Dr. Bones, The Secret of the Lona

Dr. Bones #1

by Stephen Leigh, Jim Steranko (Illustrator), Joel Hagan (Illustrator)

A HERO IS BORN! His name is Dr. Bones. His adventures will take him across a perilous galaxy in search of lost cities, secret empires, and vanished species. And sometimes into exploits when his background makes him the best man for a dangerous job . . . From nowhere they came, the mysterious aliens called the Lona. The races of our galaxy tried to communicate with them and failed. The Lona were not interested in talking; they had come to crush the galaxy into submission and rule it with absolute power. Ezekiel Bones is Earth’s secret weapon. He alone stands a chance of finding a way to defeat the Lona. He has learned all the ways of war, and has become a member of the top-secret mercenary army, the Legion of Ares. Yet his real strength against the Lona will be his ability to penetrate the workings of a monstrous alien mind and learn how Earth can fight back. But can Dr. Bones think like a monster without becoming a monster himself?

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 29, 2017

About the author

Stephen Leigh has been writing science fiction since he was in grade school. He sold his first story in 1975 and has been publishing regularly ever since then.

He has been nominated for and won several awards for his fiction over the years. He has written and published the occasional poems and non-fiction pieces, as well.

Steve teaches Creative Writing at Northern Kentucky University in the Greater Cincinnati area. He also plays music, and studies the Japanese martial art Aikido, in which he holds the rank of Sandan.

Stephen Leigh also writes as S.L. Farrell and Matthew Farrell.

Reviews

[Sandy Bookwitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

A basically cyberpunk tale, written in the 80s, published by a small, sci-fi/fantasy publishing house. It is, apparently, the first in a series. I'm still not sure why it's called "Dr. Bones" other than to possibly attract star trek folk. Ezekiel Bones doesn't obtain a doctorate of any type. Nor does he practice medicine, philosophy or and anything else on that level. He spends most of the book as a mercenary. The various non-human races are interesting, particularly the two the author describes in-depth. This volume was purchased for me by my beloved who perhaps understands my taste in book covers slightly better than my taste in sci-fi, which can be pretty particular.

It was an enjoyable adventure that begins on the day a boy is being shipped to Mars for military school, not because he's "bad" but because his father thinks he needs that kind of direction and discipline. While there, he proves himself in one way but earns the distrust of the command structure as well. He seeks a career outside of the military, not fitting in that world, and escapes, again, the father with whom he has a deep philosophical disagreement about what is important in life/the universe. The reader follows Zeke Bones on several adventures away from earth, fighting battles, making enemies and friends, and eventually we learn the secret of the object he makes his own in the first chapter and carries throughout the story. Not bad. If I came across the next installment, I'd probably give it a try.

[George Tackes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventure

Much more adventure and action than science fiction. Which I like. Well done. Recommended for the pure fun of it.