Title: The Phoenix Rising
Author: Gary Caplan
Publisher: Gary Caplan
ISBN: B0B3QSXZRR
Pages: 299
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy / Space Operas
Reviewed by: Jack Chambers

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In our modern 21st century, one of the greatest things most all hope to explore one day is space. After centuries of exploring the majority of our planet, man has turned their eyes skyward and the journey to send man into space to find raw materials, new planets and stars, and so much more has become one of the most sought-after goals of every nation on Earth. Yet before we can perfect this space exploration goal, should we not look inward and solve the issues of our own hearts? For as Thomas Merton said, “What can we gain by sailing to the moon if we are not able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves? This is the most important of all voyages of discovery, and without it, all the rest are not only useless, but disastrous.”

In author Gary Caplan’s The Phoenix Rising, the author explores a far out future in which space exploration has taken a whole other meaning. After a group of 250 civilizations form the Alliance of Worlds, comprising a large series of space-faring races and resources, a threat emerges with intentions of destroying the Alliance for good. When a powerful hero is called to take charge of the Starship Phoenix to stop an emerging threat, the Alliance will find itself caught in the midst of a time of great change and bloody war that will reshape the Universe as they know it.

One of the things I’m always looking for as a reader when it comes to this genre is world building, and the author did an incredible job of layering the Universe of this story with a great helping of world-building and mythos. The thing which stands out, however, is that the author did an ample job of balancing this world-building with intimate and personal character growth for the cast of characters, especially aboard the Phoenix starship. The journey these characters undergo directly reflect the worlds and pieces of space that are explored in this battle and help elevate the overall narrative and the stakes within the narrative overall.

This is absolutely the perfect read for those who enjoy science fiction and space opera style narratives. As a fan of this genre, I loved the attention to detail and the author’s passion for this style of storytelling. It really reflected in the imagery and tone the author utilized throughout the narrative, bringing the cinematic quality of writing to the story to make readers really feel immersed in the narrative.

Action-packed, captivating, and entertaining, author Gary Caplan’s The Phoenix Rising is a must-read sci-fi novel. The passion and creativity of the author’s world reflected in the writing style, and the narrative moved at an even pace that allowed readers to feel the adrenaline of the plot without getting too bogged down into unnecessary details. A memorable and engaging story, readers will not want to miss out on this brand-new sci-fi world!