Book Review: Far From Home by Madeleine Urban

Title: Far From Home
Author: Madeleine Urban
Genre: Science-fiction Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy from publisher
Published: January 2008 by Dreamspinner Press

Following the Sun - The nearly fatal crash of their spacecraft leaves Jack and Samuel stranded on a verdant planet far from civilization. Discovered and sheltered by a native tribe, the two resign themselves to new lives - lives that include a new culture, a new language, and even new love. But their new home isn't at all what it seems, and when war and illness strike, they find out just how far from home they are.

Close Encounter - Space privateer Tris is just doing his job - delivering canisters to a military science vessel - when he discovers that he is transporting people infected with an engineered virus designed to exterminate the human race. In the midst of an alien attack, can the rogue pilot save patient Retter - the key to the cure? Or will he lose both humanity's salvation and his heart?

Enhanced - In Earth's not-too-far future, a talented scientist stumbles over a plot to use the genetically enhanced military to declare martial law and take over the government. Dr. Ryne Siler enlists his friend, Dr. Cary Matthews, a brilliant engineer, to figure out how to stop it. When the investigation goes awry, they're on the run, and the only thing between them and capture is a hidden cache of sleeping soldiers with enhancements of their own. Ryne and Cary are desperate, but will waking these soldiers help - or just make things worse?

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: The romances in these three novellas were superficial at best though the sci-fi settings were interesting.

The Set Up: Three MM novellas: Enhanced about two scientists thawing out two hot soldier from their fifty year old cryo-sleep; Close Encounters features two space pirates whose cargo turns out to be a young man with a highly communicable disease; Following the Sun where a ship’s crew of two crash lands in a jungle and are rescued by mysterious sun-worshipping natives.

Why I Read this Book: I’ve been on a Madeleine Urban reading frenzy lately so had to try this one.

What I Liked: I like the sci-fi settings for all three novellas. They’re each unique and kept my attention. I especially liked Enhanced because it starts with the version 3 genetically engineered soldiers ready to exterminate humans. The two scientists have to thaw out version 1 soldiers to help them save humanity. This was a great set-up to an action packed novella. Close Encounters had the least sci-fi feel though it was set on a space station after the pirate heroes try to unload their precious cargo only to be attacked by a drone army. I still liked the setting though. Following the Sun was a mysterious sci-fi setting but I can’t say much because it would spoil the end where the jungle tribe is explained a bit.

What I Didn’t Like: I’m a romance lover so you’d think I’d totally love three novellas where there are two love stories in each novella but I didn’t. Because each novella features two romance, neither is deeply explored and this bummed me out, especially in Enhanced because those hot soldiers and scientists were great characters. The end result for me was that the romances felt rushed and superficial.

I also didn’t like the uber-abrupt ending to what was otherwise a decent novella in Following the Sun. The jungle tribe is explained but the romances are broken up after they were resolved just to end. Color me miffed.

IMO: Not a romance book I’d recommend unless you’re only looking for decent sci-fi.

J9’s Rating: