By: Jamie Steinberg
The double-sided read Red Star Hustle and Apprehension are a pieced together tales set in a far-off future. One tells the story of an escort who is accused of murder and the other involves a search for a kidnapped boy. Sadly, what results is one book glued together with half enjoyable storyline and half a throw away.
Aran is a high-class escort enjoying the company of an older filmmaker. Addicted to alcohol and opiates, Aran leaves his companion sleeping in search of a good time only to find himself framed for the murder of his client and in love with a clone he meets in a bar. On the run from a top-notch bounty hunter, Imadi, well known for her skills as a mech fighter (think Transformer) and addict in recovery, Aran teams up with his new boo, Resh, to clear his name.
Now, I’m no prude, but there was way too much swearing and graphic sex scenes included in Red Star Hustle. With a focus more on Aran’s escape and Resh’s tumultuous relationship with his family and his life as a clone, I would have enjoyed the novella of space adventure a lot more. Yes, author Sam J. Miller does a decent job of making the tale investible; however, the above was a genuine distraction. What I loved most though was that Miller made it known that love knows no class, race, origin story, etc. Although, my favorite part was Imadi’s hidden past and her tumultuous relationship with her mother.
Red Star Hustle is the flip side to Apprehension – the latter being the more enjoyable tale. Flip the book over to learn take on a tale with more depth and heart.
Apprehension tells the short story of a family on a much needed vacation that is upended by a kidnapping and the need to thwart a murder plot. Author Mary Robinette Kowal crafts an investable sci-fi adventure that is infused with heart and the true meaning of family.
Bonnyjean, an elderly neurosurgeon with a bum hip, has taken her son-in-law Jax and her six-year-old grandson Tristan on a sorely needed vacation. All her grieving the loss of Sam – Bonnyjean’s daughter, Jax’s wife and Tristan’s mom (who was also Jax’s partner in the music group Math Turtles). Unfortunately, the moment they step off their ship into the alien world of Namhatanu they find themselves in trouble. Tristan is kidnapped and Bonnyjean throws herself into getting him back and stop a lawmaker from being murdered.
Our heroine Bonnyjean comes with a fascinating backstory, which helped propel Kowal’s storyline and make it investable as she was once a special forces operative held as a POW on Namhatanu! Not content with sitting back and letting the alien police force get her beloved Tristan back, Bonnyjean enters the fray and immerses herself in avoiding her grief over Sam by seeking to save the life of her grandson – at all costs hip be damned.
Apprehension is quite the page turner and heartfelt story of the lengths you go to for the love of family. Readers will put their own hearts into page after page to see if Bonnyjean can thwart the bad guys and bring her beloved Tristan home.