PROGENITOR: PALAK AND THE SKY GODS

In German’s sci-fi debut, the first of a proposed series, humanoids and wild creatures band together to prevent the destruction of their planet.

After years of war, the Sucobers and Plamanics form a truce, agreeing to settle disputes with the Contest. Each side sends a warrior to combat the other on a neutral moon called Yimi in the Galagar Solar System. As reigning champs, the Sucobers, win the right to mine valuable materials on planet #762 (also known as Medias), where they manipulate the DNA of a local tribe to create slave labor. Meanwhile, a Plamanic named Euphenix hopes to create a warrior to help his species win the Contest. Much of the story centers on one of Euphenix’s humanoid experiments, Palak, and his mate, Watooni, a former member of the tribe the Sucobers had altered, as they fight for survival. German packs the novel with complex plot details and intricate characters. His use of an omniscient narrator sometimes gives the narrative a detached feel, but it works well for the story overall, particularly when the author unflinchingly presents brutal, bloody fight scenes. The numerous action-packed set pieces should please sci-fi aficionados, especially a showdown between Medias’ inhabitants and Sucober clones, and a brawl between Palak and the Captain, the seemingly indestructible winner of six consecutive Contests. An epilogue contains an extended preview of the series’ next installment.

Full of captivating characters and well-staged battles that should keep readers engaged and make them look forward to further Progenitor tales.