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Spectras Arise Trilogy #1
Contract of Defiance
In a few hundred years, the Algol system becomes humanity's new home. The question is: is it a better one? When a crew of arms smugglers botches their latest job, Corps-deserter and crewmember, Aly Erikson, is separated from her brother, the only person she can trust, and left behind to fight for her life. In the aftermath, as she tries to piece together what happened, a crew of roughneck settlers pressgang her into a dangerous mission in the heart of Corps territory. Time is running out to get back everything she's lost: her crew, her brother, and her options. But no one is taking her gun.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2012
179 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
About the author
Tammy Salyer
22 books144 followersFormer Army paratrooper, Tammy Salyer now channels her thirst for adventure and high-flying hijinks into high-octane narratives. Her Shackled Verities series is a Cosmos-crossing epic fantasy adventure. Her Spectras Arise series is action-packed military science fiction, praised for its gritty realism and well-crafted characters. And if you love a good Western with a twist, then you won’t want to miss her Otherworld Outlaws series and its blend of Celtic mythology and unforgettable Wild West action.
She hopes you enjoy reading her works and welcomes your reviews. Follow her on Bluesky @tammy-salyer.bsky.social or www.tammysalyer.com.
She hopes you enjoy reading her works and welcomes your reviews. Follow her on Bluesky @tammy-salyer.bsky.social or www.tammysalyer.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
pigs-fly-and-crayfish-whistle
September 16, 2015A freaking love triangle in book 2?! WTF is wrong with these SF series?! Bye bye Spectras Arise, I'm so glad I never got around to reading you.
April 1, 2015
More space operas. MORE.
This one was gooooooood.
RTC.
This one was gooooooood.
RTC.
December 25, 2014
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This book is highly reviewed but I am going to have to say with reluctance but honesty that I did not enjoy this book. Unlikeable cardboard characters, unbelievable science in the fiction, and odd logic holes mark this as too much a flawed indie fanfic attempt at a book rather than a diamond in the rough.Story: Aly is a kick butt female mercenary working with her brother when a job goes wrong. He is captured by the authorities and she ends up in an easy partnership with an odd smuggling crew. When faced with betrayals all around, all she can do is curse and kill - a lot - to try to get her brother back.
The thing about science fiction is that it's an imaginary world - you can pretty much put anything into the story and then shrug it off as "that's the future" rather than have to defend it. But that doesn't necessarily mean you should; e.g., killer purple alien bunnymen using psychic powers to make people urinate a lot may not make a great or relatable story. What Salyer has done is create a world where she can have a tough as nails female character but then neglected to really establish the world in any believable way. She transported a modern military woman to the future, gave the character simplistic fabricated situations so she can prove she's tough, and then completely avoided actually creating the science in the fiction. The milieu is as hollow as the main character. The nitpicking below could be shrugged off as "hey, it's my universe, I can do what I want with it." but that doesn't necessarily mean she should.
And therein lies the problem for me - everything is so manufactured or forced just to create plot points or prove a point. It's both underwritten and overwritten at the same time. The outline for the story is this: kick butt heroine, give her lots of baddies to kill, let her mouth off a lot to prove she's bad (even though she's in a dangerous situation and that should make it worse but doesn't), have all characters instantly fall in love with her or want to be her friend because she's so tough, and give her something to do so she can maim or kill everything in sight (we have to prove she's tough!).
Problematic for me (and should be for any who have read a lot of sci fi), are the physics/believability/rationality of the world. Would a girl born in space: a) refer to distances in miles? (We wouldn't measure how far we have flown from an airport in centimeters, right?); use 2014 style projectile weapon guns in a space station or space ship where instant decompression would occur); have guns that still need to be oiled and that put out a lot of smoke (smoke on a space station = death); use terms like "felt like diesel engine oil" or "piss on the walls to mark your territory" (are there really diesel engines (which put out a LOT of carbon dioxide and would kill everyone in an enclosed space) in space AND do a lot of wild animals roam space ship corridors marking their territory??). Let's not get into things like saying to one's self that they are listening to a "Mid 21st century band called The Clash" (Does anyone really think, "I think I'll go listen to a mid 17th century song by a bandleader called Beethoven?"). Plot issues include constantly being told that she's able to survive deserting the Admin army because their database was destroyed - yet she meets a character and he looks her up and gives her her military history in two minutes flat. There just wasn't any attempt to build imaginative future into the future - it's all 20th century talk, lingo, tech.
Really problematic for me is that this just wasn't fun to read. I could probably get around nitpicking the anachronisms if this was exciting or I really liked/respected the main character. Firefly the TV series is a good example of making anachronisms work in a thoroughly conceived world. But this story wants to be Firefly so hard, it's difficult not to consider it more of a rip off than an homage. Friendly captain, trustworthy but serious co captain, quirky hippy pilot, mysterious young doctor with hidden motivations and a history of human experimentation.....does this ring a bell with anyone? I should pop out my DVD of Serenity and see how many parallels I can make.
The character of Aly felt far too much like a Mary Sue fanfic. Create a bad a$$ character and put her in the Firefly world. Everyone loves her - and even if they don't in the beginning, they start to soon after as they suddenly recognize her value (in a firefight). For no particular reason I can fathom since she is rude, has tried to kill several (who smile it off later (!)), is mouthy, uncooperative, and clearly selfish. All Aly's actions are trying too hard to show either that she is a tough girl or that she cares about her brother - and so none of her actions seem realistic or natural (e.g., yelling and demanding to be returned to a space station after she is saved and nursed back to health is a bit much).
About 50% in, when all characters are fawning over her and situation after situation is created to show she is tough and not to develop character to further the plot, I realized the depth of the mary sue here. The only thing missing was a romance with a Nathan Fillion type character (I guess he'll come in future volumes).
So - the book has a lot of 5 star reviews and I seem to be a lone dissenter. So take what I've written in that perspective - you may like this a whole lot better than I did. There is a lot of action and Aly definitely gets to show she can kill and maim with the best of 'em.
Reviewed from an e-copy provided by the publisher.
January 28, 2013
Contract of Defiance by Tammy Salyer
Four and a half stars.
The Admin believe that ‘everything exists purely for humanity to exploit.’ They control everything, raping planets and moons of minerals and ores leaving nothing left but barren wasted rock. They even decide who is human and who is not.
Aly Erikson is on Obal 3 separated by her crew and being shot at with her brother David. In a selfless gesture her brother surrenders himself leaving Aly with time to run. But the shuttle isn’t there, cornered like a rat, Aly comes out fighting, gets hit on the head and wakes up somewhere else.
Captain Eleanor Vitruzzi of the Sphynx has her own reasons for kidnapping Erikson. Erikson has information that the captain desperately needs and will do anything to attain it, even if it does mean dealing with the devil. She knows what Aly was doing on Obal 3. Erikson and her brother David are part of a smuggling crew and while they were running a diversion the rest of the crew were stealing a holodisc containing plans for the Fortress, a space station.
The Fortress is a biological warfare research lab. Prisoners are held there and experimented on like lab rats. To keep it secret the Fortress was designed to be mobile, getting the coordinates was of vital importance to Captain Vitruzzi and her crew. Erikson’s old captain Rajcik has his own reason for wanting to get his hands on the holodisc, there are rumours that the Admin has built a chain reaction fusion bomb. He wants to steal the bomb and hold it to ransom.
Everyone wants something from the Fortress including Aly, she wants her brother David back and she’s not going to let anything stand in her way including a secret well guarded space station.
In Contract of Defiance you hit the ground running, thrust straight into the action and it never really lets up. Fast paced the plot keeps you reading chapter after chapter in order to find out what happens next. The character of Aly Erikson is intriguing as she struggles with the choices she made in the past that bring her to the point she is at now. But for me Captain Vitruzzi really steals the book and makes it about her. Her duality of compassionate doctor and hard hearted captain make her a very compelling character. Contract of Defiance is part science fiction, action, mystery and all round excellent story telling.
Four and a half stars.
The Admin believe that ‘everything exists purely for humanity to exploit.’ They control everything, raping planets and moons of minerals and ores leaving nothing left but barren wasted rock. They even decide who is human and who is not.
Aly Erikson is on Obal 3 separated by her crew and being shot at with her brother David. In a selfless gesture her brother surrenders himself leaving Aly with time to run. But the shuttle isn’t there, cornered like a rat, Aly comes out fighting, gets hit on the head and wakes up somewhere else.
Captain Eleanor Vitruzzi of the Sphynx has her own reasons for kidnapping Erikson. Erikson has information that the captain desperately needs and will do anything to attain it, even if it does mean dealing with the devil. She knows what Aly was doing on Obal 3. Erikson and her brother David are part of a smuggling crew and while they were running a diversion the rest of the crew were stealing a holodisc containing plans for the Fortress, a space station.
The Fortress is a biological warfare research lab. Prisoners are held there and experimented on like lab rats. To keep it secret the Fortress was designed to be mobile, getting the coordinates was of vital importance to Captain Vitruzzi and her crew. Erikson’s old captain Rajcik has his own reason for wanting to get his hands on the holodisc, there are rumours that the Admin has built a chain reaction fusion bomb. He wants to steal the bomb and hold it to ransom.
Everyone wants something from the Fortress including Aly, she wants her brother David back and she’s not going to let anything stand in her way including a secret well guarded space station.
In Contract of Defiance you hit the ground running, thrust straight into the action and it never really lets up. Fast paced the plot keeps you reading chapter after chapter in order to find out what happens next. The character of Aly Erikson is intriguing as she struggles with the choices she made in the past that bring her to the point she is at now. But for me Captain Vitruzzi really steals the book and makes it about her. Her duality of compassionate doctor and hard hearted captain make her a very compelling character. Contract of Defiance is part science fiction, action, mystery and all round excellent story telling.
May 4, 2015
Thrilling Roller-Coaster Ride of Military Sci-Fi Adventure
I am generally cautious about novels written in first-person, especially first-person present narratives - but Contract of Defiance executes on it brilliantly. It took only paragraphs for me to stop "noticing" the POV and start being "in" the story. One of the most difficult aspects of first-person narratives is conveying details about the larger world, but Salyer somehow manages to pull this off and make it look easy.
Aly Erikson is one of the toughest characters I've ever read, male or female, all the more so because she's entirely unassuming about it. This is her life, these are her skills; she knows nothing else. Salyer's military background really shows in Aly's professionalism and military tactics and combat.
But as compelling a character as Aly is, what truly intrigued me about this book was the larger story just in the background - a story of people fighting to not merely survive, but to live - live the lives they choose - under the thumb of a brutally oppressive regime. I can't wait to read Books 2 and 3, because I can't wait to see these people rise up and fight for their freedom. Contract of Defiance is a thrilling, action-filled military sci-fi adventure. It's a story about loyalty, betrayal and impossible choices. But it's also a story about the human spirit.
I am generally cautious about novels written in first-person, especially first-person present narratives - but Contract of Defiance executes on it brilliantly. It took only paragraphs for me to stop "noticing" the POV and start being "in" the story. One of the most difficult aspects of first-person narratives is conveying details about the larger world, but Salyer somehow manages to pull this off and make it look easy.
Aly Erikson is one of the toughest characters I've ever read, male or female, all the more so because she's entirely unassuming about it. This is her life, these are her skills; she knows nothing else. Salyer's military background really shows in Aly's professionalism and military tactics and combat.
But as compelling a character as Aly is, what truly intrigued me about this book was the larger story just in the background - a story of people fighting to not merely survive, but to live - live the lives they choose - under the thumb of a brutally oppressive regime. I can't wait to read Books 2 and 3, because I can't wait to see these people rise up and fight for their freedom. Contract of Defiance is a thrilling, action-filled military sci-fi adventure. It's a story about loyalty, betrayal and impossible choices. But it's also a story about the human spirit.
May 15, 2013
WALKI'S REVIEW
When Rajcik and his crew raid an Admin station on Obal 3 to steal an holodisc, Aly and David Erikson get separated. David is captured by the Corps soldiers, Aly is kidnapped by a third party. This third party, Captain Vitruzzi and her crew, also wants the holodisc as it contains maps and coordinates for the Fortress, where some of their friends are kept prisoners. This is where the admin develop weapons, and Rajcik is after one of them. This is also where Aly's brother is likely to be sent if the soldiers don't kill him immediately.
This is a fast-paced, well written scifi novel, where Aly has to decide who she can trust, and who is more likely to help her free her brother. Aly Erikson and Eleanor Vitruzzi are two strong female characters, as stubborn as each other, whom the readers get to know and learn to appreciate throughout this novel. They each have their reasons to turn their backs on the Admin.
With 'Contract of Defiance' Tammy Salyer wrote an entertaining and captivating story with very likeable characters. There is great suspense throughout the book, intermingled with moments to relax with the characters while waiting for the next event to unfold. In fact you might want to stay awake and read on through the night.
When Rajcik and his crew raid an Admin station on Obal 3 to steal an holodisc, Aly and David Erikson get separated. David is captured by the Corps soldiers, Aly is kidnapped by a third party. This third party, Captain Vitruzzi and her crew, also wants the holodisc as it contains maps and coordinates for the Fortress, where some of their friends are kept prisoners. This is where the admin develop weapons, and Rajcik is after one of them. This is also where Aly's brother is likely to be sent if the soldiers don't kill him immediately.
This is a fast-paced, well written scifi novel, where Aly has to decide who she can trust, and who is more likely to help her free her brother. Aly Erikson and Eleanor Vitruzzi are two strong female characters, as stubborn as each other, whom the readers get to know and learn to appreciate throughout this novel. They each have their reasons to turn their backs on the Admin.
With 'Contract of Defiance' Tammy Salyer wrote an entertaining and captivating story with very likeable characters. There is great suspense throughout the book, intermingled with moments to relax with the characters while waiting for the next event to unfold. In fact you might want to stay awake and read on through the night.
October 9, 2012
This was one of the most well written books I've read this year. I don't normally read sifi, but I must tell you, the writing in this novel should overcome any reticence to grab a copy of this great read and dig in. Salyer is a wizard with language and the depth and richness of her apparent knowledge simply makes this a riveting read. You want pure adventure? You want depth of character development and place? You want to be entertained non-stop? There is not enough wonderful to say about this writer. Do yourself a favor. Get a copy of this novel. Grab a glass of wine and settle back for a wonderful ride. And if you're anything like me...you will want to encourage her to hurry and get her next novel finished. Just a great read and a wonderful voice. What a delight! Congratulations to Ms. Salyer!
Kind Regards,
R.P. McCabe
Kind Regards,
R.P. McCabe
April 16, 2015
Marvellous stuff. This is proper all-guns-blazing space opera in the vein of Firefly or Blake's 7, or maybe even Stars Wars, though thankfully it doesn't have the mystic silliness of George Lucas' offerings. The plot revolves around a bunch of renegades who all distrust one another but need to work together to pull off a rescue mission, all whilst trying to avoid another bunch of renegades led by a complete psycopath, not to mention 'the Admin' (insert evil government trope here). The first-person present-tense narrative took some getting used to (and in first person you know the hero will live through to the last page, which lessens the impact of some scenes) and some of the internal musings of hero Aly were a little long-winded, but on the whole the action kept up a cracking pace, especially towards the end. A little bit of humour might have been nice to counterbalance some rather dark scenes. Recommended for lovers of action-packed science fiction. I plan to read the sequels...
June 4, 2013
"Contract of Defiance" will appeal to lovers of science fiction and those who typically shy away from the genre. There's enough space-based science to keep geeks happy while the action ropes in those who love a wild ride. There's a good bit of mystery in the plot line and I don't want to give away any of the major points, but this is one book that will keep you reading. That there is a strong female protagonist who still manages to be relatable and very human, helps solidify "Contract of Defiance" as a must-read sci-fi novel.
June 23, 2016
What a fun and enjoyable story. Lots of action and some real kick butt characters!!! I really love a book that keeps you involved and interested throughout the story and this one really lives up to that.
4.5 stars for a great story and I can't wait to continue on with this rest of the trilogy. Recommended for anyone who loves a good space opera/military sci-fi story!!!
4.5 stars for a great story and I can't wait to continue on with this rest of the trilogy. Recommended for anyone who loves a good space opera/military sci-fi story!!!
July 12, 2016
This is a well-written book, clean, with fast-paced action that rarely stops for breath and great description that doesn't fear blood and gore. The military setting benefits from the author's military background and there are interesting science and medical details science fiction readers will appreciate. Told in the first person (a point of view I don't usually like) this one pulled me into the protagonist's mind. Aly Erikson is a hard-ass soldier-turned-criminal and a mixed up mess. When a job goes badly wrong and her brother David gets captured by the Admin, she wakes up in the medical facility on the wrong ship with a crew who has their own objectives. All Aly cares about is finding her own crew so she can rescue David. The story that follows slowly reveals the political set up in this part of the universe providing a wide space opera backdrop for the rest of the series.
Aly Erikson's development is great and distinctive for the amount of conflict she inspires. She's impatient, aggressive, and just so slow to work out who to trust with her loyalty. A romantic angle is understated and although I would have enjoyed more emphasis on this, the plot develops the relationship well. I loved how Aly got so many backs up, and connected with so many others. She had to prove herself, demonstrate her true motivations by her actions and the choices she made. This girl has intelligence, guts, and grit. Character wise, my only criticism is that the back story for the captain/surgeon of Aly's new crew needs a little more development to explain her combat skills, but I suspect there is more story to come. Overall, the characterization is well drawn and balanced, baddies as well as goodies, and everyone has their own peculiarity. The main antagonist is just plain scary.
Contract of Defiance is a great read, brimming with military strategy and tactics, masses of conflict and pistol-drawn battles, and a new galactic way of living to discover that caters for the privileged while suppressing the communities existing on its fringes.
Exciting, riveting stuff. I can highly recommend this book.
Disclaimer (I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased a copy.)
Aly Erikson's development is great and distinctive for the amount of conflict she inspires. She's impatient, aggressive, and just so slow to work out who to trust with her loyalty. A romantic angle is understated and although I would have enjoyed more emphasis on this, the plot develops the relationship well. I loved how Aly got so many backs up, and connected with so many others. She had to prove herself, demonstrate her true motivations by her actions and the choices she made. This girl has intelligence, guts, and grit. Character wise, my only criticism is that the back story for the captain/surgeon of Aly's new crew needs a little more development to explain her combat skills, but I suspect there is more story to come. Overall, the characterization is well drawn and balanced, baddies as well as goodies, and everyone has their own peculiarity. The main antagonist is just plain scary.
Contract of Defiance is a great read, brimming with military strategy and tactics, masses of conflict and pistol-drawn battles, and a new galactic way of living to discover that caters for the privileged while suppressing the communities existing on its fringes.
Exciting, riveting stuff. I can highly recommend this book.
Disclaimer (I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased a copy.)
January 29, 2016
I can't remember exactly how I stumbled across this book and the rest of the Spectras Arise trilogy, but I thought to myself "If the story is half as good as the cover art, I'm in."
I made the mistake of starting the book at a bad time and didn't even get a chance to pick it up again until last week. That tripped me up a little and I spent a little time being confused because I couldn't remember what I'd already read, but the plot is structured in a way that it wasn't hard to get back up to speed. We receive reminders and new glimpses into the characters' background information throughout the story, and motivation to learn more kept me hooked.
One of my favorite things about sci fi stories is that every author has their own idea of what the future (or the alternate-universe equivalent) will be like. Contract of Defiance's setting reminded me a lot of Firefly; rich, upscale worlds are controlled by the Admin, and the outer planets are home to settlers - farmers, miners, smugglers - who are fighting to get by. The cast of protagonists also reminded me of Serenity's crew. They're a likable bunch of characters who each have unique qualities but still mesh perfectly. It actually took me awhile to warm up to them, but that may just be because it took the main character awhile to warm up to them... in which case they were written flawlessly!
Aly Erikson is the epitome of a strong female character. She's literally strong, a badass hardened soldier who always has a gun at her side, but she's also strong in the sense that she's well-written. We catch glimpses of her humanity as she devotes all her energy toward finding her brother. She doesn't want to care, but she knows she does care, and that makes for a really interesting character.
I've already downloaded the next two books and can't wait to see what becomes of Aly, Vitruzzi, Strahan, and the rest of the Sphynx's crew! If you're looking for a fast-paced, action-packed story with awesome sci-fi tech, strong female characters, and an intriguing plot, this book is for you.
I made the mistake of starting the book at a bad time and didn't even get a chance to pick it up again until last week. That tripped me up a little and I spent a little time being confused because I couldn't remember what I'd already read, but the plot is structured in a way that it wasn't hard to get back up to speed. We receive reminders and new glimpses into the characters' background information throughout the story, and motivation to learn more kept me hooked.
One of my favorite things about sci fi stories is that every author has their own idea of what the future (or the alternate-universe equivalent) will be like. Contract of Defiance's setting reminded me a lot of Firefly; rich, upscale worlds are controlled by the Admin, and the outer planets are home to settlers - farmers, miners, smugglers - who are fighting to get by. The cast of protagonists also reminded me of Serenity's crew. They're a likable bunch of characters who each have unique qualities but still mesh perfectly. It actually took me awhile to warm up to them, but that may just be because it took the main character awhile to warm up to them... in which case they were written flawlessly!
Aly Erikson is the epitome of a strong female character. She's literally strong, a badass hardened soldier who always has a gun at her side, but she's also strong in the sense that she's well-written. We catch glimpses of her humanity as she devotes all her energy toward finding her brother. She doesn't want to care, but she knows she does care, and that makes for a really interesting character.
I've already downloaded the next two books and can't wait to see what becomes of Aly, Vitruzzi, Strahan, and the rest of the Sphynx's crew! If you're looking for a fast-paced, action-packed story with awesome sci-fi tech, strong female characters, and an intriguing plot, this book is for you.
November 11, 2014
“Contract of Defiance” was published in 2013 and was written by Tammy Salyer (http://tammysalyer.com/). Ms. Salyer has written three books. This book is the first of her “Spectras Arise Trilogy”.
I obtained a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novel as ‘R’ as there is Mature Language and Violence. The novel is written in the first person and is set in a far future. The primary character is Aly Erikson. The universe she lives in is dominated by the Admin. The Admin is the totalitarian government that controls most of known space. It was in the Admin military that Aly and her brother David were trained.
Aly is now a military deserter. She and her brother got fed up, along with thousands of others, and simply left the military. They have been making ends meet helping a smuggler, Rajcik. They are separated in a raid designed to gain information on a big score. Aly is cut off and wounded, while her brother gives himself up to the Admin to save her. To her surprise she is rescued by strangers led by Captain Eleanor Vitruzzi.
Captain Vitruzzi and her crew turn out to be legitimate (more or less) arms transporters. The longer she is with them though, the more she finds out is hidden beneath the surface. Captain Vitruzzi asks Aly to contact Rajcik and work out a trade. They want the information Rajcik obtained in the raid so that they can free friends who were captured by the Admin. Aly finds herself opening up to her new friends, but still is driven to find a way to rescue her brother.
As I spent 6+ hours reading this novel I felt a close resemblance to the world of Firefly and Serenity. This world has the same gun toting western flair to it. Captain Vitruzzi and her crew sometimes step over the line of the law, but they are good people. I enjoyed this novel! The plot was fresh, not just a rehash of Firefly. I also liked the characters within the story. I give this novel a 5 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I obtained a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novel as ‘R’ as there is Mature Language and Violence. The novel is written in the first person and is set in a far future. The primary character is Aly Erikson. The universe she lives in is dominated by the Admin. The Admin is the totalitarian government that controls most of known space. It was in the Admin military that Aly and her brother David were trained.
Aly is now a military deserter. She and her brother got fed up, along with thousands of others, and simply left the military. They have been making ends meet helping a smuggler, Rajcik. They are separated in a raid designed to gain information on a big score. Aly is cut off and wounded, while her brother gives himself up to the Admin to save her. To her surprise she is rescued by strangers led by Captain Eleanor Vitruzzi.
Captain Vitruzzi and her crew turn out to be legitimate (more or less) arms transporters. The longer she is with them though, the more she finds out is hidden beneath the surface. Captain Vitruzzi asks Aly to contact Rajcik and work out a trade. They want the information Rajcik obtained in the raid so that they can free friends who were captured by the Admin. Aly finds herself opening up to her new friends, but still is driven to find a way to rescue her brother.
As I spent 6+ hours reading this novel I felt a close resemblance to the world of Firefly and Serenity. This world has the same gun toting western flair to it. Captain Vitruzzi and her crew sometimes step over the line of the law, but they are good people. I enjoyed this novel! The plot was fresh, not just a rehash of Firefly. I also liked the characters within the story. I give this novel a 5 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
October 12, 2015
A missing brother, a kidnapping and a prison break, all wrapped around excellent writing, fleshy characters and snappy dialogue? What's not to like?
I couldn't help but find small hints of my beloved Firefly characters among the rag-tag crew of the Sphynx. Although this would be a much more serious version of it. The stakes are high for main character Aly. Her brother is missing and he's all she has in the universe. She joins, albeit not quite willingly, a crew with like-minded goals and a similar grudge against the Admin. They, too, have people they care about missing, and it's suspected they may be in the same place. So while they may not quite be allies, the enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that jazz.
I really enjoyed Aly. She's a little stilted in the emotions department, something I hope to see her work on in future books, but she sure as heck is tough and capable. Her past activities (she was a smuggler) may make her moral compass seem a little wonky also, but it's not a black and white world and even though she's no angel, she's someone you'd definitely want at your back/side or front in a fight.
If I were to be critical of anything, I really would have liked a little more romance. Although there's a foundation for it here, it's blink-and-you'll-miss-it in terms of actual action.
Still, a strong start and I'll be moving on to book two, Contract of Betrayal
4 Stars ★★★★ A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I couldn't help but find small hints of my beloved Firefly characters among the rag-tag crew of the Sphynx. Although this would be a much more serious version of it. The stakes are high for main character Aly. Her brother is missing and he's all she has in the universe. She joins, albeit not quite willingly, a crew with like-minded goals and a similar grudge against the Admin. They, too, have people they care about missing, and it's suspected they may be in the same place. So while they may not quite be allies, the enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that jazz.
I really enjoyed Aly. She's a little stilted in the emotions department, something I hope to see her work on in future books, but she sure as heck is tough and capable. Her past activities (she was a smuggler) may make her moral compass seem a little wonky also, but it's not a black and white world and even though she's no angel, she's someone you'd definitely want at your back/side or front in a fight.
If I were to be critical of anything, I really would have liked a little more romance. Although there's a foundation for it here, it's blink-and-you'll-miss-it in terms of actual action.
Still, a strong start and I'll be moving on to book two, Contract of Betrayal
4 Stars ★★★★ A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2016
Edited for a more thorough review:
I’m not the biggest fan of either first person or present tense unless we’re talking about a noir detective novel. For the first few chapters, I had to tell my brain that that’s what I was reading, which may have put an interesting spin on this whole shebang that the author didn’t intend. If you look at this book like you are reading a noir detective set in space, Aly is a refreshing new voice in the world of slick PIs.
After a little while, though, the amazing cast and classic sci-fi action lulled me into reading the rest without noticing the POV and tense. Aly’s still refreshing in this setting as well. She makes mistakes, she takes chances (and gets messy, Miss Frizzle would be so proud). She’s not the hot female action lead, she’s just Aly Erikson, living this life in search of justice. Not to mention the other characters. Vitruzzi was an especial favorite of mine. The captain was wise and tough and very much human.
As the action gets bigger and the danger gets…well, more dangerous, this book becomes un-put-down-able. A prison break in space is one of the best things ever. And the prison! The always moving caravan of a prison that is impossible to predict adds just the right twist to this classic fiction device.
Once I got past my own hang ups about the POV, this book quickly became one that I plan to re-read.
I’m not the biggest fan of either first person or present tense unless we’re talking about a noir detective novel. For the first few chapters, I had to tell my brain that that’s what I was reading, which may have put an interesting spin on this whole shebang that the author didn’t intend. If you look at this book like you are reading a noir detective set in space, Aly is a refreshing new voice in the world of slick PIs.
After a little while, though, the amazing cast and classic sci-fi action lulled me into reading the rest without noticing the POV and tense. Aly’s still refreshing in this setting as well. She makes mistakes, she takes chances (and gets messy, Miss Frizzle would be so proud). She’s not the hot female action lead, she’s just Aly Erikson, living this life in search of justice. Not to mention the other characters. Vitruzzi was an especial favorite of mine. The captain was wise and tough and very much human.
As the action gets bigger and the danger gets…well, more dangerous, this book becomes un-put-down-able. A prison break in space is one of the best things ever. And the prison! The always moving caravan of a prison that is impossible to predict adds just the right twist to this classic fiction device.
Once I got past my own hang ups about the POV, this book quickly became one that I plan to re-read.
February 12, 2013
When this series is made into a movie, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they cast Milla Jovovich as the lead. Tammy takes us on a ride in this novel that is reminiscent of the action you'd find in Fifth Element or Resident Evil [minus any virus-distorted baddies]. The book starts out with a blast as Aly and her brother are on the run from Corps soldiers on a botched contract job and doesn't let up on the action until the ride comes to a stop. Tammy creates fantastic characters throughout the story telling, ones that you can easily connect with and visualize. But she has a way of story-telling that doesn't require the reader to wade through world-building exposition, flat character description or over-the-top science. When a character references a VDU, the context gives you all the science you need to know. This makes the reading easy, fun and immersive.
Knowing this is the first in a three book series has me quite excited about what she'll turn out next and just how Aly will cope with the challenges and life changes that have been placed before her. Kudos on hooking me, Tammy! I'll be back for the next two.
Knowing this is the first in a three book series has me quite excited about what she'll turn out next and just how Aly will cope with the challenges and life changes that have been placed before her. Kudos on hooking me, Tammy! I'll be back for the next two.
July 18, 2012
This book was super fun! I haven't read any sci-fi/action in a while, so this was definitely a nice change of pace. The story is told from the point of view of Aly Erickson, a former Corps soldier, who got separated from the group of smugglers she was working for. She also got separated from her brother, David, who she is trying to find and rescue. Aly is pretty awesome. She's fearless and tough and full of love. The setting is a system of planets inhabited by humans and heavily controlled by the Administration. The descriptions and writing style really give you a sense of how gritty and dangerous this world is, and it's easy to tell how hard these colonies of deserters and ex-citizens have to work to survive. They are two steps away from disaster at any moment. I definitely recommend this read if you like action-heavy plots, especially sci-fi, and stories with a bad-ass female protagonist.
AN EXHILARATING TOUR DE FORCE!! (you can put that on the dust jacket)
AN EXHILARATING TOUR DE FORCE!! (you can put that on the dust jacket)
April 19, 2014
Contract of Defiance isn't my usual book type, while I love Sci-Fi I dont normally go towards military based books, but these had such good reviews that I thought I would give it a try.
COD revolves around Aly Erikson an ex corps officer who became a member of a weapons smuggling team. While on a job to receive a vital piece of equipment to use in their next big score, she gets separated from her brother and the rest of her team. ALy gets picked up by a group of military settlers (some ex-corp officers) who need her help to find their lost crew members being held by the Admin. They join forces to get their crew back as well as Aly's brother David. But its a dangerous mission to go deep into the Admin!
Contract of Defiance is well written and clever. The author has a knowledgeable understanding of the military, which makes the story enjoyable and easy to believe.
This book was a great read!
COD revolves around Aly Erikson an ex corps officer who became a member of a weapons smuggling team. While on a job to receive a vital piece of equipment to use in their next big score, she gets separated from her brother and the rest of her team. ALy gets picked up by a group of military settlers (some ex-corp officers) who need her help to find their lost crew members being held by the Admin. They join forces to get their crew back as well as Aly's brother David. But its a dangerous mission to go deep into the Admin!
Contract of Defiance is well written and clever. The author has a knowledgeable understanding of the military, which makes the story enjoyable and easy to believe.
This book was a great read!
August 12, 2014
This novel started out with the main character, Aly, in the middle of a firefight and kept me hooked until the end. I found the characters realistic, the plot twisty enough to keep me guessing, and the pacing spot-on.
Of particular note are the strong female characters that aren't stereotypes. They're normal, decent, flawed individuals thrown into dangerous situations. They have backgrounds that are gradually revealed so we get to understand their actions. Ok, actually, that's true for all the characters, but I noticed this in particular for the females, because historically, scifi has a lousy track record with that.
I see there's two more novels in this series and I'm definitely going to snap them up!
Of particular note are the strong female characters that aren't stereotypes. They're normal, decent, flawed individuals thrown into dangerous situations. They have backgrounds that are gradually revealed so we get to understand their actions. Ok, actually, that's true for all the characters, but I noticed this in particular for the females, because historically, scifi has a lousy track record with that.
I see there's two more novels in this series and I'm definitely going to snap them up!
April 27, 2015
Tammy Salyer does a great job with this book. It's first person present narrative and it works well for what she is doing.
You can really get into the characters, and description of the characters within. The storytelling was spot on and quick.
I loved the action in this as well. No one was a super powerful human, yet their wills allowed them to accomplish an insane amount in a short time.
I can't wait to dig into the next book!
You can really get into the characters, and description of the characters within. The storytelling was spot on and quick.
I loved the action in this as well. No one was a super powerful human, yet their wills allowed them to accomplish an insane amount in a short time.
I can't wait to dig into the next book!
May 3, 2015
This book is on the lower end of four stars. It's a solid story, but not original. It's like so many other sci-fi books where the book is like our world today, except they have spaceships. People still use guns and bombs, computers, biological weapons etc. the government is more totalitarian than ours, but the military is much the same. On the plus side, there is a lot of action and the plot is cohesive. The characters are reasonably well-developed.
November 8, 2013
The story started in a manner i felt was a bit jarring, but I rapidly was caught up in the story where the main character was just as confused and lost as anyone. The story rapidly turned to a tale of self-discovery, Betrayal and non-stop action. This story never lets you pause for air as Aly rushes to save her brother from what is certain doom.
February 22, 2015
Tammy Salyer asked me to read her space opera, "Contract of Defiance". It's about two groups of criminals that try to break into a high security government facility for diametrically opposed goals. I will examine Plot, Character, and Polish before assigning a grade.
PLOT
What we have here is a conspiracy by two groups of criminals to sneak into this giant fortress operated by an oppressive government in order to rescue friends or steal weapons for a payoff. It's very Star Wars-ish, if the attempt was only undertaken by five of Han Solo's split personalities and he was working with/against Jaba the Hut's goons, The Empire was nothing but faceless mooks, and the Jedi didn't exist. Okay, revise that; it's nothing like Star Wars.
There's a In Media Res starting things off which is a great hook. It moves quickly into action and the backstory is revealed piece by piece as our protagonist, Aly Erickson, tries to get a handle on her situation.
Because she is the protagonist, one could say that the plot is her attempt to reunite with her brother, David, whom she was separated from during the In Media Res heist. Her story unfolds as she tries to make this happen. She believes he's being held captive at The Fortress that her crew was going to break into anyway but there's a problem. Her crew was going to snatch a weapon and her boss doesn't like changing his plans. She falls in with a new crew that has a similar goal but they don't like her because she's a darker shade of grey, and she doesn't feel comfortable with them for a great many reasons, and one of them is being a darker shade of grey, but she wants to be a lighter shade. This is the book's second source of conflict.
Everyone in this story is grey (except for Rajack and most of his crew-they're straight up black). This cast contains only criminals of some kind and most of them have a Dark and Troubled Past explaining why they're a criminal and it always involves the Admin. If you think about it, they can sound silly.
-"I hate the Admin because I was a soldier and they told me to kill people who committed crimes."
-"I hate the Admin because they didn't maintain a dry mine and it eventually collapsed on my family, who was squatting in it."
-"I hate the Admin because I didn't want to use their funding towards what they wanted me to use it for so they threatened to take it away."
-"I hate the Admin because a virus wiped out a city and rumors say that it was created in the Fortress, transported to the city, and then maybe deliberately released."
This last one is the most egregious because stealing a weapon from the Fortress and using it on a populated city (for ransom money) is precisely Rajack's plan and what Aly was working towards in the In Media Res.
No one from the Admin ever appears and the only named character from the Admin is a corrupt official. Thus, we never see the other side of this story. What keeps this balanced and away from the territories of Designated Villain and Off-Screen Villainy, is that the criminal status of the main cast is regularly lampshaded.
-Hardly a chapter goes by where Aly does not mention or think about how the equipment in Agate Beach must be stolen. Thus, a target for law enforcement. She also reflects on her own past as a deserter and weapon smuggler who has no qualms with killing people if necessary.
-This quote here is illuminating.
****
(Most of the non-cit outposts I’ve been to in my travels have been destitute sties filled with pirates, degenerates, and criminals—hiding places for the cutthroat and brutal.")
****
Why do soldiers so often kill people in the outskirts? If everyone in the community is a brutal criminal then the soldiers cannot play nice. Let's imagine that this story takes place during the time when Aly was still an Admin soldier. She was tracking down, in her own words, "pirates, degenerates and criminals". She presumed that Vitruzzi's crew were "smugglers that spill blood out of convenience" because as both a soldier and deserter, that is what she is most used to seeing. That is all she finds in Hell's Gate. The lack of such people in Agate Beach baffles her. This means that the Admin, at worst, is a Knight Templar organization.
-This passage here is a full on lampshading of this grey and grey morality as well as a popping of Aly's justification for thinking the Admin is worse than herself and therefore deserves to be the victim of her crimes.
****
(Strahan leans back in his chair, his lips twisted into a sarcastic grin. "That’s just beautiful, Erikson. You work for a man who wiped out a squad of thirty soldiers to escape from Keum Libre, a prison he no doubt deserved to be in, and help him steal a bomb that could potentially wipe out the population of a planet. And you make out that it’s the Admin’s fault? That’s rich.") Page 70.
****
In other words, when you are a thief and a murderer and you work for a thief and a murderer who wants the ability to depopulate a planet, you have no moral high ground at all. Also, this comes from Strahan, who is a former soldier similar to Aly, although he was more pilot than infantry.
-When pressed to answer why she thinks the Admin would want to destroy Agate Beach, instead of just arresting the criminals inside it, Aly can only say "I don't know. Because it's what they do". Either she doesn't want to admit that the Admin is justified in tracking down criminals (albeit in a unnecessarily harsh and severe manner) or she doesn't want to admit that she thinks the Admin are Always Chaotic Evil because that would be silly if spoken aloud. Aly likes ignoring facts that don't fit her complicated world view; a fact that she is aware of and also tries to ignore.
While reading this book I couldn't help but imagine what the tone would be like and what the opinion of the Admin would be if a soldier or citizen were the protagonist. Thus, we have a grey and grey and black morality, with Rajack being the black and Vitruzzi's crew being grey along with the Admin.
The ending is good. The book's conflict is resolved but the series' conflict can continue into another book. Only a skilled author can pull off something like this.
CHARACTERS
Aly Erickson, our protagonist, is fascinatingly complex. Laying out her personality, worldview, and the contradicting-yet-complementary elements could be its own blog post. For the sake of brevity, I will try to nutshell it. (Warning! Understanding the nutshell requires fluency in Tvtropes.) Aly is a Broken Bird due to Parental Abandonment and Shell Shocked Veteran who practices half-hearted Straw Nihilism because Hope Is Scary but Even Evil Has Standards and Blood Is Thicker Than Water.
Rajack is the Big Bad. He's like a rapid dog that is paradoxically able to think rationally. Perhaps a better description would be that he is a savagely intelligent dog that employs truly rapid dogs. No one hates the Admin more than this guy and yet he does not have a Dark and Troubled Past like our protagonists with which to justify said hatred, and he's also far eviler than anyone in the Admin.
Vitruzzi is the Big Good. If she's not the leader of Agate Beach or co-leader with Brady then she can certainly convince him to do things her way on a regular basis. She can be compared to an Apron Matron because she cares deeply about her crew's well being, keeping them safe and fed, but also doesn't take any crap from them or anyone. She's also an amazing strategist with Nerves of Steel.
The Admin has only one named character, T'kai, but he never shows up or speaks for himself. It's all second-hand and in-universe speculation about his actions and motives. There's also Vilbrandt, who claims to have been a big wig with the Admin, but no one trusts a word he says on any subject. In the end, the Admin is treated like this big monolithic bully. Since all of this comes from criminals, it's hardly an objective prospective.
POLISH
No spelling or grammar errors.
This story is a first person narration from Aly and it's a mixed bag whether or not it works. The hook at the start of the story wouldn't be nearly as effective in third person, but there are other scenes that drag because of her internal narration. Some areas are too calmly narrated for someone in panic or anger but there are also some scenes that do a good job of simulating her losing consciousness and thus awareness of what's going on. Sometimes the narration sounds like she's musing to herself or talking herself through actions but other times it comes perilously close to breaking the fourth wall by explaining things to the readers.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "Contract of Defiance" a B+
PLOT
What we have here is a conspiracy by two groups of criminals to sneak into this giant fortress operated by an oppressive government in order to rescue friends or steal weapons for a payoff. It's very Star Wars-ish, if the attempt was only undertaken by five of Han Solo's split personalities and he was working with/against Jaba the Hut's goons, The Empire was nothing but faceless mooks, and the Jedi didn't exist. Okay, revise that; it's nothing like Star Wars.
There's a In Media Res starting things off which is a great hook. It moves quickly into action and the backstory is revealed piece by piece as our protagonist, Aly Erickson, tries to get a handle on her situation.
Because she is the protagonist, one could say that the plot is her attempt to reunite with her brother, David, whom she was separated from during the In Media Res heist. Her story unfolds as she tries to make this happen. She believes he's being held captive at The Fortress that her crew was going to break into anyway but there's a problem. Her crew was going to snatch a weapon and her boss doesn't like changing his plans. She falls in with a new crew that has a similar goal but they don't like her because she's a darker shade of grey, and she doesn't feel comfortable with them for a great many reasons, and one of them is being a darker shade of grey, but she wants to be a lighter shade. This is the book's second source of conflict.
Everyone in this story is grey (except for Rajack and most of his crew-they're straight up black). This cast contains only criminals of some kind and most of them have a Dark and Troubled Past explaining why they're a criminal and it always involves the Admin. If you think about it, they can sound silly.
-"I hate the Admin because I was a soldier and they told me to kill people who committed crimes."
-"I hate the Admin because they didn't maintain a dry mine and it eventually collapsed on my family, who was squatting in it."
-"I hate the Admin because I didn't want to use their funding towards what they wanted me to use it for so they threatened to take it away."
-"I hate the Admin because a virus wiped out a city and rumors say that it was created in the Fortress, transported to the city, and then maybe deliberately released."
This last one is the most egregious because stealing a weapon from the Fortress and using it on a populated city (for ransom money) is precisely Rajack's plan and what Aly was working towards in the In Media Res.
No one from the Admin ever appears and the only named character from the Admin is a corrupt official. Thus, we never see the other side of this story. What keeps this balanced and away from the territories of Designated Villain and Off-Screen Villainy, is that the criminal status of the main cast is regularly lampshaded.
-Hardly a chapter goes by where Aly does not mention or think about how the equipment in Agate Beach must be stolen. Thus, a target for law enforcement. She also reflects on her own past as a deserter and weapon smuggler who has no qualms with killing people if necessary.
-This quote here is illuminating.
****
(Most of the non-cit outposts I’ve been to in my travels have been destitute sties filled with pirates, degenerates, and criminals—hiding places for the cutthroat and brutal.")
****
Why do soldiers so often kill people in the outskirts? If everyone in the community is a brutal criminal then the soldiers cannot play nice. Let's imagine that this story takes place during the time when Aly was still an Admin soldier. She was tracking down, in her own words, "pirates, degenerates and criminals". She presumed that Vitruzzi's crew were "smugglers that spill blood out of convenience" because as both a soldier and deserter, that is what she is most used to seeing. That is all she finds in Hell's Gate. The lack of such people in Agate Beach baffles her. This means that the Admin, at worst, is a Knight Templar organization.
-This passage here is a full on lampshading of this grey and grey morality as well as a popping of Aly's justification for thinking the Admin is worse than herself and therefore deserves to be the victim of her crimes.
****
(Strahan leans back in his chair, his lips twisted into a sarcastic grin. "That’s just beautiful, Erikson. You work for a man who wiped out a squad of thirty soldiers to escape from Keum Libre, a prison he no doubt deserved to be in, and help him steal a bomb that could potentially wipe out the population of a planet. And you make out that it’s the Admin’s fault? That’s rich.") Page 70.
****
In other words, when you are a thief and a murderer and you work for a thief and a murderer who wants the ability to depopulate a planet, you have no moral high ground at all. Also, this comes from Strahan, who is a former soldier similar to Aly, although he was more pilot than infantry.
-When pressed to answer why she thinks the Admin would want to destroy Agate Beach, instead of just arresting the criminals inside it, Aly can only say "I don't know. Because it's what they do". Either she doesn't want to admit that the Admin is justified in tracking down criminals (albeit in a unnecessarily harsh and severe manner) or she doesn't want to admit that she thinks the Admin are Always Chaotic Evil because that would be silly if spoken aloud. Aly likes ignoring facts that don't fit her complicated world view; a fact that she is aware of and also tries to ignore.
While reading this book I couldn't help but imagine what the tone would be like and what the opinion of the Admin would be if a soldier or citizen were the protagonist. Thus, we have a grey and grey and black morality, with Rajack being the black and Vitruzzi's crew being grey along with the Admin.
The ending is good. The book's conflict is resolved but the series' conflict can continue into another book. Only a skilled author can pull off something like this.
CHARACTERS
Aly Erickson, our protagonist, is fascinatingly complex. Laying out her personality, worldview, and the contradicting-yet-complementary elements could be its own blog post. For the sake of brevity, I will try to nutshell it. (Warning! Understanding the nutshell requires fluency in Tvtropes.) Aly is a Broken Bird due to Parental Abandonment and Shell Shocked Veteran who practices half-hearted Straw Nihilism because Hope Is Scary but Even Evil Has Standards and Blood Is Thicker Than Water.
Rajack is the Big Bad. He's like a rapid dog that is paradoxically able to think rationally. Perhaps a better description would be that he is a savagely intelligent dog that employs truly rapid dogs. No one hates the Admin more than this guy and yet he does not have a Dark and Troubled Past like our protagonists with which to justify said hatred, and he's also far eviler than anyone in the Admin.
Vitruzzi is the Big Good. If she's not the leader of Agate Beach or co-leader with Brady then she can certainly convince him to do things her way on a regular basis. She can be compared to an Apron Matron because she cares deeply about her crew's well being, keeping them safe and fed, but also doesn't take any crap from them or anyone. She's also an amazing strategist with Nerves of Steel.
The Admin has only one named character, T'kai, but he never shows up or speaks for himself. It's all second-hand and in-universe speculation about his actions and motives. There's also Vilbrandt, who claims to have been a big wig with the Admin, but no one trusts a word he says on any subject. In the end, the Admin is treated like this big monolithic bully. Since all of this comes from criminals, it's hardly an objective prospective.
POLISH
No spelling or grammar errors.
This story is a first person narration from Aly and it's a mixed bag whether or not it works. The hook at the start of the story wouldn't be nearly as effective in third person, but there are other scenes that drag because of her internal narration. Some areas are too calmly narrated for someone in panic or anger but there are also some scenes that do a good job of simulating her losing consciousness and thus awareness of what's going on. Sometimes the narration sounds like she's musing to herself or talking herself through actions but other times it comes perilously close to breaking the fourth wall by explaining things to the readers.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "Contract of Defiance" a B+
October 14, 2017
Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over
I’m all for the fun action movie, especially when it’s science fiction, but I generally look for more when I read. This book had me worried because it starts in the middle of the action and at a mad run, but I should have had more faith. Yes, there’s action a plenty, but there’s also strong characters and people discovering who they really are.
The story focuses around Aly, who is an arms smuggler not out of ambition but rather from a lack of choices. Her history and her brother drove her down this path, but she’s not what most people would expect of ex-Corp military personnel. She’s faced with having to accept the corruption of her path or move beyond it, and each time something goes too far, she makes an active choice.
I like how she is developing from a “now” person into a “What do I want to be” kind of person. Sure, her choices are driven by her need to save her brother at first, but they become more almost without her consent, or rather, the consequences of the choices are outside of what she reasonably expected. Still, she could have given up at any point, and she could have made the final step of losing her sense of morality. Her options, and her existence, would have been much easier if she had.
Aly never takes the easy path, and trust isn’t something she’s willing to risk, but she makes connections with people almost against her will, and often against what appears to be her self-interest. She’s complex, haunted, and driven, nor is she the only character with that deep of a story. The whole crew of the transport ship that simultaneously rescues and kidnaps Aly in the beginning is much the same, each with a darkness they can’t forget but a determination to do something to make up for that past. There’s an element of revenge, but beyond Aly, they are mostly forward-looking rather than after blood.
There’s a lot to enjoy in this story, and despite what I said at the beginning, the things that stuck with me were almost entirely characters. People looking for a pure adrenalin rush might just find themselves pulled into a moving story of how Aly learns she has more than just her brother to count on, and there’s much more to live for than the value of throwing her life away on revenge.
It certainly offers hopes for the fun things to be found in the rest of the Spectras Arise Trilogy.
I’m all for the fun action movie, especially when it’s science fiction, but I generally look for more when I read. This book had me worried because it starts in the middle of the action and at a mad run, but I should have had more faith. Yes, there’s action a plenty, but there’s also strong characters and people discovering who they really are.
The story focuses around Aly, who is an arms smuggler not out of ambition but rather from a lack of choices. Her history and her brother drove her down this path, but she’s not what most people would expect of ex-Corp military personnel. She’s faced with having to accept the corruption of her path or move beyond it, and each time something goes too far, she makes an active choice.
I like how she is developing from a “now” person into a “What do I want to be” kind of person. Sure, her choices are driven by her need to save her brother at first, but they become more almost without her consent, or rather, the consequences of the choices are outside of what she reasonably expected. Still, she could have given up at any point, and she could have made the final step of losing her sense of morality. Her options, and her existence, would have been much easier if she had.
Aly never takes the easy path, and trust isn’t something she’s willing to risk, but she makes connections with people almost against her will, and often against what appears to be her self-interest. She’s complex, haunted, and driven, nor is she the only character with that deep of a story. The whole crew of the transport ship that simultaneously rescues and kidnaps Aly in the beginning is much the same, each with a darkness they can’t forget but a determination to do something to make up for that past. There’s an element of revenge, but beyond Aly, they are mostly forward-looking rather than after blood.
There’s a lot to enjoy in this story, and despite what I said at the beginning, the things that stuck with me were almost entirely characters. People looking for a pure adrenalin rush might just find themselves pulled into a moving story of how Aly learns she has more than just her brother to count on, and there’s much more to live for than the value of throwing her life away on revenge.
It certainly offers hopes for the fun things to be found in the rest of the Spectras Arise Trilogy.
October 16, 2017
Solid scifi; mixing action and double-crosses with emotional turmoil and moral dilemma. Great characters, excellent setting description and a great, easy plot.
April 11, 2016
“No matter where you are, it's the people you're with that matter most." -
If you want to get hooked on a book right away, then start reading Tammy Salyer's Contact of Defiance. From the first page, this Military Science Fiction thriller drops you right into the action. Salyer skillfully thrusts protagonist, Aly Erickson, into chaotic action scenes that will keep your heart pumping.
To mix up things a bit relative to the standard Science Fiction story, Salyer develops two strong female characters in Aly Erickson and Captain Vitruzzi. These two authentic female characters provide a nice counterbalance to the unsavory antagonist, Rajcik.
The conflicted character of Aly Erickson is tough as nails and smart on her feet, but also emotionally vulnerable and somewhat insecure. She’s seeking clarity about the underlying motivation for the decisions that she makes, and ultimately wrestling with loyalty that’s stretched between multiple parties. Hence my decision to begin this review with the quote above from Contract of Defiance.
Salyer uses multiple characters to help uncover and stabilize Aly Erickson's inner moral compass, but none more so than the character of Vitruzzi.
Some of the best character development in the story happens in the scenes that involve Rajcik. Salyer creates a character that literally makes your skin crawl whenever his name is mentioned. You can really feel the fear and intimidation that Rajcik exudes.
The other aspect that I enjoyed about Rajcik is that he is a worthy foe for Aly and Vitruzzi. He's very cunning, greedy and always seeking vengeance against anyone who he thinks may have crossed him. Rajcik is definitely a character that you'll love to hate.
Additionally, some of my favorite prose in the entire book occurs when relatively minor character, Patrick Brady, gets introduced on the planet of Spectra 6. Salyer gives an amazingly authentic look at Brady's existence and the circumstances that led him, and people in his situation, to be as bitter as they are. The author's writing really shines here.
Marcus MacCready is another dark character with an interesting past that involves Aly. The conflict between these two characters is skillfully developed and played out flawlessly.
Like the mandatory worm found in a fine bottle of tequila, what speculative fiction book is complete without at least one zombie cameo? In Contract of Defiance, Salyer takes a more creative turn with the introduction of "solar stoners," the equivalent of drug-addicted zombies. This small detail helps to add context to the sorry state of the outskirts of Spectra 6.
With the exception of just a few spots where the action slowed down a tick and an occasional plot line that’s too easy to explain, I really enjoyed reading this book. I especially liked the element of mystery that pervades the story; this really helped to keep me intrigued as a reader.
To make the story even more authentic, I would have preferred more back story between Aly and her brother. Aly repeatedly expressed how important her relationship was with her brother, but I never felt the strength of this bond. A few flashback stories that shared bonding experiences between Aly and her brother would have gone a long way to shore up this absence for me. It's not until the end of the story that there's a very brief reference made of a time when Ally's brother consoled her when she was beaten by her father.
In real life, author Tammy Sayler has spent time in the Army and it seems like some of the most compelling parts of Contract of Defiance are drawn from her real life experiences. I'd like to see future books from her leverage this background even more.
This book is designed first in the series, and now that Salyer's done a solid job of establishing a credible cast of characters and telling an intriguing story, I'm really looking forward to the sequel Contract of Betrayal.
If you want to get hooked on a book right away, then start reading Tammy Salyer's Contact of Defiance. From the first page, this Military Science Fiction thriller drops you right into the action. Salyer skillfully thrusts protagonist, Aly Erickson, into chaotic action scenes that will keep your heart pumping.
To mix up things a bit relative to the standard Science Fiction story, Salyer develops two strong female characters in Aly Erickson and Captain Vitruzzi. These two authentic female characters provide a nice counterbalance to the unsavory antagonist, Rajcik.
The conflicted character of Aly Erickson is tough as nails and smart on her feet, but also emotionally vulnerable and somewhat insecure. She’s seeking clarity about the underlying motivation for the decisions that she makes, and ultimately wrestling with loyalty that’s stretched between multiple parties. Hence my decision to begin this review with the quote above from Contract of Defiance.
Salyer uses multiple characters to help uncover and stabilize Aly Erickson's inner moral compass, but none more so than the character of Vitruzzi.
Some of the best character development in the story happens in the scenes that involve Rajcik. Salyer creates a character that literally makes your skin crawl whenever his name is mentioned. You can really feel the fear and intimidation that Rajcik exudes.
The other aspect that I enjoyed about Rajcik is that he is a worthy foe for Aly and Vitruzzi. He's very cunning, greedy and always seeking vengeance against anyone who he thinks may have crossed him. Rajcik is definitely a character that you'll love to hate.
Additionally, some of my favorite prose in the entire book occurs when relatively minor character, Patrick Brady, gets introduced on the planet of Spectra 6. Salyer gives an amazingly authentic look at Brady's existence and the circumstances that led him, and people in his situation, to be as bitter as they are. The author's writing really shines here.
Marcus MacCready is another dark character with an interesting past that involves Aly. The conflict between these two characters is skillfully developed and played out flawlessly.
Like the mandatory worm found in a fine bottle of tequila, what speculative fiction book is complete without at least one zombie cameo? In Contract of Defiance, Salyer takes a more creative turn with the introduction of "solar stoners," the equivalent of drug-addicted zombies. This small detail helps to add context to the sorry state of the outskirts of Spectra 6.
With the exception of just a few spots where the action slowed down a tick and an occasional plot line that’s too easy to explain, I really enjoyed reading this book. I especially liked the element of mystery that pervades the story; this really helped to keep me intrigued as a reader.
To make the story even more authentic, I would have preferred more back story between Aly and her brother. Aly repeatedly expressed how important her relationship was with her brother, but I never felt the strength of this bond. A few flashback stories that shared bonding experiences between Aly and her brother would have gone a long way to shore up this absence for me. It's not until the end of the story that there's a very brief reference made of a time when Ally's brother consoled her when she was beaten by her father.
In real life, author Tammy Sayler has spent time in the Army and it seems like some of the most compelling parts of Contract of Defiance are drawn from her real life experiences. I'd like to see future books from her leverage this background even more.
This book is designed first in the series, and now that Salyer's done a solid job of establishing a credible cast of characters and telling an intriguing story, I'm really looking forward to the sequel Contract of Betrayal.
June 9, 2014
Contract of Defiance by Tammy Salyer has been on my TBR list for awhile, so when I got the hankering for a good, old-fashioned Gunfight at Docking Bay 3-type story I picked it up.
And couldn’t put it down.
The story is filled with the sci-fi tropes that defined my generation. An evil Admin has spread across the galaxy using citizens and non-cits alike as fodder for its dastardly machine. The main character Aly Erickson is an ex-Corps soldier turned outlaw. (Side note: since I'm from Minnesota, I kept wanting the Erickson in Aly to come out with a good uff-da during one of the fight scenes. Strangely, she never does).
The story opens with an actual gun fight, showing off both Aly's fighting skills and her creator's fight scene writing skills. Aly and her gang of cutthroats are in the middle of a raid on an Admin site when the plan goes sideways. She and her brother are betrayed, her brother is captured by the Admin and Aly is saved by a band of "good" bad guys.
Salyer's writing is crystal sharp, with metaphors that made me stand back and say "wow." Check this one out:
His callousness makes me feel as if I’m biting tinfoil.
Or this:
His smile is a squashed worm writhing on a hot sidewalk.
Fresh, incisive, gritty, these little metaphorical jabs pepper her writing, making it feel fresh and snappy all the time.
Salyer lets Aly tell her own story using a breathless, first person, present tense that lends immediacy to the tale. Normally, I am not a fan of present tense—it seems to kitschy to me—but it worked in this case.
I've since learned that Salyer is an editor and it shows. Her text is flawless. It's been a long time since I've read a book by any author or publisher--established, new, independent, traditional--where I didn't find a single typo. This was one of them. But what I admired most about Salyer's writing was the way she develops depth in her characters. She takes her time, metering in the character's backstory like a pro, never making it a data dump, but blending it expertly into the flow of the narrative.
So mash it all up and what do you have? A rocket ship full of sci-fi lovin' goodness powered by prose that borders on literary fiction. Hey, if Michael Bunker can manufacture Amish sci-fi, why can't Tammy Salyer have literary sci-fi. I can see why Contract of Defiance won a ton of of awards.
Now, I only have one question: can she do it again? When I read Contract of Betrayal, Book Two of the Spectras Arise Trilogy, I'll let you know.
And couldn’t put it down.
The story is filled with the sci-fi tropes that defined my generation. An evil Admin has spread across the galaxy using citizens and non-cits alike as fodder for its dastardly machine. The main character Aly Erickson is an ex-Corps soldier turned outlaw. (Side note: since I'm from Minnesota, I kept wanting the Erickson in Aly to come out with a good uff-da during one of the fight scenes. Strangely, she never does).
The story opens with an actual gun fight, showing off both Aly's fighting skills and her creator's fight scene writing skills. Aly and her gang of cutthroats are in the middle of a raid on an Admin site when the plan goes sideways. She and her brother are betrayed, her brother is captured by the Admin and Aly is saved by a band of "good" bad guys.
Salyer's writing is crystal sharp, with metaphors that made me stand back and say "wow." Check this one out:
His callousness makes me feel as if I’m biting tinfoil.
Or this:
His smile is a squashed worm writhing on a hot sidewalk.
Fresh, incisive, gritty, these little metaphorical jabs pepper her writing, making it feel fresh and snappy all the time.
Salyer lets Aly tell her own story using a breathless, first person, present tense that lends immediacy to the tale. Normally, I am not a fan of present tense—it seems to kitschy to me—but it worked in this case.
I've since learned that Salyer is an editor and it shows. Her text is flawless. It's been a long time since I've read a book by any author or publisher--established, new, independent, traditional--where I didn't find a single typo. This was one of them. But what I admired most about Salyer's writing was the way she develops depth in her characters. She takes her time, metering in the character's backstory like a pro, never making it a data dump, but blending it expertly into the flow of the narrative.
So mash it all up and what do you have? A rocket ship full of sci-fi lovin' goodness powered by prose that borders on literary fiction. Hey, if Michael Bunker can manufacture Amish sci-fi, why can't Tammy Salyer have literary sci-fi. I can see why Contract of Defiance won a ton of of awards.
Now, I only have one question: can she do it again? When I read Contract of Betrayal, Book Two of the Spectras Arise Trilogy, I'll let you know.
November 13, 2012
A fast-paced and fun sci-fi space adventure with a great protagonist, Contract of Defiance by Tammy Salyer (@TammySalyer) starts with a running gun fight and doesn't let up until the explosive conclusion.
You know that "have to know what happens next?" feeling you get reading some books? The "just one more chapter" syndrome? Yup, I definitely felt that way about Contract, which I read over a two-day span on a rainy weekend.
Set in the future after humans have moved out into space, Contract opens with military deserters Aly Erickson and her brother fleeing from a squad of soldiers after helping steal a disk of valuable information. Aly and David are part of a team of smugglers led by Rajcik, an infamous criminal with a visceral hatred for the Admin — the brutal regime commanding that corner of the galaxy.
After her brother is captured, Aly falls in with an odd group of renegade settlers who hope to strike a deal with her criminal crew but don't seem to understand how deadly a proposition that could be. Still, Aly needs to get her brother free from the Admin and its military, so she must carefully navigate a path between the two wary and distrustful groups to find and save him.
A paratrooper during her service in the U.S. Army, Ms. Salyer's plentiful action scenes are exciting and well-written, and she brings Aly to life exceptionally well. After years spent on the run as a deserter and part of a vicious criminal gang, Aly's sole allegiance is to her brother but her moral compass isn't entirely broken. The story is told by Aly, and she is surrounded by an eclectic and interesting group of characters — most of whom are more than they seem at first glance. Finding out which is part of the fun.
Contract of Defiance won the 2010 Colorado Gold contest for best new action/thriller and I would say that is a well-deserved honor. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a military/sci-fi with plenty of action, great characters and a few well-placed twists. Ms. Salyer's follow-up in the series, Contract of Betrayal is due out in 2013 and I'm looking forward to Aly's next adventure.
You know that "have to know what happens next?" feeling you get reading some books? The "just one more chapter" syndrome? Yup, I definitely felt that way about Contract, which I read over a two-day span on a rainy weekend.
Set in the future after humans have moved out into space, Contract opens with military deserters Aly Erickson and her brother fleeing from a squad of soldiers after helping steal a disk of valuable information. Aly and David are part of a team of smugglers led by Rajcik, an infamous criminal with a visceral hatred for the Admin — the brutal regime commanding that corner of the galaxy.
After her brother is captured, Aly falls in with an odd group of renegade settlers who hope to strike a deal with her criminal crew but don't seem to understand how deadly a proposition that could be. Still, Aly needs to get her brother free from the Admin and its military, so she must carefully navigate a path between the two wary and distrustful groups to find and save him.
A paratrooper during her service in the U.S. Army, Ms. Salyer's plentiful action scenes are exciting and well-written, and she brings Aly to life exceptionally well. After years spent on the run as a deserter and part of a vicious criminal gang, Aly's sole allegiance is to her brother but her moral compass isn't entirely broken. The story is told by Aly, and she is surrounded by an eclectic and interesting group of characters — most of whom are more than they seem at first glance. Finding out which is part of the fun.
Contract of Defiance won the 2010 Colorado Gold contest for best new action/thriller and I would say that is a well-deserved honor. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a military/sci-fi with plenty of action, great characters and a few well-placed twists. Ms. Salyer's follow-up in the series, Contract of Betrayal is due out in 2013 and I'm looking forward to Aly's next adventure.
July 14, 2012
Arm yourself for an riveting quest on the galactic fringe in Contract of Defiance by Tammy Salyer - average amazon rating of 4.8
A Little About Contract of Defiance:
Crossed, double-crossed and left for dead, can it get any worse?
Aly Erikson was a Corps deserter and gun smuggler living on the fringe of a galactic Orwellian society until a botched job leaves her brother in the hands of a cruel government and her left for dead. When a strange crew of settlers takes her in, Aly must learn to trust if she's to have any hope at saving her brother and getting her revenge.
The science fiction is secondary to the human story of struggle that tests individual limits of heart and mind. Salyer creates a world where mistrust is an institution as a result of a barbaric galactic government that uses any means to suppress its people. Aly is a product of that government but escapes its clutches to avoid being its tool. Her military skills manifest in an ability to survive under the radar but the emotional damage she brings is her greatest challenge.
Salyer gives us an action-packed page-turner and Contract of Defiance where you feel Aly's internal struggles as if you were a member of her new crew trying to break down those emotional walls. You can't help but root for this heroin and the concise writing guides you and Aly through a quest that very well could be her last.
About the Author:
A former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, Tammy's novel, Contract of Defiance, has already won the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold contest in 2010 for best action/thriller novel. Tammy works in behavioral-science research, runs and bikes the foothills of Colorado and her next book, Contract of Betrayal, will be out in Spring 2013.
Airborne!
Tom Clementson (Kindle Book Review)
Be sure to take a moment and leave your feedback and comments about the book
A Little About Contract of Defiance:
Crossed, double-crossed and left for dead, can it get any worse?
Aly Erikson was a Corps deserter and gun smuggler living on the fringe of a galactic Orwellian society until a botched job leaves her brother in the hands of a cruel government and her left for dead. When a strange crew of settlers takes her in, Aly must learn to trust if she's to have any hope at saving her brother and getting her revenge.
The science fiction is secondary to the human story of struggle that tests individual limits of heart and mind. Salyer creates a world where mistrust is an institution as a result of a barbaric galactic government that uses any means to suppress its people. Aly is a product of that government but escapes its clutches to avoid being its tool. Her military skills manifest in an ability to survive under the radar but the emotional damage she brings is her greatest challenge.
Salyer gives us an action-packed page-turner and Contract of Defiance where you feel Aly's internal struggles as if you were a member of her new crew trying to break down those emotional walls. You can't help but root for this heroin and the concise writing guides you and Aly through a quest that very well could be her last.
About the Author:
A former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, Tammy's novel, Contract of Defiance, has already won the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold contest in 2010 for best action/thriller novel. Tammy works in behavioral-science research, runs and bikes the foothills of Colorado and her next book, Contract of Betrayal, will be out in Spring 2013.
Airborne!
Tom Clementson (Kindle Book Review)
Be sure to take a moment and leave your feedback and comments about the book
January 30, 2015
I'm really not a big fan of the sci-fi genre as in most of those narratives I find myself completely alienated in the worlds the author created, and frustrated to boot. But not this time. Tammy Salyer masterfully designed an elaborate world that is not only easy to understand with its place in the universe, but one that totally immerses the reader from the start by flinging you right into the action from the get-go. Not to mention, this book is so beautifully written and Salyer's attention to detail so remarkable I honestly feel like this is an experience I actually *remember*, not one I merely read in the pages of a book.
The characters are impeccably drawn and compelling, and even though there are lots of them I didn't feel lost in wondering who was who, their names and characteristics were remarkable right from the start. And there are so many complicated, badass, and powerful women acting with agency, my feminist reader self was positively cheering along with the action.
I am so excited that there are two more of these delicious books in the series for me to devour. I'm torn between wanting to savor every exciting moment of this gorgeously written series or binge-read to find out what happens next. Every reader should have this dilemma with every book, and it's been a long time since I've felt so pulled into someone else's fictional world. What a marvelous experience, and I'm only one-third of the way done.
If you're a fan of the science-fiction genre then here's your next read. And if you're not, give this series a try anyway, if for no other reason than to appreciate the beauty of Salyer's masterful prose. If Dennis Lehane did military science fiction, this is what it would look like. So awesome. Highly recommend this one.
The characters are impeccably drawn and compelling, and even though there are lots of them I didn't feel lost in wondering who was who, their names and characteristics were remarkable right from the start. And there are so many complicated, badass, and powerful women acting with agency, my feminist reader self was positively cheering along with the action.
I am so excited that there are two more of these delicious books in the series for me to devour. I'm torn between wanting to savor every exciting moment of this gorgeously written series or binge-read to find out what happens next. Every reader should have this dilemma with every book, and it's been a long time since I've felt so pulled into someone else's fictional world. What a marvelous experience, and I'm only one-third of the way done.
If you're a fan of the science-fiction genre then here's your next read. And if you're not, give this series a try anyway, if for no other reason than to appreciate the beauty of Salyer's masterful prose. If Dennis Lehane did military science fiction, this is what it would look like. So awesome. Highly recommend this one.
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