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Lucifer's Star #2
Lucifer's Nebula
From the bestselling author of The Rules of Supervillainy: Captain Cassius Mass can only run so far from his problems and the galaxy isn't big enough to hide from those pursuing him. Cassius soon finds himself blackmailed into a mission that will clear him of all charges as well as protect him from future persecution: bring an end to the civil war currently racking the galaxy. Accompanied by a new set of untrustworthy allies, the crew of the Melampus, and the A.I duplicate of his dead wife—Cassius needs to figure out how to not only deal with his target but also his employers.
Because the entire universe is at stake.
Because the entire universe is at stake.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2018
14 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
C.T. Phipps
93 books670 followersC.T Phipps is a lifelong student of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. An avid tabletop gamer, he discovered this passion led him to write and turned him into a lifelong geek. He is a regular reviewer on Booknest.EU and for Grimdark Magazine.
He's written the Agent G series, Cthulhu Armageddon, the Red Room Trilogy, I Was A Teenaged Weredeer, Lucifer's Star, Psycho Killers in Love, Straight Outta Fangton, The Supervillainy Saga, and Wraith Knight.
Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blog...
Website: https://ctphipps.com/
C.T. Fanclub: https://www.facebook.com/groups/14917...
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ctphipps
He's written the Agent G series, Cthulhu Armageddon, the Red Room Trilogy, I Was A Teenaged Weredeer, Lucifer's Star, Psycho Killers in Love, Straight Outta Fangton, The Supervillainy Saga, and Wraith Knight.
Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blog...
Website: https://ctphipps.com/
C.T. Fanclub: https://www.facebook.com/groups/14917...
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ctphipps
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
November 14, 2019
Audible 11-12-2019
Lucifer's Nebula
Lucifer's Star, Book 2
By: C. T. Phipps, Michael Suttkus
Narrated by: Eric Burns
Talk about family issues... Poor Cassius! You have no idea! He is no winner but although he is a bit jaded to say the least, he is out hero. Quite the adventure with a evil cloned wife and others trying to kill you.
There are clones, robets, and combinations of the two! Twists, surprises, and humor!
Great narration too!
Ebook
Lucifer's Nebula (Lucifer's Star #2) by C.T. Phipps, Michael Suttkus is a book I requested and the review is voluntary. I loved the first book and the second one is just as fun. It is a great sci-fi about cyborgs, clones, Elder races, great characters, fun plot, crazy dialogue, and good humor. This is a space opera with a different fresh look. Great fun read.
Lucifer's Nebula
Lucifer's Star, Book 2
By: C. T. Phipps, Michael Suttkus
Narrated by: Eric Burns
Talk about family issues... Poor Cassius! You have no idea! He is no winner but although he is a bit jaded to say the least, he is out hero. Quite the adventure with a evil cloned wife and others trying to kill you.
There are clones, robets, and combinations of the two! Twists, surprises, and humor!
Great narration too!
Ebook
Lucifer's Nebula (Lucifer's Star #2) by C.T. Phipps, Michael Suttkus is a book I requested and the review is voluntary. I loved the first book and the second one is just as fun. It is a great sci-fi about cyborgs, clones, Elder races, great characters, fun plot, crazy dialogue, and good humor. This is a space opera with a different fresh look. Great fun read.
August 23, 2018
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
Sequels can be hit-or-miss with me, especially when I enjoy the first installment of a series as much as I did Lucifer’s Star. The opening salvo of CT Phipps and Michael Suttkus’s dark space opera a fast-paced, exciting introduction to a new galaxy far, far away, one teeming with memorable characters, riveting combat, and mesmerizing political machinations. But while I went into my read of its sequel with a bit of trepidation, I’m really glad to write that the sophomore slump did not affect Lucifer’s Nebula at all; this new book delivered a story which lives up to its predecessor in every respect.
It all begins with the former Count of the Arch Duchy of Crius, Cassius Mass, helming the space freighter Melampus. He and his crew are running weapons for some shady operators before being double crossed. But it isn’t anything new or unexpected to these hardened outlaws. What is unexpected is the message they receive from Ida Claire, former captain of the Melampus and spy for the Commonwealth, who has an offer which Cassius literally can’t turn down: deliver a message to the Free Systems Alliance and get past misdeeds completely erased!
Naturally, the mission is not quite so straightforward as all that, and, soon, Cassius and crew find themselves embroiled in another adventure where the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance. Vendettas are exposed. Double crosses take place. Space battles breakout. Romance blossoms. Political agendas spring up. And Cassius’s past is front-and-center in much of it; people he thought long gone returned to haunt him or help him.
As with Lucifer’s Star, the driving force behind this outstanding space opera is the well developed characters. Cassius continuing to grow before our reading eyes. Returning characters like Isla and Clarice slowly evolving. And the introduction of new cast members handled deftly, as they are carefully molded into very realistic individuals who exhibit their own unique perspectives and personalities. The continual spectacle of these true-to-life people dealing with intense conflicts, double crosses, and high stress situations in a well developed galaxy driving the narrative forward to its stunning conclusion.
As for any negatives with the book, I would merely say that there were a few plots which opened up strong but fell by the wayside once the action began. Certainly, these were more minor plots which didn’t exactly build upon the ongoing galactic crisis theme, but they were interesting rabbit holes which I wish the authors had found time to return to from time to time.
Dark. Heroic. Character driven. Exciting. Humorous. Filled with inventive ideas, colorful cast members, and enough action to satisfy even die-hard action fans, Lucifer’s Nebula is a fresh approach to space opera which more than lived up to my expectations. Phipps and Suttkus doing an outstanding job recognizing what worked in the first book, replicating that feel yet expanding the saga in new directions, setting up fresh opportunities for further adventures in this galaxy with these people. Definitely, a series more people should give a try!
Sequels can be hit-or-miss with me, especially when I enjoy the first installment of a series as much as I did Lucifer’s Star. The opening salvo of CT Phipps and Michael Suttkus’s dark space opera a fast-paced, exciting introduction to a new galaxy far, far away, one teeming with memorable characters, riveting combat, and mesmerizing political machinations. But while I went into my read of its sequel with a bit of trepidation, I’m really glad to write that the sophomore slump did not affect Lucifer’s Nebula at all; this new book delivered a story which lives up to its predecessor in every respect.
It all begins with the former Count of the Arch Duchy of Crius, Cassius Mass, helming the space freighter Melampus. He and his crew are running weapons for some shady operators before being double crossed. But it isn’t anything new or unexpected to these hardened outlaws. What is unexpected is the message they receive from Ida Claire, former captain of the Melampus and spy for the Commonwealth, who has an offer which Cassius literally can’t turn down: deliver a message to the Free Systems Alliance and get past misdeeds completely erased!
Naturally, the mission is not quite so straightforward as all that, and, soon, Cassius and crew find themselves embroiled in another adventure where the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance. Vendettas are exposed. Double crosses take place. Space battles breakout. Romance blossoms. Political agendas spring up. And Cassius’s past is front-and-center in much of it; people he thought long gone returned to haunt him or help him.
As with Lucifer’s Star, the driving force behind this outstanding space opera is the well developed characters. Cassius continuing to grow before our reading eyes. Returning characters like Isla and Clarice slowly evolving. And the introduction of new cast members handled deftly, as they are carefully molded into very realistic individuals who exhibit their own unique perspectives and personalities. The continual spectacle of these true-to-life people dealing with intense conflicts, double crosses, and high stress situations in a well developed galaxy driving the narrative forward to its stunning conclusion.
As for any negatives with the book, I would merely say that there were a few plots which opened up strong but fell by the wayside once the action began. Certainly, these were more minor plots which didn’t exactly build upon the ongoing galactic crisis theme, but they were interesting rabbit holes which I wish the authors had found time to return to from time to time.
Dark. Heroic. Character driven. Exciting. Humorous. Filled with inventive ideas, colorful cast members, and enough action to satisfy even die-hard action fans, Lucifer’s Nebula is a fresh approach to space opera which more than lived up to my expectations. Phipps and Suttkus doing an outstanding job recognizing what worked in the first book, replicating that feel yet expanding the saga in new directions, setting up fresh opportunities for further adventures in this galaxy with these people. Definitely, a series more people should give a try!
July 26, 2018
This book brings up a ton of questions and answers them all. Is humanity doomed to murder each other into extinction? Is war the result of ambition, or ambition the result of war? Will William ever get to keep his arm? Will robosexuals be accepted in the universe? The answer to all of these questions? ALIENS.
March 2, 2018
It was a delight to return to the space opera universe of _Lucifer’s Star_, a setting of double crosses, triple crosses, space battles, gun battles, hand to hand combat, snide remarks, romance, and multilayered politics as our intrepid main character Cassius Mass manages (or tries to manage) the politicians, personalities, and drama of the underworld (namely the Consortium), galactic human politics of the Free System Alliance and the Commonwealth, the harder to understand goals of the Community, and the almost incomprehensibly alien practically Cthulhuesque goals of the Elder Races.
With some of the world building out of the way in the first installment in the series, the pace was brisk and it wasn’t long before the reader is plunged into another fast-paced plot. Similar in some broad ways to _Lucifer’s Star_, Cassius and the crew of the _Melampus_ find themselves the pawn of higher powers, human and otherwise, and once again the fate of the entire galaxy is at stake. Not only can Cassius and his friends and crewmates not escape being pawns of others once again (and also subject to double crosses and not being told the entire situation), but Cassius is unable to escape his past, whether it is his family (specifically his sister Zoe, his brother Thomas, or most of all his father Cassius the Elder) or his world, the long-dead Crius. Far from being world building confined to the first novel, Cassius’s home world and his family figure very large indeed in this story, developing quite nicely from Cassius’s encounters with Zoe, Cassius’s upbringing on Cassius, and most of all the relationships between Cassius and his father, all detailed in _Lucifer’s Star_ and expanded upon in _Lucifer’s Nebula_.
Judith, Cassius’s dead wife, is still a strong element in the story, her reality not just a ghost of Cassius’s past but a strong story element tied to one of the central mysteries of the novel and one I think added a great deal to the novel, a great linkage between the galactic-level mysteries and threats of the central story and of the continuing fallout of Cassius’s past.
There was a lot to like in the novel. The reader gets treated to some cool mysteries, such as the haunted planet Kolahn IV where the entire race, the Kolahn, committed suicide, as well as the machinations of a member of the Elder Races by the name of Kathax Prime, a very interesting antagonist indeed. A new character by the name of Fade is introduced, one of my favorites in the book, both with an interesting plot line in the story as well as some great humorous observations (almost approaching meta-level thoughts on not only the novel but the genre). Clarice Rin-O’Harra, another lover of Cassius, was fairly well developed and had some good story usage (a bit more than Isla) and I enjoyed reading William Baldur (whose antagonistic and humorous relationship with Cassius was great fun). There were some great action sequences, I loved the build up of Kolhan IV, and greatly enjoyed how the main thrust of the threat was tightly tied up not only in Cassius’s past but in galactic human politics and in the alien races such as the Community and the Elder Races (the author truly making full use of the character’s history and of the setting in general). The Elder Races continue to intrigue, reminding me at times of the Vorlon and Shadows from _Babylon 5_ and of the various alien god-creatures of H.P. Lovecraft’s writings, as to even be noticed by the Elder Races is generally A Very Bad Thing.
I had few issues with the book. I liked the romance between Isla Hernandez and Cassius in the first novel but I think it could have been a bit more fleshed out in the second novel, as it was introduced early on in _Lucifer’s Nebula_ and then events spiraled out of control, never really letting the reader get back to what looked like a promising plot thread and character. Perhaps it is a case of simply wanting to see more of Isla, but nevertheless I think it worth nothing. I did like the bounty on Isla subplot but I think it also could have been a bit better developed and though it had some linkage to the central story felt mostly like an extra thing. I think in an alternate version it might have been a more central part of the story.
I am not sure I quite got the relationship between Judith, Isla, and Clarice, how that all centered on Cassius, but it was hinted a few times that spacefaring culture is a bit more open than what is prevalent today so I give that a pass.
I loved the development and use of Cassius the Elder and Zoe but Cassius’s brother Thomas could have been developed a great deal better, a man quite a bit different from either Zoe or his father, but mostly it seemed by just being kinder, less scheming, and a bit less into conquering the galaxy.
A few times better editing was called for, not editing in terms of anything like bad characterization, plot, setting, logic, or the like, but tiny things. There were a few times where it looked like the author intended one character to say something and then another character to answer or otherwise say something but instead it looked to me as if by mistake the same character in different paragraphs talked to himself. One time an entire paragraph consisted of “Clarice muttered,” that’s it; it seemed as if it was in response to something Cassius said but the dialogue was left out. A few times the wrong word, though correctly spelled, was used, something I find bedevils me with spell check. These were minor issues and mostly prevalent at the end, not enough to take me out of the story.
All in all a good solid entry into the series and I look forward to the sequel!
With some of the world building out of the way in the first installment in the series, the pace was brisk and it wasn’t long before the reader is plunged into another fast-paced plot. Similar in some broad ways to _Lucifer’s Star_, Cassius and the crew of the _Melampus_ find themselves the pawn of higher powers, human and otherwise, and once again the fate of the entire galaxy is at stake. Not only can Cassius and his friends and crewmates not escape being pawns of others once again (and also subject to double crosses and not being told the entire situation), but Cassius is unable to escape his past, whether it is his family (specifically his sister Zoe, his brother Thomas, or most of all his father Cassius the Elder) or his world, the long-dead Crius. Far from being world building confined to the first novel, Cassius’s home world and his family figure very large indeed in this story, developing quite nicely from Cassius’s encounters with Zoe, Cassius’s upbringing on Cassius, and most of all the relationships between Cassius and his father, all detailed in _Lucifer’s Star_ and expanded upon in _Lucifer’s Nebula_.
Judith, Cassius’s dead wife, is still a strong element in the story, her reality not just a ghost of Cassius’s past but a strong story element tied to one of the central mysteries of the novel and one I think added a great deal to the novel, a great linkage between the galactic-level mysteries and threats of the central story and of the continuing fallout of Cassius’s past.
There was a lot to like in the novel. The reader gets treated to some cool mysteries, such as the haunted planet Kolahn IV where the entire race, the Kolahn, committed suicide, as well as the machinations of a member of the Elder Races by the name of Kathax Prime, a very interesting antagonist indeed. A new character by the name of Fade is introduced, one of my favorites in the book, both with an interesting plot line in the story as well as some great humorous observations (almost approaching meta-level thoughts on not only the novel but the genre). Clarice Rin-O’Harra, another lover of Cassius, was fairly well developed and had some good story usage (a bit more than Isla) and I enjoyed reading William Baldur (whose antagonistic and humorous relationship with Cassius was great fun). There were some great action sequences, I loved the build up of Kolhan IV, and greatly enjoyed how the main thrust of the threat was tightly tied up not only in Cassius’s past but in galactic human politics and in the alien races such as the Community and the Elder Races (the author truly making full use of the character’s history and of the setting in general). The Elder Races continue to intrigue, reminding me at times of the Vorlon and Shadows from _Babylon 5_ and of the various alien god-creatures of H.P. Lovecraft’s writings, as to even be noticed by the Elder Races is generally A Very Bad Thing.
I had few issues with the book. I liked the romance between Isla Hernandez and Cassius in the first novel but I think it could have been a bit more fleshed out in the second novel, as it was introduced early on in _Lucifer’s Nebula_ and then events spiraled out of control, never really letting the reader get back to what looked like a promising plot thread and character. Perhaps it is a case of simply wanting to see more of Isla, but nevertheless I think it worth nothing. I did like the bounty on Isla subplot but I think it also could have been a bit better developed and though it had some linkage to the central story felt mostly like an extra thing. I think in an alternate version it might have been a more central part of the story.
I am not sure I quite got the relationship between Judith, Isla, and Clarice, how that all centered on Cassius, but it was hinted a few times that spacefaring culture is a bit more open than what is prevalent today so I give that a pass.
I loved the development and use of Cassius the Elder and Zoe but Cassius’s brother Thomas could have been developed a great deal better, a man quite a bit different from either Zoe or his father, but mostly it seemed by just being kinder, less scheming, and a bit less into conquering the galaxy.
A few times better editing was called for, not editing in terms of anything like bad characterization, plot, setting, logic, or the like, but tiny things. There were a few times where it looked like the author intended one character to say something and then another character to answer or otherwise say something but instead it looked to me as if by mistake the same character in different paragraphs talked to himself. One time an entire paragraph consisted of “Clarice muttered,” that’s it; it seemed as if it was in response to something Cassius said but the dialogue was left out. A few times the wrong word, though correctly spelled, was used, something I find bedevils me with spell check. These were minor issues and mostly prevalent at the end, not enough to take me out of the story.
All in all a good solid entry into the series and I look forward to the sequel!
September 9, 2018
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the author to read, and review.
Well, read first, review now, of course.
Cassius Mass is back! More drunk, more morose, more Mad Max than Han Solo... Mad Solo? Han Max sounds like a drink, so Mad Solo it is.
Mad Solo gets drunk, gets laid, and gets into literally a world of trouble because as much as he wants to tell the universe to piss off, he can't help being a nice guy at heart (which is part of why he gets drunk a lot, good guys having done genocidal stuff... well, it needs a lot of drowning, but sorrows can swim, the bastards)
I had a lot of fun, come to think of it, I should have listened to Judas Priest's All Guns Blazing, all the time whilst reading it, because that is, in essence, what it boils down to. Stuff just keeps happening to Mad Solo... it's not just right place at the wrong time, it's also right place at the right time, only his common sense catches up too late. There's deviousness, callousness, madness, and a whole slew of other nesses that make this a really cool ride... err... read!
Well, read first, review now, of course.
Cassius Mass is back! More drunk, more morose, more Mad Max than Han Solo... Mad Solo? Han Max sounds like a drink, so Mad Solo it is.
Mad Solo gets drunk, gets laid, and gets into literally a world of trouble because as much as he wants to tell the universe to piss off, he can't help being a nice guy at heart (which is part of why he gets drunk a lot, good guys having done genocidal stuff... well, it needs a lot of drowning, but sorrows can swim, the bastards)
I had a lot of fun, come to think of it, I should have listened to Judas Priest's All Guns Blazing, all the time whilst reading it, because that is, in essence, what it boils down to. Stuff just keeps happening to Mad Solo... it's not just right place at the wrong time, it's also right place at the right time, only his common sense catches up too late. There's deviousness, callousness, madness, and a whole slew of other nesses that make this a really cool ride... err... read!
October 16, 2019
I shall start by thanking the author for sending me a paperback issue of this book. I'm afraid that this was not for me and will get 2.5-stars rounded up to 3.
I always like to be honest when I write my reviews and it pains me to say that this one was spoiled by a severe lack of editing. I was making notes early on but got fed up when I kept finding more and more problems as I went on reading. I was informed by someone on Facebook that they had done a beta-read of this and thought it was great. The story is ok but the editing isn't, and it leaves me wondering if beta readers are worth using.
I can't recommend this (sorry, Mr Phipps) and I really can't think of anything else to say so on to the next book.
Thanks for reading.
I always like to be honest when I write my reviews and it pains me to say that this one was spoiled by a severe lack of editing. I was making notes early on but got fed up when I kept finding more and more problems as I went on reading. I was informed by someone on Facebook that they had done a beta-read of this and thought it was great. The story is ok but the editing isn't, and it leaves me wondering if beta readers are worth using.
I can't recommend this (sorry, Mr Phipps) and I really can't think of anything else to say so on to the next book.
Thanks for reading.
July 9, 2018
I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed the characters--Isla, Cassius, Clarice, William, Munin (such bad-ass names, too!) A whole lot of snark, bitingly cynical attitudes (very much fun), and anti-heroes in a world of morally grey characters.
This book was a bit more ponderous than the last one, getting into the complex details (as to be expected from a sci-fi novel that deals with technologically-advanced races f***ing with humanity and lesser beings) of the galaxy that was a tad harder to follow than the more straight-forward "shoot-em-up" vibe of Book 1. Some of the witty retorts also felt a tad out of place--either their meaning didn't make sense (to me) or they were inserted for levity at a more serious moment.
All the same, one hell of a book, and definitely the anti-heroic sci-fi alternative to Star Wars and Firefly. Thanks to that killer ending, I absolutely have to read Book 3 to find out why (SPOILER) decided to mess with (SPOILER) by attacking (SPOILER). Excellent hook!
This book was a bit more ponderous than the last one, getting into the complex details (as to be expected from a sci-fi novel that deals with technologically-advanced races f***ing with humanity and lesser beings) of the galaxy that was a tad harder to follow than the more straight-forward "shoot-em-up" vibe of Book 1. Some of the witty retorts also felt a tad out of place--either their meaning didn't make sense (to me) or they were inserted for levity at a more serious moment.
All the same, one hell of a book, and definitely the anti-heroic sci-fi alternative to Star Wars and Firefly. Thanks to that killer ending, I absolutely have to read Book 3 to find out why (SPOILER) decided to mess with (SPOILER) by attacking (SPOILER). Excellent hook!
July 8, 2018
LUCIFER'S NEBULA is the sequel to LUCIFER'S STAR where I found myself wondering, "How do you follow up a book where the moral is 'don't get involved?' Well, the answer is to include space pirates, feuding noble houses, terrorist rebellions, and oppressive dictatorships. Sometimes you just don't have a choice but to get involved since the call to adventure knows where you live and isn't going to stop knocking. Cassius Mass is one of my three favorite creations (the others being Jane Doe the weredeer and Gary Karkofsky aka Merciless: The Supervillain without Mercy). He's also the one who would be the most content to simply drink himself to oblivion in the ship's bar but destiny has ordered the lobster. I think readers will enjoy getting to meet Cassius' family as well as further insights into his past plus a number of new fascinating characters.
July 7, 2018
Note: I was given a copy of this and I Was a Teenage Weredeer in exchange for honest reviews.
Once again, Phipps delivers a gripping, morally ambiguous space opera in the sequel to Lucifer's Star. I found myself more and more attached to the characters, and hoping there's a third book.
Once again, Phipps delivers a gripping, morally ambiguous space opera in the sequel to Lucifer's Star. I found myself more and more attached to the characters, and hoping there's a third book.
August 25, 2018
The author gave me a free copy of the audiobook. However, the review was voluntary.
Lucifer's Nebula, the sequel to Lucifer's Star, which I reviewed here - (http://bit.ly/2BJ3wLb), carries on the story of the Author's "dark Star Wars," as it's often referred to.
Cassius, the hero, is a former evil noble turned arms dealer (you'll see). He's like a boozy, sweary Han Solo type with a jaded wit that will have you chuckling. He has a supporting cast of characters painted as stereotypes initially, but the author does a good job of breathing some life into them. The universe is interesting, with humans dominating, and (shock, horror!) constantly at war with each other. There's also an elder race that appears to be pulling the strings.
Cassius and Co, instead of pulling out the heroics, continually putting themselves in danger due to a misguided sense of right, or just being petty (Cassius trying to one-up his father). At times the set pieces can seem ridiculous, but way less so than taking out an evil Empire with four X-Wing fighters (I remember that shot from the original original). This being a parody, it's all good.
My favourite thing though, is the narrator. He carries the pace well, and you can almost hear the constant sighing as he churns out Cassius' lines. His best bit is the woman who butchers a Scottish accent in the belief that she's honouring her culture. Even when she wasn't saying something funny, I was chuckling.
Great story, not the author's finest, but definitely a fun read.
Lucifer's Nebula, the sequel to Lucifer's Star, which I reviewed here - (http://bit.ly/2BJ3wLb), carries on the story of the Author's "dark Star Wars," as it's often referred to.
Cassius, the hero, is a former evil noble turned arms dealer (you'll see). He's like a boozy, sweary Han Solo type with a jaded wit that will have you chuckling. He has a supporting cast of characters painted as stereotypes initially, but the author does a good job of breathing some life into them. The universe is interesting, with humans dominating, and (shock, horror!) constantly at war with each other. There's also an elder race that appears to be pulling the strings.
Cassius and Co, instead of pulling out the heroics, continually putting themselves in danger due to a misguided sense of right, or just being petty (Cassius trying to one-up his father). At times the set pieces can seem ridiculous, but way less so than taking out an evil Empire with four X-Wing fighters (I remember that shot from the original original). This being a parody, it's all good.
My favourite thing though, is the narrator. He carries the pace well, and you can almost hear the constant sighing as he churns out Cassius' lines. His best bit is the woman who butchers a Scottish accent in the belief that she's honouring her culture. Even when she wasn't saying something funny, I was chuckling.
Great story, not the author's finest, but definitely a fun read.
January 28, 2018
An extremely fun read! I loved Lucifer's Star and this is a great follow-up that delves even deeper into the history of the galaxy. I love Cassius; he's a wonderful dark protagonist, and the women he surrounds himself with are each strong, independent characters in their own right. Phipp's sarcastic wit permeates the story and makes for an enjoyable read. There's a lot of twists and harrowing moments that keeps the pace moving along! Recommend!
July 17, 2018
I missed you, Cassius & gang. Phipps really nails the flawed but thoroughly enjoyable character type with Cassius. I also dug how this book got into more detail with characters, tech, and world building. Fun and witty and a slam bang home run. Bring on Book 3!
January 7, 2018
When I read a book I really enjoy, I often have reservations going into the second book. Will it be a letdown? Will it take the characters in directions I won't like? Will the plot just be filler trying to get to the next book in the series? Well, I am happy to say, Lucifer's Nebula, the followup to the wildly inventive dark space opera Lucifer's Star more than lived up to my expectations. Not only did they write a compelling plot, but the directions taken with the characters not only fit, but expanded on who they were, as well as creating opportunities in future books to flesh them out even more.
The story starts with the crew of the space freighter Melampus, captained by the former Arch Duchy of Crius Count Cassius Mass, on a job transferring weapons for some shady characters. Unfortunately, said shady characters, being shady, are more than willing to screw them over and try to kill them. In the middle of the double-cross, another shady group interrupts, and a fire fight ensues, allowing Cassius and his medical officer/lover Isla, to escape. Upon escaping, they are contacted by Ida Claire, the former captain of the Melampus, who also happens to be the leader of The Commonwealth's spy agency, The Watchers. She has a job for Cassius and crew that will wipe the slate clean for them, as well as pay big: bring the reconstituted Arch Duchy of Crius, now known as The Free Systems Alliance, leadership, who have been kicking the Commonwealth's tail, the terms of surrender for the Commonwealth!
This is where things really take off, as Cassius and crew determine to follow this mission, even though they suspect it will be a trap. They also have the secret of Judith, the Cognition AI who happens to be modeled on Cassius's wife to protect, which would have them made outlaw anywhere in the universe. In the course of fulfilling the mission, Cassius and crew face betrayal on all sides, Including from people they had every reason to trust. They also have a family reunion for Cassius, including with a member of his family he thought long dead! This sends things spiraling in a wild direction, as they discover that The Free Systems Alliance is not at all what it appears.
There is a much bigger conspiracy behind it all, with elder races who have passed beyond mortality, the Community of aliens who hover on humanities borders, and an ancient Evil locked away in Lucifer's Nebula all pulling strings behind the scenes for their own various schemes to come to fruition. Humanity, unfortunately, may be the ones to pay the price! Cassius and his friends and new allies must figure out which side to back, all while avoiding the betrayal mentioned before, from someone you just don't expect. At the very end, Cassius and crew are forced to decide if running away is worth the price of the potential destruction of humanity itself, even if that humanity has betrayed them time and again.
Since I have started reading their books, I have been a huge fan of how Charles and Michael have been able to create such relatable, exciting characters. They flesh them out so well, even the side characters. The motivations for their actions, even in a distant, sci-fi future, are realistic, never forced. Being willing to fight for friends and crew, no matter the odds, is a trait that any reader should be able to admire. The characters have flaws, and make mistakes, making them even more relatable, but they still try to do the right thing. Well, right enough.
The plot is fast moving, smoothly transitioning from one action packed scene to the next, while allowing character interaction and growth. There is humor sprinkled throughout, with a lot of pop culture references, which is a hallmark of their writing. The settings, whether on the ship, or in the various planetary settings, are well drawn out. You can feel like you're right there in the scene, in the middle of the action, especially in the scenes in the Nebula. You never get the feeling this is a retread of some other sci-fi property.
Overall, I feel this is a great addition to the series. The writers took what worked in the first book, and really ran with the ideas, expanding on the themes, adding new characters, and exploring new ideas to round out the story. I can heartily recommend this story to anyone who likes strong character driven sci-fi.
The story starts with the crew of the space freighter Melampus, captained by the former Arch Duchy of Crius Count Cassius Mass, on a job transferring weapons for some shady characters. Unfortunately, said shady characters, being shady, are more than willing to screw them over and try to kill them. In the middle of the double-cross, another shady group interrupts, and a fire fight ensues, allowing Cassius and his medical officer/lover Isla, to escape. Upon escaping, they are contacted by Ida Claire, the former captain of the Melampus, who also happens to be the leader of The Commonwealth's spy agency, The Watchers. She has a job for Cassius and crew that will wipe the slate clean for them, as well as pay big: bring the reconstituted Arch Duchy of Crius, now known as The Free Systems Alliance, leadership, who have been kicking the Commonwealth's tail, the terms of surrender for the Commonwealth!
This is where things really take off, as Cassius and crew determine to follow this mission, even though they suspect it will be a trap. They also have the secret of Judith, the Cognition AI who happens to be modeled on Cassius's wife to protect, which would have them made outlaw anywhere in the universe. In the course of fulfilling the mission, Cassius and crew face betrayal on all sides, Including from people they had every reason to trust. They also have a family reunion for Cassius, including with a member of his family he thought long dead! This sends things spiraling in a wild direction, as they discover that The Free Systems Alliance is not at all what it appears.
There is a much bigger conspiracy behind it all, with elder races who have passed beyond mortality, the Community of aliens who hover on humanities borders, and an ancient Evil locked away in Lucifer's Nebula all pulling strings behind the scenes for their own various schemes to come to fruition. Humanity, unfortunately, may be the ones to pay the price! Cassius and his friends and new allies must figure out which side to back, all while avoiding the betrayal mentioned before, from someone you just don't expect. At the very end, Cassius and crew are forced to decide if running away is worth the price of the potential destruction of humanity itself, even if that humanity has betrayed them time and again.
Since I have started reading their books, I have been a huge fan of how Charles and Michael have been able to create such relatable, exciting characters. They flesh them out so well, even the side characters. The motivations for their actions, even in a distant, sci-fi future, are realistic, never forced. Being willing to fight for friends and crew, no matter the odds, is a trait that any reader should be able to admire. The characters have flaws, and make mistakes, making them even more relatable, but they still try to do the right thing. Well, right enough.
The plot is fast moving, smoothly transitioning from one action packed scene to the next, while allowing character interaction and growth. There is humor sprinkled throughout, with a lot of pop culture references, which is a hallmark of their writing. The settings, whether on the ship, or in the various planetary settings, are well drawn out. You can feel like you're right there in the scene, in the middle of the action, especially in the scenes in the Nebula. You never get the feeling this is a retread of some other sci-fi property.
Overall, I feel this is a great addition to the series. The writers took what worked in the first book, and really ran with the ideas, expanding on the themes, adding new characters, and exploring new ideas to round out the story. I can heartily recommend this story to anyone who likes strong character driven sci-fi.
July 25, 2018
Space Operas are so hard to get right. Writing a story on a galactic scale takes a level of planning and commitment that borders on the extreme. Hundreds of populated worlds, species, languages, and a storyline that focuses on some part of it.
CT Phipps succeeds in a huge way. The first book introduced us to Cassius the Fire Count. A broken noble, haunted by demons of his past, intent on making the galaxy a better place. The 2nd book continues and expands on his familial battles and brings him up against gods in all but name. I really enjoyed the action and machinations that kept the book on a steady exciting pace.
Cassius Mass, DNA inspired clone of his father, must broker peace with the man pretending to be him to save the Commonwealth. All of his family play a part in the deception and he is met with surprise after explosive surprise. Swords and laser guns battle it out against starships and cybernetic automatrons. And AI gods peer down on the mass of humanity and decide whether to let them live or to erase them for the good of the Universe.
Storywise, this series is the answer to: "What if Star Wars and Dune had a beautiful baby?" Dark and noble. Heroic and scheming. I truly enjoyed this book
CT Phipps succeeds in a huge way. The first book introduced us to Cassius the Fire Count. A broken noble, haunted by demons of his past, intent on making the galaxy a better place. The 2nd book continues and expands on his familial battles and brings him up against gods in all but name. I really enjoyed the action and machinations that kept the book on a steady exciting pace.
Cassius Mass, DNA inspired clone of his father, must broker peace with the man pretending to be him to save the Commonwealth. All of his family play a part in the deception and he is met with surprise after explosive surprise. Swords and laser guns battle it out against starships and cybernetic automatrons. And AI gods peer down on the mass of humanity and decide whether to let them live or to erase them for the good of the Universe.
Storywise, this series is the answer to: "What if Star Wars and Dune had a beautiful baby?" Dark and noble. Heroic and scheming. I truly enjoyed this book
August 8, 2018
"It's not going to end with a peace treaty plus the slaying of the villain. It's not that kind of story."
Now that CT Phipps has created this fantastic new universe, his characters get to play in it. When the story opens out hard-drinking, hard-loving protagonist Cassius Mass is more broken than ever by the events of the first novel. Recruited to negotiate peace between two warring factions, things seem straightforward enough but its not long before vendettas and agendas start piling up.
While the world-building of the first novel was probably its strongest element, the second entry relies a lot more on the character-driven plot while still maintaining a beautifully detailed universe. Giving a full accounting of those characters is a bit difficult without spoiling a large chunk of the plot but the story is certainly full of revelations both in the present and in Cassius' past. The nature of the Elder Races, alluded to with a great deal of foreboding in Phipps’ first entry, is explored a lot more here. I think the question might be, are they inhuman in their appetites, or all-too-recognisably-human? Suffice to say it all slams together into a thrilling finale and I can’t wait to see what the crew of the Melampus get up to next!
Now that CT Phipps has created this fantastic new universe, his characters get to play in it. When the story opens out hard-drinking, hard-loving protagonist Cassius Mass is more broken than ever by the events of the first novel. Recruited to negotiate peace between two warring factions, things seem straightforward enough but its not long before vendettas and agendas start piling up.
While the world-building of the first novel was probably its strongest element, the second entry relies a lot more on the character-driven plot while still maintaining a beautifully detailed universe. Giving a full accounting of those characters is a bit difficult without spoiling a large chunk of the plot but the story is certainly full of revelations both in the present and in Cassius' past. The nature of the Elder Races, alluded to with a great deal of foreboding in Phipps’ first entry, is explored a lot more here. I think the question might be, are they inhuman in their appetites, or all-too-recognisably-human? Suffice to say it all slams together into a thrilling finale and I can’t wait to see what the crew of the Melampus get up to next!
May 18, 2018
I need a cybernetic hand so I can give this three thumbs up!
Sequels. That sticky second book in a series that has to carry on the story without any final resolution. You lose the thrill of meeting the main character and seeing the setting unfold. Think about any trilogy--the second book in a good one will have something incredible happen. Think of the Lord of the Rings. The battle of Helm’s Deep, Gandalf & Saruman etc. So sequels have got to go big or go home. Now, I loved Lucifer’s Star. I think it’s one of the most original space operas I’ve ever read. Check out my review before reading this one, because frankly, you’re not going to start on book 2 are you?
Anyway, this volume continues the story of our hero (/S) Cassius Mass, The Fire Count, War criminal and general bad egg. Imagine a Luftwaffe Ace from WW2 finding out that he’d been on the side of one of the most evil regimes in history and that his acts of heroism are now considered war crimes. But…. IN SPACE. I suppose it’s fair to use (or reuse) a Star Wars comparison -- Cassius is a bit like A TIE Fighter Ace after the Battle of Endor.
The best of the characters from Book 1 make a return as well, mostly, in the same form as we left them. I’ll not give you a blow by blow rundown of the motley crew but honourable mention has to go to the bioroid Isla who really develops very well for a Bioroid replica of that ice queen from a certain Disney film my daughter won’t shut up about. I wish she’d just let it go… Clarice also returns and is again an example of a multifaceted female character. I’ll leave it there because with Cassius, Isla and Clarice you’ve got a great caste already and they showcase something which sets Phipps’ and Suttkus’s writing apart. They’re each different. Clearly, we see Isla and Clarice through Cassius’s eyes (it’s 1st person POV), yet through their interaction with Cassius we get a strong feel for what’s going on inside both women. They’re very different and both are rich characters. Probably, what would be called strong female characters, but that does the writing a disservice. Here, they have more nuance than just ‘strong’; they have flaws that are believable and give them a great deal of depth. Like characters are meant to be, whatever their gender.
So on to the story itself. Fast paced, thrill ride. It’s got some brilliant set pieces, in the finest tradition of space opera but as always, it’s the personal confrontations that count the most. Here we’ve got one on par with Vader revealing he’s an absentee daddy. There’s also enough twists and turns that it kept me guessing until the end--reinforced by the death of an important character that you won’t see coming.
The worldbuilding doesn’t slacken off, but we get a longer view of galactic civilization. It’s pitched just right to add to the existing setting without overdoing it.
All in all, it’s the best book I’ve read so far this year and it’ll take a hell of a novel to beat it.
Sequels. That sticky second book in a series that has to carry on the story without any final resolution. You lose the thrill of meeting the main character and seeing the setting unfold. Think about any trilogy--the second book in a good one will have something incredible happen. Think of the Lord of the Rings. The battle of Helm’s Deep, Gandalf & Saruman etc. So sequels have got to go big or go home. Now, I loved Lucifer’s Star. I think it’s one of the most original space operas I’ve ever read. Check out my review before reading this one, because frankly, you’re not going to start on book 2 are you?
Anyway, this volume continues the story of our hero (/S) Cassius Mass, The Fire Count, War criminal and general bad egg. Imagine a Luftwaffe Ace from WW2 finding out that he’d been on the side of one of the most evil regimes in history and that his acts of heroism are now considered war crimes. But…. IN SPACE. I suppose it’s fair to use (or reuse) a Star Wars comparison -- Cassius is a bit like A TIE Fighter Ace after the Battle of Endor.
The best of the characters from Book 1 make a return as well, mostly, in the same form as we left them. I’ll not give you a blow by blow rundown of the motley crew but honourable mention has to go to the bioroid Isla who really develops very well for a Bioroid replica of that ice queen from a certain Disney film my daughter won’t shut up about. I wish she’d just let it go… Clarice also returns and is again an example of a multifaceted female character. I’ll leave it there because with Cassius, Isla and Clarice you’ve got a great caste already and they showcase something which sets Phipps’ and Suttkus’s writing apart. They’re each different. Clearly, we see Isla and Clarice through Cassius’s eyes (it’s 1st person POV), yet through their interaction with Cassius we get a strong feel for what’s going on inside both women. They’re very different and both are rich characters. Probably, what would be called strong female characters, but that does the writing a disservice. Here, they have more nuance than just ‘strong’; they have flaws that are believable and give them a great deal of depth. Like characters are meant to be, whatever their gender.
So on to the story itself. Fast paced, thrill ride. It’s got some brilliant set pieces, in the finest tradition of space opera but as always, it’s the personal confrontations that count the most. Here we’ve got one on par with Vader revealing he’s an absentee daddy. There’s also enough twists and turns that it kept me guessing until the end--reinforced by the death of an important character that you won’t see coming.
The worldbuilding doesn’t slacken off, but we get a longer view of galactic civilization. It’s pitched just right to add to the existing setting without overdoing it.
All in all, it’s the best book I’ve read so far this year and it’ll take a hell of a novel to beat it.
October 30, 2018
Note: Even though this is Book 2, it works pretty well as a stand alone.
This story was so much fun, with the perfect mix of serious, snark, action, sexiness, & humor. If Firefly and Deathstalker had a baby and then abandoned it, this would be that dysfunctional, snarky, angry, & heroic offspring. Cassius Mass is a very approachable hero. He’s a drunk, has some self- loathing going on, family issues, and is both enamored and confused by his two lovers (Isla & Clarice). The universe will be affected by the choices he makes, and of course, he’ll do his best to get his crew paid.
Clarice and Isla are great at bossing Cassius around. I loved their relationship. These two ladies were lovers on and off before Cassius came into the scene. He comes from a rather conservative upbringing, so it’s taken him some time to get used to the idea of their relationship all around. Clarice is the warrior, willing to sacrifice herself for lovers and friends and the greater good. Isla is a freed sexbot turned ship’s medic. The story gives us much more time with Isla than Clarice Rin O’Hara and I really felt her character developed in this tale.
I also love Ida Claire! Her nephew Fade, a trained spy and assassin, gets pulled into the tale as well. Ida reminds me a bit of the Spider in the Gentlemen Bastards series. She’s a clever old bat who pulls the strings on Cassius and his crew, hopefully for the greater good. There’s also William One Arm Baldur who had me laughing out loud with his very pointed and blunt observations. Cassius’s dead wife Judith still plays are role in this story. Then there’s Cassius’s messed up family – sister Zoe, brother Thomas, and his own father Cassius Elder. Lots of cloning has happened in this family, so the family tree looks more like a messy yarn ball.
The overall plot has some great surprises built into it. Cassius is going to have to go toe to toe with the powerful Kathax Prime of the Elder Races. There’s all sorts of stumbling blocks with unexpected allies and plenty of enemies. The action is well balanced with quieter moments of introspection and humor. The story ends wrapping up the immediate issues while leaving room for the next story. 5/5 stars.
The Narration: Eric Burns does a great job as Cassius. He has the perfect voice that can capture Cassius’s anger, humor, and tenderness. Burns gave each character their own unique voice and his female voices were feminine. I liked his voice for Clarice and his mild accent for Fade. He was made a great evil Cassius Elder. The pacing was perfect and there were technical issues with this recording. 5/5 stars.
This story was so much fun, with the perfect mix of serious, snark, action, sexiness, & humor. If Firefly and Deathstalker had a baby and then abandoned it, this would be that dysfunctional, snarky, angry, & heroic offspring. Cassius Mass is a very approachable hero. He’s a drunk, has some self- loathing going on, family issues, and is both enamored and confused by his two lovers (Isla & Clarice). The universe will be affected by the choices he makes, and of course, he’ll do his best to get his crew paid.
Clarice and Isla are great at bossing Cassius around. I loved their relationship. These two ladies were lovers on and off before Cassius came into the scene. He comes from a rather conservative upbringing, so it’s taken him some time to get used to the idea of their relationship all around. Clarice is the warrior, willing to sacrifice herself for lovers and friends and the greater good. Isla is a freed sexbot turned ship’s medic. The story gives us much more time with Isla than Clarice Rin O’Hara and I really felt her character developed in this tale.
I also love Ida Claire! Her nephew Fade, a trained spy and assassin, gets pulled into the tale as well. Ida reminds me a bit of the Spider in the Gentlemen Bastards series. She’s a clever old bat who pulls the strings on Cassius and his crew, hopefully for the greater good. There’s also William One Arm Baldur who had me laughing out loud with his very pointed and blunt observations. Cassius’s dead wife Judith still plays are role in this story. Then there’s Cassius’s messed up family – sister Zoe, brother Thomas, and his own father Cassius Elder. Lots of cloning has happened in this family, so the family tree looks more like a messy yarn ball.
The overall plot has some great surprises built into it. Cassius is going to have to go toe to toe with the powerful Kathax Prime of the Elder Races. There’s all sorts of stumbling blocks with unexpected allies and plenty of enemies. The action is well balanced with quieter moments of introspection and humor. The story ends wrapping up the immediate issues while leaving room for the next story. 5/5 stars.
The Narration: Eric Burns does a great job as Cassius. He has the perfect voice that can capture Cassius’s anger, humor, and tenderness. Burns gave each character their own unique voice and his female voices were feminine. I liked his voice for Clarice and his mild accent for Fade. He was made a great evil Cassius Elder. The pacing was perfect and there were technical issues with this recording. 5/5 stars.
September 11, 2018
Better than the first book!
The adventures of Captain Cassius Mass and his companions continue in a bigger and better sequel to Lucifer's Star. Highly recommended for fans of Sci-Fi and Space Operas. Hoping for a book 3!
The adventures of Captain Cassius Mass and his companions continue in a bigger and better sequel to Lucifer's Star. Highly recommended for fans of Sci-Fi and Space Operas. Hoping for a book 3!
October 10, 2018
I just can't seem to get enough of Cassius Mass!
The struggle for power is here.... will the universe survive?
Oh boy, you're in for some fun!
Great continuation of the first book, Lucifer's Star. If you've listened to the first one, listen to this one. If you haven't yet listened to either, well then get started! :) It's a wild ride that you'll enjoy!
Great job with both story and narration, I enjoyed it!! :)
It's FUN.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The struggle for power is here.... will the universe survive?
Oh boy, you're in for some fun!
Great continuation of the first book, Lucifer's Star. If you've listened to the first one, listen to this one. If you haven't yet listened to either, well then get started! :) It's a wild ride that you'll enjoy!
Great job with both story and narration, I enjoyed it!! :)
It's FUN.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
August 21, 2018
Lucifer's Nebula (Lucifer's Star)Lucifer's Nebula, by C. T. Phipps and Michael Suttkus is the second novel in the adventures of Cassius Mass, a devilishly handsome former prince of a cruel planet that no longer exists. This is like Star Wars if it were written in a darker and more cruel (and arguably fun) universe.
Lucifer's Nebula is a sequel to the first book, Lucifer's Star, in which we learned that the universe has experienced governmental turmoil, civilizations have been ravaged, and an ancient set of beings known as the Elder Races have left their mark on the current civilization. This book picks up where the first left off in a way that doesn't make you feel like you've missed a step between the books.
We find our reluctant hero, Cassius Mass, as the hesitant Captain of the Melampus, the ship that he had been flying on during the previous book. His crew is filled with variously colorful characters, including his two lovers, the aggressive First Mate, Clarice, and the ship's medical officer, Isla. Isla is also a bioroid, which is like a fleshy C-3PO who's artificial intelligence is so advanced that it's considered (by some) to be a sentient being. Many of the bioroid's of this universe are enslaved, as most people see them less like people and more like machines. Isla's struggle, in this book and the last, reminds me of Pris from the original Blade Runner. She was made for one purpose (in Isla's case, sex), but rebels against her users to follow her true calling. At this point, that mostly consists of being a medical officer and hanging out with Cassius's pirate crew.
Most of the cast of Lucifer's Nebula (and the whole series, really) is incredibly broken or has experienced some sort of trauma. One of my favorite characters, William, had to deal with his entire world being ravaged and destroyed by one of the warring governments. Major Terra (introduced in this book) is a brainwashed soldier from that same world as William. She was kidnapped by her conquerors and brainwashed to be their loyal assassin. Everyone's broken. The Melampus wouldn't be remiss in renaming itself "The Isle of Misfit Toys."
This broken aesthetic doesn't end with just the crew, as their Captain is the most broken of them all. Inside his head he relives and can never escape the memories of all of the people that he's killed or led into a battle that's gotten them killed. One of those ghosts is his dead wife, who seems to have lost much of her humanity in her transition from living flesh to digital ghost. He's wracked with guilt and anger over who he was and what he's lost and he desperately wishes to atone for the life he's lived.
In book one, this led us into the great character arcs that Phipps and Suttkus are famous for. Phipps always manages to introduce you to an utterly broken person and show us their path toward healing. When book 1 ended, we had hope for Cassius.
Then book 2 started, and we were saddled with an uncomfortable reality. While a lot of what was broken in these characters was healed, life doesn't let you forget about the parts that you haven't fixed yet. Cassius is still addicted to his alcohol and self-destructive tendencies, and the character journeys in this book help us to see the more human side of addiction, abuse, and violence on both a global and a personal scale.
There's politics, huge twists, and adventure galore, but the big win with any book that has Phipps's name on it is the character development (and the action. Lots of great action.).
This book is an easy 5 out of 5 stars. I look forward to the next one!
Lucifer's Nebula is a sequel to the first book, Lucifer's Star, in which we learned that the universe has experienced governmental turmoil, civilizations have been ravaged, and an ancient set of beings known as the Elder Races have left their mark on the current civilization. This book picks up where the first left off in a way that doesn't make you feel like you've missed a step between the books.
We find our reluctant hero, Cassius Mass, as the hesitant Captain of the Melampus, the ship that he had been flying on during the previous book. His crew is filled with variously colorful characters, including his two lovers, the aggressive First Mate, Clarice, and the ship's medical officer, Isla. Isla is also a bioroid, which is like a fleshy C-3PO who's artificial intelligence is so advanced that it's considered (by some) to be a sentient being. Many of the bioroid's of this universe are enslaved, as most people see them less like people and more like machines. Isla's struggle, in this book and the last, reminds me of Pris from the original Blade Runner. She was made for one purpose (in Isla's case, sex), but rebels against her users to follow her true calling. At this point, that mostly consists of being a medical officer and hanging out with Cassius's pirate crew.
Most of the cast of Lucifer's Nebula (and the whole series, really) is incredibly broken or has experienced some sort of trauma. One of my favorite characters, William, had to deal with his entire world being ravaged and destroyed by one of the warring governments. Major Terra (introduced in this book) is a brainwashed soldier from that same world as William. She was kidnapped by her conquerors and brainwashed to be their loyal assassin. Everyone's broken. The Melampus wouldn't be remiss in renaming itself "The Isle of Misfit Toys."
This broken aesthetic doesn't end with just the crew, as their Captain is the most broken of them all. Inside his head he relives and can never escape the memories of all of the people that he's killed or led into a battle that's gotten them killed. One of those ghosts is his dead wife, who seems to have lost much of her humanity in her transition from living flesh to digital ghost. He's wracked with guilt and anger over who he was and what he's lost and he desperately wishes to atone for the life he's lived.
In book one, this led us into the great character arcs that Phipps and Suttkus are famous for. Phipps always manages to introduce you to an utterly broken person and show us their path toward healing. When book 1 ended, we had hope for Cassius.
Then book 2 started, and we were saddled with an uncomfortable reality. While a lot of what was broken in these characters was healed, life doesn't let you forget about the parts that you haven't fixed yet. Cassius is still addicted to his alcohol and self-destructive tendencies, and the character journeys in this book help us to see the more human side of addiction, abuse, and violence on both a global and a personal scale.
There's politics, huge twists, and adventure galore, but the big win with any book that has Phipps's name on it is the character development (and the action. Lots of great action.).
This book is an easy 5 out of 5 stars. I look forward to the next one!
August 25, 2018
Book 2 in the Lucifer's Star Saga (is it too soon to call this a "Saga"? -- I don't care, I'm calling it a saga) is even more ambitious than the first. It's got new (not really) and improved (they're pretty good and not at all worn-out) tropes as well as more of the patented C.T. Phipps quirky pop culture references and punchy humor that made Lucifer's Star so much fun.
So, where were we . . . Oh, yes! Clones? Check. Replicants? Check. Rogue AI? Check. Cyborgs and/or transhumanism? Cloned, programmable zombies? That's new. And a deeper connection to the Old Ones (sci-fi Cthulhu) that made sense.
There's plenty to enjoy here, I especially liked the homicidal/patricidal/fratricidal(?) interactions between Cassius and his dysfunctional family. The only downside for me was self-destructive behavior and attitudes evinced throughout, but once you see where Cassius came from it makes more sense.
Two books into the series and I'm still not 100% sold on Eric Burns as a narrator--at least not for this series. He's fine for the most part, but I'm not a fan of his female characterizations. I usually am against changing narrators mid-series, but I'd love to see Jeffrey Kafer get picked up for this series if Ray Porter or Luke Daniels (#dreamcasting) are too busy.
***Full Disclosure: I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.
So, where were we . . . Oh, yes! Clones? Check. Replicants? Check. Rogue AI? Check. Cyborgs and/or transhumanism? Cloned, programmable zombies? That's new. And a deeper connection to the Old Ones (sci-fi Cthulhu) that made sense.
There's plenty to enjoy here, I especially liked the homicidal/patricidal/fratricidal(?) interactions between Cassius and his dysfunctional family. The only downside for me was self-destructive behavior and attitudes evinced throughout, but once you see where Cassius came from it makes more sense.
Two books into the series and I'm still not 100% sold on Eric Burns as a narrator--at least not for this series. He's fine for the most part, but I'm not a fan of his female characterizations. I usually am against changing narrators mid-series, but I'd love to see Jeffrey Kafer get picked up for this series if Ray Porter or Luke Daniels (#dreamcasting) are too busy.
***Full Disclosure: I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.
August 24, 2018
I really enjoyed the first book in this series -- kind of like what Star Trek or Star Wars might be like if they were written exclusively for adults -- and this second book is even better. That might be because I've gotten to know the characters and the universe they inhabit better, or it may be because the authors are getting more and more comfortable with same. Whatever the case, this second novel in the series has more surprises, twists, humor, etc., and it's really fun to read. In fact, there are enough twists in this book to fill five books, but none of them seem gratuitous. Each is character or story-based and, in retrospect, seems inevitable, and that's a tough trick to pull off. As for the abundant humor, well, it's right up my alley. I could easily imagine Hawkeye Pierce, B.J. Honeycutt and Hotlips Houlihan or the cast of Seinfeld saying some of this dialogue, albeit in a different context/venue. At any rate, this is a series just begging for a TV pilot. I hope it gets one.
September 13, 2019
I enjoyed Lucifer's Nebula every bit as much as book #1 (Lucifer's Star), possibly even more so. The crew are all back with their sharp banter (especially William, who you just can't help but smirk at his snarky dislike of Cassius). The galaxy-building is rich, both in present and historical. The narration is once again flawlessly superb. I recommend the Lucifer's Star series to any fan of adult-oriented space-based hard SF.
November 11, 2018
I was fairly disappointed by this book, I must admit. But I will go over what I did not enjoy, in hopes that it helps him improve. Or not, he's not obliged to write for me; I can do that myself, after all. To put everything out there, this was a review copy I was looking at, but I will not let that effect my reaction.
There are definitely good things to be found here. There's some good action, there's a lot of wild adventures in space against evil A.I. gods and races across the face of planets. And for the most part (more on this later) the narrator is a pretty good guy, even if he's pretty insistent that he's not. The villains have believable motivations, which is always a good thing. Also, while I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to like him, William was actually a breath of fresh air... mostly because he's the only one willing to backtalk the terrible collection of annoying tropes that is Isla. You know that droid in 'Solo' that everyone hated? Imagine she looked like a person and you have Isla.
And this brings me to the negatives, and I can't discuss this without coming down hard on Isla. Oh my, how I hated this character. Isla has only 3 speeds: horny sexbot, politically correct censor-bot, and bossy doctor-bot. That last one is her job, so no real issues there, except when it starts getting overlapped by the other two. The constant sexual references were OK when she was a minor character in book 1, but she's ALL OVER this book. In fact, even though our main character's supposed to be 'dating' both her and Clarice, Clarice is barely in this at all and mostly shows up just to punch someone on their behalf or make a threesome joke. It gets really old, but not as old as Isla constantly trying to 'correct' everyone around her. Apparently it's rubbed off on Cass, too, because he can't look at one of the uplifted animals in his crew without a rather annoying self-castigation for using some sort of 'problematic' future term.
I had the same issue with Jane the Weredeer to be honest; identity politics aren't funny, no matter how many references you bracket it with. Plus, these aren't slow, slice-of-life novels where you might explore issues like this naturally; they're checking each other's privilege in the middle of pitched life-and-death situations, and that makes it feel like it's being shoehorned in. There are subtle ways to try and make a point about these kinds of issues, and then there is a sledgehammer.
The sad thing is, if Isla had actually developed as a character beyond her three-pronged attack of annoyance, or just been less of a wet blanket thrown over the narrative, this could have been a really good sci-fi romp. Unfortunately she never learns anything or changes in any way, and continues to be smugly assured that she's on the right side in everything. It's possible Isla was meant as a parody and I'm just not getting the joke, but it's not really written that way. Especially since the narrator seems to take her nonsense to heart.
Mr. Phipps does have a gift for writing gripping sci-fi, and can certainly write funny stuff too. I just wish he would keep the modern politics out of the future, or at least make it more subtle. Let the readers decide what's right or wrong about the situations in the book. It's OK if the narrator has his own opinions of course, but don't have the narrative itself shoving it in people's faces. If that makes sense.
There are definitely good things to be found here. There's some good action, there's a lot of wild adventures in space against evil A.I. gods and races across the face of planets. And for the most part (more on this later) the narrator is a pretty good guy, even if he's pretty insistent that he's not. The villains have believable motivations, which is always a good thing. Also, while I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to like him, William was actually a breath of fresh air... mostly because he's the only one willing to backtalk the terrible collection of annoying tropes that is Isla. You know that droid in 'Solo' that everyone hated? Imagine she looked like a person and you have Isla.
And this brings me to the negatives, and I can't discuss this without coming down hard on Isla. Oh my, how I hated this character. Isla has only 3 speeds: horny sexbot, politically correct censor-bot, and bossy doctor-bot. That last one is her job, so no real issues there, except when it starts getting overlapped by the other two. The constant sexual references were OK when she was a minor character in book 1, but she's ALL OVER this book. In fact, even though our main character's supposed to be 'dating' both her and Clarice, Clarice is barely in this at all and mostly shows up just to punch someone on their behalf or make a threesome joke. It gets really old, but not as old as Isla constantly trying to 'correct' everyone around her. Apparently it's rubbed off on Cass, too, because he can't look at one of the uplifted animals in his crew without a rather annoying self-castigation for using some sort of 'problematic' future term.
I had the same issue with Jane the Weredeer to be honest; identity politics aren't funny, no matter how many references you bracket it with. Plus, these aren't slow, slice-of-life novels where you might explore issues like this naturally; they're checking each other's privilege in the middle of pitched life-and-death situations, and that makes it feel like it's being shoehorned in. There are subtle ways to try and make a point about these kinds of issues, and then there is a sledgehammer.
The sad thing is, if Isla had actually developed as a character beyond her three-pronged attack of annoyance, or just been less of a wet blanket thrown over the narrative, this could have been a really good sci-fi romp. Unfortunately she never learns anything or changes in any way, and continues to be smugly assured that she's on the right side in everything. It's possible Isla was meant as a parody and I'm just not getting the joke, but it's not really written that way. Especially since the narrator seems to take her nonsense to heart.
Mr. Phipps does have a gift for writing gripping sci-fi, and can certainly write funny stuff too. I just wish he would keep the modern politics out of the future, or at least make it more subtle. Let the readers decide what's right or wrong about the situations in the book. It's OK if the narrator has his own opinions of course, but don't have the narrative itself shoving it in people's faces. If that makes sense.
December 30, 2025
Brilliant Plot, still needs an edit
A few years ago I read Lucifer's Star, the first book in this series, and I was extremely impressed by the world-building, plot, characterization and the very subtle sci-fi fandom references sprinkled through the story, the latter of which actually contributed to said story as opposed to dropping member berries like an episode of a modern day franchise SF show that they should have left well enough alone. However, there were some continuity, editing and grammatical errors in Lucifer's Star and I felt the novel could have used a pass or two by a good proofreader.
A couple of years later, and I've just finished the sequel, Lucifer's Nebula, and this book hits the ground running. If anything the plot is bigger, badder, wider, and deeper than the first. The characters are great, the dialogue is crisp and witty without being overwrought or filled with tired Whedonesque quippicisms, and the action is unreal. Make no mistake, this book is awesome and well worth a spot on your Kindle.
However - as the tension mounts, the action gets crazier and the stakes get higher, more and more errors in the text start to crop up. It's like the author was so consumed with the act of creation, so invested in his own storyline, that his enthusiasm simply boiled over and he didn't feel the need to wipe up the mess. It's a bit distracting but not so much that I wanted to stop. Someday though, I'd love a revised edition of the first two Lucifer books, maybe before the release of Book 3, which I'm sardonically sure will be soon since Book 1 dropped in 2016 and this one hit in 2018.
That's another thing. At the risk of a spoiler, this book ended on a HUGE HUGE HUGE cliffhanger. Quite precipitous. You've been fairly warned.
A few years ago I read Lucifer's Star, the first book in this series, and I was extremely impressed by the world-building, plot, characterization and the very subtle sci-fi fandom references sprinkled through the story, the latter of which actually contributed to said story as opposed to dropping member berries like an episode of a modern day franchise SF show that they should have left well enough alone. However, there were some continuity, editing and grammatical errors in Lucifer's Star and I felt the novel could have used a pass or two by a good proofreader.
A couple of years later, and I've just finished the sequel, Lucifer's Nebula, and this book hits the ground running. If anything the plot is bigger, badder, wider, and deeper than the first. The characters are great, the dialogue is crisp and witty without being overwrought or filled with tired Whedonesque quippicisms, and the action is unreal. Make no mistake, this book is awesome and well worth a spot on your Kindle.
However - as the tension mounts, the action gets crazier and the stakes get higher, more and more errors in the text start to crop up. It's like the author was so consumed with the act of creation, so invested in his own storyline, that his enthusiasm simply boiled over and he didn't feel the need to wipe up the mess. It's a bit distracting but not so much that I wanted to stop. Someday though, I'd love a revised edition of the first two Lucifer books, maybe before the release of Book 3, which I'm sardonically sure will be soon since Book 1 dropped in 2016 and this one hit in 2018.
That's another thing. At the risk of a spoiler, this book ended on a HUGE HUGE HUGE cliffhanger. Quite precipitous. You've been fairly warned.
November 14, 2022
Excellent series !
I truly would love to have a conversation with the author of this series C. T. Phipps because it feels to me that he thinks somewhat similar as me only that I take it much farther like I don’t believe in free will and as Einstein proved that time is relative and he explained it in a complicated math plus he showed simple way how every person can feel it well I can prove it just like he did simply so how do we know that a year is truly a year close to the speed of light made us feel that it’s much longer and we and our DNA which exist everywhere in this universe is actually one big computer calculating every time we mix DNA by making babies and even bees and plants mix DNA so we got the chips which feel like they work slow but could be amazingly fast.
Any way don’t expect all to understand but the author should.
Excellent series, loved all the twists and want more !
Narration by Eric Burns is done beautifully !
Absolutely
without a doubt
fully recommended !!!
Oded Ostfeld.
I truly would love to have a conversation with the author of this series C. T. Phipps because it feels to me that he thinks somewhat similar as me only that I take it much farther like I don’t believe in free will and as Einstein proved that time is relative and he explained it in a complicated math plus he showed simple way how every person can feel it well I can prove it just like he did simply so how do we know that a year is truly a year close to the speed of light made us feel that it’s much longer and we and our DNA which exist everywhere in this universe is actually one big computer calculating every time we mix DNA by making babies and even bees and plants mix DNA so we got the chips which feel like they work slow but could be amazingly fast.
Any way don’t expect all to understand but the author should.
Excellent series, loved all the twists and want more !
Narration by Eric Burns is done beautifully !
Absolutely
without a doubt
fully recommended !!!
Oded Ostfeld.
October 5, 2019
This is the sequel to Lucifer’s Star, and the previous one ended so well, I immediately jumped into this. Some time has passed, and the crew have finally fallen into a found family. I enjoyed this one much better than I did the previous book. It was a rollicking good time!
We still have layers of intrigue, but seeds of foreshadowing have come to fruition when we get a chance to see more of the universe. Readers will expect a showdown between Cassius and his impersonator, and when it happens, there is another layer of surprise. With this story, nothing is ever simple, and when you think you have a truth, it’s another deception waiting to happen.
This is full of adventure, intrigue, politics, the threat of ancient aliens. The works. This is solid scifi space opera. I don’t know if the authors are going to make a 3rd installment, but the ending is left open enough that they could. If they only have enough juice to end here, it’s still a great scifi duology.
Recommended.
We still have layers of intrigue, but seeds of foreshadowing have come to fruition when we get a chance to see more of the universe. Readers will expect a showdown between Cassius and his impersonator, and when it happens, there is another layer of surprise. With this story, nothing is ever simple, and when you think you have a truth, it’s another deception waiting to happen.
This is full of adventure, intrigue, politics, the threat of ancient aliens. The works. This is solid scifi space opera. I don’t know if the authors are going to make a 3rd installment, but the ending is left open enough that they could. If they only have enough juice to end here, it’s still a great scifi duology.
Recommended.
March 10, 2020
Cassius Mass sure does know how to get himself into trouble. At least he has a plethora of cohorts to keep him on the straight and narrow... Just kidding. Sure, he has friends and family, but no one can quite keep Cass from fulfilling his destiny: to be the biggest pain in the collective backsides of his relatives, as well as a couple of different factions in an intergalactic war. And his friends.
Phipps has continued the "world" he build in Lucifer's Star, and keeps you moving in it quite well. The characters are fun, the snark runs rampant, and the story is solid.
(As an editor, I just have to warn the reader that the copy I read was an early edition. I have it straight from the author's mouth that the rough editing is being/ has been corrected. I sincerely hate to drone on about poor editing when the story is so good. But, I'd be remiss if I didn't say anything because, um... that's sort of what I do. LOL)
Phipps has continued the "world" he build in Lucifer's Star, and keeps you moving in it quite well. The characters are fun, the snark runs rampant, and the story is solid.
(As an editor, I just have to warn the reader that the copy I read was an early edition. I have it straight from the author's mouth that the rough editing is being/ has been corrected. I sincerely hate to drone on about poor editing when the story is so good. But, I'd be remiss if I didn't say anything because, um... that's sort of what I do. LOL)
August 17, 2018
This was an awesome sequel to Lucifer's Star! It's been a little over a year since I listened to the first book so I was hoping I didn't forget anything important in the story line. Lucifer's Star was so good that it stuck with me. As I started listening to Lucifer's Nebula, it all came back to me. This book was even better than the first and now I'm wanting book 3! If you love space operas, aliens, sex robots, and sci-fi, you'll love this series! Excellent narration by Eric Burns!
August 18, 2018
In my review of Lucifer's Star - book 1 of this series - I said that the sequel would be worth reading and it is. Cassius Mass is back and all the elements that I liked in Lucifer's Star are present in Lucifer's Nebula. The plot is still complex and full of twists, betrayals and false identities as Cassius confronts the major villian - his father. There is also matter more detail about the universe and the true powers running it. Excellent stuff!
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