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Big Sigma #1
BYPASS GEMINI (Unabridged CD) by Joseph R. Lallo (Big Sigma Series, Book 1), Read by John Forbes
In a distant future, Trevor "Lex" Alexander was shaping up to be the next great race pilot until a fixed race got him banned from the sport. Reduced to making freelance deliveries, he thinks his life can't get any worse. That's when a package manages to get him mixed up with mobsters, a megacorp, and a mad scientist. Now his life depends on learning what their plans are, and how he can stop them.
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First published May 3, 2011
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January 17, 2016
Recently I've been shepherding our fleet of office computers through a series of long, boring software upgrades, which meant a lot of downtime while waiting for the next reboot. Luckily, I had my phone with me, and a tempting selection of Kindle freebies to choose from... so: to the slush pile!
I'm happy to say that Bypass Gemini was... actually not half-bad. The free sample is pretty representative of the rest of the book: think '80s sci-fi pulp novel (the silly, self-referential kind, not the serious space opera kind) and you'll be on the right track. If you're looking for something complex or nuanced, this isn't your book; the hero is (mostly) Heroic, the villains are your generic EvilCorp, Inc., the spaceships are fast, water is wet. But though I went in feeling skeptical, I came out feeling... charmed is too strong a word, maybe, but at least cheerful -- I really miss the '80's style optimism in science-fiction. And maybe I've just overdosed on too much epic fantasy lately, but frankly it was just a relief to have a hero who wasn't the Chosen One for once, and who wasn't even particularly bright -- just a normal Everyman who survives by dumb luck and pure accident and the occasional hand from a friend. Hooray!
It's not high literature. It's pretty unapologetically just fluffy pulp fiction; the characters are entertaining enough, but there's not much substance to the plot. And as a minor quibble, it could still use an extra proofreading session or two (though that's really not uncommon to indie books in general). But on the whole, it was a good experiment: I finished it (tiny phone display notwithstanding), and smiled here and there, and thought fondly of Harry Harrison's old Stainless Steel Rat series. There's worse company to keep!
I'm happy to say that Bypass Gemini was... actually not half-bad. The free sample is pretty representative of the rest of the book: think '80s sci-fi pulp novel (the silly, self-referential kind, not the serious space opera kind) and you'll be on the right track. If you're looking for something complex or nuanced, this isn't your book; the hero is (mostly) Heroic, the villains are your generic EvilCorp, Inc., the spaceships are fast, water is wet. But though I went in feeling skeptical, I came out feeling... charmed is too strong a word, maybe, but at least cheerful -- I really miss the '80's style optimism in science-fiction. And maybe I've just overdosed on too much epic fantasy lately, but frankly it was just a relief to have a hero who wasn't the Chosen One for once, and who wasn't even particularly bright -- just a normal Everyman who survives by dumb luck and pure accident and the occasional hand from a friend. Hooray!
It's not high literature. It's pretty unapologetically just fluffy pulp fiction; the characters are entertaining enough, but there's not much substance to the plot. And as a minor quibble, it could still use an extra proofreading session or two (though that's really not uncommon to indie books in general). But on the whole, it was a good experiment: I finished it (tiny phone display notwithstanding), and smiled here and there, and thought fondly of Harry Harrison's old Stainless Steel Rat series. There's worse company to keep!
July 15, 2012
Buckle up for a trip to the distant future and a life and death space race in Bypass Gemini by Joseph Lallo.
A Little About Bypass Gemini:
Just when you think you've hit rock bottom...
Trevor "Lex" Alexander had it all - a celebrity career as one of the galaxy's greatest race pilots and all the glitz and glamour that goes with it...until his ties with the mob get him tossed from the racing world and send him spiraling to society's dregs. Reduced to nothing more than a nickel and dime currier, when he's not toting the occasional "questionable" parcel, Lex seems to be coming to terms with his new lot in life...until a mysterious woman sends him on what could be his last delivery.
The writing is smooth, incorporating a natural flow of humor into this action-packed sci-fi suspense. Lallo uses a first-person to focus on a few highly-entertaining supporting characters who provide color and context to thisG riveting plot - a down on his luck dark horse against a powerful criminal syndicate and all the might of the galaxy's corporate and political powers.
The science fiction is fantastic - doesn't drag you into lengthy explanations and Lallo ties it in seamlessly with characters and plot, making it easy for the casual reader to "get it" while also appealing to the diehard tech-geek. While the story won't necessarily grab you emotionally, the action and humor make this a page turner and a lot of fun.
About the Author:
Probably better known for his award-winning work in fantasy, this is Joseph Lallo's first big step into the SciFi genre. He holds a Master's Degree in Computer Engineering and works in Information Technology. When not crunching numbers, he owns and operates BrainLazy.com along with two friends. He makes his home in Bayonne, NJ, where he has lived all of his life.
Tom Clementson (Kindle Book Review)
Be sure to take a moment and leave your feedback and comments about the book.
A Little About Bypass Gemini:
Just when you think you've hit rock bottom...
Trevor "Lex" Alexander had it all - a celebrity career as one of the galaxy's greatest race pilots and all the glitz and glamour that goes with it...until his ties with the mob get him tossed from the racing world and send him spiraling to society's dregs. Reduced to nothing more than a nickel and dime currier, when he's not toting the occasional "questionable" parcel, Lex seems to be coming to terms with his new lot in life...until a mysterious woman sends him on what could be his last delivery.
The writing is smooth, incorporating a natural flow of humor into this action-packed sci-fi suspense. Lallo uses a first-person to focus on a few highly-entertaining supporting characters who provide color and context to thisG riveting plot - a down on his luck dark horse against a powerful criminal syndicate and all the might of the galaxy's corporate and political powers.
The science fiction is fantastic - doesn't drag you into lengthy explanations and Lallo ties it in seamlessly with characters and plot, making it easy for the casual reader to "get it" while also appealing to the diehard tech-geek. While the story won't necessarily grab you emotionally, the action and humor make this a page turner and a lot of fun.
About the Author:
Probably better known for his award-winning work in fantasy, this is Joseph Lallo's first big step into the SciFi genre. He holds a Master's Degree in Computer Engineering and works in Information Technology. When not crunching numbers, he owns and operates BrainLazy.com along with two friends. He makes his home in Bayonne, NJ, where he has lived all of his life.
Tom Clementson (Kindle Book Review)
Be sure to take a moment and leave your feedback and comments about the book.
December 29, 2017
A fun and entertaining story. The main character starts out as a more-or-less amiable loser who's struggling with a bad situation largely of his own manufacture, but he is making some attempt not to make matters worse by getting involved (again) with organised crime.
As the story progresses, he steps up and acts increasingly unselfishly, using his one skill (he's a hot-shot pilot) and a number of powerful pieces of experimental technology obtained from a psychotic inventor to pull off highly unlikely, but entertaining escapes and escapades.
Unfortunately, the author doesn't know the coordinate comma rule, has a habit of dropping small words (like "a", "the", and "to") out of sentences or of swapping one for another (he/the), makes several common homonym errors (discrete/discreet, breech/breach, sensor/censor), and sometimes uses an exclamation point and a question mark in the same sentence. I found the frequency of these errors, and a few others, distracting. His worst, and most disconcerting, habit is to use "he" not to refer to the last person mentioned, as is usual, but to the other person in the conversation, which happened several times and disoriented me for a moment each time.
Otherwise, this was an amusing space opera/thriller that reminded me of Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat books, in a good way. Nothing in it bears very close examination as science, but if you just go along with it, it's enjoyable.
Note for pet lovers: at the point where you might be tempted to give up on the book, don't. Read on a little further.
As the story progresses, he steps up and acts increasingly unselfishly, using his one skill (he's a hot-shot pilot) and a number of powerful pieces of experimental technology obtained from a psychotic inventor to pull off highly unlikely, but entertaining escapes and escapades.
Unfortunately, the author doesn't know the coordinate comma rule, has a habit of dropping small words (like "a", "the", and "to") out of sentences or of swapping one for another (he/the), makes several common homonym errors (discrete/discreet, breech/breach, sensor/censor), and sometimes uses an exclamation point and a question mark in the same sentence. I found the frequency of these errors, and a few others, distracting. His worst, and most disconcerting, habit is to use "he" not to refer to the last person mentioned, as is usual, but to the other person in the conversation, which happened several times and disoriented me for a moment each time.
Otherwise, this was an amusing space opera/thriller that reminded me of Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat books, in a good way. Nothing in it bears very close examination as science, but if you just go along with it, it's enjoyable.
Note for pet lovers: at the point where you might be tempted to give up on the book, don't. Read on a little further.
November 3, 2020
Oh yeah, that was excellent fun. This is so the series I need to binge right now.
May 28, 2015
I keep going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars, because while this book was reductive and a little long-winded, it was also hilarious. It comes from a place of friendly ribbing of established tropes in naval sci-fi and cyberpunk. I actually laughed aloud in a few spots, and I read it almost straight through. I'm a sucker for cyberpunk...
April 16, 2021
The characters are achingly stereotyped but the story is pretty decent and worth reading just for the sociopathic mad scientist, his genetically engineered pet and his AI who specialises in petty revenge.
February 13, 2017
Cross Roger Moore-era James Bond (humor and gadgets) with old-fashioned space opera, add a touch of hard-boiled noir for flavor, and finish it off with a scoop of Han Solo. That's about how this book feels.
The plot, naturally, is relatively straightforward and simple. A down-on-his-luck racer gets roped into a courier job, taking a mysterious woman's equally mysterious package across the galaxy while avoiding any... entanglements with the authorities. Along the way, he runs into a certifiably-mad (and proud of it!) hermit scientist, a maternal AI, an ex-girlfriend, gangsters, and an evil corporate plot.
The fun is in the telling, of course. The action keeps pumping, and some of the puns are positively groanworthy, enough for me to (mostly) overlook the editing issues I found. I think Karter may be my favorite character.
I'm giving this a solid four stars, and although I won't be starting it just yet, I already have the sequel (and book three) waiting. Call that four stars a five-star rating for pure fun, docked by one star for the number of (admittedly minor) editing problems.
The plot, naturally, is relatively straightforward and simple. A down-on-his-luck racer gets roped into a courier job, taking a mysterious woman's equally mysterious package across the galaxy while avoiding any... entanglements with the authorities. Along the way, he runs into a certifiably-mad (and proud of it!) hermit scientist, a maternal AI, an ex-girlfriend, gangsters, and an evil corporate plot.
The fun is in the telling, of course. The action keeps pumping, and some of the puns are positively groanworthy, enough for me to (mostly) overlook the editing issues I found. I think Karter may be my favorite character.
I'm giving this a solid four stars, and although I won't be starting it just yet, I already have the sequel (and book three) waiting. Call that four stars a five-star rating for pure fun, docked by one star for the number of (admittedly minor) editing problems.
January 28, 2013
If you follow my reviews, you'll know that I rarely give a book 5 stars. Maybe I'm overly critical, maybe I'm just too damn picky, but few books--in my opinion--deserve top marks.
Joseph Lallo's "Bypass Gemini" deserves 5 stars.
Mr. Lallo was a fellow finalist in the "Kindle Book Review's Top Indie Books of 2012". We exchanged books as a professional courtesy. I am now convinced I got the better end of that exchange. This book was well written, had excellent pacing, and possessed enough dry wit and bad puns to have me laughing well past my bedtime.
Read more at: http://cassandradavis-author.blogspot...
Joseph Lallo's "Bypass Gemini" deserves 5 stars.
Mr. Lallo was a fellow finalist in the "Kindle Book Review's Top Indie Books of 2012". We exchanged books as a professional courtesy. I am now convinced I got the better end of that exchange. This book was well written, had excellent pacing, and possessed enough dry wit and bad puns to have me laughing well past my bedtime.
Read more at: http://cassandradavis-author.blogspot...
December 27, 2018
Enjoyable space romp
September 6, 2023
This was only okay. The action was good, the main character was well done. But several of the supporting characters and some of the dialogue felt clunky and forced.
April 13, 2025
First we have a chase, on a planet, and we learn something about his past, and his girlfriend, and possibly the past with his girlfriend. Delivering packages that people don’t want to send through normal channels is what Lex specialises in. His spacecraft is perfect for keeping him unnoticed when he’s somewhere he hasn’t got a permit for. And when he makes it unnoticed to the delivery point, all the bells start ringing, and he decides to get out the most obscure way possible. Except that leaping off buildings and running over rush hour cars is pretty well guaranteed to get him on network news. And guess who the girlfriend works for?
Then we have chase to get out of the system. For reasons I can’t remember, he ends up (possibly crashing) on the planet Big Sigma, which is basically the junk heap of the universe. And inside the only habitable facility, things are run by a psychotic scientist/ inventor with the help of some very I AI. And she takes to Lex because he treats her like a person.
I won’t spoil the rest of this plot, except to say it’s ingenious, the tech is seriously advanced and weird, and if you want something to blow up the entire universe, this scientist’s your man. Fortunately Lex devises a plan to stop him…which also involves getting media attention at the home of all those people who were chasing him.
I loved it so much, I went pretty much straight on to the next one.
Then we have chase to get out of the system. For reasons I can’t remember, he ends up (possibly crashing) on the planet Big Sigma, which is basically the junk heap of the universe. And inside the only habitable facility, things are run by a psychotic scientist/ inventor with the help of some very I AI. And she takes to Lex because he treats her like a person.
I won’t spoil the rest of this plot, except to say it’s ingenious, the tech is seriously advanced and weird, and if you want something to blow up the entire universe, this scientist’s your man. Fortunately Lex devises a plan to stop him…which also involves getting media attention at the home of all those people who were chasing him.
I loved it so much, I went pretty much straight on to the next one.
December 29, 2015
Space Opera. Aventuras espaciales. Light Sci Fi. El estilo de escritura me recordó más la fantasía que SciFi, pero como el autor lo reconoce en sus palabras finales, su especialidad es la Fantasía.
Bueno, ligero, con personajes entretenidos.
Bueno, ligero, con personajes entretenidos.
August 18, 2019
It took awhile for me to get into this, and I nearly gave up in the first chapter, having been seriously put off by the sheer weight of information dumping. Made worse by the fact that a lot of the information being dumped wasn't even necessary for the plot. As, for example, in the long paragraph given over to the describing the 'slidepad', a device that (we are informed) performs the functions of a cell phone, a PDA and so on. The information is hardly necessary for the main character who is using it, so it's very obviously just background for the readers - all the more obviously since it uses comparisons with our current technology, such as cell phones and PDA's. (Which the main character, not being a historian, would have no knowledge of or interest in).
Call me pedantic, but it bothers me when an author leaves the nuts and bolts hanging out. Especially as there are much less clumsy ways of communicating necessary information. Just show your main character using the thing, it'll soon become obvious what it's for.
There are good reasons why large scale information dumps like this are discouraged. For one thing it slows the pace right down, so what should be a fast and lively action / thriller like this one, actually takes ages to lumber out of the starting blocks and start building up some speed. Also, too many references to present day technology make the whole thing look like a standard thriller plot with a few hi-tech gadgets bolted on.
In spite of which, I persevered, and it did get better. The characters developed, the plot picked up a bit of steam, and (Spoiler alert!) the crash landing on a planet populated only by a mad (as in homicidal) inventor and an AI with attitude gave the whole thing some quirky interest. Mainly in trying to work out which of the inventors weird devices would be used in the plot, and how.
It worked it's way up to quite a good ending, with most ends neatly tied off and a few left dangling for another story.
So if you can get through the first few chapters, and as long as information dumps don't wind you up even more than they do me, this is a light, fast and eventually enjoyable read. Nothing too heavy, nothing too deep, nothing that's going to seriously challenge your world-view. But fun.
(NB I bought this as part of the 'Galactic Empires' multi pack).
Call me pedantic, but it bothers me when an author leaves the nuts and bolts hanging out. Especially as there are much less clumsy ways of communicating necessary information. Just show your main character using the thing, it'll soon become obvious what it's for.
There are good reasons why large scale information dumps like this are discouraged. For one thing it slows the pace right down, so what should be a fast and lively action / thriller like this one, actually takes ages to lumber out of the starting blocks and start building up some speed. Also, too many references to present day technology make the whole thing look like a standard thriller plot with a few hi-tech gadgets bolted on.
In spite of which, I persevered, and it did get better. The characters developed, the plot picked up a bit of steam, and (Spoiler alert!) the crash landing on a planet populated only by a mad (as in homicidal) inventor and an AI with attitude gave the whole thing some quirky interest. Mainly in trying to work out which of the inventors weird devices would be used in the plot, and how.
It worked it's way up to quite a good ending, with most ends neatly tied off and a few left dangling for another story.
So if you can get through the first few chapters, and as long as information dumps don't wind you up even more than they do me, this is a light, fast and eventually enjoyable read. Nothing too heavy, nothing too deep, nothing that's going to seriously challenge your world-view. But fun.
(NB I bought this as part of the 'Galactic Empires' multi pack).
September 26, 2018
Now this is a writer who is obviously having fun.
Admittedly there's a thin line between a writer having a lot of fun with a story and the story becoming a little ridiculous and this book does seem to skim a little close to that line on occasion, and then it's just up to the reader whether they might feel that line has been crossed. For me, at least, i just enjoyed this as a totally fun read. And right about now in my life i really needed a good fun read.
While my normal taste in sci-fi is rather highbrow - Le Guin, etc. - this book came like a refreshing breath of fresh air in it's nothing but a full on romp around the galaxy with broad array of characters and shenangians. Yes, there's a serious side to it, millions are going to die unless our protagonist can sort his shit out, but that doesn't hold Joseph back from having fun with it along the way.
As in all of Joseph's books, the characters are wonderful, widely varied and really brought to life, leaving you wanting further appearances in future books.
You can find this book for free on Amazon and then if you like it you can buy the rest of the series - so it's a proper 'try before you buy'. And i think that's another great thing about Joseph, in that he gives away the first books in his 3 series as tasters and then let's the reader make their own minds up freely as to whether they want more or not. I got hooked in this way on 'Book of Deacon' then 'Free Wrench' and now this. And that for me is the mark of a good book, do you buy the rest of the series or walk away and never come back? The answer to all 3 of Joseph's series is yes, yes and yes again for me. I bought the rest of the books to this series straight away and can't wait to read more.
So get yourselves over to Amazon and give Joseph's writing a try if you haven't already done so. For fantasy you want 'Book of Deacon', for steampunk 'Free Wrench' and sci-fi it's this book 'Bypass Gemini'.
Admittedly there's a thin line between a writer having a lot of fun with a story and the story becoming a little ridiculous and this book does seem to skim a little close to that line on occasion, and then it's just up to the reader whether they might feel that line has been crossed. For me, at least, i just enjoyed this as a totally fun read. And right about now in my life i really needed a good fun read.
While my normal taste in sci-fi is rather highbrow - Le Guin, etc. - this book came like a refreshing breath of fresh air in it's nothing but a full on romp around the galaxy with broad array of characters and shenangians. Yes, there's a serious side to it, millions are going to die unless our protagonist can sort his shit out, but that doesn't hold Joseph back from having fun with it along the way.
As in all of Joseph's books, the characters are wonderful, widely varied and really brought to life, leaving you wanting further appearances in future books.
You can find this book for free on Amazon and then if you like it you can buy the rest of the series - so it's a proper 'try before you buy'. And i think that's another great thing about Joseph, in that he gives away the first books in his 3 series as tasters and then let's the reader make their own minds up freely as to whether they want more or not. I got hooked in this way on 'Book of Deacon' then 'Free Wrench' and now this. And that for me is the mark of a good book, do you buy the rest of the series or walk away and never come back? The answer to all 3 of Joseph's series is yes, yes and yes again for me. I bought the rest of the books to this series straight away and can't wait to read more.
So get yourselves over to Amazon and give Joseph's writing a try if you haven't already done so. For fantasy you want 'Book of Deacon', for steampunk 'Free Wrench' and sci-fi it's this book 'Bypass Gemini'.
April 14, 2024
It was my boyfriend who convinced me to give this series a try and while I can say why he likes it, it's definitely not something I would have ever picked up on my own. Granted, there isn't anything really wrong with it. I'm just not a sci-fi or racing fan, So there wasn't much in here for me.
The characters in this book are all serviceable, but nothing special. Lex is a perfectly serviceable bland male protagonist, completely inoffensive and enjoyable enough but not special in any way. However, he did manage to make me realize that writers really need to figure out a new way to convey that a male character is a washed-up loser because I was able to guess just about every introductory plot point. He is late on rent and other bills, he lives off of takeout and fast food, and he has an ex-girlfriend whose way out of his league but who still has feelings for him.
The secondary main character, Carter, is more enjoyable on the merits of being more of a character. Loud, eccentric, and a major jerk but he's useful and funny. The hints of his back story we get are also pretty interesting, And I'm hoping more of that is explored in later books. There's also the AI MA, who's just at a delight on top of being the most helpful character to Lex.
Plotwise there's nothing really special about this book. It's your standard on-the-run corporate thriller, just in space. But it's serviceable when I was never bored. Some of the world-building was a lot of fun, though a lot of page time was spent explaining all of it. Also, when did it get decided that the universal currency of the future was the vaguely named "credit(s)"?
The characters in this book are all serviceable, but nothing special. Lex is a perfectly serviceable bland male protagonist, completely inoffensive and enjoyable enough but not special in any way. However, he did manage to make me realize that writers really need to figure out a new way to convey that a male character is a washed-up loser because I was able to guess just about every introductory plot point. He is late on rent and other bills, he lives off of takeout and fast food, and he has an ex-girlfriend whose way out of his league but who still has feelings for him.
The secondary main character, Carter, is more enjoyable on the merits of being more of a character. Loud, eccentric, and a major jerk but he's useful and funny. The hints of his back story we get are also pretty interesting, And I'm hoping more of that is explored in later books. There's also the AI MA, who's just at a delight on top of being the most helpful character to Lex.
Plotwise there's nothing really special about this book. It's your standard on-the-run corporate thriller, just in space. But it's serviceable when I was never bored. Some of the world-building was a lot of fun, though a lot of page time was spent explaining all of it. Also, when did it get decided that the universal currency of the future was the vaguely named "credit(s)"?
May 23, 2020
My Newest Sci-Fi Hero!
In Bypass Gemini, the first volume in his Big Sigma series, Joseph R. Lallo has given me my newest science fiction Hero! I have been reading science fiction from its earliest days. My first sci-fi hero was John Carter of Mars, the creation of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Then followed so many others. I do not wish to reveal any plot spoilers; so, I will just say that Lallo's Dr. Dee is the coolest sci-fi character I have seen in years!
I know some of you will prefer the protagonist, Lex, who really is an awesome space mayhem pilot and all-around cool guy. however, as someone who is a lifelong science and engineering geek, I can't imagine a better personal hero than the mad genius in the background who makes all that exciting stuff in the foreground possible, Karter Dee! The guy who applies scientific principles to solve ... "real" ... world problems so that Lex can save the day? Well, that's my kind of guy! Even if he does have a psychological problem here or there.
Hmmm. Some of you may even prefer Ma!
If you love space opera and space tech novels Bypass Gemini is a must read!
Enjoy!
In Bypass Gemini, the first volume in his Big Sigma series, Joseph R. Lallo has given me my newest science fiction Hero! I have been reading science fiction from its earliest days. My first sci-fi hero was John Carter of Mars, the creation of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Then followed so many others. I do not wish to reveal any plot spoilers; so, I will just say that Lallo's Dr. Dee is the coolest sci-fi character I have seen in years!
I know some of you will prefer the protagonist, Lex, who really is an awesome space mayhem pilot and all-around cool guy. however, as someone who is a lifelong science and engineering geek, I can't imagine a better personal hero than the mad genius in the background who makes all that exciting stuff in the foreground possible, Karter Dee! The guy who applies scientific principles to solve ... "real" ... world problems so that Lex can save the day? Well, that's my kind of guy! Even if he does have a psychological problem here or there.
Hmmm. Some of you may even prefer Ma!
If you love space opera and space tech novels Bypass Gemini is a must read!
Enjoy!
August 13, 2020
My one-star rating is probably a bit unfair, given that I'm slowly learning sci-fi may not be up my alley. But I believe there are enough stories out there that might enthrall me, so I'm not going to give up on the genre. Unfortunately, so much as the genre may have a handicap against my reading tastes, this novel didn't do enough to overcome it. The synopsis left me wondering if the whole casserole of interstellar travel, a greedy corporation, a mad scientist on a distant planet, and a mob syndicate would leave me cleaning up my plate, or banishing the recipe to the nearest landfill. I guess it ended up being the latter.
My disclaimer if you are a hardcore sci-fi reader is to take my review with a grain of salt. I just never felt excited about picking it up to continue to the next page. I did enjoy the scenes with Karter and Ma, and I feel like I could have warmed to this novel more if they featured more prominently. But of course, that would mean either more pages, or it would have to come at the expense of some of the other characters.
My disclaimer if you are a hardcore sci-fi reader is to take my review with a grain of salt. I just never felt excited about picking it up to continue to the next page. I did enjoy the scenes with Karter and Ma, and I feel like I could have warmed to this novel more if they featured more prominently. But of course, that would mean either more pages, or it would have to come at the expense of some of the other characters.
December 28, 2018
Have you read the Dresden Files? This book was good but I felt like the main character was a less enjoyable Harry Dresden, and the main character's crazy "friend" was a less enjoyable Bob. This book reminded me of another book too but I can't remember the second one anymore. I thought it was okay. I had a good time with it, although I wasn't really invested in the plot.
Man, now it's gonna bother me forever what that second book this book reminded me of was... The Martian maybe?
I will say though that the humor in this book totally nailed it for me. That's really what kept me going. In the final act there's a scene that had me out loud laughing too. Not very many books can get me there nowadays.
Overall, it was a good book. Glad I read it. Not sure if I'll continue with the series but who knows. Maybe.
Man, now it's gonna bother me forever what that second book this book reminded me of was... The Martian maybe?
I will say though that the humor in this book totally nailed it for me. That's really what kept me going. In the final act there's a scene that had me out loud laughing too. Not very many books can get me there nowadays.
Overall, it was a good book. Glad I read it. Not sure if I'll continue with the series but who knows. Maybe.
January 23, 2025
This is a solid piece of pulp sci-fi. The characters are fun and unique, the plot is engaging. It would make a great action comedy movie.
It isn't perfect. Every time a piece of new technology or company is introduced, the narrator pauses to give us some exposition on its history. Why it was created, how it works, and often explaining its analog in real life. I didn't mind it too much, but it usually took me out of the story for a minute.
I'll definitely be continuing the series, I had a great time.
spoiler comments below
I feel like the whole personality of "Diamond Nick" changed from first and second meetings. I like the way both were written, but they just felt so different. But I could be forgetting something there.
Also there's a bounty hunter named "Fisk." Again, not taking the time to look it up, but I'm pretty sure there was also a hunter named Fisk in the Free Wrench series? Probably misremembering.
It isn't perfect. Every time a piece of new technology or company is introduced, the narrator pauses to give us some exposition on its history. Why it was created, how it works, and often explaining its analog in real life. I didn't mind it too much, but it usually took me out of the story for a minute.
I'll definitely be continuing the series, I had a great time.
spoiler comments below
I feel like the whole personality of "Diamond Nick" changed from first and second meetings. I like the way both were written, but they just felt so different. But I could be forgetting something there.
Also there's a bounty hunter named "Fisk." Again, not taking the time to look it up, but I'm pretty sure there was also a hunter named Fisk in the Free Wrench series? Probably misremembering.
November 2, 2019
Son of Gene Roddenberry?
This guy is a genius! I'm reminded of Star Trek writer Gene Roddenberry who "invented" the cell phone, warp drive, countless races and life forms, improved the ray gun (phaser) that could be set to kill or stun, and countless other ideas that science will one day provide; all while telling an exciting tale with just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek humor. In other words: IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF FUN! I especially appreciate having ONE central character and ONE timeline without bouncing back and forth from pesent to past, past to past, present to past.... All sometimes confusing. Not Lallo though. Easy to read and follow.
This guy is a genius! I'm reminded of Star Trek writer Gene Roddenberry who "invented" the cell phone, warp drive, countless races and life forms, improved the ray gun (phaser) that could be set to kill or stun, and countless other ideas that science will one day provide; all while telling an exciting tale with just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek humor. In other words: IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF FUN! I especially appreciate having ONE central character and ONE timeline without bouncing back and forth from pesent to past, past to past, present to past.... All sometimes confusing. Not Lallo though. Easy to read and follow.
January 27, 2022
Bypass Gemini is the story of a young man who is having a hard time. This tale is set in a science-fiction future, far in the future. Our hero is basically a good guy, even though he has to cut corners constantly just to survive.
When the protagonist discovers an evil plot to kill many people, he risks everything to uncover it. The best part is that the whole story is told with a tongue-in-cheek humor.
I was reading this in a compilation when I realized I had read it before. I just read it again, and I’m glad I did. I recommend this for anyone who likes their Science Fiction with a dash of humor.
When the protagonist discovers an evil plot to kill many people, he risks everything to uncover it. The best part is that the whole story is told with a tongue-in-cheek humor.
I was reading this in a compilation when I realized I had read it before. I just read it again, and I’m glad I did. I recommend this for anyone who likes their Science Fiction with a dash of humor.
January 30, 2020
This book was tolerable because the author kept everything moving fast, with plenty of action.
The main character was relatively annoying, and relatively incompetent with anything that didn't involve piloting. My biggest annoyance was he treated technology just like some authors treat magic. Completely non-logical, and fixing anything required with little pre-work done.
Your tech should at least make logical sense, even if you couldn't give science behind it. Stuff in this book was all over the place. I'm not going to continue this series, but I might try another one by this author.
The main character was relatively annoying, and relatively incompetent with anything that didn't involve piloting. My biggest annoyance was he treated technology just like some authors treat magic. Completely non-logical, and fixing anything required with little pre-work done.
Your tech should at least make logical sense, even if you couldn't give science behind it. Stuff in this book was all over the place. I'm not going to continue this series, but I might try another one by this author.
May 24, 2020
The book starts out as another sky pilot who has lost his way - mostly through his own fault and failings. You really want to just shelve it and forget it - he is a loser. But hang in there because things are about to pick up.
He picks up a mysterious package for his intergalactic courier business. The next thing you know he feels he has to save the universe. Of course I just skipped all the good action and adventure parts. He really uses all the magic sci-fi that is available to him courtesy of a mysterious inventor and engineer.
Enjoy the trip, it's quite a ride.
He picks up a mysterious package for his intergalactic courier business. The next thing you know he feels he has to save the universe. Of course I just skipped all the good action and adventure parts. He really uses all the magic sci-fi that is available to him courtesy of a mysterious inventor and engineer.
Enjoy the trip, it's quite a ride.
June 15, 2022
What I thought was a scifi fan's wet dream turned into a very solid scifi epic.
I wasn't thinking much when I read Bypass/Big Sigma, but it grows on you real fast, like Kessler Syndrome. Unfortunately for us all, the author has discovered some kind of hybrid beast of likable, lovable hybrid in dog/skunk/AI-woman, and exploited them to the fullest extent in the later books...don't get addicted to this series if you aren't prepared.
10/10....what great scifi should be, and what fun (but still good) relationship/hero's journey should be.
I wasn't thinking much when I read Bypass/Big Sigma, but it grows on you real fast, like Kessler Syndrome. Unfortunately for us all, the author has discovered some kind of hybrid beast of likable, lovable hybrid in dog/skunk/AI-woman, and exploited them to the fullest extent in the later books...don't get addicted to this series if you aren't prepared.
10/10....what great scifi should be, and what fun (but still good) relationship/hero's journey should be.
May 19, 2012
Shooting out of the darkness, dodging plasma cannons, flying in full stealth mode, blasting with EMP pulses, dumping engine heat as a weapon, flying out of windows, wrestling with security forces, using invisibility devices, making friends with insane engineers, planning with AIs, all this and more happens in this amazing book. It is one exciting, seat-of-the-pants, rollercoaster ride through space and as Joseph Lallo turns his hand to Science Fiction.
Our hero Trevor " Lex " Alexander used to be a race car driver, but he fixed a race by losing, and got caught, and because he's an adrenalin junky and a really good race car driver / ship pilot - he starts a courier service. The object of the courier service is to get a single item from point A to point B without anyone knowing that it happened, especially the authorities or the competition. You can see how this might attract some less than legal types of client. Btw, he also has a side businesses as a Limo driver. You can get there sedately, quickly, or insanely quickly depedant on price.
There's only one slight little problem, Lex took on a courier job for a lady who handed him a briefcase and wanted delivered to a planet six days away- no problem right? Wrong! She turns up dead a few days later, on a shuttle with 26 other people, that VectorCorp killed just to get her. Now they're after Lex. Who is VectorCorp? The biggest company in the galaxy - they own all the trade routes through space (except the middle), and all the communication channels and equipment in the galaxy. If they owned an army, they could crush everybody. And now they want to crush Lex because of what's in that briefcase.
After this, hold on to your hats, it's time to blast off. Once VectorCorp comes after him, all bets are off. First there are plasma cannons, EMP pulses, dives through space junk, full hull integrity breaches, spectacular crashlandings, buses, snippy AIs, insane engineers, new ships, cop ambushes, auto hopping, planet flights, briefcase searchings, mob threatenings, crazy autopilot, fighting with lasers and black holes, old ship made new, brainstorming, planning with the AI, on to the Mother Planet, video dispersal, jumping out a 70 story window, playing with the cops, and home again. It all happens at about Mach 2, as you simply can't read fast enough to keep up with the action ( Evelyn Wood, where are you when I needed you?).
Mr. Joseph Lallo, you've done it again! First it was fantasy, now science fiction. I'm sure you could write anything you put your mind to. What's next? Horror? Paranormal? More Epic Fantasy, please? You are the most under rated writer on the market when you should have fame similar to Tolkein or Frank Herbert. Your writing is so exemplary, it just needs the right cross genre exposure to get you properly appreciated.
The characterization in the book is brilliant as always for Lallo. Even the AI, called Ma, (who I love), has distinctive modes of communicating with Lex and Karter, (the insane engineer), Ma even admits to pretending to be human when Lex admits that he talks to her like one. Karter is a great example of a personality in complete freefall. With no medication, he is borderline on some conditions, full blown on others, the combination makes him more than unstable, it makes him certifiably insane - he has the paper to prove it. Lallo does insane masterfully! The AI has learned how to manipulate him after 30 years. That's good too because he get's homicidally violent without Ma. Even Lallo's secondary characters get royal treatment. Agent Fisk from VectorCorp, is clearly a militaristic hunter, later, we find antique weapons in his office and notches in his desk for the people he has hunted down and killed. It was clear that he was extreme when he survived his DAR crash, and came inside the building, plasma gun in hand. His end was so ironic as to be hilarious! Death by cuteness! Who but Lallo could think that up?
As I've already said, the pace of the book was Mach 2 and beyond, the whole book is one solid piece of dramatic tension which doesn't let up until the last final pages after Lex gets home, and meets his new Landlord's Assistant and Michelle. There don't seem to be any transitions in the book, just one magic carpet ride at Mach 2 with Lex while hoping you both make it out the other side alive. This book is definitely first person POV Lex all the way through - and that's how it should be. The dialogue in the book was masterful as well. Mostly it's between Lex, Ma and Karter. Everyone else is just issuing warnings or threats. Because Ma is on Lex's side and is managing Karter, some of the conversations are pretty funny. Some even include props. You heard that one about the insane engineer, the racer and the AI all walk into a bar... Just joking...
The next book in the series is Unstoppable Prototypes and that's what I'm reading next. I would recommend this book to both sci-fi and fantasy lovers. I would also recommend it to gamers, engineers, and people who are into adventures and mysteries because there's a great one in this book, it just happens in the future. And of course, anyone looking for a thumping good read, look no further - it's right here in front of you! At this price, it's either half a cup of coffee at your favorite cafe or buying the book. I know what I'd do - I already did it!
Our hero Trevor " Lex " Alexander used to be a race car driver, but he fixed a race by losing, and got caught, and because he's an adrenalin junky and a really good race car driver / ship pilot - he starts a courier service. The object of the courier service is to get a single item from point A to point B without anyone knowing that it happened, especially the authorities or the competition. You can see how this might attract some less than legal types of client. Btw, he also has a side businesses as a Limo driver. You can get there sedately, quickly, or insanely quickly depedant on price.
There's only one slight little problem, Lex took on a courier job for a lady who handed him a briefcase and wanted delivered to a planet six days away- no problem right? Wrong! She turns up dead a few days later, on a shuttle with 26 other people, that VectorCorp killed just to get her. Now they're after Lex. Who is VectorCorp? The biggest company in the galaxy - they own all the trade routes through space (except the middle), and all the communication channels and equipment in the galaxy. If they owned an army, they could crush everybody. And now they want to crush Lex because of what's in that briefcase.
After this, hold on to your hats, it's time to blast off. Once VectorCorp comes after him, all bets are off. First there are plasma cannons, EMP pulses, dives through space junk, full hull integrity breaches, spectacular crashlandings, buses, snippy AIs, insane engineers, new ships, cop ambushes, auto hopping, planet flights, briefcase searchings, mob threatenings, crazy autopilot, fighting with lasers and black holes, old ship made new, brainstorming, planning with the AI, on to the Mother Planet, video dispersal, jumping out a 70 story window, playing with the cops, and home again. It all happens at about Mach 2, as you simply can't read fast enough to keep up with the action ( Evelyn Wood, where are you when I needed you?).
Mr. Joseph Lallo, you've done it again! First it was fantasy, now science fiction. I'm sure you could write anything you put your mind to. What's next? Horror? Paranormal? More Epic Fantasy, please? You are the most under rated writer on the market when you should have fame similar to Tolkein or Frank Herbert. Your writing is so exemplary, it just needs the right cross genre exposure to get you properly appreciated.
The characterization in the book is brilliant as always for Lallo. Even the AI, called Ma, (who I love), has distinctive modes of communicating with Lex and Karter, (the insane engineer), Ma even admits to pretending to be human when Lex admits that he talks to her like one. Karter is a great example of a personality in complete freefall. With no medication, he is borderline on some conditions, full blown on others, the combination makes him more than unstable, it makes him certifiably insane - he has the paper to prove it. Lallo does insane masterfully! The AI has learned how to manipulate him after 30 years. That's good too because he get's homicidally violent without Ma. Even Lallo's secondary characters get royal treatment. Agent Fisk from VectorCorp, is clearly a militaristic hunter, later, we find antique weapons in his office and notches in his desk for the people he has hunted down and killed. It was clear that he was extreme when he survived his DAR crash, and came inside the building, plasma gun in hand. His end was so ironic as to be hilarious! Death by cuteness! Who but Lallo could think that up?
As I've already said, the pace of the book was Mach 2 and beyond, the whole book is one solid piece of dramatic tension which doesn't let up until the last final pages after Lex gets home, and meets his new Landlord's Assistant and Michelle. There don't seem to be any transitions in the book, just one magic carpet ride at Mach 2 with Lex while hoping you both make it out the other side alive. This book is definitely first person POV Lex all the way through - and that's how it should be. The dialogue in the book was masterful as well. Mostly it's between Lex, Ma and Karter. Everyone else is just issuing warnings or threats. Because Ma is on Lex's side and is managing Karter, some of the conversations are pretty funny. Some even include props. You heard that one about the insane engineer, the racer and the AI all walk into a bar... Just joking...
The next book in the series is Unstoppable Prototypes and that's what I'm reading next. I would recommend this book to both sci-fi and fantasy lovers. I would also recommend it to gamers, engineers, and people who are into adventures and mysteries because there's a great one in this book, it just happens in the future. And of course, anyone looking for a thumping good read, look no further - it's right here in front of you! At this price, it's either half a cup of coffee at your favorite cafe or buying the book. I know what I'd do - I already did it!
January 11, 2018
This is a solid light SF adventure yarn. I was pleasantly entertained throughout. It's the first in a series, but the author doesn't stint on giving a proper ending to this volume - it's not one of those "leave it on a massive cliffhanger" type openers. And since it's free on kindle, you certainly can't complain about the price!
I intend to pick up the second book in the series to see if Mr Lallo can deliver again.
I intend to pick up the second book in the series to see if Mr Lallo can deliver again.
May 3, 2021
Mr. Lallo has put the bar for Science Fiction to a new height! This book was action packed, and loaded with lovable and laughable characters beyond imagination. Traveling faster than the speed of light across multiple galaxies is fun stuff! Only impressive determination on my part allowed putting the book down to perform other tasks in a busy schedule. I too am a Goodreads author, and I hope to someday write on the level of Joseph R. Lallo!
February 1, 2017
A great read
I read many science fiction and fantasy books and am always looking for new books/authors that grab my attention and hold it causing a new binge reading session. This one did that. This book is an entertaining mix of Inspector Gadget, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars. I'm going to stop writing and download the next book now.
I read many science fiction and fantasy books and am always looking for new books/authors that grab my attention and hold it causing a new binge reading session. This one did that. This book is an entertaining mix of Inspector Gadget, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars. I'm going to stop writing and download the next book now.
June 14, 2019
Fun story
Our hero starts out feeling like a loser, after several bad experiences. But, while trying to do the best he can at multiple jobs, meets several people, that together, stop the bad mastermind from executing the evil plan. But Joseph Lallo keeps you guessing who is the bad guy.
Our hero starts out feeling like a loser, after several bad experiences. But, while trying to do the best he can at multiple jobs, meets several people, that together, stop the bad mastermind from executing the evil plan. But Joseph Lallo keeps you guessing who is the bad guy.
August 4, 2019
Just a fun sci-fi read. Not too serious but enough good toys and chase to make you buzz through. Never seems to drag. One comment - purchased the Big Sigma collection and found it confusing trying to figure out what books I had and ended up purchasing a duplicate of one thinking I hadn't read it. Probably just me getting started in kindle world, but confusing still.
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