In an act of heroism and self-sacrifice, Anderson Rawn’s sister saved him from the destruction of their tiny mining colony, but her actions condemned the thirteen-year-old to ten years of crushing loneliness on the hyperspace journey to a new home. Using electronics and desperation, Anderson creates a family to keep him company, but family isn’t always a blessing.
When Anderson finally arrives, C.J. Poulson greets him with curiosity and awe, because anyone who can survive a holocaust and reinvent holo-science is going to be a legend and right up C.J.’s alley. But the more C.J. investigates how Anderson endured the last ten years, the deeper he is drawn into a truly dangerous fantasy, one that offers the key to Anderson’s salvation—and his destruction.
In spite of his best intentions, C.J. can’t resist the terribly seductive Anderson. Their attraction threatens to destroy them, because the heart of a man who can survive the destruction of his people and retain his sense of self holds a solid core of alpha male that will not be denied.
Anderson Rawn and his older sister are exploring the escape shuttles in their small mining colony when a deadly meteor shower hits. His sister goes to help his family but instead of succeeding the only thing that happens is that she remotely activates the shuttle to get him off of the planet. Twelve years old, alone, devastated from the loss of his family and friends and apparently in hyperspace for the next ten years Anderson keeps himself busy by reading everything he can get his hands on. When that’s completed he moves on to the holo-deck where he decides to make some friends, literally. He ends up making himself kind of a new family made up of the holo-friends he has created. He transforms most of the ship into a holo-deck with homes, a school and much, much more. He makes the holograms self-sufficient and semi-sentient – it’s truly amazing.
When Anderson hits the age of 16 the health and hygiene folders are opened on the computers and a whole new world is opened to him and his two closest friends, Kate & Bobby. Kate and Bobby end up being intimately involved but Anderson isn’t interested in Kate…more like Bobby. But Bobby only has eyes for Kate. Anderson is so very lonely and his friends decide to create a companion for him. They have some aborted attempts at the companion but finally come up with Aaron aka Alpha. He seems great at first but after a few years he becomes abusive toward Anderson. Anderson feels that deleting holograms is akin to murder so he keeps Alpha around with the thought that whatever Alpha dishes out, Anderson deserves.
Eleven years pass and the shuttle finally comes to a space station. CJ Poulson, his sister Cassidy and her husband attempt to make Anderson as comfortable as possible but they truly have no idea what the long term effects of all that time in space has done to Anderson’s mind. After watching the tapes of Anderson’s life they start to get to know him better and realize that each hologram is a small part of Anderson himself and the different parts of his personality.
CJ and Cassidy are both amazed and horrified at what Anderson’s life has been like, but this doesn’t stop CJ from seeing the wonderful soul that lies beneath the timid surface of Anderson Rawn. CJ knows that getting involved with Anderson is a horrible idea – probably the worst he’s ever had – but he can’t seem to stop himself from loving Anderson as deeply as he’s ever loved.
When Anderson reaches the breaking point in his mind he’s taken planetside to try and figure out a way to live among other people, deal with the psychological issues he’s having and possible live a normal life…with CJ.
I love Amy Lane’s books. I love her writing, her characters – they all just grab me in some way and they don’t let go. I do not, normally, like sci-fi so when I saw this book come out I have to admit to pausing for a moment before clicking the “yes, I’ll take it” button. It had Amy’s name on it so how could I go wrong, right? Right! Sci-fi or not Amy Lane brought it one more time.
This book is incredible. It’s premise is so far from anything I’ve ever read in the romance genre but I really ended up liking the book a whole darned lot.
Anderson – that poor little boy…and eventually that poor man! What he went through watching his colony disintegrate would have been traumatic for anyone but then being in space by himself for over 10 freaking years. I just wanted to crawl through the pages and give him a hug on multiple occasions. The man he becomes is truly a miracle in my opinion. What he lived through on the shuttle and the trauma that he suffered with Alpha would have made anyone else crumble into a little ball and stay that way. Anderson wanted to, that’s for sure, but he had CJ, Cassidy and eventually Jensen (his head shrink) pulling him back to real life and letting him realize that there are people, real people (not holograms), that were there for him and that loved him. It also says so much about Anderson and his character that he had the strength in himself to recognize the issues and deal with them.
It wasn’t always easy reading this story because of some of the subject matter but it was oh, so good. Whether you like sci-fi books or not this is definitely one that is not to be missed.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
How cool is this? Chris from Stumbling Over Chaos is having a giveaway for this exact book! Go here to enter to win! Contest runs until Sept. 6 at 7pm
Chris is also giving away a copy of Amy Lane’s September 2 release, Clear Water, and that contest will run until Sept. 1 at 7:00pm. Go here to enter.
I've been looking at this book too, Tracy, and whilst I love Amy Lane's writing, I just wasn't sure about whether I would like it.
Your review has convinced me that I really ought to give it a go so thanks for a great review!
I love the stories Amy Lane weaves! I might not be enthusiastic about a sci-fi novel but I *heart* her characters every single time that the setting only adds another flavor to the story 😉
Great review. I'm looking forward to it.
I'm definitely looking forward to this one – thanks for the mention!
Eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Someone liked it! Someone really really liked it! Thanks so much for the review!
Jenre – I think you might really like it – it's really good. Especially since you like Amy's writing so well. 🙂
Leontine – I love her characters as well. Very multifaceted and very appealing. 🙂
Tam – Thanks, hon.
Chris – Enjoy it and you're welcome!
Amy – Of course I did! It's was wonderful. Anderson was so compelling and I loved that CJ stuck buy him through thick and thin. Thanks for the great story.
Tracy this sounds really good! Thanks for the review. I'll definitely check it out. 🙂
This definitely has an intriguing premise. And your review made me overlook that cover. I do not like that cover for some reason. LOL I'm shallow, I admit it. This will go on my wishlist. Good review!
Hilcia – You're welcome – I think you'll like it a lot.
Ames – The cover: I think it's a great representation of the men in the book…when they were younger. The cover gave me the impression, at first, that it was a YA novel but it's not. When Anderson finally docks he's 23 and CJ is 29.
It’s premise is so far from anything I’ve ever read…
Ditto. It sounds like it will not be an easy read, but I know that about Amy Lane's books going in and…I like how much I learn about people, about me, from them. So going to read this. Fantastic review Tracy! Thank you!
So glad you plan on reading it, Orannia. It was really good! Yes, it's amazing what I learn about myself from reading about other situations. Lane does have great characters, doesn't she?