His genetic code could destroy all life.
Shadow Recon pilot Micah Case awakens above an alien world, with no memory of his past and a mysterious voice inside his head. Worse, his own military is hunting him... and he has no idea why.
The voice leads to a discovery so unbelievable, enemy nations would kill to control it — to control him. Now, Micah must use every skill in his arsenal to secure the stolen research.
The stakes are impossibly high, but failure is not an option. The alternative could mean the extinction of a people Micah can no longer call his own. Humanity.
THE CHIRAL AGENT is a fast-paced, cerebral thriller that's part hard science fiction, part spy novel, and one hundred percent adrenaline. It’s sure to keep you guessing every step of the way.
Assessment:
Plot: Although intricate, action-packed and ambitious, this tale starts slowly and takes some time to really find its groove. Multiple plot threads help to build up the larger picture, leaving things open for future installments of what promises to be an epic saga.
Prose: Richman’s style is fast-paced and accessible, with a fairly tight focus on her characters, which works both to her advantage as she draws readers into a chaotic scenario, and against her as the story at times still feels dense and claustrophobic.
Originality: This epic space opera, first installment of a series, has something of a steep learning curve as it introduces readers to a far-future setting in turmoil, with multiple factions engaged in assorted levels of intrigue and conflict.
Character/Execution: Richman’s characters are engaging and memorable, but it’s Micah Case and his erstwhile allies who prove the most interesting as they fight for survival against overwhelming odds.
Date Submitted: August 03, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compromised, Betrayed, Hunted
The Geminate Alliance has made a profound discovery, something that is unique in all of human space. The Akkadian Empire is willing to kill anyone and burn as many deeply embedded, highly placed agents as necessary to secure the discovery for themselves. A discovery that could tip the balance of power in this region of space.
Very strong, well defined, engaging characters set in a fast paced, action packed story of intrigue, misdirection and betrayal. How much damage can a well placed sleeper agent cause? A handful? When your own Agency turns on you, who can you trust? A really entertaining read with lots of plot twists that will keep you turning pages late into the night. Highly recommended. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable Hard SF by a *Scientist*
Starting with the word “Chiral” itself, this story is not only engaging and fun, but also is *educational* … as any good “hard” SF story should be.
LL has a special skill for weaving the plot so that the reader has the fun of being surprised at many points. Characters are complex and well thought out. And “hand waving” is not needed - the story integrates rational explanations of the tech. Well worth reading!
Military SCI-Fi and spy thriller at its best with good hard science!
Richman takes Military SCI-Fi to a new level!! A different type of a combo of Hard SCI-Fi with a realistic take on the future of the way a Tier One Special Operations Team will work…
I am a retired Special Operator and the way the author leads us up and down the halls of a Spec Ops team in action is reminiscent of how they work now yet she elevates it to a higher level…I can clearly see how this would play out in a future scenario.
Absolutely spot on military acronyms and chains of command, a comparison to the way SOAR and Delta work together to achieve an objective. Very well done in the area of Space Adventure combined with a spy thriller reminiscent of Vince Flynn.
Excellent world building and top notch character development. You’ll lose sleep over this one, then add in the interesting genetic component and you’ll be thinking about this well after you read it. Great Physics including one of the holy grails of science, Quantum Entaglement! This hits on every level and is utterly visceral…you don’t wanna miss this…
R.Ballon, SGM (R) ACE
