Chronicles of the Space Marauders: Jericho’s Odyssey by William Rongholt

A rapid-fire mix of western and space opera, Chronicles of the Space Marauders: Jericho’s Odyssey by William Rongholt will satisfy readers of both classic sci-fi and westerns alike.

An artifact of untold power pulls Jericho and the Desperado crew into the crossfire of merciless enemies, both new and ancient, and having their memories wiped certainly disrupts their easy freedom as rambling space marauders. Armed with their wits and some fancy new gear, the roguish captain and his robot sidekick face down deadly factions, outsmart aspiring AI overlords, and navigate high-stakes heists to bring balance to their Wild West corner of the galaxy.

Blurring classic sci-fi tropes with challenging missions pulled straight from video game consoles, this spiraling story of revolution and resistance is both timely and tremendously fun. The militaristic and expanding dominion of the “United Stars” is a not-so-subtle allegory for a ravenous, oppressive, and wildly recognizable empire, giving the prose a sharply critical edge that more rebellious readers will eagerly enjoy. This is not a message-laden read, however, and the barrage of action and twisting betrayals will keep pages turning fast for any reader.

Granted, character development does take a backseat to a swirling plot and action-heavy prose, as the story unfolds more like gameplay than a fully fleshed-out narrative, but the breakneck pace of this astral opera makes for an entertaining work of classic sci-fi that introduces an expansive and original universe.

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