Last Star Standing by Spaulding Taylor

A dauntless soldier’s epic tale of rebellion, escape, and redemption, Last Star Standing by Spaulding Taylor is a dazzling and chilling vision of the future.

In a post-World War III dystopia, Earth’s problems spin even further out of control when they are conquered by the Xirfell, an advanced alien species that ravages the planet and the survivors that remain. Drawn by his duty to the scattered shreds of humanity, and determination to lead the rebel cell to victory, Aiden is a fiery protagonist that makes this outlandishly creative novel a pleasure to read. With the author’s imagination running wild through a sci-fi playground of alien tech, robotniks, half-humans, and just enough romantic angst to keep things steamy, the novel is refreshingly unpredictable, while holding to classic form.

The writing has a sharp, post-apocalyptic edge overall, with plenty of dark humor, but it feels a bit too far-fetched to make any serious social commentary, but then this book falls more into the category of sci-fi pulp, and in that regard it is highly successful. There are some instances where the prose comes across as too informal, using language that feels out of place, including anachronistic profanity and awkward dialogic exchanges. Some of the storytelling tools are also a bit simple, such as self-referential questions to move the plot along, and there is a good amount of idiomatic language that could be more inventive.

That said, memorable characters leap off the page with personality, the action is visceral and exciting, and Taylor’s unleashed imagination makes this dystopian novel a deeply addictive read.