Review of Luray
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JayRaams
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Review of Luray
[Following is a volunteer review of "Luray" by Dennis Haupt.]
Luray is the best at her job as a Risk Assessment Agent. Even though she prefers to work alone, she is measured knowing when to break the rules to get what she wants. She has a flawless record so when you want results you call Luray. That’s why when her boss receives a call from the UEM (United Earth Military) he sends her to evaluate the risk posed by unknown Aliens who have made contact with one of Earth’s most valuable colony. Even though the colony says it can handle it the investors are starting to get worried. Luray with her trusty AI implant Bin, find more than they are bargaining for when they reach the colony. Luray is not used to losing, able outmanoeuvre most opponents, how will she fare against the Aurigan Empire? Find out in this Luray the first instalment of the Behind the Last Gate series.
I liked the Physics in the book it is used accurately. I enjoyed the use of ideas like space elevators and the description of how simulated gravity would be created in a space station. Physics is very effectively used by the author, Dennis Haupt to give the world building an element of truth. There is a real balance between showing enough without overexplaining, allowing space for the more fantasy elements of the story to exist and not feel like they were impossible. I enjoyed the clever commentary and criticism of the American army and how it uses people. The last thing that I liked was that Luray is a 31-year-old woman, which was a nice touch. Often in stories like this, the lead is a man or if they are female they are in their late teens. Though I found the characterisation of Luray as a character a little flat and standard. She is portrayed as the tough lady who can kick the ass of any man and is the best in her field, but she has one flaw she can not make human connections well. All this mand Luray felt a little too much like Ripley from Alien.
I also liked the character of Bin, he is the AI assistant in Luray’s head. I enjoyed seeing the conversations between Luray and Bin and how Bin slowly evolves. What I did not like about Bin was that the author decided to use male pronouns for Bin, it seemed unnecessary because Bin is a computer, hence does not have a gender, so why give them one? If you were to give them one then it makes more sense that Bin would use She/Her pronouns because Bin is loosely based on the brain network and thought processes of Luray or that Bin should have had a moment when he chose their own pronouns. This felt like wasted potential to me. There is also a questionable scene where Bin releases a chemical cocktail into Luray to help her stay calm, the reason I found this so unsavoury is that he does this without asking. Any woman would find this a scary situation because it is like someone slipping you a drug, so Luray not getting angry or feeling violated feels very unrealistic. The author also uses the word “retarded” and “crazy” in the book, in a derogatory way. These words stigmatize vulnerable people in our community, and I feel they didn't have to be used, only adding to the negative view of people labelled in this way. The author could have been more imaginative when it came to the aliens, though we are told the Aurigan Empire is made of many different species we only get to see humans, human clones and animals from the Earth. Which was a little disappointing because especially in books, aliens can be anything but hopefully there are different types of aliens in the next instalment of the, Behind the Last Gate Books.
This is a 3 out of 4-star book for me. I took a 1 star off because the ending felt very abrupt. The book is intended to be the first part of the series, hopefully, the unfinished storylines will be wrapped up better in the next book. I prefer books that stand alone as well as being a part of a larger story, it makes each book more enjoyable. I also took another half a star off because I did not find that it brought anything truly new to sci-fi or literature in general. I decided to round up to 3 stars instead of down because I did find the book was quite engaging and enjoyable, as well as being exceptionally well-edited.
If you enjoyed the tv shows Brave New World and Cowboy Bebop, then I think different elements of Luray will be interesting to you. I also recommend this for newcomers to the sci-fi genre, because this is a short but good read, that introduces a lot of common sci-fi tropes and ideas in an accessible way.
******
Luray
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Luray is the best at her job as a Risk Assessment Agent. Even though she prefers to work alone, she is measured knowing when to break the rules to get what she wants. She has a flawless record so when you want results you call Luray. That’s why when her boss receives a call from the UEM (United Earth Military) he sends her to evaluate the risk posed by unknown Aliens who have made contact with one of Earth’s most valuable colony. Even though the colony says it can handle it the investors are starting to get worried. Luray with her trusty AI implant Bin, find more than they are bargaining for when they reach the colony. Luray is not used to losing, able outmanoeuvre most opponents, how will she fare against the Aurigan Empire? Find out in this Luray the first instalment of the Behind the Last Gate series.
I liked the Physics in the book it is used accurately. I enjoyed the use of ideas like space elevators and the description of how simulated gravity would be created in a space station. Physics is very effectively used by the author, Dennis Haupt to give the world building an element of truth. There is a real balance between showing enough without overexplaining, allowing space for the more fantasy elements of the story to exist and not feel like they were impossible. I enjoyed the clever commentary and criticism of the American army and how it uses people. The last thing that I liked was that Luray is a 31-year-old woman, which was a nice touch. Often in stories like this, the lead is a man or if they are female they are in their late teens. Though I found the characterisation of Luray as a character a little flat and standard. She is portrayed as the tough lady who can kick the ass of any man and is the best in her field, but she has one flaw she can not make human connections well. All this mand Luray felt a little too much like Ripley from Alien.
I also liked the character of Bin, he is the AI assistant in Luray’s head. I enjoyed seeing the conversations between Luray and Bin and how Bin slowly evolves. What I did not like about Bin was that the author decided to use male pronouns for Bin, it seemed unnecessary because Bin is a computer, hence does not have a gender, so why give them one? If you were to give them one then it makes more sense that Bin would use She/Her pronouns because Bin is loosely based on the brain network and thought processes of Luray or that Bin should have had a moment when he chose their own pronouns. This felt like wasted potential to me. There is also a questionable scene where Bin releases a chemical cocktail into Luray to help her stay calm, the reason I found this so unsavoury is that he does this without asking. Any woman would find this a scary situation because it is like someone slipping you a drug, so Luray not getting angry or feeling violated feels very unrealistic. The author also uses the word “retarded” and “crazy” in the book, in a derogatory way. These words stigmatize vulnerable people in our community, and I feel they didn't have to be used, only adding to the negative view of people labelled in this way. The author could have been more imaginative when it came to the aliens, though we are told the Aurigan Empire is made of many different species we only get to see humans, human clones and animals from the Earth. Which was a little disappointing because especially in books, aliens can be anything but hopefully there are different types of aliens in the next instalment of the, Behind the Last Gate Books.
This is a 3 out of 4-star book for me. I took a 1 star off because the ending felt very abrupt. The book is intended to be the first part of the series, hopefully, the unfinished storylines will be wrapped up better in the next book. I prefer books that stand alone as well as being a part of a larger story, it makes each book more enjoyable. I also took another half a star off because I did not find that it brought anything truly new to sci-fi or literature in general. I decided to round up to 3 stars instead of down because I did find the book was quite engaging and enjoyable, as well as being exceptionally well-edited.
If you enjoyed the tv shows Brave New World and Cowboy Bebop, then I think different elements of Luray will be interesting to you. I also recommend this for newcomers to the sci-fi genre, because this is a short but good read, that introduces a lot of common sci-fi tropes and ideas in an accessible way.
******
Luray
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Legacy of Job's Wife by Cynthia Koelker
