Review: Amerlee and the Green Void by George Hudoba

Author George Hudoba holds nothing back in the chaotic cosmic opera, Amerlee and the Green Void, his latest novel from The Monarch in the Milky Way series. Captain Aa, Tata Crubon, Azure, Agent Sasha, Smith the immortal Emperor, the Toxic, and more return for this light-speed sequel to Agent Sasha, the first installation of the alternate reality sci-fi saga.

Picking up where the first book left off, readers are plunged right back into the action, as an elaborate two-pronged bank heist is executed to retrieve precious goods stolen by the Trust from the UNHL (United Nations of Humanlike Lifeforms) and the Monarch. The ragtag crew of military masters, space pirates, telepaths, and hardened killers have plenty of secrets between them, and complex relationships to boot, giving every scene the potential for drama.

After Smith’s girlfriend, Azure, is killed in action, he is told that it will take two months for her new body to grow, and for her memories to be restored. However, it only takes a few days into his mourning period for Smith to get smitten all over again by the exotic, sharp-tongued Amerlee, and the feeling is mutual.

Smith is haunted by many things, not least of all his experience with the Immortals, the weight of his reign, and the long and complicated path of love he has left in his wake. Not only must he navigate personal pitfalls and professional passions, but he is also investigating the bizarre cosmic phenomena known as the Green Void. It is considered harmless by some, and a useful accelerating anomaly for others, but there may be something far more sinister at work, particularly as ships keep getting blown apart nearby. As the dangerous truth behind this mysterious mission is revealed, it could threaten everything Smith has been tasked to protect, and all those he refuses to lose.

The overwhelming creativity and rapid-fire storytelling of this novel will certainly keep readers entertained, but the execution of the prose is lacking. There are frequent editing errors, from missing and misspelled words to awkwardly arranged syntax, repetitive word use, hanging prepositions, and other grammatical errors: “You have no idea what do you miss out on then.” The narration is also heavy-handed, explaining the precise emotion of a given moment or character’s intentions, leaving very little to the readers’ imagination. Similarly, the dialogue frequently comes off as an expositional tool, rather than a vessel for authentic interactions, which organically progresses the plot.

That said, there are humorous and entertainingly ridiculous moments in the prose – after all, the plotline is manic and decidedly wild. Once you give in to the heavy suspension of disbelief that is required, the story is a fun ride, just so long as you don’t ask too many questions. As a whole, this tech-heavy, nonstop adventure will leave sci-fi fans satiated, as it opens up so many futuristic possibilities. The book would be light years better with a thorough edit to polish its many rough edges, but it is a singularly inventive and reality-bending work of sci-fi.