• ASIN: ‎ B097D7Q5X7
• Language: ‎ English
• Genre: ‎ Science Fiction

SUMMARY: 

In a rare era of exploration, Mean Lavir migrates away from her industrialized planet to its orbiting sister world. Dubbed ‘Overland’ by her people, it is a place where the native inhabitants have all vanished: their magical artifacts and buildings left behind intact. These new lands—interconnected by a network of ‘hex doors’—are a paradise for vacationers, opportunists, and vagabonds.

Until an unexpected tragedy occurs.

The BookViral Review:

Compelling and awash with a host of unforgettable characters, Abandonment Party breaks the genre mould as Brad Smith notably blends the requisite elements of action and adventure with the farsightedness of science fiction.

An assured and confidently paced telling, Smith certainly knows how to build a visually complex and compelling tale, whilst his inventiveness is hard to deny. From concept to execution his plot is wholly engaging as he confidently navigates multiple threads, but he doesn’t feel the need for extraneous detail, bringing readers to the crux of his tale with taut prose.

This is world-building at its very best. Vibrant, bold, yet subtly nuanced to create a genuine sense of time and place. Smith not only understands the devices of truly engaging science fiction, he owns them as he takes his readers on an unrestrained journey that treats the imagination.

Ultimately though it’s his characters that must take the honours. Characters like Mean, Dark, Makaba, Trisk and Hellzoo are wonderfully observed, with each bringing a prevailing sense of gravitas to the story, whilst nicely nuanced dialogue adds much to the prevailing sense of authenticity.

They feel vividly real, their overriding purpose to draw his readers into an impressively imaginative world as he takes them on an unrestrained journey that treats the imagination.

A unique and memorable read, Abandonment Party is pure escapism from start to finish and is highly recommended.