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Nastragull #1
Pirates
An epic space adventure that holds danger at every turn...
The human cadets on the interstellar transport, Bright Star, are heading home after eight long years of military training...but things don't go according to plan. After a bloody battle with a group of space pirates, the Bright Star and its survivors are taken prisoner with the intent of selling them into slavery...or worse. Cadet Alec Horn, along with the captain of the Bright Star escape, taking an emperor's ransom in loot with them. Together they set out on a dangerous adventure to rescue their friends and comrades. But can they succeed without bringing forth a war that will bring death and destruction across the universe?
The human cadets on the interstellar transport, Bright Star, are heading home after eight long years of military training...but things don't go according to plan. After a bloody battle with a group of space pirates, the Bright Star and its survivors are taken prisoner with the intent of selling them into slavery...or worse. Cadet Alec Horn, along with the captain of the Bright Star escape, taking an emperor's ransom in loot with them. Together they set out on a dangerous adventure to rescue their friends and comrades. But can they succeed without bringing forth a war that will bring death and destruction across the universe?
- GenresScience Fiction
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2012
6 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Erik Martin Willén
13 books27 followersErik Martin Willén has been creating science fiction worlds since he was a young boy, including working with a friend on a short-lived comic book version of Nastragull. Erik loves creating worlds of epic proportion and exploring those worlds in the stories he creates.
Erik currently lives in a small village in south Sweden where he is working on the next Nastragull novel, the first in a new series called Vixens, and is anticipating the release of his first suspense novel, The Lumberjack which releases in 2018 on Valentine's Day.
Erik currently lives in a small village in south Sweden where he is working on the next Nastragull novel, the first in a new series called Vixens, and is anticipating the release of his first suspense novel, The Lumberjack which releases in 2018 on Valentine's Day.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 30, 2013
OMG - space opera at its best!! Pirates: nasty, horrid, depraved SOBs! Aliens of every shape/form/animal/whatever: intriguing, vile, sly SOBs! Federations and Coalitions: slimy, conniving, fanatical SOBs! Hero: young, but strong; determined and righteous; honourable and easily seduced :) Heroine: abusive past, vicious 'adoptive' father (OMG, just thinking about Zuzack turns my stomach!); intelligent and sexy. Just what all H/H's need to be!!
This is one fast-moving story, deliciously filled with any sort of depravity (if you like 'those' things); some blood-curdling, gut-evisceration fighting; some really evil baddies, as well as some not-so-evil goodies; some people one could really truly HATE (like Hughes, ugh!), and some who you can't help but love (Nina, awwwee). Poor Alec and Alexa go through so many bad things, one almost gives up hope - but incredibly they survive (I guess that's the whole point of the story of course :) since they're there to fulfil a prophesy or something).
So, don't touch this if you dislike bloody, gory violence or gut-destroying torture or detailed sexual depravities - they're all there! And I completely and utterly LOVED it!!
A note of caution: the prologue may seem completely superfluous (as a little bit of injected fantasy), but there are some 'voices' heard by Alec and Alexa which, on occasion, direct their actions. It's all part of an overall plot (I think!) which we'll be introduced to a little at a time (a good ploy for a series).
Oh, and the last chapter or two had so much happening, with many new characters, that I nearly (!) got lost; but there is a twist there at the end - leaving me puzzled, bemused, a WTH sigh, and a DAMMIT I WANT THE NEXT ONE NOW!!!!
(And - thank you!! to Erik himself who brought this to my notice!!)
This is one fast-moving story, deliciously filled with any sort of depravity (if you like 'those' things); some blood-curdling, gut-evisceration fighting; some really evil baddies, as well as some not-so-evil goodies; some people one could really truly HATE (like Hughes, ugh!), and some who you can't help but love (Nina, awwwee). Poor Alec and Alexa go through so many bad things, one almost gives up hope - but incredibly they survive (I guess that's the whole point of the story of course :) since they're there to fulfil a prophesy or something).
So, don't touch this if you dislike bloody, gory violence or gut-destroying torture or detailed sexual depravities - they're all there! And I completely and utterly LOVED it!!
A note of caution: the prologue may seem completely superfluous (as a little bit of injected fantasy), but there are some 'voices' heard by Alec and Alexa which, on occasion, direct their actions. It's all part of an overall plot (I think!) which we'll be introduced to a little at a time (a good ploy for a series).
Oh, and the last chapter or two had so much happening, with many new characters, that I nearly (!) got lost; but there is a twist there at the end - leaving me puzzled, bemused, a WTH sigh, and a DAMMIT I WANT THE NEXT ONE NOW!!!!
(And - thank you!! to Erik himself who brought this to my notice!!)
June 25, 2013
Action lovers, SciFi enthusiasts, mythology mages this is for you! And even for general fiction readers. This is good literature pretending to only be entertainment. (Good literature can be a chore to like. Nastragull is the cure for your boredom.) Don't let this masterful work pass you by. Willen has done this right!
May 19, 2017
From the seemingly-unneeded prologue, which was heavily touched by fantasy, I wasn't sure if I had the right book in my hands. No seriously, I thought I purchased the wrong one. But as I read further, I was reassured that I had the right book. Yes indeed. It was fast-paced, full of interesting characters I wanted to know more about, creatively descriptive and VERY descriptive (I'll touch on this further down), and a few scenes that left me wondering. The way Willen painted spaceship's and interiors, weapons and all sorts of equipment, as well as characters of so many races, I think is what really put a smile on my face. I'm a sucker for creative descriptions and Willen has deftly weaved them into these pages.
This was another book of good vs evil. The heroes and good characters were likeable, realistic, witty at times, each with their own goals, dark pasts etc. I didn't grow as attached to Alec in the beginning, but I grew fonder of him as the story neared its end. Alexa and Nina I liked from early on, and Hadrian held my interest. The bad guys! Now, Zuzack would make Satan himself recoil in a corner and wish this is all a nightmare. Can't remember the last time I hated someone like this. Hughes, too, but he was just slimy. Piracy at its best and worst were mostly due to the actions and dialogue of criminals like Zuzack and Hughes, and the overall cutthroat culture was insightful-to say the least.
The dialogue was realistic, and it flowed well. I think it carried the plot nicely, so I'll not dwell on this: Most dialogue scenes were a breeze and some were more elaborate than others. The scenes! Now. Violence was probably 30% of this book. Maybe more. "Descriptive violence" doesn't quite cut it if you're trying to... well... describe it. Some was a bit too much for me, but that's all about preference. Some readers like it more than others. As a writer, if I wanted to make a violent space opera, then I think it's the right amount. In the end, you can't really describe a pirate ship and their wrongdoings without having violence of this magnitude and quality in the mix. As for the more carnal scenes: I haven't read 50 Shades of Grey, and to be honest, now I don't think I'll ever need to - whatever shade it comes in. I'll just leave it at that.
The story's tune is a brutal one, and I think it pairs well when piracy and royalty clash in space battles (oh yes, I did like the contrast between pirates and the sovereign high-class families and their military power). And there are characters within that I feel for and want the best for them, to one day find their utopia. And I reached the end of the book feeling that having evil around is probably necessary and natural. What is good if there's no evil to challenge it? I recommend this book to those who like space opera with a touch of mystery, but not for the faint-hearted. However, it was fun dipping my toe in darker waters. A great novel, Mr Erik Martin Willen.
This was another book of good vs evil. The heroes and good characters were likeable, realistic, witty at times, each with their own goals, dark pasts etc. I didn't grow as attached to Alec in the beginning, but I grew fonder of him as the story neared its end. Alexa and Nina I liked from early on, and Hadrian held my interest. The bad guys! Now, Zuzack would make Satan himself recoil in a corner and wish this is all a nightmare. Can't remember the last time I hated someone like this. Hughes, too, but he was just slimy. Piracy at its best and worst were mostly due to the actions and dialogue of criminals like Zuzack and Hughes, and the overall cutthroat culture was insightful-to say the least.
The dialogue was realistic, and it flowed well. I think it carried the plot nicely, so I'll not dwell on this: Most dialogue scenes were a breeze and some were more elaborate than others. The scenes! Now. Violence was probably 30% of this book. Maybe more. "Descriptive violence" doesn't quite cut it if you're trying to... well... describe it. Some was a bit too much for me, but that's all about preference. Some readers like it more than others. As a writer, if I wanted to make a violent space opera, then I think it's the right amount. In the end, you can't really describe a pirate ship and their wrongdoings without having violence of this magnitude and quality in the mix. As for the more carnal scenes: I haven't read 50 Shades of Grey, and to be honest, now I don't think I'll ever need to - whatever shade it comes in. I'll just leave it at that.
The story's tune is a brutal one, and I think it pairs well when piracy and royalty clash in space battles (oh yes, I did like the contrast between pirates and the sovereign high-class families and their military power). And there are characters within that I feel for and want the best for them, to one day find their utopia. And I reached the end of the book feeling that having evil around is probably necessary and natural. What is good if there's no evil to challenge it? I recommend this book to those who like space opera with a touch of mystery, but not for the faint-hearted. However, it was fun dipping my toe in darker waters. A great novel, Mr Erik Martin Willen.
February 14, 2013
This first part of an epic Star Wars type of production is very entertaining, often gripping, and well written. It is also easy reading, which isn’t necessarily the same thing. The characters are strong, and the main ones are easily identifiable and very memorable.
There is only one thing wrong, and that is my reason for only giving the book four stars. In the mix are a couple of chapters of unnecessarily graphic sexual and sadistic activity. This may be considered a rather starchy view, but it is more than that. I am all for mixing genres, but not in this particular case SF adventure and “adult” material. Willén writes very well in both genres, the problem is in the mix. Indeed, I could include horror when considering one or two of the very descriptive violent actions.
The modern use of the term Space Opera, as used to describe this book by another reviewer, Blagent Jr., is, I think, highly appropriate. This book really is on a big production, dramatic, scale. The themes are familiar, but very well mixed, and although I can’t claim to have read any but a tiny fraction of these types of books I feel that there is more than a touch of originality as well. The story would work as big budget film, or possibly more realistically as some form of modern motion capture animation. I see fantastic potential here, if Willén can decide which audience he is really going for.
I never doubted that I would finish the book, and I was left with an interest in reading more. That is evidence enough for me that this writer deserves success. This is a full length, good value and highly entertaining novel. If this story appears with a greater purity of genre I will absolutely give the fifth star. As someone who detests the necessity of genre classification, I never thought I would say that.
There is only one thing wrong, and that is my reason for only giving the book four stars. In the mix are a couple of chapters of unnecessarily graphic sexual and sadistic activity. This may be considered a rather starchy view, but it is more than that. I am all for mixing genres, but not in this particular case SF adventure and “adult” material. Willén writes very well in both genres, the problem is in the mix. Indeed, I could include horror when considering one or two of the very descriptive violent actions.
The modern use of the term Space Opera, as used to describe this book by another reviewer, Blagent Jr., is, I think, highly appropriate. This book really is on a big production, dramatic, scale. The themes are familiar, but very well mixed, and although I can’t claim to have read any but a tiny fraction of these types of books I feel that there is more than a touch of originality as well. The story would work as big budget film, or possibly more realistically as some form of modern motion capture animation. I see fantastic potential here, if Willén can decide which audience he is really going for.
I never doubted that I would finish the book, and I was left with an interest in reading more. That is evidence enough for me that this writer deserves success. This is a full length, good value and highly entertaining novel. If this story appears with a greater purity of genre I will absolutely give the fifth star. As someone who detests the necessity of genre classification, I never thought I would say that.
February 7, 2013
Take Star Wars, add the motley crew from Pirates of the Caribbean, liberally sprinkle with intergalactic species of all imaginable kinds, throw in chunks of robust sex scenes, torture, hand to hand fights and daring escapes, then stir in vengeance and cook at gas mark 5 until something is ready to explode.
The Prologue leads you gently into this book with a father telling his son and daughter a bedtime story, but all is not what it seems.
Chapter 1 starts your journey into a tale which builds up to a finish that will leave you biting your nails and wishing for the next instalment in the saga.
The Prologue leads you gently into this book with a father telling his son and daughter a bedtime story, but all is not what it seems.
Chapter 1 starts your journey into a tale which builds up to a finish that will leave you biting your nails and wishing for the next instalment in the saga.
March 20, 2023
What are some interesting things that compels us to read a book about sci-fi, pirates, space adventure, action, well written characters, right? Well this book got all of these factors and kudos to the author as he has used every one of these factors to their best potential and created a great read for us.
As I don't want to spoil your fun of reading this great book, I'm not gonna go into much detail about the story. The story is about human cadets on the interstellar transport named Bright Star, and after 8 long years of training they are finally going back home. But space pirates attack them and hold them captive, now what I liked here is that the author decided to keep the pirates without any filters, they are shown as they are meant to be ruthless, cunning, and deadly.
However two members of the crew Cadet Alec Horn, along with the Captain of the Bright Star manage to escape and are now aiming to rescue their friends and comrades. But it's not easy and thus the adventure begins. Will they be able to save their friends or end up getting caught once again?
The book starts slowly with a prologue and smoothly slides into a fast paced story full of action and adventure. The effort Erik has put into this book is clearly visible, the description of places, aliens are excellent and the character development was just awesome. The book at no point tries to hide the gruesome violence, it's bloody and I liked that.
If you're a fan of the Sci-fi genre, pirates, action-adventure genre or a story of violence and characters with dark pasts and mysteries then this is your book. Pick it up and get ready to experience something different.
As I don't want to spoil your fun of reading this great book, I'm not gonna go into much detail about the story. The story is about human cadets on the interstellar transport named Bright Star, and after 8 long years of training they are finally going back home. But space pirates attack them and hold them captive, now what I liked here is that the author decided to keep the pirates without any filters, they are shown as they are meant to be ruthless, cunning, and deadly.
However two members of the crew Cadet Alec Horn, along with the Captain of the Bright Star manage to escape and are now aiming to rescue their friends and comrades. But it's not easy and thus the adventure begins. Will they be able to save their friends or end up getting caught once again?
The book starts slowly with a prologue and smoothly slides into a fast paced story full of action and adventure. The effort Erik has put into this book is clearly visible, the description of places, aliens are excellent and the character development was just awesome. The book at no point tries to hide the gruesome violence, it's bloody and I liked that.
If you're a fan of the Sci-fi genre, pirates, action-adventure genre or a story of violence and characters with dark pasts and mysteries then this is your book. Pick it up and get ready to experience something different.
August 5, 2013
'Nastragull' is the story of pirate Alexa, and military cadet Alec who is captured by her captain along with his friends.
The story strikes a dark and remorselessly brutal tone right from the start, which fits very well with the main cast of characters being blood-thirsty pirates. It's a graphic and gut-wrenching tale of the depravities and brutality visited upon the helpless slaves of these truly evil, twisted pirates. There is a ray of hope within all of this darkness however, with Alexa's dream of being rescued from the awful life she has been brought up in and Alec's attraction to her in spite of what she is.
There's a wild mix of action, sci-fi, horror, erotica, and romance in this novel which makes it difficult to classify. I enjoyed it as an entertaining and gritty read, made more believable by the brutality of the pirate characters. There were perhaps moments where what was going on was more extreme than technically required but I think that is what makes it unique. I liked the main characters but found it hard to connect with them, simply due to these extremes.
All in all I found this to be a gripping, entertaining read. I will warn it's not for the faint-hearted due to the graphic scenes of horror and erotica it contains. If you enjoy horror or dark, gritty novels this is a must read.
The story strikes a dark and remorselessly brutal tone right from the start, which fits very well with the main cast of characters being blood-thirsty pirates. It's a graphic and gut-wrenching tale of the depravities and brutality visited upon the helpless slaves of these truly evil, twisted pirates. There is a ray of hope within all of this darkness however, with Alexa's dream of being rescued from the awful life she has been brought up in and Alec's attraction to her in spite of what she is.
There's a wild mix of action, sci-fi, horror, erotica, and romance in this novel which makes it difficult to classify. I enjoyed it as an entertaining and gritty read, made more believable by the brutality of the pirate characters. There were perhaps moments where what was going on was more extreme than technically required but I think that is what makes it unique. I liked the main characters but found it hard to connect with them, simply due to these extremes.
All in all I found this to be a gripping, entertaining read. I will warn it's not for the faint-hearted due to the graphic scenes of horror and erotica it contains. If you enjoy horror or dark, gritty novels this is a must read.
January 27, 2013
Nastragull: Part 1 Pirates by Erik Martin Willen is an exciting and thrilling science fiction adventure. From the first page to the last it kept a firm grasp on my attention, making it hard to put down.
The story line was well developed and easy to follow. The fast paced action kept me wondering what was going to happen next. With each new twist you just kept saying wow. I love a good space opera and this is one.
The characters were easy to identify with and were very believable. Each of the main characters was well developed and their background info was relevant.
There is one sour note in the story. There is a section where the author wrote an intense scene which had graphic and extreme sexual content. I felt it added nothing to the content of the entire story and in fact distracted from it. My personal opinion is it needs to be rewritten and toned way down. Other than this, it is an excellent book.
I highly recommend Nastragull: Part 1 Pirates by Erik Martin Willen with the caveat “for mature reader.”
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
The story line was well developed and easy to follow. The fast paced action kept me wondering what was going to happen next. With each new twist you just kept saying wow. I love a good space opera and this is one.
The characters were easy to identify with and were very believable. Each of the main characters was well developed and their background info was relevant.
There is one sour note in the story. There is a section where the author wrote an intense scene which had graphic and extreme sexual content. I felt it added nothing to the content of the entire story and in fact distracted from it. My personal opinion is it needs to be rewritten and toned way down. Other than this, it is an excellent book.
I highly recommend Nastragull: Part 1 Pirates by Erik Martin Willen with the caveat “for mature reader.”
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
April 1, 2015
The first chapter starts with a fantasy episode involving dragons and a huge battle. And that’s all we see of those players.
The rest of the story is pure “hard” science fiction involving pirates, captured military rookies, and a couple of space empires.
This story isn’t for the feint of heart. It’s raw and cruel at times. Vicious aliens, cruel slavery, torture, casual rape, all the things associated with true piracy (unlike the sanitized stuff we see in movies and TV). Even the “good guys” are less than perfect. There is greed and a lot of self-interest.
But there is love (after a sort), passion, duty, and a few other virtues as well.
Basically, this story runs the gamut of human emotions, which makes it exciting and involves you in the lives of the players.
Warning: the story isn’t complete. This story is obviously too large for one volume. So, it you’re anal about “cliff-hanger endings”, this isn’t the book for you.
Worth a read and worth picking up the next book in the series to see how the situation advances.
The rest of the story is pure “hard” science fiction involving pirates, captured military rookies, and a couple of space empires.
This story isn’t for the feint of heart. It’s raw and cruel at times. Vicious aliens, cruel slavery, torture, casual rape, all the things associated with true piracy (unlike the sanitized stuff we see in movies and TV). Even the “good guys” are less than perfect. There is greed and a lot of self-interest.
But there is love (after a sort), passion, duty, and a few other virtues as well.
Basically, this story runs the gamut of human emotions, which makes it exciting and involves you in the lives of the players.
Warning: the story isn’t complete. This story is obviously too large for one volume. So, it you’re anal about “cliff-hanger endings”, this isn’t the book for you.
Worth a read and worth picking up the next book in the series to see how the situation advances.
September 3, 2016
NASTRAGULL, THE SERIES (part 1) - How it all started
My name is Erik Martin Willén, a first time author from Sweden who loves books and loves writing even more.
I recently published an original science fiction novel titled NASTRAGULL: Pirates, the first book in a projected series that combines the non-stop high-tech adventure of Star Wars with the awe-inspiring, complex cultural backdrop of Dune—with quite a bit of Quentin Tarantino thrown in for good measure. This action-packed novel includes elements of military SF, traditional space opera, dystopian SF, and the sociological explorations of writers such as Ray Bradbury and Ursula K. LeGuin. At heart, though, it's a love story—the tale of two literally star-crossed lovers, and their Herculean efforts to move Heaven and Earth (sometimes literally) to find each other again and again as circumstances rip them apart.
This is a story that I've kept coming back to since I was very young. Back then, a friend and I decided to create a cartoon. He was a great artist and could draw anything—and I was a bit crazy with my creative imagination. We decided I would come up with the story and he would handle the drawings. Boy, what a team we were! We produced a couple of pages, and then we got bored and went outside to play.
Through the years, I made notes on the topic...many notes. Several times I attempted to write a book based on those notes, but didn't have the patience to complete it; after a few pages, I simply stopped. Years went by, and from time to time, whenever I faced difficulties in my life, I made more notes. Eventually I wrote the outline for the saga and turned it into several screenplays: Dawn Sets In Hell, Twenty-First, Nastragull, etc.
The turning point in my life, the one that made me an author, was when my younger sister Sofia was diagnosed with Lupus SLE—and died shortly thereafter at the young age of 24 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sofia's death came as an incredible shock. It hit my family and me very hard, and made me revaluate my life. During my grief I started to write, and I wrote and wrote, and I held back nothing. Finally I had found my author's voice, and the result is the saga called NASTRAGULL.
My name is Erik Martin Willén, a first time author from Sweden who loves books and loves writing even more.
I recently published an original science fiction novel titled NASTRAGULL: Pirates, the first book in a projected series that combines the non-stop high-tech adventure of Star Wars with the awe-inspiring, complex cultural backdrop of Dune—with quite a bit of Quentin Tarantino thrown in for good measure. This action-packed novel includes elements of military SF, traditional space opera, dystopian SF, and the sociological explorations of writers such as Ray Bradbury and Ursula K. LeGuin. At heart, though, it's a love story—the tale of two literally star-crossed lovers, and their Herculean efforts to move Heaven and Earth (sometimes literally) to find each other again and again as circumstances rip them apart.
This is a story that I've kept coming back to since I was very young. Back then, a friend and I decided to create a cartoon. He was a great artist and could draw anything—and I was a bit crazy with my creative imagination. We decided I would come up with the story and he would handle the drawings. Boy, what a team we were! We produced a couple of pages, and then we got bored and went outside to play.
Through the years, I made notes on the topic...many notes. Several times I attempted to write a book based on those notes, but didn't have the patience to complete it; after a few pages, I simply stopped. Years went by, and from time to time, whenever I faced difficulties in my life, I made more notes. Eventually I wrote the outline for the saga and turned it into several screenplays: Dawn Sets In Hell, Twenty-First, Nastragull, etc.
The turning point in my life, the one that made me an author, was when my younger sister Sofia was diagnosed with Lupus SLE—and died shortly thereafter at the young age of 24 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sofia's death came as an incredible shock. It hit my family and me very hard, and made me revaluate my life. During my grief I started to write, and I wrote and wrote, and I held back nothing. Finally I had found my author's voice, and the result is the saga called NASTRAGULL.
August 27, 2016
NASTRAGULL, THE SERIES (part 1) - How it all started
My name is Erik Martin Willén, a first time author from Sweden who loves books and loves writing even more.
I recently published an original science fiction novel titled NASTRAGULL: Pirates, the first book in a projected series that combines the non-stop high-tech adventure of Star Wars with the awe-inspiring, complex cultural backdrop of Dune—with quite a bit of Quentin Tarantino thrown in for good measure. This action-packed novel includes elements of military SF, traditional space opera, dystopian SF, and the sociological explorations of writers such as Ray Bradbury and Ursula K. LeGuin. At heart, though, it's a love story—the tale of two literally star-crossed lovers, and their Herculean efforts to move Heaven and Earth (sometimes literally) to find each other again and again as circumstances rip them apart.
This is a story that I've kept coming back to since I was very young. Back then, a friend and I decided to create a cartoon. He was a great artist and could draw anything—and I was a bit crazy with my creative imagination. We decided I would come up with the story and he would handle the drawings. Boy, what a team we were! We produced a couple of pages, and then we got bored and went outside to play.
Through the years, I made notes on the topic...many notes. Several times I attempted to write a book based on those notes, but didn't have the patience to complete it; after a few pages, I simply stopped. Years went by, and from time to time, whenever I faced difficulties in my life, I made more notes. Eventually I wrote the outline for the saga and turned it into several screenplays: Dawn Sets In Hell, Twenty-First, Nastragull, etc.
The turning point in my life, the one that made me an author, was when my younger sister Sofia was diagnosed with Lupus SLE—and died shortly thereafter at the young age of 24 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sofia's death came as an incredible shock. It hit my family and me very hard, and made me revaluate my life. During my grief I started to write, and I wrote and wrote, and I held back nothing. Finally I had found my author's voice, and the result is the saga called NASTRAGULL.
My name is Erik Martin Willén, a first time author from Sweden who loves books and loves writing even more.
I recently published an original science fiction novel titled NASTRAGULL: Pirates, the first book in a projected series that combines the non-stop high-tech adventure of Star Wars with the awe-inspiring, complex cultural backdrop of Dune—with quite a bit of Quentin Tarantino thrown in for good measure. This action-packed novel includes elements of military SF, traditional space opera, dystopian SF, and the sociological explorations of writers such as Ray Bradbury and Ursula K. LeGuin. At heart, though, it's a love story—the tale of two literally star-crossed lovers, and their Herculean efforts to move Heaven and Earth (sometimes literally) to find each other again and again as circumstances rip them apart.
This is a story that I've kept coming back to since I was very young. Back then, a friend and I decided to create a cartoon. He was a great artist and could draw anything—and I was a bit crazy with my creative imagination. We decided I would come up with the story and he would handle the drawings. Boy, what a team we were! We produced a couple of pages, and then we got bored and went outside to play.
Through the years, I made notes on the topic...many notes. Several times I attempted to write a book based on those notes, but didn't have the patience to complete it; after a few pages, I simply stopped. Years went by, and from time to time, whenever I faced difficulties in my life, I made more notes. Eventually I wrote the outline for the saga and turned it into several screenplays: Dawn Sets In Hell, Twenty-First, Nastragull, etc.
The turning point in my life, the one that made me an author, was when my younger sister Sofia was diagnosed with Lupus SLE—and died shortly thereafter at the young age of 24 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sofia's death came as an incredible shock. It hit my family and me very hard, and made me revaluate my life. During my grief I started to write, and I wrote and wrote, and I held back nothing. Finally I had found my author's voice, and the result is the saga called NASTRAGULL.
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May 27, 2014Dnf'd at 20%. I have no problems with gratuitous violence but this seemed to be nothing but action, with little 'narrative' to soften the ever increasing mega-angst that had me cringing at times, although there were long (and unnecessary) descriptions of clothing. The writing is terse and lacks any sense of 'flow' and I simply did not care about any of the characters.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews