T. M. Hunter

Although a sequel to Heroes Die Young, the short novel Friends In Deed can be read as a stand alone adventure. It is set in the Aston West universe and features a reluctant space pirate hoodwinked into carrying out one last deed with some former "friends" that he'd just as soon forget. The protagonist's first person voice is wry and witty, but isn't overdone. We get to know Aston's back story a bit and can sympathize with his predicament, struggles, and decisions. Good story telling mixed with adventure and a plot that builds until the end. It is a fast paced thriller in space - space opera usually is, so fans of this genre won't be disappointed.

The novel starts strong; an early turning point and rising action hint at where you're headed but spools out enough mystery to keep the pages turning. Overall, fairly well plotted, but with a few loose ends - which allows, conveniently enough, for a third novel in the series, Death Brings Victory. It is adult themed, although nothing objectionable language-wise; however there are quite a few "senseless" deaths (not by Aston's hand) but this is part of the novel's subtle theme and is a struggle for the protagonist. Still, probably more YA than MG if you're thinking it might be good for the kids.

I'd recommend this series to anyone interested in adventure, even if space isn't your preferred setting. The science isn't intense, but the fiction is. I liked Hunter's collection of short stories, Dead or Alive: An Aston West Collection, (enough to publish them via ResAliens Press!), but his novels (of which I haven't published any) allow the author's storytelling skills to really shine, in my opinion.… (mer)

Disclaimer! I'm the editor and publisher of "Dead or Alive - An Aston West Collection" by T.M. Hunter. That being said, I think it reasonable to assume that if I liked these stories well enough to publish them I should be able to talk about them! After all, editors are simply people who promote stories they enjoy reading. So read on...

The Aston West series is classic space opera where rawhide adventure of the frontier meets sophisticated technology of the 23rd century. T.M. Hunter has developed an engaging and likeable antihero in Aston West, the reformed (?) space pirate who still manages to get himself into a number of ill-advised scrapes. That, despite the gentle guidance of his AI companion, Jeanie, who is his ship's brain and has a few adventures of her own.

In "Dead or Alive," Hunter pulls together a representative collection of 11 new and classic stories featuring Aston, Jeanie, and a number of other recurring characters. These short fictions coordinate nicely with Hunter's longer works, "Heroes Die Young" and "Friends in Deed." These compact novels, along with the novella "Seeker," establish the author as a fresh voice in the expanding universe of space opera/science fiction. T.M. Hunter is here to stay, and we can thank him that Aston West is as well.

P.S. You can follow Aston's adventures at AstonWest.com.… (mer)

Not as good as Friends In Deed (Aston West #2), but this third book does wrap up the story arc where space pirate/mercenary Aston West helps bring an end to a planetary civil war, of which the characters and plot line were introduced in Mr. Hunter's first trim debut novel, Heroes Die Young. A lot of action with a bit of intrigue and romance, this book is a bit heavy on the fighting, which didn't appeal to me as much as the rescue operation Aston was involved in previously. Still, solid writing and story telling, so if you like adventurous space opera, then I'd recommend the trilogy as a whole.… (mer)