Volume 6- Issue 12, December 2007
Published by Llumina Press

Review of The Sentient Advantage

November 25^th, 2007

Reviewed by Daniel J. Neumann

For E Writer Magazine

Classic Entertainment—in Space!

            Chris Pugmire places his readers inside an adventurous world—where humans live on distant colonies, alien civilizations imperialize, and ghosts and advanced artificial intelligence programs are reality.

            Do not expect Pugmire to introduce this world to us on stable footing, though. The first chapter is, bluntly, confusing. Such is a crucial element to the storyline, however. The opposition in the book, the Gronch, are green monsters who have the power to read minds. They wish to destroy humanity.

            Preparations are made to save mankind. But in order for the plans to stop the Gronch be kept secret, no human can know what is supposed to happen next. The only mind that knows the entire plan is a robot named Calron, which mechanical brain cannot be read.

            Such are the terms when the central character, Jaros, finds himself falling to the ground. He lands in water, finds that he can breathe (since he is wearing a suit), and then arrives on shore. A car invites him inside, where it drives him to the home of Kayla. This girl has a disobedient artificial intelligence and a ghost. And Jaros still does not know what he is doing there. Confusing, right?

            Rest assured: The story comes into focus in the coming chapters and, when all is said and done, makes complete sense. Reading the book is a thrilling experience, written in epic space opera fashion.

            Pugmire has given the world another fast-paced story comparable to the wackiness of Douglas Adams. In the end, it is a thrilling love story well worth the read. I give it four spirals out of five.