In a world ravaged by climate change, social inequality and dwindling natural resources there’s only one solution: abandon the planet and terraform a new home. When Dylan Lomax – an emotionally disconnected empath, running from the memory of his past – joins Operation Genesis, he soon discovers not all is as it seems. The mission to bring life to a barren planet has a terrible secret. One which threatens to bring humanity to the brink of extinction.
Inspired by the blockbuster movies of the 90s, Genesis, the debut novel from C.A. Voss, is an accessible sci-fi romp which accelerates towards an epic finale.
Popcorn is optional.
Title: Genesis | Author: CA Voss | Publisher: Self-published | Pub. Date: 12th August 2018 | Pages: 280 | ISBN: 9781981031641 | Genre: Science Fiction | Language: English | Starred Review: No | Source: The author provided a copy for review consideration
Genesis Review
‘Genesis’ sells itself as the literary version of 1990s blockbuster popcorn cinema. Book-marketing is often guilty of excessive hyperbole, but in this case it’s not a million miles from the truth. Much like something from the minds of Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, ‘Genesis’ has a pretty good idea at its core, likeable if shallow characters, and a tonne of action. It’s deeply silly but good-natured fun. Go into it with your eyes open to its limitations and you’ll likely have a good time.
The book follows hero Dylan Lomax, a telepath in a near future world who gets strong-armed by the government into taking part in an exploratory mission to Venus. As the story unfolds there a bit of light exposition that lays out the recent past and the reason that there are telepaths. Mostly, though, the first third is about introducing the cool rocket ship and the other characters. There’s a teenage genius, an evil telepath, a kickass female soldier and a gruff military commander to back up Lomax’s happy go lucky wisecracking.
The book pretty much makes sense at first, but as it progresses it gets more and more bonkers. Not content with spaceships and telepaths, author CA Voss throws in aliens and dinosaurs. And then it gets more nuts. In fact, at times the book feels as much like a Saturday morning cartoon as it does big budget movie. I think a few times I lost track of what was happening, but I never felt like I wasn’t being entertained.
The writing is very easy to read, and I found that the pages flew by. Voss writes action well and is clearly having as much fun with the story as he wants his readers to. The characters may be slight, but who wants deep and meaningful studies of the human psyche when you’ve got aliens and dinosaurs? Check your disbelief at the door, set your phone to do not disturb and enjoy a high concept, hi-octane ride that makes up for with energy and enthusiasm what it lacks in depth.
You can find this book at many retailers via clicking on the appropriate link on Goodreads (Buying direct from retailers is a good way to support indie authors); however, in the spirit of supporting literacy programs, we would like to point out that you may be able to purchase this book through BetterWorldBooks.
Olly joined the team in August 2018. He is our first non-American team member, and lives in the UK. He is the head of our UK team. Olly reviews both science fiction and horror books and movies for the site. He also enjoys writing articles when time allows.
