Light of a Distant Sun

by Brent Nichols

Barely recovered from his injuries and still in the sights of the fascist traitors in the Wukan navy, Jeff Yi is again placed in command of his own ship and sent on a dangerous mission deep within enemy territory.

Haunted by memories of those who died under his command, Yi struggles to come to grips with the reality of war and the possibility of betrayal from within his own ranks. If he fails to uncover the Ryland plot, more than his life may be at stake.

Light of a Distant Sun is the exciting sequel to Stars Like Cold Fire.

Genres: Science Fiction, Military Science Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published August 10, 2017

Reviews

[Jennifer Rahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel to Stars Like Cold Fire picks up with protagonist Jeff Yi being assigned to another small vessel for a stealth mission deep within enemy territory. With more experience under his belt, Jeff is more confident, despite still having to deal with being the son of war hero (or enemy, depending on point-of-view) and a target for political assassination. The narrative vividly captures the minute detail of serving on board a space-faring military vessel, and the need to trust the crew. But what happens when someone on board can't be trusted--and Jeff has no idea who that someone is?

The novel starts off slowly, setting up the political landscape, then the tension gets ratcheted up as the mission gets underway. I enjoyed this book more than the first, mainly because of the interpersonal interactions that Jeff was finally allowed to have. I also found the political undercurrents more smoothly executed. Readers who love immersive detail will definitely enjoy this book.

[Al Onia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nichols' sequel to the Aurora nominated Stars Like Cold fire is a fine stand-alone if you haven't read the first. There exists a sub-genre of military SF modelled on the intensity of submarine warfare exemplified by the WWII novel and movie "Run Silent, Run Deep" through Frank Herbert's "Under Pressure" to Glen Cook's gritty "Passage At Arms". Stars Like Cold Fire echoes its predecessors with a slightly less gritty but more 'human' and just as intense with an original take on the niche genre. Jeff Yi's command of a stealth ship is an exciting journey behind enemy lines (waters? voidspace?) while dealing with betrayal by an unknown crewmember. Nichols' eminently readable style immerses the reader in the larger and smaller conflict. Can Yi weld his compassion, horrific memories and family legacy into effective command? Read and discover a great story and a fine talent. Recommended.

[Timothy Gwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm only an occasional reader of military SF, but I enjoy Mr. Nichols' writing. In this sequel to Stars Like Cold Fire, Jeff Yi gets a new ship and a mission in an enemy sector that's supposed to be secret, but the rumor mill is running at full capacity, possibly fueled by political divisions within the fleet.

While this book is driven primarily by action, the returning characters grow in complexity, and the new characters are engaging for both their flaws and their strengths. This looks like it's going to be an excellent series, and I plan to read more.

[Chris Patrick Carolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light of a Distant Sun is even better than the first book, Stars Like Cold Fire. This sequel again sees Jeff Yi thrown into an unenviable situation as captain of a small starship, but in no way does the plot feel like a rehash of the first book. Conspiracy, intrigue, action, strong character development, and even a little romance... it's all here in a handy blend of Space Opera and Military SF that ought to satisfy devotees of both genres.

[Robert W. Easton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sequel to Stars Like Cold Fire. Yi gets involved in more military SF hijinks on a mission to [REDACTED]. This time he has trouble trusting his crew (again) and has to proceed with orders anyway. Tensions rise, personal and political. The ending has mixed resolution, holding a teasing promise of a third book.

[Michael Thurnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book which i won in a goodreads giveaway.

While I haven't read a lot of Science Fiction, I do consider myself a Science Fiction fan. This was the first story that really showed what it is like to be on board a ship.

I loved the writing style. An original story thst kept my interest with every page.

I highly recommend it.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this book in a good reads giveaway.

The beginning of the book was slow and hard to get into. This probably can be explained by the fact that I only figured out it was a sequel halfway through the book. The second half of the book was a lot more interesting and quicker to read.

[Robert Bose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic continuation of Stars Like Cold Fire.