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The View from Infinity Beach
Five friends, trapped inside a secret industrial prince, heir to the new world his family has built;A dreamer from Earth who’s finally found a future worth fighting for;A trainee mech pilot, whose skills are about to be tested;A pop still in her teens but already yesterday’s news;And the sociopathic hacker that got them into this mess.Escape is only the start of their adventure.The View from Infinity Beach is the new science fiction novel from Writers of the Future and Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest winning author R.P.L. Johnson.Buy it now and join the resistance!
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 16, 2021
This story had a nicely gripping start, although I have to say the main reason I continued to angry-read the first few chapters was because of how obnoxious the young adults of Excalibur Station were. I just plain didn't want Kade to be friends with any of them, but I'm coming to recognise this as a symptom of my own encroaching cantankerous-old-cuntness, rather than any flaw in the writing. On the contrary, the characters were well written and plotted.
So, this interesting but annoying start was enough to get us to the main point of the story, which was that the asteroid belt mining company community were working on a hollow-asteroid habitat concept on an awe-inspiring scale, and the parasitic Earthbound "ruling class" were out to take it for themselves.
While the worldbuilding and sociopolitical setup (not to mention the strange asteroid at the focus of it all) is a little reminiscent of The Expanse, Johnson avoids too much of the unfortunately hard-to-avoid "Earther vs. Belter" similarities that come with the territory these days. I'd say that while it is very much its own thing, The View From Infinity Beach is also a sufficiently entertaining entry in the asteroid belt mining future sub-subgenre to appeal to people who enjoyed That Other Series That's Everywhere.
Myself, I was already interested in this one because of the cover, and the nostalgia for Rendezvous With Rama that it kindled.
The action was nicely done, with some real menace and an excellent sense of what was at stake. Even if the main villain was somewhat overblown, one might also argue that it's impossible to really overblow something like this. And it was very satisfying to read.
The interpersonal drama with the young characters was set up a little clumsily. Really, Lawrence shat me to tears (by the time he improved it was too late, I had already decided I was never going to like him) and the most annoying thing about him was that Lizzie seemed completely oblivious to it, and that kind of reflected poorly on the overall work. Not only did it come hazardously close to the "women always like jerks" involuntary-celibate mantra and cheap jock-at-school tropeyness (a tropeycal copypasta with incelery, if you will), but ultimately it didn't have much bearing on the story or the characters so there was neither justification nor payoff. It was just antagonism for the sake of antagonism, when there was plenty of that coming from the actual antagonists. Not to mention the far more compelling relationship dynamic between John and the other kids.
But anyway, that was a minor thing.
I really enjoyed the built-in alteration to the laws of physics that came with the coriolis effect inside the space stations, and how it was written into the story's action scenes. I don't know enough about the actual laws of physics to say this is or is not how things would actually go in a spin-gravity habitat, but since I don't know, I'm going to say it was fine and I liked it.
Aside from some occasional editorial issues (at one point a character was barraged with "a bullet of bullets", which was actually quite amusing) and a bit of odd pacing and scene-changing (the first encounter at Kera and the ending of that sequence and the kids' escape and return to Excalibur seemed to happen off-page, unless my Kindle flicked past it for some reason), the whole narrative was really nicely constructed and had an excellent, nicely relentless pace.
Sex-o-meter
We didn't really get any sex in the story, and that's fine - it was essentially a young adult adventure so aside from a bit of teen hormone drama and male gazery, there wasn't anything full-on. And that made sense. Let's award this one gym sock that could be crusty for entirely innocent (but still kind of gross) reasons out of a possible entire American Pie movie franchise with extra Stiflers.
Gore-o-meter
There's a few firefights, an honest-to-goodness Ripley fight in an industrial mover suit, a bit of mob violence and collateral murderings, but all in all this isn't really a gory one. Two flesh-gobbets out of a possible five for The View From Infinity Beach.
WTF-o-meter
Not much WTF in this story either, like I say it was a nice take on the asteroid belt mining future concept and not one with a built-in WTF thread like some giants of the sub-subgenre. And it didn't need one, since the solid science and human endeavour of it was the point, and more than made up for any lack. I'll give this story a half-filled ammo clip of bullets out of a possible bullet of bullets on the WTF-o-meter.
My Final Verdict
This was a fun read, all its issues were relatively minor and were definitely forgivable in light of the excellent concepts and engaging action. There was a classic wartime feel to the Molly Moore "mascot" that I really dug, and the ending of the story and its overall message was honestly uplifting. Pure human gold. I'm giving it a solid three stars on the Amazon / Goodreads scale.
So, this interesting but annoying start was enough to get us to the main point of the story, which was that the asteroid belt mining company community were working on a hollow-asteroid habitat concept on an awe-inspiring scale, and the parasitic Earthbound "ruling class" were out to take it for themselves.
While the worldbuilding and sociopolitical setup (not to mention the strange asteroid at the focus of it all) is a little reminiscent of The Expanse, Johnson avoids too much of the unfortunately hard-to-avoid "Earther vs. Belter" similarities that come with the territory these days. I'd say that while it is very much its own thing, The View From Infinity Beach is also a sufficiently entertaining entry in the asteroid belt mining future sub-subgenre to appeal to people who enjoyed That Other Series That's Everywhere.
Myself, I was already interested in this one because of the cover, and the nostalgia for Rendezvous With Rama that it kindled.
The action was nicely done, with some real menace and an excellent sense of what was at stake. Even if the main villain was somewhat overblown, one might also argue that it's impossible to really overblow something like this. And it was very satisfying to read.
The interpersonal drama with the young characters was set up a little clumsily. Really, Lawrence shat me to tears (by the time he improved it was too late, I had already decided I was never going to like him) and the most annoying thing about him was that Lizzie seemed completely oblivious to it, and that kind of reflected poorly on the overall work. Not only did it come hazardously close to the "women always like jerks" involuntary-celibate mantra and cheap jock-at-school tropeyness (a tropeycal copypasta with incelery, if you will), but ultimately it didn't have much bearing on the story or the characters so there was neither justification nor payoff. It was just antagonism for the sake of antagonism, when there was plenty of that coming from the actual antagonists. Not to mention the far more compelling relationship dynamic between John and the other kids.
But anyway, that was a minor thing.
I really enjoyed the built-in alteration to the laws of physics that came with the coriolis effect inside the space stations, and how it was written into the story's action scenes. I don't know enough about the actual laws of physics to say this is or is not how things would actually go in a spin-gravity habitat, but since I don't know, I'm going to say it was fine and I liked it.
Aside from some occasional editorial issues (at one point a character was barraged with "a bullet of bullets", which was actually quite amusing) and a bit of odd pacing and scene-changing (the first encounter at Kera and the ending of that sequence and the kids' escape and return to Excalibur seemed to happen off-page, unless my Kindle flicked past it for some reason), the whole narrative was really nicely constructed and had an excellent, nicely relentless pace.
Sex-o-meter
We didn't really get any sex in the story, and that's fine - it was essentially a young adult adventure so aside from a bit of teen hormone drama and male gazery, there wasn't anything full-on. And that made sense. Let's award this one gym sock that could be crusty for entirely innocent (but still kind of gross) reasons out of a possible entire American Pie movie franchise with extra Stiflers.
Gore-o-meter
There's a few firefights, an honest-to-goodness Ripley fight in an industrial mover suit, a bit of mob violence and collateral murderings, but all in all this isn't really a gory one. Two flesh-gobbets out of a possible five for The View From Infinity Beach.
WTF-o-meter
Not much WTF in this story either, like I say it was a nice take on the asteroid belt mining future concept and not one with a built-in WTF thread like some giants of the sub-subgenre. And it didn't need one, since the solid science and human endeavour of it was the point, and more than made up for any lack. I'll give this story a half-filled ammo clip of bullets out of a possible bullet of bullets on the WTF-o-meter.
My Final Verdict
This was a fun read, all its issues were relatively minor and were definitely forgivable in light of the excellent concepts and engaging action. There was a classic wartime feel to the Molly Moore "mascot" that I really dug, and the ending of the story and its overall message was honestly uplifting. Pure human gold. I'm giving it a solid three stars on the Amazon / Goodreads scale.
March 20, 2023
Disclaimer - I received a free copy of this book to review for the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC).
I really enjoyed reading this book. First, it is a great YA book with four - Kade, Lawrence, Lizzie, John - interesting protagonists. Second, it is a science fiction book that has some actual science in it. Third, the storyline includes; mystery, suspense, politics, peer issues, and a dystopian story that has some hope built into it.
R.P.L. Johnson keeps the story going at a fast pace that draws you in quickly and keeps you engaged throughout. While he includes a few allegories, Johnson excels at creative and, sometimes, humorous writing. He is particularly good at painting a picture of characters in a few words or phrases, for example, “His father’s zeal had been the only exceptional thing about him.”
As in nearly all YA books, the teenagers are the heroes of the story. However, as opposed to so many “coming of age books”, there is little battling between the generations. The adolescent protagonists are allowed to show their own strengths, weaknesses, and personalities without their characters being defined by the adults around them.
The View from Infinity Beach is an enjoyable and engaging read for readers of any age but it is a particularly good fit for YA readers.
I really enjoyed reading this book. First, it is a great YA book with four - Kade, Lawrence, Lizzie, John - interesting protagonists. Second, it is a science fiction book that has some actual science in it. Third, the storyline includes; mystery, suspense, politics, peer issues, and a dystopian story that has some hope built into it.
R.P.L. Johnson keeps the story going at a fast pace that draws you in quickly and keeps you engaged throughout. While he includes a few allegories, Johnson excels at creative and, sometimes, humorous writing. He is particularly good at painting a picture of characters in a few words or phrases, for example, “His father’s zeal had been the only exceptional thing about him.”
As in nearly all YA books, the teenagers are the heroes of the story. However, as opposed to so many “coming of age books”, there is little battling between the generations. The adolescent protagonists are allowed to show their own strengths, weaknesses, and personalities without their characters being defined by the adults around them.
The View from Infinity Beach is an enjoyable and engaging read for readers of any age but it is a particularly good fit for YA readers.
December 30, 2022
Home away from home
This is a brilliant idea for a new world and how humans come to populate the solar system and farther. I was entranced by this idea and the characters who made it happen. This was a great read I found from the SPSFC competition for science fiction books, 2022.
This is a brilliant idea for a new world and how humans come to populate the solar system and farther. I was entranced by this idea and the characters who made it happen. This was a great read I found from the SPSFC competition for science fiction books, 2022.
February 15, 2023
I picked this book up on a recommendation from my girlfriend and it did not disappoint. Stellar world-building and great cast of characters are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this gem of a tale. 5*’s. Easily. Pick it up and enjoy.
September 13, 2021
Exciting, hard, Sci Fi that rips along at a frightening pace. Stylistically very reminiscent of Peter F Hamilton albeit shorter and Johnson is better at writing three dimensional women characters.
Review contains some minor spoilers from now on.
The central idea of a community on an artifical habitat, pulling away from the political sphere of earth is appealing but not new if you've read your classic Sci Fi. Yet Johnson pumps new life into this set up.
Interestingly, he keeps all the action off-earth and spreads the action across two artifical habitats (something I've not seen before). A classic rotating space station and an O'Neill cylinder are involved. Most impressively he wraps the slightly different hard physics of both environments into the plot flawlessly without it seeming contrived. It's embedded and important to the key plot points.
Similarly, the action never feels 'bolted on'. It arises naturally from and then drives the plot. The plot itself is incredibly tight. Full of nice twists, feints and swerves. It rips along at an almost unbearable pace but the book never feels rushed.
As mentioned above, the characters are well formed, their motivations are believable and their character development is gradual and natural.
The only nit pick I can find is the dialogue is sometimes a little cliché and has the flavour of a YA book. But this is perfectly excusable within the Sci Fi adventure genre and Johnson's dialogue is well above the average standard in this genre.
Overall a very impressive, fun, plot driven Sci Fi from a self published author.
Review contains some minor spoilers from now on.
The central idea of a community on an artifical habitat, pulling away from the political sphere of earth is appealing but not new if you've read your classic Sci Fi. Yet Johnson pumps new life into this set up.
Interestingly, he keeps all the action off-earth and spreads the action across two artifical habitats (something I've not seen before). A classic rotating space station and an O'Neill cylinder are involved. Most impressively he wraps the slightly different hard physics of both environments into the plot flawlessly without it seeming contrived. It's embedded and important to the key plot points.
Similarly, the action never feels 'bolted on'. It arises naturally from and then drives the plot. The plot itself is incredibly tight. Full of nice twists, feints and swerves. It rips along at an almost unbearable pace but the book never feels rushed.
As mentioned above, the characters are well formed, their motivations are believable and their character development is gradual and natural.
The only nit pick I can find is the dialogue is sometimes a little cliché and has the flavour of a YA book. But this is perfectly excusable within the Sci Fi adventure genre and Johnson's dialogue is well above the average standard in this genre.
Overall a very impressive, fun, plot driven Sci Fi from a self published author.
January 27, 2023
3.5 stars
I read The View from Infinity Beach as part of a judging team for the second annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (#SPSFC2). My thoughts here are my personal opinion.
I initially paused on this YA scifi at about 40% because the central group of teenage characters felt underdeveloped and stereotypical, especially the female characters. Eventually, I kept going because the author clearly put so much thought and attention into the setting and tech that I was curious enough to see where this story went.
Ultimately, I’m glad I stuck it out. The plot had its intriguing moments, though at times unbelievable, and I liked the themes the story was trying to articulate. The fact that these kids were navigating how to organize a resistance without adults was pretty amusing, and the story didn’t downplay the lethal repercussions of their actions. I appreciated the process the teens went through to realize there’s no waiting around for others to do the work; you gotta be your own leader.
I did think it was strange that the most nuanced characterization on page was the hacker teen, who turned out to be . An odd choice, especially for YA. While the character development left much to be desired, I liked what arcs there were enough to feel an emotional zing at the climactic moments. There was also a very creative and satisfying conclusion, which seems to be rarer than this reader would like.
I read The View from Infinity Beach as part of a judging team for the second annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (#SPSFC2). My thoughts here are my personal opinion.
I initially paused on this YA scifi at about 40% because the central group of teenage characters felt underdeveloped and stereotypical, especially the female characters. Eventually, I kept going because the author clearly put so much thought and attention into the setting and tech that I was curious enough to see where this story went.
Ultimately, I’m glad I stuck it out. The plot had its intriguing moments, though at times unbelievable, and I liked the themes the story was trying to articulate. The fact that these kids were navigating how to organize a resistance without adults was pretty amusing, and the story didn’t downplay the lethal repercussions of their actions. I appreciated the process the teens went through to realize there’s no waiting around for others to do the work; you gotta be your own leader.
I did think it was strange that the most nuanced characterization on page was the hacker teen, who turned out to be . An odd choice, especially for YA. While the character development left much to be desired, I liked what arcs there were enough to feel an emotional zing at the climactic moments. There was also a very creative and satisfying conclusion, which seems to be rarer than this reader would like.
December 8, 2022
I read The View From Infinity Beach as part of a judging team for the second annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC2), where we have chosen it as a quarterfinalist.
This is good YA. The are still a few hard-to-swallow tropes—the teen genius who outsmarts professional intelligence officers, a band of kids taking on challenges no adult will face, etc.—but it’s generally well-executed. The main character may be stereotypical, but he’s plenty likable, and his challenges are written in a way that makes it easy to sink into the story.
And the story is extremely well-researched, with a nice balance of setup and action that makes it very readable without feeling like a giant action scene. The fact that it’s a standalone with a big finish that’s fairly satisfying only helps its case.
The negatives? The side characters aren’t great. There’s a teen genius who’s basically a sociopath, and the obligatory rich kid frenemy who maintains a degree of an antagonism bizarrely long. Plus, all of the action is so focused on the space station setting that there’s shockingly little time spent trying to win the powers-that-be on Earth.
So it’s not flawless, but overall, it’s good YA sci-fi!
First impression: 15/20. Full review and official SPSFC score to come at www.tarvolon.com
This is good YA. The are still a few hard-to-swallow tropes—the teen genius who outsmarts professional intelligence officers, a band of kids taking on challenges no adult will face, etc.—but it’s generally well-executed. The main character may be stereotypical, but he’s plenty likable, and his challenges are written in a way that makes it easy to sink into the story.
And the story is extremely well-researched, with a nice balance of setup and action that makes it very readable without feeling like a giant action scene. The fact that it’s a standalone with a big finish that’s fairly satisfying only helps its case.
The negatives? The side characters aren’t great. There’s a teen genius who’s basically a sociopath, and the obligatory rich kid frenemy who maintains a degree of an antagonism bizarrely long. Plus, all of the action is so focused on the space station setting that there’s shockingly little time spent trying to win the powers-that-be on Earth.
So it’s not flawless, but overall, it’s good YA sci-fi!
First impression: 15/20. Full review and official SPSFC score to come at www.tarvolon.com
June 25, 2023
worth the read as as sci-fy escapism in a world in need of such diversions!
Characters lack some depth with unresolved personal relationships left to be moved by the suction of the plot vacuum.
Main story line is complete with motivation posited merely as pragmatic need and desire gain personal autonomy.
As I said, escapism is desirable. Freedom from control is a natural desire and a not subtle character motivation.
Characters lack some depth with unresolved personal relationships left to be moved by the suction of the plot vacuum.
Main story line is complete with motivation posited merely as pragmatic need and desire gain personal autonomy.
As I said, escapism is desirable. Freedom from control is a natural desire and a not subtle character motivation.
October 27, 2022
Nice.
A fun ride with good characters and lots of excitement. I enjoyed it a great deal. Recommended for any who like space tales.
A fun ride with good characters and lots of excitement. I enjoyed it a great deal. Recommended for any who like space tales.
May 19, 2023
Unique plot
Well written, without tropes. The plot has unique twists. The characters develop in surprising ways. It is always satisfying to read a book that can surprise you.
Well written, without tropes. The plot has unique twists. The characters develop in surprising ways. It is always satisfying to read a book that can surprise you.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews