tends to patronize the reader after the first several usages. Another issue I have with the technical side of the story is the mix of technology in some areas. Example: if the characters have access to fabulous tech that can take them to another star system, they surely wouldn’t use chain-link fence to secure the perimeter of their base.
Grammar / Punctuation – While there are no obvious errors in this area, there are several instances of weak verb construction in this story. This might seem nit-picky, but if an author strives to get everything else right, why not this too?
In summary, Casimir Bridge is worth your time to read. My feedback is directed at the author to help that person to grow as a writer, and it’s just my opinion.
April 7, 2018
I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
I hadn't heard of the author before I placed my name in the hat for the giveaway, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. The story was very good overall. To be nit-picky, I could have done without the romance angle between two of the main characters, I felt it was a bit phoned in and added nothing to the plot. It didn't take away, but nothing in the story relied upon it. It was filler. Another issue I had was the main protagonist fluctuated between hard-nosed reporter to gushing teenager with a crush...and I think the author's attempt at injecting the superfluous romance was the cause of that. The related dialogue of other characters was at times cringe-worthy ("...if you don't kiss her, I will..." oy.). This whole side story is the reason I took a star.
Overall, the story started a little slow, but quickly got up to speed. By the last third of the book I couldn't put it down, the action and plot twisting kept me turning pages. Some of the twists I knew were coming, but the author did a great job revealing them. There was a mix of intrigue and action, without either being overwhelming. The characters were mostly well developed (except for the fluctuating main protagonist...the author needs to establish her personality/maturity already and stick with it). There was enough sci-fi tech to make it interesting to most without so much detailed physics as to scare people off. It's sort of hard science, but there is enough magic to keep it from getting bogged down. If you're not a fan of hard sci-fi, you'll be fine with this book. There is also just enough military-like sci-fi in here to please someone like myself, who appreciates it to a degree (I love Stormship Troopers, for example) but isn't a fan of the hardcore stuff. And it's not quite a space opera, but I can see it developing into one. It appears the story will continue (because it says at the end "To Be Continued"), and I will read the sequel. I recommend this book to anyone interested in science fiction.
I hadn't heard of the author before I placed my name in the hat for the giveaway, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. The story was very good overall. To be nit-picky, I could have done without the romance angle between two of the main characters, I felt it was a bit phoned in and added nothing to the plot. It didn't take away, but nothing in the story relied upon it. It was filler. Another issue I had was the main protagonist fluctuated between hard-nosed reporter to gushing teenager with a crush...and I think the author's attempt at injecting the superfluous romance was the cause of that. The related dialogue of other characters was at times cringe-worthy ("...if you don't kiss her, I will..." oy.). This whole side story is the reason I took a star.
Overall, the story started a little slow, but quickly got up to speed. By the last third of the book I couldn't put it down, the action and plot twisting kept me turning pages. Some of the twists I knew were coming, but the author did a great job revealing them. There was a mix of intrigue and action, without either being overwhelming. The characters were mostly well developed (except for the fluctuating main protagonist...the author needs to establish her personality/maturity already and stick with it). There was enough sci-fi tech to make it interesting to most without so much detailed physics as to scare people off. It's sort of hard science, but there is enough magic to keep it from getting bogged down. If you're not a fan of hard sci-fi, you'll be fine with this book. There is also just enough military-like sci-fi in here to please someone like myself, who appreciates it to a degree (I love Stormship Troopers, for example) but isn't a fan of the hardcore stuff. And it's not quite a space opera, but I can see it developing into one. It appears the story will continue (because it says at the end "To Be Continued"), and I will read the sequel. I recommend this book to anyone interested in science fiction.
July 12, 2018
Mandisa Nkosi is a young reporter and she holds in her hand what could be the greatest once in a lifetime story. A whistle blower of sorts has given her a data chip containing proof she needs. Meanwhile forces are in place to take over a lucrative research facility. The only way they can do this is discredit the founder Jans Mikel. Jans has a secret; if it falls in the wrong hands will destroy our civilization as we know it. Jans makes his home on the planet Eridani. On his return trip to Eridani, Jans finds out that another of their spaceships has been lost: the Gaussian Surveyor. On that spaceship was Jan’s lover Sophia. All are presumed dead, but how and why are still in question. Jan agrees to send the Dauntless, a top secret black ops ship, to find out what happened. Things seem to be getting worse at AIC; they have been implicated in a terrorist attack. Europium enriched uranium found only in Eridani was found at the site of the attack. AIC has identified Ms. Nkosi as receiving information on nuclear material. Why and how is Mandisa Nkosi involved and why would the daughter of Gisela Nkosi, an AIC employee, be interested? Just after receiving the data chip Mandisa’s self-driving car is been electronically hijacked, sending her and the car careering to the green waters of a river. She is thrown thru the windshield. Luckily for her she has a guardian angel Raymus watching over her. Raymus works for AIC. Their adventure will take them on a faraway journey on the Dauntless. Someone wants Jans dead; his shuttle is compromised, sending it plummeting to the planet’s surface. He survives and vows to uncover why he and his company is being targeted. I really enjoyed this science fiction tale. Most of the technical details of the story where beyond my comprehension, but I did get the gist of it, so that it did not hinder my interest. The characters are complex and juicy; their struggles real and interactions complex. There are twists and turns and surprises to keep you entertained.
I won this eBook on Goodreads.com
I won this eBook on Goodreads.com
July 8, 2018
Super beginning...
Please note that I received a copy of " "Casimir Bridege" from Goodreads to read and review. Note that it is the first book in a series. It is one you will want to follow.
I read "Casimir Bridge" with enjoyment and a growing appreciation for the author's ability to present a really good story. His novel is set about 100 years into the future. Earth, though changed in some ways, still remains divided into competing nation -states, not exactly at war, but involved in vicious economic competition. One of the most contentious areas is access to technology , especially space travel tech.
As the characters are introduced to the reader , we find two mega-corporations almost at the point of outright war. One, has the monopoly on the technology that allows deep space travel; the other wants it. The " it" is a mineral called Hyperium which is available only from the moon- planet Hyperia, which was colonized by the one corporation and has the monopoly; that monopoly is being challenged by its competitor.
The author has a degrees and experience in space tech, as an engineer he worked on the space shuttles and other NASA projects. He uses that knowledge to write plausibly about space, spacecraft and space travel. Most importantly , he does it without getting to far out, to coin a pun, so that everything is quite plausible and understandable to those of us who think quantum mechanics is the name of an auto repair company.
The story had overtones of Atlas Shrugged for me. Jan Mikels, the the CEO of the company that discovered, developed and mined Hyperium, and then put it to use in space craft he designed. His protagonist/ enemy want to steal it all and is plotting to do so with the aid of the government.
This fast-moving, compelling and throughly entertaining book is definitely a must-read for any sci-fi fan.
I look forward to the sequel.
Please note that I received a copy of " "Casimir Bridege" from Goodreads to read and review. Note that it is the first book in a series. It is one you will want to follow.
I read "Casimir Bridge" with enjoyment and a growing appreciation for the author's ability to present a really good story. His novel is set about 100 years into the future. Earth, though changed in some ways, still remains divided into competing nation -states, not exactly at war, but involved in vicious economic competition. One of the most contentious areas is access to technology , especially space travel tech.
As the characters are introduced to the reader , we find two mega-corporations almost at the point of outright war. One, has the monopoly on the technology that allows deep space travel; the other wants it. The " it" is a mineral called Hyperium which is available only from the moon- planet Hyperia, which was colonized by the one corporation and has the monopoly; that monopoly is being challenged by its competitor.
The author has a degrees and experience in space tech, as an engineer he worked on the space shuttles and other NASA projects. He uses that knowledge to write plausibly about space, spacecraft and space travel. Most importantly , he does it without getting to far out, to coin a pun, so that everything is quite plausible and understandable to those of us who think quantum mechanics is the name of an auto repair company.
The story had overtones of Atlas Shrugged for me. Jan Mikels, the the CEO of the company that discovered, developed and mined Hyperium, and then put it to use in space craft he designed. His protagonist/ enemy want to steal it all and is plotting to do so with the aid of the government.
This fast-moving, compelling and throughly entertaining book is definitely a must-read for any sci-fi fan.
I look forward to the sequel.
October 4, 2017
Five Category Rating System:
Concept: Star
Writing: Star
Structure: 1/2 Star
Credibility: Star
Character: 1/2 Star
-------------------------
Total: 4 Stars
Audience Suitability: Young Adult - Profanity, Violence
"Casimir Bridge" combines interplanetary intrigue, visionary technology, and engaging characters into a Science Fiction tapestry.
What I liked:
It is obvious that the writer knows his science and does a good job of weaving it into the narrative. For the most part, the characters are interesting and believable. About a third of the way into the book, I started to want to read more. Always a good sign. The plot was complex but seldom difficult to follow. The writing was concise, clear, and easy to read. Action scenes were well choreographed and completely believable. Editing was of professional quality with only a few typos and no continuity errors.
What I did not like:
On rare occasions, the explanations of technology drifted into the realm of the author talking directly to the reader. This broke my suspension of disbelief. In a few places, primaries acted out of character. This seemed to me to reveal the author manipulating the narrative to further the plot, interrupting the flow. These were all very small defects in what was a well told tale. My main complaint was that, although there was some resolution at the end, "Casimir Bridge" finished largely as a cliffhanger for a sequel. Personally, I find this disappointing, especially when the author has done such an admirable job of involving me in the story.
In the end, I have to recommend "Casimir Bridge" to anyone who enjoys a rip-roaring space adventure. Its flaws are miniscule compared to its merits.
Concept: Star
Writing: Star
Structure: 1/2 Star
Credibility: Star
Character: 1/2 Star
-------------------------
Total: 4 Stars
Audience Suitability: Young Adult - Profanity, Violence
"Casimir Bridge" combines interplanetary intrigue, visionary technology, and engaging characters into a Science Fiction tapestry.
What I liked:
It is obvious that the writer knows his science and does a good job of weaving it into the narrative. For the most part, the characters are interesting and believable. About a third of the way into the book, I started to want to read more. Always a good sign. The plot was complex but seldom difficult to follow. The writing was concise, clear, and easy to read. Action scenes were well choreographed and completely believable. Editing was of professional quality with only a few typos and no continuity errors.
What I did not like:
On rare occasions, the explanations of technology drifted into the realm of the author talking directly to the reader. This broke my suspension of disbelief. In a few places, primaries acted out of character. This seemed to me to reveal the author manipulating the narrative to further the plot, interrupting the flow. These were all very small defects in what was a well told tale. My main complaint was that, although there was some resolution at the end, "Casimir Bridge" finished largely as a cliffhanger for a sequel. Personally, I find this disappointing, especially when the author has done such an admirable job of involving me in the story.
In the end, I have to recommend "Casimir Bridge" to anyone who enjoys a rip-roaring space adventure. Its flaws are miniscule compared to its merits.
October 22, 2017
The good: Decent writing that is easy to understand and keep up with. Entertaining. The plot is interesting and makes me want to keep reading even over the not-so-good parts. There is promise but it needs work.
The not-so-good: The characters lack depth, a reason to connect with them, and believability. The science aspect of this sci-fi makes it difficult to just accept, that whole suspension of belief issue. The dialogue makes me cringe more often than not.
Overall: With a few adjustments I could see this becoming a hit with sci-fi fans.
Summary: This will be a love it or hate it type of read with few inbetweeners. If you can get past the not-so-good bits then you'll enjoy this read.
Disclaimer: This book was provided without charge with the expectation of receiving a review in return. No other services or payments were provided. No promise of a glowing review were insinuated.
Review by Jerry
The not-so-good: The characters lack depth, a reason to connect with them, and believability. The science aspect of this sci-fi makes it difficult to just accept, that whole suspension of belief issue. The dialogue makes me cringe more often than not.
Overall: With a few adjustments I could see this becoming a hit with sci-fi fans.
Summary: This will be a love it or hate it type of read with few inbetweeners. If you can get past the not-so-good bits then you'll enjoy this read.
Disclaimer: This book was provided without charge with the expectation of receiving a review in return. No other services or payments were provided. No promise of a glowing review were insinuated.
Review by Jerry
June 24, 2018
This was a GoodReads giveaway.
This is definitely part 1 of a series. The build up was slow. Not much real action until the last quarter. It had an interesting universe. I am not sure of the significance of the main characters backstory, but that was obviously intended to reveal itself as the series progresses.
This is not exactly a hard science book, but the science is somewhat credible and not full of serious flaws and lack of continuity. I found myself slightly bored during the early stages of this book. The action could have been played out a little earlier. I don't know how long the series is, so it is hard to tell from this first part if the story pacing is proper or not.
This is a first part, so you need to be prepared for a long read to get the entire story. I am not sure there was enough for me to bring me back. I have a very long list of books to read.
Have a GoodReads.
This is definitely part 1 of a series. The build up was slow. Not much real action until the last quarter. It had an interesting universe. I am not sure of the significance of the main characters backstory, but that was obviously intended to reveal itself as the series progresses.
This is not exactly a hard science book, but the science is somewhat credible and not full of serious flaws and lack of continuity. I found myself slightly bored during the early stages of this book. The action could have been played out a little earlier. I don't know how long the series is, so it is hard to tell from this first part if the story pacing is proper or not.
This is a first part, so you need to be prepared for a long read to get the entire story. I am not sure there was enough for me to bring me back. I have a very long list of books to read.
Have a GoodReads.
September 26, 2017
Casimir Bridge is a story told on several fronts: when the story begins, newswoman Mandi Nikosi comes close to dying as she covers a conspiracy about missing high-tech materials. Simultaneously, an off-planet base reported to be where this element is mined is under investigation, and a third story line covers ugly political machinations that expose the worst of worst of human motivations.
While the characters were somewhat stock, what I enjoyed about this story was its great pacing and earnest story line that tries to say something about the world and those who govern it. This is a fun novel that not only makes for a great read, but it has a terrific ending that makes the reader hunger for the next book.
While the characters were somewhat stock, what I enjoyed about this story was its great pacing and earnest story line that tries to say something about the world and those who govern it. This is a fun novel that not only makes for a great read, but it has a terrific ending that makes the reader hunger for the next book.
November 20, 2018
Very interesting story and ideas set in 2108, when space travel is common, mining is happening over several galaxies. The world still has the same basic issues, money and power greedy players trying to get their hand on advance technology, to gain control. The story threads are taking place in different galaxies, sometimes merging.
I love the writing style, bringing along new and new actions, while revealing advance technology. I’m an engineer, so I appreciated all the technical details and ideas.
All in all excellent book, I’ll definitely read the next ones in the series.
I got the book as a Goodreads giveaway, thank you!
I love the writing style, bringing along new and new actions, while revealing advance technology. I’m an engineer, so I appreciated all the technical details and ideas.
All in all excellent book, I’ll definitely read the next ones in the series.
I got the book as a Goodreads giveaway, thank you!
December 5, 2018
I enjoyed this as a well written and fast paced thriller as opposed to what I would consider Space Opera. There was more earth-centric corporate/political intrigue driving the plot than I expected, with a good bit of near earth interstellar travel thrown in but not much in the way of aliens and alternate societies and such. However, it did keep me engaged and interested even though I thought it was going to be something slightly different. There is a twist at the very end that was quite fascinating and very promising for the next book in the series which I happen to have won in a GoodReads Giveaway so I am looking forward to that.
June 12, 2017
As with all "good" stories, the characters can make or break the tale regardless of how awe-inspiring the backdrop is. Mr. Beyer creates memorable people who have all the same (recognizable) foibles as folks in real life AND manages to create a breath-taking backdrop PLUS a thriller into the mix. This is the first of a planned series and I will be happy to see how the characters change and grow across time and space.
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