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XOVA7
Locrian Xova awakens in the year 2040 from a 10-year cryogenic sleep. As he prepares to create his next artificial intelligent masterpiece, XOVA7, his high-tech new world poses anomalous complications, leading him to question the nature of reality, time, and space. A mind-bending sci-fi story with fantasy elements, sprawling the genre's gamut—AI, time travel, holographic worlds, humanoid robots, parallel realities, and more.
"The plot has immense depth and twists as the different parts go on, which a development executive might try to draw comparisons to GO, Paul Thomas Anderson, or even Jonathan Nolan's writing - a character piece that deals with ethics and morality and goes against conventions. The writer will have a remarkable career as a voice in the genre and proves it with this intriguing story with wonderful world-building. This could rack up rave reviews (as a film), inspire film nerd debates about its meaning, and attain a cult audience at the very least."
—The Black List
"It’s difficult not to fall in love with each character at least a little bit and to appreciate the fun relationship dynamics between them. The exposition and plot are seamlessly interwoven, providing new information on each side at the right pace and quantity. Artistry was beaming through on every single page, passion and vision photocopied into each description and line of dialogue. Really stunning work."
—BlueCat
"The plot has immense depth and twists as the different parts go on, which a development executive might try to draw comparisons to GO, Paul Thomas Anderson, or even Jonathan Nolan's writing - a character piece that deals with ethics and morality and goes against conventions. The writer will have a remarkable career as a voice in the genre and proves it with this intriguing story with wonderful world-building. This could rack up rave reviews (as a film), inspire film nerd debates about its meaning, and attain a cult audience at the very least."
—The Black List
"It’s difficult not to fall in love with each character at least a little bit and to appreciate the fun relationship dynamics between them. The exposition and plot are seamlessly interwoven, providing new information on each side at the right pace and quantity. Artistry was beaming through on every single page, passion and vision photocopied into each description and line of dialogue. Really stunning work."
—BlueCat
166 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2022
17 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 28, 2024
Well done. Very original science fiction/time travel novella.
This is not a character driven story (the type I prefer). The characters are flat, cartoon characters, simply there to play their roles in the story). (The flat characters reminded me of Asimov).
The dialogue is generic. All the women look like supermodels. The men all drive very expensive cars.
That said, I’m glad I read to the end. The plot is ingenious and unique. Even though many elements of the story are derivative (for example, a character named Lyra, which is the heroine’s name in His Dark Materials), the author has quilted them together to create something entirely unique.
The characters include both humans and AIs. The main character is Locrian, a tech genius/workaholic. Most of the story takes place in upstate New York in 2040.
I won’t say more, because there would be too many spoilers. Just read it.
The author narrated the audio. He wasn’t bad, as author/narrators go. But he did appear to be reading from an unedited draft, as opposed to the final version of the text.
It’s free in Kindle Unlimited.
This is not a character driven story (the type I prefer). The characters are flat, cartoon characters, simply there to play their roles in the story). (The flat characters reminded me of Asimov).
The dialogue is generic. All the women look like supermodels. The men all drive very expensive cars.
That said, I’m glad I read to the end. The plot is ingenious and unique. Even though many elements of the story are derivative (for example, a character named Lyra, which is the heroine’s name in His Dark Materials), the author has quilted them together to create something entirely unique.
The characters include both humans and AIs. The main character is Locrian, a tech genius/workaholic. Most of the story takes place in upstate New York in 2040.
I won’t say more, because there would be too many spoilers. Just read it.
The author narrated the audio. He wasn’t bad, as author/narrators go. But he did appear to be reading from an unedited draft, as opposed to the final version of the text.
It’s free in Kindle Unlimited.
November 22, 2022
Xova7 is not my usual sort of read, but it was enjoyable.
For those who love mind-bender sort of books and movies (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Inception, Memento etc.) this is your book. If you're looking for traditional sci-fi, this might not be for you. This is not a space opera. There is no tech focus, space travel focus, or alien focus. Mind-bender sci-fi is the best I could categorize this, though I'm certain there's a subgenre name that would be more appropriate. Plot twists in this book are seamlessly connected and all get tied up neatly by the end.
The opening chapter is not representative of the rest of the book and has more of a fantasy vibe.
The writing is a noir style, more akin to what you would find in a detective or murder/mystery novella than in traditional sci-fi. The PoV is distant and has that dry objectivity that's common to detective and noir novels. There's no excess dialogue or action, and it's written almost in the style of a screenplay.
The cast of characters was small and managed well. I'd describe them as interesting characters more than likable ones. They make you want to continue reading, which is a good thing.
Even being out of my normal scope of reading (traditional sci-fi and epic fantasy), it was a fun read.
For those who love mind-bender sort of books and movies (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Inception, Memento etc.) this is your book. If you're looking for traditional sci-fi, this might not be for you. This is not a space opera. There is no tech focus, space travel focus, or alien focus. Mind-bender sci-fi is the best I could categorize this, though I'm certain there's a subgenre name that would be more appropriate. Plot twists in this book are seamlessly connected and all get tied up neatly by the end.
The opening chapter is not representative of the rest of the book and has more of a fantasy vibe.
The writing is a noir style, more akin to what you would find in a detective or murder/mystery novella than in traditional sci-fi. The PoV is distant and has that dry objectivity that's common to detective and noir novels. There's no excess dialogue or action, and it's written almost in the style of a screenplay.
The cast of characters was small and managed well. I'd describe them as interesting characters more than likable ones. They make you want to continue reading, which is a good thing.
Even being out of my normal scope of reading (traditional sci-fi and epic fantasy), it was a fun read.
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January 23, 2023Hello... This isn't a review; it's just a quick message from the author and a heads-up about the book. XOVA7 is a sci-fi novella with elements of fantasy and metaphysics, but it's also a piece of me and everyone and everything that has affected the internal and external (if there is such a thing) world I've experienced thus far. Every strange concept, every interesting character and conversation, every visual of its world is as real to me as the "natural" world itself. I thank you much for taking a moment to delve into the dream that is XOVA7, its sincerity, its personality, and I hope you're able to fall in love with its realm as much as I have.
Q.J. Hicks
Q.J. Hicks
October 18, 2022
"You are a brilliant man, Locrian; but man is riddled with limitations, and the illusions of this density are quite convincing ones."
This is weird... on different levels... but really good. Uh, where to begin lol. It showed up as a recommended read on my Kindle a couple of months ago, and it was unlimited, so it was free for me, basically. I threw it in my library and finally gave it a chance last week(ish). First of all, I'll say I like this a lot. It's a quick read, and it has been on my mind often since I read it some days ago, and I plan on reading it again. It's a bit of a mind f*ck lol.
Second of all, it's by an indie author, which I realized by the end of the book. That was surprising because the writing was good... very good actually, but also very different, which was refreshing to see. There's a bold style to how the story is told and unfolds, painting beautiful descriptive imagery. It crams a lot of crazy concepts and twists into a short space, but somehow does it smoothly. It has a stylish flow to it due to how the pros were crafted. I would say it's like H.P. Lovecraft mashed with Kristin Hannah lol which sounds absurd but somehow works.
The pros seem to be intentionally poetic at times, but just the right amount. Really beautiful writing, actually, which is another thing that's weird about it, because it's labeled as a sci-fi, which I get, but there's more to it than that. Parts of it gave me anxiety lol. At times, there's a feeling of eerie suspense, then the story takes these completely different turns, and you just have no clue what's going on, and you sorta forget you're reading sci-fi. Then it all somehow comes together and makes sense. It's more than sci-fi. The writer is onto something... or is ON something lol. Clever story and intelligent writing. A hidden gem.
This is weird... on different levels... but really good. Uh, where to begin lol. It showed up as a recommended read on my Kindle a couple of months ago, and it was unlimited, so it was free for me, basically. I threw it in my library and finally gave it a chance last week(ish). First of all, I'll say I like this a lot. It's a quick read, and it has been on my mind often since I read it some days ago, and I plan on reading it again. It's a bit of a mind f*ck lol.
Second of all, it's by an indie author, which I realized by the end of the book. That was surprising because the writing was good... very good actually, but also very different, which was refreshing to see. There's a bold style to how the story is told and unfolds, painting beautiful descriptive imagery. It crams a lot of crazy concepts and twists into a short space, but somehow does it smoothly. It has a stylish flow to it due to how the pros were crafted. I would say it's like H.P. Lovecraft mashed with Kristin Hannah lol which sounds absurd but somehow works.
The pros seem to be intentionally poetic at times, but just the right amount. Really beautiful writing, actually, which is another thing that's weird about it, because it's labeled as a sci-fi, which I get, but there's more to it than that. Parts of it gave me anxiety lol. At times, there's a feeling of eerie suspense, then the story takes these completely different turns, and you just have no clue what's going on, and you sorta forget you're reading sci-fi. Then it all somehow comes together and makes sense. It's more than sci-fi. The writer is onto something... or is ON something lol. Clever story and intelligent writing. A hidden gem.
November 24, 2022
An Unexpected Pleasure.
I was looking for something different from my usual reading diet of lengthy tomes. (Asimov’s Foundation Series, Stephen Lawhead’s Bright Empires Series, Jack Whyte’s Camulod Chronicles, etc.) I’m a slow reader so I try to be selective in what I choose to read by checking reviews on the books that I think might appeal to me. I recently made the mistake of not trusting the negative reviews of Gibbson’s Neuromancer which I gave 1 star and consider to be the worst book I have ever read.
I found this treasure in the recommendation’s based on books similar to my previous reading habits. I was immediately drawn into the story line and wanted to know where it was going.
The character development was enough to keep me interested and engaged. The dialogue flows and doesn’t seem forced. The plot was intriguing and complex enough to not be predictable. The descriptions were well done enabling me to visualize the scenes. The conclusion was satisfying and leaves room for a continuation of this beginning of a potentially epic storyline. Overall it was the best reading experience I’ve had in a long time. I would love to read more of this story from this author.
I was looking for something different from my usual reading diet of lengthy tomes. (Asimov’s Foundation Series, Stephen Lawhead’s Bright Empires Series, Jack Whyte’s Camulod Chronicles, etc.) I’m a slow reader so I try to be selective in what I choose to read by checking reviews on the books that I think might appeal to me. I recently made the mistake of not trusting the negative reviews of Gibbson’s Neuromancer which I gave 1 star and consider to be the worst book I have ever read.
I found this treasure in the recommendation’s based on books similar to my previous reading habits. I was immediately drawn into the story line and wanted to know where it was going.
The character development was enough to keep me interested and engaged. The dialogue flows and doesn’t seem forced. The plot was intriguing and complex enough to not be predictable. The descriptions were well done enabling me to visualize the scenes. The conclusion was satisfying and leaves room for a continuation of this beginning of a potentially epic storyline. Overall it was the best reading experience I’ve had in a long time. I would love to read more of this story from this author.
October 27, 2022
I enjoy sci-fi & fantasy novels/novellas in general, but I really enjoy it when I’m able to clearly “see” the story as I read it. I don’t know if it was intentional on Hicks’ part, but it was refreshing to see that his story telling is concise and in the moment.
This keeps the story moving!
His descriptions of the various surroundings and the thoughts, motives and interactions of the characters as they develop is captivating and does a great job of holding your attention. Another thing worth mentioning is that because his writing is ever present, I often times felt like I was a part of the conversations as they were happening.
I’ve read and listened to the story (great recording by the way!) several times and always pick up something new. I still enjoy picking up breadcrumbs along the way because it makes how it all comes together in the end even more special.
There’s something for everyone here and it’s all done in a clever and tasteful way. The drama, the intrigue, the jealousy, the greed, and the LOVE, along with a perfect blend of science, technology, and magick, transcend time and space has me wanting MORE!
Kudos to Q. J. Hicks!
This keeps the story moving!
His descriptions of the various surroundings and the thoughts, motives and interactions of the characters as they develop is captivating and does a great job of holding your attention. Another thing worth mentioning is that because his writing is ever present, I often times felt like I was a part of the conversations as they were happening.
I’ve read and listened to the story (great recording by the way!) several times and always pick up something new. I still enjoy picking up breadcrumbs along the way because it makes how it all comes together in the end even more special.
There’s something for everyone here and it’s all done in a clever and tasteful way. The drama, the intrigue, the jealousy, the greed, and the LOVE, along with a perfect blend of science, technology, and magick, transcend time and space has me wanting MORE!
Kudos to Q. J. Hicks!
November 7, 2022
I spent all of October Dnf'ing sci-fi books so XOVA7 by Q. J. Hicks really saved the day for me. At a short 144 pages, it wasn't bogged down by the names of places/people/planets that seemed to plague my other choices. XOVA7 is very plot focused and I enjoyed getting swept up in the current of the story. If you're looking for an introductory book into sci-fi, this might be a good gateway drug for you. It felt like a cross between I, Robot and Inception. There is a little robot cheekily named Johnny Six (iykyk) that made my R2-D2 loving heart sing. I can see this book being made into series or a movie and would happily check out future installments.
November 9, 2022
What a brilliant first entry to a series.
I have been reading this in between reading The Poppy War trilogy. I really really enjoyed this, I was so pleasantly surprised by how good the writing style was considering this is from an indie author. I thought the story was really gripping and enjoyable. I enjoyed the fact it was fast paced, the characters were really interesting and an all round easy good read, well done Q.J Hicks! I look forward to the next book.
I have been reading this in between reading The Poppy War trilogy. I really really enjoyed this, I was so pleasantly surprised by how good the writing style was considering this is from an indie author. I thought the story was really gripping and enjoyable. I enjoyed the fact it was fast paced, the characters were really interesting and an all round easy good read, well done Q.J Hicks! I look forward to the next book.
October 19, 2022
XOVA7 is a futuristic sci fi that has a little bit of everything in it. It is well written, fast paced, with deep characters, incredibly detailed settings, and a captivating, clever story. I really enjoyed listening to this on audiobook. Definitely left me wanting more!
January 7, 2023
Quirky and lots of fun
October 2, 2024
XOVA7 feels like a great candidate for a Dark Mirror or Electric Dreams episode. In the end it fits right into the time travel paradox genre, so nothing particularly unique there. But its execution was found a bit lacking, mainly due to the quality of the writing.
While the story concept has interesting bits, the writing definitely gets in the way, feeling inexperienced. A lot of beginner mistakes are made, making the work overall feel a little amateurish (everyone has to start somewhere though).
The story is written more like a movie script than a novel. The viewpoint is omniscient, swapping character POVs mid-chapter, describing things the characters don’t see or notice. Everything is present-tense, as if to give the story immediacy and tension, but it just makes it harder to read.
There are typos, the dialogue is all over the place in terms of quality and grammar. People use modern colloquial terms and slang when not appropriate. They don’t ask obvious questions or respond like they should. Lots of people just grin, nod and smile when the writer can’t think of more interesting reactions.
The story jumps all over the place, there’s no real protagonist, and overall is just a confusing mess. I did jump back through at the end to try and understand things a bit better and see if I had missed some foreshadowing that would have made the book a lot better, but alas. I still have a lot more questions than answers.
The author says that this world and its visuals are as real to him as reality, and I think that’s the issue - he’s too close to the material, it feels too precious to him, and an understanding that no reader is going to see exactly what he sees is what’s needed in order to tell a story compellingly. Hopefully he will improve with time.
While the story concept has interesting bits, the writing definitely gets in the way, feeling inexperienced. A lot of beginner mistakes are made, making the work overall feel a little amateurish (everyone has to start somewhere though).
The story is written more like a movie script than a novel. The viewpoint is omniscient, swapping character POVs mid-chapter, describing things the characters don’t see or notice. Everything is present-tense, as if to give the story immediacy and tension, but it just makes it harder to read.
There are typos, the dialogue is all over the place in terms of quality and grammar. People use modern colloquial terms and slang when not appropriate. They don’t ask obvious questions or respond like they should. Lots of people just grin, nod and smile when the writer can’t think of more interesting reactions.
The story jumps all over the place, there’s no real protagonist, and overall is just a confusing mess. I did jump back through at the end to try and understand things a bit better and see if I had missed some foreshadowing that would have made the book a lot better, but alas. I still have a lot more questions than answers.
The author says that this world and its visuals are as real to him as reality, and I think that’s the issue - he’s too close to the material, it feels too precious to him, and an understanding that no reader is going to see exactly what he sees is what’s needed in order to tell a story compellingly. Hopefully he will improve with time.
February 9, 2025
This is a different genre for me and two in a row in a new genre is unusual for me too! It wasn’t badly written but it wasn’t really my cup of tea. I love stories with time travel elements but this was not my favourite I’ve come across.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews