Highly immersive futuristic sci-fi novella from Rebecca Crunden.

Dust & Lightning is a futuristic standalone science fiction novella from Rebecca Crunden that also kind of blurs lines with the superhero genre, and it’s honestly a heck of a lot of fun and vibes. If you’re an indie writer and not already following Rebecca on the myriad socials, then you absolutely should. As Indie Book Spotlight, she’s a brilliant supporter of writers of all kinds, but especially in the indie/self-pub scene, as well as being a highly prolific sci-fi/fantasy author.

Blurb

In the near future, humans have gone beyond simple space travel. By the year 4054, multiple solar systems are inhabited, and taking a spaceship is as commonplace as taking an aeroplane.

Unfortunately, not everything about the future is so advanced. The central planets, led by Earth, have risen high at the expense of cheap labour on distant worlds. Dissent is widespread and arrests are common. Sometimes prisoners are released; sometimes they disappear without a trace, sent to labour camps in other solar systems.

When Ames Emerys receives a letter telling him that his brother Callum has died en route to the remote planet of Kilnin, he takes the first ship he can off Earth, desperate for answers. But the secrets Ames uncovers prove far more dangerous than he could have imagined.

And trouble isn’t far behind.

Review

The scene setting in Dust & Lightning is top notch. The opening sequence in the spaceport was incredibly immersive with strong industrial vibes, and I immediately got the measure of the main character, Ames. The book’s plot was thoroughly engaging and well-written with the right amount of mystery and thrilling action, with Ames teaming up with Violet to track down his missing brother.

The way the platonic relationship between Ames and Violet develops is very well done, and Violet herself was a fantastic character. She provided a great contrast to Ames, who - while compassionate - is extremely single-minded. Violet on the other hand struck me as far more adventurous. The two form a strong bond of friendship quickly, and I enjoyed the way she dove headfirst into danger and did whatever was necessary. I loved how the author dealt with injury in this book, with Ames continuing to nurse his cuts, bruises and headaches throughout. It affected him in a believable way.

The novella was paced just right, with a boatload of action across the different locations - from giant cruise spaceships to secret underground lairs - as well as touching character moments that broke it up nicely. Being a novella, it’s a quick blast, and I was glued to my Kindle for a whole afternoon. The worldbuilding was immersive from start to finish, an I particularly enjoyed the planet Kilnin with its weird creatures and strange barren environment.

The superhero elements were well-grounded and didn’t feel out of place with the world, though I can’t really talk about those because I try to keep my reviews as spoiler-free as possible. Let’s just say that the end of the book leaves us with some interesting implications, and I would love to see more in this universe.

Overall, I thought Dust & Lightning was great fun, and I look forward to reading more of Rebecca’s work.