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Rebellious Nature
Konstance awakens from cryosleep with the distinct feeling that he has forgotten something important. Soon afterward, Vylik, his captain, informs him (as well as the rest of the crew on board the Rebellious Nature) about their new mission, one unlike any they have previously undertaken. To make things even more puzzling, only she is in possession of its most important details. All the crew knows is that they will be transporting a unique “Unfit” named Seirene across space to a distant location. Tensions on board the ship are already starting to rise, however, as Lubov (the ship’s ordnance specialist) has been acting strangely ever since waking from cryosleep. Will the crew of the Rebellious Nature successfully complete their mission? Or will they fail and face possibly dire consequences?
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2024
4 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 3, 2024
Gripping claustrophobia of Harlan Ellison, premise of Dark Matter... (The first tv series)
REBELLIOUS NATURE is an easy read, narratively, the story of a group of mysterious strangers on a ship, all with mysterious pasts and their own reasons for forgetting, or wanting to forget.
The premise really reminded me a lot of a video game I played ages and ages ago that's based on the Harlan Ellison story "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream." Everyone has a pretty dark past, except Seirene, the girl they've been tasked to find, and, perhaps save from a dire fate.
Most of the worldbuilding is offscreen, and the povs are all very tight and emotional responses to the characters' pasts, and within that lens, I didn't get as much of a sense of the galaxy outside, except that it has various brutal factions, crime and militaristic societies. It's a gritty place, but again the personal stories make this more of a character study. I think this kind of novel works really well in space, caught on a ship together, these people have no one but themselves, the ship's AI, and--well I don't want to spoilt it.
But there's a remove in the prose that I am really on the fence about. I think it works with the plot and the setting, but there were times when reactions seemed muted, or not as personal as I was expecting. That's not all bad, just not always to my taste. Everyone is very powerful and very special and there for Reasons. Maybe Planetscape: Torment is an example of the vibe? (I didn't finish the game, so unsure.)
Diehl sets things up nicely for a sequel and the twist at the end was well done, with an inevitability you see coming after you've read it, not before... And that's a how a twist is done!
Disclosure: this is an entrant in the SpSFC#4, as is my novel, and I'm reviewing this without any expectation of reciprocity.
REBELLIOUS NATURE is an easy read, narratively, the story of a group of mysterious strangers on a ship, all with mysterious pasts and their own reasons for forgetting, or wanting to forget.
The premise really reminded me a lot of a video game I played ages and ages ago that's based on the Harlan Ellison story "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream." Everyone has a pretty dark past, except Seirene, the girl they've been tasked to find, and, perhaps save from a dire fate.
Most of the worldbuilding is offscreen, and the povs are all very tight and emotional responses to the characters' pasts, and within that lens, I didn't get as much of a sense of the galaxy outside, except that it has various brutal factions, crime and militaristic societies. It's a gritty place, but again the personal stories make this more of a character study. I think this kind of novel works really well in space, caught on a ship together, these people have no one but themselves, the ship's AI, and--well I don't want to spoilt it.
But there's a remove in the prose that I am really on the fence about. I think it works with the plot and the setting, but there were times when reactions seemed muted, or not as personal as I was expecting. That's not all bad, just not always to my taste. Everyone is very powerful and very special and there for Reasons. Maybe Planetscape: Torment is an example of the vibe? (I didn't finish the game, so unsure.)
Diehl sets things up nicely for a sequel and the twist at the end was well done, with an inevitability you see coming after you've read it, not before... And that's a how a twist is done!
Disclosure: this is an entrant in the SpSFC#4, as is my novel, and I'm reviewing this without any expectation of reciprocity.
October 16, 2024
After seeing the author discuss this book on TikTok, I decided to venture outside my usual reading genres. The story quickly immerses the reader in a space-based setting, introducing us to a crew on a secretive mission.
The novel presents several interesting concepts. I found the idea of locked-away memories as a form of protection from one's past particularly intriguing. The development of the "Unfit" character, whose power could potentially impact the entire universe, adds an element of suspense and raises thought-provoking questions.
The plot is engaging, featuring various factions with their agendas and a mysterious shadowy figure that brings an air of mystery. The author has created an imaginative future setting populated by well-developed characters with complex motivations.
While the book has its strengths, potential readers should know that it ends on a cliffhanger, which may be frustrating for those who prefer more resolution.
Overall, this novel offers an entertaining read for those who enjoy character-driven science fiction with elements of mystery and speculation about future societies.
The novel presents several interesting concepts. I found the idea of locked-away memories as a form of protection from one's past particularly intriguing. The development of the "Unfit" character, whose power could potentially impact the entire universe, adds an element of suspense and raises thought-provoking questions.
The plot is engaging, featuring various factions with their agendas and a mysterious shadowy figure that brings an air of mystery. The author has created an imaginative future setting populated by well-developed characters with complex motivations.
While the book has its strengths, potential readers should know that it ends on a cliffhanger, which may be frustrating for those who prefer more resolution.
Overall, this novel offers an entertaining read for those who enjoy character-driven science fiction with elements of mystery and speculation about future societies.
January 6, 2025
entertaining read
I really enjoyed reading this book. I came across this up and coming author on social media and thought I’d give his book a try. I enjoyed the overall story and the writing style. I do wish that there was more focus on world building and character development. I did wish there was a little less focus on singular battles and what I believed were unnecessary internal dialogues. I personally felt they didn’t add much to the story, but they didn’t take away from the story itself. I don’t usually gravitate towards this kind of book, so I was pleasantly surprised when I couldn’t put it down. I am eagerly waiting for the second book to come out, whenever that may be.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I came across this up and coming author on social media and thought I’d give his book a try. I enjoyed the overall story and the writing style. I do wish that there was more focus on world building and character development. I did wish there was a little less focus on singular battles and what I believed were unnecessary internal dialogues. I personally felt they didn’t add much to the story, but they didn’t take away from the story itself. I don’t usually gravitate towards this kind of book, so I was pleasantly surprised when I couldn’t put it down. I am eagerly waiting for the second book to come out, whenever that may be.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews