Book Review: Imperiled: A Science Fiction Adventure by Alexander Hans Schmitt Vonnie Gene Schmitt
Imperiled: A Science Fiction Adventure was written by Alexander Hans Schmitt and completed by his mother, Vonnie Gene Schmitt, after his passing. This space opera adventure blends high-stakes action with non-stop thrills and emotional depth.
The story unfolds in a far-future universe where humanity navigates the stars via rift transit routes, wormhole-like pathways for FTL travel. The protagonist, Junior Commander Anaiya Sonra, is a dedicated galactic patrol officer who stumbles upon a massacre on a civilian hauler during a routine mission. Framed for betrayal, she flees, assembling a motley crew of outcasts to expose a conspiracy involving The Forgiving, a shadowy cult seeking "The Perfection," a lost technology that could reshape humanity.
The narrative races through space battles, assassinations, and alliances, exploring trust, redemption, and power's perils. The pacing is swift, immersing readers in Anaiya's chaos but still allowing character growth amid the thrills, especially toward the end. The side characters add humor, tension, and depth, reminiscent of many space-faring crews in modern sci-fi.
Schmitt's world-building is immense, detailing interstellar politics, economies, and rift physics. Antagonists like The Forgiving offer nuanced ideology, elevating conflicts to philosophical debates on technology and evolution. Thematically, it echoes the book's creation: a legacy of creativity amid loss while tackling corruption and ethical tech dilemmas.
As a debut, it's not without flaws. It occasionally overloads with early exposition and familiar tropes in action scenes, and sometimes it's a bit difficult to follow a coherent thread in the narrative. I also had the impression some subplots could be streamlined or removed altogether for tighter pacing. But overall, Imperiled is a tale of hope amid betrayal, an action-packed space opera with a strong emotional undertone, ideal for readers who appreciate having their heartstrings pulled.
I'd be curious to see how far the author would go, and it's sad that we'll never know.
