Space Operatic by Dale E. Lehman

 


Space Operatic
Dale E. Lehman
3.5 Stars

Genre: Sci-Fi / Space Opera
Pages: 246
Published: 16 July 2021
Publisher: Red Tales

Publisher's Blurb

Hopeless optimist Roberto Maccarone has staked his fortunes on a bold move: he's brought grand opera to the Oort Territories, where there isn't enough culture to fill a petri dish. But it's a tough sell here in the cold dark of the next to last circle of hell, and soon Maccarone is up to his mephistophelean eyebrows in corporate greed, rebellious miners, bloodthirsty mercenaries, outrageous lies, intense loathing, inane conversations, and more unintended consequences than you can shake a baton at. Really, how hard can it be to stage a performance?

One thing alone can save Maccarone and his company: the most fabulous theater in the solar system slumbers nearby, mysteriously shuttered without having once been used. But the keys are held in the icy grip of the local Culture Minister, and nothing–not Maccarone, not obscene amounts of money, not even that guy who juggles flaming kabobs while singing an ancient song about how great America was–can pry them loose. Will it be fame for Maccarone and his troupe? Or unemployment in Beelzebub’s outhouse?

Review

Roberto Maccarone takes his opera company to a mining community in deep space and that’s when everything starts to go horribly wrong.

Scheming politicians, disgruntled miners, a band of mutinous mercenaries and an exploding fountain – what more could you want?

Well frankly, I would want a more cohesive narrative and a plot that flows. The cast of characters is a little too large and confusing, the plot has more twists than the Monoco Formula One racing circuit and none of the main protagonists are particularly loveable.

But, there is plenty of action in the second half of the book and some humourous characters and dialog that made the story enjoyable overall.

Buy on Amazon


The Author

Dale E. Lehman is an award-winning writer, veteran software developer, amateur astronomer, and bonsai artist in training. He principally writes mysteries, science fiction, and humor. In addition to his novels, his writing has appeared in Sky & Telescope and on Medium.com. With his wife Kathleen he owns and operates the imprint Red Tales. They have five children, six grandchildren, and two feisty cats. At any given time, Dale is at work on several novels and short stories

More By Dale E Lehman

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dale-E-Lehman/e/B00JGBZJDC


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