Review by Bothofus07 -- Masters and Bastards
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Bothofus07
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Review by Bothofus07 -- Masters and Bastards
[Following is a volunteer review of "Masters and Bastards" by Christopher J. Penington.]
Masters and Bastards by Christopher J. Penington is a complex, fast-paced science fiction fantasy set in humanity's distant future. The world that Penington has created resulted from humanity beginning anew on a set of distant planets following a global cataclysm on Earth. An alien race that discovered an "ark" containing DNA information for all of Earth's inhabitants then reseeded life in a distant galaxy. After centuries of human development, reaching the technological level of interplanetary space travel, the main government on the planet Poltervaut is patterned after Roman rule with ethnic groups segregated into classes and factions.
The story follows Andreas Marset, a young soldier of the Arpathian underclass preparing to begin his military career defending the human race from an impending invasion by an alien race known as the Vulgari. Andreas is unceremoniously summoned to the palace and eventually learns that he has been chosen by the Iberian emperor Constantine to produce an heir with his illegitimate daughter Isabella. His selection can scarcely be explained by the complicated political machinations at work, or by his mysterious heritage that includes yet untapped psychic and telepathic abilities. After a bewildered Andreas accomplishes the task for which he was chosen, he is shipped off to join his military unit on the twin planets of Gideon and Rubicon to battle ethnic groups that oppose Iberian rule. The story then follows Andreas' rise through the military ranks, along with the development of his extraordinary psychic abilities, eventually leading to an effort to unite humanity on all three planets to defend against the Vulgari. Love and betrayal, heroic action and battles, revelations about Andreas' heritage, and an ultimate psychic showdown between Andreas and a powerful villain carry this story to a thrilling conclusion.
This is the second Christopher J. Penington book I have read, so I already knew to have no expectations about where the story might go. Except for a passing resemblance to an old Star Trek episode, the civilization and history of the world Penington created was unique and masterfully designed. Characters that may have seemed one-dimensional at first took on depth as the story progressed. The story moved seamlessly from one setting to the next, defining each planet and people group in an easily relatable and understandable way. The action and military battles were tightly written and exciting to read. The romances, however, were uninspired and lacked chemistry. There was also a completely unnecessary rape scene. Despite these shortcomings, the story constructed layers of science fiction, fantasy, spirituality, and action that kept me turning pages late into the night.
My favorite thing about Masters and Bastards was the fascinating world and backstory created by Penington. It left me wanting to know more about the aliens and origins of the galaxy. I also appreciated the nod to differences between the polytheistic religion of the Roman-like Iberians and the monotheism of the other Christian-like cultures in this civilization. My least favorite thing about this book was, as I mentioned, an unnecessary rape scene, along with the generally one-dimensional quality of the romantic relationships.
I would rate this book a 3 out of 4 stars for a creative science fiction fantasy that constructed a fascinating new world. It could have benefited from another round of professional editing for some grammar and word usage issues. There is a fair amount of profanity and sexual content including rape. Overall, Penington has an enjoyable and easy-to-read writing style that maintains momentum throughout the story. While not for younger readers, science fiction and fantasy fans would enjoy this book for its layers of imaginative storytelling.
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Masters and Bastards
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Masters and Bastards by Christopher J. Penington is a complex, fast-paced science fiction fantasy set in humanity's distant future. The world that Penington has created resulted from humanity beginning anew on a set of distant planets following a global cataclysm on Earth. An alien race that discovered an "ark" containing DNA information for all of Earth's inhabitants then reseeded life in a distant galaxy. After centuries of human development, reaching the technological level of interplanetary space travel, the main government on the planet Poltervaut is patterned after Roman rule with ethnic groups segregated into classes and factions.
The story follows Andreas Marset, a young soldier of the Arpathian underclass preparing to begin his military career defending the human race from an impending invasion by an alien race known as the Vulgari. Andreas is unceremoniously summoned to the palace and eventually learns that he has been chosen by the Iberian emperor Constantine to produce an heir with his illegitimate daughter Isabella. His selection can scarcely be explained by the complicated political machinations at work, or by his mysterious heritage that includes yet untapped psychic and telepathic abilities. After a bewildered Andreas accomplishes the task for which he was chosen, he is shipped off to join his military unit on the twin planets of Gideon and Rubicon to battle ethnic groups that oppose Iberian rule. The story then follows Andreas' rise through the military ranks, along with the development of his extraordinary psychic abilities, eventually leading to an effort to unite humanity on all three planets to defend against the Vulgari. Love and betrayal, heroic action and battles, revelations about Andreas' heritage, and an ultimate psychic showdown between Andreas and a powerful villain carry this story to a thrilling conclusion.
This is the second Christopher J. Penington book I have read, so I already knew to have no expectations about where the story might go. Except for a passing resemblance to an old Star Trek episode, the civilization and history of the world Penington created was unique and masterfully designed. Characters that may have seemed one-dimensional at first took on depth as the story progressed. The story moved seamlessly from one setting to the next, defining each planet and people group in an easily relatable and understandable way. The action and military battles were tightly written and exciting to read. The romances, however, were uninspired and lacked chemistry. There was also a completely unnecessary rape scene. Despite these shortcomings, the story constructed layers of science fiction, fantasy, spirituality, and action that kept me turning pages late into the night.
My favorite thing about Masters and Bastards was the fascinating world and backstory created by Penington. It left me wanting to know more about the aliens and origins of the galaxy. I also appreciated the nod to differences between the polytheistic religion of the Roman-like Iberians and the monotheism of the other Christian-like cultures in this civilization. My least favorite thing about this book was, as I mentioned, an unnecessary rape scene, along with the generally one-dimensional quality of the romantic relationships.
I would rate this book a 3 out of 4 stars for a creative science fiction fantasy that constructed a fascinating new world. It could have benefited from another round of professional editing for some grammar and word usage issues. There is a fair amount of profanity and sexual content including rape. Overall, Penington has an enjoyable and easy-to-read writing style that maintains momentum throughout the story. While not for younger readers, science fiction and fantasy fans would enjoy this book for its layers of imaginative storytelling.
******
Masters and Bastards
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Warramunga's Aftermath of War by Greg Kater
