Fringeman

by Don Strickland

Gunnar Schmidt is a Ranger with an unfortunate reputation for brash behavior and blatant insubordination. He is also an accomplished lawman and fond of postings where few officers in the Enforcement Bureau will willingly go. A fact that has saved his career on more than one occasion. That happy balance is disrupted forever when a summons arrives from the Enforcement Bureau's cryptic and vindictive Secretary Jasmine Weston. Gunnar is a man of his times, but his times are coming to an end. The future belongs to Jasmine Weston and the other fanatics of the new Manifestian Church. An organization determined to obliterate any sign of the old ways and the people who practiced them. Weston tasks Gunnar with a pointless and suicidal mission in the Terran Interstellar Republic's far Fringe. A place where even Gunnar fears to go. A place where the Republic's grasp is so tenuous that the locals can live as they choose despite the Church's objections. A place patrolled as best as it can be by the Bureau's notorious Fringemen. It is on the Fringe's world of Drache where Gunnar finds himself going undercover. He soon disappears into a primitive world where ancient ways have been reborn and given new life, and mutually hostile societies clash with one another. It is a world lit by fire and built of stone, where men slay each other in the arenas for the amusement of the masses. Where men and women are bought and sold for labor and for pleasure.

378 pages, Paperback

First published July 10, 2013

About the author

Don Strickland was born in the panhandle of Texas, but escaped as quickly as possible. Since then, he has lived in Hawaii, Michigan, California, and New Mexico where he currently resides. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology, and did graduate work in Technical writing. Don is a Navy veteran where he did electronic work. Don has held a multitude of jobs, but quit job-hopping when he realized that all jobs inherently suck. He now sticks with his latest job in the mining industry while he pursues his life-long dream of being a writer. Don's interests include Edgar Rice Burroughs novels, tropical fish, and, of course, writing.

Reviews

[Kia · Rating 5 out of 5]

After an initial nod to sci-fi, Fringeman reads like Conan-the-Barbarian fantasy fiction. Gunnar Schmidt is a Ranger, a law enforcement officer employed by the Republic central command ... with enemies in high places. Fringeman begins with Gunnar being shipped out, presumably to his death, for a flimsy-sounding new assignment on the outer reaches of the Republic territory. The notorious "Fringe" is comprised of planets far enough from central power that the rule of law is a quaint concept which receives lip service and little else.

Once the journey to Drache ends, the book switches from sci-fi to fantasy adventure. Gunnar's outsized personality soon earns him yet another enemy of high station, and he spends several years simply trying to stay alive. His unique status makes him a much-bandied-about political pawn and after the horrors of imprisonment and labor camp, he eventually winds up a successful gladiator.

By the end of the book, Gunnar has not only survived, he has become one of Drache's most powerful and wealthy citizens. The road to success had been brutal, though, and Gunnar had to fight every step of the way to hang onto not just his life, but his humanity. But what exactly is the cost of adaptation and survival on a planet as horrific and primitive as Drache? What, exactly, has Gunnar become?

Looking forward to the next book so I can see how the new Gunnar deals with his new position - and psyche. Entertaining stuff!

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a sci fi fantasy fan because usually more time is spent on describing the surroundings than the people and situations involved. I always liked things on my planet. Mr. Strickland has done what I thought not possible. He made me enjoy a genre I thought was dead to me. Thank you Mr. Strickland. The story is well paced, interesting, and there is not really any dull moments. I also liked the little physics lesson at the beginning of the book concerning space travel. The protagonist is easy to like, men will want to be like him and women will find him attractive in many different ways. You will root for him as well as feel for him. I don't know if the book is actually five star book, more like 4.5. However, I will give it 5 stars because this book has given me the want to explore new worlds. Well done Mr. Strickland, keep up the good work.

[L. Fabry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get set to travel to the future, and not the shiny, everything's coated in brilliant metal one. Gunnar Schmidt wants to forget his duties as a Ranger and continue to avoid his superiors. But that isn't possible. It isn't long before he's found, given new orders, and sent to The Fringe, a world set on the outer ring of what is considered civilized society, and not unlike the concept of the Alliance and outer worlds found in "Firefly." However, it isn't long before Schmidt's cover is blown, and he irks the most powerful man in the new world. He bounces from prison to work camp to arena in a desperate struggle to survive, but what price will he pay for survival?

I'm giving it only 4 stars, since this is a man's book, and I am not. Best line in the book: "Who can a man trust if not a mob of trained killers?"

[Gina M Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be doing a more full review in a week or so, meanwhile for those considering this book, I recommend it highly. I'm looking forward to more of Gunner & his travels & travails. What a fascinating world Strickland has created & brings so vividly to life. I especially enjoyed how the main character experienced life changing shifts in attitude over the events in this novel.

Sorry, writing a full review on a cell phone screen is a challenge; will add much more when I can access GR from laptop.