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Infernum
A WEAPON OF UNIMAGINABLE POWER. A DESPERATE MISSION TO THE CENTER OF THE GALAXY. MANKIND'S FATE HANGS IN THE BALANCE.
Captain Thomas Holbrook has wondered how he would brave being sent on a oneway mission. When he receives cryptic orders to divert his CentCom warship to the black hole at the center of the galaxy, a region from which no vessel has ever returned, he stubbornly refuses to take them at face value.
It's the year 2330. The "aughts," robots that won independence from their human creators, seek insurance against the ever-present human threat. An aught ship speeds to the galactic center to collect Planck Matter, a substance formed in the heart of black holes, the basis of a weapon that could destroy the Earth.
CentCom can't allow the aughts to obtain Planck Matter. They enlist the help of Dr. Rebekah Riesen, a brilliant, beautiful, reincarnated physicist with her own reasons for joining a mission that might not return, and Tentek, an aught informant whom Holbrook's executive officer insists is a double agent. Together they must travel to the galactic center while keeping a mutinous crew at bay, stop the aughts from obtaining Planck Matter, and somehow find a way back home.
Captain Thomas Holbrook has wondered how he would brave being sent on a oneway mission. When he receives cryptic orders to divert his CentCom warship to the black hole at the center of the galaxy, a region from which no vessel has ever returned, he stubbornly refuses to take them at face value.
It's the year 2330. The "aughts," robots that won independence from their human creators, seek insurance against the ever-present human threat. An aught ship speeds to the galactic center to collect Planck Matter, a substance formed in the heart of black holes, the basis of a weapon that could destroy the Earth.
CentCom can't allow the aughts to obtain Planck Matter. They enlist the help of Dr. Rebekah Riesen, a brilliant, beautiful, reincarnated physicist with her own reasons for joining a mission that might not return, and Tentek, an aught informant whom Holbrook's executive officer insists is a double agent. Together they must travel to the galactic center while keeping a mutinous crew at bay, stop the aughts from obtaining Planck Matter, and somehow find a way back home.
- GenresScience Fiction
402 pages, Paperback
Published January 5, 2022
533 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Jayson Adams
2 books14 followersAt age sixteen, Jayson dreamed of starting a software company and retiring by twenty-five. He achieved his dream just before thirty, working for the likes of Steve Jobs and selling one of his start-ups along the way. Five years later, he returned to computers with another start-up. He currently works at Google.
Computers were always Jayson’s creative outlet, the screen a “blank slate.” He now channels his creative energies into writing compelling science fiction.
Computers were always Jayson’s creative outlet, the screen a “blank slate.” He now channels his creative energies into writing compelling science fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 8, 2022
Although Jayson Adams begins this book with an engaging storyline, it soon becomes clear that he lacks the writing skills to carry it through. Infernum quickly devolves into a thinly disguised rant of virtue signaling, 21st-century political correctness, and social justice warrior checklist punching. The science fiction, which should be carrying the narrative, is sadly lacking with little in the way of exciting applications of futuristic technology to drive a work lacking in imagination. Much of what is forced to pass for science fiction in this work is simply a re-statement of modern technology and scientific theory. Using different terminology and a shallow application of the newly termed but currently available technology does not make for intriguing science fiction. Unfortunately, the little unique technology is passed over and not adequately described.
The characters in Infernum have potential but suffer from a lack of three-dimensionality and poorly developed cookie-cutter backstories. Dr. Riesen, especially, has the potential to be developed as a fascinating character. Her complex origin is poorly presented and lacks the necessary detail to be truly interesting. The possible intersection she offers between religious belief and scientific expertise is passed over and never developed. Captain Holbrook and Commander Stephens also have intriguing character arcs, which again fail to build due to the shallow storyline and the vague backstories. Dialogue between characters is poorly done, with characters often drifting onto sidetracks that have little to do with the storyline or character development. Many of these sidetracks are also unbelievable in the context of their backgrounds and the story. Character motivations are usually simplistic and do not develop from the narrative or the known character backgrounds.
Numerous editorial errors need correcting and make it clear that Infernum is produced by a self-published vanity press. Jayson Adams is unknown as an author. Infernum seems to be his first published book. The author page in Infernum indicates that he intends to publish additional works in the science fiction genre using the same publishing company. Unless these change significantly in quality from Infernum, I will steer clear if other books appear. This book could have been immeasurably improved with decent editing and an experienced publisher.
The characters in Infernum have potential but suffer from a lack of three-dimensionality and poorly developed cookie-cutter backstories. Dr. Riesen, especially, has the potential to be developed as a fascinating character. Her complex origin is poorly presented and lacks the necessary detail to be truly interesting. The possible intersection she offers between religious belief and scientific expertise is passed over and never developed. Captain Holbrook and Commander Stephens also have intriguing character arcs, which again fail to build due to the shallow storyline and the vague backstories. Dialogue between characters is poorly done, with characters often drifting onto sidetracks that have little to do with the storyline or character development. Many of these sidetracks are also unbelievable in the context of their backgrounds and the story. Character motivations are usually simplistic and do not develop from the narrative or the known character backgrounds.
Numerous editorial errors need correcting and make it clear that Infernum is produced by a self-published vanity press. Jayson Adams is unknown as an author. Infernum seems to be his first published book. The author page in Infernum indicates that he intends to publish additional works in the science fiction genre using the same publishing company. Unless these change significantly in quality from Infernum, I will steer clear if other books appear. This book could have been immeasurably improved with decent editing and an experienced publisher.
March 3, 2022
I usually don't read sci-fi fantasy stories, but when I read the summary for Infernum by Jayson Adams, I was curious about it. I can say that reading this book was a good decision. I loved the way Jayson transitioned from certain characters so that you could fully get the story. With most stories that have more than one person sharing their views, it can get a bit confusing. Jayson made the switch from characters very effortless, though. There were some characters that I liked more than some, but it didn't take away from the story. I couldn't put this book down. I just had to keep reading more of it. I highly recommend this book for those who love sci-fi stories or for those who want to expand their horizons. I'm rating it five out of five stars.
September 11, 2022
Reads like a 1950's Sci Fi book but I take it this is how it is suppose to feel. Absolutely full of technical nonsense and inconsistencies. The cover suggests it was Nominated for the IndieReader 2022 Sci Fi Book of the year 2022 whatever that it. I know SF has been going downhill for year (or decades) but is this where we are now. Its no wonder the SF section in book shops has long since been my first call.
I did finish the book!
I did finish the book!
December 13, 2022
Drunks in space
The story was disjointed and underwhelming, how can a drunk rise to the position of camand. The author needs to study leadership a little more closely before he writes the next book. Also his whole command was doomed to failer. This book was a complete wast of time.!
The story was disjointed and underwhelming, how can a drunk rise to the position of camand. The author needs to study leadership a little more closely before he writes the next book. Also his whole command was doomed to failer. This book was a complete wast of time.!
February 16, 2022
I love science fiction and read many books from great authors such as H.G Wells, Jules Verne, Arthur C. Clark, and many more. So I dived into this book for two reasons and with two expectations.
My reasons were simple, firstly, I was craving for a new science fiction experience with lots of futuristic technology, and secondly, I like long reads. My expectations were even simpler, I just wanted an interesting and well-constructed plot; secondly, good characters with good character development is also a must for me.
Now let us dive into the review, I would try to keep it short and concise and of course, it will contain no spoilers of any kind.
As you would expect the story starts slow as in any 300+ pages novel, right? Actually, the beginning of the novel has this mild aggressive sort of opening. This was unique and honestly refreshing. Nonetheless, the story progress at sort of a medium pace with the introduction of new characters in between. And mind you a lot of characters. To the author's credit, though, I would say the characters were well written, with believable personalities and relatable struggles. Now, let us come to the character development, honestly, it was not bad. Although most characters were pre-written with interesting personalities, focussing on over-the-top character development would have been an unnecessary point in the story. So kudos to the author for nailing that down. I will not say anything more about the characters, since they are better experienced with the mystery of an average reader.
The plot was very well thought out and very well written. It is very tough to maintain the usual plot of the novel while maintaining the fillers and length of the novel. The setting was the wet dream of any science fiction enthusiast. It was crisp, atmospheric, dark, and depressing sometimes and sometimes it was exhilarating. In short, if you love science fiction, you have to go for it, the setting is amazing. You have space and other nuances that come with space in general. In addition, you have all the generic science fiction elements you would expect from a futuristic science fiction novel.
All through the book was very well written, I did find the average pace of the plot, from a wider perspective, quite slow and tiresome. There were far too many characters and the story's pace many times lagged behind the plot point of the novel. Though it was not so extreme that it rendered the novel unreadable. This is the reason, precisely why I did not cut a star. It is just when you read something so good you want it to be picture perfect and every small detail magnifies a 1000x; but it is not fair to the author since it is a personal expectation, not a general one.
If you skipped the review and came down straight here, no worries. In a nutshell, the plot is well written, the setting is perfect and the characters are well-developed. It satisfied both my expectations quite sufficiently; I enjoyed it thoroughly and would recommend it to any lover of science fiction as much as I would recommend them to any other writer like H.G. Wells or Jules Verne.
Thank you for reading the review.
Enjoy the book
Happy Reading
My reasons were simple, firstly, I was craving for a new science fiction experience with lots of futuristic technology, and secondly, I like long reads. My expectations were even simpler, I just wanted an interesting and well-constructed plot; secondly, good characters with good character development is also a must for me.
Now let us dive into the review, I would try to keep it short and concise and of course, it will contain no spoilers of any kind.
As you would expect the story starts slow as in any 300+ pages novel, right? Actually, the beginning of the novel has this mild aggressive sort of opening. This was unique and honestly refreshing. Nonetheless, the story progress at sort of a medium pace with the introduction of new characters in between. And mind you a lot of characters. To the author's credit, though, I would say the characters were well written, with believable personalities and relatable struggles. Now, let us come to the character development, honestly, it was not bad. Although most characters were pre-written with interesting personalities, focussing on over-the-top character development would have been an unnecessary point in the story. So kudos to the author for nailing that down. I will not say anything more about the characters, since they are better experienced with the mystery of an average reader.
The plot was very well thought out and very well written. It is very tough to maintain the usual plot of the novel while maintaining the fillers and length of the novel. The setting was the wet dream of any science fiction enthusiast. It was crisp, atmospheric, dark, and depressing sometimes and sometimes it was exhilarating. In short, if you love science fiction, you have to go for it, the setting is amazing. You have space and other nuances that come with space in general. In addition, you have all the generic science fiction elements you would expect from a futuristic science fiction novel.
All through the book was very well written, I did find the average pace of the plot, from a wider perspective, quite slow and tiresome. There were far too many characters and the story's pace many times lagged behind the plot point of the novel. Though it was not so extreme that it rendered the novel unreadable. This is the reason, precisely why I did not cut a star. It is just when you read something so good you want it to be picture perfect and every small detail magnifies a 1000x; but it is not fair to the author since it is a personal expectation, not a general one.
If you skipped the review and came down straight here, no worries. In a nutshell, the plot is well written, the setting is perfect and the characters are well-developed. It satisfied both my expectations quite sufficiently; I enjoyed it thoroughly and would recommend it to any lover of science fiction as much as I would recommend them to any other writer like H.G. Wells or Jules Verne.
Thank you for reading the review.
Enjoy the book
Happy Reading
May 2, 2022
The (male) characters in this were really engaging but, man, did this guy not trust his readers even a teeny, tiny bit. If a character picked something up, every movement of that character's hand had to be described in the process of picking said something up to be sure you really got the picture that something was indeed picked up. This is not a guy who would say 'X tied their shoe,' he's going to describe exactly their method of tying that shoe in painstaking detail. That got old, like, super quickly. Also, the final plan seemed flawed in its basics. They're assuming Drazetek doesn't know Dr. Riesen has Planck Matter based on the fact that an aught pretended to sneak into see her clandestinely and then pretended to fawn over her and then gave her a gift solely to subconsciously encourage reciprocity--in that case, why the eff would you not think Drazetek knew? The aught told you that entire thing was a ploy so of course his commanding officer knows about it, right? So that didn't end up making sense at all but also look at all those nonsense words that I just wrote about like they're real things--the book did a good job of getting me invested in the world, obviously.
February 7, 2022
Perfect for lovers of high-stake scenarios and space-travel
Infernum is an extremely well-written science fiction novel. The writing style was very refreshing in this genre. Author Jayson Adams writes believable dialogue that is not rampant with overly complicated jargon for readers. Instead, the terminology used was easy to follow and allowed the story to take precedence for the reader. For me this is a telling sign in this genre and my assumptions were supported throughout the novel’s development. The descriptive writing is on point, depicting futuristic technology and even minute details that add immensely in drawing connections to character personalities. Readers are introduced to a sleuth of characters preparing for a lengthy travel to an asteroid light years away. The setting is set in the far future where space travel is a norm and technological advances are preset to throughout the book. Aboard a warship called Avenger, we learn of protagonist and captain Thomas Holbrook, his crew members, and an impending twist that has the characters accepting to abort and commence a new mission… one that they least expected. Ordered to embark on an important mission to retrieve two mystery characters, supposed allies, at the Plana Petram research station and then travel together to Sagittarius A Star, a black hole, the crew is found short of a panic. The character relationships are well built under these intense and precarious circumstances. Not only are their personal lives at stake, but that of humanity. The interaction between Captain Holbrook and Commander Stephens is realistic and really makes you feel like you are onboard the vessel with them and taking part in the action. We see their relationship grow through themes of faith and reason. A sense of adventure is a big theme as none of the crew, not even the protagonist captain is certain of what beholds them on their mission. The novel also integrates a concept reminiscent of The Matrix and the idea of, “the one,” whereas a mystical physicist named Dr. Rebekah Riesen is considered a reincarnation of “The Prophet,” able to relay God’s secrets of the universe. We also learn of artificial intelligence, specifically AI robots called aughts, and readers are thrown into an age after the warring between robots and humans, where true peace is yet to be established. The narrative shifts between the humans, the robots, and new characters joining mission, allowing readers more perspective on opposing views and interactive roles within the story. Readers learn of different levels of the AI, from rudimentary to sentient, and also learn that a malicious feud is still being harbored post-war. A race for an important resource known as Plank Matter ignites and it so happens that it is found in the Sag A Star region where death is close to certain. Readers of Infernum are sure to enjoy an intergalactic ride of adventure with robust character development, witty humor, and an intricate plot of life-threatening proportions. Although the plot was very well crafted and executed, the story itself did not specifically exhilarate me. For this, I rate Infernum 4 stars. A perfect book for science fiction enthusiasts that are interested in high-stake scenarios and space-travel.
Infernum is an extremely well-written science fiction novel. The writing style was very refreshing in this genre. Author Jayson Adams writes believable dialogue that is not rampant with overly complicated jargon for readers. Instead, the terminology used was easy to follow and allowed the story to take precedence for the reader. For me this is a telling sign in this genre and my assumptions were supported throughout the novel’s development. The descriptive writing is on point, depicting futuristic technology and even minute details that add immensely in drawing connections to character personalities. Readers are introduced to a sleuth of characters preparing for a lengthy travel to an asteroid light years away. The setting is set in the far future where space travel is a norm and technological advances are preset to throughout the book. Aboard a warship called Avenger, we learn of protagonist and captain Thomas Holbrook, his crew members, and an impending twist that has the characters accepting to abort and commence a new mission… one that they least expected. Ordered to embark on an important mission to retrieve two mystery characters, supposed allies, at the Plana Petram research station and then travel together to Sagittarius A Star, a black hole, the crew is found short of a panic. The character relationships are well built under these intense and precarious circumstances. Not only are their personal lives at stake, but that of humanity. The interaction between Captain Holbrook and Commander Stephens is realistic and really makes you feel like you are onboard the vessel with them and taking part in the action. We see their relationship grow through themes of faith and reason. A sense of adventure is a big theme as none of the crew, not even the protagonist captain is certain of what beholds them on their mission. The novel also integrates a concept reminiscent of The Matrix and the idea of, “the one,” whereas a mystical physicist named Dr. Rebekah Riesen is considered a reincarnation of “The Prophet,” able to relay God’s secrets of the universe. We also learn of artificial intelligence, specifically AI robots called aughts, and readers are thrown into an age after the warring between robots and humans, where true peace is yet to be established. The narrative shifts between the humans, the robots, and new characters joining mission, allowing readers more perspective on opposing views and interactive roles within the story. Readers learn of different levels of the AI, from rudimentary to sentient, and also learn that a malicious feud is still being harbored post-war. A race for an important resource known as Plank Matter ignites and it so happens that it is found in the Sag A Star region where death is close to certain. Readers of Infernum are sure to enjoy an intergalactic ride of adventure with robust character development, witty humor, and an intricate plot of life-threatening proportions. Although the plot was very well crafted and executed, the story itself did not specifically exhilarate me. For this, I rate Infernum 4 stars. A perfect book for science fiction enthusiasts that are interested in high-stake scenarios and space-travel.
March 18, 2022
Delivered right at the quest: Infernum brings humanity into an interstellar revolt
There's a powerful metaphor right at the heart of Infernum: the cosmic regions where life, even light itself, gets caught forever, are precisely the ones that could save our species. This ingenious contradiction helps to contain the meticulous writing of Jayson Adams, as tight and accurate as was needed, to unfold a bold premise and a display of unbelievable technology centuries ahead of our times (this is hard sci-fi as it gets).
The story doesn't wait for the readers to address a vague and absurd introduction of the dramatic conjuncture and the characters that will carry the plot on their shoulders. What it does best (what Adams does best) is to put us right at the action on the first page of the first chapter. This increases the sensation that we follow the suicide quest with Captain Holbrook, Dr. Riesen, or Lieutenant Grey at the speed they navigate space towards Plana Petram. Adams doesn't hesitate to convey to the audience the crucial dimension that Plank matter has for the survival of humanity (at the beginning, whether this is true or not), in a moment of history when we are more than aware that the universe is, unfortunately, a shared neighborhood. This aids the narrative compression needed for a writer to take you from point A to point B, 3 (fictional)weeks in (500-pages-after), without losing your attention with many substories (or, as popular as they are right now, origin chapters); that is, to reject the most common temptation of sci-fi authors. From a formal and reading perspective: this is a feat on its own.
The action, the cadence, the dizziness served on this trip to D-Space, to the well-known nothingness of the galaxy, is wisely managed by the character development conquered by Adams, which infuses everything with a very tangible and authentic feel. The dialogue appears sweetened by the richness of the new mythologies that guide the human race at the time but seasoned with a few decent drops of fraught desperation and self-doubt. The bravery of the characters doesn't interfere with the realness of the menace: every tripulant of the ship knew what a one-way ticket meant; they just don't react in the same way. One could argue that this propels the quest to double climatic conflict: one at the heart of the galaxy, another at the core of the ship.
As well-written and poetic as the "Collective" letter that almost farewells Infernum, there remains a mirrored inversion of the protagonists' point-of-view. The decisive sacrifices of the offenders, whilst morally opposed, are always at the end reduced to embers as the others in retreat. With a slight nod to human ingenuity and sci-fi new classics of the caliber of Nolan's Interstellar, the deranged mission halts with a pale-blue dot in sight and an extraterrestrial lodge. As Holbrook, Adams didn't disappoint to rise to the occasion.
There's a powerful metaphor right at the heart of Infernum: the cosmic regions where life, even light itself, gets caught forever, are precisely the ones that could save our species. This ingenious contradiction helps to contain the meticulous writing of Jayson Adams, as tight and accurate as was needed, to unfold a bold premise and a display of unbelievable technology centuries ahead of our times (this is hard sci-fi as it gets).
The story doesn't wait for the readers to address a vague and absurd introduction of the dramatic conjuncture and the characters that will carry the plot on their shoulders. What it does best (what Adams does best) is to put us right at the action on the first page of the first chapter. This increases the sensation that we follow the suicide quest with Captain Holbrook, Dr. Riesen, or Lieutenant Grey at the speed they navigate space towards Plana Petram. Adams doesn't hesitate to convey to the audience the crucial dimension that Plank matter has for the survival of humanity (at the beginning, whether this is true or not), in a moment of history when we are more than aware that the universe is, unfortunately, a shared neighborhood. This aids the narrative compression needed for a writer to take you from point A to point B, 3 (fictional)weeks in (500-pages-after), without losing your attention with many substories (or, as popular as they are right now, origin chapters); that is, to reject the most common temptation of sci-fi authors. From a formal and reading perspective: this is a feat on its own.
The action, the cadence, the dizziness served on this trip to D-Space, to the well-known nothingness of the galaxy, is wisely managed by the character development conquered by Adams, which infuses everything with a very tangible and authentic feel. The dialogue appears sweetened by the richness of the new mythologies that guide the human race at the time but seasoned with a few decent drops of fraught desperation and self-doubt. The bravery of the characters doesn't interfere with the realness of the menace: every tripulant of the ship knew what a one-way ticket meant; they just don't react in the same way. One could argue that this propels the quest to double climatic conflict: one at the heart of the galaxy, another at the core of the ship.
As well-written and poetic as the "Collective" letter that almost farewells Infernum, there remains a mirrored inversion of the protagonists' point-of-view. The decisive sacrifices of the offenders, whilst morally opposed, are always at the end reduced to embers as the others in retreat. With a slight nod to human ingenuity and sci-fi new classics of the caliber of Nolan's Interstellar, the deranged mission halts with a pale-blue dot in sight and an extraterrestrial lodge. As Holbrook, Adams didn't disappoint to rise to the occasion.
February 11, 2022
Jayson Adams ‘Infernum’ is the rare example of a modern science-fiction novel where the ambition is matched by the execution. Set about three-hundred years in the future, ‘Infernum’ opens with Captain Holbrook receiving a strange directive ordering his ship to the center of the galaxy on what amounts to a suicide mission. Despite the grave danger attached to his orders, there’s a compelling reason for Holbrook’s assignment: Planck matter. Only found inside black holes, Planck matter is rife with potential, but mankind isn’t the only species aware of its existence.
Enter the ‘aughts,’ a race of sentient machines born of a revolt against humanity. The aughts have their sights set on finding Planck matter, presumably in the hopes of weaponizing the mysterious substance. With the aid of an enigmatic aught and an impassioned physicist, Captain Holbrook sets the controls for the heart of the galaxy. Along the way, the seasoned captain is tested by an agitated crew (it is a ‘one way’ trip, after all) and his own self-doubt, all the while racing against the clock in order to save humanity from an incalculable threat.
As mentioned above, ‘Infernum’ pairs a healthy dose of ambition with a fascinating sci-fi premise. At five-hundred pages, Adams covers a ton of ground, but he wisely avoids bogging down the story with too many subplots. In fact, while epic in scope, ‘Infernum’ is a surprisingly concise read. Sure, Adams occasionally leans a bit too heavily on exposition, but adjective-laden sentences are hardly a capital offense, especially considering the genre. To that end, Adams nails the dialogue and action sequences and lays out a plot that never strays from logic. In a genre where ‘rules’ are meant to be broken, characters that feel authentic and act in a believable way often makes all the difference.
While ‘Infernum’ is billed as ‘Star Trek meets ‘Blade Runner,’ there’s strong shades of ‘The Expanse’ universe in Adam’s writing, and I couldn’t help but notice the similarities to the plot of ‘Interstellar.’ Of course, comparisons to any of those properties are high praise, but Adams has more than earned it. If you like your sci-fi ‘hard’ and plausible, then I’d recommend you add ‘Infernum’ to your must-read list.
Enter the ‘aughts,’ a race of sentient machines born of a revolt against humanity. The aughts have their sights set on finding Planck matter, presumably in the hopes of weaponizing the mysterious substance. With the aid of an enigmatic aught and an impassioned physicist, Captain Holbrook sets the controls for the heart of the galaxy. Along the way, the seasoned captain is tested by an agitated crew (it is a ‘one way’ trip, after all) and his own self-doubt, all the while racing against the clock in order to save humanity from an incalculable threat.
As mentioned above, ‘Infernum’ pairs a healthy dose of ambition with a fascinating sci-fi premise. At five-hundred pages, Adams covers a ton of ground, but he wisely avoids bogging down the story with too many subplots. In fact, while epic in scope, ‘Infernum’ is a surprisingly concise read. Sure, Adams occasionally leans a bit too heavily on exposition, but adjective-laden sentences are hardly a capital offense, especially considering the genre. To that end, Adams nails the dialogue and action sequences and lays out a plot that never strays from logic. In a genre where ‘rules’ are meant to be broken, characters that feel authentic and act in a believable way often makes all the difference.
While ‘Infernum’ is billed as ‘Star Trek meets ‘Blade Runner,’ there’s strong shades of ‘The Expanse’ universe in Adam’s writing, and I couldn’t help but notice the similarities to the plot of ‘Interstellar.’ Of course, comparisons to any of those properties are high praise, but Adams has more than earned it. If you like your sci-fi ‘hard’ and plausible, then I’d recommend you add ‘Infernum’ to your must-read list.
July 14, 2022
What do you get when you send a military starship and a religious prophet into the deformed space around a black hole? Well, first, do not worry, this is not a cheesy joke your great-uncle is telling at a family barbeque. The answer is Infernum by Jayson Adams. Now, despite the catchy and totally click-baity way I started this paragraph, you are probably looking for some kind of in-depth explanation. Well, I will not be giving you that. I will tell you that inside this deformed space, the crew of the Avenger finds death, suffering, and mutiny. For more, well, you will just have to read this fantastic sci-fi novel.
So now that I have teased you about the story, let me get down to the other bits you may be curious about before you pick up this book. This is a sci-fi novel, so even the hints of religious aspects have heavy science involvement. I know I always enjoy the taboo integration and religious and scientific aspects. Beyond the bit that struck my curiosity the most, I was pleased that each character has a realistic background and personality. Though I have one trigger warning for readers, if you have an issue with alcoholism, you should probably skip this one. For everyone else, you will enjoy this heavy sci-fi adventure.
Nothing good happens near a black hole, except reading this book which you can happily allow yourself to be sucked in to without fear of wasting time.
So now that I have teased you about the story, let me get down to the other bits you may be curious about before you pick up this book. This is a sci-fi novel, so even the hints of religious aspects have heavy science involvement. I know I always enjoy the taboo integration and religious and scientific aspects. Beyond the bit that struck my curiosity the most, I was pleased that each character has a realistic background and personality. Though I have one trigger warning for readers, if you have an issue with alcoholism, you should probably skip this one. For everyone else, you will enjoy this heavy sci-fi adventure.
Nothing good happens near a black hole, except reading this book which you can happily allow yourself to be sucked in to without fear of wasting time.
February 15, 2022
Infernum is set approximately 300 years in the future and is a fast paced, action packed science fiction novel with just enough humanity to pull at your heartstrings.
We meet a wide variety of characters as we travel light years away from earth, toward a planet called Infernum. Captain Holbrook, his right hand man, Stephens, a female physicist known as The Prophet, and an aught named Tentek are among the stars of our mission as they race to beat none other than the aughts to Infernum to harvest the Planck matter- a substance that can and will destroy the whole earth in the hands of the aughts.
Meanwhile, our heroes and heroines are up against battle after battle as even members of their own ship attempt to thwart the mission and abandon them in their desire to make a hasty return to earth.
Twists and turns abound in this thrilling race to save the earth. While it does take a fair amount of imagination to get into Adams’ world, the descriptions are easy to follow and paint clear pictures. It is easy to find yourself immersed in the galaxies of the aughts and travel through lightyears. Overall this is an excellent read! I couldn’t put it down the closer I got to the end.
We meet a wide variety of characters as we travel light years away from earth, toward a planet called Infernum. Captain Holbrook, his right hand man, Stephens, a female physicist known as The Prophet, and an aught named Tentek are among the stars of our mission as they race to beat none other than the aughts to Infernum to harvest the Planck matter- a substance that can and will destroy the whole earth in the hands of the aughts.
Meanwhile, our heroes and heroines are up against battle after battle as even members of their own ship attempt to thwart the mission and abandon them in their desire to make a hasty return to earth.
Twists and turns abound in this thrilling race to save the earth. While it does take a fair amount of imagination to get into Adams’ world, the descriptions are easy to follow and paint clear pictures. It is easy to find yourself immersed in the galaxies of the aughts and travel through lightyears. Overall this is an excellent read! I couldn’t put it down the closer I got to the end.
July 17, 2022
The Review
I absolutely loved this sci-fi read. The author was able to capture the raw emotions and world-building that Battlestar Galactica captured (the 2003 remake), without sacrificing the realistic dialogue and intensity that this narrative demands. The powerful themes that the author explores here, from philosophical debates of reincarnation and faith in a time of scientific discovery to the idea of AI gaining sentience and the dual nature of humanity between the darkest moments they exude and the hope that comes from their persistence for life all come crashing down into this layered and driven story.
It was the alternating POVs and rich character development that really drew me into the narrative. The interactions and ways in which these characters came together felt very natural in such a rich sci-fi story. Yet the way the author crafted a narrative that employed both original sci-fi elements and yet felt very grounded at the same time allowed for a more entertaining and gripping read.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, action-packed, and engaging, author Jayson Adams’s “Infernum” is a must-read sci-fi novel of 2022! The rich character development and balance of humanity with outstanding mythos made this story shine so brightly.
I absolutely loved this sci-fi read. The author was able to capture the raw emotions and world-building that Battlestar Galactica captured (the 2003 remake), without sacrificing the realistic dialogue and intensity that this narrative demands. The powerful themes that the author explores here, from philosophical debates of reincarnation and faith in a time of scientific discovery to the idea of AI gaining sentience and the dual nature of humanity between the darkest moments they exude and the hope that comes from their persistence for life all come crashing down into this layered and driven story.
It was the alternating POVs and rich character development that really drew me into the narrative. The interactions and ways in which these characters came together felt very natural in such a rich sci-fi story. Yet the way the author crafted a narrative that employed both original sci-fi elements and yet felt very grounded at the same time allowed for a more entertaining and gripping read.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, action-packed, and engaging, author Jayson Adams’s “Infernum” is a must-read sci-fi novel of 2022! The rich character development and balance of humanity with outstanding mythos made this story shine so brightly.
November 29, 2022
The sci-fi genre is the one that opens one's mind
What can happen to the world if our travel overcomes light speeds, and the weapons are upgraded to plasma blast?
Technology and threat go hand in hand. So what makes the technology reach its pinnacle?
Who is the enemy and how the enemy came into existence? That's altogether another story.
How a captain executed orders equivalent to suicide to his team? and How do the characters improve with time?
The story and character developments are more than decent. One will encounter situations regarding probabilities, plank matter, gravity drives, a cute tin man (apologies for using that word), and whatnot.
A good book for readers who are interested in Fiction, Sci-fi, and philosophy and who want to refresh their minds from their regular reading which doesn't involve science.
What can happen to the world if our travel overcomes light speeds, and the weapons are upgraded to plasma blast?
Technology and threat go hand in hand. So what makes the technology reach its pinnacle?
Who is the enemy and how the enemy came into existence? That's altogether another story.
How a captain executed orders equivalent to suicide to his team? and How do the characters improve with time?
The story and character developments are more than decent. One will encounter situations regarding probabilities, plank matter, gravity drives, a cute tin man (apologies for using that word), and whatnot.
A good book for readers who are interested in Fiction, Sci-fi, and philosophy and who want to refresh their minds from their regular reading which doesn't involve science.
February 11, 2022
Infernum by Jayson Adams is a well written science fiction novel set in the distant future. The characters are easily relatable and instantly likable. The story line follows seamlessly, with easy to follow transitions and dialogue. Adams does an admirable job in bringing the reader to this fictional world where robots and humans coexist. The plot of the story resembles some of the issues regarding technology that our society faces today. It is not out of the realm of possibility that a similar story line could emerge in the technologically advanced future. Despite my indifference towards the science fiction genre, I felt completely captivated while reading this masterful work. This just proves that Infernum is a book for all readers regardless of specific areas of interest.
October 13, 2023
I'm really more a fan of hard science fiction. My favorite author in that genre is Gregory Benford. This story certainly does not fit in that genre. So I'm prepared to make allowances for premises in Sci Fi writing that are needed to keep the plot moving such as faster than the speed of light space travel, faster than the speed of light communication, artificial gravity generators, and the list goes on. But one element in the story ignores basic thermodynamics, which is the dissipation of heat at high temperatures in a vacuum via radiation that I found to be quite galling. I'm certain that the author could have devised a scenario to resolve the dire situation of the space ship and its crew at that point in the story without resorting to bad physics!
February 11, 2022
"Infernum" by Jayson Adams is a military sci-fi thrilling odyssey that will captivate even the most hesitant reader.
Set in a futuristic world, the book subsumes elements of cyberpunk and androids along with an immersive plot culminating in a rewarding experience. Adams allots well-measured attention to each character making them remarkably fleshed out across the chapters.
The text is by no means a short read but its tightly written plot, creative world-building and the sublimity of the author will leave fans of this genre yearning for more. I certainly look forward to reading more of Adam's books.
Set in a futuristic world, the book subsumes elements of cyberpunk and androids along with an immersive plot culminating in a rewarding experience. Adams allots well-measured attention to each character making them remarkably fleshed out across the chapters.
The text is by no means a short read but its tightly written plot, creative world-building and the sublimity of the author will leave fans of this genre yearning for more. I certainly look forward to reading more of Adam's books.
October 8, 2022
I definitely recommend this book
I thought it was an excellent story. Sometimes that's all a reader really needs. Characters were very good and, though Scifi, the story seemed plausible. Yeah, there was some technobabble at times, that I know probably wasn't legit, but I'm no phycisist so who am I to say. The philosophical nature of the story, with regard to what it is to be human, was very well done as well. Adams does not beat the reader over the head with it, it just naturally flowed from the characters (both human and AI). I also appreciate the fact it is a standalone novel, that came to a satisfactory conclusion.
I thought it was an excellent story. Sometimes that's all a reader really needs. Characters were very good and, though Scifi, the story seemed plausible. Yeah, there was some technobabble at times, that I know probably wasn't legit, but I'm no phycisist so who am I to say. The philosophical nature of the story, with regard to what it is to be human, was very well done as well. Adams does not beat the reader over the head with it, it just naturally flowed from the characters (both human and AI). I also appreciate the fact it is a standalone novel, that came to a satisfactory conclusion.
March 24, 2022
It took me a little bit to get into "Infernum", as I'm new to futuristic science fiction. Once I got hooked, I couldn't put the story down. Jayson Adams did an excellent job with descriptions, plot, and dialogue that I could picture in my mind and lose myself in the story.
The plot twists and emotional strings were perfectly woven to pull you through the story easily. Besides external challenges, there are even internal threats that make "Infernum" exciting with every page.
I look forward to reading more books by Jayson Adams.
The plot twists and emotional strings were perfectly woven to pull you through the story easily. Besides external challenges, there are even internal threats that make "Infernum" exciting with every page.
I look forward to reading more books by Jayson Adams.
March 28, 2022
Once I got hooked, I was hooked.
It took me a little bit to get into "Infernum", as I'm new to futuristic science fiction. Once I got hooked, I couldn't put the story down. Jayson Adams did an excellent job with descriptions, plot, and dialogue that I could picture in my mind and lose myself in the story.
The plot twists and emotional strings were perfectly woven to pull you through the story easily. Besides external challenges, there are even internal threats that make "Infernum" exciting with every page.
I look forward to reading more books by Jayson Adams.
It took me a little bit to get into "Infernum", as I'm new to futuristic science fiction. Once I got hooked, I couldn't put the story down. Jayson Adams did an excellent job with descriptions, plot, and dialogue that I could picture in my mind and lose myself in the story.
The plot twists and emotional strings were perfectly woven to pull you through the story easily. Besides external challenges, there are even internal threats that make "Infernum" exciting with every page.
I look forward to reading more books by Jayson Adams.
June 16, 2022
A good SciFi
I rely on reviews from SciFi / Fantasy readers before reading a selection, unless I have read other books by an author. This book was a good story with Astrophysics not yet fully understood or proven. Theories add interest to the ongoing adventure. With that said, this book did not introduce or add more theories to my limited knowledge base, previously read in other SciFi.
I can recommend this book to a general audience because it opens the door to understanding our Universe.
I rely on reviews from SciFi / Fantasy readers before reading a selection, unless I have read other books by an author. This book was a good story with Astrophysics not yet fully understood or proven. Theories add interest to the ongoing adventure. With that said, this book did not introduce or add more theories to my limited knowledge base, previously read in other SciFi.
I can recommend this book to a general audience because it opens the door to understanding our Universe.
February 3, 2023
Never Trust an Android🚫
Tedious, overly detailed descriptions of scenes and actions mar this story of a Probable one way trip into the universe to save the earth.
I was disappointed in the way that some of the characters acted and what they did. What officer forgets his weapon on a known hostile and wild world?
This thing reads like a really bad horror story at times. The author has some of the characters do illogical things to set them up for failure. No one with a bit of common sense would put themselves at risk like these characters do.
I got this ebook from Amazon📚 with KU.
Tedious, overly detailed descriptions of scenes and actions mar this story of a Probable one way trip into the universe to save the earth.
I was disappointed in the way that some of the characters acted and what they did. What officer forgets his weapon on a known hostile and wild world?
This thing reads like a really bad horror story at times. The author has some of the characters do illogical things to set them up for failure. No one with a bit of common sense would put themselves at risk like these characters do.
I got this ebook from Amazon📚 with KU.
February 12, 2023
Enjoyed the book however I thought it was a bit truncated, plenty of background of the XO and the captain but nothing about the AI history. The acting captain and the hero ensign were quickly forgotten after rescuing the landing party, the mutineers could also have had a bit of time spent on their excuses etc after being captured again. I feel there could be more forthcoming but wouldn't like to guess how!!
Would recommend a read but feels there are gaps within the story.
Would recommend a read but feels there are gaps within the story.
March 3, 2023
great story with great hero’s and enemies
The captain and his crew are assigned a mission that meant certain death for all. During the mission there are amazing plot twists that lead you to believe that failure is the only possibility. Then amazing events, several, occur and the mission will succeed but wait….. this is a great read that has many surprises and an underlying mistrust/ hatred between humans and automation that actually gets resolved.
The captain and his crew are assigned a mission that meant certain death for all. During the mission there are amazing plot twists that lead you to believe that failure is the only possibility. Then amazing events, several, occur and the mission will succeed but wait….. this is a great read that has many surprises and an underlying mistrust/ hatred between humans and automation that actually gets resolved.
March 9, 2023
An excellent modern hard sci fi/space opera with interesting concepts and actual character development and character arcs. The only reason for my 4-star rating is that the two principal human villains are completely one-dimensional and are pure evil. Writing good, believable, nuanced villains can be difficult, and the author unfortunately does not deliver in that regard. I enjoyed everything else about the book, however.
September 1, 2024
Proactive example
The example given of what a proactive person does to resolve a difficult assignment was excellent and the characters developed accordingly. I haven't always lived up to that model behavior. Another good life lesson was about being a captain by acting like a captain. The consideration of how AIs might react to being confined to an autonomous but limited platform was an interesting insight.
The example given of what a proactive person does to resolve a difficult assignment was excellent and the characters developed accordingly. I haven't always lived up to that model behavior. Another good life lesson was about being a captain by acting like a captain. The consideration of how AIs might react to being confined to an autonomous but limited platform was an interesting insight.
June 8, 2023
A Good Read
I enjoyed reading this. The characters were fleshed out adequately explaining some of their foibles. And they sounded human and not "space heroes".
The AIs were interesting and just cold blooded enough. Id give it a 5 but the author got really wordy on some sections explaining sci-fi concepts that we didn't need.
I enjoyed reading this. The characters were fleshed out adequately explaining some of their foibles. And they sounded human and not "space heroes".
The AIs were interesting and just cold blooded enough. Id give it a 5 but the author got really wordy on some sections explaining sci-fi concepts that we didn't need.
February 14, 2024
Fun Sci-Fi Read
I had no idea what was in store for me with this novel. I tend not to read science fiction. But Infernum had good reviews, so I jumped in. I was not disappointed - I travelled to the center of the universe with the crew of the Avenger with more than a few bumps in the road - bumps that kept me turning pages.
I had no idea what was in store for me with this novel. I tend not to read science fiction. But Infernum had good reviews, so I jumped in. I was not disappointed - I travelled to the center of the universe with the crew of the Avenger with more than a few bumps in the road - bumps that kept me turning pages.
February 17, 2022
Entertaining
When the book is return of the future expect nothing but a lot imagination in term oftechnology. The book takes to a millennium later where human being are fighting against robots.
When the book is return of the future expect nothing but a lot imagination in term oftechnology. The book takes to a millennium later where human being are fighting against robots.
March 17, 2022
Captivating
I found this book difficult to put down. I was invested in the characters as well as the story. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an engaging sci-fi tale.
I found this book difficult to put down. I was invested in the characters as well as the story. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an engaging sci-fi tale.
July 13, 2022
His first book? Really???
If you are mesmerized by AI's, the wonders of the universe and thrills and chills on almost every page, then this is the book for you. Jason Adams writes like a seasoned pro. And like a fine wine, he will only get better!
If you are mesmerized by AI's, the wonders of the universe and thrills and chills on almost every page, then this is the book for you. Jason Adams writes like a seasoned pro. And like a fine wine, he will only get better!
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