Review by Tam_R0se -- Project Tau by Jude Austin

[Tam_R0se]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Project Tau" by Jude Austin.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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I found <i>Project Tau</i> by Jude Austin to be thought provoking and entertaining. College

student, Kalin Taylor, desperately wants to be accepted in the Phi Mu Alpha fraternity. To do

so, he must break into a high security area, find and photograph Project Tau, and slip out

unseen. He barely sets foot inside before being caught, then marched at gun point to face the

head of the establishment, Mason, who coerces him into signing what he believes is a two week

contract as a willing subject for non-life threatening 'tests'. The alternative is being shot

dead and his body sent home to his parents branded 'traitor'. Kalin wakes on his second day to

find that the 'tests' were body modifications and realizes he has made a mistake. He must find

a way to escape and take the clone, Project Tau, with him. It won't be easy between harsh

training methods, the personnel's belief that he is also a clone, and Tau's uneducated view of

what is normal. Help will be a long time coming if it comes at all and survival is not

guaranteed.

I enjoyed this book and the transformation of chubby, bookish Kalin Taylor into war machine

Project Kata. Tau and Kata are polar opposites. Tau is trusting and patient, accepting the

teachers' lessons as necessary. Kata is stubborn and combative, knowing the lessons are far

from acceptable. The instructors are well rounded, distinct personalities that a reader can

love, hate, or sympathise with. <i>Project Tau</i> by Jude Austin touches on the legality and

morality of clone enslavement, body modifications for profit, corruption in big business, and

intentions gone wrong. Kata asks along the way what difference there is between a human and a

clone who looks, acts, and emotes like a human. I give this book <b>4 out of 4</b> stars for

excellent editing, powerful character creation, and an engaging plot. I recommend this for

most readers who enjoy science fiction. The ending was satisfying, though it left me with a

few questions dangling. Hopefully, this means another book in the offing. It does contain some

mild profanity and those uncomfortable with reading about taking the Lord's name in vain might

want to give it a pass. To be clear, the author points this out through the interaction of

certain characters and is not lightly tossing His name about. It is a good, gritty read

without being gory or explicit.

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Project Tau
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