Survive. The tale of Ballantyne Alysom. Lost in space. That’s the good news!
Life and Other Dreams. The question is simple. Where do your dreams take you?
The Hitman and the Thief. It was one last job for the hitman, what could possibly go wrong?
We Are Saul. Second chances come with a price.
The Adventures of Kalyn Deere, Bounty Hunter. Solving crime, all over the Galaxy.
Survive (the tale of Ballantyne Alysom).
Ballantyne Alysom is the Galaxy’s most famous explorer.
Davis Jansen is the cameraman he takes to record his latest mission.
Alysom is giving nothing away, except that it’s something that’s never been seen before.
When things go wrong, they are marooned on a savage and uncharted planet. The survivors need a leader they can rely on.
Jansen watches and records it all as Alysom’s true character is revealed. He’s not the genial and fearless explorer that everyone sees.
The Far Explorer is a ship riddled with infighting and jealousy, Alysom is controlling and arrogant, nothing like the man that his reputation suggests.
Jansen’s efforts to expose the truth carry just as much risk as surviving on the planet did.
Maybe more
Find out if enough lies can ever bury the truth in Survive, the tale of Ballantyne Alysom.
“I recommend this book, it’s the kind you can’t put down till the end and then you’re disappointed when the end happens.”
A Review.
Imaginative futuristic story about space exploration gone wrong, interwoven with the survivors’ testimony on a television show about their harrowing ordeal after crash-landing on a strange planet rife with deadly creatures and amazing discoveries. Author Richard Dee has either done tremendous research into the technicalities of everything related to space exploration, etc., or he’s a dang genius. His writing is superb, his characterizations distinct, and his imagination – well – out of this world.
“Survive. The Tale of Ballantyne Alysom” is the first in a series. This series will appeal to fans of Science Fiction as well as those who like a good study in narcissism, for the main character, Ballantyne, is narcissism on steroids. Add to that the twists and turns, unexpected revelations, and underlying theme of corporate greed exploiting the expendable, and you’ve got a story that keeps you doing the, “just one more chapter,” thing. This is another one on my Recommendation List. Five stars.
Life, and Other Dreams.
Who are you when you dream?
Rick isn’t sure anymore…
Is he Rick, living in the here and now? Working a boring job, married to Cath.
Or is he Dan, living six-hundred years and half a galaxy away? Exploring an alien planet with Vanessa by his side.
Two worlds, one man. While he’s awake in one place, he’s asleep in the other.
Simple enough, until people from Dan’s world start turning up in Rick’s life.
Confusing? But then it gets worse. Dan is accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Ricks wife leaves him and both realities are falling apart.
Which life is real? Will either go back to how it was?
If you had a choice, which would you choose?
“a masterpiece of fiction”
“Fast-paced, edge of your seat stuff!”
A review
“The story concerns a man by the name of Rick/Dan, who experiences extremely lucid dreams of a life on a far off planet called Ecias, to the extent he begins to question which of these lives is true reality. Throughout his journey for the truth, both lives begin to fall apart and he has to deal with repercussions on both sides.
We essentially have 2 different intertwining stories that are both expertly written and meld into a fluid and near perfect dual story. Both have parallels which become more intense as Dan gets deeper into trouble. The story on Ecias could have easily been written as a separate book, as could the tale of Rick, but together they create a weird sublime beauty and one that questions identity and the human condition. The world which Rick lives in is so relatable and the small things such as the noise of an MRI scanner are spot on. While Ecias isn’t as relatable in terms of it being a fantasy place, it relatable in the sense of wonder and freedom it provides it’s inhabitants. They also have a logical and plausible reason for being on the planet.
Everything is so well thought out and every character is fleshed out to such great detail. I’d say there isn’t a badly written character anywhere near the book. Everyone feels like a real person and they act as such. The pacing throughout is impeccable and I found myself gripped. constantly wanting to know what would happen next and how everything fits together. The mind puzzle element of the book is so deep and enticing, it’s hard not to get caught up in it.
It’s a book you think about long after it’s finished and one that truly belongs in the upper echelon of sci-fi, surpassing much of what has come before. It creates its own identity which is an amazing thing. It’s rare for a book to feel as fresh and new as this. I wondered part way through if it would be similar to ‘We Can Remember It For You Wholesale’ by Philip K Dick (which was later turned into the film Total Recall) but no. It went its own path and one that I’d say works better than that of Dick’s story. I like the fact that no proper comparison can be drawn, as nowadays there seem to be so many similar books with the same themes and plot devices. It is really nice to have an author write what they want and not just pander to what performs the best in the charts.
If I had one fault with the book, it would be that there’s a sequel. So, in theory, it’s not a problem with this story, but it affects the overall ending. What’s there is perfect. It ends in the most sublimely, strangely beautiful way which makes you truly think. By knowing there is a follow-up, some of the perfection is sadly lost. That isn’t to say the sequel won’t be great, it just feels unnecessary considering the perfection that is the ending of this book.
Needless to say, I would consider this book a must read and one that I would happily read again. I would go as far as to say that I consider ‘Life and Other Dreams’ a masterpiece of fiction and one I am so glad to have experienced.”
The Hitman and the Thief
Assassination can be a messy business, especially if you’re having a bad day.
Dan Jones is the ultimate problem solver, the hitman for crime boss Fliss Bauer.
Fliss has a rival, Kalindra Dallin. She runs a particularly unpleasant planet. Dan is told to arrange her demise. It’s just another job; until a random event means that it all goes horribly wrong.
To save his skin, Dan is forced to try again, only this time he has to work with a partner. He doesn’t want to but it’s the only chance he’s going to get; if he wants to put things right.
Can the hitman and the thief get the job done, more importantly, can they keep each other alive?
A review
“Richard’s latest book, The Hitman and the Thief, takes the reader on a twisting journey through different worlds. The action moves swiftly, with unexpected twists and turns. As usual, Richard’s excellent technical knowledge conveys a gritty reality with ease. This is a fun read, hard to put down and I sure hope there is a sequel in the making.”
We Are Saul
When Saul is paralysed in an accident, he thinks it’s the end of his life. In fact, it’s just the beginning.
While trying to come to terms with his injuries, the mysterious Dr Tendral offers him a way to make a difference. All he has to do is join his project. There are no other details until he agrees, he’s either in or out.
What choice does he have?
Agreeing is just the beginning. Saul undergoes drastic surgery, only then is the full depth of the project revealed.
Or is it?
As time goes on and he learns more about Tendral’s scheme, Saul’s new life becomes increasingly difficult.
In the end, he has to abandon everything as he learns the truth.
All second chances come with a price.
A review.
We Are Saul follows Saul Wilstreet, an odd-jobber who takes on jobs to fund a lifestyle of travelling to disaster-hit locations to help in the relief efforts. While in a far-flung corner of the world, when a relationship became more serious than he was ready for, he fled back to the UK. Unfortunately for him, a tragic accident with an HGV left him paralysed. Laid up in a hospital bed, life as he knew it over, an interesting opportunity comes his way. An opportunity for a second chance at life. Not just existence. A life unhindered. With advanced technology, Saul will be able to control a robotic version of himself with his mind. He can have a full life, with full sensations and experiences. An opportunity too good to be true. Something Saul discovers in time.
We Are Saul makes for a sci-fi novel with a difference. There’s modern technology, robots, and something more, but the story offers hope for what could be. But it also offers a cautionary tale of what just might await us in our future. Not everything is as it seems, and very rarely does something life-changing come without a catch. And this is something Richard Dee sets up in this novel really well. I found myself hooked from the first page to the last.
The Adventures of Kalyn Deere, Bounty Hunter.
Kalyn Deere is straight out of the Navy and straight into trouble.
When she arrives home, after five years away, Kalyn misses seeing her father by an hour. There’s no chance to patch up their broken relationship, no time to explain.
A month later, he sends her a message. “Help me,” is all he says.
Erik Deere is a private investigator and bounty hunter, a job he said Kayln must never be allowed to do. That’s the reason she left in the first place.
With Erik missing, she’s dragged into his world, whether he likes it or not.
Kalyn needs to find her father and keep his business going. All the while pretending that everything is normal.
She has to learn fast, helped by Erik’s secretary, Silva. And by some of the dubious characters she meets along the way.
Kalyn Deere. Bounty Hunter.
Solving crime and searching for her father, all across the Galaxy.
A Review.
This was a great adventure to escape with.
Each chapter serves as its own short story as such, all the while tying in to an overarching plot. It almost feels like you’re watching episodes of a tv show as you read, with protagonist, Kalyn Deere, taking on various bounties and mysteries to solve.
The uncertainty surrounding the whereabouts of Kalyn’s father, Erik, was a great way of keeping me hooked and moving the story forward.
I also loved how Kalyn becomes more like her infamous father as she adds more successful bounties to her roster.
This is a fun, fast paced, and intricately woven read that we’ll keep you entertained throughout. Whether reading in short snippets or one sitting.
Dee is a master of work building, and the detail that goes into everything from the design of ships to the layout of locations is so specific you can practically see yourself there.
I love his writing style and can’t wait to read more from this author!
