Joshua Russell

A little confusing as there are so many story lines to keep up with, but a very interesting science fiction book. Look forward to more on the series.

FROM CHIRP: The fate of Earth’s first colony rests on the shoulders of a pair of misfits: Theo Puck, a rogue hacker with a gift for speaking to machines, and Selena Samuelson, a brash but talented pilot with a dark secret in her past.

Earth went silent over a decade ago. No contact, no resupply. If something doesn’t change, the colony will go extinct. The only way to restore communication with Earth is the ancient colony ship Chimera. Two centuries of disrepair have taken their toll on her — the shipboard AI that allows travel between distant stars is lost in unending sleep. She must be woken and the ship rebuilt for a desperate return journey to Earth.

The mandate to repair and crew the Chimera seems like a game to Theo — one he isn’t invited to play. Angry at having been overlooked, Theo hacks his name onto the list of those selected to crew the Chimera, a decision he soon regrets. A brutal murder changes everything: Theo must make it to the Chimera or his family will suffer terribly consequences.

Piloting an ore trawler is the only life Selena has ever known until an industrial accident strands her aboard the Hydra, the orbital station responsible for rebuilding the Chimera. A chance encounter with her AI suggests Selena might have a far larger role to play in saving the colony than she — or anyone else — ever imagined.
Theo and Selena’s futures become intertwined as they carve out places for themselves in the crew that will navigate the Chimera back to Earth. However, behind the scenes, a brilliant sociopath has set events in motion that could not only destroy their lives, but doom their colony as well.… (mehr)

Chimera by N. J. Tanger
I enjoyed reading Chimera very much and would like to know if and when subsequent books will be out. I thought it was an attention getter and kept me turning pages! I enjoyed the fact that it had several complex plots running throughout the story.
As an adult reader, I was not put-off by the fact that it was about teenagers and was also relieved that there was no vulgarity or sexual complications in the story. I would recommend this book to young adult readers especially since it involved a plot with game-like tendencies that would definitely keep their attention. Thank you for allowing me to preview this book. This book was a gift for a review and I have it online.… (mehr)

Read this through without stopping. Outstanding beginning of a series and yea! the next book is written and available now. Got so involved with the story hated it to end. Sometimes I don't check the publish date so its a happy surprise to find the next is done and I can jump back in right away.
The two main characters are from very different backgrounds and don't actually meet until the end of Book 1. The backgrounds for each are fully explained by actions and the world they live on is well drawn. Even the secondary characters are vivid, drawing you in to their lives. Their world is an inhospitable place, a punishment setting for a group in trouble with the Federation. Seven generations have worked the moon they inhabit, mining ore to repay the debt their ancestors owed. It should be over, they should be able to return to Earth or make profit from the ore they can now sell. But Earth no longer sends supplies and the people are close to starvation.
A crew is chosen by competition from the younger colonists. Work begins to reassemble the ship that brought them there. Things are urgent now. Everything depends on the crew as we watch them grow and mature under pressure. Questions arise- Can they awaken the ship's brain to begin the journey back? And Is there any help left for them on Earth?
I received this book free for review. Reviews are always honest but only my opinion. Thanks to the author, Netgalley and JNR Media.… (mehr)