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Tall Boy Sun
An Alcoholic Starship Mechanic—A Web of Deceit and Danger
Sol Linocass mucks out clogged valves at an insect protein farm for a living, but he dreams of the stars. If only he could prove himself as a starship ace, he could earn back the love and respect of his ex-wife and kids. Standing in his way are his own irresponsibility and a chronic drinking problem.
Facing imminent eviction, Sol discovers a blueprint for a faster-than-light drive, landing himself in the crosshairs of shadowy spooks and legendary space pirates who want the drive for themselves. Sol flees to his sister, Trudy, and begs her to let him join her crew, but life as a starship mechanic turns out to be less glamorous and more dangerous than he imagined.
When shadowy forces track him down, Sol must act as a double agent, balancing his loyalty to his family with his loyalty to the crew, while confronting his inner demons. In a race against time, Sol’s skills and courage are put to the ultimate test. Will he be able to save his loved ones and uncover the truth behind his enemy’s schemes? Or will the shadows of his past consume him?
The second book by Neal Holtschulte, author of Crew of Exiles, Tall Boy Sun is a thrilling adventure filled with suspense, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of redemption.
Sol Linocass mucks out clogged valves at an insect protein farm for a living, but he dreams of the stars. If only he could prove himself as a starship ace, he could earn back the love and respect of his ex-wife and kids. Standing in his way are his own irresponsibility and a chronic drinking problem.
Facing imminent eviction, Sol discovers a blueprint for a faster-than-light drive, landing himself in the crosshairs of shadowy spooks and legendary space pirates who want the drive for themselves. Sol flees to his sister, Trudy, and begs her to let him join her crew, but life as a starship mechanic turns out to be less glamorous and more dangerous than he imagined.
When shadowy forces track him down, Sol must act as a double agent, balancing his loyalty to his family with his loyalty to the crew, while confronting his inner demons. In a race against time, Sol’s skills and courage are put to the ultimate test. Will he be able to save his loved ones and uncover the truth behind his enemy’s schemes? Or will the shadows of his past consume him?
The second book by Neal Holtschulte, author of Crew of Exiles, Tall Boy Sun is a thrilling adventure filled with suspense, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of redemption.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 24, 2026
Neal Holtschulte’s Tall Boy Sun is a gritty, character-driven sci-fi adventure that leans as much on emotional stakes as it does on high-concept space intrigue. As the second novel following Crew of Exiles, it builds on the author’s talent for blending flawed protagonists with dangerous, morally complex worlds.
At the heart of the story is Sol Linocass, a refreshingly imperfect lead. He’s not a natural hero—he’s an alcoholic, irresponsible, and struggling to keep his life together. That’s precisely what makes him compelling. His desire to reclaim his family’s respect adds a grounded emotional core that contrasts nicely with the more fantastical elements like faster-than-light drives and space piracy.
Holtschulte does a solid job portraying addiction and regret without turning Sol into a cliché redemption arc; his growth feels earned, uneven, and believable.
The plot moves at a brisk pace, especially once the mysterious FTL blueprint enters the picture.
Where the book occasionally stumbles is in balancing its themes. It juggles redemption, family, addiction, and political intrigue, and while all are interesting, not all receive equal depth. The antagonistic “shadowy forces” are effective but somewhat underexplored, leaving parts of the larger conspiracy feeling vague.
At the heart of the story is Sol Linocass, a refreshingly imperfect lead. He’s not a natural hero—he’s an alcoholic, irresponsible, and struggling to keep his life together. That’s precisely what makes him compelling. His desire to reclaim his family’s respect adds a grounded emotional core that contrasts nicely with the more fantastical elements like faster-than-light drives and space piracy.
Holtschulte does a solid job portraying addiction and regret without turning Sol into a cliché redemption arc; his growth feels earned, uneven, and believable.
The plot moves at a brisk pace, especially once the mysterious FTL blueprint enters the picture.
Where the book occasionally stumbles is in balancing its themes. It juggles redemption, family, addiction, and political intrigue, and while all are interesting, not all receive equal depth. The antagonistic “shadowy forces” are effective but somewhat underexplored, leaving parts of the larger conspiracy feeling vague.
March 31, 2026
This was a fun read full of action and adventure. I love a story that also gets to the guts of humanity and Tall Boy Sun does not disappoint.
The character development is superb. The story line was compelling and kept me wanting more. I like when I can feel that I know the characters and experience their emotional ups and downs alongside them. I also love stories where the underdog rises above their trials and tribulations and their true potential shines through. Watching the depictions of how good and evil played out kept me always cheering for the main character.
I read the book and listened to the audio version and both were great!!! I am a huge fan of audio so would recommend the audio version. Neal does a great job with the different characters voices.
The character development is superb. The story line was compelling and kept me wanting more. I like when I can feel that I know the characters and experience their emotional ups and downs alongside them. I also love stories where the underdog rises above their trials and tribulations and their true potential shines through. Watching the depictions of how good and evil played out kept me always cheering for the main character.
I read the book and listened to the audio version and both were great!!! I am a huge fan of audio so would recommend the audio version. Neal does a great job with the different characters voices.
April 6, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. The plot is fresh and fun. When I finished with the book, I was genuinely wishing for more. I hope there will be another book. The story never got boring or “over-produced”.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews