Gunmaker

 The Gunmaker is an exciting, fast-paced, ensemble sci-fi novel.

While there are many perspective characters, it prominently features Martika, the chief legal counsel for Eros 433, a platinum mining asteroid. The structure of the asteroid is reminiscent of an old mining town. The employees are all deep and hopelessly in debt to the management of the asteroid. Apparently, a "financial advisor” recommended they go into debt to buy company stock. When the price of platinum, and therefore the value of the stock, takes a plunge, they find themselves in a bit of a pickle.

Things take a turn when a 16 year old girl, Jane, avenges her father's death by shooting one of the security forces that killed him. A manhunt results and it all builds a sense of tension in the asteroid. 

Eros seems like a real place. The setting is well defined; the residents live in little hooches (makeshift houses of sorts). The asteroid is spinning, which gives the residents gravity near the exterior, but not in the center. While the technology of the station is futuristic, it is all very believable to me, perhaps even bordering on possible to someone with an endless purse.

The characters in the book are also well established. Much of the leadership is a bit self-absorbed in a comical, yet believable way. The head of security fancies himself as some kind of chief of police and calls himself lieutenant. The station's nepotistic leader, Louis Gavin the III, calls himself “Senior Executive Vice President”. 

The medium of the book was interesting as well. Most of it is limited, 3rd person, following the perspective character of that section (not always a chapter), but other mediums are used as well. For example, an interview style is used to frame some events of the book from the perspective of someone after the fact. Additionally there are emails between characters that serve the narrative. 

The book has an exciting conclusion but does leave the reader wondering how some of the finer points turned up. For those interested in realistic sci-fi, unrestrained capitalism in space, and an engaging narrative, this is a book for you; I highly recommend it.

Length: 319 pages

Perspective: Mixed, mostly 3rd limited

Tense: Mixed, mostly Past  

Kindle Unlimited: No (For preorder at time of writing)

Where to buy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6CSB62Q