A Pale Light in the Black

Starred review from December 1, 2019

The Near-Earth Orbital Guard protects human life in the Sol System and ensures the safety of space where humans roam. As the Interceptor crew of Zuma's Ghost recovers from its defeat at the annual Boarding Games last year, they are surprised by a sudden reassignment of one of their own and getting a new lieutenant. Maxine Carmichael may come from one of the most powerful families on Earth, but she intends to find her own way into the black of space. She hopes her new team and Jupiter Station will become home, but doubt slowly creeps in. The crew of Zuma's Ghost must come together to take the next Boarding Games and deal with a growing mystery surrounding missing ships, long-lost people, and a secret from Max's family's past that could put Zuma's crew and thousands of others in danger. VERDICT The U.S. Coast Guard in space! Wagers ("Indranan War" trilogy) launches an exciting new military sf series filled with smart characters and taut action sequences that will keep readers engaged.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 2, 2019
Wagers (Down Among the Dead) kicks off the NeoG series with this fun, feel-good space opera. The Near-Earth Orbital Guard does low-profile rescue and policing work in space, akin to the U.S. Coast Guard. Other branches of the military look down on the NeoG, making it especially important to the NeoG that they win the annual Boarding Games, an all-service athletic and technological skill competition. When NeoG Lt. Cdr. Nika is transferred away from his Interceptor team, an anxious new lieutenant, Maxine Carmichael, is assigned in Nika’s place, disrupting the dynamic of the highly competitive team. As Max struggles to prove herself to her distrustful teammates, they train for the Games and work to rescue errant space travelers, leading them to stumble on a massive government conspiracy. There’s surprisingly little tension in the political story line; readers will be more invested in the interpersonal relationships as Max attempts to win over the crew—among them Nika’s prickly adopted sister, Jenks—and be accepted into their chosen family. This effortlessly entertaining novel is sure to have readers coming back for the next installment. Agent: Andy Zack, Zack Co.

January 15, 2020
Character-driven military science fiction, the first installment in Wagers' NeoG series revolves around Maxine Carmichael, a lieutenant in the Near-Earth Orbital Guard who has spurned the influence of her powerful family and followed her own path into space. Set in the year 2435--centuries after the nebulous Collapse--the narrative begins with Carmichael's being assigned to Zuma's Ghost, a NeoG ship with a close-knit crew that has done well in the Boarding Games, an annual competition that pits various military infiltration teams against one another for bragging rights. As if being the person to replace a beloved crew member (who got promoted) wasn't bad enough, the perception of her dynastic family name (her parents are both Navy admirals) makes her assimilation even more difficult. With four months until the next Games, Carmichael has the added pressure of not only doing her high-pressure job, but of performing well in the hypercompetitive matches. Her life quickly becomes even more complicated when the salvagers they apprehend onboard a missing system jumper turn up dead shortly after being taken into custody. Traces of a substance link the dead to LifeEx, a company that produces a life-extending serum and that Carmichael's sister coincidentally heads as its CEO. When someone begins attempting to kill off Zuma's Ghost crew members, Carmichael must figure out if the attacks are connected to the upcoming Games, her investigation into the LifeEx mystery, or both. While the multidimensional character of Carmichael--who happens to be asexual--and other female characters (like butt-kicking Petty Officer 1st Class Altandai "Jenks" Khan) are the story's obvious strength, there are noticeable flaws. Carmichael's complicated relationship with Jenks at times strains the bounds of believability. Additionally, the pacing and fluidity are erratic, particularly in the later Games sequences, which come across as rushed and don't fit organically with the overall narrative flow. A military sea novel set largely in space: Patrick O'Brian meets Elizabeth Moon.

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February 1, 2020
After almost driving themselves to extinction, human beings have colonized the local solar system and the nearby Trappist system, using an anti-aging drug to extend their lifespans. Every year, the military branches, which protect civilization, compete in the Boarding Games. This year, the Near-Earth Orbital Guard hopes to finally win against the Navy?if their newest recruit can be whipped into shape in time. Max Carmichael, a child of the most influential family on Earth, has broken with tradition and enlisted in the NeoG. But there's a vast conspiracy afoot that threatens genocide on a massive scale. The big mystery establishes high stakes and the exciting competition sequences of the Games make this book a surprisingly fun read, but this is a character-driven story above all else. Every character is someone readers will enjoy spending time with, and exploring the characters' relationships is the heart of the tale. Aside from a few stereotypical villains, no one is a bad guy. Wagers' first book in the NeoG series is an unexpected and refreshing twist on military science fiction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)