Title: Brass Stars
Author: A. G. Carpenter
Genre: science fiction (novella)
Price: $4.00 (ebook)
Publisher: Eggplant Literary Productions
ISBN: 978-1-932207-49-1
Point of Sale: publishers site (includes Amazon, Barnes & Noble
links)
Reviewed by: Chris Gerrib
Tashndelu
Sand has arrived on the planet Malachee to kill a man. She’s brought her horse – a mechanical device
into which a human’s mind has been grafted - and her revolver. She rides her mechanical horse into town,
stops off at the local whorehouse – a girl’s got needs too – and things
happen. These things include a fair bit
of gunplay, both at the whorehouse and afterwards.
Now,
lest one think that Brass Stars is
entirely a Western in SF clothing, the fact that Synder – Tashndelu’s horse –
has a mechanical body but a human brain is critical to this story. So, if science fiction is a story that
doesn’t work without the science, Brass
Stars is definitely a SF story. It
also doesn’t have the typical Hollywood ending.
I guess
that’ why I like Brass Stars. A. G. Carpenter delivers a taut, capable
tale, with believable characters and realistic settings. It’s a revenge western, set in space, yet
with the SF elements aren’t bolted on, but rather integral to the story. My only problem was that the story was too
short. But then “leave them wanting
more” is always good advice for any entertainer.
9/10
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