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kitvaria_sarene's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite reads (listens...) this year!
I listened to this one as audio book, and have read some parts of the ebook version. First off I must say that the narration is really, really excellent! I had some little troubles with it - mostly that there are some flashbacks that are easy to spot in the "actual book version" as they are written in italics. In the audio book you simply change from one scene into a flashback and go "what now? Where are we? What happened?". That doesn't happen to often, and dead people being around gives you a fast hint, so it didn't annoy me too much. The other problem I had with the audio was the names Isla and Ida being pronounced so similarly, that at some points I had the wrong people in a scene for a while before I noticed my mistake. You can tell them apart if you pay very close attention to the names, but I slipped a few times. But the brilliant voices, emotions, sarcasm and tone of the narrator more than made up for it, so this will be one of my favorite audios in the future.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To the story itself:
The characters were what made this book work so well for me! Cassius is a great main character, sho is witty and sarcastic and actually tries to do the right thing, while still being able to be a ruthless killer if needed. In a way that is my favorite kind of character for an action packed book such as this!
There are also plenty of other great individuals I enjoyed spending time with. Isla, the bioroid (a sort of robot IA in a flesh and blood vessel is one of my favorites. But the female space ship captain who is over 200 years old was also a pleasure to read - and I'd have loved to join her crew, that consist mostly of mostly (ex-) criminals and all sorts of people who have things to hide. They all felt very real to me and I cared for what happened to them! I especially liked the spectrum that ranged from good to bad and everythign in between - and how some of them took a double turn along the way, when their real faces showed.
The first scene was a bit rough around the edges, but from chapter two onwards I was hooked body and soul. I devoured the whole book in just 3 days and couldn't get enough of it! The plot is a bit meandering, but all the little twists and turns and the betrayals and puzzle pieces you find along the way kept me well entertained. I'll pick the sequel up as soon as it hits audible, as I really need to know what happens next!
There is a lot of action in this one - and still it has some really great lines along the way too. I liked it being faced paced without feeling like a guilty pleasure. The prose was fluent and let me sink right into this story and actually be there next to the characters, joining them on their adventure.
My only (very little) gripe was with some intentionally funny things, like a common brand of sex toys "Sexy snow queen Isla from the children's movie" which is eerily like a movie princess called Elsa or a book character who is the protagonist of a wizard's school under siege by the Dark Lord... Those things are only mentioned a few times throughout the book so while it had me roll my eyes a bit instead of amusing me, it didnt really take away from my enjoyment of the story over all.
All in all this was a really awesome read, that I can only wholeheartedly recommend!
I listened to this one as audio book, and have read some parts of the ebook version. First off I must say that the narration is really, really excellent! I had some little troubles with it - mostly that there are some flashbacks that are easy to spot in the "actual book version" as they are written in italics. In the audio book you simply change from one scene into a flashback and go "what now? Where are we? What happened?". That doesn't happen to often, and dead people being around gives you a fast hint, so it didn't annoy me too much. The other problem I had with the audio was the names Isla and Ida being pronounced so similarly, that at some points I had the wrong people in a scene for a while before I noticed my mistake. You can tell them apart if you pay very close attention to the names, but I slipped a few times. But the brilliant voices, emotions, sarcasm and tone of the narrator more than made up for it, so this will be one of my favorite audios in the future.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To the story itself:
The characters were what made this book work so well for me! Cassius is a great main character, sho is witty and sarcastic and actually tries to do the right thing, while still being able to be a ruthless killer if needed. In a way that is my favorite kind of character for an action packed book such as this!
There are also plenty of other great individuals I enjoyed spending time with. Isla, the bioroid (a sort of robot IA in a flesh and blood vessel is one of my favorites. But the female space ship captain who is over 200 years old was also a pleasure to read - and I'd have loved to join her crew, that consist mostly of mostly (ex-) criminals and all sorts of people who have things to hide. They all felt very real to me and I cared for what happened to them! I especially liked the spectrum that ranged from good to bad and everythign in between - and how some of them took a double turn along the way, when their real faces showed.
The first scene was a bit rough around the edges, but from chapter two onwards I was hooked body and soul. I devoured the whole book in just 3 days and couldn't get enough of it! The plot is a bit meandering, but all the little twists and turns and the betrayals and puzzle pieces you find along the way kept me well entertained. I'll pick the sequel up as soon as it hits audible, as I really need to know what happens next!
There is a lot of action in this one - and still it has some really great lines along the way too. I liked it being faced paced without feeling like a guilty pleasure. The prose was fluent and let me sink right into this story and actually be there next to the characters, joining them on their adventure.
My only (very little) gripe was with some intentionally funny things, like a common brand of sex toys "Sexy snow queen Isla from the children's movie" which is eerily like a movie princess called Elsa or a book character who is the protagonist of a wizard's school under siege by the Dark Lord... Those things are only mentioned a few times throughout the book so while it had me roll my eyes a bit instead of amusing me, it didnt really take away from my enjoyment of the story over all.
All in all this was a really awesome read, that I can only wholeheartedly recommend!
audiobookmel's review against another edition
4.0
I’m a huge fan of C.T. Phipps, so I was excited to try this new-to-me space opera. I do like science fiction, though I don’t read it as much as fantasy. This story follows Cassius Mass, a great star pilot for the Crius Archduchy. He’s hailed as a hero by some and a war criminal by others. Now he’s hiding under a different name.
In this world, there are clones and robots that are very human-like. There is even a woman who is able to pass as human and does for a while. It is really hard to know who is what, with the clones and humanoid-like robots, not to mention spies. Even when you think you know something about someone, you learn something else.
I really liked Cassius. He was able to look back at his actions and know he did some pretty horrible things during the war and does what he can to make up for some of those deeds. He knows he can never make up for the large number of lives he took. He takes a memory drug to help him “forget” his past. There is also a lot of drinking.
If you like stories that are twisty-turny, this is a fun story for you to try. It seemed like I learned something new about a different character in each chapter. I never knew what was going to happen next. I don’t want to go more into the story, because I really like to avoid spoilers.
I have to say, my favorite part of this story is the characters. I just love the characters that Phipps develops. They are just so relatable, real, fun and likable. If you’ve never tried Phipps, I highly recommend him.
Narration:
This was my first time listening to Eric Burns. I really liked his narration of this story. It has a fairly large cast and he didn’t do a bad job with all the characters. Each had a pretty distinctive voice. I think his female voices could’ve been a little bit better, but not bad overall. Those voices became the voices of the characters. I would definitely listen to him read another book at some time.
**I'd like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
In this world, there are clones and robots that are very human-like. There is even a woman who is able to pass as human and does for a while. It is really hard to know who is what, with the clones and humanoid-like robots, not to mention spies. Even when you think you know something about someone, you learn something else.
I really liked Cassius. He was able to look back at his actions and know he did some pretty horrible things during the war and does what he can to make up for some of those deeds. He knows he can never make up for the large number of lives he took. He takes a memory drug to help him “forget” his past. There is also a lot of drinking.
If you like stories that are twisty-turny, this is a fun story for you to try. It seemed like I learned something new about a different character in each chapter. I never knew what was going to happen next. I don’t want to go more into the story, because I really like to avoid spoilers.
I have to say, my favorite part of this story is the characters. I just love the characters that Phipps develops. They are just so relatable, real, fun and likable. If you’ve never tried Phipps, I highly recommend him.
Narration:
This was my first time listening to Eric Burns. I really liked his narration of this story. It has a fairly large cast and he didn’t do a bad job with all the characters. Each had a pretty distinctive voice. I think his female voices could’ve been a little bit better, but not bad overall. Those voices became the voices of the characters. I would definitely listen to him read another book at some time.
**I'd like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
barb4ry1's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5
I rarely read sci-fi books. Probably, I've read two or three space operas years ago but I barely remember them. As this year's r/fantasy Bingo challenge contains a Space Opera square I have a pretext to read more in the genre. I picked Lucifer's Star because I liked the synopsis and, additionally, I appreciate CT Phipps online presence as a blogger and reviewer.
It was a quick and entertaining novel that doesn't lack space battles, futuristic technology, cyborgs, clones, and sex. The story follows Colonel Cassius Mass, an ex-soldier of the Archduchy of Crius, who once had it all. Intelligent, handsome and beloved by all, he was the best pilot of the Archduchy and a role-model for many. Sadly, it turned out that he was fighting for the wrong side of the conflict.
His friends and his family died in the final bombing of his homeworld. To make matters worse, he's now one of the most hated people in the Universe. He leads a miserable life as a semi-functional navigator on an interstellar freight hauler. He tries to hide who he was and escape his past. Unfortunately, some things refuse to stay buried and he ends up conscripted by the very people who destroyed his homeland.
While I'm not a genre connoisseur, I appreciate how the authors play with the tropes and put them under critical examination. Things get difficult and dirty, they don't tend to magically and conveniently work out for characters.
World-building is done in a steady way. As the story progresses we learn about the world through dialogue and internalizations. There's plenty of secrets and it seems mythical entities have fun while playing with human and alien lives. The big theme of the book is the politics. It took me a while to understand the why/what/how of what was going on and, truth be told, I'm not sure If I've got everything straight. Betrayals were easy, but when you ad A.I.'s changing bodies things get a bit complicated. While I can’t speak for the realism of the technology, I really enjoyed how Phipps presents the information through Cassius POV. As the story progresses, understanding some of the trickier concepts becomes vital, although it doesn't require a reader to hold a degree in quantum physics. Just to use imagination.
The cast of characters is diverse and interesting with strong female representation. I think most characters were compelling and three-dimensional. Everyone here has a past that influences his choices. Alliances are constantly shifting, and nothing is ever quite what it seems. There is a sort of love triangle between the characters. Ilsa is a bioroid - created to sexually please and seduce others. Even though she's managed to flee her former masters, she didn't manage to reprogram herself and she's not wired for monogamy. She sleeps with Clarice O'Hara, the security chief of Shogun. Cassius sleeps with both of them. It's not a problem as the society is rather sexually open and it's not a big deal to have multiple partners, even when being in a relationship. There's no unnecessary drama, just people, cyborgs, and bioroids learning to care and fight for each other.
While I enjoyed many parts of the novel, I have to admit I wasn't able to fully connect with Cassius' voice. As a result, my engagement in the story lacked emotional component. I think Cassius is an interesting character - he used to think of himself as a hero just to understand he was a bad guy. He's not who you would call a good person and that's fine. I don't like good characters. It's just there's something in him that irks me.
The writing is rather good. We may discuss if there isn't an excess backstory told here and there and maybe a bit too much telling in places. It's possible but it didn't influence the pacing. The final confrontation was surprising and interesting but didn't manage to knock me on my knees.
Overall, Lucifer's Star is a well-paced book with no boring parts (at least to me). It's quick to read and easily accessed, all while dealing with ethical concerns, and philosophical questions. I think of it as a good reintroduction to the Space Opera genre. Because I couldn't really connect with Cassius, rating won't be higher. I need to emphasize that it's highly subjective; interesting plot plus great secondary characters made it a fun read for me, even despite the mentioned "issue".
I rarely read sci-fi books. Probably, I've read two or three space operas years ago but I barely remember them. As this year's r/fantasy Bingo challenge contains a Space Opera square I have a pretext to read more in the genre. I picked Lucifer's Star because I liked the synopsis and, additionally, I appreciate CT Phipps online presence as a blogger and reviewer.
It was a quick and entertaining novel that doesn't lack space battles, futuristic technology, cyborgs, clones, and sex. The story follows Colonel Cassius Mass, an ex-soldier of the Archduchy of Crius, who once had it all. Intelligent, handsome and beloved by all, he was the best pilot of the Archduchy and a role-model for many. Sadly, it turned out that he was fighting for the wrong side of the conflict.
His friends and his family died in the final bombing of his homeworld. To make matters worse, he's now one of the most hated people in the Universe. He leads a miserable life as a semi-functional navigator on an interstellar freight hauler. He tries to hide who he was and escape his past. Unfortunately, some things refuse to stay buried and he ends up conscripted by the very people who destroyed his homeland.
While I'm not a genre connoisseur, I appreciate how the authors play with the tropes and put them under critical examination. Things get difficult and dirty, they don't tend to magically and conveniently work out for characters.
World-building is done in a steady way. As the story progresses we learn about the world through dialogue and internalizations. There's plenty of secrets and it seems mythical entities have fun while playing with human and alien lives. The big theme of the book is the politics. It took me a while to understand the why/what/how of what was going on and, truth be told, I'm not sure If I've got everything straight. Betrayals were easy, but when you ad A.I.'s changing bodies things get a bit complicated. While I can’t speak for the realism of the technology, I really enjoyed how Phipps presents the information through Cassius POV. As the story progresses, understanding some of the trickier concepts becomes vital, although it doesn't require a reader to hold a degree in quantum physics. Just to use imagination.
The cast of characters is diverse and interesting with strong female representation. I think most characters were compelling and three-dimensional. Everyone here has a past that influences his choices. Alliances are constantly shifting, and nothing is ever quite what it seems. There is a sort of love triangle between the characters. Ilsa is a bioroid - created to sexually please and seduce others. Even though she's managed to flee her former masters, she didn't manage to reprogram herself and she's not wired for monogamy. She sleeps with Clarice O'Hara, the security chief of Shogun. Cassius sleeps with both of them. It's not a problem as the society is rather sexually open and it's not a big deal to have multiple partners, even when being in a relationship. There's no unnecessary drama, just people, cyborgs, and bioroids learning to care and fight for each other.
While I enjoyed many parts of the novel, I have to admit I wasn't able to fully connect with Cassius' voice. As a result, my engagement in the story lacked emotional component. I think Cassius is an interesting character - he used to think of himself as a hero just to understand he was a bad guy. He's not who you would call a good person and that's fine. I don't like good characters. It's just there's something in him that irks me.
The writing is rather good. We may discuss if there isn't an excess backstory told here and there and maybe a bit too much telling in places. It's possible but it didn't influence the pacing. The final confrontation was surprising and interesting but didn't manage to knock me on my knees.
Overall, Lucifer's Star is a well-paced book with no boring parts (at least to me). It's quick to read and easily accessed, all while dealing with ethical concerns, and philosophical questions. I think of it as a good reintroduction to the Space Opera genre. Because I couldn't really connect with Cassius, rating won't be higher. I need to emphasize that it's highly subjective; interesting plot plus great secondary characters made it a fun read for me, even despite the mentioned "issue".
dustin_frueh7921's review
5.0
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
Like most things, something had to give. Waving the white flag, most everything came to a halt. Insurmountable change ensued. But what were the repercussions, and how might those changes impact not only their world, but the direct opposition, and the hundreds of surrounding worlds? Sometimes, war's inevitable end isn't necessarily the right solution, or a solution at all.
The opening chapter reminded me of a
Star Wars episode, one culminating in an epic, albeit brief, battle for dominance; for peace, joy, and contentment. By and large, a fight for moral supremacy. Where most stories end, C.T. Phipps and Michael Suttkus' Lucifer's Star was merely beginning.
Enter: Cassius Mass, the embodiment of everything that should be right with the world, "and everything wrong with" the system. No longer sure of what to think of the world, or what (if anything) to have faith in, forgetfulness would be a blessing. But how does one achieve stasis when everyday life aboard the Melampus served, to some degree, as a constant reminder?
Soon thereafter, some deception came to light, alongside an ensuing investigation. In life and fiction, things are rarely as simple as they seem.
What followed was an epic quest where revelations were made-- some shocking, others downright vile. All, however, relevant to the story. Nothing was forced or felt excessive.
A forewarning: the plot, simple though it may initially seem, actually was fairly complex, and became exponentially more so, over time. One could even argue it was unnecessarily intricate; that it perhaps needed to be simplified. But I'm awfully grateful it came out the way it did, though, because the reading experience wouldn't have been NEARLY as fun.
So due to that, and plus in general, I have concentration issues, and a slew of other pressing situations at the time (including familial death,) I decided to venture back to the beginning.
What began with extreme reluctance soon turned into a much more exciting, fascinating, and full experience. It was almost a different story altogether. For the first time, my mind was clear and I could simply relax as Cassius' journey unraveled. More than that though, it evolved into much more.
Amongst other things, a fast paced adventure emerged, fraught with emotional instabilities. There was also political intrigue and backstabbing aplenty, while maintaining a classic Phipps quality I've come to not only expect, but respect: action-packed, unpredictable scenarios.
Amidst the plot twists and excellent character development, Suttkus and Phipps explored some controversial subject matter, like genetic engineering and artificial intelligence, alongside other big, life-changing issues, to emphasize the extent of war. Furthermore, they utilized those issues to fully enrich the numerous battle scenes, making them much more exciting and technologically advanced.
I think some of the best speculative stories drive home social commentary, and Lucifer's Star had that in spades. Geopolitical, religious, philosophical-- all there, to some extent, and they effectively communicated important truths about the world in which we live.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/geopolitics
Another interesting facet revolved around Cassius, and the virtually unspoken namesake he shared with real life House Plantagenet. I don't believe it was a direct influence, yet it can't be dismissed, either. Sure, you don't get beheadings or the extremely violent battles, but the novel being a grimdark space opera, the similarities should be recognized.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/house-of-Plantagenet
https://www.historyextra.com/period/plantagenet/5-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-plantagenets/
In the interim of many of the day-to-day, or most pivotal advancements were moments of introspection, for the reader and characters alike. Consequently, the brilliance of said sequences (and details forming the whole,) couldn't help but shine through. More specifically, the duo's expert knowledge of tropes, which included DM-esque (Dungeon Master) insights into awesome creations such as the kriegermonster and the durandal. There were so many more, too.
"Tropes are tropes for a reason," and the author's took many known sci-fi tropes, and (as Phipps does very well,) spun them around almost aimlessly, yet logically, thus rendering them clever and unique. This wasn't a fluke, either, as Phipps' creativity has proven consistent. It's also one of my favorite aspects of his work. I genuinely admire him.
In the closing chapters, Cassius made a big choice. It completely shook me, and even now-months later-- I question its implications. Going forward, the consequences could prove fatal, for all parties involved. For the time being, I'll revel in all that came before, as the Melampus thrusts forward to destinations unknown.
The sight of the burning starships around me was like a galaxy of new stars lighting up the emptiness of space. Their fuel and energy cells burned without oxygen long after the crews had suffocated in the vacuum of space. Hundreds of dreadnoughts, battleships, carriers, and starfighters exchanged fire in the largest battle of the war.
Like most things, something had to give. Waving the white flag, most everything came to a halt. Insurmountable change ensued. But what were the repercussions, and how might those changes impact not only their world, but the direct opposition, and the hundreds of surrounding worlds? Sometimes, war's inevitable end isn't necessarily the right solution, or a solution at all.
The opening chapter reminded me of a
Star Wars episode, one culminating in an epic, albeit brief, battle for dominance; for peace, joy, and contentment. By and large, a fight for moral supremacy. Where most stories end, C.T. Phipps and Michael Suttkus' Lucifer's Star was merely beginning.
Enter: Cassius Mass, the embodiment of everything that should be right with the world, "and everything wrong with" the system. No longer sure of what to think of the world, or what (if anything) to have faith in, forgetfulness would be a blessing. But how does one achieve stasis when everyday life aboard the Melampus served, to some degree, as a constant reminder?
Soon thereafter, some deception came to light, alongside an ensuing investigation. In life and fiction, things are rarely as simple as they seem.
What followed was an epic quest where revelations were made-- some shocking, others downright vile. All, however, relevant to the story. Nothing was forced or felt excessive.
A forewarning: the plot, simple though it may initially seem, actually was fairly complex, and became exponentially more so, over time. One could even argue it was unnecessarily intricate; that it perhaps needed to be simplified. But I'm awfully grateful it came out the way it did, though, because the reading experience wouldn't have been NEARLY as fun.
So due to that, and plus in general, I have concentration issues, and a slew of other pressing situations at the time (including familial death,) I decided to venture back to the beginning.
Starting over, a hundred and sixty pages in..
What began with extreme reluctance soon turned into a much more exciting, fascinating, and full experience. It was almost a different story altogether. For the first time, my mind was clear and I could simply relax as Cassius' journey unraveled. More than that though, it evolved into much more.
Amongst other things, a fast paced adventure emerged, fraught with emotional instabilities. There was also political intrigue and backstabbing aplenty, while maintaining a classic Phipps quality I've come to not only expect, but respect: action-packed, unpredictable scenarios.
Outside the luxury transport, I saw our convoy arrive above the Water Palace, one of the most beautiful constructions in Sector 7, if not the entire Spiral. Built on top of the ocean with massive super-steel legs, the palace and its ten thousand fountains, as well as a hundred micro-lakes, were covered by a translucent series of domes, protected from the worst of Shogun's monsoons. The architecture was a mixture of the modern and classical with the small-city containing several dozen skyscraper-sized pagodas mixed with a hundred more mansions, putting to shame anything outside of Crius or Albion.
Amidst the plot twists and excellent character development, Suttkus and Phipps explored some controversial subject matter, like genetic engineering and artificial intelligence, alongside other big, life-changing issues, to emphasize the extent of war. Furthermore, they utilized those issues to fully enrich the numerous battle scenes, making them much more exciting and technologically advanced.
I think some of the best speculative stories drive home social commentary, and Lucifer's Star had that in spades. Geopolitical, religious, philosophical-- all there, to some extent, and they effectively communicated important truths about the world in which we live.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/geopolitics
Another interesting facet revolved around Cassius, and the virtually unspoken namesake he shared with real life House Plantagenet. I don't believe it was a direct influence, yet it can't be dismissed, either. Sure, you don't get beheadings or the extremely violent battles, but the novel being a grimdark space opera, the similarities should be recognized.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/house-of-Plantagenet
https://www.historyextra.com/period/plantagenet/5-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-plantagenets/
In the interim of many of the day-to-day, or most pivotal advancements were moments of introspection, for the reader and characters alike. Consequently, the brilliance of said sequences (and details forming the whole,) couldn't help but shine through. More specifically, the duo's expert knowledge of tropes, which included DM-esque (Dungeon Master) insights into awesome creations such as the kriegermonster and the durandal. There were so many more, too.
"Tropes are tropes for a reason," and the author's took many known sci-fi tropes, and (as Phipps does very well,) spun them around almost aimlessly, yet logically, thus rendering them clever and unique. This wasn't a fluke, either, as Phipps' creativity has proven consistent. It's also one of my favorite aspects of his work. I genuinely admire him.
In the closing chapters, Cassius made a big choice. It completely shook me, and even now-months later-- I question its implications. Going forward, the consequences could prove fatal, for all parties involved. For the time being, I'll revel in all that came before, as the Melampus thrusts forward to destinations unknown.
"Evil is evil. Big. Small. Grand. Petty. Well-justified or just because. There's no lesser or greater of it. Choosing between them does not make your soul any less blackened. The trick is avoiding it altogether or acknowledging its truth."
tarmunvykers's review
5.0
A fun read -- a real popcorn, space opera that will keep you entertained for hours. Fans of Star Wars, Star Trek and Battlestar Gallicta will really enjoy this.
alwroteabook's review
4.0
A fun space opera along the lines of Dark Matter where everyone has their own agenda, but must come together (or not) to fight for the greater good (or their greater good, anyway). The plot has more twists than Spaghetti Junction, but keeping it focused on the point of view of one character, Cassius Mass, leads us to learn as he learns, rather than have it spiral out of control. The author(s)'s wit is on display throughout, and the story rattles along at a rapid pace. Give it 4-4.5/5
Roll on book #2
Roll on book #2
levi66's review
4.0
Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the Author.
What do you get if you combine Star Wars, The Expanse, and Dark Matter?
Remember the scene in the movie Clerks where they discuss the destruction of the Death Star and how many innocent contractors and civilians on board were killed? This book takes that concept and runs with it. None of the factions are without sin. All tend to justify their actions with calls to the greater good. All, that is, except for our main characters, who are beset by guilt, envy, anger—all the good stuff.
Cassius Mass was a great fighter pilot and officer for the Crius Archduchy. As a member of the nobility, he was somewhat isolated from the grim realities of the Archduchy’s society. When the Archduchy went to war with the Commonwealth, Cassius fought hard—and lost. Now in hiding as a wanted war criminal, Cassius has repented his previous ways and allegiances, and just wants to live a quiet, inebriated life. However, a new conflict is brewing, and it includes the remnants of his once-beloved Crius.
The plot took a lot of turns. Every time I thought I had a handle on things, some new dimension of the story was revealed. This kept me engaged through the whole book and helped me move past some of the exposition.
The characters, though different in background and personality, all speak in exactly the same voice—very cynical and sarcastic, with lots of fast-paced banter. It has the tone of watching Mystery Science Theater 3000, except the sarcastic jokes are coming from the characters of the story, not outside commentators. If it were not so deftly done, this could have knocked the reader completely out of the story. However, in this case it actually works pretty well.
There are some meaty themes here, too. There are explorations of stratified societies, cruelty to AIs, slavery, war crimes, and the use of force to compel those who are vulnerable. Oh, yeah—and space battles!
This is a great read for anyone who wants a little grimdark in their space opera. I’d love to continue reading about the further adventures (suffering?) of Cassius Mass and the crew of the Melampus.
What do you get if you combine Star Wars, The Expanse, and Dark Matter?
Remember the scene in the movie Clerks where they discuss the destruction of the Death Star and how many innocent contractors and civilians on board were killed? This book takes that concept and runs with it. None of the factions are without sin. All tend to justify their actions with calls to the greater good. All, that is, except for our main characters, who are beset by guilt, envy, anger—all the good stuff.
Cassius Mass was a great fighter pilot and officer for the Crius Archduchy. As a member of the nobility, he was somewhat isolated from the grim realities of the Archduchy’s society. When the Archduchy went to war with the Commonwealth, Cassius fought hard—and lost. Now in hiding as a wanted war criminal, Cassius has repented his previous ways and allegiances, and just wants to live a quiet, inebriated life. However, a new conflict is brewing, and it includes the remnants of his once-beloved Crius.
The plot took a lot of turns. Every time I thought I had a handle on things, some new dimension of the story was revealed. This kept me engaged through the whole book and helped me move past some of the exposition.
The characters, though different in background and personality, all speak in exactly the same voice—very cynical and sarcastic, with lots of fast-paced banter. It has the tone of watching Mystery Science Theater 3000, except the sarcastic jokes are coming from the characters of the story, not outside commentators. If it were not so deftly done, this could have knocked the reader completely out of the story. However, in this case it actually works pretty well.
There are some meaty themes here, too. There are explorations of stratified societies, cruelty to AIs, slavery, war crimes, and the use of force to compel those who are vulnerable. Oh, yeah—and space battles!
This is a great read for anyone who wants a little grimdark in their space opera. I’d love to continue reading about the further adventures (suffering?) of Cassius Mass and the crew of the Melampus.
spazenport's review
5.0
I was going to introduce this review with a comparison to all of the works that Lucifer’s Star reminded me of, but, while there are so many of them, not a single one can be used to give you a good sense of what this book is about.
Lucifer’s Star follows Cassius Mass, a former member of a royal house with huge political sway that they use to wage war. The world building in this book was amazing and we see a lot of detailed explanations in the interplanetary relationships as well as the individual cultures, all without taking away from the main story by being too filled with description. The descriptors come out naturally.
Cassius is a clone of the sovereign, with cybernetic implants to make him the perfect warrior, the perfect royal heir, and the perfect sexual partner. Each of these lending itself toward complicating his life more and more before finally, as a direct result of the Archduchy’s ongoing war. By the start of chapter 2, we find a down and out, drug and alcohol addled, his face and DNA changed to hide his identity, and living aboard a pirate spaceship with a questionable crew.
Then the crew finds out that he’s one of those rich nobles who somehow screwed each one of them over in some different way in the past.
From that point, his past begins to come back in a huge way and takes Cassius on a path that makes him question not only who he is, but also everything that he previously held as true. He’s forced to question everything from the difference (culturally) of right and wrong, the idea of identity, what defines a life, the galactic politics, and lots of questions of what love is versus like and versus lust.
Like most CT Phipps books, this book focuses a lot on Cassius discovering his identity once he’s been stripped of all the superfluous things that he thought was his identity. He goes through a huge transition from the beginning of the book all the way to the end.
When I said this book reminded me of a couple of other stories, it really did, but mostly in just elements. The entire pirate ship and such reminded me a lot of Talon Kardde from the Star Wars Expanded Universe/Legends books. The politics, and how they are so intricately defined, as well as the caste system that’s plainly obvious, reminded me a lot of the Red Rising books. There was even a moment that reminded me of the Borg from Star Trek. A lot of reminders, or ingredients, that made themselves into a great cake.
And I love cake!
5 out of 5. Epic Space Fantasy that leaves me begging to learn more about Cassius Mass!
Lucifer’s Star follows Cassius Mass, a former member of a royal house with huge political sway that they use to wage war. The world building in this book was amazing and we see a lot of detailed explanations in the interplanetary relationships as well as the individual cultures, all without taking away from the main story by being too filled with description. The descriptors come out naturally.
Cassius is a clone of the sovereign, with cybernetic implants to make him the perfect warrior, the perfect royal heir, and the perfect sexual partner. Each of these lending itself toward complicating his life more and more before finally, as a direct result of the Archduchy’s ongoing war. By the start of chapter 2, we find a down and out, drug and alcohol addled, his face and DNA changed to hide his identity, and living aboard a pirate spaceship with a questionable crew.
Then the crew finds out that he’s one of those rich nobles who somehow screwed each one of them over in some different way in the past.
From that point, his past begins to come back in a huge way and takes Cassius on a path that makes him question not only who he is, but also everything that he previously held as true. He’s forced to question everything from the difference (culturally) of right and wrong, the idea of identity, what defines a life, the galactic politics, and lots of questions of what love is versus like and versus lust.
Like most CT Phipps books, this book focuses a lot on Cassius discovering his identity once he’s been stripped of all the superfluous things that he thought was his identity. He goes through a huge transition from the beginning of the book all the way to the end.
When I said this book reminded me of a couple of other stories, it really did, but mostly in just elements. The entire pirate ship and such reminded me a lot of Talon Kardde from the Star Wars Expanded Universe/Legends books. The politics, and how they are so intricately defined, as well as the caste system that’s plainly obvious, reminded me a lot of the Red Rising books. There was even a moment that reminded me of the Borg from Star Trek. A lot of reminders, or ingredients, that made themselves into a great cake.
And I love cake!
5 out of 5. Epic Space Fantasy that leaves me begging to learn more about Cassius Mass!
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