Three favourite sci fi stories (amazingly, free!)

Sometimes, you get a really good sci-fi story. Really, really good. Of the 5 star, aka 'I loved it!' variety.

Here are three for any sci-fi fan to enjoy, and you can get them all for free (amazing!) on SmashWords.

Science fiction/Mystery | The Prometheus Incident: A Martian Murder Mystery | Joseph H.J. Líaigh
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sci fi and a cold murder being investigated on another planet, after 20 years. What more could you ask for? Well plotted, with a twist.


Get it here. Amazingly, it's free!





Science fiction | Now and for Always | E. Steven Newby
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A poignant story of a man who gets glimpses of the future, and what results. Beautifully built up, and seems standard enough, which makes the twist at the end startling. Solid characterisation, well realised descriptions. Strongly recommended if you liked The Time Traveller’s Wife.

Wonders never cease. It's free here.



Science fiction | Tribe | Ben Langdon
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the best sci fi stories I've read in a long time. Possibly the best I downloaded in 2017, certainly top 5.

Carlos is caught in an alley by punks who are planning to kill him. Except that he's a super hero/super spy with the ability to take them all on. Or does he really?

There are a few spelling mistakes, but you don't care. This is a story with a great concept, fast pace, sharp descriptions, and very logically concluded, given the super power. Unreservedly recommended.

And what's more, free, here.

A collection of 'It's ok' aka 2-star stories (Part 2 of 2)

I've often wondered what to do about stories that I classify as 'It's ok' (2 stars out of 5) or worse. Should one review them for the sake of the unsuspecting public, or should one veil them in the shadows to spare the authors a severe downrating?

Anyhow, I've decided to review them anyway. Unsuspecting public, take a bow. Please remember, YMMV. You may like different stuff than me. I picked up all these because they were rated at 4 stars or better by at least two reviewers, plus the blurb and/or the cover art looked interesting.

Science fiction | Redeemed | Steve Matthew Benner
⭐⭐

A political story. Other than featuring alien species, not sci fi. And given that those are humanoid to the extent of sharing mistresses with the hero, not all that alien either.

What's with writers who assume future rulers will all be male only and also be so incompetent in relationships as to need to buy the services of prostitutes?

I wasn't too impressed with a hero who apparently established a record of integrity over two decades, was fooled by his boss in the intro scenes and then proceeds to lie and scheme for the duration of the story. It doesn't gel.

The story proceeds smoothly enough if you accept these premises.

You can get it here. Still free.


Horror/science fiction | The Meek | Brian S Wheeler
⭐⭐

It's grim. Four misshapen people push a drill across the desert to attack the fatcats who shifted to virtual reality and left behind flying buzzkills to kill the rest of humanity which was too poor to transition. One of the four is a hacker. Only two stars because I couldn't relate to any of the characters or the ending.


It's no longer available on Smashwords.

A collection of 'It's ok' aka 2-star stories (Part 1 of 2)

I've often wondered what to do about stories that I classify as 'It's ok' (2 stars out of 5) or worse. Should one review them for the sake of the unsuspecting public, or should one veil them in the shadows to spare the authors a severe downrating?

Anyhow, I've decided to review them anyway. Unsuspecting public, take a bow. Please remember, YMMV. You may like different stuff than me. I picked up all these because they were rated at 4 stars or better by at least two reviewers, plus the blurb and/or the cover art looked interesting.


Science fiction | Faster than light: Dobriathar | Macolm Pierce
⭐⭐

Space opera, part 2 of a series. (Wonder why I didn't read part 1 first? Oh, well).

Talking stars and bucolic planets.

The writing isn't too smooth, using, for example, ‘governess’ to mean female governor of the planet instead of someone who minds and tutors children, causing dissonance all along. Some scenes feel like dreams or fantasy, and it's confusing to try to distinguish them from the rest of the story.

I think I have book 1 of the series, but I'm unlikely to read it now. You can get it here. Still free.


Science fiction | Death's Twilight | A.J. Leavens
⭐⭐

I originally rated this as 3 stars, mainly for writing quality.

A fast paced action story, it has ninja organisations, deadly assassins, high tech, chases across the world, secrets that can break the world order.

What is doesn't have is depth. Things are too pat. Like big budget Hollywood where twists are there for shock value, not because they make sense.

If you like popcorn stories that don't tax your brain, this is the first of a series as Slade and Hotaru take on a System that has framed them.

The reason it lost a star? Too much senseless killing. And I mean senseless. It made no sense from any angle.

You can get it here. Still free.


Science Fiction | Running: The Alien in the Mirror | Lazlo Ferran
⭐⭐

Now this story? Popcorn. Full of corny stuff. Androids who become conscious, humans trodden down by androids, a big rebellion, waving of lasers in sewers. Staple tropes from Hollywood movies.

You can get it here. Still free.



Horror/science fiction | Sunfall: Episode 1 | Tim Meyer
⭐⭐

A yucky-horror story. People start to burn up, screaming all the way. The hero realises instantly it's because they are standing in the sun. It's a series of descriptions of slices of everyday life with people dying gorily. Not for me.

You can get it here. Still free.

Stories of Futures to be Cautious in, and Pasts that Don’t Let Go

It’s been exactly five months since I posted a review. That mainly means laziness in writing reviews, not lack of stories to review.

Last year, when Smashwords had its annual sale in July, I picked up a lot of stories for free. The year before, I had done the same, but this time I was more cautious. I read the reviews and looked at the ratings. It wasn’t just the cover (ha ha, mostly I ignore covers of self-published books if they aren’t much to look at; a poor cover does not dissuade, though a good cover certainly attracts). It wasn’t just the blurb. It was the average rating, the number of ratings, and the actual reviews.

A good review certainly made me consider a download.

So, it’s time to pay back.

Each of these reviews will also be posted on smashwords. I’ve got about 37 to write, and I won’t necessarily remember all the stories from their names, so I might just reread all of them (heh heh). This means I need to have a quick way to do the reviews, while still doing justice. So here’s how I plan to do it:

Star rating. 1 to 5 stars, which mean: Awful, avoid; mediocre; tolerable; liked, enjoyable; terrific, recommended.

Synopsis: sub-categorisation and a wee bit about the story itself, so you can decide if it’s the kind of thing you like.

What’s good: I’ll mention plot, novelty, characterisation, lesson learned (if any), writing style.

What’s not good: Only if relevant, but things like poor grammar, weak plots, cliched language or plots will show up here.

So, let’s get to it. It’s in reverse order; the stories I read most recently first. The covers I found attractive are included here.

Science Fiction | Expressions of Freedom | Gareth Lewis

Star rating: 4 (enjoyable) ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Category: Will AI take over the world?

Synopsis: A curious journalist investigates rumours that all is not well with the foundations of democracy in a near-future world where everyone votes for everything, since it’s all technology-enabled via your personal AI.

What’s good: The protagonist is quirky and likeable. The villains are villainous without being demonic. The personal AIs and new tech are woven in neatly. Smooth writing, no hiccups.

What’s not good, if anything: A wee bit predictable.

You can find the story here. There is also a detailed review by Francis W Porretto there, which will tell you all you want to know about the story. Hat tip!

Science Fiction | Back Again (the short story) | Susan May

Star category: 5 (recommended) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Time travel, fate

Synopsis: A taut, breathless-speed story about a woman stuck in a time loop, reliving the death of her little boy, trying with all her soul to change the outcome. There are three main characters, the mother, the woman who runs over the boy while focused on texting rather than driving, and the presence of the boy which the reader and the other two are keenly aware of, but who remains oblivious through it all.

What’s good: Everything. Plot, characterisation, plot twists, writing quality, high emotion, suspense.

What’s not good, if anything: -

You can find the story here. It has many good reviews, and was subsequently expanded into a book (like Nightfall and Flowers for Algernon and other classics, it probably did equally well in a longer format, but I haven’t read that version).

Science Fiction | Beware the Well Fed Man | Chris Capps

Star category: 5 (recommended) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Post-apocalypse

Synopsis: In a world of municipal darwinism, where walking cities populated by the lucky are trailed by less-lucky camp-followers, and those who aren’t even camp-followers are preyed upon by bloodthirsty tribes of killers, a Mall falls from the sky and prepares to take in customers.

Ebon and his curious brother Crassus join a group of the most disadvantaged in converting the Plexis Shopping Centre to Home. Except that it’s not so simple. The nearest City wants to take over. Crassus learns more about how the mall works. Along with Thunfir (elected chief) and Euclid (a mathematical man whom only Crassus can barely keep up with) and other less savoury allies, they prepare to take the City on.

What’s good: A novel and thoroughly entertaining plot, high-tech post-apocalypse, weird social structures, weirder world views, nanotech, 3D printing, evil villains, cruel killers, friends and loyalty, heartbreaking choices, extreme capitalism. Crackling good SF, and the title is spot on.

What’s not good, if anything: I don’t have the next book! Waa!

Hat tip to Zachary Seibert’s excellent review. You can find it here.

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Enjoy! More soon.

More soon.