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The Roo Raka Cycle #1
The Forcek Assignment
A quiet life on the fringes of society is all Roo Raka wants. Regular work, enough to keep his crew happy, and if it strays into grey areas of legality then, well, a little bending of the law never hurt anyone. Not anyone who didn't deserve it, at least.
There's always a bigger picture to consider though, and after he runs into trouble on what should have been a routine cargo pick-up, Roo Raka finds himself drawn into a web of conspiracy, a plot that's aimed at the heart of Galactic government. As those in power tighten their grip, and law enforcement cracks down on an increasingly unhappy populace, plans are drawn up and there's a decision to be made. Can Roo Raka stand by and ignore everything he sees around him? Is it really nothing to do with him? Or does there come a time when a good man no longer has the luxury of doing nothing?
There's always a bigger picture to consider though, and after he runs into trouble on what should have been a routine cargo pick-up, Roo Raka finds himself drawn into a web of conspiracy, a plot that's aimed at the heart of Galactic government. As those in power tighten their grip, and law enforcement cracks down on an increasingly unhappy populace, plans are drawn up and there's a decision to be made. Can Roo Raka stand by and ignore everything he sees around him? Is it really nothing to do with him? Or does there come a time when a good man no longer has the luxury of doing nothing?
69 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 22, 2020
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Ray Adams
6 books12 followersAn avid reader of sci-fi and fantasy since his early years, Ray Adams has yearned to be a writer since childhood. A passion for political and philosophical debate, as well as the arts in all its forms, and a strong personal interest in mental health issues, shapes the worlds he is bringing to life in his sci-fi. The Roo Raka Cycle, the third and final installment of which was completed in 2021, was his first trilogy. His fifth book From Within, A Darkness is out now.
He writes under the big skies of Norfolk, England.
He writes under the big skies of Norfolk, England.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 9, 2021
Fun Sci-fi
I started this book twice, but life just kept getting in the way. I was determined to finish it, though, so I tried a third time, and it ended up being the charm, as the saying goes.
There was a lot I liked about this book.
The characters.
Memm was my favorite. I can’t say much as to why without giving too much away, but the Memm’s dialogue, tone, and general voice came off as authentic, polished, and sophisticated. I enjoyed the turtle explanation the Memm gave, too. But my favorite line was this:
“Most people fall into the temptation of only doing the things they can, Jessica. Artists are artists precisely because they try to express the things that they cannot.”
Maggareth and his ability was special and interesting, too.
I appreciated Roo Raka and how he stayed true to himself.
The settings and descriptions were good.
I was able to grasp and understand clearly where I was, whether that was in a ship, a new planet, a bustling city, or a hellish mine.
The ending.
I pieced it together a little before it happened, but in the final page or two, it went a way I didn’t think it would. And I enjoyed it.
A couple things I would have liked:
Chapters would have helped break things up. Having only a part 1 and 2 made the reading sections seem too long, even if the individual scenes themselves were short.
While there may have been reasons for why certain things happened, I feel we could have gone deeper into them and been provided a more definitive explanation. I’m okay with things being vague for the most part, but I feel some of the story was held back or from view. I would have liked to been part of it instead of being told through a character. Being part of the world building would have made it stronger in parts as well.
I started this book twice, but life just kept getting in the way. I was determined to finish it, though, so I tried a third time, and it ended up being the charm, as the saying goes.
There was a lot I liked about this book.
The characters.
Memm was my favorite. I can’t say much as to why without giving too much away, but the Memm’s dialogue, tone, and general voice came off as authentic, polished, and sophisticated. I enjoyed the turtle explanation the Memm gave, too. But my favorite line was this:
“Most people fall into the temptation of only doing the things they can, Jessica. Artists are artists precisely because they try to express the things that they cannot.”
Maggareth and his ability was special and interesting, too.
I appreciated Roo Raka and how he stayed true to himself.
The settings and descriptions were good.
I was able to grasp and understand clearly where I was, whether that was in a ship, a new planet, a bustling city, or a hellish mine.
The ending.
I pieced it together a little before it happened, but in the final page or two, it went a way I didn’t think it would. And I enjoyed it.
A couple things I would have liked:
Chapters would have helped break things up. Having only a part 1 and 2 made the reading sections seem too long, even if the individual scenes themselves were short.
While there may have been reasons for why certain things happened, I feel we could have gone deeper into them and been provided a more definitive explanation. I’m okay with things being vague for the most part, but I feel some of the story was held back or from view. I would have liked to been part of it instead of being told through a character. Being part of the world building would have made it stronger in parts as well.
November 19, 2020
Sci-fantasy thrill and intrigue
A fast paced prologue, a journey into a complex world of alien v human political relations, a thrilling read ..book two onwards please.
A fast paced prologue, a journey into a complex world of alien v human political relations, a thrilling read ..book two onwards please.
June 19, 2021
Spoilers alert!
Author Ray Adams’ debut science fiction novel is a powerhouse of excitement. A cinematic opening, right in the middle of the action, leads into a blaze of storytelling that doesn’t stop. This is glorious space fantasy, redolent of the classics, with an emphasis on strong, quickly grasped characters and plotting that satisfies as it captures the imagination.
I went all out and bought the paperback edition and am hoping one day to have a signed copy. The original setting soon gives way to something rather disquieting; there is a chilling conspiracy at work behind the scenes which threatens not just the heroes with whom we have grown to become friends, but the freedoms and individuality that everyone in the galaxy thinks of as their own natural birth right. The vividness of the story’s foreground only heightens the obscure sinisterism of the oncoming and seemingly irresistible threat.
As our heroes fall to their denouement, this hidden face finally steps out onto the stage in an ending which had been lead up to so engrossingly, I have, on thinking about it afterwards, felt as if I were there myself, on that far away world, in the grounds of that house.
With such a racing narrative, the abrupt, shocking ending throws the reader off kilter with a jolt, exactly as it should.
The Forcek Assignment is a faultless and highly enjoyable debut for Adams, and I am looking forward to reading the following volumes of the Roo Raka trilogy, The Jollet Procedure and The Last Sanctuary.
Find his works here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ray-Adams/e/...
Author Ray Adams’ debut science fiction novel is a powerhouse of excitement. A cinematic opening, right in the middle of the action, leads into a blaze of storytelling that doesn’t stop. This is glorious space fantasy, redolent of the classics, with an emphasis on strong, quickly grasped characters and plotting that satisfies as it captures the imagination.
I went all out and bought the paperback edition and am hoping one day to have a signed copy. The original setting soon gives way to something rather disquieting; there is a chilling conspiracy at work behind the scenes which threatens not just the heroes with whom we have grown to become friends, but the freedoms and individuality that everyone in the galaxy thinks of as their own natural birth right. The vividness of the story’s foreground only heightens the obscure sinisterism of the oncoming and seemingly irresistible threat.
As our heroes fall to their denouement, this hidden face finally steps out onto the stage in an ending which had been lead up to so engrossingly, I have, on thinking about it afterwards, felt as if I were there myself, on that far away world, in the grounds of that house.
With such a racing narrative, the abrupt, shocking ending throws the reader off kilter with a jolt, exactly as it should.
The Forcek Assignment is a faultless and highly enjoyable debut for Adams, and I am looking forward to reading the following volumes of the Roo Raka trilogy, The Jollet Procedure and The Last Sanctuary.
Find his works here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ray-Adams/e/...
February 22, 2021
Omg
So, I’m not a sci-fi reader as such, but I started it and just couldn’t put it down and finished in a day. He writes so well, it draws you as a reader in. The main character, Roo Raka is someone you quickly warm to, I found myself at that cliff hanger ending, actually saying “omg, no!” Out loud.
So, I’m not a sci-fi reader as such, but I started it and just couldn’t put it down and finished in a day. He writes so well, it draws you as a reader in. The main character, Roo Raka is someone you quickly warm to, I found myself at that cliff hanger ending, actually saying “omg, no!” Out loud.
March 21, 2022
Roo Raka is a cool name but also a likeable character. The conversations between Jessica and "the redheaded woman" near the end are quite memorable. As far as endings go, this one surprised me, yet it made total sense. And the antagonist has very believable and sympathetic motives.
As for craft, I think you'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was. The writing style is smooth, readable, and clear, and I love the machinery details. I feel like I'm there, and the authentic and witty dialogue made me chuckle throughout. This author knows how to give sensory descriptions and point out subtleties without being boring or cliché. Smart worldbuilding peppers every page. The author does so many little things right in scenes that I know from experience are challenging to get right. From page one, I saw that I could trust my time with this book. I only wish it were longer. Good thing there's two more books in the series!
As for craft, I think you'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was. The writing style is smooth, readable, and clear, and I love the machinery details. I feel like I'm there, and the authentic and witty dialogue made me chuckle throughout. This author knows how to give sensory descriptions and point out subtleties without being boring or cliché. Smart worldbuilding peppers every page. The author does so many little things right in scenes that I know from experience are challenging to get right. From page one, I saw that I could trust my time with this book. I only wish it were longer. Good thing there's two more books in the series!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews