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Fox Meridian #9
The Hellas Find
For a long time, humans have observed Mars through telescopes and seen evidence of life, even of complex civilisations. When first machines and then humans actually got to the Red Planet, they discovered a dead rock with a thin, oxygen-free atmosphere, but the hope of discovering some form of life there just would not die. Now a geology team working in the Hellas Planitia region has discovered evidence that there used to be a great civilisation on the dead world. Or maybe it’s not so dead, given that the team who found the antediluvian city have gone missing, leaving behind videos which suggest they were killed by Martians. With the American government worried about public reaction and the possibility of living Martians, Fox Meridian, the world’s first and only human infomorph, finds herself being transmitted to Mars to head up the investigation of what she is sure is a hoax. It must be a hoax, right? There are no Martians. Or are there?
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2018
37 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Niall Teasdale
73 books293 followersI was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 23, 2018
SF +
If you like your science fiction with mystery, and can stand a chokingly large dose or eroticism, then you will enjoy this.
It’s frustrating because there is really good writing and a fun story and then...BOOBIES!!!! Then the story gets back on track until the next round of porn. Really explicit, that’s-a-camera-angle-I-wish-I-hadn’t-seen, unnecessary porn.
I will continue to read this series, because it has some interesting SF concepts.
If you like your science fiction with mystery, and can stand a chokingly large dose or eroticism, then you will enjoy this.
It’s frustrating because there is really good writing and a fun story and then...BOOBIES!!!! Then the story gets back on track until the next round of porn. Really explicit, that’s-a-camera-angle-I-wish-I-hadn’t-seen, unnecessary porn.
I will continue to read this series, because it has some interesting SF concepts.
May 13, 2019
This story didn’t grab me, I’m not sure why, but Fox’s submissive relationship with Naomi didn’t feel right. Also I think I groaned out loud when the Martian explorer John Carter appeared, perhaps it was an homage to Edgar Rice Burroughs, but it seemed to set the standard for the beginning of the book. It wasn’t until over halfway through that I finally began to get into the story.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
One final point, I hate the word meme, but this author seems to love it and uses it on every possible occasion.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
One final point, I hate the word meme, but this author seems to love it and uses it on every possible occasion.
January 9, 2019
First off:
1) I'm glad he finally left his politics at the door (mostly) and just told a good story
2) I'm also glad he FINALLY doesn't have all the male characters with negative character traits and all the female characters with positive traits. The characters are more real than Teasdale's other works and not the shallow feminist propaganda he's prone to create.
Fox is transferred to Mars to investigate the appearance of what appears to be Martians that are killing people, destroying property, and causing general mayhem. There are a few issues here and there, but nothing to get bent out of shape about. The only thing that got a little under my skin was a gross misunderstanding of what Freedom of Speech entails; I attribute this to a Brit simply not understanding American culture and law. What Fox did to the reporter would have landed her in some serious hot water in reality especially since the Mars colony used American law.
1) I'm glad he finally left his politics at the door (mostly) and just told a good story
2) I'm also glad he FINALLY doesn't have all the male characters with negative character traits and all the female characters with positive traits. The characters are more real than Teasdale's other works and not the shallow feminist propaganda he's prone to create.
Fox is transferred to Mars to investigate the appearance of what appears to be Martians that are killing people, destroying property, and causing general mayhem. There are a few issues here and there, but nothing to get bent out of shape about. The only thing that got a little under my skin was a gross misunderstanding of what Freedom of Speech entails; I attribute this to a Brit simply not understanding American culture and law. What Fox did to the reporter would have landed her in some serious hot water in reality especially since the Mars colony used American law.
January 20, 2019
This is definitely the terrific read O expected, and that you definitely s should buy.
As I expected, besides being a really terrific read, the other major effect was to make me incredibly hungry for the next one 😀.
As I expected, besides being a really terrific read, the other major effect was to make me incredibly hungry for the next one 😀.
December 17, 2018
Fox is one of my favourite characters. This is another great book.
January 2, 2019
Martians!
Fox and Kit off to find Martians! Another great addition to this Sci-fi series. Quick wit, laughter and mystery. Ready for the next adventure!
Fox and Kit off to find Martians! Another great addition to this Sci-fi series. Quick wit, laughter and mystery. Ready for the next adventure!
February 13, 2019
Only three stars because Fox's relationship in this book really doesn't work for me.
October 11, 2019
Another good read from Niall Teasdale
June 10, 2019
Fox investigates Aliens. 3.5 stars
Fox is sent to Mars to investigate a murder and missing person cases of a number of Mars based geologist. Things get weird however when the suspect list start to include Martians,.... as in the Alien kind.
This was a pretty entertaining self contained story in an overall pretty good, ongoing series. The smaller scale of this story and the larger focus on the mystery helped this story quite a bit. Teasdale's world remain intricate and engaging. The slightly tilted realities of 'this future that could' be keeps things interesting and entertaining.
As usual a solid novel by Niall Teasdale.
Fox is sent to Mars to investigate a murder and missing person cases of a number of Mars based geologist. Things get weird however when the suspect list start to include Martians,.... as in the Alien kind.
This was a pretty entertaining self contained story in an overall pretty good, ongoing series. The smaller scale of this story and the larger focus on the mystery helped this story quite a bit. Teasdale's world remain intricate and engaging. The slightly tilted realities of 'this future that could' be keeps things interesting and entertaining.
As usual a solid novel by Niall Teasdale.
December 17, 2018
A good addition to the Series
This is a good read I enjoyed the story not my favourite in the series though. My one complaint is the cover art it is more than a little lame especially considering Fox is sporting a new hairstyle, she was trying on Martin fashion and she didn’t really need an environmental suit to go outside.
This is a good read I enjoyed the story not my favourite in the series though. My one complaint is the cover art it is more than a little lame especially considering Fox is sporting a new hairstyle, she was trying on Martin fashion and she didn’t really need an environmental suit to go outside.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews