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Micromium: Clean Energy from Mars
The year is 2038. Earth’s biosphere is on the brink of destruction from the effects of global warming and pollution. The World Energy Council has awarded a lucrative contract to a major US corporation to mine a precious ore discovered by the first manned mission to land on Mars. One kilo of Micromium can power a large city for a year without environmental side effects. A few grains of the ore can fuel a car for a year or longer. Micromium promises to provide clean energy to a thirsty planet far into the future.
When two people die in a mining accident on Mars, the World Energy Council sends Commander Logan Marchant and a crack team of astronaut specialists to investigate.
Confronted with a lack of cooperation from the mining colonists, the investigation is further complicated by Logan’s growing attraction to the team’s beautiful and brainy geologist. While tensions and tempers rise, Logan and the audit team make one shocking discovery after another, until the investigation leads them into mortal danger, and ultimately, to a surprising conclusion.
When two people die in a mining accident on Mars, the World Energy Council sends Commander Logan Marchant and a crack team of astronaut specialists to investigate.
Confronted with a lack of cooperation from the mining colonists, the investigation is further complicated by Logan’s growing attraction to the team’s beautiful and brainy geologist. While tensions and tempers rise, Logan and the audit team make one shocking discovery after another, until the investigation leads them into mortal danger, and ultimately, to a surprising conclusion.
- GenresScience Fiction
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2018
8 people are currently reading
794 people want to read
About the author
David Gittlin
14 books45 followersOnly one thing stood between me and my dream of becoming a creative writer: I couldn’t do two things at once.
Upon retiring from my career in marketing communications, I decided to devote my full attention to writing fiction, thereby solving my multi-tasking challenge.
I began my creative writing journey by enrolling in the online Writers’ Program offered by UCLA. In a series of courses taught by professional writers, I learned how to craft memorable characters, create colorful worlds, and outline suspenseful plots enriched with drama and conflict.
Taking one baby step at a time, I managed to bridge the gulf between writing promotional copy in short bursts to rendering full scale novels. As an interim step, I wrote three screenplays.
My three feature length scripts; "Love Will Find You," “Joshua’s Decision, and "A Prescription for Happiness" have reached the finals or placed in several major screenplay competitions.
My first novel, a Science Fantasy, “Three Days to Darkness,” was nominated to the James Kirkwood Prize for creative writing.
My publishing company, Entelligent Entertainment, has also published "Scarlet Ambrosia" and my latest novel: "Micromium--Clean Energy from Mars."
Upon retiring from my career in marketing communications, I decided to devote my full attention to writing fiction, thereby solving my multi-tasking challenge.
I began my creative writing journey by enrolling in the online Writers’ Program offered by UCLA. In a series of courses taught by professional writers, I learned how to craft memorable characters, create colorful worlds, and outline suspenseful plots enriched with drama and conflict.
Taking one baby step at a time, I managed to bridge the gulf between writing promotional copy in short bursts to rendering full scale novels. As an interim step, I wrote three screenplays.
My three feature length scripts; "Love Will Find You," “Joshua’s Decision, and "A Prescription for Happiness" have reached the finals or placed in several major screenplay competitions.
My first novel, a Science Fantasy, “Three Days to Darkness,” was nominated to the James Kirkwood Prize for creative writing.
My publishing company, Entelligent Entertainment, has also published "Scarlet Ambrosia" and my latest novel: "Micromium--Clean Energy from Mars."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 17, 2020
A book that makes one stop and think. I liked how the book focused on clean energy with no harmful side effects. It makes what's going in our global world environment today seem even more pressing to find answers to our problems. Of course, this piece of fiction has a lot going for it. There's mystery, romance, travel to Mars. Sometimes the dialogue was a bit stilted. But, overall, the story did flow well and had an ending worth reading every page to get to it. I feel true sci-fi readers will really appreciate David Gittlin's efforts at writing a book that is much a space mystery as it is a book about human relationships.
June 4, 2018
"Micromium Clean Energy From Mars" is a sci-fi thriller written by David Gittlin.
There’s a serious energy and environmental situation on Earth, leaving all of humanity’s hopes resting on the wonder ore Micromium.
The miraculous ore is found on Mars and can power a large city for a full year without any environmental side effects. Unfortunately, things aren’t going too well at the mine and people are dying. When the World Energy Council sends a team to investigate, a sinister plan is revealed.
While the plot sounds interesting, the unfortunate truth is the delivery falls flat. There are several moments when "Micromium" strays into awkward and unnecessary waters.
The first three chapters convey the same important information from different points of view, leaving the reader exasperated from the start. Thankfully, as the story progresses, so do its merits – until it devolves again.
Of course the leading male character is attracted to his super hot coworker, who just so happens to look like a supermodel. Of course they’re going to build up sexual tension and break the physical barrier. What brings this down is how disappointingly brief their encounter is. Why build up to the moment then only hint at what happens?
Another issue that surfaced was the description of Galatar, who was initially described as having blue hair but was later described as a blonde. Small inconsistencies break the spell for any reader, leaving us wondering what image we’re supposed to have in mind.
Sudden jumps between chapters also made for an uncomfortable read. There are moments when the reader fully understands what’s happening then there’s a small time jump and it takes a few sentences to understand what just happened. These faulty transitions deny us a smooth experience.
The characters and their lack of development is perhaps Micromium’s greatest weakness. In fact, Kaneko’s character somehow devolved between the earlier chapters and the later ones. She went from perfect, educated English to choppy, stereotypical dialogue. She had potential to be a main character but was oddly left out of most scenes and nearly forgotten during one of the more dangerous situations.
As a leader, Logan should have been more responsible and should have thought things out a bit better. There were several mentions of how the team was comprised following several psychological evaluations and numerous tests administered by WEC and NASA, yet he struggled with his past and often had rampant thoughts that clouded his judgment. He doesn’t need to be the perfect person but he doesn’t have to fall prey to such generic weaknesses either.
Kate’s character doesn’t stay consistent and there are times when she acts more like a child than an educated adult. She’s a grown woman who was smart enough to join a space exploration program, so why was she childishly jumping all over the place, right next to a deep pit that could potentially end in a fatal fall? Why was she so quick to make the first move with Logan? When she had concerns about possibly being watched, why didn’t she report it? When she was injured, why was she so concerned with fulfilling her duties but didn’t realize the simple solution until much later?
As for Rashawn, his character almost didn’t need to exist. There were introspective moments when his character started to develop, but it abruptly stopped, making his presence feel like that of the “token black guy.” He didn’t spur the plot and didn’t have any major roles. His presence could have been absorbed by almost any other character and the story would not have suffered for it.
Silenna was as inconsistent as any other – first she seems to be in control of her emotions and sets clear boundaries that she follows religiously, then she starts to make questionable decisions and ultimately goes above and beyond for no reason. From the start, she explained she held no obligations to help or hurt anyone but by the end of the story, she’s suddenly putting herself at risk for the sake of people she doesn’t necessarily need to care about at all. Why the sudden shift? She also responds with completely opposite reactions when two characters die. Why does she seem to care so much for one and not at all for the other?
The ridiculous artwork is another testament to the character fails as they reveal a teenage dream version of beautiful, well-endowed women and attractive, masculine men. Kate’s character has the typical slim figure found in any leading lady but her bust is like something out of a Japanese comic, while Logan’s strong physique is punctuated by a uniform created to reveal his impressive member. Not only are these details unnecessary, but they make the reader feel less immersed in the story. If the characters aren’t at least somewhat realistically portrayed, how can we take the novella seriously?
While "Micromium" isn’t the best, it does feature a few good twists. Sadly, these original ideas are drowned out by the unstable characters and shaky plot. It can be a great read for those who turn to Sci-Fi as a guilty pleasure – specifically those who can overlook plot holes and generic characters without batting an eye. It isn’t the sort of book that leaves a reader coming back for more, rather it serves as an adequate story to help pass time while waiting at a doctor’s or dental office. A second read isn’t necessary, nor is it sought with the exception, perhaps, of those who are still learning about the genre.
There’s a serious energy and environmental situation on Earth, leaving all of humanity’s hopes resting on the wonder ore Micromium.
The miraculous ore is found on Mars and can power a large city for a full year without any environmental side effects. Unfortunately, things aren’t going too well at the mine and people are dying. When the World Energy Council sends a team to investigate, a sinister plan is revealed.
While the plot sounds interesting, the unfortunate truth is the delivery falls flat. There are several moments when "Micromium" strays into awkward and unnecessary waters.
The first three chapters convey the same important information from different points of view, leaving the reader exasperated from the start. Thankfully, as the story progresses, so do its merits – until it devolves again.
Of course the leading male character is attracted to his super hot coworker, who just so happens to look like a supermodel. Of course they’re going to build up sexual tension and break the physical barrier. What brings this down is how disappointingly brief their encounter is. Why build up to the moment then only hint at what happens?
Another issue that surfaced was the description of Galatar, who was initially described as having blue hair but was later described as a blonde. Small inconsistencies break the spell for any reader, leaving us wondering what image we’re supposed to have in mind.
Sudden jumps between chapters also made for an uncomfortable read. There are moments when the reader fully understands what’s happening then there’s a small time jump and it takes a few sentences to understand what just happened. These faulty transitions deny us a smooth experience.
The characters and their lack of development is perhaps Micromium’s greatest weakness. In fact, Kaneko’s character somehow devolved between the earlier chapters and the later ones. She went from perfect, educated English to choppy, stereotypical dialogue. She had potential to be a main character but was oddly left out of most scenes and nearly forgotten during one of the more dangerous situations.
As a leader, Logan should have been more responsible and should have thought things out a bit better. There were several mentions of how the team was comprised following several psychological evaluations and numerous tests administered by WEC and NASA, yet he struggled with his past and often had rampant thoughts that clouded his judgment. He doesn’t need to be the perfect person but he doesn’t have to fall prey to such generic weaknesses either.
Kate’s character doesn’t stay consistent and there are times when she acts more like a child than an educated adult. She’s a grown woman who was smart enough to join a space exploration program, so why was she childishly jumping all over the place, right next to a deep pit that could potentially end in a fatal fall? Why was she so quick to make the first move with Logan? When she had concerns about possibly being watched, why didn’t she report it? When she was injured, why was she so concerned with fulfilling her duties but didn’t realize the simple solution until much later?
As for Rashawn, his character almost didn’t need to exist. There were introspective moments when his character started to develop, but it abruptly stopped, making his presence feel like that of the “token black guy.” He didn’t spur the plot and didn’t have any major roles. His presence could have been absorbed by almost any other character and the story would not have suffered for it.
Silenna was as inconsistent as any other – first she seems to be in control of her emotions and sets clear boundaries that she follows religiously, then she starts to make questionable decisions and ultimately goes above and beyond for no reason. From the start, she explained she held no obligations to help or hurt anyone but by the end of the story, she’s suddenly putting herself at risk for the sake of people she doesn’t necessarily need to care about at all. Why the sudden shift? She also responds with completely opposite reactions when two characters die. Why does she seem to care so much for one and not at all for the other?
The ridiculous artwork is another testament to the character fails as they reveal a teenage dream version of beautiful, well-endowed women and attractive, masculine men. Kate’s character has the typical slim figure found in any leading lady but her bust is like something out of a Japanese comic, while Logan’s strong physique is punctuated by a uniform created to reveal his impressive member. Not only are these details unnecessary, but they make the reader feel less immersed in the story. If the characters aren’t at least somewhat realistically portrayed, how can we take the novella seriously?
While "Micromium" isn’t the best, it does feature a few good twists. Sadly, these original ideas are drowned out by the unstable characters and shaky plot. It can be a great read for those who turn to Sci-Fi as a guilty pleasure – specifically those who can overlook plot holes and generic characters without batting an eye. It isn’t the sort of book that leaves a reader coming back for more, rather it serves as an adequate story to help pass time while waiting at a doctor’s or dental office. A second read isn’t necessary, nor is it sought with the exception, perhaps, of those who are still learning about the genre.
April 5, 2018
Mystery on Mars
This was not your typical sci-fi book. It had a little bit of everything contained in it. There was suspense, intrigue, action, and romance.
An invaluable resource was discovered on Mars called Micromium, it would be an amazing alternative source of energy as long as everything went well. MMI (Martian Mining Interplanetary) was stationed on Mars to mine this ore. They established a mining colony on Mars after securing a contract sanctioned by WEC ( World Energy Council).
WEC sent a team to Mars to investigate two deaths caused by an industrial accident and audit the efficiency of the mining operation. MMI was very uncooperative and made it evident that WEC wasn't welcome and that they had something to hide.
This was a great, fast paced book that I enjoyed reading.
This was not your typical sci-fi book. It had a little bit of everything contained in it. There was suspense, intrigue, action, and romance.
An invaluable resource was discovered on Mars called Micromium, it would be an amazing alternative source of energy as long as everything went well. MMI (Martian Mining Interplanetary) was stationed on Mars to mine this ore. They established a mining colony on Mars after securing a contract sanctioned by WEC ( World Energy Council).
WEC sent a team to Mars to investigate two deaths caused by an industrial accident and audit the efficiency of the mining operation. MMI was very uncooperative and made it evident that WEC wasn't welcome and that they had something to hide.
This was a great, fast paced book that I enjoyed reading.
April 18, 2018
Grest sci-fi thriller!
I was amazed how much I liked this book! You basically have a mystery based on Mars. In this version of the future, on Earth, there is an energy crisis and our advanced technology has discovered there is something we can mine on Mars that can be used to help us, basically. But something has happened up there. Two of the astronauts have died and now two investigators are up there to find out what happened.
The specifics of the technology kind of went over my head but I still enjoyed uncovering the mystery. I enjoyed the two investigators and the interaction of the robots throughout the book. There was art included in the book actually really helped! I liked that. And I was simply captivated towards the end. The whodunit part started to mix in with the scientific discoveries and it was really interesting. It also added some interesting moral dilemmas that the characters faced. While some discoveries meant they would profit exponentially on Earth, would it be worth it? I loved how the investigators kept at it too. There was even a bit of romance in the book and I liked that a lot.
If you enjoy science fiction, you must read this book. It would be right up your alley. I'm a moderate sci-fi reader and enjoyed it a lot. Maybe a bit of a slow start for me, but overall, great.
I was amazed how much I liked this book! You basically have a mystery based on Mars. In this version of the future, on Earth, there is an energy crisis and our advanced technology has discovered there is something we can mine on Mars that can be used to help us, basically. But something has happened up there. Two of the astronauts have died and now two investigators are up there to find out what happened.
The specifics of the technology kind of went over my head but I still enjoyed uncovering the mystery. I enjoyed the two investigators and the interaction of the robots throughout the book. There was art included in the book actually really helped! I liked that. And I was simply captivated towards the end. The whodunit part started to mix in with the scientific discoveries and it was really interesting. It also added some interesting moral dilemmas that the characters faced. While some discoveries meant they would profit exponentially on Earth, would it be worth it? I loved how the investigators kept at it too. There was even a bit of romance in the book and I liked that a lot.
If you enjoy science fiction, you must read this book. It would be right up your alley. I'm a moderate sci-fi reader and enjoyed it a lot. Maybe a bit of a slow start for me, but overall, great.
March 10, 2018
Unlimited, clean energy is an elusive goal even in the future, where a company on Mars charged with mining the Mother Lode of minerals finds itself under investigation by an audit team which runs into more than mining operation discrepancies.
Micromium promises to be a solution to the world's clean energy dilemma and an ever-deepening environmental crisis. One kilo of refined Micromium can power a major metropolitan city for an entire year without any environmentally harmful side effects. There's much promise - but the team's latest probe may turn out to be their last as truths emerge that threaten not just projects and ideals, but lives.
Micromium may sound like classic sci-fi, but its roots lie just as heavily in a mystery as in its backdrop of Mars. Readers who turn to it expecting the mundane trappings of science fiction will uncover much more as they become involved in a blend of murder mystery, ethical conundrums, and corporate corruption and revelations that heavily impact mining operations and lives. The story is thoroughly engrossing.
--Diane Donovan—Midwest Book Review
Micromium promises to be a solution to the world's clean energy dilemma and an ever-deepening environmental crisis. One kilo of refined Micromium can power a major metropolitan city for an entire year without any environmentally harmful side effects. There's much promise - but the team's latest probe may turn out to be their last as truths emerge that threaten not just projects and ideals, but lives.
Micromium may sound like classic sci-fi, but its roots lie just as heavily in a mystery as in its backdrop of Mars. Readers who turn to it expecting the mundane trappings of science fiction will uncover much more as they become involved in a blend of murder mystery, ethical conundrums, and corporate corruption and revelations that heavily impact mining operations and lives. The story is thoroughly engrossing.
--Diane Donovan—Midwest Book Review
April 11, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this well crafted novella about a team sent to Mars to investigate an incident at a mining colony. There were many thought provoking ideas put forth in regards to the future of our planet, and how greed can corrupt the human mind. Gittlin created an interesting cast of characters in Logan and his team.
It took me a while to get into because there was a lot of information condensed in the early chapters, and I think if the writer expanded this work into a full length novel the earlier chapters would move a long a lot faster. It works well as a novella but I believe, even if this was the first half of a novel and the story continued on where this ended, it would be remarkable as a full length novel.
I would recommend this to any science fiction fan.
It took me a while to get into because there was a lot of information condensed in the early chapters, and I think if the writer expanded this work into a full length novel the earlier chapters would move a long a lot faster. It works well as a novella but I believe, even if this was the first half of a novel and the story continued on where this ended, it would be remarkable as a full length novel.
I would recommend this to any science fiction fan.
August 15, 2021
I won this book in a GoodReads giveaway. The premise sounded good. The execution left a little to be desired. There seemed to be things that could have been expanded on. Over all, not a bad read.
June 5, 2018
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Micromium gives us a glimpse into Earth’s highly probably future: heading full force into destruction from human pollution. The initial hope given with the identification of micromium on Mars was a great way to start driving the plot. With many things in life, if it seems to good to be true, it just might be.
The story was great. So many elements were tied into one plot line. Murder, mystery, aliens, space travel, romance, intergalactic fraud… You name it and it was in this book. It seems like a lot to juggle but I think Gittlin made it work and had time to develop his characters.
What I didn't like was how major details were dropped on the reader like, “Oh, by the way there are crashed alien spaceships in the crater.” I feel like things like this should have had a better presentation.
I'm not really a sci-fi chick so it really helped me to have illustrations. I never would've come up with an image for some of this stuff without the help.
I really enjoyed the book and I look forward to reading more by the author.
4 stars.
Micromium gives us a glimpse into Earth’s highly probably future: heading full force into destruction from human pollution. The initial hope given with the identification of micromium on Mars was a great way to start driving the plot. With many things in life, if it seems to good to be true, it just might be.
The story was great. So many elements were tied into one plot line. Murder, mystery, aliens, space travel, romance, intergalactic fraud… You name it and it was in this book. It seems like a lot to juggle but I think Gittlin made it work and had time to develop his characters.
What I didn't like was how major details were dropped on the reader like, “Oh, by the way there are crashed alien spaceships in the crater.” I feel like things like this should have had a better presentation.
I'm not really a sci-fi chick so it really helped me to have illustrations. I never would've come up with an image for some of this stuff without the help.
I really enjoyed the book and I look forward to reading more by the author.
4 stars.
April 7, 2018
Overall, this was an enjoyable read.
The idea itself is nothing short of fantastic. Clean energy with no harmful side effects! Just one kilo of this Micromium is enough to power an entire city for one year! Just imagine.
The science fiction aspect of this story was great. I also enjoyed the way that ulterior motives and secret agendas played out. I felt that those parts were rather well written, and that is what kept me reading.
Where the story fell short for me were some of the relationships between the characters. The writing does not seem to flow naturally.
Also, the ending was confusing for me.
**Possible spoilers if you have not yet read the book!**
One of the characters that was instrumental in trying to help navigate through ship to safety ended up actually dying prior to said ship leaving Mars? And one of the members of the audit team is not even mentioned among the crew of the ship leaving, and then there she is on Earth at the end?
This was a great idea, and mostly well done.
I just wish that some parts would have been a bit clearer.
The idea itself is nothing short of fantastic. Clean energy with no harmful side effects! Just one kilo of this Micromium is enough to power an entire city for one year! Just imagine.
The science fiction aspect of this story was great. I also enjoyed the way that ulterior motives and secret agendas played out. I felt that those parts were rather well written, and that is what kept me reading.
Where the story fell short for me were some of the relationships between the characters. The writing does not seem to flow naturally.
Also, the ending was confusing for me.
**Possible spoilers if you have not yet read the book!**
One of the characters that was instrumental in trying to help navigate through ship to safety ended up actually dying prior to said ship leaving Mars? And one of the members of the audit team is not even mentioned among the crew of the ship leaving, and then there she is on Earth at the end?
This was a great idea, and mostly well done.
I just wish that some parts would have been a bit clearer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2018
As a piece of science fiction, Micromium was an interesting novel to read. The goal of mining unknown elements discovered on Mars to obtain clean energy back on Earth appears to be a noble one. That is, until an audit team from Earth and the unexpected arrival of an alien race discover corporate secrets that will change the whole perspective of the operation. While the story followed an interesting concept some of the writing left much to be desired. The love interest story line seemed unnatural throughout the book and in many spots the writing contradicts itself, creating more questions for the reader. However, it was an easy, entertaining read for sci-fi fans.
August 15, 2021
This was a GoodReads giveaway win of a Kindle ebook.
OMG, This book made me realize that I am an official NERD. I must not be the correct target audience. I like more Science in my SciFi. I despise bad science. I can put up with some degree of fantasy science if it enhances or at least doesn't interfere with a good plot, but this book was just not working for me. It was more of a story of Corporate Greed and Immoral Ethics set on Mars. I really would give it One and a Quarter stars since I did not place it in my DNF pile, but it was a struggle. I did have to finish the book just to see how much I could tolerate.
Have a GoodReads.
OMG, This book made me realize that I am an official NERD. I must not be the correct target audience. I like more Science in my SciFi. I despise bad science. I can put up with some degree of fantasy science if it enhances or at least doesn't interfere with a good plot, but this book was just not working for me. It was more of a story of Corporate Greed and Immoral Ethics set on Mars. I really would give it One and a Quarter stars since I did not place it in my DNF pile, but it was a struggle. I did have to finish the book just to see how much I could tolerate.
Have a GoodReads.
June 24, 2018
It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. The characters and plot felt very superficial. And for a story set in the future, it felt very unenlightened. Maybe the book is meant for a male audience as most of the cast is male. And the few females are just backdrop characters that feel like they are there as ornaments. I liked the aliens the best, but that might be because they were really the only strong female characters in the book.
November 8, 2018
Great sci-fi
If you are looking to leave earth and colonize mars... Here is a guide! This book is fun, suspenseful, and a great read. It's a fun filled pure fiction fantasy ride that will keep you turning pages. The novel is very descriptive and well written. The vocabulary is suitable for all readers and the adventure is action packed. This book is a must read if you love adventures and sci-fi. I recomend this book highly!
If you are looking to leave earth and colonize mars... Here is a guide! This book is fun, suspenseful, and a great read. It's a fun filled pure fiction fantasy ride that will keep you turning pages. The novel is very descriptive and well written. The vocabulary is suitable for all readers and the adventure is action packed. This book is a must read if you love adventures and sci-fi. I recomend this book highly!
November 4, 2021
Mining Mars
While not a fan of science fiction, I did enjoy this book which deals with climate change, the need for clean energy, and corporate chicanery with a little murder thrown in.
While not a fan of science fiction, I did enjoy this book which deals with climate change, the need for clean energy, and corporate chicanery with a little murder thrown in.
August 19, 2021
Interesting science fiction. I did not see the story twist coming. Corporate greed and corruption go to new heights in this book. I thought the book could have benefited from better editing.
May 2, 2018
Corporate greed combined with Martian mining makes for a fascinating tale. Auditors and astronauts are sent to a mining outpost on Mars to investigate the mysterious deaths of a former audit team.
World pollution and degradation of the planet’s atmosphere threaten life on earth in 2038. Micromium, a miracle heretofore unknown substance promises many years of totally clean energy and the chance to clean up the damage caused by the burning of fossil fuels and global warming resulting from their use. The team is headed by Logan and personalities are deeply vetted to make sure they fit as an audit team. But as Kate studies the mineral deposits on Mars, she finds that the concentration of Micromium is much smaller than she had expected.
Unexpected twists and turns in this novel along with the discovery of aliens makes for a very exciting read. When mining management tries to destroy the second audit team along with the aliens there is a very surprising result. I highly recommend this book. (4.5 stars) C E Williams....
What else is the management team of Martian Mining Interplanetary hiding from the World Energy Council and their U.S. corporate bosses that have been awarded the contract for bringing back the minerals? Although the story starts off a little slow for me, the discoveries feed into an interesting mystery plot line and keeps you reading.
The little drawings added an extra little tease to the narrative, and the cover does note "illustrated." Dialogue generally works but the romance only served as a distraction for me, unnecessary to the general plot.
I was offered this stop on the blog tour by Sage's Blog Tours and greatly appreciated the offer to read and review, particularly sharing with my sci-fi guru for his opinion. Did it meet his expectation? Yes! And I would recommend as well to sci-fi and mystery fans, intrigue, and action-adventure fans. A mine on Mars? Certainly within the realm of imagination and an appealing concept! (4 stars) V Williams
World pollution and degradation of the planet’s atmosphere threaten life on earth in 2038. Micromium, a miracle heretofore unknown substance promises many years of totally clean energy and the chance to clean up the damage caused by the burning of fossil fuels and global warming resulting from their use. The team is headed by Logan and personalities are deeply vetted to make sure they fit as an audit team. But as Kate studies the mineral deposits on Mars, she finds that the concentration of Micromium is much smaller than she had expected.
Unexpected twists and turns in this novel along with the discovery of aliens makes for a very exciting read. When mining management tries to destroy the second audit team along with the aliens there is a very surprising result. I highly recommend this book. (4.5 stars) C E Williams....
What else is the management team of Martian Mining Interplanetary hiding from the World Energy Council and their U.S. corporate bosses that have been awarded the contract for bringing back the minerals? Although the story starts off a little slow for me, the discoveries feed into an interesting mystery plot line and keeps you reading.
The little drawings added an extra little tease to the narrative, and the cover does note "illustrated." Dialogue generally works but the romance only served as a distraction for me, unnecessary to the general plot.
I was offered this stop on the blog tour by Sage's Blog Tours and greatly appreciated the offer to read and review, particularly sharing with my sci-fi guru for his opinion. Did it meet his expectation? Yes! And I would recommend as well to sci-fi and mystery fans, intrigue, and action-adventure fans. A mine on Mars? Certainly within the realm of imagination and an appealing concept! (4 stars) V Williams
June 7, 2018
Micromium: Clean Energy From Mars by David Gittlin
Stars: ⭐️⭐️✨ (2.5)
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by Smith Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
...
"You want to unlock the energy potential of X435 and solve the mystery of the Martian crater's origin. You are ambitious, aren't you?"
This book had all the makings for a great novel, except it is not a novel; it's a novella, and it was way too short to pack in everything that it tried to.
The synopsis of the book talks about how Logan's attraction to one of his team members becomes a complication for him, and throughout the book, you read about the supposed sexual tension between these two characters. However, the so-called "attraction" was barely there, and there was definitely no sexual tension. There is also a really clumsy and awkward sex scene that definitely didn't need to be in book. In fact, I think if the "love interest" part of the book was removed completely, it would have been much better.
That brings us to the writing style... it was not for me. It came across very science-heavy, and honestly, almost like a school text book at times.
...
It was all a bit much. Also, I don't know if the review copy I received was the final copy or not, but there were some spelling mistakes and grammar issues that really bothered me.
I will say that there is a pretty decent plot twist near the end of the book. You know something is wrong, but I wasn't expecting what it ended up being.
...
Overall, I think this book needed to: be longer, nix the "romance", and focus more on the story. If it was fleshed out a bit more, I think it would have been much better, for me anyways.
***NOTE: this is an excerpt of my full review which you can find on my blog should you be interested: Books and Prosecco
Stars: ⭐️⭐️✨ (2.5)
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by Smith Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
...
"You want to unlock the energy potential of X435 and solve the mystery of the Martian crater's origin. You are ambitious, aren't you?"
This book had all the makings for a great novel, except it is not a novel; it's a novella, and it was way too short to pack in everything that it tried to.
The synopsis of the book talks about how Logan's attraction to one of his team members becomes a complication for him, and throughout the book, you read about the supposed sexual tension between these two characters. However, the so-called "attraction" was barely there, and there was definitely no sexual tension. There is also a really clumsy and awkward sex scene that definitely didn't need to be in book. In fact, I think if the "love interest" part of the book was removed completely, it would have been much better.
That brings us to the writing style... it was not for me. It came across very science-heavy, and honestly, almost like a school text book at times.
...
It was all a bit much. Also, I don't know if the review copy I received was the final copy or not, but there were some spelling mistakes and grammar issues that really bothered me.
I will say that there is a pretty decent plot twist near the end of the book. You know something is wrong, but I wasn't expecting what it ended up being.
...
Overall, I think this book needed to: be longer, nix the "romance", and focus more on the story. If it was fleshed out a bit more, I think it would have been much better, for me anyways.
***NOTE: this is an excerpt of my full review which you can find on my blog should you be interested: Books and Prosecco
April 7, 2018
This interesting novel is fast-paced and generally easy to read. Some of the concepts are standard fare: advanced alien lifeforms, greedy corporate entities willing to kill to protect their interests, coworkers with inconvenient crushes on each other, clean energy as a means to prevent further pollution, etc. But most of these aspects come together in a way that doesn’t make them seem overdone. The artwork was also a nice touch. It’s likewise an affordable novel, especially at the $3 Kindle price.
I nonetheless noticed a few typos and some confusing details scattered throughout the book. Does Galatar have blue or blonde hair? How does Keneko have an office full of seed grown plants if they haven’t been there for at least a couple of months? It seems like they just got to Mars. How could Elora help pilot the ship back to Earth if she had died earlier? It also seemed like all the females in this story were especially attractive for some reason and the artwork attests to this fact.
Amazon lists this book as being for ages 12 to 18, yet there’s a brief sex scene included that some parents would not consider to be an appropriate subject for younger teens. However, the story probably would appeal to both adults and older teens.
I nonetheless noticed a few typos and some confusing details scattered throughout the book. Does Galatar have blue or blonde hair? How does Keneko have an office full of seed grown plants if they haven’t been there for at least a couple of months? It seems like they just got to Mars. How could Elora help pilot the ship back to Earth if she had died earlier? It also seemed like all the females in this story were especially attractive for some reason and the artwork attests to this fact.
Amazon lists this book as being for ages 12 to 18, yet there’s a brief sex scene included that some parents would not consider to be an appropriate subject for younger teens. However, the story probably would appeal to both adults and older teens.
July 15, 2018
(Note: the first thing I noticed was that the main publicity blurb was written by someone with the same name as the editor.)
A new element is found on Mars that can cure all of the Earth's ills when it comes to energy, if humans can keep their greed in check. (Yeah, didn't think so.) Aliens show up. Lots of people die.
The first half had enough to keep me going, but just barely. There was a long and completely unnecessary passage on volcanic geology, which was strange, considering the tiny chapters. The illustrations look like vintage 1990s CGI. It takes a while for the exposition to be over, but once a mystery ship is sighted, the story takes off, at least a little.
Boy, did this author get greed right. But of course he had to make the aliens giant babes.
I like the twist about the ore. The story did get better as it went along, as well as the writing. Perhaps with a little more revision of the beginning this would have been a tighter, more enjoyable book. The final twist, while sad, seems necessary. I suppose, considering how humans can be, it's no surprise for the most sympathetic characters to be the aliens.
A new element is found on Mars that can cure all of the Earth's ills when it comes to energy, if humans can keep their greed in check. (Yeah, didn't think so.) Aliens show up. Lots of people die.
The first half had enough to keep me going, but just barely. There was a long and completely unnecessary passage on volcanic geology, which was strange, considering the tiny chapters. The illustrations look like vintage 1990s CGI. It takes a while for the exposition to be over, but once a mystery ship is sighted, the story takes off, at least a little.
Boy, did this author get greed right. But of course he had to make the aliens giant babes.
I like the twist about the ore. The story did get better as it went along, as well as the writing. Perhaps with a little more revision of the beginning this would have been a tighter, more enjoyable book. The final twist, while sad, seems necessary. I suppose, considering how humans can be, it's no surprise for the most sympathetic characters to be the aliens.
October 29, 2018
Micromium, by David Gittlin, is an intelligent and well-written sci-fi with all the ingredients that a reader wants from this genre – including missing space ships, unaccountable deaths, serious death storms, well-formed characters and really intimidating aliens. With an energy crisis on Earth, a mining company drills for new clean energy on Mars until two of its employees die. A team is sent to investigate, and that’s when things begin to fall apart! With Earth’s team of scientists and a team of aliens looking at the same data and for the same things there is bound to be trouble. It comes, but not as you’d expect it! Interesting, surprising, full of suspense and even a love-interest, the book is an extremely enjoyable read. Accompanying the text are some beautiful illustrations by the author that enhance the narrative. There are one or two typos, which is a shame; and one or two inexplicable things in the story, but it’s altogether an excellent sci-fi story for sci-fi readers and others to enjoy.
November 4, 2018
If David Gittlin took a risk by fusing the genres of mystery and science fiction, it is a mystery that appears to have paid off. Incorporating many aspects of both genres in this murder investigation on Mars, but conforming wholly to neither, this novel could have easily fallen between the cracks and disappointed fans of both genres. Instead, Micromium is a fully immersive science fiction, with all the bells and whistles any space story can expect, and with a genuinely thrilling, unpredictable mystery at its heart. The result is immensely engaging and wonderfully unique.
The only setbacks I found were a few minor errors in the text itself, as some typos had clearly been missed in the editing process, and a propensity to go off on what I found to be quite curious tangents. There were a few minor plots that I felt did very little for either the story or the world building, but that's more a matter of personal opinion than objective criticism.
Micromium is well worth a read, you won't be disappointed.
The only setbacks I found were a few minor errors in the text itself, as some typos had clearly been missed in the editing process, and a propensity to go off on what I found to be quite curious tangents. There were a few minor plots that I felt did very little for either the story or the world building, but that's more a matter of personal opinion than objective criticism.
Micromium is well worth a read, you won't be disappointed.
December 31, 2019
I really liked the premise of this book & was excited to start, but I've now given up 1/3 of the way through. The sentence that made me close the book was...
I don't need to always read hard sci fi & I do like fantasy, but this just seemed silly to me.
I liked the writing style in general & the fact that drawings were included was a lovely bonus. But the hints of hormonal teen coming through made me roll my eyes. I expect sci fi drawings & writing from the 70s & 80s to show off big-breasted women in skintight outfits (yep, one of the images included in Micromium showed that) & main characters focusing on a woman's looks/sex appeal. But nowadays it's seems like an odd choice to include. (Funny cause I've never made such a comment in a review before. Maybe that's cause in the classic sci fi, it's expected. But in modern sci fi, good editors remove this since they know that both men & women read sci fi.)
I don't need to always read hard sci fi & I do like fantasy, but this just seemed silly to me.
I liked the writing style in general & the fact that drawings were included was a lovely bonus. But the hints of hormonal teen coming through made me roll my eyes. I expect sci fi drawings & writing from the 70s & 80s to show off big-breasted women in skintight outfits (yep, one of the images included in Micromium showed that) & main characters focusing on a woman's looks/sex appeal. But nowadays it's seems like an odd choice to include. (Funny cause I've never made such a comment in a review before. Maybe that's cause in the classic sci fi, it's expected. But in modern sci fi, good editors remove this since they know that both men & women read sci fi.)
February 18, 2020
While this book was apt considering the global circumstances we find ourselves in at the moment (global warming, a rapidly deteriorating environment, toxicity etc.), it was too predictable and jargon-heavy for my taste. It takes place in the near future, which helped the imminent feeling of terror and thrill to the plot, but left a lot to be desired.
I felt that the character development was rushed and the book tried to fit too many themes and subplots into too-small space. Additionally, if it was going to be illustrated I would have preferred a much bigger investment in that aspect of the novella. To be clear, this was a novella and not a novel--frankly, a misstep. This story could have been better had it been given more room to authentically grow.
Alternatively, a graphic novel might have been a better concept for this. Curiously, at times, this read also felt a bit like a video game (and the illustrations looked the part, too.)
Not a bad read, especially if you're interested in the sci-fi/sciency end of it all (think The Martian), but that's not for me.
I felt that the character development was rushed and the book tried to fit too many themes and subplots into too-small space. Additionally, if it was going to be illustrated I would have preferred a much bigger investment in that aspect of the novella. To be clear, this was a novella and not a novel--frankly, a misstep. This story could have been better had it been given more room to authentically grow.
Alternatively, a graphic novel might have been a better concept for this. Curiously, at times, this read also felt a bit like a video game (and the illustrations looked the part, too.)
Not a bad read, especially if you're interested in the sci-fi/sciency end of it all (think The Martian), but that's not for me.
November 11, 2018
In the wake of a global environmental crisis, a new element is found on Mars: Micromium. In small amounts, the ore can power an entire city with absolutely no environmental side effects. But as is often the case, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. After two deaths at the mining complex on Mars, a team is sent from Earth to investigate and end up finding more than they bargained for...
I am into sci-fi and I'm especially drawn to Mars-centric stories, so I really wanted to like this book. Alas, it missed the mark by. The story fell flat. The concept wasn't half bad, it just got lost in poor execution.The characters were stereotypical. Their personalities and motives were inconsistent throughout the book, and I really never came to care about any of them. The writing lacked flow, and was pretty rudimentary. Toward the end, I just wanted it to be over. If you're looking for a good sci-fi novel, you'd be better off looking elsewhere.
I am into sci-fi and I'm especially drawn to Mars-centric stories, so I really wanted to like this book. Alas, it missed the mark by. The story fell flat. The concept wasn't half bad, it just got lost in poor execution.The characters were stereotypical. Their personalities and motives were inconsistent throughout the book, and I really never came to care about any of them. The writing lacked flow, and was pretty rudimentary. Toward the end, I just wanted it to be over. If you're looking for a good sci-fi novel, you'd be better off looking elsewhere.
December 21, 2018
If you like novels by Tom Clancy or Clive Cussler, this book should be right up your alley.
I see that some of the other reviewers were disappointed by a certain perceived lack of a literary...je ne sais qoui, but they’re missing the point of a good science fiction novel.
The story explores the idea of an energy crisis spurring expeditions to Mars, resulting in a space mystery complicated by human passions. In that way, it might remind you of flicks like 2001: A Space Odyssey, or even some recent films about journeys to Mars.
The characters, dialogue, and situations are mostly believable, which is pretty much what you should expect from a straightforward book in this genre, set in the future of our real world.
I see that some of the other reviewers were disappointed by a certain perceived lack of a literary...je ne sais qoui, but they’re missing the point of a good science fiction novel.
The story explores the idea of an energy crisis spurring expeditions to Mars, resulting in a space mystery complicated by human passions. In that way, it might remind you of flicks like 2001: A Space Odyssey, or even some recent films about journeys to Mars.
The characters, dialogue, and situations are mostly believable, which is pretty much what you should expect from a straightforward book in this genre, set in the future of our real world.
August 12, 2021
Set in the future, Earth is running out of time and all the measures taken to curb climate change are helping fast enough. Then, someone discovers an energy source on Mars, Micromium. Micromium can provide clean energy. When two employees of the mining company on Mars, Martian Mining Interplanetary, are killed in a freak meteorite shower, the World Energy Council sends in a team to investigate. The team soon discovers that things on Mars are not exactly as they have been reported and their lives may also be in danger.
A fun science fiction mystery that hits home the need to take care of our planet.
A fun science fiction mystery that hits home the need to take care of our planet.
October 31, 2018
This was a fun read. I did find myself zoning out at the technical descriptions and parts, but overall it was a cool concept with an entertaining plot. Since it's a combination of mystery and Sci-fi, I feel like all sorts of readers would find it interesting. There were a few plot holes and parts that didn't quite make sense according to earlier descriptions in the book. It could of been that some things were over my head, but I'm pretty sure there were unclear explanations. Overall I still enjoyed it. Sure would be nice if micromium was a real thing.
June 25, 2018
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I will admit I did not expect to really get involved in this book. However, the first 20 pages or so hooked me, and I could not put the book down. A mining accident on mars brings Commander Logan Marchant and a team of specialists to investigate. Both he and the team geologist encounter much more than they had considered. Fast paced and intelligent writing.
I will admit I did not expect to really get involved in this book. However, the first 20 pages or so hooked me, and I could not put the book down. A mining accident on mars brings Commander Logan Marchant and a team of specialists to investigate. Both he and the team geologist encounter much more than they had considered. Fast paced and intelligent writing.
November 12, 2018
What happens when Earth uses all of its natural resources and energy is a scarce commodity? Send astronauts to other planets and mine its resources. David Gittlin touches on the world’s current problem but with a fictional twist. He shows what Earth looks like in the future, the desperate need to steal energy from Mars, and how mankind’s greed is its ultimate downfall. Gittlin masterfully pens a story that feeds the reader’s hunger for adventure, thrill, and mystery.
March 2, 2020
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. The SF area was pretty good and as always there are secret agendas. But the character depth, development and arc were not strong enough to really connect and care for the story. Pacing and flow were off and did not feel organic and kept pulling me out of the story. Some of this was due to the technical info dumps that could have been blended in a bit better. The concept was very interesting.
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