What do you think?
Rate this book
Gattis File #1
Blood Orbit
This science fiction police procedural pairs an idealistic rookie with an officer who uses cybernetic implants to process forensics; in solving a mass murder, they will uncover a vast conspiracy.
Eric Matheson, an idealistic rookie cop trying to break from his powerful family, is plunged into the investigation of a brutal crime in his first weeks on the job in Angra Dastrelas, the corrupt capital city of the corporate-owned planet Gattis. A newcomer to the planet, Matheson is unaware of the danger he's courting when he's promoted in the field to assist the controversial Chief Investigating Forensic Officer, Inspector J. P. Dillal, the planet's first cybernetically enhanced investigator. Coming from a despised ethnic underclass, the brilliant and secretive Dillal seems determined to unravel the crime regardless of the consequences. The deeper they dig, the more dangerous the investigation becomes. But in a system where the cops enforce corporate will, instead of the law, the solution could expose Gattis's most shocking secrets and cost thousands of lives--including Matheson's and Dillal's.
Eric Matheson, an idealistic rookie cop trying to break from his powerful family, is plunged into the investigation of a brutal crime in his first weeks on the job in Angra Dastrelas, the corrupt capital city of the corporate-owned planet Gattis. A newcomer to the planet, Matheson is unaware of the danger he's courting when he's promoted in the field to assist the controversial Chief Investigating Forensic Officer, Inspector J. P. Dillal, the planet's first cybernetically enhanced investigator. Coming from a despised ethnic underclass, the brilliant and secretive Dillal seems determined to unravel the crime regardless of the consequences. The deeper they dig, the more dangerous the investigation becomes. But in a system where the cops enforce corporate will, instead of the law, the solution could expose Gattis's most shocking secrets and cost thousands of lives--including Matheson's and Dillal's.
496 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2018
42 people are currently reading
1074 people want to read
About the author
K.R. Richardson
2 books36 followersK.R. Richardson is the SF pseudonym of Kat Richardson, author of the bestselling Greywalker paranormal detective novels.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 7, 2018
8 out of 10 at: https://1000yearplan.com/2018/05/07/b...
K.R. Richardson’s Blood Orbit is an ambitious, cinematic sci-fi police procedural set on a long established human colony planet in the far future. While one usually associates Blade Runner with this kind of genre hybrid, Blood Orbit is a bit more Michael Mann than Ridley Scott, and with its labyrinthine cycles of corruption and injustice permeating every level of the society it depicts, Blood Orbit recalls such classic film noir crime sagas as The Big Heat and Crossfire. The fact that the “security and investigation services” on the corporate-owned planet of Gattis are little more than a protection racket for the company’s interests lends even greater emphasis to the atmosphere of alienation and cynicism that simmers throughout the novel.
In Gattis’ capital city of Angra Dastrelas, rookie cop Eric Matheson works in the Dreihleat, home to one of the city’s economically-depressed ethnic minorities. While walking the beat with his training officer, Matheson comes across a scene of mass murder that immediately casts suspicion on the Ohba, another minority group the Dreihle have a long history of conflict with. The investigator assigned to the case is J.P. Dillal, himself half-Ohba and half-Dreihle (and an outcast among both groups), as well as the first officer to be fitted with cybernetic implants that can process forensic evidence at the scene of the crime. Dillal conscripts the young security officer as his partner on the investigation, for reasons not immediately clear to Matheson (or the reader). Their bosses want the case closed quickly, but Dillal refuses to accept that it is a clear-cut case of ethnically motivated violence, as much as the department would like it to be.
Blood Orbit definitely puts the procedure in procedural. We follow Dillal and Matheson as they walk and talk through every evidentiary discovery, every possible theory of motive and means, and every interview and interaction with a documentary-like intensiveness. Luckily, Dillal and Matheson are interesting and intricately drawn characters, even before we learn that there is more to Dillal than his starchy Joe Friday façade, and that Matheson isn’t as green-bellied as he wants everyone to believe. Richardson has a strong grasp of their inner lives and is brave enough to venture out and show us how they interact with the world at large. This is why, despite the meticulous way the story unfolds, it never feels too arid or impliable, as procedurals often do. There are strong emotional, even impassioned, currents moving through the novel, because the characters’ motives run deeper than mere professionalism. Gattis itself is a triumph of fleshy, imaginative worldbuilding, and Richardson’s prose is so entangled with the sensual components and minutia of its surroundings that the reader can almost taste the acrid air the characters are breathing. Occasionally, the steely cop-show dialogue and deliberative plotting can get a little too hefty for its own good, but our investment in the characters and their goals remain constant and urgent from the opening page to the last.
Sci-fi detective noir may be nothing new, but Blood Orbit still manages to feel distinct, familiar without being too derivative, which is (or should be) the goal of genre writing. It should please fans of classic, detail-oriented sci-fi, as well as those who prefer the more social variety.
Thanks to Pyr Books and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read this ARC.
K.R. Richardson’s Blood Orbit is an ambitious, cinematic sci-fi police procedural set on a long established human colony planet in the far future. While one usually associates Blade Runner with this kind of genre hybrid, Blood Orbit is a bit more Michael Mann than Ridley Scott, and with its labyrinthine cycles of corruption and injustice permeating every level of the society it depicts, Blood Orbit recalls such classic film noir crime sagas as The Big Heat and Crossfire. The fact that the “security and investigation services” on the corporate-owned planet of Gattis are little more than a protection racket for the company’s interests lends even greater emphasis to the atmosphere of alienation and cynicism that simmers throughout the novel.
In Gattis’ capital city of Angra Dastrelas, rookie cop Eric Matheson works in the Dreihleat, home to one of the city’s economically-depressed ethnic minorities. While walking the beat with his training officer, Matheson comes across a scene of mass murder that immediately casts suspicion on the Ohba, another minority group the Dreihle have a long history of conflict with. The investigator assigned to the case is J.P. Dillal, himself half-Ohba and half-Dreihle (and an outcast among both groups), as well as the first officer to be fitted with cybernetic implants that can process forensic evidence at the scene of the crime. Dillal conscripts the young security officer as his partner on the investigation, for reasons not immediately clear to Matheson (or the reader). Their bosses want the case closed quickly, but Dillal refuses to accept that it is a clear-cut case of ethnically motivated violence, as much as the department would like it to be.
Blood Orbit definitely puts the procedure in procedural. We follow Dillal and Matheson as they walk and talk through every evidentiary discovery, every possible theory of motive and means, and every interview and interaction with a documentary-like intensiveness. Luckily, Dillal and Matheson are interesting and intricately drawn characters, even before we learn that there is more to Dillal than his starchy Joe Friday façade, and that Matheson isn’t as green-bellied as he wants everyone to believe. Richardson has a strong grasp of their inner lives and is brave enough to venture out and show us how they interact with the world at large. This is why, despite the meticulous way the story unfolds, it never feels too arid or impliable, as procedurals often do. There are strong emotional, even impassioned, currents moving through the novel, because the characters’ motives run deeper than mere professionalism. Gattis itself is a triumph of fleshy, imaginative worldbuilding, and Richardson’s prose is so entangled with the sensual components and minutia of its surroundings that the reader can almost taste the acrid air the characters are breathing. Occasionally, the steely cop-show dialogue and deliberative plotting can get a little too hefty for its own good, but our investment in the characters and their goals remain constant and urgent from the opening page to the last.
Sci-fi detective noir may be nothing new, but Blood Orbit still manages to feel distinct, familiar without being too derivative, which is (or should be) the goal of genre writing. It should please fans of classic, detail-oriented sci-fi, as well as those who prefer the more social variety.
Thanks to Pyr Books and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read this ARC.
July 4, 2018
This is a lovely cross between hard boiled noir and science fiction. Eric Matheson is a rookie cop trying to put some distance between himself and his powerful, influential family. Pounding the beat in the slums of the capital city of the corporate-owned planet of Gattis, he and his partner stumble upon a mass murder in an after hours club. The investigation results in his being reassigned to assist the controversial Chief Investigating Forensic Officer, J.P. Dillal. Dillal has been cybernetically enhanced via an experimental procedure, the first to survive long enough to be assigned to the field. As their investigation progresses, the pressure to close it quickly increases. It would seem that their findings don't fit the favored narrative …
This novel gets quite dark. Holding onto one’s ideals is a constant struggle on Gattis. It's beaches are a popular tourist destination, but poverty and misery lurk just out of sight. The society is stratified, with at least two separate ethnic underclasses, one of which Dillal comes from. Richardson has imagined an alien world right down to social customs and speech patterns different from our own (or my own, at least. I suppose I shouldn't presume to speak for everybody.)
The cityscapes feel somewhat like the movie Bladerunner--or at least that's how my mind’s eye insists on visualizing them--but in a tropical climate. Richardson’s descriptions drip with heat and humidity. The book also reminds me a bit of Jack Vance’s classic story, “The Moon Moth,” mostly in that both are murder mysteries in alien societies with deeply imagined cultures with customs that complicate the solving process.
While this book is excellent, reading it felt like sinking into a quagmire. The nigh constant moral dilemmas and hints of corruption mentally exhausted me. It's tautly constructed and well written, but, in the end, not anything I’d eagerly revisit. Your mileage may vary.
This novel gets quite dark. Holding onto one’s ideals is a constant struggle on Gattis. It's beaches are a popular tourist destination, but poverty and misery lurk just out of sight. The society is stratified, with at least two separate ethnic underclasses, one of which Dillal comes from. Richardson has imagined an alien world right down to social customs and speech patterns different from our own (or my own, at least. I suppose I shouldn't presume to speak for everybody.)
The cityscapes feel somewhat like the movie Bladerunner--or at least that's how my mind’s eye insists on visualizing them--but in a tropical climate. Richardson’s descriptions drip with heat and humidity. The book also reminds me a bit of Jack Vance’s classic story, “The Moon Moth,” mostly in that both are murder mysteries in alien societies with deeply imagined cultures with customs that complicate the solving process.
While this book is excellent, reading it felt like sinking into a quagmire. The nigh constant moral dilemmas and hints of corruption mentally exhausted me. It's tautly constructed and well written, but, in the end, not anything I’d eagerly revisit. Your mileage may vary.
May 9, 2018
Reasons to Grab Blood Orbit
The story takes place in Angra Dastrelas, the capital city of the corporate-owned planet Gattis. Richardson did a splendid job of brings this city to life. Sadly, even off-planet the world is still filled with corruption in the name of profit. Here the corporation influences even the law. Social classes, racial divide, and corruption run amuck on every level of this planet. When a mass-murder takes place in the lower class burbs, it may just give the corporation a much-needed excuse to eliminate a pesky problem.
Eric Matheson is relatively new to Gattis. Eric turned his back on his life of privilege to become an officer. When we first meet him, he is doing patrols with his partner. They stumble on a mass-murder which if not solved could cause political unrest. Eric soon finds himself working for Chief Investigating Forensic Officer, Inspector J. P. Dillal. Dillal is the first cybernetically enhanced investigator. He hasn't even fully recovered when he is assigned to the case. I was impressed and at times grossed out by the cyber aspects of Dillal, but I liked this Sherlock, style detective. His unusual ethnicity and upbringing created this brilliant, tenacious man who is driven to uncover the truth.
The law, much like the corporation is viewed as the enemy in the ghetto sectors of Angra Dastrelas. Interview witnesses, crossing language barriers and navigating the tombs place Matheson and Dillal in danger. The plot was well paced, and I enjoyed tagging along as they chipped away at the evidence and pieced clues, testimonies, and dots together.
Richardson placed plenty of twists and obstacles in the detectives' way. The worldbuilding was solid, and the story felt realistic. A lot of the political and racial divide felt relevant.
The science fiction aspects, from living off planet to cybernetics were geektastic, and while not overly detailed, Richardson provided great descriptions that made me feel as if I were there. I enjoyed the interaction between Dillal and the Doctor responsible for his new gear. Dillal was a bit of a McGuyver, fixing things on the go and overriding processes.
The murder-mystery wrapped up, but an overall arc and hints of the future have me hoping a second book is in the works.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
The story takes place in Angra Dastrelas, the capital city of the corporate-owned planet Gattis. Richardson did a splendid job of brings this city to life. Sadly, even off-planet the world is still filled with corruption in the name of profit. Here the corporation influences even the law. Social classes, racial divide, and corruption run amuck on every level of this planet. When a mass-murder takes place in the lower class burbs, it may just give the corporation a much-needed excuse to eliminate a pesky problem.
Eric Matheson is relatively new to Gattis. Eric turned his back on his life of privilege to become an officer. When we first meet him, he is doing patrols with his partner. They stumble on a mass-murder which if not solved could cause political unrest. Eric soon finds himself working for Chief Investigating Forensic Officer, Inspector J. P. Dillal. Dillal is the first cybernetically enhanced investigator. He hasn't even fully recovered when he is assigned to the case. I was impressed and at times grossed out by the cyber aspects of Dillal, but I liked this Sherlock, style detective. His unusual ethnicity and upbringing created this brilliant, tenacious man who is driven to uncover the truth.
The law, much like the corporation is viewed as the enemy in the ghetto sectors of Angra Dastrelas. Interview witnesses, crossing language barriers and navigating the tombs place Matheson and Dillal in danger. The plot was well paced, and I enjoyed tagging along as they chipped away at the evidence and pieced clues, testimonies, and dots together.
Richardson placed plenty of twists and obstacles in the detectives' way. The worldbuilding was solid, and the story felt realistic. A lot of the political and racial divide felt relevant.
The science fiction aspects, from living off planet to cybernetics were geektastic, and while not overly detailed, Richardson provided great descriptions that made me feel as if I were there. I enjoyed the interaction between Dillal and the Doctor responsible for his new gear. Dillal was a bit of a McGuyver, fixing things on the go and overriding processes.
The murder-mystery wrapped up, but an overall arc and hints of the future have me hoping a second book is in the works.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
May 24, 2018
So Booklikes just stopped working for me and here I am . Sigh.
This science fiction police procedural pairs an idealistic rookie with an officer who uses cybernetic implants to process forensics; in solving a mass murder, they will uncover a vast conspiracy.
Eric Matheson, an idealistic rookie cop trying to break from his powerful family, is plunged into the investigation of a brutal crime in his first weeks on the job in Angra Dastrelas, the corrupt capital city of the corporate-owned planet Gattis. A newcomer to the planet, Matheson is unaware of the danger he's courting when he's promoted in the field to assist the controversial Chief Investigating Forensic Officer, Inspector J. P. Dillal, the planet's first cybernetically enhanced investigator. Coming from a despised ethnic underclass, the brilliant and secretive Dillal seems determined to unravel the crime regardless of the consequences. The deeper they dig, the more dangerous the investigation becomes. But in a system where the cops enforce corporate will, instead of the law, the solution could expose Gattis's most shocking secrets and cost thousands of lives--including Matheson's and Dillal's.
Review:
Dear K.R. Richardson,
I love science fiction and I love mysteries. Your book promised a blend of two, so I took a chance and dived in. The blurb gives an excellent set-up. Eric Matheson is assigned to Angra Dastrelas straight from the police academy. Initially he is supposed to do street patrols ( or at least that was my understanding), however he and his partner discovered a brutal murder of sixteen people and as a result of being first at the scene Erik is reassigned from street patrolling to assist Inspector J.P. Dillal in the investigation of the murder.
The blurb tells us that Angra Dastrellas is a planet owned by the corporation. The corporation engages in the brutal oppression of three main native ethnic groups and policemen are not servants of the law, but employees of the corporation. Except there are some policemen who still try to do the right things and inspector Dillal is one of such policemen. He is happy to get a new guy as his assistant/helper because he could train him properly and maybe hope he won’t be corrupted.
“The inspector’s voice was still soft, but cut clearly. “You’re avoiding my question. You were the first man on the scene—or near enough.” He finished typing and put the entry equipment away, turning his disturbing gaze back to Matheson. Dillal’s jaw and the corner of his right eye were tight from fatigue or pain. “You’re academy-trained, which means you’re not stupid, you’re well-educated, and you might have some innate skill at this. So, before you were four hours into overtime, when you first saw this scene, what was your immediate impression?”"
Dillal is brilliant, dedicated, Dillal is also an ambitious underdog who wants to advance through the corrupted system in order to change it or destroy it from within and I really liked him.
"Tyreda paused and frowned, thinking before he answered, “No. You’re the best street investigator I ever saw—even when the guys you’re trying to help would rather see you dead than say thanks. But you’re kind of an asshole—you’re arrogant and you don’t know your place—” “My place . . .” Dillal gave a bitter chuckle. “How is my parentage or the color of my skin an indication of my worth, my willingness, or my intelligence?” “We’ve done this before,” Tyreda said, shaking his head. “You’re the wrong guy every time, but you just keep going till you hit the wall. And then you force your way through it anyhow. I admire your guts, but you’re nobody’s kid—not Dreihleen enough, not Ohba enough, and not somethin’ else, either. You’re too smart, too pushy, and too colored for your own good, no"
I thought the investigation aspect of the story was exceptionally well done. The readers have a chance to observe the investigation in great detail. We hear Dillal teaching Eric to think for himself, to develop his skills more, but honestly he does not engage in long monologues – it is all blended with fast moving adventure amongst the bleak oppressive atmosphere the corporation created on this planet.
Eric was a great character too; I really enjoyed watching his growth throughout the book. I really liked that Dillal experienced some growth and change too, even if it was not as noticeable as Erik’s, but Erik had further to go in the first place.
I have to say though that one thing which kind of passed by me was the reason why Dillal wanted to participate in the cybernetic enhancements program. I mean I understood that this was beneficial for his career advancement; and I know it helped in the investigation – that Dillal was able to analyze the crime scene so much faster, etc. I just was not sure that it helped them achieve a turning point in the investigation if it makes sense. Their brains helped Dillal and Eric do that, their interrogation skills – maybe that was the point in the first place.
The doctor who was observing Dillal throughout his integration process (or whatever the correct name was) with his implants was an awesome character. The book is not a light read and does not really have humorous moments; however doctor did provide at least some well needed snark.
"“I appreciate that you don’t want to be impaired on the job but I’ve put enough people back together in field hospitals from Marshel to Kora to know suppression when I see it. If you clench any more, you’ll break a tooth. Don’t be such a fragging man about it—take the darkness-blighted pills they’re going to give you. If you want something else, let me know. I won’t put it on your records and I’m not going to turf you to Pritchet for walking off the straight-and-narrow—not that either of us is familiar with that road. If you decide"
The mystery in the book is solved at the end and I do not think I will reveal any spoilers when I will say that both Dillal and Eric do survive and stay on as each other’s partners, however the political situation on Gattis is not really changing for the better and since it is book one, I was not really surprised. The ending however definitely signals possible change on the political landscape in the future, although I am not sure whether I am happy about that or not.
This science fiction police procedural pairs an idealistic rookie with an officer who uses cybernetic implants to process forensics; in solving a mass murder, they will uncover a vast conspiracy.
Eric Matheson, an idealistic rookie cop trying to break from his powerful family, is plunged into the investigation of a brutal crime in his first weeks on the job in Angra Dastrelas, the corrupt capital city of the corporate-owned planet Gattis. A newcomer to the planet, Matheson is unaware of the danger he's courting when he's promoted in the field to assist the controversial Chief Investigating Forensic Officer, Inspector J. P. Dillal, the planet's first cybernetically enhanced investigator. Coming from a despised ethnic underclass, the brilliant and secretive Dillal seems determined to unravel the crime regardless of the consequences. The deeper they dig, the more dangerous the investigation becomes. But in a system where the cops enforce corporate will, instead of the law, the solution could expose Gattis's most shocking secrets and cost thousands of lives--including Matheson's and Dillal's.
Review:
Dear K.R. Richardson,
I love science fiction and I love mysteries. Your book promised a blend of two, so I took a chance and dived in. The blurb gives an excellent set-up. Eric Matheson is assigned to Angra Dastrelas straight from the police academy. Initially he is supposed to do street patrols ( or at least that was my understanding), however he and his partner discovered a brutal murder of sixteen people and as a result of being first at the scene Erik is reassigned from street patrolling to assist Inspector J.P. Dillal in the investigation of the murder.
The blurb tells us that Angra Dastrellas is a planet owned by the corporation. The corporation engages in the brutal oppression of three main native ethnic groups and policemen are not servants of the law, but employees of the corporation. Except there are some policemen who still try to do the right things and inspector Dillal is one of such policemen. He is happy to get a new guy as his assistant/helper because he could train him properly and maybe hope he won’t be corrupted.
“The inspector’s voice was still soft, but cut clearly. “You’re avoiding my question. You were the first man on the scene—or near enough.” He finished typing and put the entry equipment away, turning his disturbing gaze back to Matheson. Dillal’s jaw and the corner of his right eye were tight from fatigue or pain. “You’re academy-trained, which means you’re not stupid, you’re well-educated, and you might have some innate skill at this. So, before you were four hours into overtime, when you first saw this scene, what was your immediate impression?”"
Dillal is brilliant, dedicated, Dillal is also an ambitious underdog who wants to advance through the corrupted system in order to change it or destroy it from within and I really liked him.
"Tyreda paused and frowned, thinking before he answered, “No. You’re the best street investigator I ever saw—even when the guys you’re trying to help would rather see you dead than say thanks. But you’re kind of an asshole—you’re arrogant and you don’t know your place—” “My place . . .” Dillal gave a bitter chuckle. “How is my parentage or the color of my skin an indication of my worth, my willingness, or my intelligence?” “We’ve done this before,” Tyreda said, shaking his head. “You’re the wrong guy every time, but you just keep going till you hit the wall. And then you force your way through it anyhow. I admire your guts, but you’re nobody’s kid—not Dreihleen enough, not Ohba enough, and not somethin’ else, either. You’re too smart, too pushy, and too colored for your own good, no"
I thought the investigation aspect of the story was exceptionally well done. The readers have a chance to observe the investigation in great detail. We hear Dillal teaching Eric to think for himself, to develop his skills more, but honestly he does not engage in long monologues – it is all blended with fast moving adventure amongst the bleak oppressive atmosphere the corporation created on this planet.
Eric was a great character too; I really enjoyed watching his growth throughout the book. I really liked that Dillal experienced some growth and change too, even if it was not as noticeable as Erik’s, but Erik had further to go in the first place.
I have to say though that one thing which kind of passed by me was the reason why Dillal wanted to participate in the cybernetic enhancements program. I mean I understood that this was beneficial for his career advancement; and I know it helped in the investigation – that Dillal was able to analyze the crime scene so much faster, etc. I just was not sure that it helped them achieve a turning point in the investigation if it makes sense. Their brains helped Dillal and Eric do that, their interrogation skills – maybe that was the point in the first place.
The doctor who was observing Dillal throughout his integration process (or whatever the correct name was) with his implants was an awesome character. The book is not a light read and does not really have humorous moments; however doctor did provide at least some well needed snark.
"“I appreciate that you don’t want to be impaired on the job but I’ve put enough people back together in field hospitals from Marshel to Kora to know suppression when I see it. If you clench any more, you’ll break a tooth. Don’t be such a fragging man about it—take the darkness-blighted pills they’re going to give you. If you want something else, let me know. I won’t put it on your records and I’m not going to turf you to Pritchet for walking off the straight-and-narrow—not that either of us is familiar with that road. If you decide"
The mystery in the book is solved at the end and I do not think I will reveal any spoilers when I will say that both Dillal and Eric do survive and stay on as each other’s partners, however the political situation on Gattis is not really changing for the better and since it is book one, I was not really surprised. The ending however definitely signals possible change on the political landscape in the future, although I am not sure whether I am happy about that or not.
March 7, 2018
I loved Greywalker but Richardson takes it to a new level here and it is a real page turner with great characters and world building and an exciting, suspenseful mystery filled with twists. Highly recommended.
June 19, 2018
Dnf pretty early. Interest not retained basically wondered off.
August 25, 2023
A very decent beginning to a promising series.
Initially, I found the complexity of the setting to be too much for the mystery Ms. Richardson was telling. The mystery takes place on a world with racial tensions, political tensions, and economic issues that are all part of the backdrop. Corporate greed looms over everything the two protagonists see and do, and it can be difficult to keep the different racial issues in mind, especially since one of the protagonist is a man of mixed race who is disliked by both races, as well as the Corporation he works for. But, I chose to read Blood Orbit a second time, and I found myself enjoying the novel much more the second time.
I love Ms. Richardson's other works, and I think I expected Blood Orbit to follow along similar lines as her previous series. I should have paid attention to the change she made in her byline. Blood Orbit is not like the Greywalker series and to compare the two is unfair to both series. Blood Orbit is much more interested in the society and how corruption and greed within the society can lead to horrific acts that people attempt to justify as necessary for the cause. Ms. Richardson's language becomes broader and more poetic as the novel moves on, and you can find yourself emerged into a world that is very different, and yet remarkably familiar.
Ms. Richardson knows how to tell a powerful mystery story and at its heart, that is still what Blood Orbit delivers. But, there is more nuance to the characters and setting than in her previous work. There are moments when you can easily get bogged down by the information she gives you regarding Dillal's past or Matheson's impressions, but in re-reading the novel, I found that the backdrop around each character both enhances their motivations and helps drive the movement of the plot.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Ms. Richardson does in the next book in the series, especially since the information that bogged me down in my first read through has already been explained. This should allow the second novel to move even quicker through the streets and tunnels of Gattis, and deliver and even more satisfying mystery.
Initially, I found the complexity of the setting to be too much for the mystery Ms. Richardson was telling. The mystery takes place on a world with racial tensions, political tensions, and economic issues that are all part of the backdrop. Corporate greed looms over everything the two protagonists see and do, and it can be difficult to keep the different racial issues in mind, especially since one of the protagonist is a man of mixed race who is disliked by both races, as well as the Corporation he works for. But, I chose to read Blood Orbit a second time, and I found myself enjoying the novel much more the second time.
I love Ms. Richardson's other works, and I think I expected Blood Orbit to follow along similar lines as her previous series. I should have paid attention to the change she made in her byline. Blood Orbit is not like the Greywalker series and to compare the two is unfair to both series. Blood Orbit is much more interested in the society and how corruption and greed within the society can lead to horrific acts that people attempt to justify as necessary for the cause. Ms. Richardson's language becomes broader and more poetic as the novel moves on, and you can find yourself emerged into a world that is very different, and yet remarkably familiar.
Ms. Richardson knows how to tell a powerful mystery story and at its heart, that is still what Blood Orbit delivers. But, there is more nuance to the characters and setting than in her previous work. There are moments when you can easily get bogged down by the information she gives you regarding Dillal's past or Matheson's impressions, but in re-reading the novel, I found that the backdrop around each character both enhances their motivations and helps drive the movement of the plot.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Ms. Richardson does in the next book in the series, especially since the information that bogged me down in my first read through has already been explained. This should allow the second novel to move even quicker through the streets and tunnels of Gattis, and deliver and even more satisfying mystery.
February 24, 2019
Given that I adored the author's (Kat Richardson; as opposed her nom de plume for this series) Greywalker urban fantasy series, I was initially disappointed to struggle getting into Blood Orbit. Mainly, it is the language that I fought against (a broken English style that is frustrating for someone who's rather AR about grammar), but there's also quite a bit of world building. Additionally, I haven't read hard sci-fi in years and didn't have the time that I would normally take to sit down and push through a hundred pages in a sitting. I was only able to read a chapter or two at a time over the course of a month, which frustrated me further.
Your mileage may vary regarding the above stumbling blocks I experienced, but I think it's safe to say that this novel is very much a slow starter. The world building is well done and necessary to understand the intricacies of this corporate planet society: the class distinctions, the various humanoid species' customs and beliefs, and how the topographical areas affect life on this terraformed planet. As I expected, the characters are complex, interesting, and continue to develop throughout the novel. These are Richardson's forte and before long I'm no longer just reading a novel, I am visually watching it unfold like a movie.
Fortunately, the pace of the story vastly improves once you've crossed the 200 page point. Suddenly the momentum continues to build, the languages are familiar enough to not distract from the plot anymore, the characters have jelled, the action increases, the murder mystery starts to unfold, and we hurtle toward the end. Yes, all these things that made me adore the Greywalker series are present in Blood Orbit. This is why, despite the slow start, that I've given Blood Orbit a 4-star rating. I suspect that now that the bulk of the world building is in place, future novels in the series will be able to hit the ground running at a much faster clip. I'm sure that the complexity of the subsequent novels will focus on the cases to be solved and the interpersonal dynamics, which are the definite strengths of Blood Orbit.
Speaking of interpersonal dynamics, the characters in the novel truly shine. Everyone -including the protagonists- is hiding secrets. Dillal is the more experienced detective, but his recent cybernetic implants with CSI capabilities have allow him to head the forensic department despite his lower ethnic class upbringing. Matheson is not only a police rookie, he's newly arrived to Gattis, naive, hiding his privileged status, and is pushed into working with Dillal as his assistant simply by being on the scene of the multi-homicide case to which Dillal is assigned. Still, this case is Dillal's first using his implants and solving it favorably will make or break his career and the cybernetic program. Both are hated by the corporate cops for essentially jumping up the chain of command and not trusted by the ethnic races affected by this crime with whom Matheson and Dillal must interact to solve these murders because the detectives work for the company that suppresses them.
I'm excited to see in future novels how Dillal and Matheson continue growing their partnership and manage to solve additional crimes despite the continued mistrust from both the corporate cops and the ethnic races. By the end of this novel they've gained a little trust from both sides, but given the long history of animosity between the corporation and the ethnic workers, I have no doubt that these obstacles will continue to be a factor. The fallout from how they handled this case with the corporation and Matheson's family will definitely have repercussions as well. It's only by working together that they will succeed, despite all of the forces actively trying to make them fail.
As for comparisons, Blade Runner is a good one, there's definitely a hint of some District 9-ness in the world building, and a little Firefly/Serenity feel with having this take place on a corporate owned planet and trying maneuver around their meddling. That said, Blood Orbit never truly feels as if it exists in these worlds, but their flavors give Gattis a familiarity that rings true. I'm looking forward to learning more.
Your mileage may vary regarding the above stumbling blocks I experienced, but I think it's safe to say that this novel is very much a slow starter. The world building is well done and necessary to understand the intricacies of this corporate planet society: the class distinctions, the various humanoid species' customs and beliefs, and how the topographical areas affect life on this terraformed planet. As I expected, the characters are complex, interesting, and continue to develop throughout the novel. These are Richardson's forte and before long I'm no longer just reading a novel, I am visually watching it unfold like a movie.
Fortunately, the pace of the story vastly improves once you've crossed the 200 page point. Suddenly the momentum continues to build, the languages are familiar enough to not distract from the plot anymore, the characters have jelled, the action increases, the murder mystery starts to unfold, and we hurtle toward the end. Yes, all these things that made me adore the Greywalker series are present in Blood Orbit. This is why, despite the slow start, that I've given Blood Orbit a 4-star rating. I suspect that now that the bulk of the world building is in place, future novels in the series will be able to hit the ground running at a much faster clip. I'm sure that the complexity of the subsequent novels will focus on the cases to be solved and the interpersonal dynamics, which are the definite strengths of Blood Orbit.
Speaking of interpersonal dynamics, the characters in the novel truly shine. Everyone -including the protagonists- is hiding secrets. Dillal is the more experienced detective, but his recent cybernetic implants with CSI capabilities have allow him to head the forensic department despite his lower ethnic class upbringing. Matheson is not only a police rookie, he's newly arrived to Gattis, naive, hiding his privileged status, and is pushed into working with Dillal as his assistant simply by being on the scene of the multi-homicide case to which Dillal is assigned. Still, this case is Dillal's first using his implants and solving it favorably will make or break his career and the cybernetic program. Both are hated by the corporate cops for essentially jumping up the chain of command and not trusted by the ethnic races affected by this crime with whom Matheson and Dillal must interact to solve these murders because the detectives work for the company that suppresses them.
I'm excited to see in future novels how Dillal and Matheson continue growing their partnership and manage to solve additional crimes despite the continued mistrust from both the corporate cops and the ethnic races. By the end of this novel they've gained a little trust from both sides, but given the long history of animosity between the corporation and the ethnic workers, I have no doubt that these obstacles will continue to be a factor. The fallout from how they handled this case with the corporation and Matheson's family will definitely have repercussions as well. It's only by working together that they will succeed, despite all of the forces actively trying to make them fail.
As for comparisons, Blade Runner is a good one, there's definitely a hint of some District 9-ness in the world building, and a little Firefly/Serenity feel with having this take place on a corporate owned planet and trying maneuver around their meddling. That said, Blood Orbit never truly feels as if it exists in these worlds, but their flavors give Gattis a familiarity that rings true. I'm looking forward to learning more.
August 23, 2018
For Inspector J.P. Dillal, the main protagonist in K. R. Richardson’s Blood Orbit (Pyr, 2018), the expression “I’ve got a lot on my mind” takes on new meaning when he allows his bosses to replace a good chunk of his brain with a mobile crime lab.
What he gets in exchange for submitting to the risky surgery is a promotion that allows him to catapult to the top ranks of the Gattis Corporation’s police force. The life circumstances that lead Dillal to surrender part of his body is as much a part of the story as the brutal mass murder that he must solve with his new cybernetic implants.
While cyborgs are often depicted as superior to ordinary humans, Richardson doesn’t hesitate to describe the dark side of a surgery that reconfigures a significant part of a person’s body. Not only are many people repulsed when they see Dillal, but the surgery is still fresh, and he grapples with fatigue, infection, leaks, and other menacing complications.
His condition “is considerably less than optimal because that’s an aspect of a highly intrusive body change,” Richardson told me when I interviewed her about BLOOD ORBIT on the New Books in Science Fiction podcast (https://newbooksnetwork.com/k-r-richa...). She herself had undergone major surgery while working on the book. “People who’ve never been through a major surgery are unaware of how long you continue to be less than normal.”
Richardson was inspired by a real-life crime, the Wah Mee massacre, which occurred in Seattle in 1983, transferring real-life ethnic tensions and police corruption to a new planet with its own culture and ethnic strife.
Blood Orbit represents a change of genre for Richardson, who previously authored the Greywalker paranormal detective novels as Kat Richardson. She switched from “Kat” to the gender-neutral “K.R.” to escape the misperception that “women writing urban fantasy actually write paranormal romance.”
“It was a perception I’ve been fighting since the very first book because the Greywalker novels are not particularly romantic. They’re detective noir in urban fantasy clothes. I’ve always been a detective writer, and fighting that fight every book for nine books was really disheartening.
What he gets in exchange for submitting to the risky surgery is a promotion that allows him to catapult to the top ranks of the Gattis Corporation’s police force. The life circumstances that lead Dillal to surrender part of his body is as much a part of the story as the brutal mass murder that he must solve with his new cybernetic implants.
While cyborgs are often depicted as superior to ordinary humans, Richardson doesn’t hesitate to describe the dark side of a surgery that reconfigures a significant part of a person’s body. Not only are many people repulsed when they see Dillal, but the surgery is still fresh, and he grapples with fatigue, infection, leaks, and other menacing complications.
His condition “is considerably less than optimal because that’s an aspect of a highly intrusive body change,” Richardson told me when I interviewed her about BLOOD ORBIT on the New Books in Science Fiction podcast (https://newbooksnetwork.com/k-r-richa...). She herself had undergone major surgery while working on the book. “People who’ve never been through a major surgery are unaware of how long you continue to be less than normal.”
Richardson was inspired by a real-life crime, the Wah Mee massacre, which occurred in Seattle in 1983, transferring real-life ethnic tensions and police corruption to a new planet with its own culture and ethnic strife.
Blood Orbit represents a change of genre for Richardson, who previously authored the Greywalker paranormal detective novels as Kat Richardson. She switched from “Kat” to the gender-neutral “K.R.” to escape the misperception that “women writing urban fantasy actually write paranormal romance.”
“It was a perception I’ve been fighting since the very first book because the Greywalker novels are not particularly romantic. They’re detective noir in urban fantasy clothes. I’ve always been a detective writer, and fighting that fight every book for nine books was really disheartening.
May 8, 2018
Rookie Eric Matheson and his mate discover a gruesome, mind-blowing massacre of sixteen victims. His mate is injured and Matheson is assigned to investigate the murders with the Chief Forensic Officer, Inspector J. P. Dillal. Dillal is the first cybernetic investigator in the corporate-run planet of Gattis. But Dilall has origins from a despised ethnic underclass in a caste system that not only feeds dislike but also guarantees outbreaks of violence. The murders occurred in what is called a jassi, a place where illegal activities flourish and bonds among the criminal elements of society develop in spite of the clandestine nature of these jassi meetings. Matheson and Dilall are charged with solving the murders quickly with hints that failure to speedily conclude this matter could have devastating results for both men. At the same time, Dilall is new to this cybernetic life and there are some adjustments that need to happen in order for him to avoid infection and death to his new mechanical being.
Dillal is glad he has a rookie for a colleague in this investigation so that he can train him in techniques that actually work, before the rookie Matheson is tainted by the local police who are supposed to enforce the law but instead pursue the interests of Corporate goals and greed. Matheson’s peers however, resent his promotion to this job and violently let him know it. Add to that the groups on the street who support and more often oppose him finding the answers about this murder. The reality is that corporate office is trying to cover up the truth so they can name one of the lower-class groups as guilty, thereby justifying some elaborate methods of exterminating the despised lower class or classes of Gattis.
To say more would spoil the conflict’s evolution; suffice to say Dillal and Matheson will solve the crime but may not live to enjoy the victory!
This sci-fi novel is very difficult to follow, but it’s worth it to break through the challenging group names, acts by superiors to confuse and alter the progress of the investigation, and determine who are the ones directing Corporation commands. Interesting read and recommended for true sci-fi fans!
Dillal is glad he has a rookie for a colleague in this investigation so that he can train him in techniques that actually work, before the rookie Matheson is tainted by the local police who are supposed to enforce the law but instead pursue the interests of Corporate goals and greed. Matheson’s peers however, resent his promotion to this job and violently let him know it. Add to that the groups on the street who support and more often oppose him finding the answers about this murder. The reality is that corporate office is trying to cover up the truth so they can name one of the lower-class groups as guilty, thereby justifying some elaborate methods of exterminating the despised lower class or classes of Gattis.
To say more would spoil the conflict’s evolution; suffice to say Dillal and Matheson will solve the crime but may not live to enjoy the victory!
This sci-fi novel is very difficult to follow, but it’s worth it to break through the challenging group names, acts by superiors to confuse and alter the progress of the investigation, and determine who are the ones directing Corporation commands. Interesting read and recommended for true sci-fi fans!
July 5, 2018
2.5/5
I won this book in a giveaway courtesy of The BiblioSanctum book blog and Pyr Books – thank you! All opinions are my own.
This book had a really intriguing premise, but fell a bit flat on execution for me. I’ve enjoyed one of Richardson’s other series (Greywalker, published as Kat Richardson), so I’m used to her writing being engaging and being able to relate to the characters. Here, however, this was not so much the case. The main characters were ok, but I didn’t absolutely love either of them. To be fair, some interesting tidbits about both main characters’ backgrounds were mentioned, but not fully developed. These might be explored in later books possibly. The majority of the secondary characters weren’t particularly interesting to me.
A pet peeve of mine is reading books where characters speak in accents that are basically just broken English or full of awful slang. With the exception of the main characters and a few secondary characters, everyone else spoke like this. It was a little difficult to figure out what some people were saying, so this didn’t help me enjoy the book much. However, this is a personal preference and it may not bother others as much.
I also had a difficult time keeping track of what was going on – for the longest time, I was confused about which races were which (important when one of the main themes is racism) and couldn’t remember names of some secondary characters. Another part of this may be due to how the characters spoke and just not picking up on what they’re actually saying.
Solving the murder mystery was ok, but it just felt a bit dry to me. Readers who really enjoy police procedurals may find this more interesting than I did. This book definitely has some heavy themes (racism, corruption, etc), so it’s not a particularly light read. I wish I had liked this more than I did, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series.
I won this book in a giveaway courtesy of The BiblioSanctum book blog and Pyr Books – thank you! All opinions are my own.
This book had a really intriguing premise, but fell a bit flat on execution for me. I’ve enjoyed one of Richardson’s other series (Greywalker, published as Kat Richardson), so I’m used to her writing being engaging and being able to relate to the characters. Here, however, this was not so much the case. The main characters were ok, but I didn’t absolutely love either of them. To be fair, some interesting tidbits about both main characters’ backgrounds were mentioned, but not fully developed. These might be explored in later books possibly. The majority of the secondary characters weren’t particularly interesting to me.
A pet peeve of mine is reading books where characters speak in accents that are basically just broken English or full of awful slang. With the exception of the main characters and a few secondary characters, everyone else spoke like this. It was a little difficult to figure out what some people were saying, so this didn’t help me enjoy the book much. However, this is a personal preference and it may not bother others as much.
I also had a difficult time keeping track of what was going on – for the longest time, I was confused about which races were which (important when one of the main themes is racism) and couldn’t remember names of some secondary characters. Another part of this may be due to how the characters spoke and just not picking up on what they’re actually saying.
Solving the murder mystery was ok, but it just felt a bit dry to me. Readers who really enjoy police procedurals may find this more interesting than I did. This book definitely has some heavy themes (racism, corruption, etc), so it’s not a particularly light read. I wish I had liked this more than I did, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series.
August 14, 2018
"Blood Orbit" is a 300-page book fighting to get out of the 492 pages it's wrapped in, as K. R. Richardson definitely could have used a weedwhacker on this manuscript.
And speaking of "whacking," there's a lot of it going on, starting with 16 murders in an after-hours bar in a scummy section of a rundown planet that's being exploited by the (very) evil Gattis Corporation. Both our protagonists get slammed around pretty good, and are constantly fighting their way through pain, injuries and fatigue as they try to solve the murders before the very evil Gattis Corporation wipes out two oppressed minorities with troops from elsewhere in the galaxy.
There's way too much plot getting in the way of the story, as Joe Bob Briggs used to say, and Richardson would have been well-served to focus a lot more on getting there and a lot less on the details of the trip. It's pretty obvious, after all, that the good guys will prevail, and though there are some plot twists, they serve little function as a young, idealistic cop (from an incredibly wealthy family) works with an irascible genius (from the wrong side of the tracks) to overcome the very evil Gattis Corporation (did I mention the corporate flunkies were evil?).
On the other hand, the good guys are very good, so there's not a lot of subtlety in "Blood Orbit," which only adds to the slog to the finish. So why the three stars? Richardson has the germ of something good here, and since it says "A Gattis File Novel" on the cover, there may be more where this came from -- and with some serious editing, they might turn out to be pretty good books.
And speaking of "whacking," there's a lot of it going on, starting with 16 murders in an after-hours bar in a scummy section of a rundown planet that's being exploited by the (very) evil Gattis Corporation. Both our protagonists get slammed around pretty good, and are constantly fighting their way through pain, injuries and fatigue as they try to solve the murders before the very evil Gattis Corporation wipes out two oppressed minorities with troops from elsewhere in the galaxy.
There's way too much plot getting in the way of the story, as Joe Bob Briggs used to say, and Richardson would have been well-served to focus a lot more on getting there and a lot less on the details of the trip. It's pretty obvious, after all, that the good guys will prevail, and though there are some plot twists, they serve little function as a young, idealistic cop (from an incredibly wealthy family) works with an irascible genius (from the wrong side of the tracks) to overcome the very evil Gattis Corporation (did I mention the corporate flunkies were evil?).
On the other hand, the good guys are very good, so there's not a lot of subtlety in "Blood Orbit," which only adds to the slog to the finish. So why the three stars? Richardson has the germ of something good here, and since it says "A Gattis File Novel" on the cover, there may be more where this came from -- and with some serious editing, they might turn out to be pretty good books.
June 9, 2018
K. R. Richardson introduces us to the corporate owned and very corrupt planet of Gattis. The planet was terraformed by three genetically adapted peoples; red, yellow and blue. The Blue run the world and the Ohba and Drihleen have become second class, denied an education and hope and they are ready for revolt. Eric Matheson is anew cop, an off-worlder with only two weeks on the job. He and his Training Officer discover a gambling den with all sixteen people there murdered. He is assigned to help J. P. Dillal who is recovering from experimental cybernetic enhancement surgery. He is the new Chief Investigating Forensic Officer and is half Ohba and Drihleen. Driven to solve the case, Dillal’s might kill him if he pushes himself too hard. The Corporation just wants to find someone, anyone to blame and is willing to use troops to put down any riot. Blood Orbit (trade from Pyr) sends the two deep into the darkest parts of the Capitol city, Angra Dastrelas and to a labor camp on the other side of Gattis searching for the truth. I hope this wins some awards.Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press
May 29, 2018
Richardson's novel is a gripping, detailed, and complex mystery/noir/SF/examination of social and ethnic inequalities. So many facets between two covers! "Blood Orbit" chronicles the struggles of two cops - one a relative naif, the other increasingly world-weary - working to solve a gruesome multiple murder on a planet wracked by ethnic strife and corporate greed and exploitation. Richardson brilliantly charts the solving of this mystery and presents the reader with a cast of well-drawn characters who, in the finest noir tradition, are forced into moral compromises while seeking justice in an unjust world.
February 5, 2019
This is a fascinating blend of science fiction, world-building, and police procedural. It's by Kat Richardson, author of the Greywalker series (one of my favorites). It's book 1 of "the Gattis Files series" according to the cover, and I'll definitely be waiting for the next one.
One of the themes of the story is the clash between two cultures, both of which are under oppression by a planet-wide corporation. To get into the story, you'll have to recognize that both cultures are derived from Portuguese, and their language and dialects include Portuguese words. After a few chapters you get used to it.
One of the themes of the story is the clash between two cultures, both of which are under oppression by a planet-wide corporation. To get into the story, you'll have to recognize that both cultures are derived from Portuguese, and their language and dialects include Portuguese words. After a few chapters you get used to it.
May 10, 2018
Blood Orbit is a science fiction, crime, mystery, conspiracy exposed novel that has been cleverly written. I wasn't sure that I would be able to get into the characters rookie cop, Eric Matheson and Chief Investigating Forensics Officer, J.P. Dillal but about 1/4 into the novel, I found myself totally intrigued and wanting to find out more to what was going to happen. Truly a great read, I enjoyed it very much.
May 30, 2018
Richardson, K. R. Blood Orbit. Gattis File No. 1. Pyr, 2018.
3.5 stars. I am a fan of science fiction police procedurals. This one is not bad, but it suffers in my mind because I had the misfortune of reading it not long after I read John Scalzi’s Locked In and Head On, which are a step above. In this a cybernetically enhanced inspector and his intuitive rookie partner must solve a bloody mass murder.
3.5 stars. I am a fan of science fiction police procedurals. This one is not bad, but it suffers in my mind because I had the misfortune of reading it not long after I read John Scalzi’s Locked In and Head On, which are a step above. In this a cybernetically enhanced inspector and his intuitive rookie partner must solve a bloody mass murder.
June 23, 2018
Wow! Combines all my favorite fiction elements into a heck of a great story; mystery, procedural investigation of murder, puzzling clues, human character insights, suspense, thrills & chills, romance, alien planet & alien culture. Completely engaging characters combined with interesting plot twists, resulting in a fast paced and puzzling entertainment. If you like this kind of thing, don't miss this book.
Definitely at the top of my best books in 2018 list. I hope to see it on the goodreads ballot.
:)
Definitely at the top of my best books in 2018 list. I hope to see it on the goodreads ballot.
:)
July 17, 2018
4 1/2 stars. This book is a great blend of science fiction and police procedural, set on the planet Gattis, a greatly interesting world with racial tensions, politics, corruption, and a nice murder mystery. It was hard to put this one down. If there was a drawback, it did get a bit confusing at times with the dialectic dialog and the very large cast of people of various races and affiliations. But all in all, I enjoyed this great read that transported me to a very different place.
July 31, 2018
A very dark but frighteningly plausible world - human exploitation of a planet under the auspices of a corporation that seems a blend of the British East India Company and Blackwater. The two main characters are complex - both driven to protect the powerless, for very different reasons.
This is a police procedural on the surface, but solving the murders is only a piece of the picture. Racial strife, corruption, love, greed, populist politics - it's all here.
Hard to put down.
This is a police procedural on the surface, but solving the murders is only a piece of the picture. Racial strife, corruption, love, greed, populist politics - it's all here.
Hard to put down.
May 18, 2018
"Blood Orbit" is a complex mystery/thriller set in a science fiction world rich with political and societal issues. Making sure both aspects were well done resulted in a slightly longer book, but once you figure out who's who and how things relate the story moves at a nice clip. I'm looking forward to how this partnership develops in future books.
August 3, 2018
Magnificent writing
Really enjoyed this novel. The plot was mesmerizing, with twists at every turn of the pages; and as for the main two characters — dark and haunted, they nevertheless display that dodged stubbornness in their pursuit of the truth that I found particularly refreshing
Really enjoyed this novel. The plot was mesmerizing, with twists at every turn of the pages; and as for the main two characters — dark and haunted, they nevertheless display that dodged stubbornness in their pursuit of the truth that I found particularly refreshing
February 5, 2019
Crime & Sci-fi
I was nearly put off by a couple of the negative comments I read, but I'm glad I wasn't. For me, this novel succeeded in all fronts, being both good science fiction and a good crime yarn, well-written and with characters I came to care about. Creating a believable sci-fi universe isn't easy, but Richardson has bought it off.
I was nearly put off by a couple of the negative comments I read, but I'm glad I wasn't. For me, this novel succeeded in all fronts, being both good science fiction and a good crime yarn, well-written and with characters I came to care about. Creating a believable sci-fi universe isn't easy, but Richardson has bought it off.
May 31, 2018
Blood Orbit embraces a lot of categories. It is a gritty far-future police procedural with fully realized worldbuilding and well-rounded characters, one of whom is an experimental cyborg. There is even a satisfying romantic subplot. If any of these interest you, it will be worth your time.
June 5, 2018
Every time I thought I'd read one more chapter, I'd read five. Definitely a page-turner, with a lot of twists I didn't expect! A thriller that keeps you on edge. Gritty and gory at parts, but an excellent investigative story in a different world.
February 4, 2019
Story was ok, but the writing style was what really made the book tough for me to enjoy. Very clipped prose with italicized "thoughts" from the character. Just couldn't get as deep into the story as I normally do, and just forced my way through the book.
June 17, 2018
Fantastic book. Longer review to come.
July 5, 2018
3.5 stars
While I enjoyed the characters and the plot I thought that the world building left a little to be desired. I will happily pick up the next book in the series if/when it is published.
While I enjoyed the characters and the plot I thought that the world building left a little to be desired. I will happily pick up the next book in the series if/when it is published.
February 19, 2019
I liked it quite bit. I wish there had been a glossary, and there were a few places it could have moved a little quicker.
March 22, 2019
Good sci fi detective thriller
It was a good book. It reminded me of blade runner, except not as much of a noir style. I enjoyed it.
It was a good book. It reminded me of blade runner, except not as much of a noir style. I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews