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Particle Horizon
Semifinalist in the Kindle Book Reviews 'Best Indie Books of 2012' Competition. From the blood and dust of New Jerusalem, the Legion of the LightBringer wages a galactic war against those who would replace their god. Now, the time has come for the Union of Free Worlds to make a stand. The front line is the idyllic asteroid world of Angelhaven, where the greatest mind in human history has discovered an elemental power with far-reaching implications. A power that both sides will do anything to harness. Marine commander Gomes leads the crack Union task force. An unrelenting warrior driven by revenge and a need for answers, he hides a strange ability neither science nor religion can explain. On the other side of the war, Aja is forced to fight for a cause she doesn't believe in to protect her own secret. Caught between them is Una, a living machine who battles for her humanity as her world falls apart. Outnumbered ten to one and stalked by a mysterious nemesis, all three will play a role in unraveling Angelhaven's enigma. As the Legion invasion begins, unknown eyes watch with interest... Semi Finalist in the Kindle Book Reviews Best Indie Books of 2012 Competition. Particle Horizon is a fast-paced, gritty and action-packed space opera. For more information or to leave comments for the author, selsoxisto.wordpress.com "Particle Horizon is not only a riveting science fiction novel but this deeply engaging story also touches on morality, religious expression, love, and what it means to be human. Selso Xisto has combined fantastic science fiction with truly heartfelt existential yearning to create a story that is hard to put down... There is a lot more to this work than simple entertainment. Particle Horizon is an exceptional book that provides many levels of interest for a wide range of readers beyond the regular sci-fi fan." - Melinda Hills, Readers’ Favorite "...In my opinion mainstream science fiction publishers should read this as for me it is as good as most of the mainstream authors out there and I would happily add him to my list of must purchase...I just hope that this is the first of many. I highly recommend this book! 5 Stars!" - Darkissreads "If you pick up this novel, then expect a fast-paced tale of heroism, sacrifice, megalomania, fanaticism combined with building new relationships and coming into your own, free of the oppressive influences of others. In short, this was fantastic!...9/10" - The Founding Fields "Particle Horizon is a surprisingly entertaining, well written and fast-paced science fiction book. I'm sure that readers, who aren't used to reading to science fiction, will be delighted to read this book, because the plot moves fast forward and the characters are interesting. I think that experienced readers will also enjoy this book, because the story is entertaining " - Risingshadow
- GenresScience FictionAmazon
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2012
11 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Selso Xisto
1 book36 followersGraduated from King's College London longer ago than seems possible, and went on to work in kid's TV for over 10 years making promos for Disney and Cartoon Network. Perhaps as an antidote he writes gritty, epic science fiction; forever his first love.
Surviving his ongoing obsession with fast motorbikes and flirtation with the underrated virtual worlds of videogames, he somehow found time to put to paper his long-gestating scifi epic. Influenced by the great space opera of Peter F Hamilton and Yokinobu Hoshino, as well as a lifetime of digesting the classics of Greg Bear and Arthur C Clarke, he lives and breathes SciFi in all its forms.
He lives in London with his awesome cat.
Surviving his ongoing obsession with fast motorbikes and flirtation with the underrated virtual worlds of videogames, he somehow found time to put to paper his long-gestating scifi epic. Influenced by the great space opera of Peter F Hamilton and Yokinobu Hoshino, as well as a lifetime of digesting the classics of Greg Bear and Arthur C Clarke, he lives and breathes SciFi in all its forms.
He lives in London with his awesome cat.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 29, 2012
Its always dicey when you pick up a book by an author you've never heard of, irrespective of what genre you he or she is writing in. You have no references with regards to how good the author is and it is all going to depend on your own reading of their work. That was very much the case with me here.Having read a lot of debut novels this year, I'm still tentative in picking more up and giving them a try although I do have to say that my experience has been 95% positive. Selso Xisto continues that trend of positivity.
Particle Horizon is a good novel that can easily compare to a lot of the traditionally published novels out there and give them a run for their money. It has a very space opera feelto it throughout and it has a really rich cast of characters from all walks of life from Selso's speculative future. In fact, this reminds me a lot of some of the more philosophical episodes of various Star Trek shows when the characters therein consider their place in the grand scheme of things and the impact of Mankind on the universe.
If you pick up this novel, then expect a fast-paced tale of heroism, sacrifice, megalomania, fanaticism combined with building new relationships and coming into your own, free of the oppressive influences of others. I'd dearly love for the author to write a sequel to this!
The actual review is now up. A teaser:
"Shadowhawk reviews the self-published SF space-opera novel Particle Horizon by debut author Selso Xisto.
“If you pick up this novel, then expect a fast-paced tale of heroism, sacrifice, megalomania, fanaticism combined with building new relationships and coming into your own, free of the oppressive influences of others. In short, this was fantastic!” ~The Founding Fields
It is always a nice feeling when an author contacts you about reviewing their work. At the very least, it is an ego-boost, although that ego is quickly deflated when you consider your reading pile. And let’s be fair, most book bloggers have huge reading piles at any given time. So its always slightly disheartening when you have to tell an author that their novel will have to wait its turn. But then again, its not so bad if the author is understanding, as Selso Xisto was here. Thing is, I resolved to read Particle Horizon as quick as I could because a) the title is cool, b) interesting artwork, c) this is a science-fiction novel, and d) Selso Xisto is an awesome name for an author.
The name of the novel itself evokes an atmosphere hinting at a grand setting, one where the smallest of actions have the biggest consequences, often in the most unexpected ways. I consider that acceptable hyperbole in this case. There’s something very primal about the novel in its totality, beginning with the name and then ending with the climax. I keep reading the name and what springs to mind are all those episodes of various SF shows over the years that deal with singularities, transcending the normal planes of existence and what not, often with quite a philosophical and introspective bent. I can’t really explain it properly.
Particle Horizon is about a final, deciding clash between the Union of the Free Worlds and the Legion of Light. The former is the dominant Human empire in the setting, its defining traits are its high level of technology and its break from all religion. The latter is a state founded on the notion of a single god, the Lightbringer, being the only guiding light for Mankind. The two states come to a clash on the world of Angelhaven, which is a large asteroidal colony of weapons manufacturers and miners. As such, the novel is told from the viewpoints of a several key characters and it really makes the conflict between the UFW and the Legion come alive."
You can find the full review at http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/06/...
Particle Horizon is a good novel that can easily compare to a lot of the traditionally published novels out there and give them a run for their money. It has a very space opera feelto it throughout and it has a really rich cast of characters from all walks of life from Selso's speculative future. In fact, this reminds me a lot of some of the more philosophical episodes of various Star Trek shows when the characters therein consider their place in the grand scheme of things and the impact of Mankind on the universe.
If you pick up this novel, then expect a fast-paced tale of heroism, sacrifice, megalomania, fanaticism combined with building new relationships and coming into your own, free of the oppressive influences of others. I'd dearly love for the author to write a sequel to this!
The actual review is now up. A teaser:
"Shadowhawk reviews the self-published SF space-opera novel Particle Horizon by debut author Selso Xisto.
“If you pick up this novel, then expect a fast-paced tale of heroism, sacrifice, megalomania, fanaticism combined with building new relationships and coming into your own, free of the oppressive influences of others. In short, this was fantastic!” ~The Founding Fields
It is always a nice feeling when an author contacts you about reviewing their work. At the very least, it is an ego-boost, although that ego is quickly deflated when you consider your reading pile. And let’s be fair, most book bloggers have huge reading piles at any given time. So its always slightly disheartening when you have to tell an author that their novel will have to wait its turn. But then again, its not so bad if the author is understanding, as Selso Xisto was here. Thing is, I resolved to read Particle Horizon as quick as I could because a) the title is cool, b) interesting artwork, c) this is a science-fiction novel, and d) Selso Xisto is an awesome name for an author.
The name of the novel itself evokes an atmosphere hinting at a grand setting, one where the smallest of actions have the biggest consequences, often in the most unexpected ways. I consider that acceptable hyperbole in this case. There’s something very primal about the novel in its totality, beginning with the name and then ending with the climax. I keep reading the name and what springs to mind are all those episodes of various SF shows over the years that deal with singularities, transcending the normal planes of existence and what not, often with quite a philosophical and introspective bent. I can’t really explain it properly.
Particle Horizon is about a final, deciding clash between the Union of the Free Worlds and the Legion of Light. The former is the dominant Human empire in the setting, its defining traits are its high level of technology and its break from all religion. The latter is a state founded on the notion of a single god, the Lightbringer, being the only guiding light for Mankind. The two states come to a clash on the world of Angelhaven, which is a large asteroidal colony of weapons manufacturers and miners. As such, the novel is told from the viewpoints of a several key characters and it really makes the conflict between the UFW and the Legion come alive."
You can find the full review at http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/06/...
September 16, 2012
I am what you might call a "lapsed sci-fi" fan. In high school, my shelves were full of Asimov and David Brin, Nancy Kress and Frederik Pohl, Stanislaw Lem and every issue of Science Fiction Age ever published. But something happened along the line - it might have been a function of sci fi in the mid-90s but I suppose I suddenly felt as if I were reading the same book over and over. The novels were lagging behind the more exciting things I was reading in New Scientist and Scientific American, and instead of feeling fresh they felt... "genre-y". And so I stopped reading them.
But, as the first sci fi book I've read in quite a few years, I have to say that my interest in science fiction is renewed. The tone is cleaner and more exciting than from the books I remember, the science fresh and interesting, and I do wonder what I have been missing all of these years!
There are a lot of things to like about this book, but I'll enumerate them for brevity's sake:
* the tight but elegant prose, which somehow avoids most cliches and still provides some near-perfect metaphors that paint the picture without being overly precious
* the continuity - a lot of care has obviously been taken to address any potential plotholes, which is a testament to good worldbuilding
* the characters - yes, there are a lot of them. And yes, it is slightly disorienting at the beginning to get used to them all. But it
is worth it, because most are very well developed and real, and each
had a voice that is distinct, and is sympathetic in their own way, even those that err more on the side of villainry.
* the technology/science - for me one of the greatest strengths. I really loved the science in this. Every device, every technology, every theory was well imagined, plotted,and believable. Scorpion tanks, gel suits, gliders, anti-matter drives, realistically described computer
minds, anti-gravity flight control, alien beings made of energy and how
they live on gas giants -- everything.
* the plotting - it's cohesive, interesting, exciting, and inspiring... and there are plenty of surprises, although all of them seem organic. The last few chapters on Prometheus were my favourites and I would love to see this whole book as a film, it's so visual. I also appreciated that the entire gamut of emotions were represented here - this was not a book that was all on one "tone level", something which also often irritates me. There are funny moments where I laughed out loud, really sad and tragic moments, ugly ones, beautiful ones, scary ones, triumphant ones, and finally...
* the ending - particularly wonderful in that it very successfully weaves science and philosophy into something which not only seems true, but seems probable even. The book's complete vision of the universe, from the subatomic to the macro-dimensional, kicked up the world building
satisfaction and gave the entire book not just an atmosphere, but real a
cosmology. There is just enough bittersweet and just enough hope, and just enough mystery, to make the reader feel both satisfied and also wanting more.
My only turnoff, perhaps as a funtion of being female, was perhaps the character of Una (although I loved Eve and the other female characters!), but this was minor compared to the overall experience which was (both literally and figuratively) fantastic.
Well worth a read for sci fi fans, potential sci fi fans, and lapsed sci fi fans alike!
But, as the first sci fi book I've read in quite a few years, I have to say that my interest in science fiction is renewed. The tone is cleaner and more exciting than from the books I remember, the science fresh and interesting, and I do wonder what I have been missing all of these years!
There are a lot of things to like about this book, but I'll enumerate them for brevity's sake:
* the tight but elegant prose, which somehow avoids most cliches and still provides some near-perfect metaphors that paint the picture without being overly precious
* the continuity - a lot of care has obviously been taken to address any potential plotholes, which is a testament to good worldbuilding
* the characters - yes, there are a lot of them. And yes, it is slightly disorienting at the beginning to get used to them all. But it
is worth it, because most are very well developed and real, and each
had a voice that is distinct, and is sympathetic in their own way, even those that err more on the side of villainry.
* the technology/science - for me one of the greatest strengths. I really loved the science in this. Every device, every technology, every theory was well imagined, plotted,and believable. Scorpion tanks, gel suits, gliders, anti-matter drives, realistically described computer
minds, anti-gravity flight control, alien beings made of energy and how
they live on gas giants -- everything.
* the plotting - it's cohesive, interesting, exciting, and inspiring... and there are plenty of surprises, although all of them seem organic. The last few chapters on Prometheus were my favourites and I would love to see this whole book as a film, it's so visual. I also appreciated that the entire gamut of emotions were represented here - this was not a book that was all on one "tone level", something which also often irritates me. There are funny moments where I laughed out loud, really sad and tragic moments, ugly ones, beautiful ones, scary ones, triumphant ones, and finally...
* the ending - particularly wonderful in that it very successfully weaves science and philosophy into something which not only seems true, but seems probable even. The book's complete vision of the universe, from the subatomic to the macro-dimensional, kicked up the world building
satisfaction and gave the entire book not just an atmosphere, but real a
cosmology. There is just enough bittersweet and just enough hope, and just enough mystery, to make the reader feel both satisfied and also wanting more.
My only turnoff, perhaps as a funtion of being female, was perhaps the character of Una (although I loved Eve and the other female characters!), but this was minor compared to the overall experience which was (both literally and figuratively) fantastic.
Well worth a read for sci fi fans, potential sci fi fans, and lapsed sci fi fans alike!
June 15, 2012
‘Action packed’ military science fiction seldom appeals to me, but this one hooked me from the beginning because the characters are believable individuals rather than shallow, cookie-cutter stereotypes, and the bad guys are simply so detestable you want to see them fail. The latter are a bunch of violent religious zealots from the Legion of the Lightbringer based on New Jerusalem, a colony planet founded as both a dumping ground and sanctuary for theists from the Union of Free Worlds. The story never explicitly tells us why, but religion is banned on Union planets. It can be inferred that outlawing religion was done because of past wars and other acts of atrocity fostered in the name of religion, but we do not know for sure. Regardless, the Legion and the Union are the two major forces in conflict in this story. There is also a third group known as the Alliance. Not much is said about them, although they are bankrolling the Legion and may be a group of ‘free enterprise’ capitalists who wish to avoid taxation and regulation imposed by the Union. There are cultural and political parallels to contemporary Earth here, which, I’m sure, are not accidental.
There is a fourth group, this one of incorporeal aliens, and a mad scientist. The concerns of both of these transcend the conflict between the Union and the Legion and make it almost irrelevant. They, too, are in conflict and provide an interesting subplot.
The setting for the story is a large, rotating, hollowed out asteroid known as Angelhaven, which is owned and operated by AngelCorp. Its major export is military technology, which it sells to the Union of Free Worlds. This asteroid provides a home for about a quarter million people and the story opens with the Legion invading their poorly defended colony. The future tech required for this outpost of humanity to exist was explained in just enough detail to make it believable without losing most readers.
I try to avoid spoilers in my reviews, so that’s all I’ll say about the plot other than to add that it is tight, well conceived and the ending provides a satisfying conclusion.
Since this is one of a growing number of excellent self-published works, I’ll add a bit about the technical aspects of the novel. The story is told from multiple points of view, but as each character is unique and easily recognizable, the reader is never confused. Grammar, punctuation, and the number of typos are on par with traditionally published books. Actually, the prose is better than many traditionally published books I have seen, and I only saw, at most, half a dozen typos in the entire thing.
The one thing that did not appeal to me is simply a matter of taste. I don’t find death and destruction entertaining, and this book is loaded with both. It is almost nonstop ‘action,’ which is, I believe, the proper literary review euphemism for bloody violence and heaps of dead bodies. These are not my thing, but the book has several redeeming qualities that kept me reading. For action packed military science fiction, this is among the best I have seen.
There is a fourth group, this one of incorporeal aliens, and a mad scientist. The concerns of both of these transcend the conflict between the Union and the Legion and make it almost irrelevant. They, too, are in conflict and provide an interesting subplot.
The setting for the story is a large, rotating, hollowed out asteroid known as Angelhaven, which is owned and operated by AngelCorp. Its major export is military technology, which it sells to the Union of Free Worlds. This asteroid provides a home for about a quarter million people and the story opens with the Legion invading their poorly defended colony. The future tech required for this outpost of humanity to exist was explained in just enough detail to make it believable without losing most readers.
I try to avoid spoilers in my reviews, so that’s all I’ll say about the plot other than to add that it is tight, well conceived and the ending provides a satisfying conclusion.
Since this is one of a growing number of excellent self-published works, I’ll add a bit about the technical aspects of the novel. The story is told from multiple points of view, but as each character is unique and easily recognizable, the reader is never confused. Grammar, punctuation, and the number of typos are on par with traditionally published books. Actually, the prose is better than many traditionally published books I have seen, and I only saw, at most, half a dozen typos in the entire thing.
The one thing that did not appeal to me is simply a matter of taste. I don’t find death and destruction entertaining, and this book is loaded with both. It is almost nonstop ‘action,’ which is, I believe, the proper literary review euphemism for bloody violence and heaps of dead bodies. These are not my thing, but the book has several redeeming qualities that kept me reading. For action packed military science fiction, this is among the best I have seen.
June 30, 2012
The cardinal rule of any reader is: Do not judge a book by it's cover. I made that mistake when I started to see Particle Horizon floating around the different blogs and websites I frequent. Not only did I judge the cover I judged the author's name. I know, what kind of horrible human being am I? I apologize in advance Selso, if you're reading this right now. I assumed Selso Xisto was a pen name born from an unfortunate draw from the scrabble bag. (Boy, I hope Selso can take a joke). If you read the interview I did with him you will see that is indeed his real name.
Particle Horizon was phenomenal! The action started pretty instantly, but it was a little confusing, because of so many new ideas happening all at once. Part of the human race living on an asteroid, flight suits (well gliding suits), artificial intelligence (not a confusing concept, but its in much greater detail in this story). Nearly constant character introductions for probably 6 or 7 chapters added to the chaos happening.
Once all the main characters were introduced and I started to understand all of the technology, then the story really opened up. The denizens of Angelhaven didn't stand a chance against the Legion of the Lightbringer. They would have to hold out until the Navy of the Union of Free Worlds arrived, but they were desperately far away.
One of the protagonist and the antagonist had names I recognized from the bible, I'm not an avid bible reader, but some names just stand out. Xavier, protagonist, is the Navy's ground commander, he is very good at his job, partially due to his special ability that no one can explain. He has a way of reading people. Cain, antagonist, is the Legion's war monger, he is also very good at his job, also due to his incredible ability, his is much darker though. He's probably one of my favorite characters, because he has absolutely no remorse for being so evil and somehow that fascinates me. I'm not sure how similar these two characters are with their bible counterparts, but i did look up Xavier and the bible version was a saint who lived several centuries ago. So I would say they are similar...in a way.
I give Particle Horizon 4 out of 5 AI Minds for superb action, fantastic characters and a well thought and very involved plot. My only complaint is the start of the story, not that it's slow, far from, but it was an awful lot of character building all at once. I'm no expert so I have no idea how this could be remedied, but if you make it to chapter 6 then you're probably already hooked. I'm going to go with a 13 or older rating on this, the ideas are huge and the technology is phenomenal, but there is no harsh language or nudity, however there is some pretty violent action.
Particle Horizon was phenomenal! The action started pretty instantly, but it was a little confusing, because of so many new ideas happening all at once. Part of the human race living on an asteroid, flight suits (well gliding suits), artificial intelligence (not a confusing concept, but its in much greater detail in this story). Nearly constant character introductions for probably 6 or 7 chapters added to the chaos happening.
Once all the main characters were introduced and I started to understand all of the technology, then the story really opened up. The denizens of Angelhaven didn't stand a chance against the Legion of the Lightbringer. They would have to hold out until the Navy of the Union of Free Worlds arrived, but they were desperately far away.
One of the protagonist and the antagonist had names I recognized from the bible, I'm not an avid bible reader, but some names just stand out. Xavier, protagonist, is the Navy's ground commander, he is very good at his job, partially due to his special ability that no one can explain. He has a way of reading people. Cain, antagonist, is the Legion's war monger, he is also very good at his job, also due to his incredible ability, his is much darker though. He's probably one of my favorite characters, because he has absolutely no remorse for being so evil and somehow that fascinates me. I'm not sure how similar these two characters are with their bible counterparts, but i did look up Xavier and the bible version was a saint who lived several centuries ago. So I would say they are similar...in a way.
I give Particle Horizon 4 out of 5 AI Minds for superb action, fantastic characters and a well thought and very involved plot. My only complaint is the start of the story, not that it's slow, far from, but it was an awful lot of character building all at once. I'm no expert so I have no idea how this could be remedied, but if you make it to chapter 6 then you're probably already hooked. I'm going to go with a 13 or older rating on this, the ideas are huge and the technology is phenomenal, but there is no harsh language or nudity, however there is some pretty violent action.
June 4, 2012
It is always such a thrill to read a new story from a new author. There are countless stories out there and not all are good reads, but every once in a while you come across a true gem. Particle Horizon is certainly one of those. It is fast paced. It is action filled. It has interesting characters and a fascinating theme - religion vs science. Not only the planet Earth, but the entire universe is at risk in this thrilling space opera.
I am the first to admit that some of the sci-fi novels out there are at times too difficult for my below average math and science skilled brain to fully grasp. Not so with Particle Horizon, it is fully understandable for us mere mortals.
Yes, it has some advanced technical descriptions and explanations. Yes it has plenty of fascinating sci fi elements, but in my opinion the vocabulary is not too difficult to grasp, nor do the sci fi aspect overshadow the flow of the story. In my opinion, it is one of those rare novels that works for both fiction lovers and science fiction lovers.
All in all, Particle Horizon is a novel I can highly recommend, even if you don't normally read sci-fi, or have never read a sci fi novel in your life, I urge you to pick up this one. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I know I was.
Now the wait for the next Selso Xisto novel begins, because this is an author I want to read more of.
I am the first to admit that some of the sci-fi novels out there are at times too difficult for my below average math and science skilled brain to fully grasp. Not so with Particle Horizon, it is fully understandable for us mere mortals.
Yes, it has some advanced technical descriptions and explanations. Yes it has plenty of fascinating sci fi elements, but in my opinion the vocabulary is not too difficult to grasp, nor do the sci fi aspect overshadow the flow of the story. In my opinion, it is one of those rare novels that works for both fiction lovers and science fiction lovers.
All in all, Particle Horizon is a novel I can highly recommend, even if you don't normally read sci-fi, or have never read a sci fi novel in your life, I urge you to pick up this one. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I know I was.
Now the wait for the next Selso Xisto novel begins, because this is an author I want to read more of.
July 17, 2012
Had a friend not recommended this novel to me, I likely wouldn't have picked it up and that would have been a true shame. "Particle Horizon" is an amazing read. I am not usually the reader who becomes so invested in characters but the way that they're written in this novel, I couldn't help but become a part of their lives. Xisto's writing style is so beautifully descriptive that my world for the time that I read was this novel. Highly recommend this even if you don't like sci-fi because I have never read a novel like this before but I want to do it again! I will watch for every new release by this talented writer.
May 25, 2012
This was an epic sci-fi book, I am still digesting it.
Vivid, and colorful, with a huge ensemble of characters, and layers upon layers of detail.
The story-telling is perfect and very much enjoyed the voice of the book.
My full review can be found here http://threesistersreviews.blogspot.c...
Vivid, and colorful, with a huge ensemble of characters, and layers upon layers of detail.
The story-telling is perfect and very much enjoyed the voice of the book.
My full review can be found here http://threesistersreviews.blogspot.c...
July 22, 2012
Really liked this book. It becomes very engrossing as you get into the story line. Loved the characters especially the evolving post human ones. Interesting story line when read in the context of the US elections in 2012. I look forward to more from this author.
June 11, 2012
Before I write anything else, I'll mention that Selso Xisto's Particle Horizon was a pleasant surprise and an enjoyable reading experience, because it's a fresh and entertaining science fiction book.
Here's a bit of information about Particle Horizon:
The events take place in the distant future where humankind's technologial and scientific skills have advanced further than anybody can imagine. Humankind has the ability to inhabit asterdois, build sentient artificial intelligences, make genetic manipulations and modify plants genetically etc. As anybody can imagine, these advancements are great, but they also come with a price (humankind's future is threatened and almost anything could happen) and an important question hangs in the air... Has humankind finally gone too far?
Particle Horizon starts with a bang. In the first chapter the author tells how the asteroid world of Angelhaven is under attack and how a small group of people tries to stop the invaders. This is an interesting start, because it shows how bad the situation is for Angelhaven. This is, of course, only the beginning. Soon the reader will find out that there two different factions (Union of Free Worlds and the Legion of the LightBringer) and a war is going on. The Legion of the Lightbringer is considered to be a dangerous religious cult. The reader will also find out that one man has discovered a power which could be extremely dangerous in wrong hands. And while all these things are happening, something is watching humankind and its actions...
The asteroid world of Angelhaven is an interesting and fascinating place, because the author makes it come to life with his sentences. His descriptions of the different places and the happenings are vivid. It's interesting to read how people live in Angelhaven and how people glide and play in the tube where there's no gravity.
Here's some information about certain characters:
- Una is a sentient living machine who is almost exactly like a human being. Her father is an intelligent man, Dr. Baghdasarian, who found the Chaos Pattern.
- Aja is a soldier of the LightBringer Legion, but she has hew own secrets to protect. She is forced to fight against her will.
- Gomes is a commander he's driven by the need for revenge. He has something to hide, because he doesn't want other people to know about his ability. He works for the Union of Free Worlds.
I like Selso Xisto's characters, because they're believable and interesting characters. Each character has his/her own problems and their actions are based on their feelings etc, so the author has spent time on creating good characters. Considering that Particle Horizon is Selso Xisto's debut book, the characters are surprisingly well developed.
I was positively impressed by Selso Xisto's writing style and ability to create a detailed story. There are plenty of debut science fiction books, which contain poor writing, but in my opinion this book is an exception. This book is surprisingly rich in content and the writing is good. The author writes about the happenings in an interesting way and makes the reader want to know how the story ends.
Selso Xisto writes fluently about technological wonders, religious zealotry, artificial intelligences and humankind's possible threats. The author shows well how the cult wages a religious war against people who use technology, but at the same time uses technology to defeat its enemies, which makes the cult's actions and purposes questionable. He also has a talent for keeping the story afloat on several levels from character development to world-building - this is a good achievement for a debut author. He has a creative imagination and a desire to tell stories.
I think it's good to mention that Particle Horizon is an easily accessible book, because it doesn't contain too much scientific vocabulary. There are lots of science fiction books, which aren't exactly suitable for readers who read mostly mainstream fiction. These mainstream readers often tend to avoid science fiction, because science fiction may contain too much scientific information etc, but this book is totally different. This book contains certain important terms etc, because the events takes place in space, but the amount of information isn't overwhelming, so mainstream readers will be able to enjoy this book. The fast-paced action will please several readers.
I'll also mention that although Particle Horizon is a book for adults, it's possible that young adult readers may also enjoy reading it.
Particle Horizon is a surprisingly entertaining, well written and fast-paced science fiction book. I'm sure that readers, who aren't used to reading to science fiction, will be delighted to read this book, because the plot moves fast forward and the characters are interesting. I think that experienced readers will also enjoy this book, because the story is entertaining.
Good and harmless entertainment!
Here's a bit of information about Particle Horizon:
The events take place in the distant future where humankind's technologial and scientific skills have advanced further than anybody can imagine. Humankind has the ability to inhabit asterdois, build sentient artificial intelligences, make genetic manipulations and modify plants genetically etc. As anybody can imagine, these advancements are great, but they also come with a price (humankind's future is threatened and almost anything could happen) and an important question hangs in the air... Has humankind finally gone too far?
Particle Horizon starts with a bang. In the first chapter the author tells how the asteroid world of Angelhaven is under attack and how a small group of people tries to stop the invaders. This is an interesting start, because it shows how bad the situation is for Angelhaven. This is, of course, only the beginning. Soon the reader will find out that there two different factions (Union of Free Worlds and the Legion of the LightBringer) and a war is going on. The Legion of the Lightbringer is considered to be a dangerous religious cult. The reader will also find out that one man has discovered a power which could be extremely dangerous in wrong hands. And while all these things are happening, something is watching humankind and its actions...
The asteroid world of Angelhaven is an interesting and fascinating place, because the author makes it come to life with his sentences. His descriptions of the different places and the happenings are vivid. It's interesting to read how people live in Angelhaven and how people glide and play in the tube where there's no gravity.
Here's some information about certain characters:
- Una is a sentient living machine who is almost exactly like a human being. Her father is an intelligent man, Dr. Baghdasarian, who found the Chaos Pattern.
- Aja is a soldier of the LightBringer Legion, but she has hew own secrets to protect. She is forced to fight against her will.
- Gomes is a commander he's driven by the need for revenge. He has something to hide, because he doesn't want other people to know about his ability. He works for the Union of Free Worlds.
I like Selso Xisto's characters, because they're believable and interesting characters. Each character has his/her own problems and their actions are based on their feelings etc, so the author has spent time on creating good characters. Considering that Particle Horizon is Selso Xisto's debut book, the characters are surprisingly well developed.
I was positively impressed by Selso Xisto's writing style and ability to create a detailed story. There are plenty of debut science fiction books, which contain poor writing, but in my opinion this book is an exception. This book is surprisingly rich in content and the writing is good. The author writes about the happenings in an interesting way and makes the reader want to know how the story ends.
Selso Xisto writes fluently about technological wonders, religious zealotry, artificial intelligences and humankind's possible threats. The author shows well how the cult wages a religious war against people who use technology, but at the same time uses technology to defeat its enemies, which makes the cult's actions and purposes questionable. He also has a talent for keeping the story afloat on several levels from character development to world-building - this is a good achievement for a debut author. He has a creative imagination and a desire to tell stories.
I think it's good to mention that Particle Horizon is an easily accessible book, because it doesn't contain too much scientific vocabulary. There are lots of science fiction books, which aren't exactly suitable for readers who read mostly mainstream fiction. These mainstream readers often tend to avoid science fiction, because science fiction may contain too much scientific information etc, but this book is totally different. This book contains certain important terms etc, because the events takes place in space, but the amount of information isn't overwhelming, so mainstream readers will be able to enjoy this book. The fast-paced action will please several readers.
I'll also mention that although Particle Horizon is a book for adults, it's possible that young adult readers may also enjoy reading it.
Particle Horizon is a surprisingly entertaining, well written and fast-paced science fiction book. I'm sure that readers, who aren't used to reading to science fiction, will be delighted to read this book, because the plot moves fast forward and the characters are interesting. I think that experienced readers will also enjoy this book, because the story is entertaining.
Good and harmless entertainment!
June 20, 2012
Selso Xisto's novel Particle Horizon is a well thought out and multi-layered story. The novel takes place inside the world of Angelhaven, a hollowed out asteroid orbiting the moon of the gas giant Hades. Angelhaven is a company world for AngelCorp, a defense contractor for the Union of Free Worlds. AngelCorp is owned by the uber-genius Dr. Baghdasarian.
The novel opens as the Legion of the Lightbringer from the desert world of New Jerusalem invades Angelhaven, supposedly seeking technology and the heretic Baghdasarian. This initial battle scene is stunning as a group of teenagers "glide the tube," the narrow band of zero G along the spinning asteroid's axis, doing battle with the invaders. And the novel only gets better from there.
Angelhaven is a well thought out, living and breathing world, with cities, farms, rivers and lakes all inside the spinning, potato shaped asteroid. As the teenagers do battle most of Angelhaven's population takes refuge in the tunnels in the asteroid's shell.
In his zero G lab within the "tube," Dr. Baghdasarian seems oblivious to the conflict. He is too busy working on his latest project. Only his "daughter" Una seems to care about Angelhaven's citizens. Una has an enhanced AI mind inside a human body.
Baghdasarian's latest project is also being closely monitored by a virtually omnipotent alien race made of light living within Hades and most other gas giants throughout the universe. In the end this alien race will decide whether the human race lives or is obliterated.
When the Union Navy finally arrives things really get interesting as the mysterious Marine Commander Xavier Gomes takes command. Gomes's counterpart in the Lightbringer Legion is the sadistic, white-eyed Cain.
Among the Lightbringer zealots is Aja, a Legion conscript originally from the Free Worlds. While those around her follow Cain's orders without question, Aja faces a moral dilemma.
Gomes convinces Una to create a watered down version of her mind, named Eve, to dump into Angelhaven's computer network to spy on the invaders. Eve plays a larger part than she ever thought possible.
I don't want to give too much of the story away or go into too much minutiae. Particle Horizon is full of surprises and unexpected plot twists. In the end Gomes and Cain duke it out and ironically Baghdasarian's not-quite-human "children" help decide the fate of the human race.
This is a great, well-written story. Unfortunately, it could have used one more proofread. The errors are fairly minor and not enough to be distracting while reading, but they are there. I also found the location of Baghdasarian's secret lab to be almost cartoon-ish.
The novel opens as the Legion of the Lightbringer from the desert world of New Jerusalem invades Angelhaven, supposedly seeking technology and the heretic Baghdasarian. This initial battle scene is stunning as a group of teenagers "glide the tube," the narrow band of zero G along the spinning asteroid's axis, doing battle with the invaders. And the novel only gets better from there.
Angelhaven is a well thought out, living and breathing world, with cities, farms, rivers and lakes all inside the spinning, potato shaped asteroid. As the teenagers do battle most of Angelhaven's population takes refuge in the tunnels in the asteroid's shell.
In his zero G lab within the "tube," Dr. Baghdasarian seems oblivious to the conflict. He is too busy working on his latest project. Only his "daughter" Una seems to care about Angelhaven's citizens. Una has an enhanced AI mind inside a human body.
Baghdasarian's latest project is also being closely monitored by a virtually omnipotent alien race made of light living within Hades and most other gas giants throughout the universe. In the end this alien race will decide whether the human race lives or is obliterated.
When the Union Navy finally arrives things really get interesting as the mysterious Marine Commander Xavier Gomes takes command. Gomes's counterpart in the Lightbringer Legion is the sadistic, white-eyed Cain.
Among the Lightbringer zealots is Aja, a Legion conscript originally from the Free Worlds. While those around her follow Cain's orders without question, Aja faces a moral dilemma.
Gomes convinces Una to create a watered down version of her mind, named Eve, to dump into Angelhaven's computer network to spy on the invaders. Eve plays a larger part than she ever thought possible.
I don't want to give too much of the story away or go into too much minutiae. Particle Horizon is full of surprises and unexpected plot twists. In the end Gomes and Cain duke it out and ironically Baghdasarian's not-quite-human "children" help decide the fate of the human race.
This is a great, well-written story. Unfortunately, it could have used one more proofread. The errors are fairly minor and not enough to be distracting while reading, but they are there. I also found the location of Baghdasarian's secret lab to be almost cartoon-ish.
September 21, 2013
Particle Horizon is a gritty Science Fiction novel, and a pretty awesome debut by Selso Xisto. It is essentially about a galactic war between Angelhaven, an advanced human colony on an asteroid, and New Jerusalem from which the Legion of the LightBringer wages a holy war against all who would deny their god. You won���t soon forget the first chapter. It was raw and emotional and draws the reader right into the conflict. The next few chapters are a little slow going as the characters and context of the war are introduced.
First thing I noticed was Xisto���s wonderful knack for description.
A warm gust of wind buffeted them on the loading platform. Almost two miles above the ground, the thin aluminium railings fo the deck turned the wind into a forlorn whistle.
Within the first few lines of the book, he has appealed to almost every sense in describing the world of Angelhaven (You should also check out his guest post on my blog; Welcome to Angelhaven).
The characters in the story were complex. We have a marine commander with a hidden ability, an advanced android who has been locked away in a lab for most of her life, and on the other side of the war Aja who usually doesn���t hide her skepticism of the war. There are a lot of POV changes, but each character is distinct enough that this didn���t cause a problem.
The basis for the plot, basically a holy war waged by New Jerusalem against those who refuse to worship their god and Angelhaven where religion is banned, isn���t really anything new even for the Sci-fi world. We can draw a lot of comparisons between the plot and current and recent events, possibly to the point that some of us could understand why religion would be banned on Angelhaven���after all in this story, overzealous followers of the Lightbringer are what bring chaos into this scenario.
My verdict, even though the basis of the story may be familiar, it���s an excellent novel that balances believable characters with gripping events.
Find more of my reviews at Scotzig.com
First thing I noticed was Xisto���s wonderful knack for description.
A warm gust of wind buffeted them on the loading platform. Almost two miles above the ground, the thin aluminium railings fo the deck turned the wind into a forlorn whistle.
Within the first few lines of the book, he has appealed to almost every sense in describing the world of Angelhaven (You should also check out his guest post on my blog; Welcome to Angelhaven).
The characters in the story were complex. We have a marine commander with a hidden ability, an advanced android who has been locked away in a lab for most of her life, and on the other side of the war Aja who usually doesn���t hide her skepticism of the war. There are a lot of POV changes, but each character is distinct enough that this didn���t cause a problem.
The basis for the plot, basically a holy war waged by New Jerusalem against those who refuse to worship their god and Angelhaven where religion is banned, isn���t really anything new even for the Sci-fi world. We can draw a lot of comparisons between the plot and current and recent events, possibly to the point that some of us could understand why religion would be banned on Angelhaven���after all in this story, overzealous followers of the Lightbringer are what bring chaos into this scenario.
My verdict, even though the basis of the story may be familiar, it���s an excellent novel that balances believable characters with gripping events.
Find more of my reviews at Scotzig.com
June 25, 2012
Particle Horizon by Selso Xisto is an entertaining, highly detailed portrayal of wonders in a far off future where the lifestyle dependent on highly advanced technology and the prejudices of complete unquestioning faith in unseen gods collide in horrendous violence that could tear the very world apart for everyone that happens to get caught in the middle. The religious citizens of New Jerusalem see it as their duty to destroy the research coming out of the space-station research facility `Angelhaven' before it can unleash powers that man was never meant to tinker with.
This story is wonderful in that you have the opportunity to watch developments from every possible viewpoint. When you might question why someone acts as they do, you are given their individual story presented so that you can almost believe in their cause. Even if that cause runs completely against the desires of the last character you just agreed with. The beautiful, imaginative descriptions bring to life very great or terrible aspect of the story. Visions of vast fields of grain being consumed by a terrible inferno inside of the concentric station clash with the exquisite picture of flight that children of zero-g practice without a thought
There are several who have as much reason to fight for their beliefs with good reason. It does go a step further than old religious men being scared of science. In this future, most human settled worlds outside New Jerusalem are under the government of the Union of Free Worlds. Part of a peacekeeping agreement they have made law is to totally disallow any type of religion. Intelligent, reasonable people would rather side with those who shouldn't just be dismissed as superstitious idiots than live where their faiths have been outlawed.
There is no solid `good' or `bad.'
This story is wonderful in that you have the opportunity to watch developments from every possible viewpoint. When you might question why someone acts as they do, you are given their individual story presented so that you can almost believe in their cause. Even if that cause runs completely against the desires of the last character you just agreed with. The beautiful, imaginative descriptions bring to life very great or terrible aspect of the story. Visions of vast fields of grain being consumed by a terrible inferno inside of the concentric station clash with the exquisite picture of flight that children of zero-g practice without a thought
There are several who have as much reason to fight for their beliefs with good reason. It does go a step further than old religious men being scared of science. In this future, most human settled worlds outside New Jerusalem are under the government of the Union of Free Worlds. Part of a peacekeeping agreement they have made law is to totally disallow any type of religion. Intelligent, reasonable people would rather side with those who shouldn't just be dismissed as superstitious idiots than live where their faiths have been outlawed.
There is no solid `good' or `bad.'
June 17, 2012
This is one of those books that took a while for me to get into, but by the end I was sneaking peaks whenever I could to finish.
What worked for me:
The grand scale of the idea contained in one place--Angelhaven. The idea of humans reaching their "Resolution Juncture" and what that could mean to other intelligent species was brilliant. Especially when contrasted with the brutal warring forces on Angelhaven. Light hidden within the darkest most determined soldier.
The science was great and not too difficult to follow. Great tech gadgets and weapons without the burden of explaining how they all worked.
What I struggled with:
Multiple POV changes from the beginning made it hard for me to keep up with who the players all were. And which side they were on. In the end I got it and it seems like there wasn't really a right or wrong side. Just two extremes duking it out.
It was also quite gruesome at times with the level and method of death, but the plot was epic.
What worked for me:
The grand scale of the idea contained in one place--Angelhaven. The idea of humans reaching their "Resolution Juncture" and what that could mean to other intelligent species was brilliant. Especially when contrasted with the brutal warring forces on Angelhaven. Light hidden within the darkest most determined soldier.
The science was great and not too difficult to follow. Great tech gadgets and weapons without the burden of explaining how they all worked.
What I struggled with:
Multiple POV changes from the beginning made it hard for me to keep up with who the players all were. And which side they were on. In the end I got it and it seems like there wasn't really a right or wrong side. Just two extremes duking it out.
It was also quite gruesome at times with the level and method of death, but the plot was epic.
September 27, 2012
I gave it a more thorough review on my blog:
http://lazerbrain.wordpress.com/2012/...
Excellent action, and fairly well written. Its action packed and fast paced. This is the author's first novel, and it has far more polish and less stilted dialogue than most science fiction, especially for a first book. I look forward to see what else he comes out with.
http://lazerbrain.wordpress.com/2012/...
Excellent action, and fairly well written. Its action packed and fast paced. This is the author's first novel, and it has far more polish and less stilted dialogue than most science fiction, especially for a first book. I look forward to see what else he comes out with.
December 19, 2017
3.5
Honestly, it was a lot better than I expected. I liked the writing and the interesting quagmires some of the characters found themselves in—especially around identity—and many of the characters in general. Plus, I found the plot and technology is interesting.
I did think it dragged a little in the middle. I noted a couple copy edit mishaps. The science was a bit hand-wavey, and I warn you not to get too attached to anyone. All in all though, I enjoyed it.
Honestly, it was a lot better than I expected. I liked the writing and the interesting quagmires some of the characters found themselves in—especially around identity—and many of the characters in general. Plus, I found the plot and technology is interesting.
I did think it dragged a little in the middle. I noted a couple copy edit mishaps. The science was a bit hand-wavey, and I warn you not to get too attached to anyone. All in all though, I enjoyed it.
June 17, 2012
This is a great debut, blending the gritty realities of war with a sci-fi adventure on an intergalactic scale. The world is well constructed and vividly described, and I really liked the cast of unusual characters. The book spans quite a long period, making the pacing a bit uneven, but it held my attention and I all-too-quickly reached the end.
August 16, 2012
Loved it. I'm no reviewer and for that I apologise. The twists and turns. The way Selso dives into your mind and tears chunk off it with his exciting high-energy scenes interspersed with touching, human moments in the midst of apocalyptic chaos.
As I said, I'm no reviewer, but I realy enjoyed this book.
Thank you Selso, keep up the good work!
As I said, I'm no reviewer, but I realy enjoyed this book.
Thank you Selso, keep up the good work!
August 23, 2012
Wow. Very well written, deeply felt, good character development, with a grand, plausible, and interesting cosmology. AI's as real people. People and AI's who could be Gods. I will sit on this one for a little while, it might turn into five stars eventually.
December 14, 2012
Review coming. Very, very good though. Especially considering this is a debut science fiction novel. Not easy to pull off. Writing skills are solid and the story is wonderful.
October 16, 2013
Liked it a lot
September 15, 2014
Clever deep space action.
You may enjoy this like this if you James S.A. Corey and Peter F. Hamilton. I for one loved it.
You may enjoy this like this if you James S.A. Corey and Peter F. Hamilton. I for one loved it.
August 17, 2012
I’ve been dying to read a good sci-fi and found it here in this well crafted debut novel. It’s everything you’d want in a traditional sci-fi. It’s big. It’s full of futuristic technology. There’s a war that may destroy life as we know it. There are super intelligent aliens that may destroy life as we know it. Our own idiocy may destroy life as we know it. Ready the anti-matter converters and hold tight to your Kindle. This is a book I really enjoyed, and I know you will too.
In what I can only imagine is the far distant future, mankind’s technological advancements have reached breathtaking proportions. We’ve carved lush worlds out of desolate asteroids and unsuitable-for-life planets. We’ve genetically modified our physical bodies to resist virus and bacteria, and merged them with implanted technology to enhance senses and physical skills. Our artificial intelligence has crossed into sentience. But has mankind gone too far too fast? In Particle Horizon, our species teeters at the knife’s edge of greatness or annihilation. Well funded fundamentalists are determined to wipe the human race of technology, and are successfully using the advanced weaponry they despise to do it. But the fundamentalists are not the only threat. One man has discovered the logic code behind the very fabric of the universe. That discovery, his actions, may bring about the end faster than the escalating war.
Particle Horizon follows the rules and themes of the sci-fi genre, (no jarring thematic jumps in this one). It’s the writing style that really sets this book apart though. The descriptions of life in this future and the science that made these worlds livable are vivid and alive. So many sci-fi novels are dry and academic in their world-building, not this one. The Angelhaven asteroid comes to life in an artist’s vision of color, texture, and sound. Teenagers fly through light tubes and play in the varying gravity fields. Longwheat fields rustle thick, hot, and suffocating in their beauty. I found myself in reverent awe imagining the beauty as well as the destruction. The author has clearly taken time to consider every detail of the science and life in these worlds, and it shows. All the new and unfamiliar technologies were absolutely believable.
Even the seemingly been-there, done-that plot is creative and new. I wasn’t sure which destructive force would be most likely to kill us off first, or if we’d even survive the book at all. I wasn’t even convinced that the survival of mankind would be the best outcome; Armageddon at one point seemed the preferable solution. The plot flowed fast, action packed, sometimes brutal and sometimes poignant. I had a hard time putting it down.
Vivid well-written prose. Interesting and believable technology. A fast paced riveting story
In what I can only imagine is the far distant future, mankind’s technological advancements have reached breathtaking proportions. We’ve carved lush worlds out of desolate asteroids and unsuitable-for-life planets. We’ve genetically modified our physical bodies to resist virus and bacteria, and merged them with implanted technology to enhance senses and physical skills. Our artificial intelligence has crossed into sentience. But has mankind gone too far too fast? In Particle Horizon, our species teeters at the knife’s edge of greatness or annihilation. Well funded fundamentalists are determined to wipe the human race of technology, and are successfully using the advanced weaponry they despise to do it. But the fundamentalists are not the only threat. One man has discovered the logic code behind the very fabric of the universe. That discovery, his actions, may bring about the end faster than the escalating war.
Particle Horizon follows the rules and themes of the sci-fi genre, (no jarring thematic jumps in this one). It’s the writing style that really sets this book apart though. The descriptions of life in this future and the science that made these worlds livable are vivid and alive. So many sci-fi novels are dry and academic in their world-building, not this one. The Angelhaven asteroid comes to life in an artist’s vision of color, texture, and sound. Teenagers fly through light tubes and play in the varying gravity fields. Longwheat fields rustle thick, hot, and suffocating in their beauty. I found myself in reverent awe imagining the beauty as well as the destruction. The author has clearly taken time to consider every detail of the science and life in these worlds, and it shows. All the new and unfamiliar technologies were absolutely believable.
Even the seemingly been-there, done-that plot is creative and new. I wasn’t sure which destructive force would be most likely to kill us off first, or if we’d even survive the book at all. I wasn’t even convinced that the survival of mankind would be the best outcome; Armageddon at one point seemed the preferable solution. The plot flowed fast, action packed, sometimes brutal and sometimes poignant. I had a hard time putting it down.
Vivid well-written prose. Interesting and believable technology. A fast paced riveting story
June 3, 2019
Only available on Kindle...... so my daughter had to lend me an e-reader. About a quarter to a third the way in I was enthusiastic. The story is very traditional and reminded me a lot of the old stalwarts like Heinlein and maybe Niven, and when another family member asked if it had the normal bad sex I was happy to say that no, the bad sex had been avoided and apart from skipping over the unnecessary detailed and boring battles, I was really enjoying it. I spoke too soon - the rest of the book was mostly bad sex and really tedious fighting, neither of which advanced the plot. Shame because the writing was good, just the interesting early ideas never seemed to be given space to develop.
January 5, 2013
I just lost interest in this book and never returned to it. I did not bond with the characters and found the narrative a bit tedious.
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