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Chromaspace: Conscript
Military Field Agent Jacob Zackery had never planned on joining the Union Space Force. After being pressed into service, there was only one way out, complete three missions for Admiral York. But when Jacob is abandoned on a dead planet to starve to death slowly, he must make a deal with an illegal AI to get back to Homeworld and Helen, the woman he loves. Along the way, he befriends a mechanical savant, a young woman fleeing a planetary invasion, and a doctor with questionable loyalties, all while struggling to regain the life torn from him. The Chromaspace Saga is an epic space opera set in a densely packed part of the galaxy where only a fraction of a light-year separates star systems. Here the nebula surrounding an embedded cluster of stars is so thick that space is never black, and starships fly against an illuminated backdrop. Part Expanse, part Avengers, Chromaspace is action-adventure, and irreverence rolled into one epic journey.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2021
3 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 13, 2022
DISCLAIMER: The author and I belong to the same publishing house. Take that into consideration.
There were two points reading this novel where I almost tossed it across the room. Almost. The first came rather early when I ran across two sentences very close together, both of which were missing important words. Now, I’m old, and poorly copyrighted professional novels are to me a sin of such egregious magnitude as to require a public horsewhipping. But, I recognize that times have changed and with electronic versions the transfer of novel files can play havoc and things get messed up without the author knowing. It’s happened to me so I give big benefit of doubts here. Also, editing is not what it used to be because this generation is just a bunch of long-haired hippie freaks, dagnabbit, get off my lawn.
The second point of almost novel-tossing is the author’s concealing of a character’s very important capability, one of almost Avenger-level power that completely alters the entire impact of the character and the events of the book. I mean, the guy’s a superhero, but you don’t know that until you’re well along and the moment you know it, you go, WTH? So why didn’t I toss it across the room?
Because I was enjoying the heck out of this novel.
Jacob Zackery is a conscript special agent in the Union Space Force, which means he either goes on missions for them or goes to jail, which isn’t exactly the most positive means of motivating troops but, well, how else are you going to get soldiers to work for what is essentially the evil Federation in that old Star Trek episode, Mirror Mirror? He is sent to a derelict human planet destroyed fifty years earlier by an alien race called the Vird to locate a lost artifact important to an alien race called the Parasations, who are so powerful that I don’t know why they don’t take an afternoon and dismantle the Union (actually, there’s a reason why they don’t, so hold your questions until the end). Jacob finds the artifact, or, at least, we think he does, but he is abandoned on the derelict planet because the Parasations show up and rip his mission ship apart. On the verge of starvation, Jacob runs across an outlawed AI named Aria who guides him to a pretty decent unused starship and will help him leave the planet in exchange for taking her with him. Which he does.
Then things get fun.
Jacob acquires two more crew members when he stops at various planets and refueling stations, one of them a local jeweler’s apprentice who can’t wait to get off this two-horse planet and the other a member of his destroyed mission ship’s crew named Fin who survived the Parasation attack by floating around in a meat locker until rescued. Fin is the greatest engineer in the universe, which is dang lucky for Jacob and his old ship. Jacob finds out that he was to be eliminated after successful completion of his mission so maybe it’s a good thing the mission failed.
There are some inconsistencies, like Jacob is worried that the Union will know he’s back but yet he uses his Union military ID to gain access to refueling stations, so wouldn’t that be a clue? Supposedly it takes a while for information to reach a central location and trigger an alarm but a little later on you find that’s not the case. Just about every Union ship Jacob encounters knows who he is and wants to either kill him or imprison him.
But for all that there’s some rousing stuff in here, including space battles and space pirates and interplanetary warfare and seemingly unbeatable aliens who are actually kinda nice guys. At least one faction of them, that is. So take several grains of salt before engaging, and you’ll be alright.
But be warned, this is a cliffhanger that ends quite abruptly. Another reason to toss it across the room, but, by then, it’s too late.
There were two points reading this novel where I almost tossed it across the room. Almost. The first came rather early when I ran across two sentences very close together, both of which were missing important words. Now, I’m old, and poorly copyrighted professional novels are to me a sin of such egregious magnitude as to require a public horsewhipping. But, I recognize that times have changed and with electronic versions the transfer of novel files can play havoc and things get messed up without the author knowing. It’s happened to me so I give big benefit of doubts here. Also, editing is not what it used to be because this generation is just a bunch of long-haired hippie freaks, dagnabbit, get off my lawn.
The second point of almost novel-tossing is the author’s concealing of a character’s very important capability, one of almost Avenger-level power that completely alters the entire impact of the character and the events of the book. I mean, the guy’s a superhero, but you don’t know that until you’re well along and the moment you know it, you go, WTH? So why didn’t I toss it across the room?
Because I was enjoying the heck out of this novel.
Jacob Zackery is a conscript special agent in the Union Space Force, which means he either goes on missions for them or goes to jail, which isn’t exactly the most positive means of motivating troops but, well, how else are you going to get soldiers to work for what is essentially the evil Federation in that old Star Trek episode, Mirror Mirror? He is sent to a derelict human planet destroyed fifty years earlier by an alien race called the Vird to locate a lost artifact important to an alien race called the Parasations, who are so powerful that I don’t know why they don’t take an afternoon and dismantle the Union (actually, there’s a reason why they don’t, so hold your questions until the end). Jacob finds the artifact, or, at least, we think he does, but he is abandoned on the derelict planet because the Parasations show up and rip his mission ship apart. On the verge of starvation, Jacob runs across an outlawed AI named Aria who guides him to a pretty decent unused starship and will help him leave the planet in exchange for taking her with him. Which he does.
Then things get fun.
Jacob acquires two more crew members when he stops at various planets and refueling stations, one of them a local jeweler’s apprentice who can’t wait to get off this two-horse planet and the other a member of his destroyed mission ship’s crew named Fin who survived the Parasation attack by floating around in a meat locker until rescued. Fin is the greatest engineer in the universe, which is dang lucky for Jacob and his old ship. Jacob finds out that he was to be eliminated after successful completion of his mission so maybe it’s a good thing the mission failed.
There are some inconsistencies, like Jacob is worried that the Union will know he’s back but yet he uses his Union military ID to gain access to refueling stations, so wouldn’t that be a clue? Supposedly it takes a while for information to reach a central location and trigger an alarm but a little later on you find that’s not the case. Just about every Union ship Jacob encounters knows who he is and wants to either kill him or imprison him.
But for all that there’s some rousing stuff in here, including space battles and space pirates and interplanetary warfare and seemingly unbeatable aliens who are actually kinda nice guys. At least one faction of them, that is. So take several grains of salt before engaging, and you’ll be alright.
But be warned, this is a cliffhanger that ends quite abruptly. Another reason to toss it across the room, but, by then, it’s too late.
January 20, 2022
Fun syfi read
If you just want a gentle human centered syfi read this is your book. This book has some twists and turns and I enjoyed them all. I like stories and this one is a pretty fun spin. Please read it and let the author know.
If you just want a gentle human centered syfi read this is your book. This book has some twists and turns and I enjoyed them all. I like stories and this one is a pretty fun spin. Please read it and let the author know.
May 31, 2021
As a reader, I look for certain things from certain genres of fiction. In detective stories; a good mystery. In thrillers; a decent villain to challenge the hero. In literary fiction; a good cast of well-rounded, fully-fleshed characters.
In Chromaspace: Conscript, I got all three.
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader copy for reviewing purposes, and I am thankful that I did.
From the opening lines describing the desolate world on which the main character has been abandoned to fend for himself, Conscript promises a wild, interesting ride, and absolutely delivers. From a star-spanning canvas upon which the plot sprawls to complex, flawed, and emotionally invested characters, Alnico’s freshman outing delivers. With a feeling like Babylon 5 crossed with Star Wars, with a dash of The Bourne Identity sprinkled over the top, Conscript delivers a satisfying plot, a delightfully ambitious story, and a complex series of mysteries over which readers can puzzle.
In addition to being a satisfying tale in itself, Conscript sets into motion far larger and longer-reaching machinations that will make the reader desperate for the next book in this exciting new series.
In Chromaspace: Conscript, I got all three.
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader copy for reviewing purposes, and I am thankful that I did.
From the opening lines describing the desolate world on which the main character has been abandoned to fend for himself, Conscript promises a wild, interesting ride, and absolutely delivers. From a star-spanning canvas upon which the plot sprawls to complex, flawed, and emotionally invested characters, Alnico’s freshman outing delivers. With a feeling like Babylon 5 crossed with Star Wars, with a dash of The Bourne Identity sprinkled over the top, Conscript delivers a satisfying plot, a delightfully ambitious story, and a complex series of mysteries over which readers can puzzle.
In addition to being a satisfying tale in itself, Conscript sets into motion far larger and longer-reaching machinations that will make the reader desperate for the next book in this exciting new series.
May 10, 2021
I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of the book. I could not put it down. An action packed and suspenseful journey through a galaxy full of unique worlds, with ample humor and emotion along the way. A close-knit crew of reluctant heroes, aliens and AIs with mysterious motivations, and a variety of human societies. Every question answered reveals further mystery. I feel this book just scratches the surface of a universe I want to know more about. This is the first in what I hope is a long series, and I can't wait to find out what happens next.
April 12, 2022
Excellent read
Tightly paced and a rollicking ride right up to the last page!
I recommend it to anyone looking for a fast moving story.
Tightly paced and a rollicking ride right up to the last page!
I recommend it to anyone looking for a fast moving story.
February 23, 2022
Narrative style: omniscient | Perspective(s): all characters
Tags: Science Fiction, aliens, futuristic tech, military
First Impressions
So I’m not even sure where to start with my first impressions. I was introduced to Megan Alnico through a writer friend, and after a fantastic conversation about our books, I was compelled to pick hers up.
But if you’re searching for a story that follows the storytelling rules… this one doesn’t. This SF tale throws that rulebook out the window and opens the door to a wider world of personalities and motivations for each character.
It reminded me a lot of a more serious Douglas Adams. Instead of the tight third-person narrative, Alnico plays with an invisible narrator who threads the pieces of this story together by weaving small chunks of POV through each chapter like a trail of breadcrumbs. And yet the narrative still stayed tight to the story, guiding readers through an adventure across worlds with a military conscript and an intuitive A.I.
What I Loved About This Story
Aria was one of the best A.I. characters I’ve ever read. She’s an intuitive program, and her decision-making process leads the reader to think there’s a much deeper story there. In many ways, she feels human. One of my favorite moments in her tale is when she comes in contact with another artificial lifeform who’s very, very different in how they speak and work.
The other character I fell in love with was Dyson. He’s an outlaw who understands the thought process and politics of both the Alliance and the Union. And yet again small hints tug me toward a much deeper story for this character. I’d love to read his tale about how he became an outlaw and what he’s really ‘seen’ in this universe.
What I Wanted More Of
The biggest struggle for me in this story is a lot of things weren’t explained. Jacob was never shown picking up this ‘item’, and yet he’s chased and told he did. But no one ever says what this is… not even the main character. I have my theories but the information wasn’t clear enough.
This happened in several instances, where information was hinted at like the breadcrumb to a mystery, but never fully incorporated into the tale. I would have loved to have more things explained and emotions dug into a little.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I love how Alnico weaves her worlds together and gives them each a system of laws and culture to make them unique.
Tags: Science Fiction, aliens, futuristic tech, military
First Impressions
So I’m not even sure where to start with my first impressions. I was introduced to Megan Alnico through a writer friend, and after a fantastic conversation about our books, I was compelled to pick hers up.
But if you’re searching for a story that follows the storytelling rules… this one doesn’t. This SF tale throws that rulebook out the window and opens the door to a wider world of personalities and motivations for each character.
It reminded me a lot of a more serious Douglas Adams. Instead of the tight third-person narrative, Alnico plays with an invisible narrator who threads the pieces of this story together by weaving small chunks of POV through each chapter like a trail of breadcrumbs. And yet the narrative still stayed tight to the story, guiding readers through an adventure across worlds with a military conscript and an intuitive A.I.
What I Loved About This Story
Aria was one of the best A.I. characters I’ve ever read. She’s an intuitive program, and her decision-making process leads the reader to think there’s a much deeper story there. In many ways, she feels human. One of my favorite moments in her tale is when she comes in contact with another artificial lifeform who’s very, very different in how they speak and work.
The other character I fell in love with was Dyson. He’s an outlaw who understands the thought process and politics of both the Alliance and the Union. And yet again small hints tug me toward a much deeper story for this character. I’d love to read his tale about how he became an outlaw and what he’s really ‘seen’ in this universe.
What I Wanted More Of
The biggest struggle for me in this story is a lot of things weren’t explained. Jacob was never shown picking up this ‘item’, and yet he’s chased and told he did. But no one ever says what this is… not even the main character. I have my theories but the information wasn’t clear enough.
This happened in several instances, where information was hinted at like the breadcrumb to a mystery, but never fully incorporated into the tale. I would have loved to have more things explained and emotions dug into a little.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I love how Alnico weaves her worlds together and gives them each a system of laws and culture to make them unique.
June 9, 2021
I’m sorry to say that I found this book quite a tough read, and that is definitely not because of Megan’s writing ability – far from it; she is intelligent, talented and highly eloquent. I think perhaps what I struggled with a little was her writing style. Or, perhaps more accurate it might be to say styles, because, to tell the truth, it did feel at times as if I was reading two different books. The deep fantasy – surprisingly, for me – was actually fine; Megan crafts a tremendously detailed, multi-layered space opera, with a depth of language and profound narrative that would make Frank Herbert nod and smile. But, on the flipside to this was the character interaction. The fact is that if you took away the sci-fi elements of the book, these characters felt like they might have behaved the same way in any other genre; in parts, it read almost like a slice-of-life comic-drama, or a twenty-something coming-of-age jaunt. It is extremely dialogue heavy, much of which is banter – whilst not inappropriate, its volume is distracting and the amount of filler between key moments can make them a little easy to miss; I admit, I lost track on many occasions.
Overall, I think the general problem for me was the sheer amount of detail: backstory is detailed; dialogue is detailed; character establishment is detailed yet, being frank, for the most part this book and its story may have been more suited to a sci-fi novella format – the 90,000 or so words felt like a lot, and the inconsistent author styles did add to the confusion, compounded further by missing scene breaks, particularly in scenes of dialogue.
This probably sounds like a negative review, so I feel it is important to reiterate here that I have no doubts at all about the author’s ability and talent for writing; she is very skilled in this respect, with a good technical aptitude for sci-fi – I would simply preferred to have seen the amount of content toned down, to make the book continue in the easy reading style with which it started. I would advise that, in its current form, it would probably be more suited to outright fans of space fantasy, able to immerse themselves in this world and setpieces Megan constructed. I just wasn’t able to personally.
Overall, I think the general problem for me was the sheer amount of detail: backstory is detailed; dialogue is detailed; character establishment is detailed yet, being frank, for the most part this book and its story may have been more suited to a sci-fi novella format – the 90,000 or so words felt like a lot, and the inconsistent author styles did add to the confusion, compounded further by missing scene breaks, particularly in scenes of dialogue.
This probably sounds like a negative review, so I feel it is important to reiterate here that I have no doubts at all about the author’s ability and talent for writing; she is very skilled in this respect, with a good technical aptitude for sci-fi – I would simply preferred to have seen the amount of content toned down, to make the book continue in the easy reading style with which it started. I would advise that, in its current form, it would probably be more suited to outright fans of space fantasy, able to immerse themselves in this world and setpieces Megan constructed. I just wasn’t able to personally.
May 23, 2021
A very enjoyable space romp with a touch of politics
I loved your characters and the morals of the good guys. I am a science nerd with a health science background and lean heavily toward hard science, fiction. I live across the Columbia from you, on the Washington side. I noticed there were some grammatical errors and some inadvertent extra words in your book. I do some volunteer proof reading for some other authors, if ya ever need a hand.
I loved your characters and the morals of the good guys. I am a science nerd with a health science background and lean heavily toward hard science, fiction. I live across the Columbia from you, on the Washington side. I noticed there were some grammatical errors and some inadvertent extra words in your book. I do some volunteer proof reading for some other authors, if ya ever need a hand.
Read
May 23, 2021This book is a quick read. It's a well-developed story full of interesting characters. The author has a good sense of pace, and the narrative moves along quickly without sparing some time for original world-building. It's light hearted, imaginative, and enjoyable. Strong recommend!
January 5, 2024
A book with everything
Science- fiction, a bit of romance, aliens, intrigue, mystery, and comedy all in one book. A good first book from an up and coming writer. I highly recommend and can't wait to see what she writes next.
Science- fiction, a bit of romance, aliens, intrigue, mystery, and comedy all in one book. A good first book from an up and coming writer. I highly recommend and can't wait to see what she writes next.
December 4, 2022
The writing is tight and the characters are fun
January 22, 2023
A fun, action-packed read that will keep readers engaged from start to finish. Great for sci-fi and action fans!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews