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The Light Reapers: Revenge and Redemption
In the gripping sci-fi novel, The Light Reapers: Revenge and Redemption, readers are thrust into a world where survival hangs by a thread. Following a devastating assault that left their beloved city of New Orleans in ruins, the resilient Light Reapers face a daunting path to embark on a treacherous sea voyage and seek a new existence. Little do they know that this fateful journey will take an ominous turn, shattering their already fragile hopes. As the team sets sail, the unsettling shadows of betrayal loom over them. Their trust is shattered, and they find themselves ensnared in a web of deception.
However, amidst the chaos, they unexpectedly cross paths with a decimated military unit desperately needing their expertise. United by circumstance, the Light Reapers welcome new blood into their ranks, forming an alliance that will forever alter their fate. But danger lurks on the horizon, for the evolving threat they face challenges the rules of engagement. The team finds themselves in a race against time, grappling with an ever-changing enemy, demanding new strategies and sacrifices. In the face of this daunting adversity, the Light Reapers must confront their desires for revenge or redemption.
Author Gary Hickman’s astute portrayal of military dynamics shines through in The Light Reapers Revenge and Redemption, capturing the essence of soldiers’ mannerisms and dialogue with precision. Characters such as Lia, a resilient and fitting addition to the team, embody this military-like spirit. The delightful interplay of witty banter among the characters deepens their bonds, particularly when faced with the relentless challenges the infected presents.
Readers accompanying the Light Reapers on their harrowing journey are immediately drawn into an engrossing atmosphere of palpable suspense and tension, skillfully established from the very first page. Navigating and surviving a post-apocalyptic world becomes a riveting and immersive experience. To fully appreciate the characters’ intricacies and their trials, it is advisable to read The Light Reapers as part of the series, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of each character’s development.
Hickman deftly explores a range of emotions throughout the narrative, defying the reader’s expectations. From the searing sting of betrayal to the unwavering courage displayed by the protagonists, the profound acts of self-sacrifice, and the indomitable strength of unity, the story embarks on an exhilarating emotional roller coaster ride. Amidst the book’s eventful nature, Hickman skillfully maintains a sense of coherence and closure, steering the narrative toward a profoundly satisfying conclusion.
With its exhilarating plot twists and highly original narrative, The Light Reapers: Revenge and Redemption, captivates readers and immerses them in a pulse-pounding odyssey that keeps them teetering on the edge of their seats. Each page is eagerly turned with breathless anticipation, propelled by the relentless action that unfolds.
Pages: 266 | ASIN : B0C6C6GQ45
Lunacom
Lunacom by Rich Wyatt is a fast-paced, science-fiction action that will captivate you from the start. The story quickly debriefs the reader on where everything begins and how the world has become very different in 2062, where the United States, China, and Russia all play significant roles in occupying various parts of space. Mining operations are a primary mission, and while artificial intelligence has advanced significantly, playing a pivotal role in everyday life, various challenges arise from this technology.
While many branches and outposts were created throughout the 2020s and 2030s, the U.S. military established Lunacom, or Lunar Command, to better manage many facets of the operations. As a streamlined approach and cooperative teams of scientists and operating forces appear to be moving positively, a mysterious force suddenly places them and everyone on Earth at risk. When communication is instantly cut off from military personnel, and their ability to send messages to Earth is thwarted, they must face an unknown threat and fight for their lives.
I really enjoyed reading this story, as Wyatt does an incredible job of reeling in the reader from the very start with a clear, visual description of the future world and a quick outline of how we got there. It’s also a cautionary tale, in a way, that gives readers a chance to ponder the use of technology, space exploration, and mining, among other developments, as a means to advance society. Will this advancement into the unknown improve people’s lives on Earth and in space, or set us back when faced with frightening and unknown forces beyond our control?
Lunacom by Rich Wyatt is a spectacular adventure that will keep you turning one page after another from start to finish! I especially like how the author’s past experience with the military and related knowledge infuses a sense of reality into this story, which is ideal for anyone interested in sci-fi action and futuristic/military-themed tales. I hope to read more of Wyatt’s work!
Pages: 194 | ASIN : B0C2NRCZPR
Insurrection
The third installment of Michael J. Farlow’s sci-fi series, Insurrection: Records of the Argos, is a thrilling and intelligently written story that will capture the attention of any sci-fi fan. The crew of the Argos finds themselves in an unexpected predicament as they suddenly find themselves trapped in the middle of a war between the Brintal and the Furlong on the continent of Elisi. Unfortunately, the only aid is the AI Agnes, who is currently not functioning, leaving Nick and his crew to fend for themselves.
Farlow has done an exceptional job of crafting a new and exciting story while avoiding over-reliance on the previous books. The fast-paced action will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they navigate the war-torn continent with Nick and his crew. Furthermore, the political intrigue woven into the story adds a layer of realism that is often missing from sci-fi stories. It is refreshing to see that Farlow’s focus is not solely on action but rather on the well-thought-out plans and tactics that are utilized by Nick and his team. This is a welcome departure from the typical sci-fi story that is filled with endless battles. Instead, the story takes the time to develop characters and create a realistic world, which adds depth to the overall narrative.
Insurrection: Records of the Argos is a fantastic addition to the series, and it is easy to see why it has been so well received by fans. Farlow has once again crafted a story that goes beyond what is expected of the genre and is a breath of fresh air. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sci-fi, and I hope to see Nick and his crew in future installments.
Pages: 364 | ASIN : B0BTY5FGCT.
Ignition 2084
Ignition 2084, a new science fiction novel by Jordan Hampton, takes place in the long shadow cast by a Second Civil War fought in the United States in 2020. From the War rose the tyrannical and white-dominated Scarlet Kingdom, opposed by three other factions mainly divided along racial lines. As the Kingdom redoubles its efforts to reunify the country by force, one of those factions, the Yaiba Insurrection, manages to level the playing field via new military technology and the skill and courage of warrior John Hamlin.
Hampton’s greatest strength lies in his action scenes; he understands well what makes for good action in print. Not simply in spectacle, as in a movie; instead, he gives each scene context through dialogue and just enough description that the reader always understands the stakes in each fight and, from the prologue onwards, feels invested in each character’s fate. Even incidental characters who appear only briefly often receive a name and a small piece of characterization through dialogue or narrative so that every scene feels like it involves real people with a life outside the immediate context of the story. One should also note that while technology certainly plays a significant role in the story and the spectacle of, e.g., the heat-generating Reikiken sword are appealing, Hampton never lets them overshadow the main points of the story.
Now, Hampton seems to have meant for the racial divisions among the various factions and how they’re handled to be relevant to the real world, which forms an essential aspect of the novel. However, Ignition 2084 is primarily the story of John Hamlin. Though Hampton does have something to say about the real world, he’s not heavy-handed or overly preachy but lets the novel speak for itself.
Overall, Ignition 2084 is a gripping and entertaining Science Fiction novel that’s easy to recommend to any fan of the genre. With espionage, military action, and thrilling battles, readers will be drawn in and hooked from the opening pages of this not-so-distant future story.
Pages: 642 | ASIN : B0B7D2S22Q
Literary Titan Book Awards May 2022
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Gold Award Winners
Poems for the End of the Age by Hanz Peter Zell
Silver Award Winners
Bible, God and Free Will by Vasile Ghiuta
On a Fallen Wave by Benjamin Anderson
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Threatened By An Advanced Race
Dark Enemy follows the Earth’s space force leader as he tries to unify the allied forces while fighting politicians back on Earth. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The idea for the start of the series was the question: What would you do if you learned that the Earth was threatened by an advanced race while at the same time finding a source of advanced technology? Add that the person finding this out was at a point in his life when he was seeking simplicity.
Did you create an outline for the characters in the story before you started writing, or did the characters’ personalities grow organically as you were writing?
I had an idea about the main character, Van Childs, but the rest introduced themselves over time. In fact, the characters dictated the story. I planned to stop at the third book, but the characters said no and took me to a fifth, Dark Enemy.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The reluctance of Van Childs to get involved. The lack of the technical skills on Earth to reproduce the technology of the Host in a timely manner. And the fight of greed over the need to survive.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
The next book is called Crucible and is the beginning of a new series called Records of the Argos. Crucible is available now. After that will come Retribution which will be available in July or August of 2022.
Author Links: Amazon | Website | Facebook
The Pursuit of the Pankera
The Pursuit of the Pankera is a 2020 science fiction book by Robert A. Heinlein which is a parallel version of The Number of the Beast. The Number of the Beast and The Pursuit of the Pankera follow the same characters; Deety, Zeb, Hilda and Jake, who are ambushed by the alien called Black Hats, but escape in a vehicle that can travel through different planes of existence. When Robert Heinlein published The Number of the Beast in 1980 he created a parallel version of what would have happened if Zeb, Deety, Jake and Hilda were taken to another universe besides what had happened in the 1980 book and that story is called The Pursuit of the Pankera.
I have read many sci-fi books but nothing stands out as a unique continuation of a story quite like the The Pursuit of the Pankera. This book is an unparalleled science fiction thrill ride that is crafted to entertain the reader. Most authors write about parallel universes as an idea to begin a plot, but parallel universes are a part of the plot here and Robert Heinlein explores the idea vividly. He first wrote about a parallel universe and then went ahead and wrote a parallel version of the parallel universe story he had introduced to his readers. Which makes sense, I suppose, as this is exactly what the parallel worlds theory would suggest. Heinlein is able to imbue a feel of classic science fiction, propelled by action scenes, which the genre has righteously deemed ‘Heinlein-esque’. The feel of deep science fiction with thought-provoking theories and hard hitting action is on brilliant display here. Everything that made me a hardcore Heinlein fan so many years ago has resurfaced here.
The book was written in 1977 but published in 2020. The author wrote two parallel novels about parallel universe but released one in 1980. The two books share the same start but they diverge and the characters are transported to two different parallel universes. The Pursuit of the Pankera is a bold literary experiment and the results are astonishing.
Hardcore science fiction fans may rejoice, but all others must not fear, I found this book to be easily digestible considering the scientific ideas utilized throughout the book. A few bits of jargon, but I found them to be good mood setters. This is still a human story that builds up and tests some fascinating characters. A suspenseful and thought-provoking classic science fiction story that will delight anyone looking for a gripping space adventure.
Pages: 545 | ASIN: B082838YYY
End of Knighthood Part II: The King’s Move
End of Knighthood Part II: The King’s Move keeps the action blazing forward! The second installment, by Joshua Landeros, follows rebel cyborg super soldiers and continues the story of William Marconi, who seeks vengeance from Chancellor Venloran. After finding out what latest weapon the Chancellor holds, rebel fighters Captain Halsey and Gabby, were lured into a trap and are at his mercy. This sets the stage for what the rebellion needs to do. Will, who started this rebellion, may get his chance to achieve his vengeance and end it, but the cost may be even too great for him to bear.
The King’s Move wastes no time in getting back into the thick of the action and picking up where we left off in the first. The action does not break and the events become more heinous as we reach the book’s climax and the tragic conclusion. Landeros continues to borrow the best from classic military sci-fi authors with short, clipped sentences and telling “only the facts” when denoting action and danger. His world building is subtle and should please any reader who pays attention to the craft of writing. With this second part in his series Landeros has escalated the conflict and moved the stakes to an even higher plane.
The characters remain, along with the action, some of the best parts of the novel. His rather wide cast of rebels and villains are all a thrill to read and fun to follow as they attempt to achieve their various goals. The book remains a blend of sci-fi/thriller that would keep any fan of those two genres satisfied. The dialogue shoots back and forth between the characters as fast as the bullets, keeping the pace quick and the readier on the edge of their seat. These are a welcome distraction from the brutal carnage that sometimes occurs.
The lack of description hurts this work at times, which it makes up for since with prose that has improved since the last installment. He continues to borrow heavily from screenwriting techniques, with consistent dialogue on almost every page, while providing only deep description of the action scenes. His fast pace style will suit casual readers as well as those used to thrillers and military sci-fi.
The King’s Move is an exciting bridge that keeps the reader entertained and swept away on the plight of these rebel cyborgs. Anyone who enjoys a military science fiction thriller will find their palates pleased with Landeros’ work and hungry for the third installment.
Pages: 156 | ASIN: B073WHFL24
LITERARY TITAN 