The Variant Saga Boxed Set (The Variant Saga, #1-4)

by J.N. Chaney

After that, and to Terry surprise, he dismissed

another shot passed by. Ten.

hallway. He

boring,” he said, shrugging. “So what?”

Too much superfluous dialogue

giggle

Mei’s eyes widened. Had she heard her correctly? Her full support? She

Nice to see in the year 2350 that a government exists with checks and balances —ie Stone Charter. Nothing about a bill of rights, however, a problem for the ‘mother hood’ with the slavery of subservient birth contracts. The lack of civil rights also gave rise to deviant institutions such as the academy. Strange that empathy for their neighbor only exists among those with altered dna.

great civilizations of Earth evolved from humble beginnings much like this. Did any of them predict the end result? Did any foresee the cost of progress? How lucky they would have been to live like this forever, never building cities of metal and glass, never playing God with portals, genes, and children.

scent of the sea floated in the air, filling his nose and lungs. The taste of salt water lingered, and for a moment he felt reinvigorated, and a sudden urge to go swimming.

Nice —going to the sea side, after an absence, does make you want to swim

Whatever the cost.

Two chapters ended with staunch finality. Previously, “right to the bitter end “‘ indicates Terry’s determination to protect his new family Very powerful ending sentences.

not venture into the valley unless you have to…unless

Can’t wait til we get there

there is no other choice. Do you understand?”

and took a deep and pleasant breath. No matter where he walked in life, no matter what cities or continents he visited, he could always

return to

this ...

Terry believed his friend, as he often did about such things. He would not let down his guard when they arrived, not for a single moment. The lives of his friends were in the balance, and Terry would do whatever it took to keep them safe. This he swore to himself, sitting there in the back of the

Interesting character development.!Terry possesses an inherent ‘goodness’ that far surpasses the inherent goodness of others.

traveling cart, meditating, and reflecting.

As humanity itself had shown, true believers could be dangerous. They did terrible things to each other, and in their minds it was always justified. Genocide wasn’t so bad as long as the gods gave it their blessing.

An apt description of humanity. Sorry to say.

Terry. It was the reason he had, after all, leapt through the

rift in the first place.

No greater sacrifice than to give your life for your fellow man. Mei’s quest to find him—admirable.

With any luck, they’d be out of here by tomorrow.

We know that is not going to happen

Not now.

“Doctor Curie and Sergeant Finn. They told me—” “You mean John and Mei?” asked Terry. “Yes,” she answered. “You don’t know their full names?” “We didn’t have last names when we were children. You don’t get them until you graduate and you choose

them. I never got an official

graduation.” His eyes fell on the bed, ...

Now we finally get explanation for Mei being called Curie all of sudden 20. Chapters ago

“No one wins in the end. Even after the fighting is over and the dust has cleared…even when you’ve wiped it all away, you’ve still got blood on your hands, and half of you are dead,” he said, looking at each of them. “And then it starts all over again.”

Just like god ol usa

Blew by and

you, Mei, thought John, looking back at the city as it fell into the distance. No matter what it takes, no matter what I have to do, I’ll bring you home. I swear. ******

These chapter endings overused/trite.

John had

come so far to find him, traveled to another world—another universe—to see this boy again, his oldest and greatest friend. His brother. And he was alive. Oh, God, he was real, sitting next to him, here in this distant place. Here, beneath an ancient forest, surrounded by

Nice par

falling...

“Whatever it takes.”

The only question was

how.

doing over

Believe that a brighter future is coming, and then make

it happen.