BOOK REVIEW: "Victories Greater Than Death" by Charlie Jane Anders.

The first book in the "Unstoppable" series is Charlie Jane Anders' "Victories Greater Than Death". I discovered Ms Anders' writing through Becky Chambers 'must read list' of upcoming Sci-Fi writers. And if you enjoy Becky Chambers sci-fi works, you'll be equally as impressed by Charlie Jane Anders.

I suggested this book to one of our long-term Sci-Fi reading members and he claimed he 'gave up on it', but I could tell the pages had hardly been turned. Seems the some of the gruff old school Sci-Fi diehards are having trouble accepting that the new wave of "Hope Punk" Sci-Fi writers are keeping the Sci-fi torch burning bright.

Charlie's pace is faster than Ms Chambers, and also more lightweight. It seems geared for a young adult audience, but it didn't stop me enjoying this enthralling adventure through the cosmos. The voice of Ms Anders' is also distinctly different from Becky Chambers, but they do share a lot of empathy between the characters, and use friendship and goodness as the winning combination to defeat evil. Now more than ever these are important lessons as we find ourselves in a world out of balance, where evil seems to be rewarded, but as we know from history, this is merely transient until the balance is restored again.

The lead character Tina Mains is a complex personality, and the genuineness is obviously based on Ms Anders' own personal history and life experience.

I won't give away the story arc aside from Tina is a clone of a long dead Space Heroine, and once her beacon is activated, she has to rejoin the fight in the universe against the evil 'Compassion' faction.

Along the way we see some deep friendships develop, and a bond emerge amongst her comrades.

Each character has their own unique skill sets and abilities, as they do their best to fight the evil scourge of the 'Compassion' wreaking havoc across the Universe.

If you like fast-paced action Science-Fiction, with amazing characters, diverse alien species, and loads of high-tech weaponry then "Victories Greater Than Death" is most definitely worthy of your attention.

The screenplay is in negotiation for a series adaptation on the Disney channel - so watch this

space!

RATING: 5/5 (Top shelf action Sci-Fi, Ms Anders joins Ms Chambers in the growing ranks of the 'Hope Punk" Sci-Fi literary movement worldwide. Best of all "Unstoppable" is a trilogy so there's more exciting space adventures ahead!)