Review: Prompt Excursion by Lewis S. Kingston

A Weapons System Officer wakes up to fractured memories on a devastated and nearly lifeless experimental warship in Prompt Excursion by Lewis S. Kingston, a creative and original work of science fiction.

Johansson is a captivating and fearless protagonist from the very first page, showing a relentless drive to survive, despite nearly impossible odds. As she navigates the clutter and chaos of her slowly returning memories, she begins to piece things together – a mission gone wrong and an explosive attack, which has left her alone on a strange ship, lost in the vastness of space. Sending calls for aid out into the void, she faces a bleak fate as the sole survivor, but she may not be as alone as she thinks. As she attempts to unravel a conspiracy while fighting for her life, trust and time are both rare resources, but she has an exceptionally strong instinct for self-preservation.

From seemingly sentient spacesuits and a sprawling ship layout to the creeping sense of doom and death aboard the Prompt Excursion, the book excels at laying a psychological and technological foundation to the story that is both believable and plot-progressing, steadily building narrative tension. Johansson’s story feels as if it’s told in real-time, with readers trailing her every step and decision from the moment she regains consciousness, which only adds to the tension. Attempting to salvage the cutting-edge ship without prying into its secrets might be difficult, especially with two fusion reactors onboard and so many more questions than answers.

There are exceptional turns of phrase and unique descriptive imagery throughout the novel, not to mention the incredible level of creativity on display when it comes to world-building. The level of knowledge and imagination that the author blended to create this visceral and vivid spaceship is noteworthy in itself, and the technical language feels authentic, yet understandable. The story is a bit slow to start, so sci-fi readers seeking constant action might be disappointed, but Kingston delivers this eye-opening tale from the perspective of a refreshing and uncommon protagonist, who carries these slower moments. As more characters arrive, the plot speeds up and the stakes increase, considering that the indifferent cruelty of space may not be Johansson’s only threat to survival.

That said, some trimming of excess exposition could help the overall flow – the author has a tendency to overdo descriptions, along with an overuse of adverbs; at times, the prose is too circuitous, even in dramatic or suspenseful moments, and there are certain redundant sentences or incorrect syntax that could be sharpened and polished. The balance of internal monologue and narration is well done, however, and allows readers to get to know Johansson more deeply as a character, with her italicized thoughts serving the same purpose as dialogue. Thematically rich and experimental in its execution, it is hard not to get lost in the story’s core adventure.

An impressive debut work of sci-fi from a talented new voice in the genre, this slow-boiling drama is artfully laced with existential dread and mind-boggling future tech visions, making it a thoughtful, smart, and memorable read.