Clark Hays

Essential Larsen, a gifted coder living on Mars, is missing. But how is that possible when Halo, an artificial intelligence, monitors the location and activities of every living soul on Earth and Mars at all times?

Five families rule Earth and Mars in this dystopian novel set in 2187. Earth is a planet-wide ghetto where all but members of five families. The five families live on Mars, where large areas have been terraformed into a utopian haven. The function of the small number of non-family members permitted on Mars is to help maintain the luxurious comfort of the family members.

Crucial Larsen, Essential’s older brother, is a military veteran and labor cop asked to help locate her. The story takes place in two periods that are fifteen weeks apart at the beginning and narrows gradually as Crucial travels back and forth between Earth and Mars.

The strength of Gates of Mars is the complex protagonist created by McFall and Hays and the depressing world in which he lives. The shifting focus is mildly annoying, but the routine events that populate the story are more troublesome. I struggled to continue reading the marginally interesting story and considered discontinuing. I’m not sorry I finished the book, but I do not plan to read volumes two and three in this trilogy.… (meer)

The Cowboy and the Vampire: The Last Sunset, book 3 includes clear text and writing and a well structured story. The authors of the book are Clark Hales and Kathleen McFall, they live in Portland Oregon and have many writing credits. The fantasy continues the tales of cowboys and vampires, saving a Wyoming town, and ending the unattractive results of vampirism. The central characters are Lizzie, Queen of the Vampires and her cowboy Tucker. Lizzie returns from Russia because there is a threat from a religious sect in Lonepine, WY and to help Tucker. She does not want to be an active vampire, she is the one to turn others into vampires, and there are several groups of beings including reptiles, etc. The Vampire families needed Lizzie to keep the peace. The vampires meet in the Meta, where the vampires' minds can travel: it’s not heaven, it is a communal everywhere. In the Meta, Lizzie found her answer.

The tale ends with Lizzie and her lover Tucker waiting in a hot tub before sunrise. They discuss the events and he finds out that she no longer is the queen of the vampires; vampires will no longer need her to turn others into vampires. Each vampire can "turn" one being and live out their days. Lizzie has it in her mind that Tucker might be her last turn and they would live together forever promoting good deeds for their life. As a story, The Last Sunset ends the series. But the future might have more tales of Lizzie and Tucker.
… (meer)

What a magnificent trilogy this was. And this final book in the series was the best of the best. From the opening pages of book one, I fell into this world wholeheartedly and even after I turned the last page, I still didn't want to leave it. But what a fitting end to such a fantastic story. As a fan of hard sci-fi and also detective fiction and noir, I have to say this was an outstanding blend of both worlds. I won't attempt a quick synopsis, which wouldn't begin to suffice, nor will I give an in-depth rundown of the plot. Neither would do it justice. You'll just have to read these books for yourself to marvel at the plot, characterizations, dialogue and world-building. This is storytelling at its finest, no matter what genre it is. ***I received a copy of this book from the authors though a LibraryThing Early Reviewers Giveaway. My review is strictly voluntary.***… (meer)

Although, this is the last book of a trilogy, it is also a standalone. I didn’t read the first two, and enjoyed it immensely. I may not know the characters as much if I had read the first two but the story was entertaining and faced paced. I am usually on the fence regarding science fiction stories and this one did not disappoint. It is about an attack on Marts about 160 years in the future where there is a colony controlled by the Five Families. Crucial Larson with the help a few does his best to save both Earth and Mars. It also takes place 50 years after that as his heroics re analyzed in a history class. Very interesting to say the least. Aside from all that it is also about love, friendship, commitment and more. I found all the characters intriguing and really liked the story.… (meer)