Poncia Problems

by C. William Tressler

In a distant future where the cosmos is governed by a coalition of the largest corporations, Kash, a former military operative known for his uncanny ability to acquire anything, finds himself on a mission unlike any other. Teaming up with his loyal pilot Calynn, who boasts a synthetic body and extraordinary powers, Kash's reputation and skills are put to the ultimate test.

When Kash falls deeply in love with a mysterious woman, his world is turned upside down as she is abruptly abducted by an enigmatic group. Determined to rescue her, Kash and Calynn embark on a relentless chase across the stars. Their journey unveils a conspiracy reaching the highest echelons of the corporate government, revealing that some of its members are deeply entwined in the abduction.

As they navigate treacherous space and confront powerful adversaries, Kash must rely on his military training and Calynn's unique abilities to unravel the truth and rescue the woman he loves from the clutches of corruption and deceit.

300 pages, Hardcover

Published November 5, 2024

About the author

C. William Tressler is a science fiction author who writes character-driven space adventure novels, best known for the Kash and Calynn series.

The Kash and Calynn series is a character-driven science fiction adventure saga following a spacefaring former legionnaire, known for his ability to acquire anything, and his stunningly brilliant pilot as they navigate dangerous jobs, moral gray areas, and the growing consequences of their choices.

C. William Tressler writes fast-paced science fiction stories that focus on character, found family, and the unintended consequences of doing the “right” thing in a dangerous galaxy.

Readers new to the series should begin with Poncia Problems.

I grew up in a small town in south-central Pennsylvania. My family was — and still is — a bunch of goofballs. We didn’t have much, but we had plenty of laughter. I was never as avid a reader as my mom, but when a book drew me in, it felt like I was living it. In hindsight, I wish I’d recognized that as the spark to start writing earlier, but alas, I was young and dumb.

I do remember struggling in grade school to keep short stories short. My teacher thought my writing showed promise, and that stuck with me even when writing was the furthest thing from my life goals. It’s funny how something like that can linger for decades.

I tried writing a novel about ten years ago, but I wasn’t ready. Let’s just say I am not very good at sitting still. Several surgeries later, slowing down became much easier — and I suppose turning fifty helps with that too. I learned to embrace downtime and turn it into something I enjoy, letting my imagination run rampant. Writing stories is genuinely a lot of fun, and I sincerely hope you have as much fun reading them as I do writing them.

Reviews

[Avid Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

So...I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this based on the blurb on the back cover which made this seem like kind of dry reading, but I am so glad I did and would definitely recommend to my open minded friends.

This is much more fun than the cover implied as our MCs journey through space to follow the trail of the missing woman. It's full of badass action, naughty romps, and clever/funny banter. Its like if Hans Solo was physically enhanced, the millennium falcon actually worked and was super charged, Chewy was a hot chick with super powers, and they were all a bit horny/cuddly and went off to save the girl. It was a really easy read, the characters were well developed and it just got more enjoyable as it went on. This story was wrapped up and came to a conclusion, but left me wishing there were another 300 pages or more of their badassery and next adventures. Hopefully a sequel is coming soon as I can't wait to see what they get up to next.

Notes: No cliff hanger, no HEA (Mainly because not really a romance, more buddies with benefits) And yes there is bad language, but it seemed appropriate to me and in keeping with the characters.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up Poncia Problems without knowing much about it, and I’m glad I did. The story pulled me in gradually, not with explosions, but with atmosphere and curiosity. The world feels lived in, and you can tell the author spent time thinking through how this future actually works.

What really stood out to me was Kash as a character. He isn’t written like a perfect hero. He makes questionable decisions, reacts emotionally, and sometimes feels overwhelmed by the situation he’s in. That made him feel real to me, especially when the stakes started rising and things stopped going according to plan.

By the time I reached the later chapters, I was fully invested. The pacing improves as the story goes on, and the tension builds naturally. This isn’t flashy sci-fi for the sake of it. It’s character-driven, thoughtful, and leaves you wanting to see where this universe goes next.

[Jeremy Bejah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to Poncia Problems expecting a clever premise and left with a book that felt like a quiet revolution. The prose is unshowy but precise; every sentence earns its weight. Poncia herself is a marvel of small, stubborn details she keeps secrets the way some people keep recipes: protective and a little dazzled. The supporting cast avoids archetype: friends who irritate her in ways that reveal more than they conceal, antagonists whose cruelty is human-scaled rather than cartoonish. The novel’s structure tightens as it goes; what begins as a domestic problem becomes a moral knot I found myself puzzling over long after the last page. If you love character work and moral complication served with warmth, this is a book to savor.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me in a good way. At first, I thought it would be a straightforward sci-fi action story, but it turned out to be more layered than I expected. There’s action, yes, but there’s also reflection, loss, and a sense of moral grayness running underneath.

The relationship dynamics were handled more carefully than I usually see in this genre. Instead of rushing emotional connections, the author lets them develop slowly, which made the consequences later in the story hit harder. I appreciated that nothing felt forced.

Overall, Poncia Problems feels like the start of something larger. It doesn’t try to answer everything, and that restraint works in its favor. I finished the book feeling curious rather than exhausted, which is a good sign for any series opener.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What drew me into this book was the setting. The corporate controlled future feels believable in a quiet, unsettling way. It’s not exaggerated or cartoonish. It’s subtle, and that subtlety makes it more disturbing the more you think about it.

Kash’s internal struggles are just as important as the external conflict. The author spends time inside his head, showing how past experiences shape his reactions. Some readers might find this slower, but for me, it added depth and realism.

This isn’t a nonstop thrill ride, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s a thoughtful sci-fi story that trusts the reader to pay attention. If you enjoy science fiction that focuses on people as much as technology, this is worth your time.

[Mary G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried, laughed, and cheered sometimes all in one chapter. The emotional beats land because the characters feel real: their small compromises, their stubborn loyalty, the jokes that save them from despair. The pacing is muscular but not rushed; the quieter moments let the stakes sink in. I particularly enjoyed the scenes between Kash and Calynn they have an easy chemistry that’s textured, not contrived. Highly recommend for anyone who loves character-driven sci-fi with a heart.

[Nikki K. Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride. Tressler balances worldbuilding and character work with a steady hand. The corporate coalition backdrop gives the stakes weight without drowning the narrative in exposition. I appreciated clever touches tech details that never felt like name-dropping, and sensory flourishes that anchored the scenes. The plot twists surprised me without feeling cheap. This is the kind of book I’ll recommend to friends who like morally grey heroes and smart, emotional sci-fi.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by author C. William Tressler and it really has it all Sci-Fi action adventure with a little romance as well, that I for one could not put down. Great character development and a plot that really pulled me right in the middle of the action. I hope this is the first of many adventures of Kash and Calynn.

[Kelly Turman · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a moral seriousness here that never feels sermonizing. The book asks questions about responsibility, inheritance, and the ways we make ourselves smaller to survive, and it asks them with curiosity. Poncia’s growth is credible because it’s uneven and painstaking. The prose is attentive and unpretentious.

[Rosita L. Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admired how the novel renders ordinary cruelty pettiness, neglect, thoughtless speech alongside acts of unexpected kindness. That contrast makes the tender moments feel earned. Poncia’s relationships are messy and convincing, and the smaller characters are given surprising depth. The ending felt true to the characters and to life.

[Jenna J.Seale · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has a light but precise touch with scene, turning ordinary interiors into stages for emotional discovery. The novel’s humor is often melancholic, which keeps it from ever feeling flippant. I found myself smiling and then pausing, taken by some small truth. This is a book that rewards slow attention.

[Amelia Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel reads like a conversation you wish would last longer. The characters speak in ways that reveal their histories without dumping it, and the narrative is careful not to force epiphanies. Instead, insight arrives incrementally an overheard line, a remembered smell and those small moments add up to a deep, humane portrait. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

[Lena Hartwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is quietly fierce Kash’s scarred loyalties, Calynn’s small acts of defiance, and a world smelling of oil and regret. The back-cover pitches a cheap heist; the novel is a tender, moral reckoning. Read the story, not the blurb.

[Vivian Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. The plotting is tight and the main characters have depth. There were moments where I wanted a touch more explanation about a subplot, but overall the storytelling is strong and the emotional beats work. Great read.

[Mark M. Dodson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the characters and the concept, but the pacing felt uneven. Some chapters raced while others lingered in ways that pulled me out of immersion. Still, the voice is appealing and certain scenes landed beautifully.

[Gregorio Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying blend of action and character study. Kash is compelling in all his contradictions. Calynn’s scenes are a highlight. A few secondary characters could have been sketched with more detail, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the ride.

[David A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a book that’s equal parts tension and tenderness, pick this up. The action scenes are kinetic, but the author never forgets to give characters room to breathe. There are lines here that made me pause and re-read because they were simply lovely. A top find this year for me.

[Christopher Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart, sardonic, and sometimes unexpectedly warm. The author writes with an empathy that makes even small acts feel momentous. I loved the specificity in world details: tools that feel used, interiors that smell of meals and worry. A sincere recommendation.

[Victor Eller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me. It could have been all action, but instead it’s a thoughtful look at what people are willing to sacrifice and why. Calynn’s arc is especially affecting the way she seeks agency is both quiet and fierce. I closed the book feeling satisfied and curious.

[Crystal Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me. It could have been all action, but instead it’s a thoughtful look at what people are willing to sacrifice and why. Calynn’s arc is especially affecting the way she seeks agency is both quiet and fierce. I closed the book feeling satisfied and curious.

[Kelli Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those rare reads where plot, voice, and theme all support one another. The dialogue snaps, the world feels tactile, and the emotional center is strong. I felt for every character in different ways. Highly recommended.

[Marvin Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling and touching. The author can write a scene of violence and a scene of tenderness with equal skill. Small, human moments (a shared cigarette, a joke told twice) are some of the book’s best bits. Read it.

[Gregory Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully unpretentious sci-fi: fast, funny, and surprisingly moving. I loved the repartee and the slow reveal of backstory. Characters are allowed to be flawed and still be lovable. Great voice and steady momentum.

[Ben Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how the author used small sensory details to build a whole life for these characters. The writing is economical but expressive. It’s the kind of book that’s easy to recommend to friends who want both thrills and feeling.

[Annette Wilkerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying blend of action and character study. Kash is compelling in all his contradictions. Calynn’s scenes are a highlight. A few secondary characters could have been sketched with more detail, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the ride.

[Robert K. Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sharp, funny, and ultimately compassionate novel. The comedic beats are genuine and arise from character, not contrivance. At the same time, the book is willing to sit in discomfort and let complexity breathe. Poncia is a character I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

[Lynda S. Rojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this felt like spending an afternoon with an old complicated friend: sometimes exasperating, often tender, and always alive. The book’s voice is intimate and conversational, and that makes its quieter moral reckonings land hard. A beautifully observed novel.

[Karina Latimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The compassion in this novel is its superpower. Even when characters act badly, the narration leans toward understanding rather than condemnation, which I found honest and humane. Poncia’s arcs feel like careful, earned work; her small acts of courage are convincing and quietly heroic.

[Jack Clifton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is fiction that trusts interior life. The author uses specificity to make emotions concrete: a broken shoelace, a crushed biscuit, a late-night phone call. Those small choices build dense emotional architecture. The novel isn’t flashy, but its cumulative effect is powerful.

[Cory Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good worldbuilding and character chemistry. There are a few moments where the exposition felt heavy, but the characters’ choices kept me invested. I liked the ending.