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Coventry 2091
On his twenty-second birthday, Jacob Kraiser sits on a bench waiting to enter the Coventry Penal Colony on Vulture Lake, north of Lake Superior. Bewildered by his rapid sentencing to a prison he didn’t even know existed, he is joined by two other new inmates, Hanna Heidel and Zeke Rempel.
Coventry Penal Colony is a prison without guards, for the remote location makes escape impossible. The whole colony seemingly has one focus—to survive. Although they work to grow what food they can, they are wholly dependent on the good graces of the prison system to supply them with power, medicine, mining equipment, and food. Any failure to obey or make their delivery quota of rare earth metals leads them back to the times of hardship when so many inmates died quietly in obscurity.
It becomes clear that Coventry is harboring a great secret. As the future of Coventry becomes more uncertain, Jacob, Hanna, and Zeke begin to discover aspects of the prison’s society that have been carefully concealed, discoveries which lead them on an adventure of a magnitude they could never have imagined on their first day. Soon they are headed to Venus, and even beyond the confines of our solar system. Yet peril pursues them and the survival of Coventry hangs in the balance. Can Jacob, Hanna, and Zeke save Coventry? Will they truly find a refuge?
Coventry Penal Colony is a prison without guards, for the remote location makes escape impossible. The whole colony seemingly has one focus—to survive. Although they work to grow what food they can, they are wholly dependent on the good graces of the prison system to supply them with power, medicine, mining equipment, and food. Any failure to obey or make their delivery quota of rare earth metals leads them back to the times of hardship when so many inmates died quietly in obscurity.
It becomes clear that Coventry is harboring a great secret. As the future of Coventry becomes more uncertain, Jacob, Hanna, and Zeke begin to discover aspects of the prison’s society that have been carefully concealed, discoveries which lead them on an adventure of a magnitude they could never have imagined on their first day. Soon they are headed to Venus, and even beyond the confines of our solar system. Yet peril pursues them and the survival of Coventry hangs in the balance. Can Jacob, Hanna, and Zeke save Coventry? Will they truly find a refuge?
- GenresScience Fiction
Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2021
7 people want to read
About the author
Peter Kazmaier
5 books59 followersPeter Kazmaier is the award-winning author of five books. He just completed his sixth, a fantasy entitled Exiles from Mendathera. Once the editing is complete, it will be ready for publication.
Peter is also working on the sequel to Coventry 2091.
The Halcyon Cycle is Peter Kazmaier’s first book series. In writing this colonization epic, he has been able to pursue a life-long dream of writing fast-paced novels that explore the intersection between adventure, science, faith, and philosophy.
His third novel, The Battle for Halcyon won the 2016 Word Award in the category of Speculative Fiction. This sequel to The Halcyon Dislocation follows the fate of the dislocated University of Halcyon and the splinter colony Eleytheria as they fight for survival in a parallel world.
Peter has begun a new series with the publication of Coventry 2091, his fifth novel. This story follows the surprising adventures of Jacob Kraiser as he’s sent to a penal colony in Canada’s Canadian Shield. In Peter’s current manuscript he continues the saga of Coventry’s quest for freedom. This manuscript is provisionally entitled Coventry Peril.
Peter’s experience as a researcher in chemistry has enabled him to bring authentic scientific insight to his futuristic fiction stories.
J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of the Narnia , and Stephen R. Lawhead’s trilogy, Song of Albion are among his favorite and best-loved books. He also very much enjoys science fiction classics such as Robert Heinlein’s Tunnel in the Sky as well as Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera fantasy series.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 8, 2021
4.5 Stars. Kazamier’s futuristic, science fiction novel takes place in an uncomfortably close future. And if you, as I am, are aware of the direction the woke community and cancel culture are propelling our society, the actions of the Canadian government in the novel take on scary, almost prophetic, significance for Christians especially.
Though Jacob Kraiser’s (the main character) incarceration takes place in 2091, it is the events of the 2050s that the reader learns were what led to both the creation of the Coventry community and a series of startling scientific advances.
The deaths of his parents and siblings in a car accident have given Jacob “victim” status and that status has granted him a good job in the big city. But Jacob’s naivete allows him to be easily manipulated by others in his office for their own personal gain. He is “tried and convicted” for trumped up charges which leave him reeling and sent to Coventry Penal Colony where he finds a prison like no other.
I can’t say this is a fast-paced novel though it does move forward at a good rate. I do not normally read hard core science fiction as I am not technically oriented. At times the attention to minute technical details overwhelmed me, slowing the story’s forward momentum. If you are a fan of this genre, however, you will most certainly enjoy the effort made by Kazmaier to include such accurate and detailed information.
The lack of real depth in Jacob’s character made it difficult for me to develop empathy for him. But that is just my own opinion and my preference for deeper POV in my main characters. Since this is a plot-driven, technically oriented novel, however, this depth of POV is to be expected.
Other than the character development remaining more surface, I enjoyed the book. It is well-written with little to no editing issues. I loved how Christianity is threaded throughout without proselytizing. The fact that Jacob doesn’t immediately come to faith is a strong indication of the balance in the story.
Mr. Kazmaier has done an excellent job of taking current cultural issues and moving them into a truly imaginative future. The world building here is creative and original. Reading about how the Coventry community survived a barrage of difficulties and yet were able to move forward technically without sacrificing their faith or integrity is inspiring.
A well-done, Christian based science fiction story that I highly recommend for all readers, but especially for Christians looking for a clean, plot driven story set within an imaginative yet believable future.
Though Jacob Kraiser’s (the main character) incarceration takes place in 2091, it is the events of the 2050s that the reader learns were what led to both the creation of the Coventry community and a series of startling scientific advances.
The deaths of his parents and siblings in a car accident have given Jacob “victim” status and that status has granted him a good job in the big city. But Jacob’s naivete allows him to be easily manipulated by others in his office for their own personal gain. He is “tried and convicted” for trumped up charges which leave him reeling and sent to Coventry Penal Colony where he finds a prison like no other.
I can’t say this is a fast-paced novel though it does move forward at a good rate. I do not normally read hard core science fiction as I am not technically oriented. At times the attention to minute technical details overwhelmed me, slowing the story’s forward momentum. If you are a fan of this genre, however, you will most certainly enjoy the effort made by Kazmaier to include such accurate and detailed information.
The lack of real depth in Jacob’s character made it difficult for me to develop empathy for him. But that is just my own opinion and my preference for deeper POV in my main characters. Since this is a plot-driven, technically oriented novel, however, this depth of POV is to be expected.
Other than the character development remaining more surface, I enjoyed the book. It is well-written with little to no editing issues. I loved how Christianity is threaded throughout without proselytizing. The fact that Jacob doesn’t immediately come to faith is a strong indication of the balance in the story.
Mr. Kazmaier has done an excellent job of taking current cultural issues and moving them into a truly imaginative future. The world building here is creative and original. Reading about how the Coventry community survived a barrage of difficulties and yet were able to move forward technically without sacrificing their faith or integrity is inspiring.
A well-done, Christian based science fiction story that I highly recommend for all readers, but especially for Christians looking for a clean, plot driven story set within an imaginative yet believable future.
October 11, 2021
Coventry 2091 pulled me in from the first line and kept me reading. I immediately wanted to know what was going on, and what was going to happen to the main character, and Peter Kazmaier kept me feeling that way almost all the way through.
The story was an entertaining blend of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and action, with a little philosophy and religion thrown in on the side.
Jacob is a likeable and believable protagonist, and the friends he meets over the course of the book, while perhaps a little stereotyped, are entertaining as well.
It has an amusing and rather original premise and a strong and coherent plot.
While lovers of sci-fi world-building might delight in the middle section of the book, which largely introduces the cool technologies the characters will use later on in the book, I found it a little bit slow and episodic, but the protagonist and the overall plot were compelling enough to keep me reading.
All in all, I really enjoyed Coventry 2091.
The story was an entertaining blend of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and action, with a little philosophy and religion thrown in on the side.
Jacob is a likeable and believable protagonist, and the friends he meets over the course of the book, while perhaps a little stereotyped, are entertaining as well.
It has an amusing and rather original premise and a strong and coherent plot.
While lovers of sci-fi world-building might delight in the middle section of the book, which largely introduces the cool technologies the characters will use later on in the book, I found it a little bit slow and episodic, but the protagonist and the overall plot were compelling enough to keep me reading.
All in all, I really enjoyed Coventry 2091.
October 8, 2021
Dr. Peter Kazmaier has done a good job with his book Coventry 2091, and I hope this is the beginning of a great series for him. It demonstrates some great world-building, and his background as a scientist is obvious in the story.
What starts out as a story of three young prisoners–who by the way remind me very much of the three heroes of the Harry Potter series, except a little older–ends up being something very different. I won’t give away any secrets here, but suffice it to say that they don’t end up in an underground mine for the entire book: far from it. About the 40% mark on the ebook I was reading, the story took its first major turn, and then it really took off. Before that, I read the book in fits and starts. After that, I had to read it all in one day. It’s that good.
As I mentioned before, the science and the world-building in this story is top notch, although in order for the twists and turns to work later on, there has to be some suspension of disbelief. A lot happens in a little bit of time. It’s a great story, but if there’s anything that I would have liked to see more of, it would be a little more character development–more about the three protagonists–and less about the world they live in. But that’s probably a different kind of book.
What starts out as a story of three young prisoners–who by the way remind me very much of the three heroes of the Harry Potter series, except a little older–ends up being something very different. I won’t give away any secrets here, but suffice it to say that they don’t end up in an underground mine for the entire book: far from it. About the 40% mark on the ebook I was reading, the story took its first major turn, and then it really took off. Before that, I read the book in fits and starts. After that, I had to read it all in one day. It’s that good.
As I mentioned before, the science and the world-building in this story is top notch, although in order for the twists and turns to work later on, there has to be some suspension of disbelief. A lot happens in a little bit of time. It’s a great story, but if there’s anything that I would have liked to see more of, it would be a little more character development–more about the three protagonists–and less about the world they live in. But that’s probably a different kind of book.
October 7, 2021
The fast-paced start of an unforseen odyssey!
Coventry: a penal colony where a tyrannical government sends undesirables. Those sent to the colony are never seen again; it is a place of no return. Sounds like a dark setting, doesn't it?
It is imperative that I don't spoil anything in this review, but this book, like Coventry itself, is not what it seems. Prepare yourself for an odyssey of science, adventure, and faith as you discover what awaits below the surface!
The author has a professional background in chemistry, and has consulted with others of various fields to tell this story - this is Sci-fi by a scientist, and as such there is a very convincing level of detail woven into the narrative. In fact, I found the the step by step details described as the characters interacted with both real and made up processes to be a bit too much in some places, but everything is skillfully described such that anyone can understand, and in the end, I found it quite rewarding.
That's the word here: this book will reward you, delighting you at every turn as you adventure with the likeable cast. This is just the first book in the series, but I believe it deserves 5 stars. I especially can't wait to see how the author handles the faith of the main character as the story progresses in future entries!
Parents, please be advised: there is some very mild language in this book, but nothing above the PG rating.
Coventry: a penal colony where a tyrannical government sends undesirables. Those sent to the colony are never seen again; it is a place of no return. Sounds like a dark setting, doesn't it?
It is imperative that I don't spoil anything in this review, but this book, like Coventry itself, is not what it seems. Prepare yourself for an odyssey of science, adventure, and faith as you discover what awaits below the surface!
The author has a professional background in chemistry, and has consulted with others of various fields to tell this story - this is Sci-fi by a scientist, and as such there is a very convincing level of detail woven into the narrative. In fact, I found the the step by step details described as the characters interacted with both real and made up processes to be a bit too much in some places, but everything is skillfully described such that anyone can understand, and in the end, I found it quite rewarding.
That's the word here: this book will reward you, delighting you at every turn as you adventure with the likeable cast. This is just the first book in the series, but I believe it deserves 5 stars. I especially can't wait to see how the author handles the faith of the main character as the story progresses in future entries!
Parents, please be advised: there is some very mild language in this book, but nothing above the PG rating.
October 11, 2021
Unexpected wonder
I feel a little bit like a kid who wandered into a closet and found a wonderland. Here I was, a prisoner, along with the main character, and then suddenly I'm on a beautiful adventure full of danger and excitement and joy. I loved this book. I loved it for the surprises along the way and the victory brought out of intense loss. I love the way the story unfolds and I love the way the characters help each other and overcome.
I do not want to spoil anything so I won't say more than that. But this is a wonderful book.
I feel a little bit like a kid who wandered into a closet and found a wonderland. Here I was, a prisoner, along with the main character, and then suddenly I'm on a beautiful adventure full of danger and excitement and joy. I loved this book. I loved it for the surprises along the way and the victory brought out of intense loss. I love the way the story unfolds and I love the way the characters help each other and overcome.
I do not want to spoil anything so I won't say more than that. But this is a wonderful book.
October 20, 2021
Fun, fast and easy read
This was a really fun book with a prose style that moves you right along. It’s a well-thought out world. There’s always a little bit of “hand waving” in science fiction, but for the most part it’s clear the author thought about the details quite a bit. I recommend this highly.
This was a really fun book with a prose style that moves you right along. It’s a well-thought out world. There’s always a little bit of “hand waving” in science fiction, but for the most part it’s clear the author thought about the details quite a bit. I recommend this highly.
October 30, 2021
4.3 From the moment I started reading Coventry 2091, book one of a series by Peter Kazmaier, I was captivated by its premise. Jacob Kraiser, an orphan in his early twenties, wants his life back after he’s locked up for a crime he didn’t commit. But when he finds acceptance, friendship, and purpose amid a web of Coventry’s hidden secrets, he’s not sure if he ever wants to leave the penal colony.
December 28, 2021
Peter Kazmaier's novel, "Coventry 2091," is a deep-dive sci-fi yarn set in the distant future, a bleak future wherein intolerance by state governments, in this case Canada, has led to select groups being interned and labeled undesirable and/or expendable. Kazmaier presents a story that reflects on troubling current events and the re-engineering of societies in disturbing directions (which seems more fact than fiction, unfortunately).
The main character, young man Jacob Kraiser, finds himself imprisoned at the Coventry Penal Colony at Vulture Lake wherein he must come to grips with his new way of life while also facing grave tragedy within his family from years before.
Kazmaier establishes great world-building, and the parameters of the story eventually branch out to unexpected places allowing for fantastical adventure twinned with philosophical discussions against a religious backdrop. Based on the epilogue, this first novel obviously sets up the next book in the series.
Overall, the story moved at a good pace, though it slowed down mid-way through. But sci-fi lovers will enjoy the content. Overall, 3.5 stars for this novel.
The main character, young man Jacob Kraiser, finds himself imprisoned at the Coventry Penal Colony at Vulture Lake wherein he must come to grips with his new way of life while also facing grave tragedy within his family from years before.
Kazmaier establishes great world-building, and the parameters of the story eventually branch out to unexpected places allowing for fantastical adventure twinned with philosophical discussions against a religious backdrop. Based on the epilogue, this first novel obviously sets up the next book in the series.
Overall, the story moved at a good pace, though it slowed down mid-way through. But sci-fi lovers will enjoy the content. Overall, 3.5 stars for this novel.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews