The Shackleton Signal (2024) by Joshua Calvert
Good Reads meta-data is 415 pages rated 4.23 by 3012 litizens
Genre: SyFy; Species: Hard.
DNA: Lunar(y).
Verdict: Hard, yes, hard to take seriously.
Tagline: Shoot ‘em up!
What starts off as an intriguing mystery descends into a boys’ own adventure with a body count. Quite what anyone’s motivation or purpose was got lost in the gore.
While there is much science-speak, very little, if any, of it figures in the plot.
I wasn’t sure whether the author realised that a master sergeant is a staff and not field rank. In any event the sergeant’s knowledge plays no part in the story, being mere window dressing. Ditto the major who leaves the wreckage of a tornado behind in what could have been a softly, softly approach, which would have been more interesting and consonant with the opening mystery.
I gave up half way through and then speed flicked the pages thereafter in the vain hope something would catch my eye. Nope. A more discerning and patient reader might like it. Just kidding.