Starfinder is the first novel in an exciting new fantasy series by John Marco. As a new author for me, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I have to say that I am excited for this new series.
Steam trains and electricity are rapidly changing the world. Moth of Calio is obsessed with the airships developed by his friend Fiona’s grandfather Rendor, and dreams of taking to the air one day like his heroes, the Skyknights. But not everyone is happy to see humans reach the skies. For thousands of years, the mysterious and powerful race known as the Skylords have jealously guarded their heavenly domain. But Moth and Fiona are about to breach the magical boundary between the world of humans and the world of the Skylords.
Part of the reason I love fantasy is because, no matter who the author is, we’re always going to be introduced to a new world, yet this can be a drawback at the same time. When bringing about a new world, describing it can either kill or enhance the story, which I can say, John Marco not only excelled at but blew me out of the water with. Without going into too great of details, Marco is able to give us a picture of his world with just a few words. Instead of relying on new and fantastic ideas, he describes everything in ways we’re already familiar with. Not only is everything plausible, but it’s not a stretch of the imagination either. While this may seem odd to some (I mean, after all, with a fantasy, everything is suppose to be out of the realm of possibility, right?), it’s those authors who are able to take what we run into everyday and make them fantastical that make for a truly captivating story.
In Starfinder, we’re introduced to a world where flying ships roam the skies and technology is a huge advantage for man, they just don’t realize it. Here, we meet Moth, who dreams of flying with the other Skyknights when he grows up, yet, his dreams soon take second place when his mentor dies during the night, leaving him with a legacy he’s not prepared for. This legacy taks Moth into the Reach, a forbidden zone that separates Moth’s world from a world known only through stories – where mermaids and dragons live.
Of all his storytelling, there is one element of Marco’s that instantly captivated me. Does anyone remember the television show, Lexx? As soon as Moth starts talking about the dragonflies on the very first pages, I could picture exactly what the flying machines looked like…
Moth was flying his kite near the aerodrome when he heard the dragonfly crash.
The mangled wings of the vessel stuck out from the ground, drooping in the flames.
…I instantly remembered the flying ship in Lexx that took Stanley, Kai, Xev and 790 all over their universe. I’m sure that Marco didn’t intend for me to think of the “bio-engineered, Manhattan-sized, planet-destroying, bioship in the shape of a giant wingless dragonfly,” but that one word – dragonfly – just had my imagination flying. It also, in a way, kind of fits with this story. Marco’s dragonfly ships are not huge or bio-engineered, but the one that goes into the Reach after Moth and Fiona, that dragonfly brings about change to the people on the other side. As the main villain (or the leader of the villains) says to Moth: “You bring us war.”
But I digress. Speaking of the villains of this story, yeah, I was little confused at first. Well, not really confused, but curiously stumped as to who the villain was going to be. At first, I thought it was going to be Rendor, Fiona’s grandfather, but his whole character changes halfway through Starfinder. This is probably the only part about the book that I’m not crazy about. Rendor’s character isn’t fully developed (in my opinoin) and the changes he undergoes during the story are kind of arubpt and sudden. It doesn’t take anything way from the story itself, but if you think hard about Rendor, that might come up.
As for Moth and Fiona, both were masterfully done, but their interpretations of their surroundings are very different, mainly due to what they have already experienced. Because of this, we’re given a broader view of the people they interact with, but at the same time, they each notice different things, which easily develops all of the supporting characters as well.
One thing many fans may enjoy about this book is the fact that it could easily stand on it’s own. While we know that it’s the first of a brand new series, nothing is really left hanging at the end. If no one wanted to read any of the following Skylords novels, they wouldn’t have to. However, while the novel may wrap everything up, it’s very obvious that there is going to be more to this story and I, personally, can’t wait to see what adventures Moth and Fiona find themselves in next.
Overall, Starfinder was a great story and I can not wait to find out when the next novel will be coming out. The novel may be marketed towards the young adult crowd, but, you really never get that feeling. We’re given a great story, told in a setting that is not only shiny and new, but definitely fuels ones imagination. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy or to anyone looking to get into the fantasy genre.
Also reviewed by:
SciFiGuy
Darque Reviews
Things Mean Alot
Fyrefly Books
I read this earlier this month (review here), and I agree about how cool Marco’s world is – although I liked Calio better than the world beyond the Reach – mostly because it felt less like traditional fantasy.
I think your point about plausibility and familiarity within a fantasy world is absolutely right on. And how worldbuilding can make or break a fantasy book. This sounds like a great series.
Very cool and I love the pics ;)