OUTRIDERS

Not- so- special ops

released 5 May 432 pages | Paperback/ ebook Author Jay Posey Publisher Angry Robot

Military SF never seems to go out of style – there’s a continuing demand for pulp- infused tales of adventure in the darkest reaches of space. The latest addition is Outriders, the first in a series that’s aiming to deliver lean and unpretentious sci- fi thrills.

Set in a traditional spacefaring future where both the Moon and Mars have been colonised, the story follows Captain Lincoln Suh as he’s enlisted into a secretive group called the Outriders. Designed to gather intelligence outside the normal rules, Suh and his team are soon embroiled in a series of dangerous intrigues that could pitch Earth and Mars into full- scale war.

Author Jay Posey delivers plenty of action- packed setpieces, and his biggest success with this novel is the realism he brings to the combat and military details; these aspects feel properly authentic. Taken purely as a page- turning romp, Outriders is often fun – it’s just a pity that the SF world- building lacks originality, while the plot suffers from some very predictable twists. Mainstream action fans will find some entertainment here, but Outriders lacks the inventiveness that would make it stand out from other pulp SF adventures.

Posey’s day job is Narrative Designer for Ubisoft, working on Tom Clancy-related franchises like Rainbow Six.