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The Amaranth
The Helix was created to revolutionize the way we communicate, connect, and share. It brought the entire galaxy to our doorstep. It gave us the ability to collaborate without even the click of a button. But even the most pure of intentions can spawn terrible evil. What was once a vision of greatness has become something much more malevolent, spreading like a mechanical plague. Life, liberty, and love are now forbidden . . .
But there is hope . . .
In the Frontier.
Can they keep themselves free from the corruption? What will the shocking discovery one Helix agent uncovers mean for the future of the United Planets of Earth?
But there is hope . . .
In the Frontier.
Can they keep themselves free from the corruption? What will the shocking discovery one Helix agent uncovers mean for the future of the United Planets of Earth?
258 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2013
20 people want to read
About the author
Alexander Barnes
4 books24 followersMy first love has always been Science-Fiction. Big surprise, right? Bet you didn’t see that one coming. There’s only a handful of Software Engineers in the world that love Star Trek and Star Wars. Sarcasm aside, me and Chris have slowly been assembling the world of “The Amaranth Chronicles” for the better part of the last decade. I’ve been working as a User Experience and Interface Designer in San Francisco California for the last ten years. I’ve seen the way technological innovations have changed the way we live our lives and with Artificial Intelligence just around the corner, I wanted to tell a story not of the emergence of this Earth changing technology but rather a story of when its so ubiquitous it is as if its totally invisible. What would the world be like if there was an invisible omniscient computer algorithm trying to slowly lead the human race in some unknown direction? How would it prune our society to meet its goals and who would be responsible for its decisions?
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 12, 2013
I'm not a huge science fiction fan. I've read some and some of it has been forced down my throat, so it takes a lot for me to actively choose to pick up one. When I was offered this one, I liked how many of the reviews said, easy to follow. Indeed, it wasn't just easy to follow, it was easy to understand, and a fast read. For some reason, it's easier for me to imagine a dragon flying down my street than a cyborg robot from the future, even though I'm pretty well versed in how fast technology advances, having been a programmer for many years. And so the technology aspect of the sci-fi genre sometimes goes over my head. Yet, I can still appreciate the advanced technology as long as its explained how it benefits the society, even if in an abstract way. This book does it well, and along the way, includes a suspenseful story that was easy to get into and hard to put down.
Another aspect of science fiction I have a hard time with, are the names of people and places. I find them difficult to remember. But again, with this one, I didn't have that problem. The names were easy to understand and remember, and I found myself rooting for the characters much more easily than I usually do with this genre. There was also a bit of romance which led to the overall enjoyment of the book, and I could easily see this becoming a movie.
The theme of a people fighting for freedom is a tried but true plot and maintains its stability and sustainability throughout the novel. It's also something that most people can relate to and so it's easy to get excited when the ones fighting for their freedom win victories, no matter how small.
If I had to come up with a criticism, I think the only thing I didn't like was some of the dialogue. Most of the time I really enjoyed it, especially the banter between characters. But there were just a few times I felt like the author was trying too hard to use urban slang in the conversations and just didn't quite pull it off. It took me out of the story a bit and wondered if the characters would really say that, based on how the characters were portrayed thus far. But it happened few and far between and wasn't nearly enough to take the enjoyment out of the story.
Overall it was an engaging, fast-paced and enjoyable read. The action kept you turning the page, and the setting descriptions were beautiful and well-written.
My favorite line, that I want to use, although not in the same context as the book did: (I have a thing for changing hair color)
"Now get out of my sight. I don't want to see you until your hair is a respectable color."
ClassicsDefined.com
Another aspect of science fiction I have a hard time with, are the names of people and places. I find them difficult to remember. But again, with this one, I didn't have that problem. The names were easy to understand and remember, and I found myself rooting for the characters much more easily than I usually do with this genre. There was also a bit of romance which led to the overall enjoyment of the book, and I could easily see this becoming a movie.
The theme of a people fighting for freedom is a tried but true plot and maintains its stability and sustainability throughout the novel. It's also something that most people can relate to and so it's easy to get excited when the ones fighting for their freedom win victories, no matter how small.
If I had to come up with a criticism, I think the only thing I didn't like was some of the dialogue. Most of the time I really enjoyed it, especially the banter between characters. But there were just a few times I felt like the author was trying too hard to use urban slang in the conversations and just didn't quite pull it off. It took me out of the story a bit and wondered if the characters would really say that, based on how the characters were portrayed thus far. But it happened few and far between and wasn't nearly enough to take the enjoyment out of the story.
Overall it was an engaging, fast-paced and enjoyable read. The action kept you turning the page, and the setting descriptions were beautiful and well-written.
My favorite line, that I want to use, although not in the same context as the book did: (I have a thing for changing hair color)
"Now get out of my sight. I don't want to see you until your hair is a respectable color."
ClassicsDefined.com
Read
August 30, 2015An absolute must read. Not so much for the books sake. Don't get me wrong, it is a wonderful book, it really is. But i say it is a must read because if you don't I, the author can't afford to eat.
So help a blind man eat. By my book. Please.
So help a blind man eat. By my book. Please.
August 20, 2013
Wow! There is a lot going on in this book: themes of colonialism, capitalism, social stratification, revolution, religion, and concepts of humanity and the role of technology. These ideas were all woven smoothly through this fun sci-fi story set some hundreds of years in the future.
As explained in the book, humans were able to colonize the frontiers of space utilizing newly discovered wormholes near stars. These ‘star gates’ and newly discovered planets and worlds allowed Earth to recover some of its' dwindling natural resources by harvesting from other planets. It is unclear exactly what Earth was running out of specifically; but precious metals are mentioned.
The frontier colonies are rather independent, with their own Service Corps, but not completely sovereign. They are tethered to the United Planets of Earth, whose government has become increasingly oppressive and tyrannical. Murmurs of revolution reach a pinnacle as the enforcement of the Helix Earrings looms.
The Helix Network kind of reminds me of Facebook, you have to join otherwise you can’t participate in a lot of other things. The Helix Earrings tunnel in through the optic nerve and connect people to this network that is used for almost everything, from trading to socializing. The Frontier colonies don’t want to be forced into anything, they want the free will to do as they please, without the imposition of some far away government body. There is more to the story than just the loss of individual rights and privacy...
The world building was really seamless and accessible. Shifting between different characters’ perspectives allows the reader to have a more complete picture of how this ‘verse functions. I especially liked the twist towards the end. I really did not see that coming, even though I should have suspected it, given Torque’s strange speeches. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
A parting quotation: "Hope...It's the most addictive thing you can give someone." -Cadence Path
As explained in the book, humans were able to colonize the frontiers of space utilizing newly discovered wormholes near stars. These ‘star gates’ and newly discovered planets and worlds allowed Earth to recover some of its' dwindling natural resources by harvesting from other planets. It is unclear exactly what Earth was running out of specifically; but precious metals are mentioned.
The frontier colonies are rather independent, with their own Service Corps, but not completely sovereign. They are tethered to the United Planets of Earth, whose government has become increasingly oppressive and tyrannical. Murmurs of revolution reach a pinnacle as the enforcement of the Helix Earrings looms.
The Helix Network kind of reminds me of Facebook, you have to join otherwise you can’t participate in a lot of other things. The Helix Earrings tunnel in through the optic nerve and connect people to this network that is used for almost everything, from trading to socializing. The Frontier colonies don’t want to be forced into anything, they want the free will to do as they please, without the imposition of some far away government body. There is more to the story than just the loss of individual rights and privacy...
The world building was really seamless and accessible. Shifting between different characters’ perspectives allows the reader to have a more complete picture of how this ‘verse functions. I especially liked the twist towards the end. I really did not see that coming, even though I should have suspected it, given Torque’s strange speeches. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
A parting quotation: "Hope...It's the most addictive thing you can give someone." -Cadence Path
April 30, 2013
The Amaranth is a rocket ride from the fringes of another galaxy all the way to the upper echelon's of San Francisco's futuristic, elitist, corpocratic society. It took only a few chapters to gain a great general understanding of the characters and their motivations, just enough to let your imagination fill in the gaps - exactly how a book should be! The action grips you and compels you to hope that these characters survive their struggles to live a better life. You can breathe easily during the expositions as the characters reveal their own personal struggles, their past times and their strengths and weaknesses. Beyond three-dimensional characters are the well-described settings and the intricate plot that weaves through each page. I really couldn't turn them fast enough! It's a great thanks to Alex and Chris for putting together my favorite read of 2013. I look forward to more of their collaborations!
July 10, 2013
The Amaranth pleasantly surprised me! A wonderful, easy to read scifi adventure!
For me the selling point was that the book didn't focus on describing futuristic gadgets and gizmos but left the aesthetics of scenes and ships etc mostly to the imagination of the reader and focused more on the dialogue and human interaction which kept it pretty grounded and believable. I don't think I had any problems with the cast, as to me they were all me pretty fleshed out and likeable. The mixing of mysticism and technology was also well done as it was pretty low key and not underlined.
One could critique about the clichéd plot and how much time the book spent on setting up world for possible future sequels but I actually don't want to because I liked the writing, the characters and story a lot.
All in all, perfect summer read with a bunch of promising plot arches and themes left for sequels!
For me the selling point was that the book didn't focus on describing futuristic gadgets and gizmos but left the aesthetics of scenes and ships etc mostly to the imagination of the reader and focused more on the dialogue and human interaction which kept it pretty grounded and believable. I don't think I had any problems with the cast, as to me they were all me pretty fleshed out and likeable. The mixing of mysticism and technology was also well done as it was pretty low key and not underlined.
One could critique about the clichéd plot and how much time the book spent on setting up world for possible future sequels but I actually don't want to because I liked the writing, the characters and story a lot.
All in all, perfect summer read with a bunch of promising plot arches and themes left for sequels!
July 8, 2013
a wonderfully engaging read! when I first started reading it, I only meant to read the first two chapters that night. I ended up reading the first 12. it has a wonderfully diverse cast of characters with their own abilities and biases and positions in this chaotic world. this story deals with the concepts of good vs evil, freedom vs security very well. it is a frighteningly graphic depictions of what the world could be in a few hundred years. lots of fun to read. Great action scenes! the action in this book is very well paced. the characters are well made as people with their own flaws and strengths. A very good book. A great step into science fiction and reading in general.
November 12, 2014
This book is special for me for the references I find. I think it pulls the best qualities of a variety of popular media and wraps it up as a gift. The writing is paints a picture without being pretentious. For me it's just a bunch of Easter eggs wrapped in a cover. The video game, movie, television and personal references makes it special for me as a reader. I can't wait for the sequel. <3
September 4, 2013
Loved the book. I grew up reading classic Sci-Fi, Bradbury, Heinlein, and the rest. This book had all those fun elements and all the nods to the tv & movies I watched growing up. The humor was fantastic and the world was one I'd love to visit. Just waiting for the sequel...
September 5, 2013
I had more complaints about the book at the beginning than I do now that I have finished it.
The Amaranth is a well conceived space adventure novel. In the beginning, I was bothered by the transparent similarities with the novel's plot and the American Revolution: Colony planets being harshly taxed by the ruling planet Earth. A systematic, government imposed loss of freedoms. No fair government representation of the colonies in the ultimate governing body. And, who can ignore the similarities of Pacius' non-violent protest of dumping the Helix earrings and our own historical demonstration of the Boston Tea Party? Yet, I find that with the movement of the plot the adherence to American Revolution strictures fell away. The plot became it's own creation and made for a more enjoyable read. I could even go as far as arguing that the resemblance of the repetition of American history could offer credence to one of the more subtle themes - that the loss of history dooms its inheritors to repeat it's mistakes.
I say subtle themes because there is a definite distinction. Some, if not most, of the themes are anything but subtle. A great deal of the first few chapters are inundated with patriotic preaching about the rights of freedom. Please, don't misunderstand me. I agree with the content of the message, but I prefer more finesse. I prefer to let a thought linger on my tongue, to taste it thoroughly before I decide to swallow it or reject it. In my opinion the novel is missing the first half of the story where the characters, probably Lithia and Vijay explore the realities of the Helix earring ownership - having Lithia move from a position of pro-Helix gradually toward and awareness of it's dangers with the understanding that Vijay's friendship brings. This development followed by a knowledge that the Frontier worlds are in a position to fight for their freedom and then ultimately that all the planets should be fighting for their freedom would have been a more palatable thematic development. Discovering the loss of rights rather than having those findings shoved down my throat. The same indoctrination occurs later in the novel with an almost two page diatribe about the ignorance infused in organized religion. I found myself rolling my eyes. Though I do have to admit it was a thematically-good plot device to make the antagonist spout religious indoctrination. Not entirely subtle, but closer.
I am divided about the author's choice of point-of-view for the novel. Basically, any character that had a thought was fair game. The point-of-view could switch through any number of characters in a given scene. While I was able to keep up with the he thinks and she thinks of it, I feel like it was a bit undisciplined. Perhaps the mistake of a rooky novelist. I believe it is more difficult to write from one specific point-of-view (even if the point-of-view changes from chapter to chapter or from scene to scene) but it is all so much more interesting. The author then has the responsibility to imbue the character with the ability to interpret others' chosen words, body language and actions. It also opens up the world of misinterpretation of those elements and misunderstanding of motivations. On the other hand, I did enjoy that the novel included the points-of-view of so many of the characters. It offered anticipation for how the plot might bring them all together.
I do have to say that I didn't pay much attention to the voice of each character. But, I feel like each main character was unique enough to be likeable. Lithia and Aurelius each had their requisite back stories that led them to each other. I would have liked to have learned more about Pacius, Cade, and Jerula's histories. Where I feel the characters' development stalled was with what motivated each individual to act (even for Pacius despite the fact that he was given all the patriotic tirades).
A few last picky details: Some of the dialogue was contrived, again more so in the beginning. And, while the author clearly pointed out that there was such a disparate difference between the language of the Earth's population (the Terrans) and that of the Frontier planets, he still felt it was appropriate to use modern, and sometimes outdated, slang; for people 700 years in our future. The editing had much to be desired with punctuation mistakes, redundancies, and other miscellaneous oddities. Also, plot-wise, why did Lithia reject Vijay's advances but then let her guard down for Aurelius? While I enjoyed the plot development for the romance between Lithia and Aurelius, I feel like it was left undone. I have lingering questions of why they are in love with each other. It was clear that they were attracted to each other, then they became comfortable in each other's presence (Lithia with feelings of safety and Aurelius with admiration for her strength), but when and why did they make that crucial leap to the conviction that they'd die for the other - more than just a heroic self-sacrifice for a fellow human being? One last thing. Jerula would have (or perhaps should have) called Aurelius a pretty boy (or the Frontier equivalent) in their first charged interaction before Aurelius disarmed him with his willingness to say sorry and make amends. Then the reader could have been tipped off that Aurelius was good looking. (I did like that Aurelius never acknowledged his own looks.)
So, what did I like about the novel after all of my fussiness? As I previously stated, both the thematic and romantic plots were enjoyable. I was captivated enough that I would most likely read a sequel if one were presented. The protagonist characters were relate-able, like-able, and each equally flawed and fantastic. I especially appreciated Aurelius' metamorphosis from unmotivated misfit to determined hero. For me, that is enough.
Thank you, Alexander, for the copy of your book!
The Amaranth is a well conceived space adventure novel. In the beginning, I was bothered by the transparent similarities with the novel's plot and the American Revolution: Colony planets being harshly taxed by the ruling planet Earth. A systematic, government imposed loss of freedoms. No fair government representation of the colonies in the ultimate governing body. And, who can ignore the similarities of Pacius' non-violent protest of dumping the Helix earrings and our own historical demonstration of the Boston Tea Party? Yet, I find that with the movement of the plot the adherence to American Revolution strictures fell away. The plot became it's own creation and made for a more enjoyable read. I could even go as far as arguing that the resemblance of the repetition of American history could offer credence to one of the more subtle themes - that the loss of history dooms its inheritors to repeat it's mistakes.
I say subtle themes because there is a definite distinction. Some, if not most, of the themes are anything but subtle. A great deal of the first few chapters are inundated with patriotic preaching about the rights of freedom. Please, don't misunderstand me. I agree with the content of the message, but I prefer more finesse. I prefer to let a thought linger on my tongue, to taste it thoroughly before I decide to swallow it or reject it. In my opinion the novel is missing the first half of the story where the characters, probably Lithia and Vijay explore the realities of the Helix earring ownership - having Lithia move from a position of pro-Helix gradually toward and awareness of it's dangers with the understanding that Vijay's friendship brings. This development followed by a knowledge that the Frontier worlds are in a position to fight for their freedom and then ultimately that all the planets should be fighting for their freedom would have been a more palatable thematic development. Discovering the loss of rights rather than having those findings shoved down my throat. The same indoctrination occurs later in the novel with an almost two page diatribe about the ignorance infused in organized religion. I found myself rolling my eyes. Though I do have to admit it was a thematically-good plot device to make the antagonist spout religious indoctrination. Not entirely subtle, but closer.
I am divided about the author's choice of point-of-view for the novel. Basically, any character that had a thought was fair game. The point-of-view could switch through any number of characters in a given scene. While I was able to keep up with the he thinks and she thinks of it, I feel like it was a bit undisciplined. Perhaps the mistake of a rooky novelist. I believe it is more difficult to write from one specific point-of-view (even if the point-of-view changes from chapter to chapter or from scene to scene) but it is all so much more interesting. The author then has the responsibility to imbue the character with the ability to interpret others' chosen words, body language and actions. It also opens up the world of misinterpretation of those elements and misunderstanding of motivations. On the other hand, I did enjoy that the novel included the points-of-view of so many of the characters. It offered anticipation for how the plot might bring them all together.
I do have to say that I didn't pay much attention to the voice of each character. But, I feel like each main character was unique enough to be likeable. Lithia and Aurelius each had their requisite back stories that led them to each other. I would have liked to have learned more about Pacius, Cade, and Jerula's histories. Where I feel the characters' development stalled was with what motivated each individual to act (even for Pacius despite the fact that he was given all the patriotic tirades).
A few last picky details: Some of the dialogue was contrived, again more so in the beginning. And, while the author clearly pointed out that there was such a disparate difference between the language of the Earth's population (the Terrans) and that of the Frontier planets, he still felt it was appropriate to use modern, and sometimes outdated, slang; for people 700 years in our future. The editing had much to be desired with punctuation mistakes, redundancies, and other miscellaneous oddities. Also, plot-wise, why did Lithia reject Vijay's advances but then let her guard down for Aurelius? While I enjoyed the plot development for the romance between Lithia and Aurelius, I feel like it was left undone. I have lingering questions of why they are in love with each other. It was clear that they were attracted to each other, then they became comfortable in each other's presence (Lithia with feelings of safety and Aurelius with admiration for her strength), but when and why did they make that crucial leap to the conviction that they'd die for the other - more than just a heroic self-sacrifice for a fellow human being? One last thing. Jerula would have (or perhaps should have) called Aurelius a pretty boy (or the Frontier equivalent) in their first charged interaction before Aurelius disarmed him with his willingness to say sorry and make amends. Then the reader could have been tipped off that Aurelius was good looking. (I did like that Aurelius never acknowledged his own looks.)
So, what did I like about the novel after all of my fussiness? As I previously stated, both the thematic and romantic plots were enjoyable. I was captivated enough that I would most likely read a sequel if one were presented. The protagonist characters were relate-able, like-able, and each equally flawed and fantastic. I especially appreciated Aurelius' metamorphosis from unmotivated misfit to determined hero. For me, that is enough.
Thank you, Alexander, for the copy of your book!
November 7, 2013
“Frat House Fantasy—-Middle School Syntax”
This is the last time I will agree to review a book by an unknown male author. Combining elements of Star Wars and other contemporary Sci Di milieus the authors have indulged in adolescent fantasies of sex and intergalactic heroics—shamelessly projecting their aspirations of interstellar grandeur upon their almost familiar characters. What they could not achieve in actual life has been glorified here by proxy. A novel which apparently has spawned a hybrid sequel, THE AMARANTH’s title is not clarified until /3 into the book. Although the authors coyly inform us that it is a Venusian flower the title actually stands for the small private ship of the female protagonist.
The plot does manage to hold one’s interest—meandering among soul-searching techno-babble, a superficial romance, and hints of a gigantic space intrigue and cover-up. Centuries into the future the Earth heads up an oligarchy of bad guys called the United Planets of Earth. (One supposes that Venus and Mars were sucked into this empirialistic menace). Freedom of mind and lifestyle only exist out on the Frontier—beyond the Stargate Epsilon, where free thinkers (who enjoy peanut butter without guilt) live in relative harmony. There is a back story, however, with dark hints of a malevolent force controlling not only human thoughts--but the preservation (or deletion) of Earth History. Almost cyborg machines, those humans who have been “enhanced” are called Lambdas—the dreaded elite of the futuristic UPE’s CIA. To quote Dr. Who’s nemesis, the Daleks: “Resistance is Futile!”
While points may be awarded for the dramatic, action-packed, violence-heavy storyline, the Style is pathetically disappointing. No one seemed to study syntax, so we are forced to wallow in unending, Boring, subject/verb structure. How many times in one paragraph must the only character be named? Transitions between chapters or even within chapters are far from smooth, while so-called punctuation is sadly omitted in several places. One is hard pressed not to mentally edit these pages—which obviously distracts from trying to follow the antics of a multitude of characters. In fact the so-called “editing” left several words spelled incorrectly. If this is vanity press disguised as fiction, the authors have little cause to boast.
Summation: this book is easy for Intermediate school kids to follow—offering anachronistic terms like Dork, Dude, a plethora of trite expressions, spiced with lots of swearing and salacious innuendoes. Anti-Christian as well as anti-Empire THE AMARANTH was clearly intended to appeal to the lowest common denominator of 21st century Terran “adults.” Two men’s fantasies made into literary flesh, which may make a smugly rollicking tale of bravado, but which never can masquerade as Sci Fi literature.
November 7. 2013.
This is the last time I will agree to review a book by an unknown male author. Combining elements of Star Wars and other contemporary Sci Di milieus the authors have indulged in adolescent fantasies of sex and intergalactic heroics—shamelessly projecting their aspirations of interstellar grandeur upon their almost familiar characters. What they could not achieve in actual life has been glorified here by proxy. A novel which apparently has spawned a hybrid sequel, THE AMARANTH’s title is not clarified until /3 into the book. Although the authors coyly inform us that it is a Venusian flower the title actually stands for the small private ship of the female protagonist.
The plot does manage to hold one’s interest—meandering among soul-searching techno-babble, a superficial romance, and hints of a gigantic space intrigue and cover-up. Centuries into the future the Earth heads up an oligarchy of bad guys called the United Planets of Earth. (One supposes that Venus and Mars were sucked into this empirialistic menace). Freedom of mind and lifestyle only exist out on the Frontier—beyond the Stargate Epsilon, where free thinkers (who enjoy peanut butter without guilt) live in relative harmony. There is a back story, however, with dark hints of a malevolent force controlling not only human thoughts--but the preservation (or deletion) of Earth History. Almost cyborg machines, those humans who have been “enhanced” are called Lambdas—the dreaded elite of the futuristic UPE’s CIA. To quote Dr. Who’s nemesis, the Daleks: “Resistance is Futile!”
While points may be awarded for the dramatic, action-packed, violence-heavy storyline, the Style is pathetically disappointing. No one seemed to study syntax, so we are forced to wallow in unending, Boring, subject/verb structure. How many times in one paragraph must the only character be named? Transitions between chapters or even within chapters are far from smooth, while so-called punctuation is sadly omitted in several places. One is hard pressed not to mentally edit these pages—which obviously distracts from trying to follow the antics of a multitude of characters. In fact the so-called “editing” left several words spelled incorrectly. If this is vanity press disguised as fiction, the authors have little cause to boast.
Summation: this book is easy for Intermediate school kids to follow—offering anachronistic terms like Dork, Dude, a plethora of trite expressions, spiced with lots of swearing and salacious innuendoes. Anti-Christian as well as anti-Empire THE AMARANTH was clearly intended to appeal to the lowest common denominator of 21st century Terran “adults.” Two men’s fantasies made into literary flesh, which may make a smugly rollicking tale of bravado, but which never can masquerade as Sci Fi literature.
November 7. 2013.
December 12, 2013
I actually picked this up because my brother recommended it to me. I'm not really big into science fiction but (yes, I know you're not supposed to do this) I thought it had a great cover so I decided to give it a chance.
I was very pleasantly surprised. The story may be set in a science fiction universe but it was a story that is compelling in any setting. The action was engaging and I found myself entertained the whole way through. I also enjoyed the characters. You can tell the authors really loved these characters and wanted them to succeed in more than just their mission.
In the future humanity has expanded throughout the galaxy and through a mysterious gateway called “The Epsilon Gate” into a new world appropriately dubbed “The Frontier”. Our heroes discover that the government of the planets on the Earth side of the gateway has been suppressing history, as well as oppressing humanity with a technology called “The Helix” which intrudes upon the wearer’s thoughts and experiences. The hero, Cade, manages to steal the information from the Helix and joins a small resistance group in The Frontier.
I really admire how multi-dimensional the story is. There are several factions aside from the United Planets of Earth and the Frontier. For example, there is a group of people who have spawned from modern day Christianity who try to spread a message of self-reliance, strength and the importance of preserving history. I felt like it was very classy how they painted Christianity to be still relevant in the future and how it had turned into an absolute good as opposed to what it is today.
There is also a small underground (figuratively of course because they’re on a space station) of freedom fighters hell bent on keeping the U.P.E. and the Helix technology out of the Frontier.
It’s a refreshing new twist on the victory of the little guys over the evil overlords.
The book, however, wasn’t perfect.
There were several glaring grammatical and spelling errors. Sometimes the wrong versions of words were used. It wasn’t enough to damage the integrity of the story, but next time please make sure to pick a publisher that proof reads!
I also loved the villain of the story, Torque. However, I would’ve liked to have seen him make an appearance earlier in the book.
All in all, the bad was unable to make a dent in the good. I really hope there is a sequel because I want to know what happens next between Lithia and Aurelius!
I was very pleasantly surprised. The story may be set in a science fiction universe but it was a story that is compelling in any setting. The action was engaging and I found myself entertained the whole way through. I also enjoyed the characters. You can tell the authors really loved these characters and wanted them to succeed in more than just their mission.
In the future humanity has expanded throughout the galaxy and through a mysterious gateway called “The Epsilon Gate” into a new world appropriately dubbed “The Frontier”. Our heroes discover that the government of the planets on the Earth side of the gateway has been suppressing history, as well as oppressing humanity with a technology called “The Helix” which intrudes upon the wearer’s thoughts and experiences. The hero, Cade, manages to steal the information from the Helix and joins a small resistance group in The Frontier.
I really admire how multi-dimensional the story is. There are several factions aside from the United Planets of Earth and the Frontier. For example, there is a group of people who have spawned from modern day Christianity who try to spread a message of self-reliance, strength and the importance of preserving history. I felt like it was very classy how they painted Christianity to be still relevant in the future and how it had turned into an absolute good as opposed to what it is today.
There is also a small underground (figuratively of course because they’re on a space station) of freedom fighters hell bent on keeping the U.P.E. and the Helix technology out of the Frontier.
It’s a refreshing new twist on the victory of the little guys over the evil overlords.
The book, however, wasn’t perfect.
There were several glaring grammatical and spelling errors. Sometimes the wrong versions of words were used. It wasn’t enough to damage the integrity of the story, but next time please make sure to pick a publisher that proof reads!
I also loved the villain of the story, Torque. However, I would’ve liked to have seen him make an appearance earlier in the book.
All in all, the bad was unable to make a dent in the good. I really hope there is a sequel because I want to know what happens next between Lithia and Aurelius!
September 1, 2013
I believe that this is the first time I've read a book by up-and-coming authors instead of established ones, so, I truthfully didn't know what to expect. I was very impressed by the cohesion and flow of the storyline, as well as the readability of the story. I was disappointed, however, with the editing job; there were glaring errors in both grammar and punctuation throughout the entirety of the book. That said, however, I found that the errors were less and less obvious as I became more involved in the story.
The beginning of the novel was difficult to get into--there are a great many characters introduced, and their interconnectedness doesn't become apparent until later in the book. The storyline is mostly formulaic, although there were a couple of unexpected additions that spiced it up.
This is the futuristic tale of several people who wind up connected in a common, 'universal' quest. Earth has become a very divided planet that has distanced itself ideologically from the colonists on Mars and Venus as well as those in the distant Frontier. Throughout the story, all of the characters find their way into each others' lives. Love, humor, friendship, betrayal, violence, and torture are only a few of the elements this book has to offer. In the vain of Ender's Game, Harry Potter, the Hunger Games, and Divergent, young people are thrown into a grown-up world and find that they are more than capable of standing on their own two feet. Not only that, but they and their open-mindedness serve to be vital in their quests to save humanity.
I appreciated that, although the story had an opening for a sequel, it didn't feel as though it needed one. The end was a little cheesy, but sometimes you need that after an intergalactic war has broken out. ;)
I very much enjoyed reading this book once all of the pieces started coming together and I chose to look past the limited editing. The characters are fairly well-developed and relatable, and the story is action-packed and very readable. To anyone who may be sensitive to content, it is good to note that there are strong religious and political undertones, a fair amount of descriptive violence, and some romance (but no sex).
A very promising start for these two gentlemen!
The beginning of the novel was difficult to get into--there are a great many characters introduced, and their interconnectedness doesn't become apparent until later in the book. The storyline is mostly formulaic, although there were a couple of unexpected additions that spiced it up.
This is the futuristic tale of several people who wind up connected in a common, 'universal' quest. Earth has become a very divided planet that has distanced itself ideologically from the colonists on Mars and Venus as well as those in the distant Frontier. Throughout the story, all of the characters find their way into each others' lives. Love, humor, friendship, betrayal, violence, and torture are only a few of the elements this book has to offer. In the vain of Ender's Game, Harry Potter, the Hunger Games, and Divergent, young people are thrown into a grown-up world and find that they are more than capable of standing on their own two feet. Not only that, but they and their open-mindedness serve to be vital in their quests to save humanity.
I appreciated that, although the story had an opening for a sequel, it didn't feel as though it needed one. The end was a little cheesy, but sometimes you need that after an intergalactic war has broken out. ;)
I very much enjoyed reading this book once all of the pieces started coming together and I chose to look past the limited editing. The characters are fairly well-developed and relatable, and the story is action-packed and very readable. To anyone who may be sensitive to content, it is good to note that there are strong religious and political undertones, a fair amount of descriptive violence, and some romance (but no sex).
A very promising start for these two gentlemen!
November 8, 2013
When my friend Alexander asked me to read his book, I was happy to do so. I have a healthy appreciation for science fiction (although I would describe myself as a relative newcomer). I am interested in technology and I like to read speculations and interpretations on how it will shape the human destiny. I also enjoy a good action-packed space-age adventure. I was not disappointed on either of these fronts.
This book was quite a fun read. At first I took it slow, not sure what to expect. But as the story progressed, and new, interesting characters were introduced, I found myself having trouble stopping. The unfolding drama kept me wanting to read more and find out what happens next. The excitement level only increases as the story progresses, and the climax is rather satisfying. I found myself appropriately impressed by certain heroic acts in the story.
I was amused to find many easter eggs that Mr. Barnes included for his friends and family to find. Many of the names, words, and personality traits found in the book are homages or inside jokes taken from the author's life. For example, the name Pacius - given to the book's heroic rebellious space captain - was borrowed from one of Alexander's dearest mentors, William Paicius. What a fitting honor for such a positive influence in the author's life.
I do have a few criticisms of this book. As other reviewers have noted, the writing sometimes lacks subtlety. Certain scenes could have benefited from a little more suspense, while a few other plot points were downright predictable.
All in all, though, it was a genuinely enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to the sequel - and no, it's not just because I'm friends with the author! Pick this up, you won't be disappointed.
This book was quite a fun read. At first I took it slow, not sure what to expect. But as the story progressed, and new, interesting characters were introduced, I found myself having trouble stopping. The unfolding drama kept me wanting to read more and find out what happens next. The excitement level only increases as the story progresses, and the climax is rather satisfying. I found myself appropriately impressed by certain heroic acts in the story.
I was amused to find many easter eggs that Mr. Barnes included for his friends and family to find. Many of the names, words, and personality traits found in the book are homages or inside jokes taken from the author's life. For example, the name Pacius - given to the book's heroic rebellious space captain - was borrowed from one of Alexander's dearest mentors, William Paicius. What a fitting honor for such a positive influence in the author's life.
I do have a few criticisms of this book. As other reviewers have noted, the writing sometimes lacks subtlety. Certain scenes could have benefited from a little more suspense, while a few other plot points were downright predictable.
All in all, though, it was a genuinely enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to the sequel - and no, it's not just because I'm friends with the author! Pick this up, you won't be disappointed.
July 2, 2013
The Amaranth is a tale about two discontent rebels in their own way struggling to find their way in the world. Through circumstances they end up involved in something much larger than either of them. Each of the characters they meet on their journey are well crafted and make the world seem much like ours with the addition of space travel. The story pulled me in and I had devoured the book in my flight. The combination of the action and the intrigue kept me from putting the book down. I look forward to the adventures that Lithia and Aurelius will find themselves in.
July 28, 2014
I was hooked after the first sentence.
The Amaranth is definitely the next biggest thing.
I personally always found it difficult to stay engaged with futuristic themes, but this book definitely changed everything for me. Without spoiling, the theme is set in future earth, specifically San Francisco, CA and from there takes you on a wild ride. So wild, I didn’t want to get off.
I can’t wait for the next book, and to see what adventure Alexander and Chris will take me on next. The possibilities are endless!
The Amaranth is definitely the next biggest thing.
I personally always found it difficult to stay engaged with futuristic themes, but this book definitely changed everything for me. Without spoiling, the theme is set in future earth, specifically San Francisco, CA and from there takes you on a wild ride. So wild, I didn’t want to get off.
I can’t wait for the next book, and to see what adventure Alexander and Chris will take me on next. The possibilities are endless!
May 3, 2013
This book has a lot of great stuff. The characters are deep and sympathetic, making you care about their plight, and really sit on the edge of your seat when they get in trouble.
The villains are understandable, but you hate them none the less.
The action is fast paced and well described, making it easy for your imagination to really capture everything that's going on.
All in all a great, engrossing read.
Bravo, Mr. Barnes and Mr. Preiman.
The villains are understandable, but you hate them none the less.
The action is fast paced and well described, making it easy for your imagination to really capture everything that's going on.
All in all a great, engrossing read.
Bravo, Mr. Barnes and Mr. Preiman.
July 5, 2015
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I'm not one to spoil anything but the way this wrapped up really blew my mind! If you are looking for a book that will suck you in and leave you wanting more this will be a great book for you! I haven't found too many books in my life where I felt sincerely compelled to finish, this one has been added to that list. I strongly urge you to read this book if you are even just a bit interested, you will be so happy that you did!
February 25, 2015
This captivating story has a lot going on between beginning and end. I found myself completely engaged from the first page. The characters are wonderful, each with a voice and personality all their own. It was honestly difficult to put down. This of course was helped by the fact that it was one of the few science fiction books that i could easily follow.
July 7, 2013
A very good first effort. They have created a universe with infinite stories you will want to read.
August 10, 2013
Really enjoyed this book. GREAT first effort by these authors. Whether you are a sci-fi lover or not you will love the story! Fast and fun, and memorable characters, I am hoping for sequels!
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