The Backworlds
by Mary Pax
The first book in the Backworlds series finds the protagonist driven from his home world Siegna to slim down the competition for his father. Venturing off world for the first time he finds friends, sketchy opportunities and of course…trouble. There is a commodity in the Backworlds that can make someone instantly powerful and Craze has goals.
This book was very entertaining as it poked into the darker side of human nature to: betray, be greedy, set people up and wait for it…string them along. Balancing it out with friends who are loyal, want to do the right thing and have your back made it a book that doesn’t have you slinging it across the room when you are done. That would be unfortunate in my case as I read predominantly on a Kindle.
Story line and editing were excellent. I found no misused words that I can remember and the point of view is always the protagonist so no unexpected jumps. The different varieties of human developed here are outstanding. Imagine being able to change gender at will or Hibernating to regenerate rather than just sleeping. I’m sure there will be a lot more to come.
I thoroughly enjoyed this work. It is a book suitable for teens through adult as there are substance usage issues and some implied sexual situations.
Stopover at the Backworlds Edge
by Mary Pax
Stopover is the second book in the series and picks up where Backworlds left off with Craze the protagonist trying to make the best of being stranded in a fetid hole called Pardeep Station. He’s been very MacGyver at building his business of choice and trying to grasp at his life goals. All he needs are customers, that pay. Well, he also would like a certain romantic interest of his…to show some interest in him.
The inciting incident is a hostage driven adventure brought on by the arrival of some very unwelcome customers of the ‘we own you variety’ and the chase begins. Building the environment that is Pardeep Station the author has hit on a stroke of awesome by detailing dust lakes, atmospheric chemistry and how these affect the variants of human that are characters in the series. Frizzers and Blusters are the weapons in play on the outside as more sinister ones are sought.
I read the first enjoying the excellent craftsmanship of Backworlds and I’m very glad to say I was not disappointed in the second book. This author seems to have her method dialed in and it shows.
Another thoroughly enjoyed work suitable for teens through adult.
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