Library of Clean Reads: Paul M. Schofield

Showing posts with label Paul M. Schofield. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Trophy: Decision by Paul M. Schofield

Trophy: Decision by Paul M. Schofield
Galactic Publishers
ISBN: 978-1482601336
Published August 14, 2013
Trade Paperback, 350 pages

This novel is the third and final book in the Trophy Saga, an action-packed sci-fi trilogy, that brings to an end a fascinating world reminiscent of Star Trek. Although I’m not a sci-fi fan, these books have easily held my interest throughout. (You can read my review of Trophy Book One and Trophy: Rescue Book Two.)

The story continues from where the second one left off. The setting still takes place 500 years in the future, where mankind is under the authority of the New Victorian Empire, with ten women Guardians who are the custodians of CENTRAL—a massive computer government that rules the Earth and the colonized Solar System. Both the Empire and the Freedom Movement (led by rebel leader Dr. Eng) want to travel back in time through the Keyhole anomaly, a wormhole in space, to take healthy humans forward to the future to save the human race from extinction. But a third organization brings everything to a climax and to a decision that will change for the better the way things function, if only both the Empire and the rebels agree.

Once again, as in the first two books, I truly enjoyed the space world, intergalactic battles, fusion-powered technology and innovative concepts Schofield deftly creates. This author has a brilliant imagination! His description of the Keyhole’s appearance and adventures took my breath away. I love books that bring me out of my comfort zone to think about new things and transport me to new worlds that seem possible in the future. I particularly enjoyed the two missions of going back in time to get genetically sound humans, and doing so in a way that would not alter the future. And the mind-link between humans and animals was just as interesting this time around too.

In this third book we meet most of the characters introduced in the first two books. Once again, I had the same issues as in the last book. Not enough backstory and some awkward dialogue. I could not remember all the details from the past stories and thus felt I was missing out. I felt there was less tension in this book because I was not as emotionally invested in the characters. Although Schofield excels at creating space worlds and conflict, there is a lack of it between the genders. Their world was on the brink of extinction with not enough men and yet no issues of relationships, marriage or children was ever dealt with. No children or married couples are ever mentioned or shown in any scenes of all three books. Families are the basis of civilizations after all, so I was expecting that this was going to come up in this third book.

I was also expecting the relationship between Martin and Janet or Estelle and Marco to be the propelling plot of how to rebuild the human race with all its conflicting issues. Instead the relationships were platonic and static and gave very little indication that any of these issues were going to be dealt with. Martin was an android with no need for sleep or food, so how did this affect his need for a mate? How would he and Janet deal with his lack of being able to procreate or even grow old? Therefore, although I truly enjoyed this trilogy, I felt the ending still left too many unanswered questions for me. There was too much emphasis on duty to the Empire and not enough on everyday living and enjoyment.

However, if you are a sci-fi fan (or not) you will definitely enjoy the world-building and innovative concepts in the Trophy Saga. It made me long to see the panorama of a brilliant star-laden space viewed from the bridge of a coasting spacecraft.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: Time Travel Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Trophy: Rescue by Paul M. Schofield

Trophy: Rescue by Paul M. Schofield
Galactic Publishers
ISBN: 978-1468132267
Published Feb 17, 2012
Trade paperback, 304 pages

This novel is the second book in the Trophy Saga, an action-packed sci-fi story that I enjoyed just as much as I did Trophy, the first book in this series.

The story continues from where the first one left off. The setting takes place 500 years in the future, where mankind is under the authority of the New Victorian Empire, with ten women Guardians who are the custodians of CENTRAL—a massive computer government that rules the Earth and the colonized Solar System. However, mankind is on the brink of extinction because of a genetic mutation and the only solution is to travel back in time through the Keyhole to transport genetically sound humans from the past. But the New Victorian Empire is not the only one interested in going back to the past, so is an underground rebel organization bent on eliminating the Empire's rule.

Once again, as in the first book, the author has a vivid imagination and he succeeds in transporting me with his brilliant world-building. I could easily picture the futuristic space crafts, the Solar stations such as Europa Plus, Io Station and Mars, the Montana mountains, forests, and fauna back on the Earth, and the powerful and fascinating human mind to animal link. The author's love for animals shines through, and I thought this combination of both Earth scenes and space ones was a great balance that made the story and setting believable and exciting to me. The scenes involving the mission in the Montana region and the confrontation with the grizzly bear were heart-pounding!

The villains from the first book don't play a big role in this book, but Lieutenant Janet Rogerton, Pilot Kolanna, Star-Commander Abigail VanDevere, and the androids Martin and Panther are back in the action. I loved the plot twists, and especially the scenes with Martin and Panther. New characters are introduced, such as Doctor Eng and Marco Sanchez, who I liked immediately. I hope to see more of him in the next book. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of all the characters (two of them have dual names and personas). The Guardians have no names but are identified as numbers, and they all sounded alike, except for Guardian I, who had the features and disposition of a wise American-Indian, and Guardian V who plays a crucial role in the rescue mission.

The editing was much better in this book, allowing the author's storytelling skills to come through in a well-paced, and well-written story. Some of the dialogue is still awkward, though, because it's still used as a means to explain the story and action. This could be resolved with the use of inner dialogue and backstory, cutting redundant dialogue and building more tension.

The first book hinted at a love interest between Janet and Martin, but nothing romantic happens in this book, not even a longing glance, so that the dilemma Janet mentions to Kolanna about her and Martin didn't seem realistic to me. I hope the author chooses to explore this in the next book (Marco Sanchez could very well demonstrate it!) as it would add the missing element of life in the Victorian Empire—eros love and family life.

If you like sci-fi stories, I suggest you start with the first book. The ending to this one is very open and the third book should prove even more interesting, as much more is at stake. I can't wait to see where the author takes the story, and I look forward to reading it!

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: Time Travel Reading Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to Galactic Publishers for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Trophy by Paul M. Schofield

Trophy by Paul M. Schofield (Rated: C)
Galactic Publishers
ISBN: 978-0984478002
Published Feb 23, 2010
Trade Paperback, 318 pages

I don't usually read sci-fi novels, so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Trophy, the first book in the New Victorian Empire saga. With plenty of action, interesting concepts and time travel, it was easy to keep turning the pages. Star Trek fans will enjoy this one.

The story takes place over 500 years into the future where women are in positions of authority and the Earth and Solar System are ruled by CENTRAL—a massive computer government. The story revolves around Galen Bestmarke, a villain who has discovered how to time-travel with the help of Louis Franelli, a genius engineer who once worked for the New Victorian Empire. Lieutenant Janet Rogerton is on assignment to capture Bestmarke before he misuses this technology and puts the human race in peril.

First-time author Schofield succeeds in building suspense and moving the action along. The descriptions and futuristic concepts of the space world setting—fusion-powered starships, space flights, advanced technology, the Keyhole, androids and battle strategies—were brilliant. The whole theory of the guider/pouncer link in which a trained crew member is mentally linked with an animal to fight in space battle was fascinating. The character developments of Martin and Panther and their work as a team was one of the most interesting aspects of the story.

It's true there are some far-fetched ideas that didn't quite work for me because they needed further development. All the crew members and Planetary Control Corps were women. No men. I really had no idea what the men did on Earth or in space. It seemed unbalanced. The only men in the story were the few villains who rebelled against all-women rule. I liked the male characters better than the women, who came across as very idealistic, emotional and soft in a way that undermined their positions of authority. But then again, it's fiction, and the message of peaceful and just rule did come across strongly, which I did like. Galen was the best developed character, with dialogue and actions that suited his twisted persona well.

I did feel that this novel would have benefited from better editing to polish the text from the overuse of ellipses (...) and using dialogue to explain back-story. But because Schofield is a very good storyteller, I was able to ignore these points and truly enjoy the novel. The ending is left open with many future possibilities. His next instalment should prove to be interesting, and I look forward to seeing how far this promising new author will go.

Interview:

I was curious about a few concepts in Trophy, and Paul was kind enough to answer all my questions!

1. Your idea of a mental link between humans and animals in the book is fascinating. How did you come up with it?

I would love to claim the idea completely as my own, but as wise King Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun.” Many years ago as a teenager I read a sci-fi short story that used a similar concept to protect star-ships from space dragons. I enlarged and tweaked the idea to something that would be theoretically possible for medical science five centuries in the future. I tried to make the point that it is not paranormal or ESP, but based entirely on advanced technology. I truly believe that animals are much more intelligent than they are given credit for, and the mental link was one way to explore those possibilities.

2. I loved your concept of time-travel through the Keyhole in space. (Such an appropriate, catchy and suitable name for it, too!) If you could time-travel, where would you go and why?

Time is a difficult concept to wrap your mind around. Time had a beginning but it has no end. It is linear for us humans, moving in one direction. If you change that, it starts getting exciting but dangerous … just observe, don't touch anything that could alter the future. If I could go back in time I would love to see the creative events of the Earth. And what about the mystery of the dinosaurs? It would be fascinating to see the great civilizations of the past and how things really were. It would be interesting to see the great men and women of the past in action, comparing what affect their lives have on us today. If I could time-travel, I'd go to Earth five centuries in the future to see if anything in my wild imagination has come true. Humans are explorers – only the vehicles change – star-ships, time-travel, etc.

3. When is your next book in this sage going to be published?

The first sequel, TROPHY : RESCUE, is under construction now and will hopefully be finished by summer 2011. It starts at Io Station, Jupiter, where the first book ends. Character development continues along with new and exciting characters and plot twists.

4. The space setting in your book was very vivid. What inspired your creation of it?

Movies and TV series such as Star Wars and Star Trek played a large part in fueling my imagination. I've also studied and observed the heavens for many years as an amateur astronomer. This has particularly helped me to be accurate in my descriptions of space and space travel. TROPHY takes place in an age of fusion engines and space travel confined to the Solar System, before warp-travel between the stars has been accomplished. I have tried to keep the science real and technically possible.

5. Favourite book?

A favourite book is one that is read often, that you never tire from, that gives you insight, and is comfortable – you can let down your guard and thoroughly enjoy it without flinching at what is written. That substantially limits the field. My favourite secular author is Jane Austen. And of her work, “Pride & Prejudice” is at the top of my list. Her command of the English language, the subtlety of nuance in her dialogue and character development, and the intricate plot twists are amazing. I love all her work … I wish I could go back in time and secretly peek over her shoulder as she creates.

About the Author:

Through the pages of my writing, I enjoy sharing my rich inner world, as so aptly described by my ISFJ personality profile. I once read that truly great stories create a universe in which the reader can become totally absorbed, and that is what I endeavor to accomplish for my readers. My home office in the mountains of western North Carolina affords me the privacy I need to write and after a particularly intense writing session, my wife, Ellen, tells me that my eyes portray that I'm still in that world. We take that as a sign that the creative juices are flowing freely. I'm not sure whether my inspiration for Trophy came from my childhood in Montana that nourished my love of animals and the outdoors, my architecture career that gave me an appreciation for details like reworking and editing, or my amateur astronomy hobby that has fostered within me an awesome appreciation for the heavens...but I kind of think it may have been all of the above. My inspiration is further fueled by my writing buddies, our rescued cats: Riley, a British short-hair, and Yoda, a black Bombay who is a miniature of Trophy's great black cat, Panther. I'm currently working (as fast as I can!) on the sequel to Trophy, which will be entitled, Trophy: Rescue. Ultimately, there will be five books that make up the Trophy saga.

Disclosure: Thanks to Galactic Publishers for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.