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Bastion
Alistella Pareides Caliday sacrificed her home to save it.
Ten years after the devastating Solar Gulf War, former Bastion soldier Alis has built a new home on the utopic post-war, post-capitalist Earth with refugee runner and fellow survivor Toristani Arcay Orius. But that home, too, is on the verge of slipping away.
Together, they ended the war, but not without defecting from Bastion and ejecting from her Aegis mech caused Alis’ state-installed mindjack to malfunction. Now, when Earth aligns with Mars, the Wolf emerges. And where the Wolf walks, death follows.
When a mission to finally cure the Wolf ends in blood and betrayal, Alis and Toris are thrust back into a fight they thought was over. If Toris hopes to save Alis, and if she hopes to save herself, they must finally confront the consequences of the war they ended—and the ghosts that chase them—before the cycles of history turn again and snag them in its jaws.
From grappling with fifty-foot mechs above Mars to slicing through the last capitalist stronghold on Earth, Bastion is a gripping solarpunk science-fiction epic about identity, resistance, and the courage it takes to build something better from what’s broken.
Ten years after the devastating Solar Gulf War, former Bastion soldier Alis has built a new home on the utopic post-war, post-capitalist Earth with refugee runner and fellow survivor Toristani Arcay Orius. But that home, too, is on the verge of slipping away.
Together, they ended the war, but not without defecting from Bastion and ejecting from her Aegis mech caused Alis’ state-installed mindjack to malfunction. Now, when Earth aligns with Mars, the Wolf emerges. And where the Wolf walks, death follows.
When a mission to finally cure the Wolf ends in blood and betrayal, Alis and Toris are thrust back into a fight they thought was over. If Toris hopes to save Alis, and if she hopes to save herself, they must finally confront the consequences of the war they ended—and the ghosts that chase them—before the cycles of history turn again and snag them in its jaws.
From grappling with fifty-foot mechs above Mars to slicing through the last capitalist stronghold on Earth, Bastion is a gripping solarpunk science-fiction epic about identity, resistance, and the courage it takes to build something better from what’s broken.
370 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 7, 2026
It’s been a while since I’ve read any sci-fi/fantasy, so I don’t have a lot to compare Bastion to, but despite some of its minor flaws (or maybe I should say flaws and all), I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I am a sucker for a split perspective narrative, and Bastion pulls off the difference in time periods between the two perspectives exceptionally well. The two plot lines complement each other and slowly reveal pertinent information in a satisfying way and timing.
The characters are well-developed and interestingly introspective. I thought the Wolf made a great metaphor to explore bipolar syndrome/PTSD and the relationships with people who suffer from those disorders.
At times, the explanations of the different political/economic philosophies felt a little preachy, but Walton does a pretty good job to portray the positive and negative aspects of each, especially when the people trying to live them don’t live up to their values. It helps that the conversations where the philosophies are brought up feel like they happen organically. The differences in ideologies are at the forefront of the characters’ minds because of the way they are forced to interact with each other.
He also does a great job of showing the hypocrisies of war. He shines a light on how the one-sidedness of perspectives, accusations, and calls for justice are used to warrant atrocities. It can be thought provoking on a human as well as a social level, while also including entertaining action sequences and sci-fi concepts throughout the narrative. It’s a solid book.
The characters are well-developed and interestingly introspective. I thought the Wolf made a great metaphor to explore bipolar syndrome/PTSD and the relationships with people who suffer from those disorders.
At times, the explanations of the different political/economic philosophies felt a little preachy, but Walton does a pretty good job to portray the positive and negative aspects of each, especially when the people trying to live them don’t live up to their values. It helps that the conversations where the philosophies are brought up feel like they happen organically. The differences in ideologies are at the forefront of the characters’ minds because of the way they are forced to interact with each other.
He also does a great job of showing the hypocrisies of war. He shines a light on how the one-sidedness of perspectives, accusations, and calls for justice are used to warrant atrocities. It can be thought provoking on a human as well as a social level, while also including entertaining action sequences and sci-fi concepts throughout the narrative. It’s a solid book.
June 30, 2026
This was such a fun read! I really enjoy books that I find I cannot put down once I get into the story, and Bastion certainly fit in that category. I had been wanting to get back into the sci-fi genre, and Bastion certainly validated that
I felt the split narrative section was done very well, and they complemented each other along the way. The characters well very well developed and I loved experiencing their personal growth throughout the story. This is definitely a world/universe I would enjoy exploring more in the future.
I am looking forward to what Michael has in store for us in the future!
I felt the split narrative section was done very well, and they complemented each other along the way. The characters well very well developed and I loved experiencing their personal growth throughout the story. This is definitely a world/universe I would enjoy exploring more in the future.
I am looking forward to what Michael has in store for us in the future!
June 22, 2026
Anyone that is at all interested in a one of a kind sci-fi story would love Bastion.
Hoverboards, giant mechs, “solar blades” (lightsabers), mind jacks, etc.
Feels like a Pinterest board of my favorite sci-fi stuff.
For this to be Walton’s debut novel is insane. Definitely will be there for whatever story he decides to tell next.
Hoverboards, giant mechs, “solar blades” (lightsabers), mind jacks, etc.
Feels like a Pinterest board of my favorite sci-fi stuff.
For this to be Walton’s debut novel is insane. Definitely will be there for whatever story he decides to tell next.
September 16, 2025
Highly recommend!
September 18, 2025
Loved the book! Loved the characters and plot.
October 1, 2025
Fantastic. Solar punk, hoverboards, space battles, giant robot suits and mind control tech with compelling characters.
January 9, 2026
what an amazing story! perspectives changing from chapter to chapter had me on my toes woth anticipation. great work Micheal!
Want to Read
February 16, 2026Read for SPSFC. Detailed review to comeThis is my first read for SPSFC which I'm judging this year as the team lead for Team ZAPS aka Team Zombies and Pirates in Space . The views herein are my own and not the team's.
Bastion is a futuristic novel set in a future where Mars has been colonised by the earth corporations, who has left a dying earth behind. Bastion is the name of the colony which is basically unchecked capitalism. Meanwhile on earth, the remaining population has banded together to form collectives, turning their back on capitalism.
The story revolves around Toristani Arcay Orius, earth pilot and refugee runner, and Alis, the woman he's in love with who's also a former Bastion soldier. Ten years ago, Toris and Alis ended the Solar Gulf War between earth and Bastion. But Alis had to forcibly unplug herself from her state installed mindjack, which has caused it to malfunction. Now, whenever earth and Mars align, Alis turns into a killer, who Toris has dubbed the wolf.
When the chance of repairing Alis' mindjack comes with a refugee who's also a bioengineer, Toris and Alis finally have hopes of a new future. But everything is shattered when the wolf awakens in the night to kill the engineer and runs off into the night.
Now, Toris has to find a way to save the woman he loves and to force their community to accept her, but to do that he has to confront his own past and the ghosts he left behind.
Bastion is an extremely well written piece of sci fi, and I enjoyed it a lot. The dangers of unchecked capitalism is something we all know and scream about, but Bastion shows a future which is nothing short of a nightmare if things are allowed to continue as they are. The interspersing of Alis' past with the present and the slow reveal of how the war ended were all very well done.
Both Alis and Toris are sympathetic characters one can get behind, and there's a smattering of diversity in the cast as well.
If you love dystopian sci fi with well rounded characters, you will love this book.
Bastion is a futuristic novel set in a future where Mars has been colonised by the earth corporations, who has left a dying earth behind. Bastion is the name of the colony which is basically unchecked capitalism. Meanwhile on earth, the remaining population has banded together to form collectives, turning their back on capitalism.
The story revolves around Toristani Arcay Orius, earth pilot and refugee runner, and Alis, the woman he's in love with who's also a former Bastion soldier. Ten years ago, Toris and Alis ended the Solar Gulf War between earth and Bastion. But Alis had to forcibly unplug herself from her state installed mindjack, which has caused it to malfunction. Now, whenever earth and Mars align, Alis turns into a killer, who Toris has dubbed the wolf.
When the chance of repairing Alis' mindjack comes with a refugee who's also a bioengineer, Toris and Alis finally have hopes of a new future. But everything is shattered when the wolf awakens in the night to kill the engineer and runs off into the night.
Now, Toris has to find a way to save the woman he loves and to force their community to accept her, but to do that he has to confront his own past and the ghosts he left behind.
Bastion is an extremely well written piece of sci fi, and I enjoyed it a lot. The dangers of unchecked capitalism is something we all know and scream about, but Bastion shows a future which is nothing short of a nightmare if things are allowed to continue as they are. The interspersing of Alis' past with the present and the slow reveal of how the war ended were all very well done.
Both Alis and Toris are sympathetic characters one can get behind, and there's a smattering of diversity in the cast as well.
If you love dystopian sci fi with well rounded characters, you will love this book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews