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Harry Irons #3
Minerva's Soul
A science fiction action-adventure, final book in the Harry Irons Trilogy.
Harry Irons has been infected by the kitzloc, an enigmatic alien species. As a result, he's losing his mind. It's a race against time as Harry and his team attempt to locate one of the creatures in the sands of the Great Wahabi, a desert on the newly colonized world of Mirabel. A difficult task becomes impossible as they encounter disgruntled colonists, a security force from Earth, off-world aliens, and the mind-bending powers of the kitzloc.
Harry Irons has been infected by the kitzloc, an enigmatic alien species. As a result, he's losing his mind. It's a race against time as Harry and his team attempt to locate one of the creatures in the sands of the Great Wahabi, a desert on the newly colonized world of Mirabel. A difficult task becomes impossible as they encounter disgruntled colonists, a security force from Earth, off-world aliens, and the mind-bending powers of the kitzloc.
- GenresScience Fiction
ebook
First published August 30, 2010
10 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Thomas C. Stone
27 books19 followersMy fascination for speculative fiction developed during hot Texas summers filled with baseball, fishing, and reading. In college, I was a mediocre student, studying writing, classical literature, philosophy, linguistics, and computer science.
I have worked as a teacher, technical writer, systems analyst, martial arts instructor, and various other odd jobs.
My stories are primarily in the science fiction genre depicting characters under stressful and extraordinary settings. Even in a fantastic setting, I like to focus on my characters' reactions to what is happening to them.
I have worked as a teacher, technical writer, systems analyst, martial arts instructor, and various other odd jobs.
My stories are primarily in the science fiction genre depicting characters under stressful and extraordinary settings. Even in a fantastic setting, I like to focus on my characters' reactions to what is happening to them.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 18, 2017
To start off, this is Book Three of the series. If you haven' read Book One To The Stars (The Harry Irons Trilogy), or Book Two, Stolen Worlds (The Harry Irons Trilogy) yet, read them first in order.
I judge my science fiction on a modified version of the Baen criteria: the scientific advances / future technology needs to be somewhat believable, if there are aliens they need to be presented in some realistic format with names I can pronounce in my head while I read, and must have some type of plot with circumstances - good or bad - with their resolution I can get my head around, believe, and be interested in turning to the next page to learn more; that's quite a mouthful, but we've all read a lot of bad science fiction over the years.
With all that being said, this book hits it on most of these fronts. I really enjoyed the first two books of the series and, comparing the third installment to the first two books I will say it wasn't quite as good - it felt a bit rushed, and a few of the scenes (no spoiler here) I had a mental "b.s." comment going through my head, especially the last 10% or so of the book. Rather than an ending you can wrap your head around, he does leave you hanging on the conclusion which almost begs for a Book 4 to tie up all the loose ends.
The author does a great job of explaining in somewhat layman's terms the gadgets and technological advances, the dialogue between the characters is to the point without a lot of fluff, and I found myself daydreaming a couple of times about the spacecraft and technology and what I would like to do if that was available now.
Overall, the series is very well-written and I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading more from this author
I judge my science fiction on a modified version of the Baen criteria: the scientific advances / future technology needs to be somewhat believable, if there are aliens they need to be presented in some realistic format with names I can pronounce in my head while I read, and must have some type of plot with circumstances - good or bad - with their resolution I can get my head around, believe, and be interested in turning to the next page to learn more; that's quite a mouthful, but we've all read a lot of bad science fiction over the years.
With all that being said, this book hits it on most of these fronts. I really enjoyed the first two books of the series and, comparing the third installment to the first two books I will say it wasn't quite as good - it felt a bit rushed, and a few of the scenes (no spoiler here) I had a mental "b.s." comment going through my head, especially the last 10% or so of the book. Rather than an ending you can wrap your head around, he does leave you hanging on the conclusion which almost begs for a Book 4 to tie up all the loose ends.
The author does a great job of explaining in somewhat layman's terms the gadgets and technological advances, the dialogue between the characters is to the point without a lot of fluff, and I found myself daydreaming a couple of times about the spacecraft and technology and what I would like to do if that was available now.
Overall, the series is very well-written and I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading more from this author
October 3, 2010
MINERVA'S SOUL is the long-awaited sequel to STOLEN WORLDS and TO THE STARS, comprising the Harry Irons Trilogy. Thomas Stone's final book in the ground-breaking science fiction trilogy is a tour de force as well as a thrilling and thought-provoking conclusion to an action-packed space opera. It's not often a science fiction writer completes a trilogy with such a strong story. MINERVA'S SOUL not only rounds out the Harry Irons Saga in Stone's typically engaging fashion but also offers readers alternative views of cosmic evolution that are assured to fascinate and entertain.
Stone has bridged the gap between hard sci-fi and space opera by offering a tale full of passionate, believable characters coming to grips with a startling new vision of quantum manipulation.
The story has a number of intertwining sub plots, but the chief motivating plot concerns the return of Harry Irons and his companions to the planet Mirabel for the purpose of curing Harry of a deadly infection. Harry's companions believe the key to Harry's cure is within the genetic code of a substance secreted by a mysterious alien creature, the kitzloc. The kitzloc is a strange breed that keeps to the sands of the Great Wahabi desert. Many have attempted to hunt the kitzloc but have always met with tragedy. The search for the creature rapidly deteriorates into a struggle for survival as Harry and his team confront the elements of a dangerous environment that includes rebellious colonists, a military force sent to arrest the team, and an alien contingent equally interested in solving the mystery of the kitzloc.
MINERVA'S SOUL twists and turns like a carnival ride, leading the reader to a thrilling conclusion only the imaginative mind of author Stone could invent. This book, and for that matter, the entire Harry Irons Trilogy, will satisfy sci-fi fans who've been waiting for a sci-fi tale that not only stretches the imagination but also delivers a fast-paced, human adventure.
Stone has bridged the gap between hard sci-fi and space opera by offering a tale full of passionate, believable characters coming to grips with a startling new vision of quantum manipulation.
The story has a number of intertwining sub plots, but the chief motivating plot concerns the return of Harry Irons and his companions to the planet Mirabel for the purpose of curing Harry of a deadly infection. Harry's companions believe the key to Harry's cure is within the genetic code of a substance secreted by a mysterious alien creature, the kitzloc. The kitzloc is a strange breed that keeps to the sands of the Great Wahabi desert. Many have attempted to hunt the kitzloc but have always met with tragedy. The search for the creature rapidly deteriorates into a struggle for survival as Harry and his team confront the elements of a dangerous environment that includes rebellious colonists, a military force sent to arrest the team, and an alien contingent equally interested in solving the mystery of the kitzloc.
MINERVA'S SOUL twists and turns like a carnival ride, leading the reader to a thrilling conclusion only the imaginative mind of author Stone could invent. This book, and for that matter, the entire Harry Irons Trilogy, will satisfy sci-fi fans who've been waiting for a sci-fi tale that not only stretches the imagination but also delivers a fast-paced, human adventure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2012
Really liked the first of the series. Liked the next two volumes of the Harry Irons series. Good S/F with aliens, greed, intrigue and conflict.
Recommend this series to the S/F fan, Minerva's Soul is the last of the series. S.F and metaphysical and good adventure.
Recommend this series to the S/F fan, Minerva's Soul is the last of the series. S.F and metaphysical and good adventure.
November 21, 2012
Very good series! Highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews