Review by NetMassimo -- Containment Breach

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 15 Sep 2019, 09:33

[Following is a volunteer review of "Containment Breach" by Wm. A. Yandell.]

3 out of 4 stars

Share This Review

Containment Breach by Wm. A. Yandell is a science fiction novel that starts when bug-like creatures that were getting tested in space start acting on their own and breach containment making a lot of people at the World Alliance nervous. Dr. Walter Smithton is brought into the project, but he was conducting secret experiments on his own and needs to hide even his thoughts about them because mind readers check him all the time. The situation is made even more complex by the disagreements between the people in charge of the project and the salvage operation.

Wm. A. Yandell sets the story's pace with the moment of the containment breach. From that beginning you can feel the tension because it's clear that the Creatures can be lethal to humans. They're the size of an insect but they can work as a group.

The basic idea is very classic science fiction with an experiment gone wrong. The setting is more typical of recent stories with a clear dystopia flavor. Scientists are forced to work on the Creatures and the authorities can torture or kill them and their families. Wm. A. Yandell doesn't go into details and the worst act of brutality are mentioned rather than described. The fact that the scientists must obtain results also to avoid brutal punishments adds to the tension.

At the beginning of the novel, there are several secrets around the Creatures and also around Dr. Walter Smithton's own experiment with another breed of creatures. The chapters that tell his story are told in the first person from his point of view while the others are told in the third person. The author made that choice to tell Smithton's thoughts and reflections in an engaging way and at the same time to tell other important parts of the story.

Part of the plot development concern revelations and twists. You can say that it's a sort of space thriller, but it also includes ethical and moral issues because the themes of conflict and collaboration are an important part of the novel.

I felt that the author didn't develop his novel's full potential, mainly being a bit nebulous about the power structure within the World Alliance. I think that some details would have helped, also about possible agendas behind the people in charge of the project and the salvage operation to give more strength to the parts about their conflict.

There are only a few minor errors, but I noticed that Wm. A. Yandell used contractions only sometimes so there are instances where he wrote "do not" and others where he wrote "don't" and so on. That's not technically a mistake, but I think that a good editing also means a consistent choice.

My rating is 3 out of 4 stars because there are no big flaws but some little ones make it fall short of amazing. I recommend it to readers looking for a science fiction story full of action but also to readers looking for food for thought.

******
Containment Breach
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

kdstrack · Post by **kdstrack** » 01 Oct 2019, 09:46

Sometimes it is difficult to determine how much of this is really science fiction. This theory of the bug-like creatures has been floating around for some time now. I really enjoyed your description of this book, and loved that intriguing hook at the end. I'm looking forward to some "food for thought!" Thanks for the intriguing recommendation.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 01 Oct 2019, 10:25

kdstrack wrote: ↑01 Oct 2019, 09:46 Sometimes it is difficult to determine how much of this is really science fiction. This theory of the bug-like creatures has been floating around for some time now. I really enjoyed your description of this book, and loved that intriguing hook at the end. I'm looking forward to some "food for thought!" Thanks for the intriguing recommendation.

Thank you for your appreciation. Possibly the author read something about that kind of creatures and got some inspiration for his novel.

Gerry Steen · Post by **Gerry Steen** » 15 Apr 2025, 08:58

This sounds like a gripping tale. The tension created by scientists being forced to do harmful research or be punished will keep me anxious about their well-being. The harmful insects will keep me anxious about the well-being of citizens. I am adding this one to my bookshelves.

Chi Chiu Michael Mak · Post by **Chi Chiu Michael Mak** » 08 Jun 2025, 09:15

NetMassimo wrote: ↑15 Sep 2019, 09:33 [Following is a volunteer review of "Containment Breach" by Wm. A. Yandell.]

3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review

Containment Breach by Wm. A. Yandell is a science fiction novel that starts when bug-like creatures that were getting tested in space start acting on their own and breach containment making a lot of people at the World Alliance nervous. Dr. Walter Smithton is brought into the project, but he was conducting secret experiments on his own and needs to hide even his thoughts about them because mind readers check him all the time. The situation is made even more complex by the disagreements between the people in charge of the project and the salvage operation.

Wm. A. Yandell sets the story's pace with the moment of the containment breach. From that beginning you can feel the tension because it's clear that the Creatures can be lethal to humans. They're the size of an insect but they can work as a group.

The basic idea is very classic science fiction with an experiment gone wrong. The setting is more typical of recent stories with a clear dystopia flavor. Scientists are forced to work on the Creatures and the authorities can torture or kill them and their families. Wm. A. Yandell doesn't go into details and the worst act of brutality are mentioned rather than described. The fact that the scientists must obtain results also to avoid brutal punishments adds to the tension.

At the beginning of the novel, there are several secrets around the Creatures and also around Dr. Walter Smithton's own experiment with another breed of creatures. The chapters that tell his story are told in the first person from his point of view while the others are told in the third person. The author made that choice to tell Smithton's thoughts and reflections in an engaging way and at the same time to tell other important parts of the story.

Part of the plot development concern revelations and twists. You can say that it's a sort of space thriller, but it also includes ethical and moral issues because the themes of conflict and collaboration are an important part of the novel.

I felt that the author didn't develop his novel's full potential, mainly being a bit nebulous about the power structure within the World Alliance. I think that some details would have helped, also about possible agendas behind the people in charge of the project and the salvage operation to give more strength to the parts about their conflict.

There are only a few minor errors, but I noticed that Wm. A. Yandell used contractions only sometimes so there are instances where he wrote "do not" and others where he wrote "don't" and so on. That's not technically a mistake, but I think that a good editing also means a consistent choice.

My rating is 3 out of 4 stars because there are no big flaws but some little ones make it fall short of amazing. I recommend it to readers looking for a science fiction story full of action but also to readers looking for food for thought.

******
Containment Breach
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Power structures are very intricate and challenging to elaborate. I can understand why the author would struggle to do so in a written medium. I like a Bug-themed dystopian story though!