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The Last Reaper #1
The Last Reaper
When a high value scientist is taken hostage inside the galaxy's most dangerous prison, Halek Cain is the only man for the job.
The last remaining survivor of the Reaper program, Hal is an unstoppable force of fuel and madness. A veteran amputee-turned-cyborg, he has a history of violence and a talent for killing that is unmatched by any soldier.
With the promise of freedom as his only incentive, he'll stop at nothing to earn back his life from the people who made him, imprisoned him, and were too afraid to let him die.
Experience this exciting beginning to a brand new series set in the Renegade Star universe.
The last remaining survivor of the Reaper program, Hal is an unstoppable force of fuel and madness. A veteran amputee-turned-cyborg, he has a history of violence and a talent for killing that is unmatched by any soldier.
With the promise of freedom as his only incentive, he'll stop at nothing to earn back his life from the people who made him, imprisoned him, and were too afraid to let him die.
Experience this exciting beginning to a brand new series set in the Renegade Star universe.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 8, 2019
About the author
J.N. Chaney
483 books9,767 followersIf you want to stay up to date on my releases, concept art, or speak to me directly - you should join my Facebook fan group:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
February 11, 2019
What a fantastic cover! Just knowing it’s being written by these two excellent authors is enough to give me the thrills, knowing it’s going to be another fascinating read to a brand new series in the Renegade universe. Non-stop action and chills abound in this astounding science fiction novel. This book has a thrilling plot, complete with formidable characters, magnificently blended with heart-pounding scenes filled with intrepid and gripping fights. It starts with a bang and continues to build to an explosive finish... All the elements in the story mesh well together to form an extraordinary novel that will enthrall those who enjoy books set in In corrupted government environment with a touch of violence and high tech augmentation twist. The first person narrative is excellent, the protagonist is magnificent, with his witty, sarcastic dialogue with a dash of humour. A Reaper, as always are Chaney’s and Moon’s books! An excellent start for a new series. Impatient for the next installment.
September 4, 2026
The Last Reaper is a powerful start to a fast paced military sci fi series. Halek Cain, the last survivor of the Reaper program, is a lethal and sarcastic cyborg sentenced to death row. He’s offered a chance at clemency in exchange for an extremely dangerous mission, and from there the story takes off without ever slowing down.
The novel blends frantic action, a dark atmosphere, and a world we glimpse only through Cain’s experiences—one that seems shaped by corruption and hidden agendas. I later discovered that it’s set in the same universe as other series by Chaney, but it reads perfectly well even if you’re new to it. The first person narration works beautifully: Cain is magnetic, ironic, tough, yet capable of moments of humanity that make him believable and engaging.
Chaney and Moon craft a gripping plot full of tension and combat, supported by world building that mixes advanced technology with heavy cybernetics. The cover of the edition I read captures the tone of the novel perfectly, with a striking blend of colors and style.
The only thing that threw me off a bit was the constant back and forth between Cain and his integrated AI. At times their exchanges lean too much toward comedy, breaking the rhythm and feeling a bit like a running gag.
A strong start to the series: adrenaline filled, entertaining, and driven by a protagonist who really sticks with you. I enjoyed this first book a lot and plan to continue with the next ones.
The novel blends frantic action, a dark atmosphere, and a world we glimpse only through Cain’s experiences—one that seems shaped by corruption and hidden agendas. I later discovered that it’s set in the same universe as other series by Chaney, but it reads perfectly well even if you’re new to it. The first person narration works beautifully: Cain is magnetic, ironic, tough, yet capable of moments of humanity that make him believable and engaging.
Chaney and Moon craft a gripping plot full of tension and combat, supported by world building that mixes advanced technology with heavy cybernetics. The cover of the edition I read captures the tone of the novel perfectly, with a striking blend of colors and style.
The only thing that threw me off a bit was the constant back and forth between Cain and his integrated AI. At times their exchanges lean too much toward comedy, breaking the rhythm and feeling a bit like a running gag.
A strong start to the series: adrenaline filled, entertaining, and driven by a protagonist who really sticks with you. I enjoyed this first book a lot and plan to continue with the next ones.
October 14, 2019
Cain is in prison for taking the law into his own hands. He's on death row and the only way to get a reprieve and maybe a chance to escape is for him to go on a mission that he may not return from. There he finds a lot of people who shouldn't be there. He tries to do what's right when sometimes it means he may get killed. Enjoyed the book. Plan on reading more of the series.
February 10, 2019
Kickass sci-fi!
I absolutely loved this book. The main character, Hal Cain reminded me of Snake Plissken in all the right ways. Already can’t wait for the next!
I absolutely loved this book. The main character, Hal Cain reminded me of Snake Plissken in all the right ways. Already can’t wait for the next!
September 14, 2020
A hostage rescue set in space, on a space-colony-outcast-dropoff that is ticking down to self destruction. Our hero (?) is a cyborg assassin (a "Reaper") plucked from death row. That all sounds like a great place to start, but maybe it should have been left at the "good concept" stage. There's not much story here.
Various gangs and groups are set against each other, without much back story as to who hates who... or why... except everyone is against our cyborg. Action sequences flit from one to the next with barely decipherable transitions in between. You're often left guessing where exactly everyone is... who, what or where, they are running to (or from). Dialogue is hard to track. Responses, reactions pop up with little reason. Back stabbing and double crossing, but we're not really told why that occurs. Bad guys all have terrible aim. Snarky one liners really seem to be the driving force of this book.
This one really turned into a trudge for me. I won't be following the series moving forward.
Various gangs and groups are set against each other, without much back story as to who hates who... or why... except everyone is against our cyborg. Action sequences flit from one to the next with barely decipherable transitions in between. You're often left guessing where exactly everyone is... who, what or where, they are running to (or from). Dialogue is hard to track. Responses, reactions pop up with little reason. Back stabbing and double crossing, but we're not really told why that occurs. Bad guys all have terrible aim. Snarky one liners really seem to be the driving force of this book.
This one really turned into a trudge for me. I won't be following the series moving forward.
February 22, 2019
Decent enough for an hour, not good enough for a novel.
While it intends well, this book is entirely too find of wooden characterization, hazy and undefined communication of spaces, and generally just too fond of tell-don't-show. Which is a terrible shame because despite having a well worn premise and the potential for good snark-porn, it just never establishes voice strongly enough to carry it off. Overall, the pacing felt like escalating video game levels and the protagonists might have been better served by being more traditionally mute. Still, a breezy light read with decent action despite its other flaws.
While it intends well, this book is entirely too find of wooden characterization, hazy and undefined communication of spaces, and generally just too fond of tell-don't-show. Which is a terrible shame because despite having a well worn premise and the potential for good snark-porn, it just never establishes voice strongly enough to carry it off. Overall, the pacing felt like escalating video game levels and the protagonists might have been better served by being more traditionally mute. Still, a breezy light read with decent action despite its other flaws.
May 20, 2023
He's the Man🐺💪🗡🔫? For the Job
Military Science Fiction.
ADULT language throughout.
An incarcerated Cyborg killer with cybernetic enhancements is sent on a dangerous mission in space to rescue a scientist.
I got this ebook from Amazon with KU
Military Science Fiction.
ADULT language throughout.
An incarcerated Cyborg killer with cybernetic enhancements is sent on a dangerous mission in space to rescue a scientist.
I got this ebook from Amazon with KU
Read
April 24, 2019Rating minus 20 on a scale of minus 15 to plus 5.
This made possible by YouTube's Doctor Who- Without Reward, Warship Designs with Mike Brady, Snarky Jay, Business Explains The World, Unlearning Economics, Sabine Hossenfelder, Naughty Nana DUZ, Physics Girl, Gutsick Gibbon, AllShortsPolitics, KPassionate, ExtinctZoo, Chem Thug, Science Fiction With Damien Walter, Ms Modeller, MS Paints, Rogue Hobbies, NerdForge, Dr Fatima,
Acollierastro, Lizzie Velasquez, Natasha Theresa, Russian Media Monitor, Caspian Report, Agro Squirrel Narrates, Kozak Siromaha, Living History with Dr Julia Martins, Central Crossing, IMY2, Oceanliner Designs, Brandon Fisichella, Tibees, Munecat, Reese Waters, Untold Past, The Blazing Redcoat, Ada Palmer, Starbound, Amie's Literary Empire, Reads with Rachel, Tom Nicholas,
Fran Blanche, JimmyTheGiant, Biz, What Vivi did next, Monte Mader, Kopke613, Combat Veteran News, Whitenoiz, White Stork, Yarmak, Garron, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, RFU News, Jake Broe, Joe Blogs, Annamarie Forcino, Bitchuation Room, Turn Left, Amanda's Mild Takes, Tale Foundry, Tale Tinkerer, Declassified UK, National Centre for Military Intelligence, Professor Tim Wilson, NYTN,
Adelaide Beeman-White, Karolina Zebrowska, J Draper, Reading This Life, Nessie Explains, Seizure Girl, Alba Nuadh, Canadian Dominion, The Resistance, Postmodern Jukebox, SoulHikers, Villains and Virgins, Swiss Link, Dr Becky, Astrid Lundberg, Ana Fern, The Confident Autistic, Critical Latitude, Jade Lloyd, AirLearn Language Show, Weapons of Victory, Justin Taylor, Blackboot Official, May,
Kathy's Flog from France, Jessie Gender, Brittany Page, Large Man Abroad, Red Glasgow, Mrs Betty Bowers, Sarah Spaceman, Parkrose Resistance, KernowDamo, JammyDodger, Global Updates with Sosan, FAFO, ATP Geopolitics, Vlad Vexler, US Democratic Socialists, Rev Karla, Loren Piretra Show, Daughter of Iran, LuckyBlackCat, Rick the Ukrainian, Erika Jordan, Dangerously Informed with Evie,
American Cossack, Tod Maffin, Taboo Education, Ask Raphaela, Answer in Progress, DamiLee, Juice Media, Honest Government Ads, CBC News, Mr Newberger's AI Funnies, Zeteo, Happy Pancake, No Justice MTG, Owen Jones, Misha Collins, Confused Adipose, Lore Reloaded, CertifIably Ingame, SciFi Odyssey, Middle East Eye, Dangerous Ones, Raw America, Zena and Poppy, Prime of Midlife.
My formerly mild reviews were designed only to list my judgement of the entertainment value of a book. I had hoped that it would spare readers of similar taste, time wasted on drivel. They were not meant as nor easily confused with well considered political essays or so I thought. From three months into the Goodreads experience, a different understanding of the site developed.
A member of the venerable Village Idiots whilst insulting a,mentioned creator, complained to her that I list other trans creators. The insanity of the Snowflake (arrogant, needy, womanphobic, poorly socialised US male) no longer amazes. A trigger warning then.
The channels which I mention include the marine biologist, philosopher, asexual, military boardgamer, cosplayer, magician, redhaired, fashion historian, aviation modeller, aviation historian, welder, lesbian, Irish, autistic, lumber yard worker, wooden boat restorer, narrowboater, WOC, political commentator, parent, intersex, pensioner, botanist, engineer, comedienne, anarchist, oils painter, diorama builder, architect, trans, Canadian, sewist, miniatures painter, primatologist, language instructor, science communicator, space exploration historian, mechanic, sail boat restorer, queer, tall, socialist, sociologist, paleontologist, Iranian, chemist, book reviewer, singer, bisexual, chess master, writer, ginger, Bahamian, van life, homesteader, farmer, married, military historian, musician, museum curator and other creators known as Women.
Almost as threatening are the other fashion historian, tailor, archaeologist, marine archaeologist, naval historian, physicist, other LGBTQIA, communist, paleontologist, wood worker, Danish, other biologist, other naval and military boardgamer, Indian, narrowboat builder, military miniatures gamer, other neurodivergent, RPG players, Ukrainian, military diorama builder, train modeller, other biologist, naval and military historian, reenactor, archaeologist, geologist, linguistic historian, geopolitical analyst, journalist, Finnish, anthropologist and others known (outside the US) as Human Beings.
Should the voices insist that you visit those or my reviews, seek emergency therapy and\or repeat several times daily "I'll not play the bellend today" and\or immediately adopt Mahayana Buddhism.
These rewrites are tiring at times and in those moments, I remember the Ukrainian university professor delivering his lectures via video from his trench. That memory demands that I continue. Slava Ukraini. Slava Heroyam. Crimea is Ukraine.
Once more unto the book, dear friends. This was written by someone with a Masters of Fine Arts? American education does not look good after reading this book. I forced myself to finish it, in order to discover whether there have been any changes in the world of awful writing. The good news is No.
The background universe is more of a suggestion. There is no worldbuilding on which to hang a plot. Fortunately the book does not have one. The book consists of loosely connected close combat sequences, running, assault rifle fire, more running, grenade throwing, hiding, stabbing, punching, more running.
You may lose track of who is attacking whom but be not embarrassed, it seems that the writers did same. If you nod off tracking the flow of dialogue, no worries. One of the strengths of the book is that the dialogue is an afterthought. The writers do manage to balance the hint of a social background with an elegant nod to the concept of a general tech base. It may be the finest example of such poor effort which I have ever encountered.
The characters are the "Jewel in the Crown". From Mario Brothers emotional depths to personal journeys that rival those of "Iron Man" or "Thor". This book (series, I suspect) will challenge Hesse, Tolstoy, Pushkin, Austen or Hugo. I would suggest preparation and contemplation in advance of attempting such an intellectual and literary challenge. Or you could just give this a pass, until the writers learn or decide to write a novel.
This next made possible by YouTube's Supertanskiii, Underthedesknews, New Scientist, Monte Mader, Riverboat Jack, Sailing Melody, Imperial War Museums, Blazing Redcoat, Heather Delaney Reese, SciFi Graveyard, SciFi Scavenger, Jerome Weiselberry, Creative Autistic, Michael Romeo Talks Books, Happy Scrolls, Widebeam and Wellingtons, Nikki Osbourne, Dangerously Informed with Evie,
Claus Kellerman POV, Jessica's Library Card, Mythic Matt, Farm to Taber, Liz Webster, Today I Learned Science, Hopeyoufindyourdad, Matriarchetype, Kellie Snider, Hazelisonline, Nyambura's Takes, Amanda's Mild Takes, Military Rated, Bahamian Gyal, Digital Battlefield Tours, Josephine Quinn, Julius A Doyle PhD, Marlon MacNee, Queen Penguin, Democratic Penguins Republic, True Blue,
Refashioned Hippie, SiegeMental, Atun Shei Films, British Warships, British Warplanes, Kings and General, InstaFiz, Wes O'Donnell, Historians Craft, Miniminuteman, Nasimi Shabnam, Lady Izdihar, No Justice MTG, Mix - Do the Sophie, Dwarkesh Patel, Sister Crystal, ChasingOz, JoJofromJerz, Elvira Bary, Gingers are Black, WokeGardener, Charlie Angus, Chinese with Jessie, Morgan Foley,
The Thought Spot, OrangeRiver, Michelle Unmasked Navigating Autism, Autistic Jenny, Mom on the Spectrum, Siobhan, Petticoats and Prose, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, Caroline Konstnar, Marisa, Ezgi Asian, New Enlightenment with Ashley, PinkDeer, Delamer, Rose Montoya, The Tudor Yank, Nils, Pasta Coma, RFU News, Eddie Editz, Isabel LaRosa, Rebecca Solnit, Eva Schubert, Sarah P a Paine,
Astro Alexandra, Bossi, Hoots, Dr Blitz, BFBS Forces News, White Stork, Global Updates with Sosan, Kath Clarke, Irish Pagan School, Owen's Fireside Chat, Tour Guide Brice, Goro AI, ShadesOfOrange, Portable Orange, Secret Sauce of StoryCraft, Twinshangout, Worldbuilding Mastery, LoreGeist, Squire, Cruising the Cut, De Cadence, Ask Raphaela, Munecat, GrayRatArmy, Ashley B, Mr Zod, Marisa,
Lily Alexandre, Today I Learned Science, Institute of Art and Ideas, Military Rated, Military History Visualised, TIKHistory, Digital Battlefield Tours, Christina Talks, The Enemy from Within, Queer Poly Babe, Due Dissidence, White Stork, NAFO 69th Sniffing Brigade, Verilybitchie, Kim Talks, Brothers Gwynne, Emilie's Literary Corner, Reborn, Kazachka, Justin Taylor, Cappy Army, Lily Simpson.
Consider treating this as a hostile site. 🤔
There is no Goodreads discourse. My final review was of Powers of the Earth by Travis Corcoran. It was originally blurbed as similar to a Heinlein classic but was instead a poor imitation of "Atlas Shrugged" set on the Moon.
The story is a tale of the heroic struggle of a hard done by rich twat enlisting the military in overthrow of a US government in order that he not pay taxes. There are many such libertarian gems in the Unlimted library. I found those all to be dangerous, propagandistic and now prophetic.
The Corcoran self-described as libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without millions), US veteran, employee of an unnamed US agency, admirer of Putin's Russia and advocate for the return of chattel slavery.
With the current popularity of Putin's Russia and its horrible poverty, the decline of US working class lifestyle accelerated by a government which shared the Russian view of prosperity and the new forced labour prisons (more correctly labelled concentration camps by US YouTubers), I imagine the Corcoran to be well pleased.
He and six fellow patriots were taken aback by my communist defence of their democracy and voiced as much in a year of comments regarding my opinion. There were no mentions of the book. though I was gifted evaluations of my intelligence, class background, the role of women readers in science fiction spaces and an interesting interpretation of all world history as being the creation of European men among other insights.
I had hoped that a commentary on Penrose and consciousness would appear but it would have been churlish to request more in the face of such generosity and so accepted disappointment. I was left the many layers of irony as comfort.
The last comment was delivered by Claes Rees Jr aka Cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse. After referencing the content of my last message exchange with a Goodreads friend, he declared that They had Won. I discovered shortly after that They and many allies had launched a year-long flood of vile comments against apparently every female creator whom I mentioned. It continues still.
They failed to charm the early teen boater or her mother, Oxford physicist, American pensioner, Irish botanist and the many others. They did however expose the site's true tone and delivered a stunning self-portrait of the Snowflake (sociopathic, barely educated, whinging US male who never asks "Are we the baddies?") to a multinational audience.
By any metric a truly stunning Victory. If the above behaviour was disturbing, there are BookTubers to suggest useful, safe, true reader forums.
A stepaway earned. This last made possible by YouTube's Ask Raphaela. DamiLee, Eva Schubert. Hannah Fry, Dr Becky, The Military Show, Fall of Civilisations, White Stork, JohnTheDuncan, Barry's Economics, Anne Applebaum, Fabienne, Kathy's Flog from France, Chris and Shell, Widebeam and Wellingtons, Ship Happens, Sailing Melody, The Narrowboat that James Built, Mix JKLN -Welcome to Ukraine, Yarmak, Reads with Rachel, Aspie World, Ember Green Confident Autistic, Kaelyn Partlow,
Mindplicit, Northern Narrowboaters, Jerome Weiselberry, CADblog TV, David Ferrell, Saga Lore AI, Star Wreck, Mandy, Platypus Economics with Justin. Muthu Lakshmi, Daughter of Iran, Griha Atul, Dreamloop Cinema, Diaspora Reacts, Thriftbooks.com, Luke Sherlock, Pinsent Tailoring, The Indigo Life, OtiStudio AI, Sidney Morss, Mercado Media, Honest Government Ads, Steampunk, Munecat,
Large Man Abroad, Diaspora Reacts, WokeGardener, The Resistance, Nasimi Shabnam, David Perell,
Davi Pinheiro, The Indigo Life, Outlaw Bookseller, Amanda's Mild Takes, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Lucas Bean, Blooms and Greens by Chloe, Sidney Morss, Muthu Lakshmi, Carl Walmsley, Military History Visualised, Military Aviation History, British Navel History, Ms Modeller, Rogue Hobbies.
Science Fiction With Damien Walter, Heather Delaney Reese, Feral Historian, Emmet Bennett, BroadSword Wargaming, Politics Arena, Thomas Harries, Quanta Science Channel, Faun, Tachyon Pulse, Spacedock, Auroras Trek, Princess Weekes, TallGirl6234, Heather Delaney Reese, JimmyTheGiant, Kat Abughazaleh, Katie Phang, ConeOfArc, Tank Museum, Tiffany Ferg, Kopke613.
Ominous music begins. 😊 The comment stream described above was common to my Speculative Fiction experience and reports of similar in the Romantasy space with the exception of duration and the Australian Intervention.
The hobbies of the comment gangs include the doxxing, stalking, hacking, threats and other expressions of sociopathy. I have myself, experienced several hacking attempts. Comments are a political stance it seems. Ironically that is the Marxist stance, not expected from these freedom fighters.
Amazon do not acknowledge incidents, rein in mental membership, punish the writer who organises Them nor dismisses the madlads of Kindle.
My very limited message history was given over to jagoffs, which was followed by a request through Pine Gap Centre that Australian Security interrogate the one Goodreads friend whom I occasionally messaged. The attempt at my personal history failed.
Amazon only became concerned when we shared our bizarre experience widely. Without faux apology or explanation, all Lurkers I'd not been permitted to remove for several years were suddenly disappeared. I was notified that Kindle no longer support Goodreads, all comments are blocked from the view of others, bricking of my Kindle and other harassment have for the present ended. My Book List is being reordered in an attempt to slow down my revisions apparently. It had ended but is now returned. Strange customer service.
US financial, military industrial and data firms are finally being pushed out from the European Union. The process is much overdue and reluctantly implemented. It reflects the popular pressure to implement economic, political and military policies which were designed as much as fifteen years past. That inertia is the product of a spineless political class reluctant to inconvenience the investor class or their profits.
A similar inertia guides both US political parties, both of which recognise the economic decline but neither of which are willing to manage a soft landing or the massive restructuring of government and economy needed to do so. They choose to coddle their loud, immature masters, who have no understanding that their outlook will kill the goose which laid the golden egg.
The process of ownership by the billionaire class and lackeys, has already established "Enshittification" as a norm. The results include bulk fiction across genres, manufactured goods and services and the drive to create consumer who owns nothing but rents everything. What happens after, I cannot imagine, except that it cannot fail to be dreadful.
I now suggest readers might cod well to investigate Email services, such as Proton for utterly secure data.
Some precautions for this site. Remove all personal information from profile and use messaging only to contact like minded souls off-site.
Remove all Lurkers, those who never post. They are likely gang monitors or employee dummies.
Given the Amazon penchant for altering customer pages and view of customer safety, the screenshot of the ugly, threatening and strange are a,potential lifesaver. A single purpose email for Amazon is hardly amiss. For Goodreads these should suffice.
Kindle are a different matter. Do Not Use Email, Contacts, Files or Calendar. Amazon Sign Into customer email without permission or notice. Make of that what you will.
Do Not purchase Amazon ebooks. You own only your device and if Kindle that is conditional. If purchased, download titles immediately. There are BookTubers to suggest alternative ebook and reader vendors or to ebooks altogether.
All Silk searches should be innocuous and non-critical, of course.
The members and employees described above know no recognizable morality but are devoted US patriots with all that implies. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be careful, not silent and may we all discover Good Reading. 🤗
Some favourite channels.
IamBlakely, Reads with Rachel, Red Glasgow, Honest Government Ads, Swell Entertainment, Benn Jordan, Emily Linge, Middle East Eye, Silicon Curtain, The Sun, US Democratic Socialists, CBC News, Zeteo, Upon Reflection, The Mindful Narrowboat, No Justice MTG, Steve Shives, Joe Blogs, Rogue Hobbies, Ms Modeller, Zilla Blitz, Owen Jones, Claus Kellerman POV, Democratic Penguins Republic,
Extinct Zoo, Physics Girl, Up and Atom, J Draper, Abby Cox, Ada Palmer, KPassionate. Autistic Jenny, Dr Helen Webberley, Lindsay Ellis, Geo Girl, Blackboot Official, Tod Maffin, Whitenoiz, Octopus Lady, Chem Thug, Science Insanity, Eckharts Ladder, Certifiably Ingame, Jacob Whelan, Emperor Tigerstar, SciFi Odyssey, Nerdy Kathi, Lena Down Under, Book Nook Corner, Justin Taylor, Guard the Leaf.
I wish you a pleasant morning, an invigorating afternoon, a cosy evening, a sp!endid night and may we all continue learning.
To strive does not guarantee success.
This made possible by YouTube's Doctor Who- Without Reward, Warship Designs with Mike Brady, Snarky Jay, Business Explains The World, Unlearning Economics, Sabine Hossenfelder, Naughty Nana DUZ, Physics Girl, Gutsick Gibbon, AllShortsPolitics, KPassionate, ExtinctZoo, Chem Thug, Science Fiction With Damien Walter, Ms Modeller, MS Paints, Rogue Hobbies, NerdForge, Dr Fatima,
Acollierastro, Lizzie Velasquez, Natasha Theresa, Russian Media Monitor, Caspian Report, Agro Squirrel Narrates, Kozak Siromaha, Living History with Dr Julia Martins, Central Crossing, IMY2, Oceanliner Designs, Brandon Fisichella, Tibees, Munecat, Reese Waters, Untold Past, The Blazing Redcoat, Ada Palmer, Starbound, Amie's Literary Empire, Reads with Rachel, Tom Nicholas,
Fran Blanche, JimmyTheGiant, Biz, What Vivi did next, Monte Mader, Kopke613, Combat Veteran News, Whitenoiz, White Stork, Yarmak, Garron, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, RFU News, Jake Broe, Joe Blogs, Annamarie Forcino, Bitchuation Room, Turn Left, Amanda's Mild Takes, Tale Foundry, Tale Tinkerer, Declassified UK, National Centre for Military Intelligence, Professor Tim Wilson, NYTN,
Adelaide Beeman-White, Karolina Zebrowska, J Draper, Reading This Life, Nessie Explains, Seizure Girl, Alba Nuadh, Canadian Dominion, The Resistance, Postmodern Jukebox, SoulHikers, Villains and Virgins, Swiss Link, Dr Becky, Astrid Lundberg, Ana Fern, The Confident Autistic, Critical Latitude, Jade Lloyd, AirLearn Language Show, Weapons of Victory, Justin Taylor, Blackboot Official, May,
Kathy's Flog from France, Jessie Gender, Brittany Page, Large Man Abroad, Red Glasgow, Mrs Betty Bowers, Sarah Spaceman, Parkrose Resistance, KernowDamo, JammyDodger, Global Updates with Sosan, FAFO, ATP Geopolitics, Vlad Vexler, US Democratic Socialists, Rev Karla, Loren Piretra Show, Daughter of Iran, LuckyBlackCat, Rick the Ukrainian, Erika Jordan, Dangerously Informed with Evie,
American Cossack, Tod Maffin, Taboo Education, Ask Raphaela, Answer in Progress, DamiLee, Juice Media, Honest Government Ads, CBC News, Mr Newberger's AI Funnies, Zeteo, Happy Pancake, No Justice MTG, Owen Jones, Misha Collins, Confused Adipose, Lore Reloaded, CertifIably Ingame, SciFi Odyssey, Middle East Eye, Dangerous Ones, Raw America, Zena and Poppy, Prime of Midlife.
My formerly mild reviews were designed only to list my judgement of the entertainment value of a book. I had hoped that it would spare readers of similar taste, time wasted on drivel. They were not meant as nor easily confused with well considered political essays or so I thought. From three months into the Goodreads experience, a different understanding of the site developed.
A member of the venerable Village Idiots whilst insulting a,mentioned creator, complained to her that I list other trans creators. The insanity of the Snowflake (arrogant, needy, womanphobic, poorly socialised US male) no longer amazes. A trigger warning then.
The channels which I mention include the marine biologist, philosopher, asexual, military boardgamer, cosplayer, magician, redhaired, fashion historian, aviation modeller, aviation historian, welder, lesbian, Irish, autistic, lumber yard worker, wooden boat restorer, narrowboater, WOC, political commentator, parent, intersex, pensioner, botanist, engineer, comedienne, anarchist, oils painter, diorama builder, architect, trans, Canadian, sewist, miniatures painter, primatologist, language instructor, science communicator, space exploration historian, mechanic, sail boat restorer, queer, tall, socialist, sociologist, paleontologist, Iranian, chemist, book reviewer, singer, bisexual, chess master, writer, ginger, Bahamian, van life, homesteader, farmer, married, military historian, musician, museum curator and other creators known as Women.
Almost as threatening are the other fashion historian, tailor, archaeologist, marine archaeologist, naval historian, physicist, other LGBTQIA, communist, paleontologist, wood worker, Danish, other biologist, other naval and military boardgamer, Indian, narrowboat builder, military miniatures gamer, other neurodivergent, RPG players, Ukrainian, military diorama builder, train modeller, other biologist, naval and military historian, reenactor, archaeologist, geologist, linguistic historian, geopolitical analyst, journalist, Finnish, anthropologist and others known (outside the US) as Human Beings.
Should the voices insist that you visit those or my reviews, seek emergency therapy and\or repeat several times daily "I'll not play the bellend today" and\or immediately adopt Mahayana Buddhism.
These rewrites are tiring at times and in those moments, I remember the Ukrainian university professor delivering his lectures via video from his trench. That memory demands that I continue. Slava Ukraini. Slava Heroyam. Crimea is Ukraine.
Once more unto the book, dear friends. This was written by someone with a Masters of Fine Arts? American education does not look good after reading this book. I forced myself to finish it, in order to discover whether there have been any changes in the world of awful writing. The good news is No.
The background universe is more of a suggestion. There is no worldbuilding on which to hang a plot. Fortunately the book does not have one. The book consists of loosely connected close combat sequences, running, assault rifle fire, more running, grenade throwing, hiding, stabbing, punching, more running.
You may lose track of who is attacking whom but be not embarrassed, it seems that the writers did same. If you nod off tracking the flow of dialogue, no worries. One of the strengths of the book is that the dialogue is an afterthought. The writers do manage to balance the hint of a social background with an elegant nod to the concept of a general tech base. It may be the finest example of such poor effort which I have ever encountered.
The characters are the "Jewel in the Crown". From Mario Brothers emotional depths to personal journeys that rival those of "Iron Man" or "Thor". This book (series, I suspect) will challenge Hesse, Tolstoy, Pushkin, Austen or Hugo. I would suggest preparation and contemplation in advance of attempting such an intellectual and literary challenge. Or you could just give this a pass, until the writers learn or decide to write a novel.
This next made possible by YouTube's Supertanskiii, Underthedesknews, New Scientist, Monte Mader, Riverboat Jack, Sailing Melody, Imperial War Museums, Blazing Redcoat, Heather Delaney Reese, SciFi Graveyard, SciFi Scavenger, Jerome Weiselberry, Creative Autistic, Michael Romeo Talks Books, Happy Scrolls, Widebeam and Wellingtons, Nikki Osbourne, Dangerously Informed with Evie,
Claus Kellerman POV, Jessica's Library Card, Mythic Matt, Farm to Taber, Liz Webster, Today I Learned Science, Hopeyoufindyourdad, Matriarchetype, Kellie Snider, Hazelisonline, Nyambura's Takes, Amanda's Mild Takes, Military Rated, Bahamian Gyal, Digital Battlefield Tours, Josephine Quinn, Julius A Doyle PhD, Marlon MacNee, Queen Penguin, Democratic Penguins Republic, True Blue,
Refashioned Hippie, SiegeMental, Atun Shei Films, British Warships, British Warplanes, Kings and General, InstaFiz, Wes O'Donnell, Historians Craft, Miniminuteman, Nasimi Shabnam, Lady Izdihar, No Justice MTG, Mix - Do the Sophie, Dwarkesh Patel, Sister Crystal, ChasingOz, JoJofromJerz, Elvira Bary, Gingers are Black, WokeGardener, Charlie Angus, Chinese with Jessie, Morgan Foley,
The Thought Spot, OrangeRiver, Michelle Unmasked Navigating Autism, Autistic Jenny, Mom on the Spectrum, Siobhan, Petticoats and Prose, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, Caroline Konstnar, Marisa, Ezgi Asian, New Enlightenment with Ashley, PinkDeer, Delamer, Rose Montoya, The Tudor Yank, Nils, Pasta Coma, RFU News, Eddie Editz, Isabel LaRosa, Rebecca Solnit, Eva Schubert, Sarah P a Paine,
Astro Alexandra, Bossi, Hoots, Dr Blitz, BFBS Forces News, White Stork, Global Updates with Sosan, Kath Clarke, Irish Pagan School, Owen's Fireside Chat, Tour Guide Brice, Goro AI, ShadesOfOrange, Portable Orange, Secret Sauce of StoryCraft, Twinshangout, Worldbuilding Mastery, LoreGeist, Squire, Cruising the Cut, De Cadence, Ask Raphaela, Munecat, GrayRatArmy, Ashley B, Mr Zod, Marisa,
Lily Alexandre, Today I Learned Science, Institute of Art and Ideas, Military Rated, Military History Visualised, TIKHistory, Digital Battlefield Tours, Christina Talks, The Enemy from Within, Queer Poly Babe, Due Dissidence, White Stork, NAFO 69th Sniffing Brigade, Verilybitchie, Kim Talks, Brothers Gwynne, Emilie's Literary Corner, Reborn, Kazachka, Justin Taylor, Cappy Army, Lily Simpson.
Consider treating this as a hostile site. 🤔
There is no Goodreads discourse. My final review was of Powers of the Earth by Travis Corcoran. It was originally blurbed as similar to a Heinlein classic but was instead a poor imitation of "Atlas Shrugged" set on the Moon.
The story is a tale of the heroic struggle of a hard done by rich twat enlisting the military in overthrow of a US government in order that he not pay taxes. There are many such libertarian gems in the Unlimted library. I found those all to be dangerous, propagandistic and now prophetic.
The Corcoran self-described as libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without millions), US veteran, employee of an unnamed US agency, admirer of Putin's Russia and advocate for the return of chattel slavery.
With the current popularity of Putin's Russia and its horrible poverty, the decline of US working class lifestyle accelerated by a government which shared the Russian view of prosperity and the new forced labour prisons (more correctly labelled concentration camps by US YouTubers), I imagine the Corcoran to be well pleased.
He and six fellow patriots were taken aback by my communist defence of their democracy and voiced as much in a year of comments regarding my opinion. There were no mentions of the book. though I was gifted evaluations of my intelligence, class background, the role of women readers in science fiction spaces and an interesting interpretation of all world history as being the creation of European men among other insights.
I had hoped that a commentary on Penrose and consciousness would appear but it would have been churlish to request more in the face of such generosity and so accepted disappointment. I was left the many layers of irony as comfort.
The last comment was delivered by Claes Rees Jr aka Cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse. After referencing the content of my last message exchange with a Goodreads friend, he declared that They had Won. I discovered shortly after that They and many allies had launched a year-long flood of vile comments against apparently every female creator whom I mentioned. It continues still.
They failed to charm the early teen boater or her mother, Oxford physicist, American pensioner, Irish botanist and the many others. They did however expose the site's true tone and delivered a stunning self-portrait of the Snowflake (sociopathic, barely educated, whinging US male who never asks "Are we the baddies?") to a multinational audience.
By any metric a truly stunning Victory. If the above behaviour was disturbing, there are BookTubers to suggest useful, safe, true reader forums.
A stepaway earned. This last made possible by YouTube's Ask Raphaela. DamiLee, Eva Schubert. Hannah Fry, Dr Becky, The Military Show, Fall of Civilisations, White Stork, JohnTheDuncan, Barry's Economics, Anne Applebaum, Fabienne, Kathy's Flog from France, Chris and Shell, Widebeam and Wellingtons, Ship Happens, Sailing Melody, The Narrowboat that James Built, Mix JKLN -Welcome to Ukraine, Yarmak, Reads with Rachel, Aspie World, Ember Green Confident Autistic, Kaelyn Partlow,
Mindplicit, Northern Narrowboaters, Jerome Weiselberry, CADblog TV, David Ferrell, Saga Lore AI, Star Wreck, Mandy, Platypus Economics with Justin. Muthu Lakshmi, Daughter of Iran, Griha Atul, Dreamloop Cinema, Diaspora Reacts, Thriftbooks.com, Luke Sherlock, Pinsent Tailoring, The Indigo Life, OtiStudio AI, Sidney Morss, Mercado Media, Honest Government Ads, Steampunk, Munecat,
Large Man Abroad, Diaspora Reacts, WokeGardener, The Resistance, Nasimi Shabnam, David Perell,
Davi Pinheiro, The Indigo Life, Outlaw Bookseller, Amanda's Mild Takes, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Lucas Bean, Blooms and Greens by Chloe, Sidney Morss, Muthu Lakshmi, Carl Walmsley, Military History Visualised, Military Aviation History, British Navel History, Ms Modeller, Rogue Hobbies.
Science Fiction With Damien Walter, Heather Delaney Reese, Feral Historian, Emmet Bennett, BroadSword Wargaming, Politics Arena, Thomas Harries, Quanta Science Channel, Faun, Tachyon Pulse, Spacedock, Auroras Trek, Princess Weekes, TallGirl6234, Heather Delaney Reese, JimmyTheGiant, Kat Abughazaleh, Katie Phang, ConeOfArc, Tank Museum, Tiffany Ferg, Kopke613.
Ominous music begins. 😊 The comment stream described above was common to my Speculative Fiction experience and reports of similar in the Romantasy space with the exception of duration and the Australian Intervention.
The hobbies of the comment gangs include the doxxing, stalking, hacking, threats and other expressions of sociopathy. I have myself, experienced several hacking attempts. Comments are a political stance it seems. Ironically that is the Marxist stance, not expected from these freedom fighters.
Amazon do not acknowledge incidents, rein in mental membership, punish the writer who organises Them nor dismisses the madlads of Kindle.
My very limited message history was given over to jagoffs, which was followed by a request through Pine Gap Centre that Australian Security interrogate the one Goodreads friend whom I occasionally messaged. The attempt at my personal history failed.
Amazon only became concerned when we shared our bizarre experience widely. Without faux apology or explanation, all Lurkers I'd not been permitted to remove for several years were suddenly disappeared. I was notified that Kindle no longer support Goodreads, all comments are blocked from the view of others, bricking of my Kindle and other harassment have for the present ended. My Book List is being reordered in an attempt to slow down my revisions apparently. It had ended but is now returned. Strange customer service.
US financial, military industrial and data firms are finally being pushed out from the European Union. The process is much overdue and reluctantly implemented. It reflects the popular pressure to implement economic, political and military policies which were designed as much as fifteen years past. That inertia is the product of a spineless political class reluctant to inconvenience the investor class or their profits.
A similar inertia guides both US political parties, both of which recognise the economic decline but neither of which are willing to manage a soft landing or the massive restructuring of government and economy needed to do so. They choose to coddle their loud, immature masters, who have no understanding that their outlook will kill the goose which laid the golden egg.
The process of ownership by the billionaire class and lackeys, has already established "Enshittification" as a norm. The results include bulk fiction across genres, manufactured goods and services and the drive to create consumer who owns nothing but rents everything. What happens after, I cannot imagine, except that it cannot fail to be dreadful.
I now suggest readers might cod well to investigate Email services, such as Proton for utterly secure data.
Some precautions for this site. Remove all personal information from profile and use messaging only to contact like minded souls off-site.
Remove all Lurkers, those who never post. They are likely gang monitors or employee dummies.
Given the Amazon penchant for altering customer pages and view of customer safety, the screenshot of the ugly, threatening and strange are a,potential lifesaver. A single purpose email for Amazon is hardly amiss. For Goodreads these should suffice.
Kindle are a different matter. Do Not Use Email, Contacts, Files or Calendar. Amazon Sign Into customer email without permission or notice. Make of that what you will.
Do Not purchase Amazon ebooks. You own only your device and if Kindle that is conditional. If purchased, download titles immediately. There are BookTubers to suggest alternative ebook and reader vendors or to ebooks altogether.
All Silk searches should be innocuous and non-critical, of course.
The members and employees described above know no recognizable morality but are devoted US patriots with all that implies. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be careful, not silent and may we all discover Good Reading. 🤗
Some favourite channels.
IamBlakely, Reads with Rachel, Red Glasgow, Honest Government Ads, Swell Entertainment, Benn Jordan, Emily Linge, Middle East Eye, Silicon Curtain, The Sun, US Democratic Socialists, CBC News, Zeteo, Upon Reflection, The Mindful Narrowboat, No Justice MTG, Steve Shives, Joe Blogs, Rogue Hobbies, Ms Modeller, Zilla Blitz, Owen Jones, Claus Kellerman POV, Democratic Penguins Republic,
Extinct Zoo, Physics Girl, Up and Atom, J Draper, Abby Cox, Ada Palmer, KPassionate. Autistic Jenny, Dr Helen Webberley, Lindsay Ellis, Geo Girl, Blackboot Official, Tod Maffin, Whitenoiz, Octopus Lady, Chem Thug, Science Insanity, Eckharts Ladder, Certifiably Ingame, Jacob Whelan, Emperor Tigerstar, SciFi Odyssey, Nerdy Kathi, Lena Down Under, Book Nook Corner, Justin Taylor, Guard the Leaf.
I wish you a pleasant morning, an invigorating afternoon, a cosy evening, a sp!endid night and may we all continue learning.
To strive does not guarantee success.
December 28, 2025
Halek Cain is the last survivor of the reaper programme. He's an unstoppable cyborg killing machine, currently on death row. Offered a reprieve if he rescues a renowned scientist from a lawless penal colony (on an asteroid) he accepts the job, discovering that he hasn't been given all the information he needs. Of course the job isn't straightforward and he ends up fighting both the inmates and his own side. This is apparently set in the Renegade Star Universe, but not having any previous knowledge of this doesn't hamper the enjoyment of this story. Ray Porter reads it reliably well.
December 24, 2019
Enjoyable, quick read.
Follows well with the Renegade series.
Follows well with the Renegade series.
November 4, 2020
This starts with a fairly unlikable character being treated badly. Do I care? Sort of. The adventure that ensues is pretty good, culminating in a fairly anti-climactic ending. However, Ray Porter's narration makes this series worth continuing.
April 22, 2023
Not sure what to make of this book.
A cybernetic soldier is nothing new to the world of sci-fi, and this book did not introduce anything new to the genre. In fact, there was a fair amount of sci-fi troupes that was lifted from other stories and movies. We had Mad Max prison, Kurt Russell Soldier out with the old in with the new, and a few others. All of this would have been OK if it was properly executed, but this book felt was.it was written by and written for teenage boys. The overuse of profanity, military commando cliches, and all around tough guy attitude every one seemed to have, to include a teenage girl, got old rather quickly. I hope the rest if the series gets better from here, or i might have to skip this series.
A cybernetic soldier is nothing new to the world of sci-fi, and this book did not introduce anything new to the genre. In fact, there was a fair amount of sci-fi troupes that was lifted from other stories and movies. We had Mad Max prison, Kurt Russell Soldier out with the old in with the new, and a few others. All of this would have been OK if it was properly executed, but this book felt was.it was written by and written for teenage boys. The overuse of profanity, military commando cliches, and all around tough guy attitude every one seemed to have, to include a teenage girl, got old rather quickly. I hope the rest if the series gets better from here, or i might have to skip this series.
April 24, 2025
I picked this up because it was narrated by Ray Porter, and unfortunately, it was the only attractive thing about the book. The characters were very one dimensional, for example, I'm not sure why we needed to be reminded every time the female character spoke that she was a rebellious teenager with a foul mouth.
The plot was predictable and if they wanted Hal to be a character with depth the author should not have made him so indestructible, short of decapitation there was endless moaning about his parts hurting but them not actually physically impacting his actions turned him into a Gary Stu (I think that's the male equivalent of a Mary Sue?).
Not a series for me.
The plot was predictable and if they wanted Hal to be a character with depth the author should not have made him so indestructible, short of decapitation there was endless moaning about his parts hurting but them not actually physically impacting his actions turned him into a Gary Stu (I think that's the male equivalent of a Mary Sue?).
Not a series for me.
August 19, 2019
Extremely disjointed flow therough
It was very difficult to follow the dialogue as it seemed that large holes were strewn in-between character interactions. I gave up soon after Cain was running around with Elise. It was all just too disjointed. There was no real character development either.
It was very difficult to follow the dialogue as it seemed that large holes were strewn in-between character interactions. I gave up soon after Cain was running around with Elise. It was all just too disjointed. There was no real character development either.
October 30, 2019
I enjoyed this introduction to the Reaper series. I began reading this as a filler between other military science fiction series’ but it now one of my go to series.
February 5, 2022
This audiobook was amazing, due to the amazing narrator!
February 16, 2023
Unchanging chaos. Run here dodging bullets, run the other way dodging bullets, run around the corner dodging bullets. Most of the book was the same content over and over.
December 20, 2022
This book just didn't read well to me, but I can't really pin down why. The story's main character is a bad-ass Special Operator called a "Reaper". A Reaper is a genetically engineered and physically modified human fighting machine which in this case is also named Halek Cain, prisoner of the Bluesphere Maximum Security Prison-Ultramax IX. I guess it's more correct to call him a former Reaper because he certainly isn't a special operator for the Union any more. They have him securely looked away for good and hadn't planned on releasing him any time soon. Until now.
His former Reaper commander shows up at the prison and offers Reaper Cain a deal that could get his sentence commuted, if he survived the mission. Apparently, Reaper Cain is the only Reaper still alive. While they are very capable at running special operations they are not immortal. Others died one way or another until the cost of creating new Reapers just wasn't worth it. And with the fact that Reaper Cain had gone "off the reservation", so to speak, killing eighteen or more civilians on his own that put kind of put a damper on creating any new Reapers. Why he went on this killing spree is for his own reasons, but it wasn't an sanctioned operations so he was paying the price. Except they once again needed his services for a special operation that supposedly couldn't be done by anyone else.
That right there sounds ridiculous as you read the story. There are other special operators working for the Union, battalions of them, but for this mission they only wanted Reaper Cain. The mission was something he was a specialist at and that was retrieving high profile hostages under very difficult conditions. This particular mission involved his securing a scientist from a very strange prison planet. How this scientist had gotten captured and by whom wasn't really explained nor what he was doing at this prison. It was just explained that he was there and Cain's mission was to rescue him alive. For this he would be brought back into the fold and become a Union special operator just like before.
Of course Cain didn't believe any of this and after listening to the mission brief decided that this was definitely a suicide mission for which they didn't expect him to come back. This prison planet was supposed to be run by the Union with Union guards managing the prisoners, but that wasn't exactly the case any more. The prisoners had long taken over the place and had splintered into various gangs that now ruled specific territories of the prison. Cain was later to find out that there were actually civilians not related to any of the gangs living on the planet having been placed there for one minor reason or another by the Union. Most of their crimes were not violent and just didn't justify this kind of imprisonment. But, someone had to run and maintain the prison planet/moon so these civilians did most of that. The other gangs had an understanding that if they want the gravity dome to remain operating and functional, then they had to leave these civilians alone. Also, these civilians operated a sort of smuggling operation that brought certain necessary supplies to the prison moon and the gangs benefitted from this so again, they didn't harass the civilians in their sector that much.
But, every where else on this prison moon was chaos. And right smack in the middle of it was where they scientist was held. Cain was also to find out that the scientist's daughter was a hostage to and of course he was going to have to rescue her along with her father. Now as deadly as Cain was, they weren't going to give him the latest and greatest equipment, but dropped him on the moon in some older gear and told him to make do. They gave him a pickup point and told him to bring the scientist there at a specific time.
The only problem, other than the crazy prison gangs was that the moon was about to self destruct. Even the civilians managing the place couldn't keep it going forever. Once the gravity generators quit, the place was fly apart. It was now just a gamble as to which would come first, Cain's mission accomplishment or everybody dying.
Again, I just don't know why I didn't really care for this story. It could be that the author didn't really give much of a picture into who Halek Cain was prior to becoming a Reaper. The author also didn't really explain what a Reaper was or how they became one. And then the fighting on the moon just didn't seem that terrible or difficult. Oh, it did include the Union turning on Cain with no intent on him getting off the planet, but that was expected. And to find out they had a new and improved Reaper that they didn't use on this mission is kind of dumb.
I have the next book, "Fear the Reaper", but I don't think I'll be in any hurry to read it.
His former Reaper commander shows up at the prison and offers Reaper Cain a deal that could get his sentence commuted, if he survived the mission. Apparently, Reaper Cain is the only Reaper still alive. While they are very capable at running special operations they are not immortal. Others died one way or another until the cost of creating new Reapers just wasn't worth it. And with the fact that Reaper Cain had gone "off the reservation", so to speak, killing eighteen or more civilians on his own that put kind of put a damper on creating any new Reapers. Why he went on this killing spree is for his own reasons, but it wasn't an sanctioned operations so he was paying the price. Except they once again needed his services for a special operation that supposedly couldn't be done by anyone else.
That right there sounds ridiculous as you read the story. There are other special operators working for the Union, battalions of them, but for this mission they only wanted Reaper Cain. The mission was something he was a specialist at and that was retrieving high profile hostages under very difficult conditions. This particular mission involved his securing a scientist from a very strange prison planet. How this scientist had gotten captured and by whom wasn't really explained nor what he was doing at this prison. It was just explained that he was there and Cain's mission was to rescue him alive. For this he would be brought back into the fold and become a Union special operator just like before.
Of course Cain didn't believe any of this and after listening to the mission brief decided that this was definitely a suicide mission for which they didn't expect him to come back. This prison planet was supposed to be run by the Union with Union guards managing the prisoners, but that wasn't exactly the case any more. The prisoners had long taken over the place and had splintered into various gangs that now ruled specific territories of the prison. Cain was later to find out that there were actually civilians not related to any of the gangs living on the planet having been placed there for one minor reason or another by the Union. Most of their crimes were not violent and just didn't justify this kind of imprisonment. But, someone had to run and maintain the prison planet/moon so these civilians did most of that. The other gangs had an understanding that if they want the gravity dome to remain operating and functional, then they had to leave these civilians alone. Also, these civilians operated a sort of smuggling operation that brought certain necessary supplies to the prison moon and the gangs benefitted from this so again, they didn't harass the civilians in their sector that much.
But, every where else on this prison moon was chaos. And right smack in the middle of it was where they scientist was held. Cain was also to find out that the scientist's daughter was a hostage to and of course he was going to have to rescue her along with her father. Now as deadly as Cain was, they weren't going to give him the latest and greatest equipment, but dropped him on the moon in some older gear and told him to make do. They gave him a pickup point and told him to bring the scientist there at a specific time.
The only problem, other than the crazy prison gangs was that the moon was about to self destruct. Even the civilians managing the place couldn't keep it going forever. Once the gravity generators quit, the place was fly apart. It was now just a gamble as to which would come first, Cain's mission accomplishment or everybody dying.
Again, I just don't know why I didn't really care for this story. It could be that the author didn't really give much of a picture into who Halek Cain was prior to becoming a Reaper. The author also didn't really explain what a Reaper was or how they became one. And then the fighting on the moon just didn't seem that terrible or difficult. Oh, it did include the Union turning on Cain with no intent on him getting off the planet, but that was expected. And to find out they had a new and improved Reaper that they didn't use on this mission is kind of dumb.
I have the next book, "Fear the Reaper", but I don't think I'll be in any hurry to read it.
June 1, 2019
Wow!
Hal is a specially modified special operations soldier. The PTB, the Union in this case, gave him an artificial arm and wired his brain to communicate with the AI in his arm. They also coated his bones with tungsten and made him even more invulnerable than the best of spec ops! They called him and his colleagues reapers. Then they used them to infiltrate situations that others couldn’t; sometimes to deliver information, retrieve somebody or kill someone! Then, Hal discovered that the gangs at home had killed his father and that sent him on a rampage that had never been seen before. He hunted down and killed them all. For that he was sentenced to death. While he was on death row they decided that they needed him to carry out one last retrieval, this one from the largest prison in existence, the Dreadmax. Once built to be a battle station it had since been turned into the ultimate prison. If he accepts the job they’ll rethink his death sentence. Anything is better than rotting away on death row so, he accepts. But this may be more than even he can bite off! He knows that the Union is not to be trusted but even he is stunned by their refusal to arm him properly or to allow him to be involved with the planning. It makes you wonder if they really want their man back! This book is full on action and gives us another view of the Union of Renegade. Definitely 5 stars.
Hal is a specially modified special operations soldier. The PTB, the Union in this case, gave him an artificial arm and wired his brain to communicate with the AI in his arm. They also coated his bones with tungsten and made him even more invulnerable than the best of spec ops! They called him and his colleagues reapers. Then they used them to infiltrate situations that others couldn’t; sometimes to deliver information, retrieve somebody or kill someone! Then, Hal discovered that the gangs at home had killed his father and that sent him on a rampage that had never been seen before. He hunted down and killed them all. For that he was sentenced to death. While he was on death row they decided that they needed him to carry out one last retrieval, this one from the largest prison in existence, the Dreadmax. Once built to be a battle station it had since been turned into the ultimate prison. If he accepts the job they’ll rethink his death sentence. Anything is better than rotting away on death row so, he accepts. But this may be more than even he can bite off! He knows that the Union is not to be trusted but even he is stunned by their refusal to arm him properly or to allow him to be involved with the planning. It makes you wonder if they really want their man back! This book is full on action and gives us another view of the Union of Renegade. Definitely 5 stars.
April 4, 2019
After reading this futuristic, action-packed, special ops, one man army, killing machine story "The Last Reaper" by JN Chaney and Scott Moon, I went to leave a review on Amazon as I am always apt to do. Amazon notice pops up "Sorry, you do not yet meet the minimum eligibility requirements to write a review on Amazon. For more information, please reference our Community Guidelines." Turns our purchasing with Amazon Gift Cards does not count as a purchase. Must use Credit or Debit Card. Wow, what a hassle. Of course not near the hassle our hero has in trying to fulfill his mission that will supposedly save his life. Other reviewers have compared this character to Snake Plissken (excellent comparison) or Rambo in Space with an onboard AI (yeah, kinda). Whatever your take is on this hard to stop hero, you will be rooting for him as he takes on overwhelming odds. Some reviewers took exception with the writing, I went with the flow of whatever was happening and was happily entertained. Especially happy that the story did not end with a cliff hanger! Awesome! And now that I know the characters fairly well I can't wait to see what trouble they get into in the next book. I did receive this book free as an ARC and am giving an honest, hopefully helpful, review.
March 22, 2021
I listened to the Audio Book of this title narrated by Ray Porter who, as usual, brings this book to life and perhaps saved the book.
Hal Cain is the last reaper - the top elite spec-ops working for the "Union". He is the best of the best. We find him on death row because he killed some people who killed his father. He is offered a mission to rescue some scientist on a prison base out in some star system in exchange for freedom that we all know is B.S.
I found the book interesting at first. Ray Porter leveraged his Joe Ledger persona as Hal Cain and delivered a great performance. But it became apparent the whole book would be about him going to this prison and rescuing this asshole doctor who experiments on his daughter. A couple of hours in, it started to get repetitive: infiltrate - kill - retreat - rinse and repeat. There was no real plot to speak of - but then some people would only find a plot distracting from the violence.
At the time of this writing there are 9 more books - sorry can't do it. Throw in some intrigue (like the Joe Ledger series) and I might do it. Otherwise, it is too repetitive.
Hal Cain is the last reaper - the top elite spec-ops working for the "Union". He is the best of the best. We find him on death row because he killed some people who killed his father. He is offered a mission to rescue some scientist on a prison base out in some star system in exchange for freedom that we all know is B.S.
I found the book interesting at first. Ray Porter leveraged his Joe Ledger persona as Hal Cain and delivered a great performance. But it became apparent the whole book would be about him going to this prison and rescuing this asshole doctor who experiments on his daughter. A couple of hours in, it started to get repetitive: infiltrate - kill - retreat - rinse and repeat. There was no real plot to speak of - but then some people would only find a plot distracting from the violence.
At the time of this writing there are 9 more books - sorry can't do it. Throw in some intrigue (like the Joe Ledger series) and I might do it. Otherwise, it is too repetitive.
March 17, 2023
Because of similar books I have read this came up on my recommended list. An ex-space military operator, who is on death row for unknown reasons, is recruited to go on an impossible mission to rescue a scientist, who performs research in an unknown field, is betrayed by his government, for unknown reasons, meets the scientist daughter, who has unknown enhancements performed on her in the unknown scientific field of the scientist. There is a ton of action which had be continue to the end of the book and even more unknowns which will have me reading the sequel but at this point, I am regretting I am starting this series.
★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.
If for whatever reason, I go back and reread a good book, I will change the rating to five-star because I read it again.
★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.
If for whatever reason, I go back and reread a good book, I will change the rating to five-star because I read it again.
March 27, 2024
The job is simple, rescue a scientist from a maximum-security prison and bring him back alive. Never seen that one before.
This book is a serious run-and-gun romp from the beginning. It pastes up the "Union" as the corporate bad guys. The protagonist is tapped from death row to accomplish the mission. It launches obstacle after obstacle at the protagonist and it's obvious that nobody likes him. Especially not the Union. There is no chance of growth or character development in this book. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. Like most people change takes time. And most of this book literally takes place in less than 48 hours. If you came here looking for literature; move on. If you think Snake Plisken is a Hero, read this book.
I am looking forward to the next book. I want to see what this guy will do next.
This book is a serious run-and-gun romp from the beginning. It pastes up the "Union" as the corporate bad guys. The protagonist is tapped from death row to accomplish the mission. It launches obstacle after obstacle at the protagonist and it's obvious that nobody likes him. Especially not the Union. There is no chance of growth or character development in this book. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. Like most people change takes time. And most of this book literally takes place in less than 48 hours. If you came here looking for literature; move on. If you think Snake Plisken is a Hero, read this book.
I am looking forward to the next book. I want to see what this guy will do next.
September 22, 2026
A cyborg assassin stuck on death row is given a slim shot at a reprieve; break into a super dreadmax prison, break out a top scientist, and his record will be wiped clean and he'll be given a fresh start. That premise alone hooked me, and the cover pulled me the rest of the way in.
Unfortunately, after that initial set-up, the book is pretty much a slog. Lots of things happen but none of it is particularly exciting or interesting, and there's a lot of banter between our Reaper and his AI that's supposed to be funny but just isn't. I never really understood why the doctor needed to be busted out, or what he was doing there in the first place, and the supporting cast was pretty blah, especially the scientist's annoying daughter.
I know this is the first in a series, but don't think I'll be continuing beyond this first one.
Unfortunately, after that initial set-up, the book is pretty much a slog. Lots of things happen but none of it is particularly exciting or interesting, and there's a lot of banter between our Reaper and his AI that's supposed to be funny but just isn't. I never really understood why the doctor needed to be busted out, or what he was doing there in the first place, and the supporting cast was pretty blah, especially the scientist's annoying daughter.
I know this is the first in a series, but don't think I'll be continuing beyond this first one.
June 5, 2019
Enjoyed the world building
The "few good men" are really few and far between and not really good - good so much as good shoots, good soldiers, and good when trouble is around. The Last Reaper is sitting on death row when he "accepts" a at probable suicide mission. Once he begins, he is given old out dated gear, two older guns, but with his cybernetic gear still locked down. He's never run an extricate mission locked down. From there, the situation just goes downhill. I loved all the battles, seeing the different groups on the Dreadmax prison space station. I really like the main character Hall Cain, the last reaper, who had an AI in his body along with all the other cybernetics installed. I couldn't stop reading, so finished this in one sitting.
The "few good men" are really few and far between and not really good - good so much as good shoots, good soldiers, and good when trouble is around. The Last Reaper is sitting on death row when he "accepts" a at probable suicide mission. Once he begins, he is given old out dated gear, two older guns, but with his cybernetic gear still locked down. He's never run an extricate mission locked down. From there, the situation just goes downhill. I loved all the battles, seeing the different groups on the Dreadmax prison space station. I really like the main character Hall Cain, the last reaper, who had an AI in his body along with all the other cybernetics installed. I couldn't stop reading, so finished this in one sitting.
January 24, 2020
Betrayals and double crosses in space
This is a military sci-fi novel that focuses on spec ops and dark ops. The main character is ex special forces and spent time doing dark ops before winding up on death row. The blurb for the book is pretty spot on and it reminded me in ways of escape from New York. The mc has an AI that gives him grief the whole way through the book. The good guys are good, but flawed so not always awesome and don't always win and the bad guys are pretty damn evil.
I was looking for something different to read and glad that I accidently bought this. Enjoyed it so much I finished it in a day and I am now looking forward to reading and enjoying book 2.
This is a military sci-fi novel that focuses on spec ops and dark ops. The main character is ex special forces and spent time doing dark ops before winding up on death row. The blurb for the book is pretty spot on and it reminded me in ways of escape from New York. The mc has an AI that gives him grief the whole way through the book. The good guys are good, but flawed so not always awesome and don't always win and the bad guys are pretty damn evil.
I was looking for something different to read and glad that I accidently bought this. Enjoyed it so much I finished it in a day and I am now looking forward to reading and enjoying book 2.
June 26, 2021
This was good, but mostly bad!
Dr. Hastings was a complete idiot and his daughter, Elise, was a foul-mouthed little bitch, for a teenager. In the beginning it was okay but her attitude lasted until the very last page of the book.
As for Halek Cain, I can't even decide if I liked him either. BUT Ray Porter made Cain fabulous, so there's that! I loved X-37, he was a smartass and funny at the same time.
As for the story itself? I found it to be repetitive and confusing. There was too many bad guys, and lots of killing. I'm not sure I want to go any further with this series.
No romance and the F-bomb was used 90 times.
As for the narrator: Phenomenal!
Dr. Hastings was a complete idiot and his daughter, Elise, was a foul-mouthed little bitch, for a teenager. In the beginning it was okay but her attitude lasted until the very last page of the book.
As for Halek Cain, I can't even decide if I liked him either. BUT Ray Porter made Cain fabulous, so there's that! I loved X-37, he was a smartass and funny at the same time.
As for the story itself? I found it to be repetitive and confusing. There was too many bad guys, and lots of killing. I'm not sure I want to go any further with this series.
No romance and the F-bomb was used 90 times.
As for the narrator: Phenomenal!
July 14, 2022
Great science fiction action! Halek Cain is a Reaper, and one of the last Reapers made by the Union for infiltration and assassination. After going rogue and being put on death row, he's offered a chance for redemption by rescuing a Union scientist from a maximum security prison. Simple and straightforward mission, what could go wrong? The character of Cain is humorous and practical and so is his AI sidekick X37. The story was fun, fast, and entertaining. This is my first read by JN Chaney and Scott Moon and the first in the Last Reaper series. I'll keep them on my to-read list. As expected, Ray Porter does an excellent narration for the audible version.
April 15, 2023
A good military sci-fi story with one fairly well developed character (ok, two when you count spec-ops Callus).
Good plot line, plenty to build on for the future story arc. I’ll be reading the rest of these unless something unexpected causes me to think otherwise.
I liked it. That’s usually enough for a four star rating (which I’m giving it) but I’m tempted to drop it to a three because of two things. 1) A couple of annoying misses by the editors/proofreaders. 2) The lack of character development for anyone outside of our Reaper. Too little character and too many open questions because of that.
But still, it’s worth a read and hoping things flesh out as we go forward.
Good plot line, plenty to build on for the future story arc. I’ll be reading the rest of these unless something unexpected causes me to think otherwise.
I liked it. That’s usually enough for a four star rating (which I’m giving it) but I’m tempted to drop it to a three because of two things. 1) A couple of annoying misses by the editors/proofreaders. 2) The lack of character development for anyone outside of our Reaper. Too little character and too many open questions because of that.
But still, it’s worth a read and hoping things flesh out as we go forward.
April 27, 2023
Really fun, fast paced, enjoyable read!
Really enjoyed this book as it took the main characters point of view and really captured the feeling of the struggles. It's not groundbreaking writing but it was very enjoyable. The authors did a good job bringing the character to life without giving us an overly boring backstories, which allowed you to find out about the character as the story went along. I'm not really familiar with this world universe that the authors use but I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more in the series. It's a good, quick, fast-paced, decent dialogue, enjoyable book.
Really enjoyed this book as it took the main characters point of view and really captured the feeling of the struggles. It's not groundbreaking writing but it was very enjoyable. The authors did a good job bringing the character to life without giving us an overly boring backstories, which allowed you to find out about the character as the story went along. I'm not really familiar with this world universe that the authors use but I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more in the series. It's a good, quick, fast-paced, decent dialogue, enjoyable book.
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