Adam Aresty

High-tech genius meets intrigue and a hint of high school drama as a boy is thrust into a dangerous game.

Konstant has trouble fitting in at school, not only because he's an immigrant but because he's marked as a Carrier...an individual who carries a deadly disease. Only a few years before, a fatal epidemic swept the world, taking his mother with it. While he was also infected, he never displayed symptoms but still might infect others around him...might. This leads to constant bullying and show more makes life rough, especially since he only wants to do his best to succeed, but no one lets him forget that he's really an outcast. He finally gets his chance to break out of the rut when a large corporation holds a contest to find five teens, whose inventions might help a planet, which is slowly falling apart. Thanks to his genius mother's notes, which she left behind, his very-talented-coding sister, and his own abilities to work with technology, he comes up with a device, which is sure to win. But life isn't that simple, and he soon finds himself in a fight to survive.

The author creates a futuristic world, which holds many familiar aspects to allow readers to easily sink into Konstant's life. It might be set in the future, but if it weren't for a few high-tech gadgets here and there, it could also be a slightly different version of today. This makes it easy to sympathize with Konstant as he tries to walk the line between defending himself against bullying, while trying to stay out of trouble. His frustration with the school is understandable as the administration seems to carry a bit of bias against him. But then, his actions and decisions tend to slide into a very grey (if not wrong) area. The support offered by his family is golden, especially his sister who always has his back. So, while he's up against a lot, he's never really alone. Also, a sense of community offers a message of hope the entire way through.

While the beginning chapters allow time for the characters, setting, and plot to unfold and gain foundation, the later chapters pick up the pace into heavy action and tension. The book builds the entire time, making it hard to put down. Not only does Konstant have to figure out how to work through the increasing danger, but the characters around him hide their own secrets...one of which should be a traitor. This adds another layer of tension to the already deadly situations, and keeps the reader guessing until the end.

To keep things even more interesting, there are invention proposals from other contestants sprinkled between the chapters. While this seems entertaining and interesting at first, it's actually laying the crumbs for the adventure later on in a clever way. The author also slips in some science goodness (just a little) with the very basic Ohm's Law and such, not much but enough to create a bridge to science fans.

The writing flows nicely, for the most part. There are flashbacks, which are well placed to move the plot along, but they meld right in with the usual text and place a small hiccup as readers have to realize when they start or finish. Much of the time, this felt like an upper middle grade read and would work well for the age group, but then, readers should be aware that Konstant vapes.

In any case, this is a fun, easy-to-read adventure with plenty of action and tension, too. Plus, the setting makes it a tale, which will delight more than just science fiction fans. show less

I’ve never done drugs. Not even a single bit of youthful experimentation. They have always seemed so squalid, seedy, and scary to me, and not at all appealing. But I have known several addicts – close friends and family members – so I have a little first-hand experience dealing with the kind of people depicted in RECOVERY. Of course I have no idea what Adam Aresty’s experiences with drugs, addiction, and addicts are, but I have to say that he does an impressive job of depicting them show more in horrifying and effective fashion.

Mild plot spoilers follow.

Because RECOVERY is so short, I hesitate to say too much about it. On the surface, this is the story of a man who has lost everything because of drugs: his wife, his son, a job, the chance at a normal life, etc. At the outset of the novella, he is on his way to a rehab center, though it’s clear that he doesn’t have a strong desire to give up drugs permanently, since he visits his dealer to make a purchase just before being picked up for the trip to the rehab clinic. That certainly doesn’t bode well for his recovery. And that visit to his dealer sets the stage for all the rest that happens, since the pills he receives aren’t ordinary drugs…they are much more than that. But to say much more would ruin the tale. In many ways this is an apocalyptic story on a small scale, set in an isolated location, but it is also a character study of addicts wrestling with their inner demons while battling the horrors that are made manifest in the clinic and, eventually, within their own bodies.

RECOVERY has a great premise, and while Aresty tells the tale well, I’d actually have liked to see a slightly more fleshed out version of RECOVERY to explore all the issues at work here. It’s short and gets wrapped up quickly, and while I certainly wanted more, I liked it a lot. Aresty could do much more with RECOVERY’s concept though, so I hope he might enlarge on the story we see here. I recommend RECOVERY as a short, quick read, and because of the strength of Aresty’s writing. This is a great example of taut, effective wordsmithing, and I look forward to reading more from him. I’ve read comparisons between RECOVERY and the films The Shining, The Thing, or Jacob’s Ladder; that’s high praise indeed, but I can certainly see the elements that RECOVERY shares with each of those classic films. This was the first publication by the new Kraken Books. Based on the strength of RECOVERY (and the coolness of their logo), I expect great things from Kraken.

Review copyright © 2013 J. Andrew Byers show less

The only negative I have about The Communication Room is that it's too short. I think it would be an even better story if it were closer to novel length rather than only a novella. Other than that, it's a terrific example of the Science Fiction genre and would fit perfectly into an anthology, perhaps between two much shorter pieces.

For anyone interested in trying out some Sci-Fi, this would be an excellent choice. It only takes an hour or so to read, so it's not a huge investment. Besides, I show more think this story just might get anyone new to Sci-Fi hooked and wanting more. show less

Missed the Mark- 1.5 stars...

"Leonard Ackerman works at a remote army base trying to solve the greatest threat facing mankind. An alien invasion that has eroded our species down to very few numbers as far as Ackerman can tell. His base is compromised and Ackerman retreats to a laboratory he has never been inside, locking himself there with the enemy right outside his door. Inside the lab are thirteen telephones—from the American civil war through to Ackerman’s present day, about 100 show more years from now."
 
"This laboratory seems to be some sort of closed experiment and Ackerman discovers that he cannot exit the lab until the experiment has run its course. The method and ultimate goal of the test is beyond his reach for now... but the first telephone rings and the only thing Ackerman can do is answer..."
 

I'll admit I was intrigued when I read the blurb for this book but I honestly did not enjoy the story like I thought I would. I understand what the author was trying to do but it just missed the mark for me, especially at the end. The ending just didn't gel with the actual closed experiment story line. I was left wondering if the ending was actually written for a totally different story. I also didn't feel any attachment to the characters so I had a hard time even staying interested in their outcome.  

 
*I received this ARC from NetGalley & Strange Fictions Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!



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