Review: The Actuator

The Actuator by James Wymore

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Science Fantasy Adventure
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Fans of Science-fantasy adventure
Trigger Warnings: killing, murder, violence

My Thoughts: Wow, this book could not be any more different from the last book I read, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Mixing science fiction with multiple fantasy tropes, this was a really fun, fast, and furious book. When the action went from a fantasy world to a space opera world to a steampunk world I knew I was going to enjoy this story a lot.

There is plenty of action and adventure (and 'splodies) in this book. There is some character development, but mostly the action is too fast to take the time to worry about the characters much. There were problems with editing, such as “waive” for “wave” and “reign” for “rein”, as well as capitalization problems with Red and Dragon Star at times, so be aware of that. It's not too bad, though, and I imagine a lot of people won't even notice it.

If you're a fan of both science fiction and fantasy, this book will likely have something you will like. It is very obviously the first book in a series, as it ends on a minor cliffhanger. I know I'll be watching for future books in this series to find out what happens next, and to see more of the various worlds.

Disclosure: I received an e-book copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I also accepted it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: On a secret military base tucked in a remote desert mountain, a dangerous machine lies hidden from the American public. 

Known as “The Actuator”, this machine is capable of transforming entire communities into alternate realities. In theory, these often terrifying realities are reversible. The scientists in charge of this machine employ operatives called Machine Monks, who attune their minds to manifest single ideas from the realms of fantasy and science fiction. These ideas are then superimposed upon sparsely inhabited areas for testing. 

For a while, the enigmatic Actuator cooperates with the experiments, using dampeners to limit the affected area. But those in charge of the project eagerly anticipate exploring the full potential of this amazing device. Experiments progress to where they feed more than twenty different genre ideas simultaneously into the Actuator’s database. Meanwhile, an unknown saboteur dismantles the dampeners. The effect is catastrophic. The entire world is plunged into chaos, and familiar landscapes become a deadly patchwork of genre horrors. Overnight, the Actuator becomes the worst menace the earth has ever seen, claiming lives in staggering numbers. 

Can a few surviving Machine Monks band together to set things right again? It all depends on whether Red McLaren and the Monks can survive their journey through the various realms that separate them from the Actuator, where ever-present orcs, aliens, pirates, and vampires seek to destroy them. They must move quickly, as time is running out to stop the Actuator and the villain who controls it and the earth’s destiny.



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