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The Corsican
Syrah Ceballos has a ship and a plan. All she needs now is a captain crazy enough to follow through. Aurora Osha thought she would never fly again after being drummed out of the Navy. Spearheading an Underground Railroad to rescue slaves from intolerable conditions isn't easy, but somebody's got to do it. Adding to the list of problems, Syrah has made powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to bring her liberators down in a shower of laser fire. Will her strange alien technology and Aurora's leadership skills be enough to deliver their young slaves to freedom?
ASIN: B009G4J0OS
ASIN: B009G4J0OS
260 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2012
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Tina Shelton
7 books11 followersBorn in Wyoming, Tina was forcibly exiled when she refused to learn the secrets of how to Wyom. Since then, she's been living as an outcast in Washington State, seeking refuge and a power outlet to call her own. She found herself attracted to the unusual plumage of artists and Goths, and this combination could possibly have been the foundation of her strange and powerful urges to write. Being a creative is never easy, however, and it wasn't until 2009 when she began to take her writing seriously.
Now you’re all in for it.
Now you’re all in for it.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 15, 2012
The story was good, and well-executed - pacing was just right. I was interested in the characters, which is all I need to keep me going! It's a great debut with few errors. I would have loved more backstory on all the young characters. Jack... I could have used more Jack. I'm a fan of Jack.
August 23, 2013
It's the 21st century now for real, and modern Sci-Fi has fallen in love with the grim and the gritty; deconstructive dystopias are ten for a penny, and everyone seems to think the only enjoyment to be had is in satire and self-parody.
Enter Tina Shelton, a writer who remembers what geekdom is about...having fun and going on adventures.
"The Corsican" will be a nostalgia trip for any geek past thirty and a delicious treat for anyone under eighteen. Shelton writes science fiction with an earnest understanding of the genre's roots; there's a bit of Buck Rogers in here, and some Flash Gordon, and a healthy measure of pre-George-tinkering-with-it Star Wars to boot. This book will take any sci-fi nerd back to a time when spaceships and laser guns meant swashbuckling excitement...and if you're too young to remember you'll be glad to go there now.
The plot - a bunch of Robin Hood space pirates freeing slaves because its The Right Thing To Do - might sound stinky as old Velveeta, but Shelton infuses it with just the right measure of serious realism...for the recently emancipated freedom is more frightening than wondrous, and most of the book's pages are spent delving deeply into just how the children from the bottom rung cope with their confusion. Along the way the crew and passengers must deal with those who don't want the status quo being upset. Some good words get said about individuality, conformity, bondage, loyalty and privilege, but Shelton is kind enough not to make her characters preach at us.
In the end the book's moral heart is honest without being dreary; it's a delicate balance, but one well-struck by a writer more concerned with a good tale than being politically correct or tragically hip.
A few false notes mar the epic here and there. The pace bogs down during the middle third - especially compared to the zippy bombast of the first few chapters - and the world feels very much out of focus; other than references to pseudo-feudalism and some disjointed technobabble there isn't much to go off of. Also a delicious villain appears here and there, menacing the protagonists but never seeming to get enough play. Ari, we hardly knew ye, and that's something of a shame.
Still, none of that should stop anyone. The Corsican takes all that is timeless and makes it shine again; it's a big bowl of Space Opera Punch spiked with shots of teen drama and two-fisted heroism, not to mention plenty of snark-to-snark wordplay and epic space battling. In the book's finer moments one can almost hear a John Williams soundtrack wafting out of the pages.
Old nerds, buy this book for your kid siblings and then read it when they're done. Make sure they aren't looking when you try and swipe it back, however.
They won't want to give it up.
Enter Tina Shelton, a writer who remembers what geekdom is about...having fun and going on adventures.
"The Corsican" will be a nostalgia trip for any geek past thirty and a delicious treat for anyone under eighteen. Shelton writes science fiction with an earnest understanding of the genre's roots; there's a bit of Buck Rogers in here, and some Flash Gordon, and a healthy measure of pre-George-tinkering-with-it Star Wars to boot. This book will take any sci-fi nerd back to a time when spaceships and laser guns meant swashbuckling excitement...and if you're too young to remember you'll be glad to go there now.
The plot - a bunch of Robin Hood space pirates freeing slaves because its The Right Thing To Do - might sound stinky as old Velveeta, but Shelton infuses it with just the right measure of serious realism...for the recently emancipated freedom is more frightening than wondrous, and most of the book's pages are spent delving deeply into just how the children from the bottom rung cope with their confusion. Along the way the crew and passengers must deal with those who don't want the status quo being upset. Some good words get said about individuality, conformity, bondage, loyalty and privilege, but Shelton is kind enough not to make her characters preach at us.
In the end the book's moral heart is honest without being dreary; it's a delicate balance, but one well-struck by a writer more concerned with a good tale than being politically correct or tragically hip.
A few false notes mar the epic here and there. The pace bogs down during the middle third - especially compared to the zippy bombast of the first few chapters - and the world feels very much out of focus; other than references to pseudo-feudalism and some disjointed technobabble there isn't much to go off of. Also a delicious villain appears here and there, menacing the protagonists but never seeming to get enough play. Ari, we hardly knew ye, and that's something of a shame.
Still, none of that should stop anyone. The Corsican takes all that is timeless and makes it shine again; it's a big bowl of Space Opera Punch spiked with shots of teen drama and two-fisted heroism, not to mention plenty of snark-to-snark wordplay and epic space battling. In the book's finer moments one can almost hear a John Williams soundtrack wafting out of the pages.
Old nerds, buy this book for your kid siblings and then read it when they're done. Make sure they aren't looking when you try and swipe it back, however.
They won't want to give it up.
May 11, 2022
Great sci fi adventure
But the universe and story were more brutal than I expected. Rix was my favorite character, but the whole cast of friends were interesting. The ending was unexpected in several ways with a couple of surprising plot twists. Although the rescued slaves are mostly teenagers, I didn't think the book was too YA to be enjoyed by an older adult. I'd recommend Corsican to anyone who enjoys a good sci fi story.
But the universe and story were more brutal than I expected. Rix was my favorite character, but the whole cast of friends were interesting. The ending was unexpected in several ways with a couple of surprising plot twists. Although the rescued slaves are mostly teenagers, I didn't think the book was too YA to be enjoyed by an older adult. I'd recommend Corsican to anyone who enjoys a good sci fi story.
October 16, 2012
"A great read". The Corsican is a fun science fiction adventure reminiscent of Heinlein's early young adult fiction. The story is unique, taking place in a future that has much in common with humanity's past. The will to power and the desire for freedom clash in this exciting space adventure.
November 18, 2015
Full review to follow.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews