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QuantumNorth

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High ambitions for a low enlisted

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-22-25

This time Sharpe finds himself on a special mission to hunt down a dangerous defector. He also is offered his own opportunity to defect and begin a new career as a lucratively paid officer in the Indian military. Unknown to Sharpe, Sergeant Hakeswill maliciously pursues Sharpe with a warrant for his arrest, but with more nefarious intentions of inflicting revenge on Sharpe and stealing his loot.

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Superb sci-fi mystery unravels during a chase

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-20-25

Very well-written tale about a pilot roped into a seemingly innocuous transportation gig to deliver a spaceship to Earth. However, quickly the job turns sideways, and the MC, and the newly formed spaceship crew, are left suspicious of one another and on the run from just about every powerful entity in the galaxy. Engaging and suspenseful all the way through.

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Underdog soldier finds pride & honor in his duties

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-17-25

Coming from from humble beginnings and, now, a reluctant private in the British army, Richard Sharpe, contemplates abandoning the military and starting anew in India as his superiors attempt to conquer the region. A malignant, petty, and jealous sergeant plots against him. However, a dangerous mission is thrust upon Sharpe, requiring him to show bravery and cunning beyond what could normally be expected, and, in the course of accomplishing this task, he finds a new love for being a warrior and a renewed commitment to the British crown.

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Great premise, weaker execution

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-12-25

I think the author set-up an intriguing universe and solid plot premise. Set in the future, with most people living in a virtual reality and a much smaller group of people still having bodies in the real-world, but many of these also being augmented by nano-tech. The MC is tasked with protecting the hardware that keeps the virtual world possible, but he, himself, detests the idea of choosing to live only as a virtual construct. Slowly it becomes apparent that a few pirate attacks in the real-world are actually tied to a grander plot that is subverting all of humanity.

Unfortunately, the plot progression isn't quite as enjoyable nor as captivating as one might hope for. In part, some aspects of the plot start to become more fantastical and pseudo-spiritual woo, and less of solid sci-fi. In an almost nonsensical manner, the MC adopts an arrogant mentor, who ultimately imparts incredible abilities to the MC that, later, turn out to be absolutely crucial to his success. Of course, it's always better to have a crafty, but weaker, protagonist outwit a more powerful adversary, rather than relying on (what are effectively) supernatural abilities to win by brute force.

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Salvage effort unveils clues to past mystery

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-27-25

In an attempt, to capture the biggest salvage score of her career, a captain leads her team on a dangerous mission that may just reveal what happen to her father during his past military assignment. Solid story, but not exceptionally captivating.

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Thoughtful & imaginative, not action/adventure

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-21-25

With the story told through the unique perspective of the MC, Siri, who is incapable of empathy, we're led on a journey with a small group of people chosen to make contact with a mysterious extraterrestrial species. The book is really about presenting to us all of the various possibilities that the crew contemplates could be the driving motives, instincts, and/or perspectives of these aliens, illuminating our biases for what it means for a species to be "highly evolved". The tale also highlights how humanity is often driven by fear, and a desire for having or maintaining order/control.

This is a cerebral experience-type sci-fi, rather that a some sort of action-packed adventure.

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Mixed bag, decent if inserted politics are ignored

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-19-25

I like the concept behind the main story, namely that an elderly person, who is otherwise unresponsive in the real-world, is able to enjoy playing a RPG online game, while an AI uses the data to help his mind and memories recover. The plot progression is enjoyable enough, and is on par with what one would expect from an LitRPG book.

However, the narration of the little girl is straight-up grating to my ears; though I do credit the narrator for making each character's voice distinguishable.

After having heard about 50 times already how the MC (really the author) likes how his new in-game friend is setting up a town that only imposes "low-taxes", in book 2 chapter 19, multiple characters each spend several minutes marveling how low-taxes are the right choice for any society. Given that this never plays any significant role in the 5 books, yet is mentioned nearly constantly throughout, it quickly becomes just plain obnoxious. I don't really care whether or not the MC (or author) enjoys low-taxes; however, I absolutely don't want the politics preached at me.

What makes this even dumber is that all of this is occurring in a fictitious game that involves magic and obviously skips over boring real-world issues (establishing sewer systems, determining the salaries of public servants, disputes among the populus about what government services ought to be provided, etc.). Yet the author acts as if outcomes within his fake RPG game act as evidence that his low-tax politics are the right path. He doesn't define what "low-taxes" even mean. Of course, if someone feels that they're getting their money's worth or better out of government services, then they'll ultimately feel like their taxes are "low"; otherwise, they'll feel that the taxes are "high" and wasteful. Yet such sentiments vary from person-to-person in the real-world. None of the townspeople (NPCs) ever complain, nor do they ask for better or new services, and so whatever taxes are imposed, and whatever type or quality of government services are provided, they're always satisfactory.

My point being that there is absolutely no reason to be preaching politics when your story cannot realistically address the benefits and downfalls of the viewpoints (and/or positive or contrary evidences that either support or deny the claims). Rather, this just comes across as childish and distracting, and makes it seem as if the author isn't intelligent enough to covering such topics.

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Not just the planets...

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-09-25

A brief, yet informative, summary of astronomy and our solar system. This probably best for a novice or younger audience.

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Pre-war issues resurface in the post-war condition

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-08-25

Solid story of a dedicated and talented warrior who is eventually recruited into a new Spartan cohort. However, in the aftermath of the war with the Covenant, internal strife among human factions re-ignites previous complaints about the oversight and governance of the Unified Earth Government (UEG). Some of the UNSC military waiver in their desire to serve now that the Covenant and/or other aliens no longer pose the primary threats against humanity.

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A house divided against itself

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-01-25

A well-written tale with a well-planned plot progression that steadily reveals an intricate set of relationships and competing intentions that are integral to the strength and survival of a powerful empire among the stars. Somewhat frustratingly, the plot moves back and forth in time, and with uncommon character names (for Americans), making it, at times, difficult to ascertain what is happening and/or what are the interrelationships between the characters -- one needs to pay extra attention. Even still, the story is quite suspenseful and enthralling.

In summary, an artificial intelligence, previously in control of a starship, but now inhabiting a human body, sojourns among the former empire it once served. However, after a long time, it initiates a series of events in order to bring to fruition in an opportune moment a long-held personal objective. The empire, still superficially strong, was once betrayed by an insider threat, and now its supreme leader is suspicious and cautious to the point of becoming uncharacteristically uncivil and brutal.

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