Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Commander Sawyer and his loyal team of Time Rangers must go rogue in order to uncover a plot hatched in the future (yet unfolding in the past). But what will they--and Commander Sawyer himself--discover about their superiors (including Sawyer's father)? And what will this mean for Utopia's present (and future) timeline(s)?
Prose: Fast-paced, futuristic, and entertaining, Pimpinella's prose pairs well with Sawyer's conflict, anger, and urgency as he must fight inner and outer demons to unravel an insidious plots in the past, present, and future.
Originality: Despite being a veritable sci-fi treasure trove of tropes and influences, Burning Man is still able to capture the imagination and immerse the reader in an entertaining and action-packed narrative.
Character/Execution: Commander Kai Sawyer is an "enhanced" human who, despite his upgrades and modifications (including his AI, Thor), has to deal with thoroughly human emotions and problems and his inner turmoil is explored (and exploited?) beautifully. The secondary characters (i.e. his team, his father, even Thor), work well as a supporting cast and are well-developed just enough to adequately further the plot--however, there is no doubt that Kai Sawyer is the star of the show.
Date Submitted: June 04, 2023
Burning Man has all the makings of a grand and pulpy science-fiction action thriller: high stakes, big concepts, bold action, twisting conspiracies, near-endless reveals, and hard choices that may put Sawyer’s team at odds with their leaders. Pimpinella balances the suspense with a welcome sense of play. Wearing an 18th century pistol, Sawyer teams up with George Washington’s spymaster, Benjamin Tallmadge, who, jolted, asks if he overheard correctly that one day “these colonies” will have a female president. Sawyer’s correction: she’s actually president “of the world.” Throughout, Pimpinella springs truly unexpected surprises on readers, and she again demonstrates a strong hand at teams and camaraderie, giving unique voices to a squad of engaging characters.
Still, the story here is lengthy and at times dense, hugely ambitious in its sweep but not always tightly focused or quickly paced. The narrative of conspiracy, AI, super soldiers, and weird experiments on humans drums up real tension and intrigue, but readers new to the series should start with Nexus Point. Lovers of time-travel complications and uncommonly humane military SF will find much here to relish, however. The blend of the high-tech and the historical is pleasing and unpredictable, especially a clever ploy on Tallmadge’s part that also demonstrates the author’s own deft sleight-of-hand.
Takeaway: This time-travel military SF epic sends future soldiers to the American revolution.
Comparable Titles: C.N. Jackson’s Time Tourist Outfitters, Ltd., Christopher Coates’s Alternate Purpose.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
