Sky Chronicles: When the Sky Fell
Review by T.W. Ambrose
When the Sky Fell is the first published novel of co-writers Mike Lynch and Brandon Barr, published just a couple months ago by Silver Leaf Books. It is the story of Commander Frank Yamane as he struggles against the Deravan Armada for earth’s very existence. Through this mix, we get space battles, political intrigue, alien races, and a cast of characters you won’t soon forget.
Now to be upfront with everyone before I go any further, I have been excited about reading this book. When I saw this book was being released, I knew Brandon Barr should be one of our featured writers (June 09), and after reading just a few pages, I asked Mike Lynch to write a feature as well (August 09). What this made me realize is I, like many of our readers, am starved for epic Christian Sci-Fi. Perhaps I am missing something, but I just haven’t seen a lot of it out there; there are great short stories, some amazing serials being written, but there just isn’t much in the way of Space Sci/Fi. I hope with Sky Chronicles leading the way, that’s about to change.
As the book gets started you realize it’s definitely got more of a Battle Star Galaticia feel then that of Star Trek. The Humans are basically on their own. No warp drives, no deflector shields, no missions of exploration. Star Force builds ships for protection and they feel they are secure in their power. In comes the Deravan’s: cold, calculating, heartless, with superior numbers and destruction on their mind. From there though the story takes a spiritual turn, from references to Jonah to the story of the High Son, and the salvation he brings.
This brings us into what makes the story Christian Sci/Fi. Like many of the great works of Christian fiction, this book doesn’t just come out and smack you upside with a message, but it will deliver one to any reader. Yet those with a greater understanding of the Bible will find deeper meaning in several of the events and may find some paralleling the lives of heroes of the church.
On the downside, several of the main characters aren’t developed as much as I wished they would be. Outside of Yamane and his first officer, we really don’t get to know the other members of the Corona’s crew very well. We also seem to lose a number of characters just as we get into their heads. Finally, at one point in the story we seemed to rush at a romance between Frank Yamane and the ship’s doctor; however, it ends as quickly as it starts and we are left wondering what happened to the Doc as the book comes to a close.
That being said, I believe Mike and Brandon struck gold with When the Sky Fell, and from the sounds of it, a sequel is already in the works. Although I can’t say what the future holds, I do think this series has a chance to get big if people will give a couple of authors they haven’t heard much about and a publishing company they haven’t read much from a chance. It is honestly one of the better Space Epic’s I’ve read in a while. I only hope these guys are able to keep writing in this world they created, and aren’t hired off to write more Star Trek TNG novels.
For more information about Sky Chronicles When the Sky Fell you can check out:
Mike Lynch’s website at: http://www.mikelynchbooks.com
Brandon Barr’s website at: http://www.brandonbarr.com/
And Silver Leaf Books at: http://www.silverleafbooks.
And of course check out some of Brandon’s other work right here at the Dragon at: http://www.
Also make sure you mark your calendar for August 1st to read Mike Lynch’s featured story A Small Sacrifice.
