10,000 Bones

by Joe Ollinger

On the planet Brink, calcium is cash. The element's scarcity led the world's government to declare it the official currency. In the decades since, the governments of other colonized worlds have suppressed shipments of calcium in order to maintain favorable exchange rates, while Brink's Commerce Board has struggled to negotiate importation quotas to keep the population alive and growing.

Taryn Dare is a Collections Agent, a specialized detective tasked with finding black market calcium and recovering it, so that the Commerce Board can recycle it and distribute it as currency. Taryn is fueled by one goal: to save up enough currency units for a one-way ticket to a better world. But when a job recovering a human corpse uncovers a deadly conspiracy in the system, Taryn is drawn into an investigation that may threaten her life, and the very fabric of her society.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2019

About the author

Joe Ollinger grew up in a small swamp town in Florida. After graduating from the University of Southern California, he worked for several years as a reader and story analyst for an Academy Award Winning Filmmaker. Currently residing in Los Angeles, he works as an attorney when he's not writing.

Reviews

[Beth Tabler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Author, Joe Ollinger's timing is just right. The science fiction genre is saturated with dystopian novels that ask questions of the reader, "What if there were no water? Or Food? Or Sunlight?" None I have seen until now have asked the question, "What if there is no calcium?" It is a perfect question to ask. In the reader's mind, calcium is the most benign of things, and it surrounds us. Ollinger creates a vibrant world built around the procurement of calcium tinged with mystery, adventure, and a kick-ass female protagonist. 

The world Ollinger creates resembles a world that, to me, is a cross of a wild west town and a city from the TV show Firefly. Named Brink, it is all hot and bright with a thin patina of red dust the encapsulates everything. It is full of inhospitable people scrabbling out a living in the dirty, dusty land, and always in need of calcium and water. Ollinger describes it as "...a last chance gas station on one of Earth's old, long highways - a staging area, a waypoint to more promising, more hospitable worlds..." Also present is the very visible Oligarchy of the rich described as having more elegant clothes, healthier bodies and a distinct lack of hypocalcemia bruising often found in the poor.  The dichotomy of the poor versus the wealthy is fascinating here. Something as simple as drinking a glass of milk is considered the highest of high falutin living.

This book is in the classic "who done it" style. We have our heroine, Taryn. A rough and tumble collections agent described as muscular and robust that wears body armor. Her job is to seek out leaks of unauthorized calcium currency and return it to the government. In this world, calcium is cleverly written as tradeable currency.  Doing her job, she is always surrounded by the unlawful, the dying and the dregs of society. This brings up shattering moments from her past that often play a part in her decision making in the present. She also has a wealth of empathy, tho to function in her position as a collections agent, and by extension survive in this society, she has to suppress it. She reminds me very much of Marvel's Jessica Jones. She has a similar attitude and position minus the superpowers. 

The story progresses with Taryn becoming enemy #1 of the state as she hunts for who is stealing the calcium supply. It is exciting and turbulent all within the context of an investigator type mystery. Along the way, we meet various side characters including a sidekick/romance interest of a sort in the form of a wealthy calcium auditor, Brady. He is a described as "looks more like a business executive than a bureaucrat." The absolute only complaint I have in this story is I found Brady to be a tad unbelievable. His motivations as a character and dialog were muddy. This threw me out of the story at points. I just could not suspend belief when it came to Brady's and Taryn's interactions. However, this book could easily have a sequel. If so, as a reader I would love to know more about Brady's backstory and have him fleshed out as a more substantial character. 

There are beautifully created images throughout the story that keep the pages turning as the reader seeks out the "who did it." All of this climaxes into a rather explosive denouement. This, in turn, finalizes into an open ending that is rife with a possibility for sequels. 

The author asks us, "What if there is no calcium?" As a reader, I can say "I know that one. It looks like this..."

[Corinne Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Sci fi adventure! It hints of The Expanse, another cracking sci fi series, and follows through with a strong female character as our protag, and all the best Sci fi models. The Brink (perfect sci fi name!) uses calcium as cash. And without it, the peoples bones will shatter. So it's cash and also medicine, and having such an integral substance suddenly used as a commerce system makes for some really fun reading. It's well thought out, and made me really think about what it would be like to rely on your currency to keep you alive, literally. The protag is like an enforcer for the calcium trade - making sure people aren't harvesting it illegally or trying to sell in the black market, and she stumbles into a big, big conspiracy.
It's lots of fun! I enjoyed every page, and happily read the whole thing in one sitting.
Recommended for Sci fi fans that are familiar with the genre and like to see little nods to classics littered throughout. However! New scifi readers will also get a kick out of this, too.

[Fiction Fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure exactly what to expect from a first-time novelist, but the premise and cover art made me want to take the gamble. I'm really, really glad I did. Those things hooked me, but the well-developed characters and the fleshed-out descriptions really immersed me in this book--even through the crash-course in economics that came with the explanation for how this unusual currency works, which could've easily been dry. I'm really impressed with what Ollinger has done here, and honestly can't recommend it enough. I'm excited for his next one.

[Cranky - The Book Curmudgeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Cranky Stars


Another good science fiction book. Only complaint is that it takes place in the future on other planets but every character appears to be human. There really must be other life out in space somewhere if we can make it out there.


In this case, the planet is called Brink. It has become overpopulated on Earth and many of the citizens have chosen to emigrate to other planets to start their own businesses. Brink was originally the planet to go to even though it was low on calcium, flora, fauna and water. It was the last frontier so to speak but, space travel has advanced and Brink has become just a stopover.


Things on Brink have always been hard but now they are worse. The natural supply of calcium is running out. It is used as currency due to its rarity and ownership is strictly regulated. This has led to many people selling their bones and bodies for money for their family.


Taryn Dare is a Collections Agent and fights to stop the illegal trade. When a Board Agent finds discrepancies in the calcium logs, Taryn offers to work with him to find the leak. The deception goes much deeper than either of them ever thought it would and their investigation becomes a matter of life and death.


Spellbinding story that keeps one on the edge of your seat. Definitely a can’t put it down type of story.

[Sean Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually a huge fan of straight sci-fi, but a friend suggested this book and I was pleasantly surprised. The premise is intriguing—a planet whose currency is calcium. I had a feeling where the dark side of that could go...

I found the main character Taryn super relatable—I've certainly been stuck in a place (crappy hometown) and willing to take any job to leave. And she's a badass.

The plot is filled with twists and kept me in suspense throughout. And it addresses some bigger, darker themes that echo currents in our times... Highly recommend!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super engrossing page turner with an excellent protagonist who is smart and capable but also flawed. I'm kind of sick of a well-intentioned stereotype I keep seeing (mostly in films and TV) of the "strong female character" who is very tough and 100% capable, but in a way that's one-dimensional and frankly boring. Yes, Taryn is a boss who is great at her job, and tough, and clever, but she also has a ton of emotional baggage, vulnerability, and Ollinger isn't afraid of letting her make some very big and very human mistakes, which I understood and loved! I also loved the world of Brink and all of the details that went into making it feel like this could really be a distant planet in the future. Ollinger goes way beyond what could be just a simple "what if...? scenario adding tons of details about the galaxy and Brink's economy, but not in a way that comes across as too dense or inaccessible. Beyond that, the plot provides a compelling mystery. Each chapter left me wanting more as the story went deeper and deeper, and even when I thought I had it all figured out, the story still managed to throw a few twists at the end that I didn't see coming. Overall, a great read and very cinematic... feels like it would make a great movie or TV show (it actually reminded me a bit of Syfy's The Expanse which I also enjoyed). Would love to read more stories set in the Brink universe and beyond.

[Genevieve Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast paced, well written novel that feels like it's inevitably going to wind up as some lucky actress's staring vehicle. There was enough going on with the conspiracy and mystery that you'll have fun putting the pieces together.

But while there's a lot of great action, what I really liked was the thought and energy put into the world building. While I was initially a bit skeptical about "calcium as currency," Olinger makes the premise believable and as a result the planet of Brink, and Taryn, the protagonist, exist in a universe that not only feels real but, in a way, almost inevitable (that is, if mankind ever gets around to developing faster than light travel).

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5 stars. Good characters but a predictable plot. The author, who is male, writes from the perspective of a female main character. For such a futuristic and progressive platform, the narrative falls back on patriarchal patterns and masculine-oriented norms. A blend of sci-fi and exaggerated action movie, with an attempted crackle of sexual tension that feels forced, 10,000 Bones is an amusing trek into an alternate, interplanetary, calcium-based economy. Pro tip: if you can have dairy, read it with a milkshake!

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging and entertaining sci-fi books.
I loved the world building and the characters.
The plot gives you a lot of food for thought due to how the world in the book is working.
I think this could became the first in a series of other books could be set in this universe.
I look forward to reading other books by this writer.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

[thruutopiceyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fast read, fun mix of speculative sci-fi and noir mystery. Seems well suited to be adapted into a Hollywood movie, though its brisk space leaves me wanting to know much more about the world the author's created... the concept of bones (calcium, really) as valuable property is so novel that you just wanna play around with it more. I guess I'll have to settle for a sequel!

[Peggy Sinnott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly amazing novel. I loved every moment. If you haven't taken the time to read this novel make sure you pick it up. 10,000 bones delivers.

[Marco Landi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Più di 4 stelle..
Finalmente l'ho potuto leggere.. C ho messo un po' a trovarne una copia.. ma l'attesa è stata meritata..
L'uomo ha colonizzato 25 pianeti.. su uno di questi, Brink, tra la poca acqua e il deserto rosiccio, c'è la città di Oasis City.. ultima sosta di frontiera per le navi stellari che si avviano a esplorare lo spazio..
Qui Taryn è una agente dedita al controllo e recupero di valuta.. in un mondo in cui il Calcio è materia rara, è ha un valore altissimo per chi ci vive e vuole restare in salute, il Calcio diventa la moneta del pianeta.. denti, ossa, avanzi di cibo, cadaveri.. ogni fonte di calcio deve essere controllata per impedire che venga immessa sul mercato nero..

Prende così campo una storia procedurale di indagini prima per omicidio, poi per truffa, dando il via a un thriller davvero ben strutturato.. ricco di scoperte e senza tempi morti, con tanta frenetica azione..
Il finale è forse un po' più debole rispetto a tutto il resto, ma ho comunque apprezzato tutta la struttura narrativa, il modo originale con cui Joe ha creato il suo mondo ai confini degli spazio.. da una parte forse non ha introdotto chissà quali cose originali, ma utilizzando molte idee tipiche di questo tipo di sci-fi, ha creato lo stesso una bella storia, interessante, originale e divertente.. la parte sul Calcio, su come viene recuperato, e poi utilizzato come moneta è stata davvero ottima..
Anche i personaggi mi sono piaciuti molto.. e anche se il colpevole per così dire è facilmente intuibile, molto di ciò che avviene è imprevisto e ha reso la lettura veloce e intrigante..
Peccato Ollinger non abbia scritto altro dopo questo libro..

[Jonathan Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

10,000 Bones delivers convincing detective work and cinematic action from its hard-boiled heroine, who is caught between fighting to improve or escaping completely from the calcium-deprived planet she regretfully calls home. With calcium being the intergalactic currency, a novel premise with interesting socio-economic implications that Ollinger successfully teases out, a planet's stability and quality of life is pegged to this vital mineral's availability. With human bones being a rich source of calcium, the criminal implications for calcium scarcity are a rich narrative source that is masterfully mined in this compelling sci-fi novel.

[Caitlin Grimalkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best Sci-Fi I have read in years. Ever since I finished the last page, I've been looking forward to reading more from this brilliant emerging voice!

[Chris Neumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 (rounding to 4). An enjoyable sci-fi romp on a planet where calcium is currency. A unique mix of cyberpunk and crime procedural. Good stuff!

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, a mystery set in a universe with quite a few colonized planets out there, set on one of them. Strong, tough female lead character, who provides first person narration.

[Guillermo Querido · Rating 3 out of 5]

There have been some memorable movie tag lines over the years. ‘In space, no-one can hear you scream’, ‘Check in. Unpack. Relax. Take a shower’, and ‘Man is the warmest place to hide’ (kudos if you know all three) are some which immediately spring to mind. However, I can’t recall ever being compelled to read a book just from the tagline. That is, until I saw the cover for Joe Ollinger’s 10,000 Bones;

‘On a planet where calcium is cash, the black market trades in bone’

High concept and macabre sounding science fiction? Hell. Yes.

10,000 Bones tells the story of Taryn Dare, a collections agent on the planet Brink, whose job is to recover calcium from the black market so that it can be reintroduced into society as currency. Brink, which feels like a cross between Tatooine and the American Wild West, is deep and vivid in its imagining; the planet and its inhabitants feel incredibly real and detailed. Ollinger, perhaps inspired by current trends back on planet earth, has created a world where the contrast between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ pervades so many elements of the book. While the wealthy spend their time in beautiful modern buildings with access to extravagant off-world luxuries, those less well-off don’t even have access to enough calcium to remain healthy, often resorting to selling their body parts to try and survive.

While the book’s concept and setup are very well executed, I felt that the plot soon lost its appeal. What starts off as a science-fiction inspired mystery story devolved rather rapidly into a rather generic thriller. If I’m being honest, it was my interest in Brink and Ollinger’s universe that saw me through to the end rather than a desire to find out Taryn’s fate. Furthermore, the romance element involving Taryn and Brady, which seemed forced and unnecessary, was wholly uninteresting. The character of Brady felt flat and unbelievable, something noted even by Taryn herself on multiple occasions.

As I’ve said, the book’s premise, and the universe in which it takes place, was of great interest to me. With the book’s open ending hinting at the possibility of sequels being written, I would be excited to learn more about Brink, Farraway, and many of the other planets that the human race has settled on. Just as Taryn decides to give her home planet a second chance, I would be willing to give Ollinger a second chance were he to write a sequel. He gathered all of the right pieces for a great sci-fi novel, he just wasn’t able to assemble them all together.

Thanks to Diversion Books for an ARC copy for an honest review

[Rarely Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm usually a science fiction fan, so it doesn't take much to draw me in beyond a cool-seeming premise; it DOES take a lot to keep me from putting the book back down, though. 10,000 Bones provides everything I wanted in a book like this. It's a quick read, with a vivid, deep, well-developed world even in spite of its somewhat short length. The characters are compelling; no one feels like set-dressing here. And, again, that premise--part of what turns me off of some fantastical novels is the lack of any real science behind the idea, and Ollinger has supplied the reader with enough explanation to have the calcium-based economy (and its black market) make sense, without at any time getting bogged down or dry. So if a fast-paced, action-packed novel plotted around an unusual currency on a human-colonized exoplanet with an engaging collection of diverse characters appeals to you, BUY THIS BOOK. You won't regret it.

[Francisco Lozano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a nice book, easy to read, with an interesting story regarding intrigue, politics, economics but you do get your fair share of action.

I do believe there's something lacking on some of the characters though, not the main one, we get to know Agent Dare pretty well with the way she interacts and all her backstory but the second most important character which would be Kearns we hardly got to know him really, maybe it was to help with the plot to have her doubt of him but in the end what it did made me feel is that there's no reason for her to fall even a little for him romantically since she doubts him every step of the way.

The same goes for some of the other characters I felt there was lacking in the development.

But in general is a really nice refreshing story at least for my taste.

[Misha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both I and my 12yo read this (and she usually disdains SFF). We liked the premise, but about 4/5ths in it got very violent (not graphic, just more of an extnnded sense of caper/showdown) rather than plot-driven. It was still good, but it felt a bit like it changed gears and I'd rather have a bit more world-building or discussion of the really interesting idea of calcium as currency. The book moved with the spree, but... I felt like the ideological part got left behind for the characters. All in all, tho, it was a good read, fast for me, and my daughter liked it despite as I said her avoidance of SFF.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun fast read with great female protagonist!

Loved it!

Thrilling dystopian adventure!

The concept drew me in, but by the end of the first chapter I was hooked.

[Katrina Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good story and overall a interesting idea. I found myself enjoying the comparisons to Earth and the other planets who use money for currency instead of a commodity, and the whole economy system based on a vital nutrient is brilliant and evil.

Taryn Dare is an officer whose job it is to collect calcium that is gained by illegal means. Her biggest dream is to leave the planet so that she can enjoy a place that has enough of the necessities that currency scarcity will not kill her.

One day while she was out on a call she finds an odd situation and ends up in a deep conspiracy involving all the top levels to keep the currency exchange rates, as they apparently have enough calcium, they have just kept it out of circulation. She fights evil banks and corporations with the help of an auditor from one one them (yes, they get together) and they uncover this conspiracy from a doctor making people sick all the way to a CEO.

At the end, when Taryn is given the chance to finally leave (actually twice this happens), she realizes that this planet still has a lot to give and she wants to do her best to help.

Favorite quote- “You know what I mean. I had ambition. I wanted to make a difference for humanity. Still do. Darien’s problems are the age old ones the unsolvable ones. Economic inequality. You know: not enough food or power for the poor, not enough floating hotels and oeufs du massepain-poisson for the rich. It’s like I said every society has a shortage. And if there is no shortage, society invents one. The difference with Brink is that its most serious one may be fixable”

[Samantha Grenier · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5-⭐️: The concept of this book is really cool: calcium as currency? People selling their bones to make ends meat? Dark. But the more I think of it, how does it come to this? Calcium as money doesn’t make much sense. We don’t really get an answer to this, which okay, I’ll just accept it and read on.

I feel like I’m one of the unpopular opinions of this book, because I didn’t care for any of the characters, especially the protagonist, who felt stilted. The plot, which was noted as a sci fi, is very much so a cop-gone-rouge drama, so I may not have been the intended audience for this due to the genre bend. I get the impression that actions were inspired by cop dramas like Law and Order, or CSI. I got a sense of space (scenery and location), but I never felt immersed in the world.

I do like the story, but I don’t love it because I wanted more sci & less cop. I think most of the issues I had with this book were due to POV; a 3rd person delivery would have cleaned up character tropes and offer more creative freedom to describe each scene and planetary history.

The story does touch on some social themes which I think may make it good for a book club discussion. There’s a lot on class and the economic market delicacy. Intergalactic colonization. The balance of power.

—

Thank you NetGalley for offering me the opportunity to review an advanced reader copy.

[Nicholas Ackerman · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay off world procedural that goes off the rails at the end. The basic conspiracy idea has some potential, but what should be the tense pull-the-clues-together climax doesn't work. The action cascade happens from an assumption by the main character that is neither justified nor makes sense from how Agent Dare has been developed. Same for the resolution. The fight scene descriptions might be a good guide post if this was ever made into a movie, but were a slog to get through.


The world building was okay (though a 10 million person city is at odds with the frontier world impression most of the book creates), and okay if thin characterizations.  


Up to the last Act I was enjoying the book as low-caliber entertainment. It just couldn't go all the way. 

[Wendy]

The title, the cover, and the idea of calcium as a currency got me to read this book, and I'm very happy they did!

10,000 Bones is a quick, easy read and very entertaining. I would like to have had a bit more character development but overall I found the book to be very entertaining. Just think about it , calcium as currency. What lengths would the poor go to to get calcium? Or anyone really?

I definitely recommend this book to sci-fi and thriller fans.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise is pretty good - different, interesting, and, on the human nature side of things, believable. The opening chapters are clunky - the author could have trusted the reader to figure a few things out regarding that premise during a normal course of events and discussions. There's an actual "as you know, Jim" scene in the first chapter, where two characters talk about the sci-fi element of their world, acknowledging that they both know all this while they talk about it as if to a new visitor.

As far as a thriller/mystery elements, there could have been some polishing there, too. The villain is obvious, as well as the motive. Minor twists were nice, at least. Also, a detail I liked: the villain's slow sipping of coffee. Like twirling a mustache but modern.

[Tom Getzinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

While waiting for the latest Temperence Brennan book, the library suggested this. So, I tried it. It was kind of like Urinetown in outer space, except rather than urine, the sparse commodity was calcium. So, all things calcium were very closely tracked: milk, bones, teeth. A member of the (calcium) "Collection Agency" works to track down missing calcium. Will she lose all hers in order to find it? Read on to find out.

[Alistair · Rating 3 out of 5]

3* but that's, 1 of the *s is me being generous
listened to an audible version and my generous * was mainly for the narrator.

[Tom Mahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad debut. A very clever premise, just not fleshed out enough to be a truly complete s/f novel.
Think of it as a detective story set in space.