THE PRETENDERS & THE PULSAR

In Kembaren’s SF thriller, a tech-company owner in search of.

Dess T., a charismatic physics professor who owns several large, successful tech companies, is in search of what he calls a “vacuum particle,” which he plans to use to create a superhuman being. He believes that Jazz, another physics professor, has discovered such a “void particle,” and he would do almost anything to get his hands on the information. Spaceship pilot Eledon Smith, meanwhile, collects all sorts of tech, both modern and ancient, including the first robots ever created. The latter two characters fear that what Dess T. might create will harm humanity at large—both in a physical and moral sense—and aim to stop him. The work explores themes of artificial intelligence, time and space travel, and discovery and innovation. Over the course of this novel, Kembaren’s strongest suit is character development, as each of the main players feels fleshed-out, three-dimensional, and distinctive. However, although the work’s premise is a compelling one, its implementation doesn’t follow through on it in a satisfying manner. The plot has a tendency to meander, and although the characters are smart and engaging, the narrative doesn’t leave enough room for their personalities to shine through. The prose is serviceable but doesn’t stand out, which doesn’t help to make the story feel any more cohesive. The work also frequently states facts about settings and day-to-day happenings rather than naturally revealing them through action, which makes for a tedious reading experience that lacks narrative tension.

An ambitious space opera with intriguing characters that’s hampered by uneven execution.