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A Solid Core of Alpha
In an act of heroism and self-sacrifice, Anderson Rawn's sister saved him from the destruction of their tiny mining colony, but her actions condemned the thirteen-year-old to ten years of crushing loneliness on the hyperspace journey to a new home. Using electronics and desperation, Anderson creates a family to keep him company, but family isn't always a blessing.
When Anderson finally arrives, C.J. Poulson greets him with curiosity and awe, because anyone who can survive a holocaust and reinvent holo-science is going to be a legend and right up C.J.'s alley. But the more C.J. investigates how Anderson endured the last ten years, the deeper he is drawn into a truly dangerous fantasy, one that offers the key to Anderson's salvation—and his destruction.
In spite of his best intentions, C.J. can’t resist the terribly seductive Anderson. Their attraction threatens to destroy them, because the heart of a man who can survive the destruction of his people and retain his sense of self holds a solid core of alpha male that will not be denied.
When Anderson finally arrives, C.J. Poulson greets him with curiosity and awe, because anyone who can survive a holocaust and reinvent holo-science is going to be a legend and right up C.J.'s alley. But the more C.J. investigates how Anderson endured the last ten years, the deeper he is drawn into a truly dangerous fantasy, one that offers the key to Anderson's salvation—and his destruction.
In spite of his best intentions, C.J. can’t resist the terribly seductive Anderson. Their attraction threatens to destroy them, because the heart of a man who can survive the destruction of his people and retain his sense of self holds a solid core of alpha male that will not be denied.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
14 people are currently reading
1204 people want to read
About the author
Amy Lane
204 books3,489 followersAmy Lane dodges an EDJ, mothers four children, and writes the occasional book. She, her brood, and her beloved mate, Mack, live in a crumbling mortgage in Citrus Heights, California, which is riddled with spiders, cats, and more than its share of fancy and weirdness. Feel free to visit her at www.greenshill.com orwww.writerslane.blogspot.com, where she will ride the buzz of receiving your e-mail until her head swells and she can no longer leave the house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
July 17, 2014
Science fiction matters.
This one's a nice twist on the castaway trope.
Lovely character-work with the holograms. When was the last time you fell for a non-biological—after R2D2, obviously—never mind a bit of code in an escape pod?
It takes a big heart to feel empathy for characters who aren't even alive.
It takes an ever bigger heart to write them—and well.
Good stuff.
This one's a nice twist on the castaway trope.
Lovely character-work with the holograms. When was the last time you fell for a non-biological—after R2D2, obviously—never mind a bit of code in an escape pod?
It takes a big heart to feel empathy for characters who aren't even alive.
It takes an ever bigger heart to write them—and well.
Good stuff.
April 8, 2013
This is one of these books that makes you want to write a review so worthy that you find yourself deleting everything you start to write because you just can't get the emotion it made you feel down on the page. So I'm going to try and get it over as best I can. I've had this waiting to read for a while and Im kicking myself I didn't start sooner!!
The story opens with an event so heartbreaking you wonder how in gods name this is ever going to have a happy ending, then you watch helplessly whilst the main character Anderson, learns to cope alone from the tender age of 12, with the after effects of said event and you watch in wonder and awe as this young lonely boy builds himself a completely new life and another family (of sorts) contained in a ship that he's about to be trapped in, for a decade, with no hope of rescue in that time until it reaches the destination its been programmed for. As time passes you see this amazing character survive what to most would be enough to leave them a gibbering idiot in a matter of days! But as the 10 year hiatus in space gradually passes and the ships power starts to fade Anderson is forced to make heart wrenching decisions that impact so deeply on his psyche that the perfect family he's created takes a turn for the dark side and when the ship finally reaches its destination Anderson appears to be quite sane but is in fact beaten down both physically and psychologically so badly that in a way he cant distinguish whats real and what isn't ... then he meets C J , the wonderful, caring CJ and his friends and family and from then on its a matter of determining just how badly Anderson is affected and will he ever be able to overcome the awful realities of what he's been through with the help and support of these lovely people, and will he ever be able to love again and live a normal life?
The things that Anderson suffers are not easy to read about. There's rape, dub con and assault and there were times in the story when I had to just take a rest because its such a an emotionally draining read but OMG this book blew me away and the memories of it will stay with me a long, long, time. Is there's happy ending for these awesome characters? See for yourselves .My eyes are just drying out and the wonderful Ms Lane made me work really hard get to this point....but I am smiling! A beautiful sexy poignant love story that like all Amy Lanes books has 'gut wrenched' written all over it, but is SO worth the read. Please read this book!
The story opens with an event so heartbreaking you wonder how in gods name this is ever going to have a happy ending, then you watch helplessly whilst the main character Anderson, learns to cope alone from the tender age of 12, with the after effects of said event and you watch in wonder and awe as this young lonely boy builds himself a completely new life and another family (of sorts) contained in a ship that he's about to be trapped in, for a decade, with no hope of rescue in that time until it reaches the destination its been programmed for. As time passes you see this amazing character survive what to most would be enough to leave them a gibbering idiot in a matter of days! But as the 10 year hiatus in space gradually passes and the ships power starts to fade Anderson is forced to make heart wrenching decisions that impact so deeply on his psyche that the perfect family he's created takes a turn for the dark side and when the ship finally reaches its destination Anderson appears to be quite sane but is in fact beaten down both physically and psychologically so badly that in a way he cant distinguish whats real and what isn't ... then he meets C J , the wonderful, caring CJ and his friends and family and from then on its a matter of determining just how badly Anderson is affected and will he ever be able to overcome the awful realities of what he's been through with the help and support of these lovely people, and will he ever be able to love again and live a normal life?
The things that Anderson suffers are not easy to read about. There's rape, dub con and assault and there were times in the story when I had to just take a rest because its such a an emotionally draining read but OMG this book blew me away and the memories of it will stay with me a long, long, time. Is there's happy ending for these awesome characters? See for yourselves .My eyes are just drying out and the wonderful Ms Lane made me work really hard get to this point....but I am smiling! A beautiful sexy poignant love story that like all Amy Lanes books has 'gut wrenched' written all over it, but is SO worth the read. Please read this book!
December 4, 2016
Heartwarming and very unique. I liked the whole idea of holograms and the mm romance was a bonus. Loved both Anderson and his ingeniousness and CJ and his kind personality. A good book that makes you feel good.
April 11, 2013
This book was a fascinating exposition of what lies inside the human mind. It's a wonderful take on survival and the psychology of isolation. Anderson is stranded onboard a shuttle in space for ten years, from the time he's twelve. Everyone and everything he knew has been destroyed. To keep from going really crazy, he figures out how to give the holographic characters, that the computer can generate, real personalities and autonomy. He ends up with four good friends and a lover, who are synthesized by the program, and who seem like real people. But can you create a person whose reactions and frame of reference are really outside of your own experience? Or is every character, no matter how he tried to differentiate them, just a reflection of some facet of their creator? And how crazy is it then, to act as if they are real? To almost believe they're real?
By the time Anderson reaches safety, and meets C.J., the man who will become his first flesh-and-blood friend and lover, he's a psychological mess. He's survived the ten solitary years, but the problems he was forced to confront, and the solutions he dreamed up, have taken a real toll on him. The fact that he has to break down at some point during therapy, and rebuild himself, seemed appropriate. I'm glad he'd found C.J. by then, although it was so hard on both of them.
In a way, I found this book more intriguing and brilliant than emotionally engaging for some reason. There are some definite heart-breaking moments. But for me it was more of a book where I admired the ideas and the flow of events than one where the characters lived in my heart and ripped it to shreds (ie. Chase in Shadow.) Very much worth the read, and some readers clearly have been more empathetic with the characters, and affected by the pain drenching this story, than I was, so be warned of the potential for major angst reactions.
The reason for the title escaped me for a while, but in fact I think it's the truest heart of the book, which is at its core a tribute to human ingenuity in the quest for survival. (Yes that's cryptic - read the book :) A well-done science fiction tale with its major strength lying in some really fascinating and novel ways to explore the human psyche and the drive to survive.
By the time Anderson reaches safety, and meets C.J., the man who will become his first flesh-and-blood friend and lover, he's a psychological mess. He's survived the ten solitary years, but the problems he was forced to confront, and the solutions he dreamed up, have taken a real toll on him. The fact that he has to break down at some point during therapy, and rebuild himself, seemed appropriate. I'm glad he'd found C.J. by then, although it was so hard on both of them.
In a way, I found this book more intriguing and brilliant than emotionally engaging for some reason. There are some definite heart-breaking moments. But for me it was more of a book where I admired the ideas and the flow of events than one where the characters lived in my heart and ripped it to shreds (ie. Chase in Shadow.) Very much worth the read, and some readers clearly have been more empathetic with the characters, and affected by the pain drenching this story, than I was, so be warned of the potential for major angst reactions.
The reason for the title escaped me for a while, but in fact I think it's the truest heart of the book, which is at its core a tribute to human ingenuity in the quest for survival. (Yes that's cryptic - read the book :) A well-done science fiction tale with its major strength lying in some really fascinating and novel ways to explore the human psyche and the drive to survive.
November 7, 2015
And what a Pity Fest it was!
I am adding a pity-fest shelf just for this book.
There was NO BDSM, at least not that I've noticed, skimming through the last chapters.
For those who have shelves for it, there was Artificial Intelligence for the majority of the book.
****
Nothing made sense to me - why people did things or did not.
Эми Лэйн надо писать народное страдальческое. Пропадает талант. Пара-па-да-ет.
The drama. The Drah-mah!!!
I am adding a pity-fest shelf just for this book.
There was NO BDSM, at least not that I've noticed, skimming through the last chapters.
For those who have shelves for it, there was Artificial Intelligence for the majority of the book.
****
Nothing made sense to me - why people did things or did not.
Эми Лэйн надо писать народное страдальческое. Пропадает талант. Пара-па-да-ет.
The drama. The Drah-mah!!!
December 6, 2014
Amy Lane, once again I worship at your feet
..... a huge
from me
, a total keeper and 5 pom pom girls
For me, this was a really special story which was heartbreaking from the start. Like 'Chase in Shadow' which I also liked but was a completely different sort of book, this book deals with mental illness, loneliness and dreadful physical abuse.
Anderson Rawn was a happy 13 year old boy living with his family on a tiny mining colony outside of the Crab Nebula until a meteor shower destroyed the colony and everyone on it, and the only reason he was saved was that his older sister practically threw him into a shuttle and made sure it departed before she too was annihilated.....Anderson was the sole survivor. In time, he learned how to make holograms who behaved like humans, and were obviously programmed based on himself and what he discovered from records on the ship. They were his friends and there was a school, which was fine for a time, but so many holograms expended too much energy, and Anderson had no idea when he would reach anywhere with human lifeforms. I'm not going to go into too much detail regarding what happened on the ship, but safe to say, there were some really good things, and then there were some terrible things, most of which were caused by one hologram in particular, Alpha, who was obviously based on certain unwelcome elements of Anderson's pysche.
Eventually, the ship reaches the Hermes-Eight space station with human lifeforms - it's taken over 10 years, and the toll on Anderson's mental state has been tremendous, but on this station he meets CJ (Don't call me Cyril!!), and things finally start looking up for Anderson. This is a life-changing event for everyone. CJ has to come to grips with who he is, what his life is all about and what he wants from it, and the revelations throughout this book are quite an emotional ride for all including the reader. It's such a mesmerizing story, I couldn't put it down. At times it was quite painful, just like 'Chase in Shadow' and I had to take a moment, and then continue reading. I was amazed at the imagination of this author. Many, many thanks Amy.
February 2, 2016
3.5 stars
My conclusion after finishing this book: Amy Lane needs to write more scifi!
I listened to 'A Solid Core of Alpha' in audiobook format, and it was a solid narration. Paul Morey did a good job of differentiating voices of different characters, while choosing voices that "fit" characters' personalities. The pacing was a tad slow, but that was easily fixed by adjusting the playback speed.
I really liked the different route Amy Lane went with this book. Quite often, MM science fiction revolves around a conflict of some sort, with militaries, societies that need saving, and battles. 'A Solid Core of Alpha' is quieter in this respect, focusing on the two main characters, Anderson and CJ, and how their relationship grows.
Anderson and CJ's relationship grows slowly. Both of them have baggage. CJ has spent his whole life selling himself short and refusing to take chances that might make him happy. But that's nothing compared to Anderson, the sole survivor of his mining colony who creates holographic friends so that he wouldn't be alone, only to suffer serious abuse at the hands of his holographic lover. Yeah, the trademark Amy Lane angst is out in full force.
I loved watching CJ and Anderson fall for each other. There was some serious sexual tension. Even better was seeing the two hold each other up, and slowly heal. After a decade of isolation and abuse, Anderson has serious mental health issues. This of course effects his interactions with others, including CJ. I liked that CJ wasn't a magic cure-all. The two work for their happy ever after, even though it causes them pain. But the HEA does come eventually, and it's so well-deserved.
The technological and psychological aspect with the holograms was excellently written. It takes some great skill to evoke emotional reactions for characters in a book while also continually reinforcing that those characters aren't actually there. Granted, this is a book, so none of the characters are real, but the holograms were just as unreal within the actual story. And yet I couldn't help but develop a connection to them. It's just a bit trippy.
If you're looking for a character-driven MM sci-fi book, I'd recommend 'A Solid Core of Alpha'.
My conclusion after finishing this book: Amy Lane needs to write more scifi!
I listened to 'A Solid Core of Alpha' in audiobook format, and it was a solid narration. Paul Morey did a good job of differentiating voices of different characters, while choosing voices that "fit" characters' personalities. The pacing was a tad slow, but that was easily fixed by adjusting the playback speed.
I really liked the different route Amy Lane went with this book. Quite often, MM science fiction revolves around a conflict of some sort, with militaries, societies that need saving, and battles. 'A Solid Core of Alpha' is quieter in this respect, focusing on the two main characters, Anderson and CJ, and how their relationship grows.
Anderson and CJ's relationship grows slowly. Both of them have baggage. CJ has spent his whole life selling himself short and refusing to take chances that might make him happy. But that's nothing compared to Anderson, the sole survivor of his mining colony who creates holographic friends so that he wouldn't be alone, only to suffer serious abuse at the hands of his holographic lover. Yeah, the trademark Amy Lane angst is out in full force.
I loved watching CJ and Anderson fall for each other. There was some serious sexual tension. Even better was seeing the two hold each other up, and slowly heal. After a decade of isolation and abuse, Anderson has serious mental health issues. This of course effects his interactions with others, including CJ. I liked that CJ wasn't a magic cure-all. The two work for their happy ever after, even though it causes them pain. But the HEA does come eventually, and it's so well-deserved.
The technological and psychological aspect with the holograms was excellently written. It takes some great skill to evoke emotional reactions for characters in a book while also continually reinforcing that those characters aren't actually there. Granted, this is a book, so none of the characters are real, but the holograms were just as unreal within the actual story. And yet I couldn't help but develop a connection to them. It's just a bit trippy.
If you're looking for a character-driven MM sci-fi book, I'd recommend 'A Solid Core of Alpha'.
July 1, 2012
Holy crap. This book!
THIS BOOK WAS AWESOME!
And I will write a review tomorrow when it is not 1.30 in the morning and I stayed up late to finish THIS BOOK. Because I mentioned it's awesome, right?
***
Okay, so I've had a day to regroup and reevaluate a bit. I still love this book but I'm dropping down a star because I didn't really feel the ending. Anderson's breakdown and recovery felt kind of rote. It's probably an awful thing to say but I really would have liked a more violent reaction from Anderson. We kept getting told that Alpha was a part of him, but Anderson never felt that Alpha-ish.
Speaking of Alpha, I would have also loved to see more of him, not in flashback or on film but interacting with "real" people at the station.
The best thing about this book were the holograms. Absolutely fascinating! I was more upset about their deaths than Anderson's family.
Anderson was a great character, as were his holograms. I wasn't as invested in CJ, but I liked that he was by no means a perfect hero.
I wasn't too fond of the amount of crying CJ and Cassie did. Hey, I can cry because I'm the reader, but you guys are supposed to be mental health professionals. You see fucked up shit everyday. Maybe not as totally fucked up as Anderson, but you've got to have some sort of armour on.
These are all nitpicking details. Frankly I'm judging this book to a higher standard because it is a really great book. The premise is fantastic and the world building is phenomenal.
Read this book!
THIS BOOK WAS AWESOME!
And I will write a review tomorrow when it is not 1.30 in the morning and I stayed up late to finish THIS BOOK. Because I mentioned it's awesome, right?
***
Okay, so I've had a day to regroup and reevaluate a bit. I still love this book but I'm dropping down a star because I didn't really feel the ending. Anderson's breakdown and recovery felt kind of rote. It's probably an awful thing to say but I really would have liked a more violent reaction from Anderson. We kept getting told that Alpha was a part of him, but Anderson never felt that Alpha-ish.
Speaking of Alpha, I would have also loved to see more of him, not in flashback or on film but interacting with "real" people at the station.
The best thing about this book were the holograms. Absolutely fascinating! I was more upset about their deaths than Anderson's family.
Anderson was a great character, as were his holograms. I wasn't as invested in CJ, but I liked that he was by no means a perfect hero.
I wasn't too fond of the amount of crying CJ and Cassie did. Hey, I can cry because I'm the reader, but you guys are supposed to be mental health professionals. You see fucked up shit everyday. Maybe not as totally fucked up as Anderson, but you've got to have some sort of armour on.
These are all nitpicking details. Frankly I'm judging this book to a higher standard because it is a really great book. The premise is fantastic and the world building is phenomenal.
Read this book!
September 8, 2011
Astonishing. Brutal. Breathtaking. Heartbreaking. Brilliant. Rich.
A subtle, scorching meditation on projection and fidelity in all their forms and modes. Full review coming shortly.
A subtle, scorching meditation on projection and fidelity in all their forms and modes. Full review coming shortly.
December 3, 2012
This book was released in 2011 and has been reviewed and rated heavily. It was, in part, due to the high rating that I decided to give it a try. Also, I love sci-fi and when it has a M/M romance element, then all the better. It's going to be very hard to put into words how much I enjoyed every moment of this read. Suffice it to say that I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading much more from Amy Lane.
THE STORY
…and C.J. was plunged into a hell so exquisite there wasn’t a name for it.
I think I would call this a Lost and Found story. In fact, it is the ultimate lost story. Being alone on a space shuttle for 10 years, without human contact, of any kind, would cause anyone to lose it. The world Anderson builds to counteract his loneliness is fascinating and as I read I thought that would be the main focus of the story. It isn't until Anderson's shuttle reaches an outpost that the "real" story unfolds and makes this book so much more than I expected.
THE WRITING
Above them, the night was darkest purple, and the stars were so clear and white they could draw blood.
The writing style is very straight-forward. No fancy tricks, very little poetic prose and it still kept me glued to the page. Amy Lane's style seems clean, understandable and enjoyable. I wouldn't call her writing simplistic as it was her carefully crafted underlying anticipation that had me applying the brakes while I was plowing on full-speed ahead.
THE CHARACTERS
No one else got to gawk at the boy who had talked to dolls for over eight years.
Anderson Rawn - Surprisingly multi-faceted, Anderson grows, suffers, flirts, loves and hates. He's endearingly innocent and admirably strong. It’s easy to imagine yourself in Anderson’s place. It’s hard to think about how you would fare.
C.J.’s sigh came from his toes.
Cyril John Poulson (C.J.) – Playful, intelligent, caring and sexy. CJ is too smart for his own good, when he meets Anderson he knows he’s in trouble; he knows whichever way he moves forward could be the biggest mistake of his life.
”Anderson…” It was a plea, but not even C.J. knew whether it was a plea to stop or to keep going…”
********
Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:
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February 14, 2012
This review was originally written for Hearts on Fire Reviews and can also be found there.
The shove you get when you first start reading this story is powerful and overwhelming, as it pushes you into a world of tragedy, heart-wrenching sadness and hope. It’s impossible to imagine the loneliness after the ultimate loss and the courage as well as determination to keep going. But all of it was implemented into this book; the emotional punches, shocking twists, cruelty as well as love.
Anderson was just a boy when the mining colony he’d lived at was destroyed. He was the sole survivor saved by his sister. Her act of courage was something not a lot of people could do, but while admirable, it condemned Anderson to years of loneliness, where he made his own holographic world and where he did his best to stay alive.
C.J. is introduced in the second third of the book. He is one of the men and women assigned to exploration of all the data Anderson had brought with him after ten years of traveling alone through space. Their connection was based on more than attraction from the first moment they’d met, but self-destruction that was bound to follow kept coming between them.
I wish I could say more about the plot without revealing spoilers because then I would rant and chatter for pages. Since that it not the case, I am limited to wrapped up words and unclear statements. Bear with me people, because I will do my best to write this in a way it makes sense.
The first third of the book was told from Anderson’s perspective. There was a lot less telling and characters felt very real despite most of them being holograms. They all had a personality and a unique voice that was certainly heard, but the loudest of those voices was Anderson’s. I could hear his pain, his hopes as well as his despair. All of it was touched with his brilliance and I couldn’t help it but admire him. That first third was exactly what I want as well as need in a brilliant book. It was easily perfect.
The second third of the book was told from C.J. point of view. That is about the time things started to fall apart for me. C.J. was a character without strong characteristics, and even if you asked me now to tell you something about him, I wouldn’t be able to. He is a character easily disregarded and while you can feel for him you are probably more likely to simply forget him. Now comes the issue; most of the book from that point on is told and not shown, and it is told as C.J. saw it.
But I can’t really blame him for being annoyed with the rest of the book. The twist which happened after Anderson finally docked and started talking to other people other than his holograms ruined the wonderful base I had in my head for this book. I am truly sorry, but I couldn’t accept the way the focus was misdirected from Anderson’s accomplishments and his wonderful mind to that something else which would be spoilers if I said it. A lot of it wasn’t logical to me, it ruined some wonderful characters and killed strong voices, because no one in this book was stronger than Anderson.
By the time second third is done, I didn’t even know who Anderson was. His personality was completely changed and his powerful first impression started to fade. The romantic relationship between him and C.J. is at its beginning, but everyone around them is predicting grim future and a lot of heartache. Those conversations and situations mostly just annoyed me. I felt as if the story was constantly held down and C.J.’s inappropriate sexual fantasies didn’t help matters.
The last part is where everything has to fall apart so that it could be rebuilt. You will find most of the telling in the last hundred pages. For me they were somewhat frustrating, but by that point I simply wanted the book to end. The romance is never truly developed to its full potential and all the characters who seemed like someone strong faded away.
So I would describe this book as an exceptional idea taking a wrong turn and failing. That is how I saw it despite the efforts I’d invested to like the book as it was. I still love most of the writing, admire the idea, but mostly I’m just disappointed because everything I’d wanted from this book I didn’t get.
I can’t say my expectations weren’t too high or that I’m not too critical because once you get invested in this book, there is no turning back. It is truly a journey you will either like or have issues with, but it is a journey you should take.
The shove you get when you first start reading this story is powerful and overwhelming, as it pushes you into a world of tragedy, heart-wrenching sadness and hope. It’s impossible to imagine the loneliness after the ultimate loss and the courage as well as determination to keep going. But all of it was implemented into this book; the emotional punches, shocking twists, cruelty as well as love.
Anderson was just a boy when the mining colony he’d lived at was destroyed. He was the sole survivor saved by his sister. Her act of courage was something not a lot of people could do, but while admirable, it condemned Anderson to years of loneliness, where he made his own holographic world and where he did his best to stay alive.
C.J. is introduced in the second third of the book. He is one of the men and women assigned to exploration of all the data Anderson had brought with him after ten years of traveling alone through space. Their connection was based on more than attraction from the first moment they’d met, but self-destruction that was bound to follow kept coming between them.
I wish I could say more about the plot without revealing spoilers because then I would rant and chatter for pages. Since that it not the case, I am limited to wrapped up words and unclear statements. Bear with me people, because I will do my best to write this in a way it makes sense.
The first third of the book was told from Anderson’s perspective. There was a lot less telling and characters felt very real despite most of them being holograms. They all had a personality and a unique voice that was certainly heard, but the loudest of those voices was Anderson’s. I could hear his pain, his hopes as well as his despair. All of it was touched with his brilliance and I couldn’t help it but admire him. That first third was exactly what I want as well as need in a brilliant book. It was easily perfect.
The second third of the book was told from C.J. point of view. That is about the time things started to fall apart for me. C.J. was a character without strong characteristics, and even if you asked me now to tell you something about him, I wouldn’t be able to. He is a character easily disregarded and while you can feel for him you are probably more likely to simply forget him. Now comes the issue; most of the book from that point on is told and not shown, and it is told as C.J. saw it.
But I can’t really blame him for being annoyed with the rest of the book. The twist which happened after Anderson finally docked and started talking to other people other than his holograms ruined the wonderful base I had in my head for this book. I am truly sorry, but I couldn’t accept the way the focus was misdirected from Anderson’s accomplishments and his wonderful mind to that something else which would be spoilers if I said it. A lot of it wasn’t logical to me, it ruined some wonderful characters and killed strong voices, because no one in this book was stronger than Anderson.
By the time second third is done, I didn’t even know who Anderson was. His personality was completely changed and his powerful first impression started to fade. The romantic relationship between him and C.J. is at its beginning, but everyone around them is predicting grim future and a lot of heartache. Those conversations and situations mostly just annoyed me. I felt as if the story was constantly held down and C.J.’s inappropriate sexual fantasies didn’t help matters.
The last part is where everything has to fall apart so that it could be rebuilt. You will find most of the telling in the last hundred pages. For me they were somewhat frustrating, but by that point I simply wanted the book to end. The romance is never truly developed to its full potential and all the characters who seemed like someone strong faded away.
So I would describe this book as an exceptional idea taking a wrong turn and failing. That is how I saw it despite the efforts I’d invested to like the book as it was. I still love most of the writing, admire the idea, but mostly I’m just disappointed because everything I’d wanted from this book I didn’t get.
I can’t say my expectations weren’t too high or that I’m not too critical because once you get invested in this book, there is no turning back. It is truly a journey you will either like or have issues with, but it is a journey you should take.
September 4, 2011
I really loved this book. It was so different from anything I have ever read before, and I especially think it was something different for an Amy Lane book. I really can't go into all the plot details without giving away a ton of spoilers and I don't think that I could even explain it if I tried. So just understand that it is sci-fi with space ships and holograms, but it still has the beautiful, emotional love story that everyone loves about Amy's books.
She did an amazing job with the world building and character development, especially of Anderson and the holos. C.J. and Cassie also had a lot of depth. There is a slow build-up without a lot of information dumping, so its pretty easy to follow even though its so complicated. It also touches on deep issues such as spousal abuse and mental illness. Some parts were just so hearbreaking to read. Anderson was such a3 5 dimensional character and wrapped himself around my heart and never let go. C.J. showed a lot of maturity and growth throught the story and was what Anderson needed to help him realize what was real and to help him heal.
I really hope this is the start of a new series because I would really love to read more about this world.
...and don't forget that we all have a little ALPHA in us!
She did an amazing job with the world building and character development, especially of Anderson and the holos. C.J. and Cassie also had a lot of depth. There is a slow build-up without a lot of information dumping, so its pretty easy to follow even though its so complicated. It also touches on deep issues such as spousal abuse and mental illness. Some parts were just so hearbreaking to read. Anderson was such a
"I closed my eyes for you. And you tasted real. When we go inside, and you sleep on your side of the bed, I want you to remember that. You tasted real. Its's the most real I've ever had." ~ Anderson
I really hope this is the start of a new series because I would really love to read more about this world.
...and don't forget that we all have a little ALPHA in us!
June 23, 2012
Ever want to know what a wet limp noodle feels like? Read this story and you’ll find out. That’s the only way I can describe how I’m feeling right now. How the author was able to write this story without giving herself a mental break down is amazing.
When I started this story I wasn’t convinced I’d finish it. I had no idea what I was in the mood for so I decided to go for something totally unusual for me, and to be honest, I figured I’d give up fairly quickly. As you can tell I never gave up, or more like I COULDN’T give up. From the moment Anderson is glued to the window searching desperately for another sign of life to the final page I was hooked.
This story packs such an emotional punch. The despair of one lonely child is almost tangible.
This is so much more than an Futuristic Space story. It’s also a human emotion story. A story full of despair, hope, heartbreak, and love, but most of all its about one small boy and his fight to survive alone.
I really can’t say anything that would do justice to such a well crafted piece of work. My admiration for Amy Lane as a writer has increased ten fold.
Recommended, but with a major warning.
When I started this story I wasn’t convinced I’d finish it. I had no idea what I was in the mood for so I decided to go for something totally unusual for me, and to be honest, I figured I’d give up fairly quickly. As you can tell I never gave up, or more like I COULDN’T give up. From the moment Anderson is glued to the window searching desperately for another sign of life to the final page I was hooked.
This story packs such an emotional punch. The despair of one lonely child is almost tangible.
This is so much more than an Futuristic Space story. It’s also a human emotion story. A story full of despair, hope, heartbreak, and love, but most of all its about one small boy and his fight to survive alone.
I really can’t say anything that would do justice to such a well crafted piece of work. My admiration for Amy Lane as a writer has increased ten fold.
Recommended, but with a major warning.
July 8, 2013
This book. I can’t deal with anything right now.
This was amazing. So close to perfection. Probably my favorite book of the year. Just wow. WOW.
I could not put it down.
Amy Lane just stabbed me in the heart with her knitting needles and wiggled them around for a while. For some reason this made my love for her grow.
A Solid Core of Alpha is one of those books where I can’t believe I waited so long to read it, and at the same time I wish I waited longer. Only because I want to experience the whole thing over again, like new. Make sense? Probably not. Remember, I’ve just been stabbed in the chest, so I’m allowed to spread confusion on account of the bleeding out.
I am running out of ways to express my love for Amy Lane. She just slays me. She is so adept at writing these beautifully painful scenes. They’re just…no words. Amy Lane writes amazing characters, period. I have no choice but to empathize with them. I can always relate to them. They are deep. They grow. They break my fucking heart.
I’m aware that I’m borderline fangirling right now but I can’t stop myself even though it fills me with self-loathing.
I felt so much pain for Anderson and C.J., and ok happiness too. I giggled, I cried buckets, I smiled a lot. My sad “omg when will all the pain stop” tears turned into happy sentimental tears by the end. I’m actually pretty sure that I’m dehydrated right now, because I could. Not. Stop. Crying.
I feel emotionally ravaged. I have words like poignant, gutted, and radiant floating around in my head, but I can’t form them into sentences because I haven’t reacquired the ability to think straight.
Anderson has so many facets to his personality. He is one of the most fascinating characters I’ve encountered. Ever. He needs lots of cuddles to atone for the pure fuckery that was his life. I loved him, and he ripped my heart out of my chest repeatedly. C.J. was lovely too. I liked his POV the most. He also contributed to the heart ripping. The love between Anderson and C.J. is so raw. It’s sweet, it hurts, and it’s beautiful. I just felt so much for both characters. Amy Lane just makes me FEEL. So many different emotions. I was drowning in them. DROWNING.
Also, amazing sexual tension. I love me some sexual tension, and this book had it in spades.
Oh, hell yes.
Anderson and C.J. were on fire. Seriously, this book is HOT AS HELL.
The world building in this is so beyond great. I actually refuse to summarize the plot based on the fact that I would never be able to do it justice. I was hooked from the first page, and I wish Amy Lane would write more Science Fiction.
The only remotely negative thought I’m left with is I that the ending went a teensy longer than necessary. Also, I beyond hate the cover.
At the end of the day
Not the heartache. Not the tears. Not a thing.
This was brilliant.
Now someone make me a hologram so I can have a hug. I need one desperately.
4.5 Stars
More reviews at The Morning After Romance
This was amazing. So close to perfection. Probably my favorite book of the year. Just wow. WOW.
I could not put it down.
Amy Lane just stabbed me in the heart with her knitting needles and wiggled them around for a while. For some reason this made my love for her grow.
A Solid Core of Alpha is one of those books where I can’t believe I waited so long to read it, and at the same time I wish I waited longer. Only because I want to experience the whole thing over again, like new. Make sense? Probably not. Remember, I’ve just been stabbed in the chest, so I’m allowed to spread confusion on account of the bleeding out.
I am running out of ways to express my love for Amy Lane. She just slays me. She is so adept at writing these beautifully painful scenes. They’re just…no words. Amy Lane writes amazing characters, period. I have no choice but to empathize with them. I can always relate to them. They are deep. They grow. They break my fucking heart.
I’m aware that I’m borderline fangirling right now but I can’t stop myself even though it fills me with self-loathing.
I felt so much pain for Anderson and C.J., and ok happiness too. I giggled, I cried buckets, I smiled a lot. My sad “omg when will all the pain stop” tears turned into happy sentimental tears by the end. I’m actually pretty sure that I’m dehydrated right now, because I could. Not. Stop. Crying.
I feel emotionally ravaged. I have words like poignant, gutted, and radiant floating around in my head, but I can’t form them into sentences because I haven’t reacquired the ability to think straight.
Anderson has so many facets to his personality. He is one of the most fascinating characters I’ve encountered. Ever. He needs lots of cuddles to atone for the pure fuckery that was his life. I loved him, and he ripped my heart out of my chest repeatedly. C.J. was lovely too. I liked his POV the most. He also contributed to the heart ripping. The love between Anderson and C.J. is so raw. It’s sweet, it hurts, and it’s beautiful. I just felt so much for both characters. Amy Lane just makes me FEEL. So many different emotions. I was drowning in them. DROWNING.
Also, amazing sexual tension. I love me some sexual tension, and this book had it in spades.
Oh, hell yes.
Anderson and C.J. were on fire. Seriously, this book is HOT AS HELL.
The world building in this is so beyond great. I actually refuse to summarize the plot based on the fact that I would never be able to do it justice. I was hooked from the first page, and I wish Amy Lane would write more Science Fiction.
The only remotely negative thought I’m left with is I that the ending went a teensy longer than necessary. Also, I beyond hate the cover.
At the end of the day
Not the heartache. Not the tears. Not a thing.
This was brilliant.
Now someone make me a hologram so I can have a hug. I need one desperately.
4.5 Stars
More reviews at The Morning After Romance
October 11, 2011
Amy Lane books seem to share certain characteristics. Her characters often react in highly dramatic fashion, weeping copiously, hand wringing, throwing up etc. & are inclined towards self-induced suffering. It's like an old joke: Doctor, it hurts when I do this. Doctor: Then don't do that. This advice is ignored in your typical Lane book & the characters instead veer towards taking a bad situation & making it worse. I've noticed this especially in Lane's fantasy works & specifically in The core of Alpha.
The basic storyline is interesting.What if a catastrophe happens, your entire world is destroyed & you're the only one left alive. This is what happens to 12/13 year old Anderson Rawn. For 10 years he's stuck inside a shuttle alone, forced to entertain & keep himself from going crazy. To relieve his loneliness, Anderson creates a substitute family of holograms.
Despite the contradictions in what holograms are & what can they do (why are they able to have physical interactions, leave marks & scars?), this portion of the story kept my interest although I was impatient with some of the slow development. Without giving too much away, yes Anderson comes to eventually suffer more in this situation and yes it’s self created misery & yes it could have been alleviated by his actions or those of his ‘friends.’
The story actually begins to collapse when Anderson’s shuttle lands on a space center 10 years later. We’re introduced to CJ, who is some kind of engineer but for some reason Anderson is placed in his care. They are attracted to each other which leads to dire warnings from relatives and friends that Anderson is about to blow up or fall apart any minute. This was irritating & a very non subtle knock you over your head type of foreshadowing.
Most of this second portion of the book rehashes the same events that happened earlier, only this time from CJ’s Point of view. How? Anderson recorded tapes of everything that happened on the shuttle. CJ & his sister watches these tapes & we, the readers, hears it again -boring. Why? Who knows, CJ is an engineer, why is he watching tapes! Except CJ & sister suffer, suffer & Suffer while watching these tapes. I’m thinking this was the point of it.
The ending portion dealt mainly with the psychological implications of what happened to Anderson and was somewhat more interesting and saved it a little for me. In summary, this was an intriguing concept but the execution needed to be improved.
The basic storyline is interesting.What if a catastrophe happens, your entire world is destroyed & you're the only one left alive. This is what happens to 12/13 year old Anderson Rawn. For 10 years he's stuck inside a shuttle alone, forced to entertain & keep himself from going crazy. To relieve his loneliness, Anderson creates a substitute family of holograms.
Despite the contradictions in what holograms are & what can they do (why are they able to have physical interactions, leave marks & scars?), this portion of the story kept my interest although I was impatient with some of the slow development. Without giving too much away, yes Anderson comes to eventually suffer more in this situation and yes it’s self created misery & yes it could have been alleviated by his actions or those of his ‘friends.’
The story actually begins to collapse when Anderson’s shuttle lands on a space center 10 years later. We’re introduced to CJ, who is some kind of engineer but for some reason Anderson is placed in his care. They are attracted to each other which leads to dire warnings from relatives and friends that Anderson is about to blow up or fall apart any minute. This was irritating & a very non subtle knock you over your head type of foreshadowing.
Most of this second portion of the book rehashes the same events that happened earlier, only this time from CJ’s Point of view. How? Anderson recorded tapes of everything that happened on the shuttle. CJ & his sister watches these tapes & we, the readers, hears it again -boring. Why? Who knows, CJ is an engineer, why is he watching tapes! Except CJ & sister suffer, suffer & Suffer while watching these tapes. I’m thinking this was the point of it.
The ending portion dealt mainly with the psychological implications of what happened to Anderson and was somewhat more interesting and saved it a little for me. In summary, this was an intriguing concept but the execution needed to be improved.
October 11, 2011
It's too bad that goodreads doesn't have a 5+ button for when you want to gush about a book. This story starts out so sad and I was so worried about Anderson because he's lost everything and what is that going to do to him? How damaged is he going to be? And he is hurt; he is broken, but not irreparably because he has that solid core of alpha in him. Everyone has a light side and a dark side but in Anderson, they are not only manifested mentally, but physically as well in the abusive relationship that he allows himself to endure. He is strong and he makes choices that only a strong person can make for the ship, for the records of the lost colony and himself. But at the same time he punishes himself for those because no one ever taught him the part where you deal with your choices as an adult. He was still a child needing a parent’s guidance when he was left alone.
The character of Anderson is so deep, so complex, that I doubted that he could find an equal that I would care enough about and felt deserved him. But then there’s CJ. He is exactly (spell it out in neon) what Anderson needs. He is sweet and gentle, where Anderson has only experienced pain and anger, but dominant enough that Anderson can lay his baggage at his door and rest. They are by turns, hot and sexy and tender and loving. CJ sees Anderson at his absolute worst, he stands with him in dealing with what’s been repressed when the wall comes down, and he stays for the best reason in the world, he loves him. I was worried because I wanted the HEA desperately but it also had to ring true. I got both. I can’t recommend this book enough.
The character of Anderson is so deep, so complex, that I doubted that he could find an equal that I would care enough about and felt deserved him. But then there’s CJ. He is exactly (spell it out in neon) what Anderson needs. He is sweet and gentle, where Anderson has only experienced pain and anger, but dominant enough that Anderson can lay his baggage at his door and rest. They are by turns, hot and sexy and tender and loving. CJ sees Anderson at his absolute worst, he stands with him in dealing with what’s been repressed when the wall comes down, and he stays for the best reason in the world, he loves him. I was worried because I wanted the HEA desperately but it also had to ring true. I got both. I can’t recommend this book enough.
April 13, 2019
3.5 stars
The two things I remembered about this book were that the psychological aspect of this book was super intriguing, and that the romance was underdeveloped. And those are my exact points now that I’ve re-read it.
I loved that this was a sci-fi story without everything revolving around earth. Earth is mentioned, but I think only once.
I absolutely loved the Anderson storyline. How he was the only survivor of his planet when his sister shoved him in a shuttle before the entire planet was destroyed. Only 12 years old and all alone for the next 10 years, until he would reach a space station. So it took him 2 years, but he eventually was able to make real life holograms. These holograms could walk, talk, think for themselves, and even program other holograms. They were Anderson’s friends. When Anderson turns 16, he understands that he accidentally made his friends straight, while he is gay. When his best friends start a relationship together, Anderson feels more lonely than ever. So that’s why Kate and Bobby decide to make Anderson a companion, a friend, a lover.
After several failed attempts they create a teacher’s assistant named Aaron, ‘but you can call me Alpha’.
Alpha is nice at first, but after a year it is clear Alpha is a very angry person/hologram. And for the next 6 years Anderson is stuck in an unhealthy abusive relationship..
But after 10 years the shuttle finally reaches the space station. And that’s how 22 year old Anderson meets Cassidy, the station’s counselor, her husband Marshall, and her brother C.J.
C.J. can’t phantom being alone for 10 years, and only have holograms as friends. And he doesn’t know what to think. Bobby, Kate, Henry and Risa seem real, but he knows they’re not. But does Anderson know?
Cassie and C.J. decide it’s best for Anderson to stay with C.J. while they go through the recordings of the last 10 years. Anderson can slowly adjust to life outside the shuttle, and Cassie and C.J. can keep the records Anderson kept of his home world safe.
When C.J. and Cassie go through all the video files it is clear Anderson suffered a lot. He built his friends, a school, teachers, other students, but when they started draining the power too much, Anderson had to delete a lot of them. Since he often felt that Bobby, Kate, the others, and Alpha were real, Anderson felt like a murderer. Perhaps that’s why he let Alpha beat him up for all those years.
C.J. is getting really attached to the damaged young man, but it is also clear that everything is not well inside Anderson’s mind….
I loved the angle of this story. How it is constantly questioned if Anderson created the holograms, were they part of him, or were they like real people, but not? And was Alpha really the part of Anderson that blamed himself for ‘killing’ all those holograms? This book made me think and I love that about books. People need people, it’s as simple as that. You can be all kinds of introverted (me me me!), but without other people we simply go insane. So I loved how Anderson created the holograms to stop being so alone. I would have done it. But yes, he is basically still talking to himself, even if it looks like he’s not.
The thing I didn’t like in this was the romance. There was no basis for the romance at all. These guys don’t spend that much time on page together. And the time they did spend together felt awkward and didn’t always seem to flow right.
I was also not okay with the way monogamy is treated in this. Yes, these guys are monogamous, don’t worry, but it is clear from the start that C.J. is quite the slut. And I didn’t like his history with Jensen, the psychiatrist, and his wife Molly. And I was also not feeling it when they went dancing and C.J. let other people feel him up and open his pants while Anderson was right there! C.J. didn’t think anything of it, but it really bothered me. The same with Anderson kissing someone else at 95%. It was supposed to be this thing to prove he really only wanted C.J, but again, I didn’t like it. Anderson didn’t even tell C.J. about it. I didn’t like this casual attitude they had about that, even though they were committed and monogamous.
Still, this was a very interesting book, but the romance didn’t do it for me.
The two things I remembered about this book were that the psychological aspect of this book was super intriguing, and that the romance was underdeveloped. And those are my exact points now that I’ve re-read it.
I loved that this was a sci-fi story without everything revolving around earth. Earth is mentioned, but I think only once.
I absolutely loved the Anderson storyline. How he was the only survivor of his planet when his sister shoved him in a shuttle before the entire planet was destroyed. Only 12 years old and all alone for the next 10 years, until he would reach a space station. So it took him 2 years, but he eventually was able to make real life holograms. These holograms could walk, talk, think for themselves, and even program other holograms. They were Anderson’s friends. When Anderson turns 16, he understands that he accidentally made his friends straight, while he is gay. When his best friends start a relationship together, Anderson feels more lonely than ever. So that’s why Kate and Bobby decide to make Anderson a companion, a friend, a lover.
After several failed attempts they create a teacher’s assistant named Aaron, ‘but you can call me Alpha’.
Alpha is nice at first, but after a year it is clear Alpha is a very angry person/hologram. And for the next 6 years Anderson is stuck in an unhealthy abusive relationship..
But after 10 years the shuttle finally reaches the space station. And that’s how 22 year old Anderson meets Cassidy, the station’s counselor, her husband Marshall, and her brother C.J.
C.J. can’t phantom being alone for 10 years, and only have holograms as friends. And he doesn’t know what to think. Bobby, Kate, Henry and Risa seem real, but he knows they’re not. But does Anderson know?
Cassie and C.J. decide it’s best for Anderson to stay with C.J. while they go through the recordings of the last 10 years. Anderson can slowly adjust to life outside the shuttle, and Cassie and C.J. can keep the records Anderson kept of his home world safe.
When C.J. and Cassie go through all the video files it is clear Anderson suffered a lot. He built his friends, a school, teachers, other students, but when they started draining the power too much, Anderson had to delete a lot of them. Since he often felt that Bobby, Kate, the others, and Alpha were real, Anderson felt like a murderer. Perhaps that’s why he let Alpha beat him up for all those years.
C.J. is getting really attached to the damaged young man, but it is also clear that everything is not well inside Anderson’s mind….
I loved the angle of this story. How it is constantly questioned if Anderson created the holograms, were they part of him, or were they like real people, but not? And was Alpha really the part of Anderson that blamed himself for ‘killing’ all those holograms? This book made me think and I love that about books. People need people, it’s as simple as that. You can be all kinds of introverted (me me me!), but without other people we simply go insane. So I loved how Anderson created the holograms to stop being so alone. I would have done it. But yes, he is basically still talking to himself, even if it looks like he’s not.
The thing I didn’t like in this was the romance. There was no basis for the romance at all. These guys don’t spend that much time on page together. And the time they did spend together felt awkward and didn’t always seem to flow right.
I was also not okay with the way monogamy is treated in this. Yes, these guys are monogamous, don’t worry, but it is clear from the start that C.J. is quite the slut. And I didn’t like his history with Jensen, the psychiatrist, and his wife Molly. And I was also not feeling it when they went dancing and C.J. let other people feel him up and open his pants while Anderson was right there! C.J. didn’t think anything of it, but it really bothered me. The same with Anderson kissing someone else at 95%. It was supposed to be this thing to prove he really only wanted C.J, but again, I didn’t like it. Anderson didn’t even tell C.J. about it. I didn’t like this casual attitude they had about that, even though they were committed and monogamous.
Still, this was a very interesting book, but the romance didn’t do it for me.
Read
June 30, 2012The Review Where I Just Can't Figure Out A Rating
When I finished A Solid Core of Alpha last night I wasn't sure how I was going to review it and I had no idea how many stars I wanted to give it. I still don't know how many stars to give it so I'm going to refrain from rating it at all.
I was told by more than one person that this book is a hard read. For me, it wasn't but I'll come to that in a bit...
When Anderson was 12 the mining colony he grew up on was destroyed by an asteroid shower and everyone he knows dies. Anderson, though, is pushed into a space shuttle by his older sister and is the sole survivor. The next ten years of his life is spent in the shuttle with holograms he's created to form himself a new group of family and friends.
The first part of the story really engaged my mind. The psychological aspect of the story was pretty damn fascinating. What happens when a person is isolated for a prolonged period of time? What happens when it's a child; someone who's not matured as a person both physically and mentally? And the biggest question...what happens when that young boy creates his own world and self-aware holograms who are so intelligent that they can , in turn, create self-aware holograms of their own making?
In that shuttle Anderson Rawn was a god. BUT as great as that seems at first glance, being a god comes with some very heavy and sometimes dark responsibilities.
That's where we get Alpha. Anderson and Alpha's relationship so complex and haunting. Amy Lane did an amazing job making the relationship gritty and real.
So, yes, the first part of this book had me stuck to my Kindle.
This book is a romance though. A romance that begins when Anderson's shuttle lands. This is where the story sort of lost me and began to drag in a way.
C.J. works at the space station where Anderson's shuttle lands and the two of them are drawn to each other right from the start. The story soon becomes about Anderson and C.J. and not so much about the questions in the beginning. The characters in the second half of the book are very emotional. There is a lot of time spent on those emotions and that was problematic for me.
I was so interested in the psychological concepts in A Solid Core of Alpha that I never became invested in the characters. I felt very detached while Anderson, C.J. and the other characters went through the wringer. I wanted the story to get back to what had fascinated me in the beginning.
Amy Lane writes some very over-the-top angst where people cry and throw up and scream and need to be sedated. This works for a lot of people. It doesn't work for me because instead of subtly and elegantly trying to elicit emotions from me this bit of the author's work felt very forced. I didn't like that at all and felt a bit annoyed that the story had strayed so far off course from the greatness that was the beginning of the book.
Amy Lane is a very talented writer with a wonderful imagination that really showed itself in this book. Where her writing lost me was in the heavy handedness of the angst in the second half since I felt no connection to the characters.
All in all, I can't rate this book because there was a point where I loved it and there was a point where I was frustrated with it.
When I finished A Solid Core of Alpha last night I wasn't sure how I was going to review it and I had no idea how many stars I wanted to give it. I still don't know how many stars to give it so I'm going to refrain from rating it at all.
I was told by more than one person that this book is a hard read. For me, it wasn't but I'll come to that in a bit...
When Anderson was 12 the mining colony he grew up on was destroyed by an asteroid shower and everyone he knows dies. Anderson, though, is pushed into a space shuttle by his older sister and is the sole survivor. The next ten years of his life is spent in the shuttle with holograms he's created to form himself a new group of family and friends.
The first part of the story really engaged my mind. The psychological aspect of the story was pretty damn fascinating. What happens when a person is isolated for a prolonged period of time? What happens when it's a child; someone who's not matured as a person both physically and mentally? And the biggest question...what happens when that young boy creates his own world and self-aware holograms who are so intelligent that they can , in turn, create self-aware holograms of their own making?
In that shuttle Anderson Rawn was a god. BUT as great as that seems at first glance, being a god comes with some very heavy and sometimes dark responsibilities.
That's where we get Alpha. Anderson and Alpha's relationship so complex and haunting. Amy Lane did an amazing job making the relationship gritty and real.
So, yes, the first part of this book had me stuck to my Kindle.
This book is a romance though. A romance that begins when Anderson's shuttle lands. This is where the story sort of lost me and began to drag in a way.
C.J. works at the space station where Anderson's shuttle lands and the two of them are drawn to each other right from the start. The story soon becomes about Anderson and C.J. and not so much about the questions in the beginning. The characters in the second half of the book are very emotional. There is a lot of time spent on those emotions and that was problematic for me.
I was so interested in the psychological concepts in A Solid Core of Alpha that I never became invested in the characters. I felt very detached while Anderson, C.J. and the other characters went through the wringer. I wanted the story to get back to what had fascinated me in the beginning.
Amy Lane writes some very over-the-top angst where people cry and throw up and scream and need to be sedated. This works for a lot of people. It doesn't work for me because instead of subtly and elegantly trying to elicit emotions from me this bit of the author's work felt very forced. I didn't like that at all and felt a bit annoyed that the story had strayed so far off course from the greatness that was the beginning of the book.
Amy Lane is a very talented writer with a wonderful imagination that really showed itself in this book. Where her writing lost me was in the heavy handedness of the angst in the second half since I felt no connection to the characters.
All in all, I can't rate this book because there was a point where I loved it and there was a point where I was frustrated with it.
December 4, 2014
I read this a few years ago, but just saw it pop up on my feed and remembered why I gave it a 3 instead of raving about it like one would expect. It started out as an excellent read but my feelings changed drastically once Anderson met his match, C.J. I'll just link to Valentina Heart's review, because she said exactly what I thought in a much nicer (and better!) way: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
Sometimes I love Amy Lane's brand of over the top angst and sometimes it makes me cringe. The C.J. part of the book was one of those times for me. :/
Sometimes I love Amy Lane's brand of over the top angst and sometimes it makes me cringe. The C.J. part of the book was one of those times for me. :/
December 5, 2014
Holy mother-fucking-HELL Amy Lane! How can a person write phenomenal contemporary, and then bust out a phe-fucking-nomenal science fiction book?!? I'll tell you how. Cuz Amy Lane knows people. She knows their deepest darkest secrets and desires, the parts of yourself that you keep hidden for shame or embarrassment or just plain pride. But she also knows their strengths and power. And she rips you open and exposes all of them to the light of day.
I liked this entire book, but the first half. Oh, the first half! What would you do, if you were trapped on a shuttle for ten years all by your lonesome after your entire world was blown out of existence? I'm not being dramatic when I say that I very well might have offed myself, out of grief or desperation or flat out loneliness. But Anderson is freaken amazing. It's heartbreaking and wonderful and terrible and brilliant. And I don't think I can cry anymore for at least a week. I'm all cried out.
But then the second half happens, and it's not a perfect HEA, although it seems it for a while. But it's wonderful and real and C.J., oh Cyril John! How I love you, you wonderful, beautiful boy. I have no words. The story arc is perfect, the ending it perfect. I can't even. Amy Lane, you have outdone yourself.
"You're the only person on the planet who could find me when I didn't even know I was missing."
Borrowed in Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group
I liked this entire book, but the first half. Oh, the first half! What would you do, if you were trapped on a shuttle for ten years all by your lonesome after your entire world was blown out of existence? I'm not being dramatic when I say that I very well might have offed myself, out of grief or desperation or flat out loneliness. But Anderson is freaken amazing. It's heartbreaking and wonderful and terrible and brilliant. And I don't think I can cry anymore for at least a week. I'm all cried out.
But then the second half happens, and it's not a perfect HEA, although it seems it for a while. But it's wonderful and real and C.J., oh Cyril John! How I love you, you wonderful, beautiful boy. I have no words. The story arc is perfect, the ending it perfect. I can't even. Amy Lane, you have outdone yourself.
"You're the only person on the planet who could find me when I didn't even know I was missing."
Borrowed in Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group
August 25, 2011
This story, while original and scifi (which me like, usually), just didn't grab me.
Just because everybody in this book spends a lot of time crying, that doesn't mean it is automatically heartbreaking or moving. Maybe I have a heart of stone. But I don't think that is it. Traumatic things happen in this book and the characters respond by bursting into tears (or sometimes puking), but there is something missing in between those two events: the words that translate the emotional impact of the events to reader. I am not sure I can explain it better than that.
Many things made me go 'why?' and 'huh'.
So anyway. Enjoyable story, but in the end it doesn't turn me hot or cold.
Just because everybody in this book spends a lot of time crying, that doesn't mean it is automatically heartbreaking or moving. Maybe I have a heart of stone. But I don't think that is it. Traumatic things happen in this book and the characters respond by bursting into tears (or sometimes puking), but there is something missing in between those two events: the words that translate the emotional impact of the events to reader. I am not sure I can explain it better than that.
Many things made me go 'why?' and 'huh'.
So anyway. Enjoyable story, but in the end it doesn't turn me hot or cold.
August 20, 2013
I can't tell you how happy I was to put another Amy Lane book in my Favorites bookshelf. It's been a while. That's not due to her writing, it's just her sub-genres of late have not been ones that I'm familiar with.
There really aren't enough stars for this book. The storyline is genius. I have no clue how she came up with this one but it was outstanding. I can't wait to read it again.
Not only were the MCs in this book ones that I immediately became involved with and in love with, but her secondary Imaginary Characters, made me laugh and cry as well. I know this makes no sense but damn, to become vested in imaginary imaginary characters is ridiculous. (LOL) But I did become vested in them.
As with a lot of Amy Lane stories, you better keep a box of tissues close. I had to put it down several times and walk away until my tears stopped.
To wrap up, I wasn't expecting such an imaginative, moving, heart wrenching story but I'm SO DAMN GLAD that this was OVER THE MOON good.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
There really aren't enough stars for this book. The storyline is genius. I have no clue how she came up with this one but it was outstanding. I can't wait to read it again.
Not only were the MCs in this book ones that I immediately became involved with and in love with, but her secondary Imaginary Characters, made me laugh and cry as well. I know this makes no sense but damn, to become vested in imaginary imaginary characters is ridiculous. (LOL) But I did become vested in them.
As with a lot of Amy Lane stories, you better keep a box of tissues close. I had to put it down several times and walk away until my tears stopped.
To wrap up, I wasn't expecting such an imaginative, moving, heart wrenching story but I'm SO DAMN GLAD that this was OVER THE MOON good.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
September 1, 2013
I just finished listening to this one on Audible and the narrator, Paul Morey, did a really good job. Anyone who listens to audiobooks knows the narrator can make or break the story for you.
I definitely need to read the book now though to get a full appreciation for the story. There are a lot of characters going on and when they are all talking at once (a narrator can only do so many distinct voices in one passage) it can get a little confusing. I definitely didn't lose the gist of the story, but I think I would appreciate the detail more by reading it first.
It's a pretty unique premise with a lot of information about their world so I would definitely recommend the Audible version if you've read the book. I'll probably listen to it again after reading it and like it even better.
I definitely need to read the book now though to get a full appreciation for the story. There are a lot of characters going on and when they are all talking at once (a narrator can only do so many distinct voices in one passage) it can get a little confusing. I definitely didn't lose the gist of the story, but I think I would appreciate the detail more by reading it first.
It's a pretty unique premise with a lot of information about their world so I would definitely recommend the Audible version if you've read the book. I'll probably listen to it again after reading it and like it even better.
July 8, 2013
Sweet bejeezus! Intense.
I'm actually surprised how much I loved this because Lane's books generally seem way too melodramatic to me, but I adored this. It hit all the buttons: hierarchies, psychotic breaks, shredded emotions and intensity. CJ and Anderson are hot, sexy, heartbreaking, and smile-inducing. Of course, I adored Anderson. Perfect. The logic created and then disassembled was a breath-taking, yes...I'm freakin' out of my mind--Awesome!
Loved it and will definitely reread it.
I'm actually surprised how much I loved this because Lane's books generally seem way too melodramatic to me, but I adored this. It hit all the buttons: hierarchies, psychotic breaks, shredded emotions and intensity. CJ and Anderson are hot, sexy, heartbreaking, and smile-inducing. Of course, I adored Anderson. Perfect. The logic created and then disassembled was a breath-taking, yes...I'm freakin' out of my mind--Awesome!
Loved it and will definitely reread it.
September 17, 2012
What an absolutely amazing book Amy Lane has written, so different from anything else I’ve read of hers. This book maybe scifi but the underlying story isn’t. In my opinion it’s about strength and the will to live. It’s a story of one lonely boy that teaches himself all the things he needs to know to survive. Is it full of angst ...yes, did it make me cry...yes from page one, I cried for Anderson, the poor sweet boy that endured something that no one should have to endure, for the young man that found himself in a no win situation but somehow won and for that same man who had to fight for his sanity so he could have the man he loves.
The story was heartbreaking, gut wrenching and at times brutal, a difficult book to read. I read most of it with a knot in my stomach, I needed to stop many times to re-group. I knew there would be a great love story between Anderson and C.J. and that carried me through. I really have no idea what else to say about this book that could do it justice. How do you review a book that takes you on such an amazing journey that will stay with you for a very long time?
I highly recommend this book but not without a box of tissue beside you and someone that can be there to hold your hand through it.
March 2, 2016
All the reviews I read have added up to a thorough discussion except for the one thing: how long has this story left an impact on the reader over time? How long has this book been memorable compared to others?
So many of the M/M Romance books I've read have had the stories have fade in memory and the similar themes, memes and plot devices tend to all mush together enough that very few are highly memorable.
A Solid Core of Alpha hit me in the gut and in the heart, entertained me and made me feel powerful emotions which have stayed with me since reading it three yeas ago.
No other stories have lasted so clearly with this impact except the gay fiction love story novels by Roger Kean which are permanently inscribed inside my brain and my heart.
Update: Five (5) years later and A Solid Core of Alpha still has persisted in my memory and in my heart as a powerful, magnificent magnum opus.
So many of the M/M Romance books I've read have had the stories have fade in memory and the similar themes, memes and plot devices tend to all mush together enough that very few are highly memorable.
A Solid Core of Alpha hit me in the gut and in the heart, entertained me and made me feel powerful emotions which have stayed with me since reading it three yeas ago.
No other stories have lasted so clearly with this impact except the gay fiction love story novels by Roger Kean which are permanently inscribed inside my brain and my heart.
Update: Five (5) years later and A Solid Core of Alpha still has persisted in my memory and in my heart as a powerful, magnificent magnum opus.
March 12, 2018
3.5 stars rounded up
Excellent writing. Wonderful world building. An unusual premise that's tenaciously and thoroughly explored. Angst filled & chock full of tears, psychological pain and physical abuse. Very believable and well drawn characters and plenty of them. Some scorching hot sex scenes between CJ and Anderson. Anderson goes though so much and comes out strong. CJ also changed/grew tremendously.
The first part of the book was quite amazing and very enjoyable. Then begins the larger part which is a study in patience as Anderson deals with what he lived through, nearly bringing CJ down with him and slowly together they both work through it and heal. Satisfactory ending.
Excellent writing. Wonderful world building. An unusual premise that's tenaciously and thoroughly explored. Angst filled & chock full of tears, psychological pain and physical abuse. Very believable and well drawn characters and plenty of them. Some scorching hot sex scenes between CJ and Anderson. Anderson goes though so much and comes out strong. CJ also changed/grew tremendously.
The first part of the book was quite amazing and very enjoyable. Then begins the larger part which is a study in patience as Anderson deals with what he lived through, nearly bringing CJ down with him and slowly together they both work through it and heal. Satisfactory ending.
October 2, 2011
Anderson Rawn is only twelve years old when the mining colony planet on which he and his family live is destroyed. His older sister saves his life by putting him on a space shuttle, but when she goes back to rescue the rest of their family, it is too late. She dies along with every inhabitant of the planet, and Anderson is hurled, alone, into hyperspace on a journey which will take him to the closest space station. That journey will take ten years to complete.
Overcome by grief and loneliness, Anderson somehow manages to find the will to survive. He develops a strict regimen for himself, availing himself of all the high-tech tools with which the shuttle is equipped. He eats, sleeps, exercises, bathes, reads, and studies—adhering to the strict schedule prescribed by the shuttle’s computer. After nearly two years, Anderson learns how to write programs for the ship’s holodeck.
The holograms that Anderson creates are people, each possessing a unique personality, and they become his friends. They provide him companionship, conversation, advice, entertainment, and even physical intimacy. The two holographic friends with whom Anderson is closest are Kate and Bobby, and they are the prototypes. These friends notice Anderson’s loneliness, and as it becomes apparent to the three of them that Anderson is homosexual, they set out to create him a partner. After several attempts, they finally come up with a perfect mate for Anderson. His name is Aaron, but eventually he is referred to only as “Alpha”.
By the time the shuttle finally docks at the space station, over ten years have passed. The fuel supply on the shuttle has nearly been depleted, and during the course of the journey Anderson and his “crew” have had to make very painful decisions, eliminating various unnecessary parts of the holoprogram in order to conserve resources. Anderson emerges from the shuttle intact, and five distinct parts of his personality remain on the ship, each embodied by a different holographic entity.
C.J. Poulson, who works at the space station, is fascinated by Anderson. He’s amazed by the fact that Anderson, at such a young age, was able to survive such a long journey, completely alone. C.J. is disturbed, however, when he gets the results of Anderson’s physical examination. The boy appears to have been badly beaten and sexually abused, and the fresh wounds on his body indicate that he may not have been alone on his space journey.
In the months that follow, C.J. and Anderson develop a relationship, and C.J. learns the truth about Anderson and about the imaginary friends who accompanied him to the space station. C.J. has full access to the video library which recorded the entire ten-year journey, and with the help of psychological experts, he uncovers the shocking truth about who these holograms really are and where they came from. But in the process of these discoveries, C.J. also falls in love with Anderson.
A Solid Core of Alpha is a fascinating story of dissociative personality disorder with an intriguing futuristic twist. The crushing loneliness and overwhelming survivor’s guilt that this young boy endures leads him, out of necessity, to create companions for himself. Whereas most people in this situation quite possibly may go insane, Anderson is able to project the battling voices inside his head into these holographic characters that he’s created. Each one of them serves a distinct purpose. One is his conscience. One is his ego. One is his compassionate side. And one is his Alpha.
Alpha is the strength that allows and even forces Anderson to make the tough decisions that he needs to make in order to survive. Alpha is selfish and demanding. He’s brutal and heartless. He has an insatiable sexual appetite, and he is at times sadistic and cruel. His straightforward manner and willingness to say anything, without any apparent filter, is unsettling to the other crew members, who all hate him. They fear him, and what he’s capable of doing, and they worry that he will ultimately destroy Anderson.
The story was written entirely in third person, using alternating points of view. Although not a huge fan of science fiction myself, I was impressed by the author’s ability to present a story such as this in such an utterly believable manner. I loved the way that she dealt with sexuality, presenting sexual orientation as a benign characteristic which was essentially unremarkable.
The manner in which the story was presented, beginning with a focus upon Anderson and later shifting to C.J., was very effective. Just enough information about who Anderson was and what had happened to him was initially presented, and then all was eventually revealed through the discoveries of C.J. My heart initially broke for Anderson and the unthinkable tragedy he endured, but then it again was touched by the sensitivity of C.J.
The story does contain some torrid love scenes, but they do not overshadow the beautiful romance. Both characters were fully fleshed out, believable, and most importantly relatable. I cried for both C.J. and Anderson, fearing the final outcome but praying all the while that they’d find a way to heal from such horrific tragedy. I loved the way that the obvious hero, Anderson, ultimately relied upon the far more unlikely hero, C.J.
It could be argued that the author conveyed a lot of material through sections of dissertation rather than by showing action, but I believe that due to the nature of the story, these explanations were essential. Also, the book already was 320 pages in length, and to have not included these segments of “telling” versus simply showing everything, the book would have had to be encyclopedia-length.
Amy Lane has proven, once again, that she is an amazing talent. I’ve previously enjoyed some of her paranormal stories, but I think this sci-fi is perhaps the best material of hers I’ve read. Thought-provoking, intensely emotional, and structurally solid, this theme-based love story is a romance with a message, and it is one to which I do not hesitate to give my highest recommendation.
Overcome by grief and loneliness, Anderson somehow manages to find the will to survive. He develops a strict regimen for himself, availing himself of all the high-tech tools with which the shuttle is equipped. He eats, sleeps, exercises, bathes, reads, and studies—adhering to the strict schedule prescribed by the shuttle’s computer. After nearly two years, Anderson learns how to write programs for the ship’s holodeck.
The holograms that Anderson creates are people, each possessing a unique personality, and they become his friends. They provide him companionship, conversation, advice, entertainment, and even physical intimacy. The two holographic friends with whom Anderson is closest are Kate and Bobby, and they are the prototypes. These friends notice Anderson’s loneliness, and as it becomes apparent to the three of them that Anderson is homosexual, they set out to create him a partner. After several attempts, they finally come up with a perfect mate for Anderson. His name is Aaron, but eventually he is referred to only as “Alpha”.
By the time the shuttle finally docks at the space station, over ten years have passed. The fuel supply on the shuttle has nearly been depleted, and during the course of the journey Anderson and his “crew” have had to make very painful decisions, eliminating various unnecessary parts of the holoprogram in order to conserve resources. Anderson emerges from the shuttle intact, and five distinct parts of his personality remain on the ship, each embodied by a different holographic entity.
C.J. Poulson, who works at the space station, is fascinated by Anderson. He’s amazed by the fact that Anderson, at such a young age, was able to survive such a long journey, completely alone. C.J. is disturbed, however, when he gets the results of Anderson’s physical examination. The boy appears to have been badly beaten and sexually abused, and the fresh wounds on his body indicate that he may not have been alone on his space journey.
In the months that follow, C.J. and Anderson develop a relationship, and C.J. learns the truth about Anderson and about the imaginary friends who accompanied him to the space station. C.J. has full access to the video library which recorded the entire ten-year journey, and with the help of psychological experts, he uncovers the shocking truth about who these holograms really are and where they came from. But in the process of these discoveries, C.J. also falls in love with Anderson.
A Solid Core of Alpha is a fascinating story of dissociative personality disorder with an intriguing futuristic twist. The crushing loneliness and overwhelming survivor’s guilt that this young boy endures leads him, out of necessity, to create companions for himself. Whereas most people in this situation quite possibly may go insane, Anderson is able to project the battling voices inside his head into these holographic characters that he’s created. Each one of them serves a distinct purpose. One is his conscience. One is his ego. One is his compassionate side. And one is his Alpha.
Alpha is the strength that allows and even forces Anderson to make the tough decisions that he needs to make in order to survive. Alpha is selfish and demanding. He’s brutal and heartless. He has an insatiable sexual appetite, and he is at times sadistic and cruel. His straightforward manner and willingness to say anything, without any apparent filter, is unsettling to the other crew members, who all hate him. They fear him, and what he’s capable of doing, and they worry that he will ultimately destroy Anderson.
The story was written entirely in third person, using alternating points of view. Although not a huge fan of science fiction myself, I was impressed by the author’s ability to present a story such as this in such an utterly believable manner. I loved the way that she dealt with sexuality, presenting sexual orientation as a benign characteristic which was essentially unremarkable.
The manner in which the story was presented, beginning with a focus upon Anderson and later shifting to C.J., was very effective. Just enough information about who Anderson was and what had happened to him was initially presented, and then all was eventually revealed through the discoveries of C.J. My heart initially broke for Anderson and the unthinkable tragedy he endured, but then it again was touched by the sensitivity of C.J.
The story does contain some torrid love scenes, but they do not overshadow the beautiful romance. Both characters were fully fleshed out, believable, and most importantly relatable. I cried for both C.J. and Anderson, fearing the final outcome but praying all the while that they’d find a way to heal from such horrific tragedy. I loved the way that the obvious hero, Anderson, ultimately relied upon the far more unlikely hero, C.J.
It could be argued that the author conveyed a lot of material through sections of dissertation rather than by showing action, but I believe that due to the nature of the story, these explanations were essential. Also, the book already was 320 pages in length, and to have not included these segments of “telling” versus simply showing everything, the book would have had to be encyclopedia-length.
Amy Lane has proven, once again, that she is an amazing talent. I’ve previously enjoyed some of her paranormal stories, but I think this sci-fi is perhaps the best material of hers I’ve read. Thought-provoking, intensely emotional, and structurally solid, this theme-based love story is a romance with a message, and it is one to which I do not hesitate to give my highest recommendation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2011
Stars: 4.5/5
Length: 100,000+ words
Overall
While I really, thoroughly, enjoyed this novel, it feels like nothing I've read before. While a romance was definitely central to the story, there was so much else going on. The psychological and emotional issues the two main characters need to work through and overcome are the main focus of at least the first three-quarters of the book. While Anderson has spent ten years alone on a ship with only his self-created holograms to interact with, C.J. has issues of his own involving commitment and a fear of taking on responsibility. But what Anderson needs most is stability, and C.J. is there for him, although all his friends and family warn him that Anderson is going to hurt him.
This is an emotionally moving book, but the hurt doesn't hit all at once. Instead of a sharp stab for a chapter or two like most books, this one spreads the pain over a good portion of the last quarter. It's not overly angsty or woe-is-me, though. It's an honest ache as the characters struggle to deal with heavy-duty challenges. In many hands this novel would have been terrible, but in Lane's it flourished, making the reader question what is real, but never questioning if love can help us heal. (Gee, am I much of a sap?)
Usually after reading a book, I know what I'm going to write for the review, or at least have an idea. After finishing this novel, my mind went blank and all the voices went quiet...
Strengths
The story is amazing, like one of those "you won't believe they survived" tales they show on (bad) television. Erm, except this isn't bad television, but great story telling. Lane handled all the characters extremely well, especially considering the delicacy of the situation. Anderson was an inventive and interesting character who didn't go the way I expected him to and I was still pleased with what Lane decided to do with him. She put the necessary thought and consideration into many minor and major elements that would effect the characters, especially Anderson, both psychologically and world-building wise. I enjoyed the romantic parts of the book, but it was interesting just to watch Anderson's progression from the first page to the last.
The writing, as I mentioned, was excellent. If it weren't for the strength of the writing, I don't think this novel would have been nearly as enjoyable, or perhaps even bearable. The author was able to bring the story and the characters to life, which was vital for this telling.
The characters were a colorful bunch who all wanted to be helpful, but were still very human with their quirks and weaknesses, which made their place in the story all the more real and made them interesting counterparts to the holograms.
Weaknesses
The only weakness of this novel, and it may not be a weakness upon re-reading, is that while I loved the characters, I was involved in their struggles and aches, I never fell so deep in their headspace that I lost myself. It was an amazingly well-done story, but I think the events were so outside my brain's capacity to relate that I had difficulty connecting. Or else I wanted it to be more angsty, I'm not sure. I look forward to re-reading it and trying to let myself sink into the characters more.
Requested this book for review.
Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.
Length: 100,000+ words
Overall
While I really, thoroughly, enjoyed this novel, it feels like nothing I've read before. While a romance was definitely central to the story, there was so much else going on. The psychological and emotional issues the two main characters need to work through and overcome are the main focus of at least the first three-quarters of the book. While Anderson has spent ten years alone on a ship with only his self-created holograms to interact with, C.J. has issues of his own involving commitment and a fear of taking on responsibility. But what Anderson needs most is stability, and C.J. is there for him, although all his friends and family warn him that Anderson is going to hurt him.
This is an emotionally moving book, but the hurt doesn't hit all at once. Instead of a sharp stab for a chapter or two like most books, this one spreads the pain over a good portion of the last quarter. It's not overly angsty or woe-is-me, though. It's an honest ache as the characters struggle to deal with heavy-duty challenges. In many hands this novel would have been terrible, but in Lane's it flourished, making the reader question what is real, but never questioning if love can help us heal. (Gee, am I much of a sap?)
Usually after reading a book, I know what I'm going to write for the review, or at least have an idea. After finishing this novel, my mind went blank and all the voices went quiet...
Strengths
The story is amazing, like one of those "you won't believe they survived" tales they show on (bad) television. Erm, except this isn't bad television, but great story telling. Lane handled all the characters extremely well, especially considering the delicacy of the situation. Anderson was an inventive and interesting character who didn't go the way I expected him to and I was still pleased with what Lane decided to do with him. She put the necessary thought and consideration into many minor and major elements that would effect the characters, especially Anderson, both psychologically and world-building wise. I enjoyed the romantic parts of the book, but it was interesting just to watch Anderson's progression from the first page to the last.
The writing, as I mentioned, was excellent. If it weren't for the strength of the writing, I don't think this novel would have been nearly as enjoyable, or perhaps even bearable. The author was able to bring the story and the characters to life, which was vital for this telling.
The characters were a colorful bunch who all wanted to be helpful, but were still very human with their quirks and weaknesses, which made their place in the story all the more real and made them interesting counterparts to the holograms.
Weaknesses
The only weakness of this novel, and it may not be a weakness upon re-reading, is that while I loved the characters, I was involved in their struggles and aches, I never fell so deep in their headspace that I lost myself. It was an amazingly well-done story, but I think the events were so outside my brain's capacity to relate that I had difficulty connecting. Or else I wanted it to be more angsty, I'm not sure. I look forward to re-reading it and trying to let myself sink into the characters more.
Requested this book for review.
Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.
September 5, 2011
This is a hard book to sum up. I know I've marked it as a sci-fi, which is tru-ish. I mean it takes place in space in a time, way past our lifetimes... but that's really where the scifi-ness stops. At it's core (excuse the pun) in a dark-ish psychological drama? Maybe. Whatever, I can't give you a pithy short hand genre, but it's about two people that need each other for vastly different reasons.
Anderson is the sole survivor of his planet. As it was being destroyed, Anderson's sister shoved the 12 year old in to an escape pod, which was set to travel for 10 years a space station unless reprogramed. Alone on the ship Anderson figures out how to make friends to talk to and as the years go on he figures out how to ration his fuel and energy, anything to survive. The person that lands 10 years later is damaged, but alive.
CJ is in short a brilliant slacker. He could do anything, but he always takes the easiest way. He's not serious about anything, not his job or his love life, much to his sister's dismay. When he is called in to work on Anderson's ship, he starts to become the man that all of his friends always knew he could, but is that any good for Anderson? More importantly is it any good for CJ?
This book is a lot. I had to put it down a few times because it just got heavy. There is some serious psychological stuff happening and it is dealt with well. It's good, but it's ...emotional. I'm not talking about just crying either. I mean real people dealing with real things.
There are some Amy Lane trademarks there. Like a very tiny reference to yarn crafts. But seriously, read it. If you don't like Scifi, that's okay, it doesn't feel like a scifi nook, and really it's too good to miss.
Just a side note: I finished this book and was about to sit and write my review and rate this book 5 stars, but then I said, am I just doing this because it's Amy Lane, and I think she's awesome and so I rate all her books 5 automatically? So I finished this book. Did my dinner dishes. Started a kitchen/ tupperware wash and rearrange project that is still ongoing, listened to my audio book, did more dishes (unused plastic containers get gross after sitting on your shelves for months), I started a lengthy written exit interview from my last job. Started some prep work for my new job, more dishes, folding laundry and answered emails. Now I'm cranky, damp because after all those dishes my shirt got wet and I'm hot and tired, and I still think the book is a 5 start read.
Anderson is the sole survivor of his planet. As it was being destroyed, Anderson's sister shoved the 12 year old in to an escape pod, which was set to travel for 10 years a space station unless reprogramed. Alone on the ship Anderson figures out how to make friends to talk to and as the years go on he figures out how to ration his fuel and energy, anything to survive. The person that lands 10 years later is damaged, but alive.
CJ is in short a brilliant slacker. He could do anything, but he always takes the easiest way. He's not serious about anything, not his job or his love life, much to his sister's dismay. When he is called in to work on Anderson's ship, he starts to become the man that all of his friends always knew he could, but is that any good for Anderson? More importantly is it any good for CJ?
This book is a lot. I had to put it down a few times because it just got heavy. There is some serious psychological stuff happening and it is dealt with well. It's good, but it's ...emotional. I'm not talking about just crying either. I mean real people dealing with real things.
There are some Amy Lane trademarks there. Like a very tiny reference to yarn crafts. But seriously, read it. If you don't like Scifi, that's okay, it doesn't feel like a scifi nook, and really it's too good to miss.
Just a side note: I finished this book and was about to sit and write my review and rate this book 5 stars, but then I said, am I just doing this because it's Amy Lane, and I think she's awesome and so I rate all her books 5 automatically? So I finished this book. Did my dinner dishes. Started a kitchen/ tupperware wash and rearrange project that is still ongoing, listened to my audio book, did more dishes (unused plastic containers get gross after sitting on your shelves for months), I started a lengthy written exit interview from my last job. Started some prep work for my new job, more dishes, folding laundry and answered emails. Now I'm cranky, damp because after all those dishes my shirt got wet and I'm hot and tired, and I still think the book is a 5 start read.
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