Stephen Embleton

Sauuti Terrors by Eugene Bacon is an intriguing sci-fi anthology that blends technical imagination with deep emotional layers. Each story offers something unique, ranging from themes of women’s oppression to journeys across imaginative worlds. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook—the narrators added a compelling touch and made the experience more immersive. While the collection showcases versatility, it also made me feel that Black authors have immense potential to explore even show more more genres beyond contemporary fiction. This anthology is a great example of how diverse and expansive their storytelling can be, and I’d love to see more such explorations in the future. The book deserves 3 stars. show less

I picked up [b:Soul Searching|55366227|Soul Searching|Stephen Embleton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600408840l/55366227._SX50_.jpg|85823273] at a sci-fi festival, as I wanted to try something new from an independent publisher. Set in near-future South Africa, it follows a police department called Trackers who are hunting a serial killer using esoteric soul tracking technology. This allows then to track individuals both geographically while they're show more alive and into the afterlife. In general, I found the novel's ideas very interesting but their execution a bit patchy. The plot tackles big existential and theological themes, without really doing them justice. The dialogue was stilted when discussing souls and philosophy, although it became fun when characters bantered in South African slang. I think the whole novel could have done with a bit more development and editing, to bring out its full potential.

Nonetheless, I was impressed by a serial killer plot that felt genuinely original for once. She turned out to be a female rental agent, re-enacting the assisted suicide of her mother with unfortunate tenants. Her job was a particular stroke of genius, as the rental agents I've encountered over the years have certainly given the impression of not caring whether their tenants live or die. I appreciated the police pursuit rapidly shifting from normal manhunt procedures to the weirder and more appealing soul tracking. To my surprise, I therefore found the crime procedural elements more involving than the deeper, more philosophical stuff. The action sequences also worked better for me than much of the dialogue. There are some thrilling chases and an amusing vein of cynicism about flying cars. This point is belaboured in dialogue before events bear it out entertainingly. There are some fun and distinctive elements in [b:Soul Searching|55366227|Soul Searching|Stephen Embleton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600408840l/55366227._SX50_.jpg|85823273] although it feels under-cooked overall. show less