+Giveaway
Science Fiction, Horror - novel
TBR Reviewer: Mark
TBR Reviewer: Mark
Review
The Icarus is on an experimental voyage deep into the atmosphere of the sun, going further than any other vessel has gone before it. It is Captain Gordon Markov's last mission but it could well be the one from which he never returns. The crew are at breaking point through stress, the Ship is threatening to fall apart at the seams because of the immense pressure it is under and the onboard Lead Research scientist is becoming increasingly more obsessed with an Alien artifact that really shouldn't be there the closer they get to achieving their
original objective. Reluctantly the Captain agrees to take the artifact onboard but it is not long before he has cause to regret that decision as he feels his command slowly spiraling out of control!
The Icarus Void is an awesome, awesome tale that takes its influence from a whole generation of Sci-Fi books and movies before it then gives them its own unique and original twist! There are elements here taken from the likes of Aliens, Event Horizon, Sunshine and Sphere but Burch manages to combine these influences to good effect creating a story in the process that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the start all the way through to its terrifying climax!
An English teacher at High School once told me that one of the best ways to hook your readers right from the start is to put them in a perilous situation and have them fight their way out of it through the course of your tale and this is a technique that Burch uses here to full and frightening effect! The tension in this book is razor sharp through-out right from the very first chapter and, even in its quieter moments, the suspense almost becomes too much to bear. This is a story that is action-packed from the very beginning and barely gives you a moment to catch your breath before chucking something new and even more deadly
in your direction. As such, it is also a book that will really tire you out and leave you feeling emotionally drained!
I could barely put this down and only thank my lucky stars that I read this on Kindle because I think if I had read this on paper I would either have set the pages alight I was turning them so quick or else have ended up with a fistful of paper-cuts! Honestly, it is rarely that proper, grown-up Sci-Fi this good comes along and if you only read one Science-Fiction novel this year, really it needs to be this one! I guessed the very final twist right at the end, even this could not spoil the book for me. Burch is an author I will be looking out for in the future for definite and if this debut is anything to go by, then he has a highly promising career ahead of him as a writer and one which deserves every success! This was that good that, if I was able, I even would have given this 6 stars out of 5! Highly recommended!!
The Icarus Void is the best Science Fiction book I've read in years! Thanks TBR for bringing this author to my attention.
original objective. Reluctantly the Captain agrees to take the artifact onboard but it is not long before he has cause to regret that decision as he feels his command slowly spiraling out of control!
The Icarus Void is an awesome, awesome tale that takes its influence from a whole generation of Sci-Fi books and movies before it then gives them its own unique and original twist! There are elements here taken from the likes of Aliens, Event Horizon, Sunshine and Sphere but Burch manages to combine these influences to good effect creating a story in the process that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the start all the way through to its terrifying climax!
An English teacher at High School once told me that one of the best ways to hook your readers right from the start is to put them in a perilous situation and have them fight their way out of it through the course of your tale and this is a technique that Burch uses here to full and frightening effect! The tension in this book is razor sharp through-out right from the very first chapter and, even in its quieter moments, the suspense almost becomes too much to bear. This is a story that is action-packed from the very beginning and barely gives you a moment to catch your breath before chucking something new and even more deadly
in your direction. As such, it is also a book that will really tire you out and leave you feeling emotionally drained!
I could barely put this down and only thank my lucky stars that I read this on Kindle because I think if I had read this on paper I would either have set the pages alight I was turning them so quick or else have ended up with a fistful of paper-cuts! Honestly, it is rarely that proper, grown-up Sci-Fi this good comes along and if you only read one Science-Fiction novel this year, really it needs to be this one! I guessed the very final twist right at the end, even this could not spoil the book for me. Burch is an author I will be looking out for in the future for definite and if this debut is anything to go by, then he has a highly promising career ahead of him as a writer and one which deserves every success! This was that good that, if I was able, I even would have given this 6 stars out of 5! Highly recommended!!
The Icarus Void is the best Science Fiction book I've read in years! Thanks TBR for bringing this author to my attention.
Excerpt
″I have to agree with Doctors Tybalt and Kerrick,″ Straub said. ″The artifact is an important find. It's going to help us immensely in the sciences field. But I think it's my responsibility as a member of the crew to acknowledge the risk of capturing it with that much radiation present. Risky, but worthwhile? Yes. Ultimately, however, it's your ship.″ That was as diplomatic as he could be. Tybalt wanted that goddamn thing, Kerrick was keeping her shapeshifting personality in line, and the crew needed this mission to be over with. Straub
didn't give a damn anymore. All he saw was the potential relationship that he had been fostering with Kerrick dying in her eyes, and on top of it, he wanted off this goddamn ship.
Markov nodded. ″For the record, your advice is noted, Doctor Straub. Thank you.″ Markov turned to Tybalt, and held her gaze as he removed his comm from his magbelt. The chief engineer's voice came back, and Markov said to him, ″I don't know where you are right now, but I need you down in engineering on the bounce. We need to dive early.″
Tybalt clasped her hands together, made a slight bow to acknowledge the captain's decision and her appreciation, and then pointed to Kerrick and Straub and said, ″Let's go.″
Markov slipped something into Straub's hands; it was a personal communicator. ″This is set to my frequency,″ the captain said, his voice low. ″If anything goes wrong, call me instantly.″
Straub nodded, and pocketed the comm. He followed Tybalt and Kerrick off the bridge. As they left, he turned and saw Captain Udeh lean in close to Captain Markov and begin to confer over something, probably this clusterfuck of a mission, and Straub caught Markov's eyes.
didn't give a damn anymore. All he saw was the potential relationship that he had been fostering with Kerrick dying in her eyes, and on top of it, he wanted off this goddamn ship.
Markov nodded. ″For the record, your advice is noted, Doctor Straub. Thank you.″ Markov turned to Tybalt, and held her gaze as he removed his comm from his magbelt. The chief engineer's voice came back, and Markov said to him, ″I don't know where you are right now, but I need you down in engineering on the bounce. We need to dive early.″
Tybalt clasped her hands together, made a slight bow to acknowledge the captain's decision and her appreciation, and then pointed to Kerrick and Straub and said, ″Let's go.″
Markov slipped something into Straub's hands; it was a personal communicator. ″This is set to my frequency,″ the captain said, his voice low. ″If anything goes wrong, call me instantly.″
Straub nodded, and pocketed the comm. He followed Tybalt and Kerrick off the bridge. As they left, he turned and saw Captain Udeh lean in close to Captain Markov and begin to confer over something, probably this clusterfuck of a mission, and Straub caught Markov's eyes.
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CONTEST: CK Burch is giving away an ecopy to one lucky winner! Comment below to enter. Contest ends March 18th.
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