Bait by J. Kent Messum

Synopsis: Six people awake on a beach with no memory of how or why they are there.  We learn quickly that all six of these individuals are highly addicted to heroin, not only addicts but all living in the slums and considered to be the lowest of all human life.  As the first signs of withdraw start to kick in they are told that there is a substantial amount of premium grade heroin on another island about a mile away.  To get there they must swim through shark infested waters but there is enough there for any and all who make it.  The story flashes back to the lives of each of the six characters giving a background story on each.  As we learn more about each character we see alliances and hatred emerge among them on the island.  They must attempt the swim or there will be consequences as there is a yacht moored off the island with three individuals watching the outcome unfold.

My review: This book is extremely intense.  Another book not for the faint of heart.  My first thought is that there is something terribly wrong with this author to come up with a story that is this perverse, and I like it.  I read this book in less than 24 hours.  I never wanted to put it down, for that one day it went with me everywhere.  It had been awhile since something captivated me right from the start quite like Bait did.  This was J. Kent Messum's first book and I will definitely be reading the next books he has coming out, hopefully sooner rather than later.

My rating: 8
Pages: 288
Author website: http://jkentmessum.com/

Pennsylvania by Michael Bunker

Synopsis: An Amish man wants to start a life in Pennsylvania, New Pennsylvania actually which is on a planet many light years away.  He wants to start a family and grow crops in a new Amish community.  He will be frozen and awoken once he gets to the new planet.  One stipulation is that he can never come home.  He has family planning to join him once he is established but things do not go quite as planned.  He arrives in New Pennsylvania but nothing is as it should be.  Right from the start of his arrival he is running for his life.

My review:  This is not a book yet, at this point it is a short story.  The ending is abrupt and is definitely meant to have additional parts added to it.  Michael Bunker is currently working on Pennsylvania 2 and as far as I am concerned he cannot write it fast enough.  I have never read a book quite like this, Amish SciFi, what a concept.  I loved all the characters so far and cannot wait to see how the story continues.  I have a feeling he will release all these Pennsylvania stories as one book eventually which even at this early stage I feel its how it should be read.  With only this part of the book we barely have a story, what we have is the start of a story, but a great story so far.

My rating: 9
Pages: 68
Author website: http://journal.michaelbunker.com/