The Energy Scavengers

Book Review:

The Energy Scavengers by Ryan Sean O'Reilly is a short story in the genre of science friction. I was delighted to see that O'Reilly chose an interesting story line and character, as appose to the typical space hero and heroine format. This made the story attractive to me, since it was so different from anything I'd read of late.

The story opens with a robotic probe heading toward a planet. This planet was once dominated by an alien civilization, but now all that is left are the artificially intelligent machines that the aliens had created. The protagonist is a little probe that is sent to check out the ancient alien mining ruins and collect data to help mankind learn more about the aliens.

The author takes the reader on a roller coaster ride from the start as the protagonist must fight for survival in a hostile landscape populated by power hungry robots that have evolved. There are a few rocky spots in the text and some areas that could be fleshed out more - but in all I enjoyed the story very much. I was disappointed when the story ended. On the last page I wanted more, and hope that the author will turn this short story into at least a novella.

If you read The Energy Scavengers, and feel as I do that it should be expanded upon, send O'Reilly an email asking him to do so.

Regards, and until next time - Lawrence BoarerPitchford

Lawrence is the author of such works as Thadius; the tale of a retired Roman General on the trail of a serial killer: Sawbones; the story of a Civil War surgeon who must foil a plot to kidnap the one man who could change the terms of Southern surrender: The Lantern of Dern Blackhammer; Epic fantasy story about a lost relic, and the mad man seeking to enslave the world: In the World of Hyboria; Fan fiction that takes three fresh characters, Robert E. Howard's world of Conan, and mixes thing up with adventure and action: Tales of Mad Cows and Brothels; the story of a Welsh nobleman, an Irish pirate, and a French rogue priest and how they drink, brawl, and stumble their way toward saving a Queen.