Margin of Errors

Stygian Menace #2

by Henry McAndrews

The alien threat has grown in this gripping science fiction, deep space saga. The stakes are higher for Evan Trystan, age 16, the youngest captain to pilot an intergalactic spaceship - because now they are personal. Together with his friends, he must battle for the lives of the people on board the Sydney against the creepy Skuk, a race of technologically superior beings who kill for sport.

But without the aid of the missing crew, and thwarted at every step by the crazed spaceship, Evan’s small crew must try to outwit the enemy and save the vestige of humanity who are slumbering aboard the ship in deep stasis—unaware of the looming danger that threatens to destroy them all.

Book 2 of the Stygian Menace is a YA science fiction story that will take you to the very edge of known space and beyond. Readers should be aware that some scenes contain action and violence that may be distressing for younger or sensitive readers. This book is intended for ages 10 and up.

197 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2019

Reviews

[Karen Siddall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margin of Errors, a sequel to the excellent series debut, Imminent Domain, has our hero, Evan Trystan and his two friends, Yna and Anil, back on board the Sydney, and trying to evade the Skukulkang, remove the ship, Sydney, from the influence of the Skuk, and alert their former companion vessels that the Alpha Centauri system they are headed for is under Skuk control.

With Anil’s help, Evan is able to override Sydney’s SI and free her and the operational droids from the influence of the Skuk. By commandeering some of the loyal droids, he is able to awaken his friend, Lieutenant Flynn Olafsson from stasis, but before they can get the rest of their squad operational, the Sydney is boarded by Skuk soldiers including Yna’s lost mother, Nadissa. The Skuk torture Flynn and Nadissa grabs Yna to present to the Skuk leader, Baron Kryt, and eventually, to the Suzerain Ugrot himself.

Retrieving his marine squad from stasis, Evan is dismayed when their commander, Lieutenant Elijah Moretti, decides to contact and reunite the Earth vessels in Alpha Centauri rather than pursue the Skuk and their captive, Yna. But when Eli succumbs to the after-effects of coming out of stasis, Evan takes advantage of his incapacitation to take a Skuk ship left onboard the Sydney to the Skuk’s home planet to rescue Yna.

As with Book 1, this story is a never-ending tale of action with Evan trying to determine what’s real and what is only a simulation, and who is a friend and who is not. More is revealed about the mysterious and quirky alien, Anil, and readers are introduced to Evan’s best friends and fellow marines. The story is fun and fast, with the look and feel of a top-notch, and addicting, videogame. I recommend this series for readers that enjoy middle-grade to young adult scifi stories, books featuring aliens, first contact, and generational spaceship travel. As each book builds directly on the action of the previous one, I recommend they be read in order.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.