SPACE OPERA FIRSTS By Cameron Cooper

Hammer and Crucible
An amazing first book in the sci-fi series Imperial Hammer. There is action, thrills, surprises, and a population in which a large majority need never know the aches and pains or show signs of aging. Space ships no longer need to take lifetimes to get from one area of space to another, they just use the"array", but the building of this amazing technology is not shared but used for power and profit. There appears to be a secret surrounding the one in power that some family members believe led to the death of one of their own, the downfall of a hero, the desertion from the military of another. The AI's are amazing in this fantastic world-building story, more than you'd ever suspect. With the help of a most unusual AI, family, and former military comrades, the heroine now knows she must find and uncover the truth. The journey is complex and filled with surprises and danger. You may think I've given you spoilers, think again cause there is sooo much happening between the lines. Start this series and continue the journey, onward towards the stars, unknown dangers, and new discoveries.

New Star Raising
The author is going pure scifi in the series The Indigo Reports, no paranormal, no romance. We have a great world builder here and who knows a possible future of mankind. There are androids made for everything you can think of. But androids are not always as they seem for there is evil behind missing humans; humans that are remade for a variety of duties, from sex to super-hero's. Those in charge think they have it all, control, money, worlds, and all they have to do is wipe out a persons past, add some electronics here and there, moving parts and the most important, control their minds. With help of a family android and a human (hmmm) one of these, a super-hero woman, is rescued and returned to her loving family who have missed her for 10 years. But be sure not to ask her opinion on the matter. Rebellion is on the horizon, along with a possible intergalactic war. What can humans due when their surrounded by mind controlled androids and their evil masters (just had to say that it sounds cool). Well to find out the who, why, and where you'll have to get, read, and don't forget review, this foray into the unknown possibilities of Sci-Fi. I recommend to all those who love to read of possible and impossible beings and worlds.

Galactic Thunder
Wow, just plain wow! This first book in the Iron Hammer series is awesome. It was sci-fi all the way; I loved every word, loved having a new series that had old friends in it, the exciting twist and turns, barely a moment of stillness and quiet. The science was amazingly believable (and I'm sure some was) which made for a fascinating read to lovers of the genre. I just love Danny and can't wait to find out what she discovers going forward..

The Body In the Zero Gee Brothel
When I started reading the series ,Ptolemy Lane Tales, the first thing that came to mind was WOW, I felt like I was in a black and white sci-fi avant-garde movie. Humphrey Bogart is in the background somewhere, smoking a Camel cigarette, or maybe a future Sherlock Holmes. The main character, Ptolemy Jovan Lane, shows us that a small time peacekeeper doesn't mean he's low on brains, but even he gets a small surprise at the end. The femme fatale, well I'm not going to give any spoilers. Let me close by saying I can't wait to see what her Ptolemy is going to run into next.

Hammer and Crucible
In many ways this reads like a mystery thriller as family members work hard to evade capture as they seek to exonerate their family name. Outside forces seem to be anticipating and manipulating their every move, but are these forces for or against them? The science is fun and consistent, it does not delve too far into the minutia and is very accessible for a wide audience.

This was a fun, fast paced read full of action and humor. As the first book in a new series, there was quite a bit of character development and world building. It is quite a likeable cast, and a couple characters in particular were rather intriguing but I won't say more for fear of spoilers. There were a couple really good twists at the end that resolved this in a different way from what it seemed to be building towards, but still satisfying. The groundwork was laid with a lot of potential and I am excited to see where this series goes next.

New Star Rising
Two large governments on the edge of war, annexing adjoining planets, fighting proxy battles, sometimes by less than above board means. In times of war or revolution, there are individuals who have a disproportionate impact. They are the bellwethers, the Champions who inspire the loyalty of complacent masses and galvanize them to raise arms in change.

In a universe where chaos mathematics and heuristic learning can be used to find that bellwether champion, what if the people with access to that knowledge could use it to manipulate this person to champion their cause? And what if their plot was so extensive that every move seemed to play into it?

This story brings together political intrigue on the grandest scale and betrayal on the most personal. Even the most carefully laid plans can have wildly unintended consequences.

Galactic Thunder
Fast moving, exciting read full of action and drama. This book unravels like a mystery, slowly unraveling as Danny steps in to help an old friend, only to have the situation grow stranger and more dangerous as time progresses. Some really good twists and excellent pacing in this one that will keep you turning pages until the end.

This is not a one premise tale drawn out to novel length. Cooper has taken a familiar trope in sci-fi - new tech allowing for rapid expansion and first encounters of the 4th, 5th and/or 6th kind and built it into a rich complex space opera. This one is rife with conflict and fall out from the Imperial Hammer series. And more parawolves!

The Body in the Zero Gee Brothel
From the cover and title I was expecting some type of wild west/hard-boiled detective mashup set in space - and in a way that is what this is, but I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the world building. The murder mystery is rather straight forward; the twists are all in the reveals about the society in which it takes place, the greater galaxy around them, and their history and potential futures. Short, quick read, but a lot to think about. This is a complete story arc, no cliff hanger. There is definitely a lot of potential for rich, nuanced story telling in this world.

Super collection!
I loved HAMMER AND CRUCIBLE! 5 Stars
Couldn’t put it down. Danny (Colonel Andela, Retired) is an absolutely wonderful character - tough, smart, thoughtful, imaginative, empathetic - and her supporting characters are delightful. The plot is fascinating; it is intricate as well as filled with surprises and action. I’ll be eagerly awaiting more stories in this universe!
NEW STAR RISING 5 Stars
Bellona/Xenia is rescued and returned to her family on her home planet. Will she ever fit in there again? And what about her saviors, Sang and Ari/Khalil? Is there honor on either side in the war between the Karassians and the Eriumans? This exciting story introduces a sweeping new universe badly in need of a hero - or a heroine. Buckle up and hold on!
GALACTIC THUNDER 5 Stars
Galactic Thunder is a 5 star WINNER!  I absolutely loved every page.  Danny is full of vim and vinegar, the plot is tight, the main characters are still themselves but older (amazing how you made me feel caught up after almost 30 years!), I love the parawolf siblings, and the ending? Yes!! I can hardly wait to read the rest of the series!
THE BODY IN THE ZERO GEE BROTHEL
5 Stars
Very interesting, beautifully written, complex story.  There were so many threads set up that it’s easy to see this new series continuing forever.  Nevertheless, I would much prefer this tale to evolve into a series of full novels rather than novelettes.  It has so much potential!!
I reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.

Hammer and Crucible (Imperial Hammer Book 1)

A mind-blowing story in a captivating world with exceptional characters!
Wow, what an exciting story with more plot twists and surprises than a high mountain switchback road!
The complex concepts of the space-based life were broken into easy-to-read bites making this adventure totally captivating!
I was fascinated by the gradually revealed machinations of the past that revealed the full picture of what had really happened.
It seemed like a slow introduction until suddenly I felt like I'd been dropped into exciting events that contain exhilarating elements of suspense and mystery.
This first book in the series has great closure but I'm hooked and keen to know what happens next in this space opera series.

New Star Rising (The Indigo Reports Book 1)

Exciting story building and a great read for an epic new Sci Fi series.
An interesting and roller coaster of a story following fabulous characters who move through varying planet and spacecraft environments whilst always dealing with a war that's not a war! The high testament to how immersed I became is the fact that I read the whole book, within days, despite finding it a bit slow and heavy initially. I concluded that the initial complexity of characters and concepts was also worthwhile and considered that none of it was excess to the overall story.
New Star Rising gives hints of how epic this ongoing series is going to be!

Galactic Thunder (Iron Hammer Book 1)

Compulsive reading with gripping action and awesome characters!
A diverse and complex world of new spaceships and space exploration has opened up and Danny has landed herself in an unintentional adventure.
Surprises and unusual events kept me hanging in delicious suspense with some beloved characters from the Imperial Hammer series and some new-found favourites.
I highly recommend this book as an exciting start to this new series with plenty of action and a self-contained storyline, but of course there's always so much more I want to know about the changing world and situation Danny finds herself in and that's why I dived into the next book...and the next...!
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The Body In The Zero Gee Brothel (Ptolemy Lane Tales Book 1)

Snappy action with unpredictable characters in a captivating world!
The wonderful word-pictures create a world so Other that I'm fascinated to know more. Aliens live amongst the humans but they are the norm and it's not the aliens that challenge the conventional way of life. I was engrossed by the compact world built above and below ground that is protected by a dome. Every titillating description of detail was shared because it set the scene and was always relevant to the action of the story.
The compelling characters with hints of mystery kept me enthralled while the murder mystery unfolded at an energetic pace and kept me absorbed.
I look forward to seeing more of Ptolemy Lane and others from his world!

Excellent Read!

Space Opera Firsts, by Cameron Cooper, is a set of four novels that are each the first in a series. Hammer and Crucible is a delightful romp, full of twists and turns, arising from the gate system between becoming sentient. Wonderful characters and great action.

New Star Rising tells the story (mostly) from an android’s point of view, of a conflict having three distinct sides. What starts as a simple rescue mission blows up into a galaxy-wide war.

Galactic Thunder is a spin-off of the Hammer and Crucible series. Although there was an author warning about spoilers, I really enjoyed this particular novel. The main characters were there, and the jump forward in time was actually fun and engaging. Loved the twist at the end.

The final story is The Body in the Zero Gee Brothel. I’d already read this series and adore the main character, Ptolemy Lane. Each installment of this series explores a new and different facet of Lane and the time/space in which he lives. I highly recommend this anthology and am personally looking forward to reading the rest of the books in each series. Cameron Cooper draws the reader in from the first page and never lets up in the pulse pounding momentum of excitement and momentum.

******* Hammer and Crucible
Fabulous Sci-fi Adventure!!

In a future where longevity is the norm as people rejuvenate to keep themselves “young”, interstellar travel occurs through arrays, and you print most of what you need. An event negatively affects a family so a grandmother and her granddaughter undertake a journey to discover the truth behind what occurred.

You will be transported to another dimension. The attention to detail makes everything you read plausible and you’ll exist in this new world along with these characters in this incredible story.

******* New Star Rising
Excellent Sci-Fi Escapade!!

This is an intricate and complex sci-fi story. Cam Cooper creates a world which is widely diverse from what the reader knows; but presents it in such a creative and engaging way we do not become confused, but become a part of the world which evolves as we read.

To describe further, would be to ruin the surprises which await you as you engage in this Sci-fi adventure!!

******* Galactic Thunder
Thought Provoking and Fabulous!!

First book in a spin-off series. Many of the characters we know and love. My favorite parawolf Varg had a litter, each who bonded with many of the main characters. I’m so very pleased!

The premise is divine; we are not alone in the universe. But they are not invaders per-se. We “barely” know they exist. We cannot “find” them. We do not know what they want. Can we assume the ones who have made contact are representative of all of them? Are they rogue pirates displaying the “worst” of their species?

There is action – but there are more thought-provoking puzzles.

The smartest in the galaxy must work together to save lives and solve this mystery.

A fully satisfying story – yet there are more mysteries to solve in this series. Thought-provoking and fabulous!!

******* The Body in the Zero Gee Brothel
Expect the Unexpected!!

This author never fails to surprise and delight. Yes, there is a murder to be solved. But even more importantly a new world is slowly brought to life to the reader. Throw your preconceived notions out prior to reading. Original and entertaining.

ALL these books are 5 stars all the way!
I loved HAMMER AND CRUCIBLE! 5 Stars
Couldn’t put it down. Danny (Colonel Andela, Retired) is an absolutely wonderful character - tough, smart, thoughtful, imaginative, empathetic - and her supporting characters are delightful. The plot is fascinating; it is intricate as well as filled with surprises and action. I’ll be eagerly awaiting more stories in this universe!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.
NEW STAR RISING 5 Stars
Bellona/Xenia is rescued and returned to her family on her home planet. Will she ever fit it there again? And what about her saviors, Sang and Ari/Khalil? Is there honor on either side in the war between the Karassians and the Eriumans? This exciting story introduces a sweeping new universe badly in need of a hero - or a heroine. Buckle up and hold on!
GALACTIC THUNDER 5 Stars
Galactic Thunder is a 5 star WINNER!  I absolutely loved every page.  Danny is full of vim and vinegar, the plot is tight (amazing how you made me feel caught up after almost 30 years!), the main characters are still themselves but older (with only time-wrought changes), I love the parawolf siblings, and the ending? Yes!! I can hardly wait to read the rest of the series!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.
THE BODY IN THE ZERO GEE BROTHEL 5 Stars
Very interesting, beautifully written, complex story.  There were so many threads set up that it’s easy to see this new series continuing forever.  Nevertheless, I would much prefer this tale to evolve into a series of full novels rather than novelettes.  It has so much potential!!
I reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.