October Rains
by Dylan J. Morgan
covert art by jerrod brown
Mankind teeters on the brink of extinction in a solar system choking under the glare of a dying sun. An assassin for the Martian Interstellar Correction Agency, Steele has one more assignment to complete before a big payoff and the chance of a new life: a job that will reveal the true horrors of mankinds futile existence and threaten the very people who make his life worth living.
Review by John "JAM" Arthur Miller
Rarely do I do things the way I'm supposed to. I am not a rule breaker, but often I enjoy thinking outside the box. Too many people think inside the box, which is why I'm doing this review different than most. There are other reviewers who will maintain protocol for the status quo, but I am not one of them. At least this time.
I hope you'll indulge me.
When I pick up a book, I don't want a slow intro into the plot. I don't want to guess what's happening or what's going to happen. Please, get me to the action fast because I'm busy (aren't we all?), and I don't want boredom within the first ten pages. Slow starts simply do not excite readers. Unless the story comes from the minds of masters like John Steinbeck or Tanith Lee, whose literary genius inspires me as a writer to become better, or consists of the talent of writers like David Farland, Tracy Hickman or Ray Bradbury, who can write a slow buildups in the beginning of their novels, and unless the novel comes from them, I simply don't want to waste my eyes gradual buildups of action. Beam me up NOW, Scotty!
Which is why I say, Thank you very much, Dylan J. Morgan!
Dylan wastes no time getting to the plot, and I felt as if I were rushing along at light speed (not in a bad way). Rollercoasters come to mind. With that analogy, this story doesn't begin with long lines or even at the point in which the rollercoaster's chains catch beneath the cars, as nervous excitement spreads among those enjoying the ride. No, this story begins at the top of the first hill (according to my metaphor), at the action, as editors have been asking writers to do for decades. Dylan wastes no time getting to the excitement, pulling us through scenes with a sense of danger and excitement.
Dylan J. Morgan did it right! He followed the rules, and Dylan's stamped his main character's personality in this work. Which is why I am publicly thanking him.
This rain doesn't cleanse my skin nor soothe my battered and broken body. It doesn't hide my tears.
It burns.
Each raindrop tortures me, stinging my bruises and dribbling like acid into open wounds.
That's how October Rain opens, and that's when I recognized that the chances of me enjoying this book were good. As I continued to read, the conversation between characters proved realistic. Tons of information can be delivered through conversation if done in a believable manner, and Dylan does just this.
Another point to consider are the descriptions. The detail is enjoyable, just what's necessary but enough to paint a vivid picture:
She tossed her hair in frustration, but it flopped back into her face. She picked at her dress, leg bouncing, eyes never fixed on one subject for longer than a few seconds.
This is just one short example of Dylan's ability to convey detail, creating a visual landscape of clarity. In the scene above, Steele finds a drug addict and sits by her on a bench, preventing her from leaving. Interspaced through the conversation used throughout the story are descriptions painting realism, making the story believable.
So, now that I'm done praising Dylan, what's the book about?
I thought you'd never ask.
It's about Steele, an assassin for the Martian Interstellar Correction Agency; rain that doesn't cleanse but burns; mankind on the brink of extinction in a solar system with a dying sun. Steele has one more assignment, one more lucrative job, and if completed successfully, Steele can leave behind his life as an assassin. Yes, a familiar plot, but done with such realistic conversation and vivid descriptions that even the most critical will enjoy it.
You do not want to miss this opportunity! You want to read this book. You just don't know it yet.
October Rains by Dylan J. Morgan can be found at Sonar4 Publications
