What do you think?
Rate this book
COLD RISING: A Cold Rush Novella
Mars is a dystopian cesspit of corporate exploitation. A child labourer must turn the heart of a ruthless enforcer to save her friends, her family, and Mars itself.
The first book in the ‘Cold Rush’ Verse follows nonbinary special agent Olgo as their corporate masters send them on a mission to Mars.
But improving the working conditions in the planet’s underground cities proves more challenging than the agent could have imagined. Olgo must negotiate with the underhanded Martian Guild, union upheaval and a squad of trigger-happy mech marines. An unlikely friendship turns Olgo’s world upside down as they struggle to prevent spilling more blood on the Red Planet.
‘A five star stormer of a book’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'A gritty, gripping cyberpunk tale' ⭐️⭐’⭐️⭐️⭐️
'A truly brilliantly visual and visceral story'⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Equal parts heartfelt, emotional journey and gleeful romp through space’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you’re a fan of the Expanse, Velocity Weapon, or Prime Meridian, you will enjoy this book.
The first book in the ‘Cold Rush’ Verse follows nonbinary special agent Olgo as their corporate masters send them on a mission to Mars.
But improving the working conditions in the planet’s underground cities proves more challenging than the agent could have imagined. Olgo must negotiate with the underhanded Martian Guild, union upheaval and a squad of trigger-happy mech marines. An unlikely friendship turns Olgo’s world upside down as they struggle to prevent spilling more blood on the Red Planet.
‘A five star stormer of a book’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'A gritty, gripping cyberpunk tale' ⭐️⭐’⭐️⭐️⭐️
'A truly brilliantly visual and visceral story'⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Equal parts heartfelt, emotional journey and gleeful romp through space’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you’re a fan of the Expanse, Velocity Weapon, or Prime Meridian, you will enjoy this book.
- GenresScience Fiction
152 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2023
17 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Rohan O'Duill
10 books52 followersRohan is an Irish science fiction author descended from the oral storytellers of both the ancient Celts and Vikings… probably. Telling stories has been an essential part of human culture for thousands of years. Stories give us joy but they also teach us lessons and pass wisdom down through the generations.
That yearning to become a storyteller started young in Rohan, but a school system designed for academics and not the chaotic brilliance of a dyslexic mind stymied that aspiration.
But that smoldering desire to pass on stories, to express his creative soul, couldn't be contained. Inspired by the words of Rohan’s doppelganger Commander Riker, “Fear is the true enemy, the only enemy,” he started to write. At first Rohan spewed words onto the page like he had contracted the simian flu. But, with the help of his friends, Rohan began to sculpt those words into something palpable, something both ancient and new. An invite to everyone to share in the story and, most importantly, have some fun.
That yearning to become a storyteller started young in Rohan, but a school system designed for academics and not the chaotic brilliance of a dyslexic mind stymied that aspiration.
But that smoldering desire to pass on stories, to express his creative soul, couldn't be contained. Inspired by the words of Rohan’s doppelganger Commander Riker, “Fear is the true enemy, the only enemy,” he started to write. At first Rohan spewed words onto the page like he had contracted the simian flu. But, with the help of his friends, Rohan began to sculpt those words into something palpable, something both ancient and new. An invite to everyone to share in the story and, most importantly, have some fun.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Read
September 28, 2025This is a quirky, fast-paced, innovative, and easy-to-read novella, with a flavour of cyberpunk and a low-sci approach. It works perfectly well as an introduction to the author's series, and it gripped me from the start.
First, many readers are sometimes deterred by the prose on sci-fi books, as they can be filled with jargon. Nevertheless, O'Duill's prose is simple and straightforward, modern and sleek, and it gets across very well. It's snappy, and it conveys that fast-paced approach from the novella--especially because a lot happens here.
Second, there are three PoVs here. The first chapter focuses on Josh who, regardless of being named afterwards, doesn't appear again in the novella. The other two PoVs are Olgo (they/them) and Suon, who start as independent lines but then merge into one story as the plot advances. The chapters are not named as the character, but they are very easy to read and "guess who narrates". There is no hopping between them--each chapter is one character only.
Now, what I want to focus on is the world and the plot, without being spoilery. This is certainly cyberpunk-flavoured, in the sense of low life & high tech; however, the author managed to blend that concept with a queernorm world, which was very refreshing to read--the author speculated not only on the tech, but also on how society would change, and overall, that produced a lived-in, elaborate setting for which is clear that there is more than meets the eye.
Because of that setting, we have characters of all types, and a setting with no apparent racial/gender discrimination. The problems and the plot happen because of something else, and the high-tech/low-life cyberpunk-ish approach takes the forefront there.
There are some interesting things in the plot, and I'm hoping they'll get explored more in the series. For example, Olgo uses an emotional stabiliser device, and it made me think of the classic "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" and its empathy boxes; it was an interesting take, and it made me think quite a bit--something I love to do with spec fiction books!
There is a small but clear subplot about Olgo's past that was teasing enough to give them complexity, but also to leave the door open for more exploration in the series. The ending is quite open. While it closes the plot of the novella, the epilogue is open enough to hint at what will come in the main series.
I'll definitely recommend it for those wanting a snappy, easy read in a queer-norm cyberpunk-ish setting!
First, many readers are sometimes deterred by the prose on sci-fi books, as they can be filled with jargon. Nevertheless, O'Duill's prose is simple and straightforward, modern and sleek, and it gets across very well. It's snappy, and it conveys that fast-paced approach from the novella--especially because a lot happens here.
Second, there are three PoVs here. The first chapter focuses on Josh who, regardless of being named afterwards, doesn't appear again in the novella. The other two PoVs are Olgo (they/them) and Suon, who start as independent lines but then merge into one story as the plot advances. The chapters are not named as the character, but they are very easy to read and "guess who narrates". There is no hopping between them--each chapter is one character only.
Now, what I want to focus on is the world and the plot, without being spoilery. This is certainly cyberpunk-flavoured, in the sense of low life & high tech; however, the author managed to blend that concept with a queernorm world, which was very refreshing to read--the author speculated not only on the tech, but also on how society would change, and overall, that produced a lived-in, elaborate setting for which is clear that there is more than meets the eye.
Because of that setting, we have characters of all types, and a setting with no apparent racial/gender discrimination. The problems and the plot happen because of something else, and the high-tech/low-life cyberpunk-ish approach takes the forefront there.
There are some interesting things in the plot, and I'm hoping they'll get explored more in the series. For example, Olgo uses an emotional stabiliser device, and it made me think of the classic "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" and its empathy boxes; it was an interesting take, and it made me think quite a bit--something I love to do with spec fiction books!
There is a small but clear subplot about Olgo's past that was teasing enough to give them complexity, but also to leave the door open for more exploration in the series. The ending is quite open. While it closes the plot of the novella, the epilogue is open enough to hint at what will come in the main series.
I'll definitely recommend it for those wanting a snappy, easy read in a queer-norm cyberpunk-ish setting!
August 20, 2023
Olgo is an “agent”, a lethal and emotionless fixer for Micron, Earth’s largest corporation. Suong is a child labourer in a subterranean mining settlement on Mars. Neither has any inkling how much will change when their paths cross in this story, a rousing tale with all the grit and aplomb of Golden Age science fiction.
From a resource-depleted Earth ravaged by the fallout from a bitter war against malicious AI, the story quickly moves to Mars, a “paradise” of libertarian capitalism where profits from mining and manufacturing may be pursued free of such pesky restraints as the law.
The AI Wars also destroyed the nation state, leaving the megacorporations to rule humanity. The CEO of Micron finds religion late in life and despatches Olgo on a mission to do a good deed: to leverage Micron’s influence to enforce labour laws on Mars, where the long arm of the UN fails to reach.
It is there that Agent Olgo encounters Suong, in the unlikeliest of circumstances, and each catalyses great change: Olgo, change in the social fabric of Mars; Suong, change in Olgo.
Though she is emaciated physically, Suong’s innate sense of ethics is healthy and strong; she is a foil to Olgo, who uses a device called an emcon to suppress all emotion, achieving “clear thinking” through “indifference”. Olgo’s evolution requires the return of emotion, and the acceptance of its return, in order to escape heartless selfishness and learn fellow-feeling.
Along the way, there are fights and explosions, deep-space espionage, labour struggles and riots, underground struggles for survival, and hope flowering out of hopelessness—all in a read so quick you might finish it in a day.
I review Cold Rising at greater length on Medium (un-paywalled link).
From a resource-depleted Earth ravaged by the fallout from a bitter war against malicious AI, the story quickly moves to Mars, a “paradise” of libertarian capitalism where profits from mining and manufacturing may be pursued free of such pesky restraints as the law.
The AI Wars also destroyed the nation state, leaving the megacorporations to rule humanity. The CEO of Micron finds religion late in life and despatches Olgo on a mission to do a good deed: to leverage Micron’s influence to enforce labour laws on Mars, where the long arm of the UN fails to reach.
It is there that Agent Olgo encounters Suong, in the unlikeliest of circumstances, and each catalyses great change: Olgo, change in the social fabric of Mars; Suong, change in Olgo.
Though she is emaciated physically, Suong’s innate sense of ethics is healthy and strong; she is a foil to Olgo, who uses a device called an emcon to suppress all emotion, achieving “clear thinking” through “indifference”. Olgo’s evolution requires the return of emotion, and the acceptance of its return, in order to escape heartless selfishness and learn fellow-feeling.
Along the way, there are fights and explosions, deep-space espionage, labour struggles and riots, underground struggles for survival, and hope flowering out of hopelessness—all in a read so quick you might finish it in a day.
I review Cold Rising at greater length on Medium (un-paywalled link).
August 6, 2023
This is a gritty, gripping tale in the tradition of Golden Age sci-fi but with very contemporary sensibilities. Olgo, an agent for a megacorporation whose CEO has found religion and a sudden conscience, is sent to Mars to ensure that the company's subcontractors adhere to labour standards. Suong is a 12-year-old worker in an industrial city who dreams of the stars. Their paths become entwined when Olgo runs afoul of a corrupt cartel determined to suppress the underground unions that have been emboldened by their efforts.
If you love works like the Expanse (realistic physics, working-class characters) and badass + adorable child duos, this is absolutely the novella for you. It's a quick, action-packed read with a ton of heart, and an exciting introduction to the Cold Rush universe.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
If you love works like the Expanse (realistic physics, working-class characters) and badass + adorable child duos, this is absolutely the novella for you. It's a quick, action-packed read with a ton of heart, and an exciting introduction to the Cold Rush universe.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2023
A WORLD CLASS LAUNCH
When COVID Lockdown shut down traditional publishing and left people working from home or leaving the business, innovators stepped up and brought out needed new lifeblood and original ideas. One publisher that most caught my attention was Lower Deck Press who "publishes an annual charity anthology along with a bi-monthly flash fiction mag." Their newest publication is the novella COLD RISING by Irish author Rohan O'Duill. It is a stunning science fiction book whose subtitle "A COLD RUSH NOVELLA" suggests the launch of a series.
The novella begins by dropping us into Earth 301 years from now, which is the dsytopic overpopulated nightmare towards which our 2023 world is seemingly headed. The initial setting is Geneva Mega City, now a metropolis of 200 million people in what is the "polluted carcass" of "Old Earth." The story begins with Olgo, a former Geneva police officer now working as a law enforcement agent for Micron, the "most powerful company in the system" which is our solar system and the Outer Solar System beyond. Corporations seem to have replaced nations in this brave new world, and Micron's nearest competitor, Telstat, is becoming troubling. Olgo has two operatives as assistants in his mercenary work recoverying stolen software and solving other futuristic crimes, though his real goal is to advance his career beyond hired cop/tough guy. An opportunity to do just that comes when he gets a face to face meeting with Micron’s CEO. He explains his team captured a piece of Telstat's software that contains AI elements. While AI is increasingly "everywhere" in 2023, a history is revealed of Chinese AI in the 2070s that forever changed any positive perception of it. In the 2070s, AI was put in charge of their monetary system to best corrupt politicians' exploitation. The AI had a will of its own and took command of "every high-tech piece of machinery in the Chinese military." The fallout was still being felt 250 years later.
Olgo has ideas on how to trap Telstat, proving to the multi-planet system UN that Telstat are using illegal AI, when the novella takes humanistic turn. Micron's CEO wants to send Olgo and his team to Mars (and fast-track his career advances) to check on the working conditions on Mars, which is the industrial center of the interplanetary system. Tech companies have shipyards and stations orbiting Mars to process materials from Mars'
underground mining operations where the ethically questionable Martian Guild control the caverns and the companies themselves have no authority.
The subterranean mining cities were overpopulated, and working conditions hellish. But the mission isn't entirely altruistic; Micron's CEO confesses the system is rigged and will someday collapse. Observing and improving conditions is both the right thing to do *and* a way of monitoring collapse. Olgo's instructions are not exactly to turn the other cheek: If companies are not compliant with UN rights, he is told, "you may use any means at your disposal to bring them into line."
What follows is a Buddy Story of sorts with a surprising and dynamic character, Suong, a spunky 12 year old Martian girl who is as inventive as she is desperate to escape the mines and go to the stars.
Ray Bradbury often quoted the final line of William Butler Yates' "Sailing to Byzantium" to define the genre in which he worked; Science Fiction is "[W]hat is past, or passing, or to come." It is not about predicting the future but rather helping to create it. Yet Science Fiction, for as much as it dreams the Future, is also rooted in the era in which it is written: while the setting on Earth and Mars in 2324 is believable and thought-provoking, one can't help but see some inferred social comments on our times: billionaire rocket ships, growing corporate dominance and capitalist shortcomings, even the overzealous use of pronouns are woven into the text with humor and aplomb.
An impressive first book by an innovative new author. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
For further information on Lower Decks Press, visit https://www.lowerdeckspress.com/
--Barry Harrington
When COVID Lockdown shut down traditional publishing and left people working from home or leaving the business, innovators stepped up and brought out needed new lifeblood and original ideas. One publisher that most caught my attention was Lower Deck Press who "publishes an annual charity anthology along with a bi-monthly flash fiction mag." Their newest publication is the novella COLD RISING by Irish author Rohan O'Duill. It is a stunning science fiction book whose subtitle "A COLD RUSH NOVELLA" suggests the launch of a series.
The novella begins by dropping us into Earth 301 years from now, which is the dsytopic overpopulated nightmare towards which our 2023 world is seemingly headed. The initial setting is Geneva Mega City, now a metropolis of 200 million people in what is the "polluted carcass" of "Old Earth." The story begins with Olgo, a former Geneva police officer now working as a law enforcement agent for Micron, the "most powerful company in the system" which is our solar system and the Outer Solar System beyond. Corporations seem to have replaced nations in this brave new world, and Micron's nearest competitor, Telstat, is becoming troubling. Olgo has two operatives as assistants in his mercenary work recoverying stolen software and solving other futuristic crimes, though his real goal is to advance his career beyond hired cop/tough guy. An opportunity to do just that comes when he gets a face to face meeting with Micron’s CEO. He explains his team captured a piece of Telstat's software that contains AI elements. While AI is increasingly "everywhere" in 2023, a history is revealed of Chinese AI in the 2070s that forever changed any positive perception of it. In the 2070s, AI was put in charge of their monetary system to best corrupt politicians' exploitation. The AI had a will of its own and took command of "every high-tech piece of machinery in the Chinese military." The fallout was still being felt 250 years later.
Olgo has ideas on how to trap Telstat, proving to the multi-planet system UN that Telstat are using illegal AI, when the novella takes humanistic turn. Micron's CEO wants to send Olgo and his team to Mars (and fast-track his career advances) to check on the working conditions on Mars, which is the industrial center of the interplanetary system. Tech companies have shipyards and stations orbiting Mars to process materials from Mars'
underground mining operations where the ethically questionable Martian Guild control the caverns and the companies themselves have no authority.
The subterranean mining cities were overpopulated, and working conditions hellish. But the mission isn't entirely altruistic; Micron's CEO confesses the system is rigged and will someday collapse. Observing and improving conditions is both the right thing to do *and* a way of monitoring collapse. Olgo's instructions are not exactly to turn the other cheek: If companies are not compliant with UN rights, he is told, "you may use any means at your disposal to bring them into line."
What follows is a Buddy Story of sorts with a surprising and dynamic character, Suong, a spunky 12 year old Martian girl who is as inventive as she is desperate to escape the mines and go to the stars.
Ray Bradbury often quoted the final line of William Butler Yates' "Sailing to Byzantium" to define the genre in which he worked; Science Fiction is "[W]hat is past, or passing, or to come." It is not about predicting the future but rather helping to create it. Yet Science Fiction, for as much as it dreams the Future, is also rooted in the era in which it is written: while the setting on Earth and Mars in 2324 is believable and thought-provoking, one can't help but see some inferred social comments on our times: billionaire rocket ships, growing corporate dominance and capitalist shortcomings, even the overzealous use of pronouns are woven into the text with humor and aplomb.
An impressive first book by an innovative new author. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
For further information on Lower Decks Press, visit https://www.lowerdeckspress.com/
--Barry Harrington
August 29, 2023
We are in the year 2324 - Earth - Mega City Geneva.
The 'old' Earth as we know it today is long gone, and is still struggling with a nuclear fallout from the war that took place 250 years ago at the time of this writing.
The Rhine river has dried up, and on its banks the megacity Geneva has risen.
Olga is an 'agent' of Micron - she is assisted by ‘operative’ Glebe - an enhanced Earther (it makes me think of some sort of ‘Borg’) - and Stevie - who was orphaned at birth due to the one child policy.
The other setting takes place on Mars. The Red planet is now an industrial zone for products needed on Earth, and ‘Suong’ is working for a garment manufacturing company.
I liked the comparison the writer makes here to the industrial revolution (use of young children in machines, & the many smokestacks.)
I found the reference to my all-time favourite author - the phenomenal H.G. Wells - the biggest surprise of this novella, with ‘Suong’ , as the embodiment of the Morlocks’ and their underground dwellings, tending machinery and providing food.
If I could ever travel along in the Tardis, I would definitely want to spend some time with H.G. Wells!! I always get incredibly happy when someone has the guts to use his concepts into a story. By the way, an earlier reference to ‘skinheads’ in the story might also refer to the social class (struggle)/sub-culture as they appeared in the 1960s in England.
Still, I have quite a few areas of concern. I personally think the author has gotten himself into quite a bit of trouble by really trying to squeeze too much of everything in such a short story. Had this novel been longer, and had more time been taken for a gradual build-up and elaboration of the world-building, it would have been a fantastic SF novel. In my view, he raises too many issues in too short a time frame:
language
gender
body modification
child labour
poverty
climate
fallout
AI
overpopulation
etc.
I found Olga a very unsympathetic character, and found the dialogues a bit unnatural and over the top and the change from dialogue to inner dialogue and/or jokes sometimes a bit unclear.
I didn't really like the writing style: the staccato like short sentences don't run smoothly. Also, the use of adverbs and punctuation needs attention, and if I may offer some advice: ‘Show, don’t tell’! There is too much telling in the story.
On top of the multiple issues the writer raises, - he has also chosen to use non-binary referring pronouns.
As a translator, I come across this frequently. - but from a grammatical point of view - and certainly as a linguistic purist - I find it a problematic in any text. So the referring pronoun for Olga is plural, (they/their). That takes some getting used to in terms of reading. Also, the option of placing the pronouns after the name is sometimes chosen ‘Tasha' (she/her).
When it comes to religion, the writer uses phrases that is really going too far in my opinion. You can have an opinion on everything and anything but the reference 'schizophrenic, cancer-causing, filicidal maniac....[ red.] is just too much in any text. The author should have described this differently, using other words...
The author also switches nouns at times, an 'orator' (formal use) later becomes a 'speaker' - maybe this too is part of a different use of language in 2325; sometimes, unusual jargon and formal use is interspersed with dialogues and statements in which there is heavy swearing and in which sometimes also includes a reckoning with our ‘current’ worldview on, for example of emergence of empires. I found this confusing, as did the multiple use of the passive voice and the copious use of adverbs in the text.
I found the story interesting - especially the part set on Mars, but in my opinion it’s lacking in terms of writing style, punctuation and narration (show, don't tell!) and my advice is to take another look at the text.
3- stars.
I received a review copy from the author. I leave this review voluntarily.
The 'old' Earth as we know it today is long gone, and is still struggling with a nuclear fallout from the war that took place 250 years ago at the time of this writing.
The Rhine river has dried up, and on its banks the megacity Geneva has risen.
Olga is an 'agent' of Micron - she is assisted by ‘operative’ Glebe - an enhanced Earther (it makes me think of some sort of ‘Borg’) - and Stevie - who was orphaned at birth due to the one child policy.
The other setting takes place on Mars. The Red planet is now an industrial zone for products needed on Earth, and ‘Suong’ is working for a garment manufacturing company.
I liked the comparison the writer makes here to the industrial revolution (use of young children in machines, & the many smokestacks.)
I found the reference to my all-time favourite author - the phenomenal H.G. Wells - the biggest surprise of this novella, with ‘Suong’ , as the embodiment of the Morlocks’ and their underground dwellings, tending machinery and providing food.
If I could ever travel along in the Tardis, I would definitely want to spend some time with H.G. Wells!! I always get incredibly happy when someone has the guts to use his concepts into a story. By the way, an earlier reference to ‘skinheads’ in the story might also refer to the social class (struggle)/sub-culture as they appeared in the 1960s in England.
Still, I have quite a few areas of concern. I personally think the author has gotten himself into quite a bit of trouble by really trying to squeeze too much of everything in such a short story. Had this novel been longer, and had more time been taken for a gradual build-up and elaboration of the world-building, it would have been a fantastic SF novel. In my view, he raises too many issues in too short a time frame:
language
gender
body modification
child labour
poverty
climate
fallout
AI
overpopulation
etc.
I found Olga a very unsympathetic character, and found the dialogues a bit unnatural and over the top and the change from dialogue to inner dialogue and/or jokes sometimes a bit unclear.
I didn't really like the writing style: the staccato like short sentences don't run smoothly. Also, the use of adverbs and punctuation needs attention, and if I may offer some advice: ‘Show, don’t tell’! There is too much telling in the story.
On top of the multiple issues the writer raises, - he has also chosen to use non-binary referring pronouns.
As a translator, I come across this frequently. - but from a grammatical point of view - and certainly as a linguistic purist - I find it a problematic in any text. So the referring pronoun for Olga is plural, (they/their). That takes some getting used to in terms of reading. Also, the option of placing the pronouns after the name is sometimes chosen ‘Tasha' (she/her).
When it comes to religion, the writer uses phrases that is really going too far in my opinion. You can have an opinion on everything and anything but the reference 'schizophrenic, cancer-causing, filicidal maniac....[ red.] is just too much in any text. The author should have described this differently, using other words...
The author also switches nouns at times, an 'orator' (formal use) later becomes a 'speaker' - maybe this too is part of a different use of language in 2325; sometimes, unusual jargon and formal use is interspersed with dialogues and statements in which there is heavy swearing and in which sometimes also includes a reckoning with our ‘current’ worldview on, for example of emergence of empires. I found this confusing, as did the multiple use of the passive voice and the copious use of adverbs in the text.
I found the story interesting - especially the part set on Mars, but in my opinion it’s lacking in terms of writing style, punctuation and narration (show, don't tell!) and my advice is to take another look at the text.
3- stars.
I received a review copy from the author. I leave this review voluntarily.
October 1, 2024
Cold Rising was a great read. An exceptionally well-written, dark, futuristic corporate dystopia that had more than a few cyberpunk vibes. There’s two main point of view characters we follow: The hardboiled non-binary corporate agent, Olgo, and the Martian child labourer, Suong. The investigative plot is thrilling and the story is so well-paced, it was really hard to put down!
This is the first book I’ve read featuring a non-binary protagonist, and it was pretty cool to see. I had wondered if the use of the singular they might get confusing in the prose, but it doesn’t in the slightest. Olgo is a fantastic character, and I loved their arc. They’re an agent for one of the megacorps that owns the operations on Mars, and is sent after their contract partners after reports of corporate espionage. Olgo’s operatives is a group of ruthless, unsavoury and stab-happy characters that they have to keep under control. Suong was great as well, and the conditions she’s forced to work in are heartbreaking.
Cold Rising’s worldbuilding was marvellous. I really enjoyed the futuristic corporate vibe of the book. Olgo themselves was written in the apparent archetype of a hardboiled detective, but instead of being a private eye or working for the police, they are a compliance agent for a megacorp, and there’s just something so deliciously dystopian about that. It speaks so much to the state of the world we’re immersed in. And that’s not to mention the Martian mines, and the underground frontier towns. I liked that we also get a glimpse of what’s going on in the wider solar system. The megacorps control the system from their vast orbital stations, and there’s military activities (also owned by the corps) even further out
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my read of Cold Rising and I’m looking forward to seeing more in the Cold Rush verse.
This is the first book I’ve read featuring a non-binary protagonist, and it was pretty cool to see. I had wondered if the use of the singular they might get confusing in the prose, but it doesn’t in the slightest. Olgo is a fantastic character, and I loved their arc. They’re an agent for one of the megacorps that owns the operations on Mars, and is sent after their contract partners after reports of corporate espionage. Olgo’s operatives is a group of ruthless, unsavoury and stab-happy characters that they have to keep under control. Suong was great as well, and the conditions she’s forced to work in are heartbreaking.
Cold Rising’s worldbuilding was marvellous. I really enjoyed the futuristic corporate vibe of the book. Olgo themselves was written in the apparent archetype of a hardboiled detective, but instead of being a private eye or working for the police, they are a compliance agent for a megacorp, and there’s just something so deliciously dystopian about that. It speaks so much to the state of the world we’re immersed in. And that’s not to mention the Martian mines, and the underground frontier towns. I liked that we also get a glimpse of what’s going on in the wider solar system. The megacorps control the system from their vast orbital stations, and there’s military activities (also owned by the corps) even further out
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my read of Cold Rising and I’m looking forward to seeing more in the Cold Rush verse.
August 27, 2023
This was a pretty decent book. It establishes some interesting characters and an even more interesting world. The downside is that I want more information!!! I suppose that’s the point though…it makes you crave more.
For fans of the tv show Firefly, keep your eyes open for the reference. I got a big goofy grin when I saw it!
Some of the parts felt a bit rushed but they always more to another action sequence. It’s wasn’t bad…I just always wanted a bit more!
My biggest complaint was the use of nonspecific pronouns. Sometimes ‘they’ referred to one person. Sometimes ‘they’ referred to a group of people. Sometimes it did both in the same sentence. Maybe this is just my issue but I found it distracting and confusing at times.
Overall, this was a pretty good book. It set up the “Cold Rush Verse” pretty well and I want to experience more of this world. I will definitely be on the look out for the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of the novella in exchange for an honest review. All views and opinions are my own.
For fans of the tv show Firefly, keep your eyes open for the reference. I got a big goofy grin when I saw it!
Some of the parts felt a bit rushed but they always more to another action sequence. It’s wasn’t bad…I just always wanted a bit more!
My biggest complaint was the use of nonspecific pronouns. Sometimes ‘they’ referred to one person. Sometimes ‘they’ referred to a group of people. Sometimes it did both in the same sentence. Maybe this is just my issue but I found it distracting and confusing at times.
Overall, this was a pretty good book. It set up the “Cold Rush Verse” pretty well and I want to experience more of this world. I will definitely be on the look out for the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of the novella in exchange for an honest review. All views and opinions are my own.
September 6, 2023
In Cold Rising, we follow Agent Olgo on a mission to Mars to see if the reported violations of workers is legit. We also follow Suong, a child laborer, who endures the tortures of the red planet. The story switches from perspectives between both characters in separate chapters. We see the total differences between the somewhat organized and orderly life of the agent to the disruptive and disarray life of Suong.
The writing style of Rohan O'Duill's sci-fi novella is impeccable and closely matches well known authors in the same genre. The story itself reminds me of hints and tastes of Blade Runner, Total Recall, and even The Temple of Doom (although not in the sci-fi realm, the elements are there in this book). If those works fancy you, you are sure to enjoy Cold Rising just as much as I have. A thrill ride with twists and turns that will surprise you and stir your emotions on the ethical boundaries of human rights. The ending concludes the story with readers begging for more and an epilogue that proves this is only the beginning to a much bigger task at hand for the Agent Olgo.
The writing style of Rohan O'Duill's sci-fi novella is impeccable and closely matches well known authors in the same genre. The story itself reminds me of hints and tastes of Blade Runner, Total Recall, and even The Temple of Doom (although not in the sci-fi realm, the elements are there in this book). If those works fancy you, you are sure to enjoy Cold Rising just as much as I have. A thrill ride with twists and turns that will surprise you and stir your emotions on the ethical boundaries of human rights. The ending concludes the story with readers begging for more and an epilogue that proves this is only the beginning to a much bigger task at hand for the Agent Olgo.
December 14, 2025
Cold Rising by Rohan O’Duill had a very action-heavy start that immediately had me invested, though after finishing the book, I’m not sure it was really necessary for this story. But it was a good way to draw me in before introducing the POVs of the main story.
I really liked the setting (it was easy to picture everything that was going on) and themes of this book and how the two main characters’ lives intersected. I immediately had someone to cheer for but also had a character I was unsure about, which is fun to me.
I did have some mixed feelings about the writing though. Some of the conversations felt stilted, the plot felt too superficial, and the emotional depth wasn’t where I’d like it to be (some of this can be explained by the tech, but I still felt there was room for improvement). Overall, I thought this had a great premise and promising themes, but it needed more fleshing out for me, more details and depth. It’s one of those where I would’ve preferred a full-length novel so it could really dig in deep.
I really liked the setting (it was easy to picture everything that was going on) and themes of this book and how the two main characters’ lives intersected. I immediately had someone to cheer for but also had a character I was unsure about, which is fun to me.
I did have some mixed feelings about the writing though. Some of the conversations felt stilted, the plot felt too superficial, and the emotional depth wasn’t where I’d like it to be (some of this can be explained by the tech, but I still felt there was room for improvement). Overall, I thought this had a great premise and promising themes, but it needed more fleshing out for me, more details and depth. It’s one of those where I would’ve preferred a full-length novel so it could really dig in deep.
September 9, 2023
A breathtaking romp through a well-imagined Mars, where in the future the have and have-nots live with even more of a divide than we do now, on Earth. Olgo, an agent appointed by Micron and UN, tries to make things better for the working people and children working illegally, but they are up against it. An interesting twist (and not a spoiler as this is revealed early) is that they have an emotion blocking chip. They change over the course of the novella, with and without the help of this chip but also when they meet a teenage girl Suong - both of them ending up in the bowels of underground Martian tunnels, a dangerous place if I ever read about one.
I can’t wait to read more from the Cold Rush universe.
Rohan has a knack for classic sci-fi, and I highly recommend fans of Star Trek and BSG to check it out.
I can’t wait to read more from the Cold Rush universe.
Rohan has a knack for classic sci-fi, and I highly recommend fans of Star Trek and BSG to check it out.
August 20, 2023
I enjoyed the basic elements of this story. The settings were well thought out and interesting, especially the disconnect between the cultures of Earth and Mars and how Mars came to be like it was. The beginning of the plot felt fairly basic and derivative for the genre but quickly got more interesting and original once the main character journeys to Mars. I found the depiction of emotion in the characters lacking, and major emotional events blurted out and then glossed over, leaving flat, one-dimensional characters. Overall it was an okay story lacking in finer detail and depth. Heavy social justice and gender ideology themes.
I received a free copy of this book for review and my opinions are my own.
I received a free copy of this book for review and my opinions are my own.
September 7, 2023
Cold Rising is like a bite-sized scifi sibling of the David Eddings epics i devoured a bajillion years ago. Hero Quest/Palace Politics/Royal Intrigue but tech not magic, yeah? There is a wee bit of exposition at the start & I woulda been irritated if it continued but it was just a few morsels that quickly set the scene. The don’t read much scifi but recognize the balancing act required to tell a story and illuminate the details of whatever scientific fictions may be at play. After the opening, Cold Rising walks this line nicely. And in the end-like all the best stories-Cold Rising is about the people at the heart of the events.
August 7, 2023
It is a challenge for me to review a book that I love this much.
If I only liked one thing about the book—say, if I enjoyed the fast-paced adventure in the bowels of Mars, or the found family of Olgo choosing to love a brave Martian child, or the focus on making heroes from the too often-neglected stories of sweatshop workers—I could write about that thing. Or maybe I could write about the humour, the way Olgo's dry wit keeps you entertained despite their grim circumstances. Or the brilliance of the gritty worldbuilding which gives us a grim future, but one where there's still hope to improve it.
But what if it's all those things I love, and more? I can't write a review that's as long as the book itself.
I read this book half a dozen times to beta read it for Rohan, and I never once got bored. It is a very good book. And I love it.
If I only liked one thing about the book—say, if I enjoyed the fast-paced adventure in the bowels of Mars, or the found family of Olgo choosing to love a brave Martian child, or the focus on making heroes from the too often-neglected stories of sweatshop workers—I could write about that thing. Or maybe I could write about the humour, the way Olgo's dry wit keeps you entertained despite their grim circumstances. Or the brilliance of the gritty worldbuilding which gives us a grim future, but one where there's still hope to improve it.
But what if it's all those things I love, and more? I can't write a review that's as long as the book itself.
I read this book half a dozen times to beta read it for Rohan, and I never once got bored. It is a very good book. And I love it.
October 7, 2025
This is a good old fashioned sci fi adventure, set on a future Earth and then a gritty cyberpunky Mars. The writing style is more tell than show which took me a while to get into, but it's nicely paced with occasional flashes of humour and the story pulls you along at a clipping rate. Other reviews have described the plot so I'll just say as a former union Health and Safety rep, I found this very satisfying.
September 9, 2023
This book marks a very promising progression in Rohan’s writing endeavours. He has a solid command and understanding of pacing, escalation, and setting the mood. This book, if nothing else, serves as a very entertaining read. If you’re looking for exciting, fast-paced cyberpunk, and are open to exploring a new series, consider this to be your next first step. For those who want to know more, that’s what the rest of this review is about.
The plot of the book follows Special Agent Olgo, they/them, an enforcer of the setting’s most influent corporation, as they are tasked with figuring out what the representatives of their and other corporations are up to in their Martian operations. Within this new environment, however, they find their support structure to be lacking, and they have to rely on home-grown efforts to overcome the obstacles placed before them. The home-grown efforts receive some time in the spotlight as well, before these two parties end up interacting.
The main strength of this novella, as I have alluded to already, stems from its pacing, from how it delivers the information necessary for the plot, to how it manages to engage its readers in the action. New things happen all the time, and a wide variety of them as well, and Rohan brings them into the story right when they should, leaving not a dull moment in the overall narrative. The character work also shines through, not just in action scenes, but in quieter, more contemplative ones too, as readers are drawn into the impressions of the characters, observing what it is they observe, and noting their reactions to the happenings. Mind you, not all characters receive the same amount of attention, meaning there are plenty of characterisation depth discrepancies within the cast, discrepancies which some readers might consider negligent.
The worldbuilding is satisfactory as well, the text being able to succinctly showcase the standings and relationships between various characters and the elements at their disposal. When it comes to broad strokes, or delving into the history of the world, however, bare exposition is what it slides into. Not particularly elegant, but it serves its purpose.
If I am to highlight one more serious issue with the way the novella is written, the one thing I would have to mention is its pacing. This novella is meant to set up future developments within this world or setting that the author builds towards, and as such, it is stretched thin in some places, and compressed in others. The prologue is given an exceeding amount of attention, even though it is not strictly relevant to the events this title is supposedly built around, and the two parties I’ve alluded to earlier in this video, the ones whose interactions supposedly drive this story, don’t actually meet up until past the halfway point. Whatever friendship they manage to strike up is not as engaging as I think Rohan himself imagines it to be. He does deliver a conclusion to the larger narrative that sets up the meeting of these two parties, but the topic itself is still underexplored, and the ending is unhelpfully ambiguous in terms of potential resolutions or continuations.
Overall, while I applaud Rohan’s results when it comes to setting the stage and presenting what happens on it, the actual events he describes don’t match the ambition or attention he displays otherwise.
The plot of the book follows Special Agent Olgo, they/them, an enforcer of the setting’s most influent corporation, as they are tasked with figuring out what the representatives of their and other corporations are up to in their Martian operations. Within this new environment, however, they find their support structure to be lacking, and they have to rely on home-grown efforts to overcome the obstacles placed before them. The home-grown efforts receive some time in the spotlight as well, before these two parties end up interacting.
The main strength of this novella, as I have alluded to already, stems from its pacing, from how it delivers the information necessary for the plot, to how it manages to engage its readers in the action. New things happen all the time, and a wide variety of them as well, and Rohan brings them into the story right when they should, leaving not a dull moment in the overall narrative. The character work also shines through, not just in action scenes, but in quieter, more contemplative ones too, as readers are drawn into the impressions of the characters, observing what it is they observe, and noting their reactions to the happenings. Mind you, not all characters receive the same amount of attention, meaning there are plenty of characterisation depth discrepancies within the cast, discrepancies which some readers might consider negligent.
The worldbuilding is satisfactory as well, the text being able to succinctly showcase the standings and relationships between various characters and the elements at their disposal. When it comes to broad strokes, or delving into the history of the world, however, bare exposition is what it slides into. Not particularly elegant, but it serves its purpose.
If I am to highlight one more serious issue with the way the novella is written, the one thing I would have to mention is its pacing. This novella is meant to set up future developments within this world or setting that the author builds towards, and as such, it is stretched thin in some places, and compressed in others. The prologue is given an exceeding amount of attention, even though it is not strictly relevant to the events this title is supposedly built around, and the two parties I’ve alluded to earlier in this video, the ones whose interactions supposedly drive this story, don’t actually meet up until past the halfway point. Whatever friendship they manage to strike up is not as engaging as I think Rohan himself imagines it to be. He does deliver a conclusion to the larger narrative that sets up the meeting of these two parties, but the topic itself is still underexplored, and the ending is unhelpfully ambiguous in terms of potential resolutions or continuations.
Overall, while I applaud Rohan’s results when it comes to setting the stage and presenting what happens on it, the actual events he describes don’t match the ambition or attention he displays otherwise.
January 24, 2024
First of, I just want to say I used to follow Rohan on Twitter back in the day and we got along great. But please don’t think that influences my rating. I rarely give 5 stars, and I usually tell writers I know that I’ll review it honestly. If I post 5 stars then I think that means 5 stars … or at the very least a 4.50.
I felt the beginning was a little bumpy. The prose is fantastic and the prologue is amazing, but the first quarter(ish) of the book was very cyber-punky for my personal tastes. Nothing against the genre but it feels a little game-like to me (and I do enjoy 2077) so tend to switch off a bit. I was worried that it might be a bit too derivative/cliched (not bagging derivative writing btw, It’s just that I usually don’t love them enough to hit the 4 star rating, let alone 5 stars) – but that changed when we visited Mars. The entire feel shifted to something fresher and more interesting (to me anyway). Exploring a Victorian/depression-era socio-economical situation in a futuristic off-world setting was pretty cool. The whole union fight vibe reminds me heavily of my dad’s stories of the union-busting that occurred in the 70s. I actually bought a physical copy because I think he’d appreciate that side of the story (he doesn’t do ebooks).
Odd bits I liked:
It’s always a pleasure to see writers using the appropriate dialogue marks for their country. As an Australian I weep whenever I see Aussie, kiwi or UK authors use the American double quotation marks for dialogue. It feels like a dying art and that makes me weep. So I cheer whenever someone is brave enough to keep that torch burning.
Travelling in space. I’m a firm believer that science fiction and science fantasy are two different genres. I love both, but I’m a bit saddened that people lub them together. Of course, most sci-fi has some level of fantasy within. But I feel there comes a point where you have to question if it’s actually just fantasy in space. There is no question with Cold Rising. It’s pretty firmly on the sci-fi side. Perhaps some of the characters' abilities fall into the fantastical, but the universe side of things are pretty solid. And it’s always a joy to be in a system where ships have to account for Hoffman transfers and long travel times due to issues with fuel storage and efficiency.
Other Observations (some of which might be a bit urgggghhh):
The Prologue: This one left me scratching my head a bit. It’s a great scene. Had me going “WOW, I’m gonna love this book!” Which turned out right. But it turned out to be more of a short story teaser, we never see these characters again, but I assume they will have an appearance in other books. I hope they do. Their adventure in the opening has the faintest of connections to the real protagonist. I guess it’s a bit of a bridging chapter that shows us what could come in future stories. There was nothing bad here. But I was contemplating throughout the book if we’d see them again and was a little sad when we didn’t.
Olgo the main protagonist: A small um … what do I call it … ‘advice’ is the wrong word … ‘hint’ isn’t right either … perhaps encouragement? … the main protagonist, Olgo is non-binary. This character uses they/them pronouns. As a non-binary person myself I did find this a bit awkward at first. But I want to reassure any potential readers that any awkwardness smooths out as you go along. It didn’t feel quite natural at first, but as you read on you find yourself not even noticing. I’m not sure if this is an aspect of how it was written, or if it was my mind having to adjust to something it’s not used to seeing. – Olgo still remains my favourite character. Though this is a very short tale, the character themself had a pretty solid and natural growth. I also enjoy the more subtle approach the author takes to his characters. Things aren’t spilled in front of you instantly. They’re not always given out in full in general. We receive information about a character's drive, or trauma, or past naturally as they come. Fed to us as those thoughts came into the mind that contemplates them. It’s really well done, and gives us a lot to contemplate on.
Overall, A really solid piece. Short and sweet. Well written. Creative and its own thing. Doesn’t get too bogged down in itself (looking at myself here), flows beautifully. Characters are pretty solid. Science is mostly top-tier (Martian sunsets are blue, not red) – I hope to be graced with more tales within this universe down the track.
I felt the beginning was a little bumpy. The prose is fantastic and the prologue is amazing, but the first quarter(ish) of the book was very cyber-punky for my personal tastes. Nothing against the genre but it feels a little game-like to me (and I do enjoy 2077) so tend to switch off a bit. I was worried that it might be a bit too derivative/cliched (not bagging derivative writing btw, It’s just that I usually don’t love them enough to hit the 4 star rating, let alone 5 stars) – but that changed when we visited Mars. The entire feel shifted to something fresher and more interesting (to me anyway). Exploring a Victorian/depression-era socio-economical situation in a futuristic off-world setting was pretty cool. The whole union fight vibe reminds me heavily of my dad’s stories of the union-busting that occurred in the 70s. I actually bought a physical copy because I think he’d appreciate that side of the story (he doesn’t do ebooks).
Odd bits I liked:
It’s always a pleasure to see writers using the appropriate dialogue marks for their country. As an Australian I weep whenever I see Aussie, kiwi or UK authors use the American double quotation marks for dialogue. It feels like a dying art and that makes me weep. So I cheer whenever someone is brave enough to keep that torch burning.
Travelling in space. I’m a firm believer that science fiction and science fantasy are two different genres. I love both, but I’m a bit saddened that people lub them together. Of course, most sci-fi has some level of fantasy within. But I feel there comes a point where you have to question if it’s actually just fantasy in space. There is no question with Cold Rising. It’s pretty firmly on the sci-fi side. Perhaps some of the characters' abilities fall into the fantastical, but the universe side of things are pretty solid. And it’s always a joy to be in a system where ships have to account for Hoffman transfers and long travel times due to issues with fuel storage and efficiency.
Other Observations (some of which might be a bit urgggghhh):
The Prologue: This one left me scratching my head a bit. It’s a great scene. Had me going “WOW, I’m gonna love this book!” Which turned out right. But it turned out to be more of a short story teaser, we never see these characters again, but I assume they will have an appearance in other books. I hope they do. Their adventure in the opening has the faintest of connections to the real protagonist. I guess it’s a bit of a bridging chapter that shows us what could come in future stories. There was nothing bad here. But I was contemplating throughout the book if we’d see them again and was a little sad when we didn’t.
Olgo the main protagonist: A small um … what do I call it … ‘advice’ is the wrong word … ‘hint’ isn’t right either … perhaps encouragement? … the main protagonist, Olgo is non-binary. This character uses they/them pronouns. As a non-binary person myself I did find this a bit awkward at first. But I want to reassure any potential readers that any awkwardness smooths out as you go along. It didn’t feel quite natural at first, but as you read on you find yourself not even noticing. I’m not sure if this is an aspect of how it was written, or if it was my mind having to adjust to something it’s not used to seeing. – Olgo still remains my favourite character. Though this is a very short tale, the character themself had a pretty solid and natural growth. I also enjoy the more subtle approach the author takes to his characters. Things aren’t spilled in front of you instantly. They’re not always given out in full in general. We receive information about a character's drive, or trauma, or past naturally as they come. Fed to us as those thoughts came into the mind that contemplates them. It’s really well done, and gives us a lot to contemplate on.
Overall, A really solid piece. Short and sweet. Well written. Creative and its own thing. Doesn’t get too bogged down in itself (looking at myself here), flows beautifully. Characters are pretty solid. Science is mostly top-tier (Martian sunsets are blue, not red) – I hope to be graced with more tales within this universe down the track.
ugh
November 10, 2024DNF - PG 18
Why?
I had been struggling. I admit, the prologue was kind of awesome, with a little space heist. Unfortunately chapter one drops me in far future Geneva, Switzerland and takes great pains to remind me that I am earthbound.
I do know that, if I could stick it out, the next chapter does take place on Mars. Unfortunately, I get this scene:
'I have never crossed the threshold of that establishment, and unless I am required to identify your body there someday, I daresay I never shall. Now, unless you want that demise to be sooner rather than later, I suggest we get down to business.'
Glebe emitted a snort at Stevie's expense, and even Ralf cracked a smile.
'As you say.' Stevie's eyes shot daggers in Glebe's direction.
'Young mister Ralf.' Olgo turned their attention to their prisoner. 'If you would like to remain the owner of a full set of digits, I suggest you decrypt these files for us!"
'Fuck you, spook. I have a deal with the Inagawa. They will fuck you up if they find out you took their software.' Ralf glared at Olgo as drips of spittle shot from his lips.
And all I could think was 'that escalated fast.'
(And, yes, I am using the ' instead of the " because that's what the author uses to denote speech and, yes, it is the most annoying thing in the world .)
Then we are treated to Olga and their 'personal operatives' removing the man's pinky finger with a chisel and hammer.
So, yeah, they're not part of the police force anymore - but but with their actions prior, I have a hard time of viewing them as anything other than law enforcement of some kind. Corporation owned, I think. And I would likely not be able to get over any main character partaking in a little bit of torture as their character defining moment, but it is so much worse as this is supposed to be a 'special agent' (so says the synopsis).
Not for me.
Why?
I had been struggling. I admit, the prologue was kind of awesome, with a little space heist. Unfortunately chapter one drops me in far future Geneva, Switzerland and takes great pains to remind me that I am earthbound.
I do know that, if I could stick it out, the next chapter does take place on Mars. Unfortunately, I get this scene:
'I have never crossed the threshold of that establishment, and unless I am required to identify your body there someday, I daresay I never shall. Now, unless you want that demise to be sooner rather than later, I suggest we get down to business.'
Glebe emitted a snort at Stevie's expense, and even Ralf cracked a smile.
'As you say.' Stevie's eyes shot daggers in Glebe's direction.
'Young mister Ralf.' Olgo turned their attention to their prisoner. 'If you would like to remain the owner of a full set of digits, I suggest you decrypt these files for us!"
'Fuck you, spook. I have a deal with the Inagawa. They will fuck you up if they find out you took their software.' Ralf glared at Olgo as drips of spittle shot from his lips.
And all I could think was 'that escalated fast.'
(And, yes, I am using the ' instead of the " because that's what the author uses to denote speech and, yes, it is the most annoying thing in the world .)
Then we are treated to Olga and their 'personal operatives' removing the man's pinky finger with a chisel and hammer.
So, yeah, they're not part of the police force anymore - but but with their actions prior, I have a hard time of viewing them as anything other than law enforcement of some kind. Corporation owned, I think. And I would likely not be able to get over any main character partaking in a little bit of torture as their character defining moment, but it is so much worse as this is supposed to be a 'special agent' (so says the synopsis).
Not for me.
August 27, 2023
This is a smart, brisk novel set in a realistic but gritty future, most of it taking place deep in the mines and awkward workplaces of Mars. It's dark in bits but not too dark. I liked it.
Olgo and his fellow agents are fixers for a giant corporation out of Geneva, and though they have leave to be brutal (and even have their emotions suppressed because of the pain of some unspecified trauma), Olgo is still compassionate and sympathetic. As direct representatives of the company's owners, they (Olgo and his assistants) travel to Mars to oversee compliance with worker protections--something that is clearly not being taken seriously to that point.
The story of twelve-year-old Suong, a worker in a deep pit of Mars, shows the horrors of life for millions of people. The conditions reminded me of workers in Red Rising or The Expanse, though the world-building is unique and rolled out to the reader in a nicely organic way. (There are some resemblances to Murderbot as well, in both story elements and reading time.) The arrival of Olgo and the other agents gives people hope, igniting a storm of demonstrations by the workers and violence in response. Suong survives a riot, and along with Olgo has to find a way to fight back against the uncooperative companies on Mars.
The story reads briskly with good pace from the start, though I found the action and plot of the second half the most engaging. The author does a good job of keeping it human, especially with the evolution of Olgo as a person. The value of individuals specifically and humanity in general is a nice theme worked throughout the story, and it makes a bright contrast to the darkness of the setting.
I enjoyed the novella and look forward to other stories by the author.
(I received an ARC of the novella in return for an honest review.)
Olgo and his fellow agents are fixers for a giant corporation out of Geneva, and though they have leave to be brutal (and even have their emotions suppressed because of the pain of some unspecified trauma), Olgo is still compassionate and sympathetic. As direct representatives of the company's owners, they (Olgo and his assistants) travel to Mars to oversee compliance with worker protections--something that is clearly not being taken seriously to that point.
The story of twelve-year-old Suong, a worker in a deep pit of Mars, shows the horrors of life for millions of people. The conditions reminded me of workers in Red Rising or The Expanse, though the world-building is unique and rolled out to the reader in a nicely organic way. (There are some resemblances to Murderbot as well, in both story elements and reading time.) The arrival of Olgo and the other agents gives people hope, igniting a storm of demonstrations by the workers and violence in response. Suong survives a riot, and along with Olgo has to find a way to fight back against the uncooperative companies on Mars.
The story reads briskly with good pace from the start, though I found the action and plot of the second half the most engaging. The author does a good job of keeping it human, especially with the evolution of Olgo as a person. The value of individuals specifically and humanity in general is a nice theme worked throughout the story, and it makes a bright contrast to the darkness of the setting.
I enjoyed the novella and look forward to other stories by the author.
(I received an ARC of the novella in return for an honest review.)
March 22, 2025
Cold Rising by Rohan O'Duill is just what I look for in a sci-fi novella, there's enough action to keep me turning the pages but also and arguably more impressively enough character development to have me care about them and even leave me wondering about their futures at the end. This is not my first book by O'Duill, being a little backwards I managed to read his more recent book, Cold Blooded, first and loved it so much that I immediately bought this one. This is not heavy sci-fi- it is set on Mars and there are some pretty impressive sounding mech suits but there is not an overabundance of technical jargon, instead there is a pretty straight forward prose style that keeps the book flowing and never overwhelms the reader, making this a book that I would happily recommend to someone who was not sure about science fiction as a genre but perhaps wanted to dip their toes in the water. The main characters are Olgo, a non binary fixer type character, and Suong, a twelve year old girl who works in the Martian mines. Both of these characters are interesting for different reasons, with Olgo I was fascinated by the device they used for emotional regulation, effectively making themselves rational to the point of being emotionless , a concept that I found pretty horrifying. In the case of Suong it was the way that she was used to depict the harsh reality of life on Mars and the class struggles and inequality that mankind apparently did not leave behind on Earth. She also added some unexpected humor occasionally which is always welcome. Seeing these characters being forced to work together was truly the highlight of an already very enjoyable book. Reading this book has just confirmed that I am going to be reading every future Cold Rush release because it is clear that this world has much more to offer and the taste I have been given so far has definitely left me wanting more.
August 16, 2023
This is an action-filled, fast-paced novella that would make an excellent graphic novel and that I enjoyed reading very much. I am familiar with some of Rohan's short stories, and I never cease to be fascinated by the worlds and characters he creates.
Cold Rising introduces the readers to the future Earth, where some things have changed for the better, but many things remained the same or have deteriorated. Mars is the place where companies go for cheap labor and where workers live under inhuman conditions. The owner of the mightiest company on Earth is struggling with her conscience as her life draws to a conclusion and wishes to make amends by sending an agent to enforce worker rights on Mars. What begins as a job for personal gain soon evolves into something more significant, as the agent discovers the power of emotions after meeting a young Martian Suong and a cause worth fighting for.
What I liked the best about the book were the parts describing the life of Suong and her friends on Mars. Olgo, the agent, is also intriguing, but I have a feeling there is much more to learn about this character than the book reveals. That is my only complaint about this novella-it hints at things that could have been developed more and probably will be in the books to come (I'm just bad at waiting).
I received an advanced copy of this book and I am happy to leave an honest review.
Cold Rising introduces the readers to the future Earth, where some things have changed for the better, but many things remained the same or have deteriorated. Mars is the place where companies go for cheap labor and where workers live under inhuman conditions. The owner of the mightiest company on Earth is struggling with her conscience as her life draws to a conclusion and wishes to make amends by sending an agent to enforce worker rights on Mars. What begins as a job for personal gain soon evolves into something more significant, as the agent discovers the power of emotions after meeting a young Martian Suong and a cause worth fighting for.
What I liked the best about the book were the parts describing the life of Suong and her friends on Mars. Olgo, the agent, is also intriguing, but I have a feeling there is much more to learn about this character than the book reveals. That is my only complaint about this novella-it hints at things that could have been developed more and probably will be in the books to come (I'm just bad at waiting).
I received an advanced copy of this book and I am happy to leave an honest review.
March 6, 2024
A five star stormer of a book. Cold Rising takes hold of you by the scruff of the neck, thrusts you into the dirty world of Earth’s corporate controlled future, then slams you into an ice cold Mars where life and morals vie for which are cheapest. From the beginning you know there will be no let up, and as individuals, both corporate and at the coal face, search for redemption, they are drawn by haunted pasts into actions and decisions that can shock, while your head nods in agreement.
Author O’Duill leads you masterfully into this world as you follow Olgo on their mission to Mars, in seek of redefining a simple contract defining the rights of the workers there. An allegory reflecting our own disparate past when child labour was cheap and only profit mattered - it shines a light on a few battling human greed. What’s interesting is the juxtaposition of those able to dig themselves above the mire being forced to face who they truly are when their emotional disconnect, be it electronically suppressed or via social status, fails.
The emotional interplay between Olgo, and the other hero of the piece, Seung, is well conceived, but an area I would like to have seen evolve over a longer period, exploring the emotional depth hinted at within this novella. I look forward to the next in the series, highly recommended.
Author O’Duill leads you masterfully into this world as you follow Olgo on their mission to Mars, in seek of redefining a simple contract defining the rights of the workers there. An allegory reflecting our own disparate past when child labour was cheap and only profit mattered - it shines a light on a few battling human greed. What’s interesting is the juxtaposition of those able to dig themselves above the mire being forced to face who they truly are when their emotional disconnect, be it electronically suppressed or via social status, fails.
The emotional interplay between Olgo, and the other hero of the piece, Seung, is well conceived, but an area I would like to have seen evolve over a longer period, exploring the emotional depth hinted at within this novella. I look forward to the next in the series, highly recommended.
September 13, 2023
"[...] but arguing with Kline was like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter what move you made, he would just knock over all the pieces and shit all over the board."
My brain was buzzing and I wanted to read something fast and fun--this book delivered!
Props to the author for keeping the action moving and the dialogue popping along. I get distracted (erm, bored) when a sci-fi story gets too heavy on the technobabble. O'Duill fleshes out just enough but keeps the focus on the plot and the interplay between the characters. Olgo is an agent with great ambitions and a device behind their ear that regulates emotions and stops certain memories from seeping into their consciousness. They get assigned to Mars to investigate some potentially fishy labor practices. The mission goes belly up fast and soon, they're fighting for survival with one of the exact people on whose behalf they had gone to investigate: a child called Soung. Soung risks her life every day working in the Martian mines and has never seen the sky or the sun...
A good old-fashioned space read exploring that eternal question: when is the price of progress too high? [Bonus: I really liked the black and white illustrations from Marten Norr!!]
My brain was buzzing and I wanted to read something fast and fun--this book delivered!
Props to the author for keeping the action moving and the dialogue popping along. I get distracted (erm, bored) when a sci-fi story gets too heavy on the technobabble. O'Duill fleshes out just enough but keeps the focus on the plot and the interplay between the characters. Olgo is an agent with great ambitions and a device behind their ear that regulates emotions and stops certain memories from seeping into their consciousness. They get assigned to Mars to investigate some potentially fishy labor practices. The mission goes belly up fast and soon, they're fighting for survival with one of the exact people on whose behalf they had gone to investigate: a child called Soung. Soung risks her life every day working in the Martian mines and has never seen the sky or the sun...
A good old-fashioned space read exploring that eternal question: when is the price of progress too high? [Bonus: I really liked the black and white illustrations from Marten Norr!!]
September 10, 2023
Received as a review copy from Booksirens, this is an honest review. Cold Rising is a truly brilliantly visual and visceral story that resonates in our current times. Set in a futuristic Earth that's become dominated by powerful Corporations working any way possible to get ahead of their competition, Special Agent Olgo, works for Micron and is not a person you would chasing you down or his dangerous body guards... as an unfortunate hacker discovers as this immersive world opens. Now the CEO of Micron has tasked Olgo with the most important job- bringing the abusive companies of Mars to comply with the laws decreed by the UN. to deliver better treatment to those employed upon the dusty world. It's where we get to know the harrowing subterranean world that the child employed Suong and the other kids doing whatever scary ass job to survive. And Olgo shows up to enforce the laws, he holds no mercy for those leaders determined to hold their status quo; and to the cheers of the workers. The complex worlds that Agent Olgo and Suong collide together in a poignant story of survival as shocking twists elevate this mesmerizing adventure.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
August 24, 2023
Cold Rising follows a corporate cop on a mission to Mars. The worldbuilding is well thought out, the side characters are gritty, the protagonist is unnatural-but that's on purpose. The author does well with the MC, Olgo, as a stiff corporate officer, using a brain implant to keep them professional and logical. I liked how Olgo's backstory was only touched on, providing a sense of mystery. The outcome of the story was engaging and smile worthy. O'Duill also provides a nasty atmosphere of working class people still fighting, still trying to rise up from corporate overlords. I appreciated the awful similarities to our own world, it couldn't be more relevant.
September 6, 2023
Olgo comes from Earth to Mars on official business, and the Martians are like: Oh no, we're not just interested in talking about what our workers are experiencing here, actually we've got quite a bigger ask for you, it's our dream-big time. Meanwhile, some young people are just trying to get out of their tunnel or at least to make the most of it. I suppose I relate to both approaches--I mean, there can be different levels of struggle and different ways of asking for what we want, and these are all in service of the big dream of breaking through. I'd rather live on Earth, but wherever we are, we have to work to make it habitable.
August 25, 2023
Cold Rising is equal parts heartfelt, emotional journey and gleeful romp through space. It features a hardened operative and a child laborer fighting for what's right and giving the baddies their (un)just desserts. It's the gleeful vengeance of How to Succeed in Evil meets the deep relationships of Leon the Professional. Some of the high-impact scenes could have used a little more breathing room to help the emotional beats land, but that hardly detracted from the immersive fun of Cold Rising. Looking forward to more great stories from O'Duill.
September 19, 2023
Cold Rush is an excellent sci-fi novella, introducing a vision of a future Solar System where Earth has passed through environmental catastrophe but is still the centre of power while Mars is a dystopian hellhole run by a mafia-like organisation called the Guild. The main character, Olgo, has a great character arc for such a short story, as he goes from ruthless agent on Earth to trying to liberate the working class of Mars from the greed of the Guild. It's an entertaining read, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this universe.
April 8, 2024
A punching story revolving around the heinous nature of corporate greed, and the flip-side of the extreme conditions for the working class in underground Mars. From Earth to Mars, we follow the story of Olgo, and agent from Earth, who encounters a young girl in the mines. Together they discover emotional truths about themselves. A gritty, dark and engrossing read, a sci-fi enthusiasts delight! I am eager to read the sequel to see what happens next.
August 20, 2023
This is a ripping good read. I love that this future isn't just a glossy, perfect society - it's gritty, dark, and terrible for some. It's a realistic world of haves and have-nots and Rohan describes that society so deftly that there is no pause in the ramping-up action. And in terms of action - wow. You can not expect what Olgo goes through. You won't forget it!
January 30, 2024
stomping good action from start to finish
In the underground belly of Mars, a revolution is brewing. The struggle for autonomy and a decent life leads to subterfuge, betrayal, and rough justice.
A solid romp of a book, with an interesting Non-binary hero. From emotional absence to uncurtailed fury, the emotional development is cool to read.
Great start to a series.
In the underground belly of Mars, a revolution is brewing. The struggle for autonomy and a decent life leads to subterfuge, betrayal, and rough justice.
A solid romp of a book, with an interesting Non-binary hero. From emotional absence to uncurtailed fury, the emotional development is cool to read.
Great start to a series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews