25 January 2015

Book Review: Desert Moon

Desert Moon by Mark Walker


This book was my first foray into a kindle book, and also the first SF novel I've read in ages after a friend of mine recommended it to me.  First up, the author isn't a 'professional' artsy author - he is ex-Naval Officer and war gamer who also writes the a bit of fiction.  Mark may to know to some of you through his Lock 'n Load games*, which you can see here: http://www.locknloadgame.com
Though he has since sold that company and started a new one: Flying Pig Games!
http://www.flyingpiggames.com

So onto the book.  Initially, I found it a bit difficult to get into actually.  After all the professional reading I've been doing, all that 'critical thinking' really ruins the necessary 'willing suspension of disbelief' necessary for some novels.  I don't like to give spoilers, but there is an essential plot element at the start which I found a little tough to swallow at first.  However, once you do the plot is very enjoyable.

What follows then is a quickly paced story which incorporates some interesting elements including human genetic improvements, international relations played out on a modest but interstellar framework, an insurrection and some major military battles.


Overall, I'm glad I persevered through the first 50 pages (or however that kindle device measures it) to get to the meat of the book.  


I give it a solid 3 and a half stars, tending to 4 out of 5 near the end.  Well worth your time.  I quite enjoyed Mark's writing style and will be checking out some of his other titles.

* Many years ago Comrade James wrote the supplement ANZAC Attack for Mark's Lock 'N Load: Forgotten Heroes – Vietnam game, and I helped him play test the scenarios.  As a nice thank you Mark made us Leader counters in the game! A small world indeed.
In action against the Viet Cong!

6 comments:

  1. I'm just impressed you had time to read this after seeing the stack of class work you have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually, this was due entirely to having it on Kindle. I also put the Kindle app for my phone you see, and found that I was able to sneak in 10 mins here and there throughout the day which is usually 'dead time', because I always had my 'book' with me. Still getting used to the format but from that perspective it was great.

      Delete
  2. interesting review. I love my kindle for its portability waiting for customers or sitting around waiting for tests to run on laptops etc has never been so interesting :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't think I'll ever go away from reading a real book, but the convenience for casual reading is brilliant

      Delete
  3. I would give it a 4 out 5 for entrainment but yes, you need to suspend logic on some of the storyline. But it IS a story and a good read. I didn't find the first few pages that hard to stick with but maybe that's because I came at it after drought of reading :-)

    Now how long before you start investigating gaming possibilities????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In fact it was you who got me onto this mate!

      You assume I haven't already made lists for four different companies and acquired two new sets of rules....

      Delete