I must admit, I was a little nervous to read Traitor's Run at first. I'd seen the author, Keith Stevenson, on a writing panel and the vibe I got from the work was that this would be hard sci-fi with a capital H. You know, lofty concepts, mind-blowing ideas, dense text and very little emotional connection.

Now, don't get me wrong, I to read those kinds of books from time to time, but it just isn't where I'm at right now. Regardless, I grabbed it to have a squiz - mainly because of the killer premise - and was delighted from the outset.

This is approachable, engaging and emotional science fiction, with the BIG IDEAS you want from the genre but also characters with rich, textured emotional journeys. Our two main POV characters come from different worlds (literally *and* figuratively) and the juxtaposition of the two reminds me, in the best way, of Iain M. Banks' Culture books and Joe Haldeman's pulpier but nonetheless brilliant works.

Make no mistake, this is an excellent read and a bold opening for a trilogy that, instead of being released over the next millenia, all drops within four months of each other. This is gladdening news because I immediately wanted to dig into the next chapter.

If you're even vaguely interested in clever, empathetic and enthralling sci-fi yarns, dig your eye biscuits into Traitor's Run immediately.3 s Dirk StrasserAuthor 96 books65

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of Traitor’s Run from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Keith Stevenson throws us headfirst into an epic galactic opera in Traitor's Run, kicking off The Lenticular Trilogy. Picture a universe jam-packed with crazy-cool alien cultures, space trips, and a whole lot of political drama. Right at the centre? The Hegemony - humans playing both heroes and baddies. Dive deep, and you've got Rhees Lowrans, a pilot with some heavy baggage, and Udun, this wild empathic lobster- alien from the Kresz, trying to figure out the massive space politics game.
The beauty of it? It isn’t just about strange planets or flashy space wars. Stevenson gives each alien world its own vibe, soul, and backstory. We see everything through Rhees and Udun's eyes - the good, the bad, and the cosmic. The plot is huge, but the two main characters keep things grounded. Their stories pack an emotional punch.
So, if you're into epic space tales with a fresh spin, Traitor's Run should be your next binge. It's got drama, heart, and makes you think twice about where humans fit in the universe. And there's more to come in this series! I can't wait!3 s Soscha277 2

Traitor's Run, the initial volume in The Lenticular Trilogy created by Australian author Keith Stevenson, encapsulates all the elements one would expect from a science fiction narrative. Set against a vast galactic backdrop, the story immerses readers in a tapestry of intricately crafted alien societies, interstellar travel, and underlying political intrigues. Within this universe, the ruling administration of humanity's Hegemony strives to assert dominance over every sentient species it encounters. This drive for control is not unfounded, as the readers are informed early on that humanity almost faced extinction during a past conflict with another species.

Stevenson's writing style maintains a brisk pace, utilizing concise descriptions and employing short paragraphs—a combination that lends itself well to a seamless reading experience, particularly when enjoying the novel on a Kindle device.

Traitor's Run offers intelligent and accessible science fiction, featuring compelling characters and exploring themes that resonate with the realities of contemporary society. It is a captivating tale of humanity's quest to find its place amidst the vastness of the cosmos. Anticipation for the subsequent volumes in the trilogy is high, making it an easy recommendation for anyone who revels in stories about humanity's journey among the stars.1 Runalong1,143 61

A fine traditional space opera with an unusual but well designed alien character. For me a little more pace would have helped but old school fans I think will enjoy it

Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...1 Connie Gatzke9

This book took me awhile to really get into, but the world and species building was thorough and detailed. I love the creativity, and felt this space opera was truly unique. I found it enjoyable reading from both the alien Udun's, and the human Rhees' viewpoints. Earth's Hegemony has a goal to protect humanity, but at what cost? Do humans have rights that supersede all other species? Traitor's Run has laid the groundwork, and I can't wait to see where the next books in this series lead me. Thank-you Goodreads giveaway for the opportunity to read this novel, and I will definitely pick up the next installment of this epic journey.connie-s-books1 NathanAuthor 12 books34

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of Traitor’s Run from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Traitor’s Run is the first instalment in The Lenticular Trilogy by Australian author Keith Stevenson, and it has all the trappings of science fiction that you’d expect; a vast galactic canvas with a myriad of extremely well-drawn alien societies, interstellar travel, and plenty of political machinations. The central administration of humanity’s Hegemony is fixated on controlling all sentient species it encounters, although not without reason, as we learn early on that humanity was almost wiped out in a war with another species at some point in the past.

The story is told from two points of view: Rhees Lowrans is a Fleet pilot whose miscalculation during an exercise costs the life of her lover. Dismissed from Fleet in disgrace, her father’s connections gift her a second chance in the Hegemony Diplomatic Corps (HDC). The HDC is part intelligence agency, part black ops and humanity’s first line of defence against extraterrestrial threats. Rhees soon comes to despise Troels Volmar, the Comptroller of HDC and his ‘ends justifies the means’ approach to diplomacy.

The second viewpoint is from Udun, an alien from the Kresz homeworld. (Picture a lobster in the shape of a very large human with a cobra- hood that can engorge from the back of its neck and you get the idea.) The Kresz are a highly empathetic species, which means they sense the emotions of other Kresz nearby and participate in a world mind whilst retaining their individuality. The Kresz are an insular species and want nothing to do with the Hegemony, but the HDC has other ideas.

Udun is un most Kresz in that he is interested in other species and yearns to spend more time off the Kresz homeworld. And here we encounter one of the key themes in Traitor’s Run; both Rhees and Udun are ostracised for not conforming to the expectations of their societies. While their respective journeys do not intersect – at least not in this instalment – there are obvious parallels including the inevitable collision between independent thinkers and heavy-handed regimes. Thought-provoking material indeed.

I find some science fiction can be difficult to engage with, particularly where high science concepts dominate or the canvas is so vast it inevitably comes at the expense of characterisation. However, I didn’t find that with Traitor’s Run at all. Stevenson’s pacing is brisk and his tendency towards a modest level of description and short paragraphs worked well as I read the novel on my Kindle.

Conclusion:

This is intelligent and accessible SF, with engaging characters and themes that are very relevant to modern day. I can’t wait for the next instalment and would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys stories about humanity finding its place amongst the stars.science-fiction Con Haidoussis2

I found Traitor's run engaging from the first few paragraphs. Keith Stevenson paints a fascinating and diverse world full of various life-forms, cultures, philosophies and technologies. most good novels Stevenson drops us in the thick of things as we get to know the various characters and locations, much sampling a chef's new menu.
Following a devastating defeat many years earlier, the forces of Earth and its surrounding planets have formed The Hegemony, an alliance willing to go to any lengths to "safeguard Hegemony security". They spread across the galaxy making contact with each new civilization in the name of diplomacy, while their agents probe for any information which gives The Hegemony an advantage when it comes to conquering each new people or finding an indigenous tyrant to do their dirty-work.
Any resistance is smashed in the most horrific way leaving each surviving rebel wishing they were dead.
In his debut standalone novel Horizon, Stevenson already showed he can write smart, capable women. In Traitor's Run, Rhees Lowrans, the daughter of a high-ranking Hegemony officer is assigned a dead-end job in a Hegemony data-hive as punishment for the death of a colleague, working under Volmar, the ruthless director of Hegemony forces. She sees first-hand what Earth is willing to do to maintain its military might and realizes that The Hegemony must be stopped.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the galaxy known as The Lenticular, Udun, acting as a secret envoy from the crustacean- Kresz meets a severely mutilated alien who tells him of The Hegemony, a military force that is steam-rolling its way thru the galaxy at the cost of all other life-forms. He rushes home to make his report but before any action can be taken The Hegemony strike, install a puppet regime and crush any resistance in the most appalling way imaginable.
Can these two outcast "traitors" find each other, form an alliance and find a way to defeat The Hegemony? Carol RylesAuthor 11 books7

The Hegemony is a human-led federation of worlds that safeguards its dominance by subjugating potential opponents. When the insular Kresz – a crustacean/insectile humanoid species – refuses to join, the Hegemony treats them as a threat. The subsequent drama unfolds from mostly two points of view: Rhees Lowrans, a talented albeit disgraced human pilot who blames herself for the death of a loved one; and Udun, a Kresz who prefers to live offworld, a rare trait amongst his species. As each is drawn into separate conflicts – ones that threaten their lives and challenge their beliefs – they are forced to make choices that were previously unthinkable.

There is much to about this novel, including the representations of good and evil in both humans and aliens, and also the strong female characters working in institutions that, thus far, appear to be dominated by males. The novel’s strengths lie with Stevenson’s thoughtful and intelligent depictions of various aliens and their cultures, particularly the worldview, religion and social mores of the empathic Kresz. The narrative voices are successfully character specific, though can be dry at times and often remained so during weapon-to-weapon conflict and scenes of emotional turmoil. Readers looking for classic space opera with a twist will enjoy this novel. I will certainly be looking out for Book 2. Thank you Net Galley and coeur de lion for sending this book for review consideration.1 Ian FeldmanAuthor 3 books2

Enjoyable space opera

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Booksprout for a honest review.

Let’s get the basics out of the way. The book has a nice cover, clean formatting, and no obvious technical errors. Nothing distracts you from the story. Lots of aliens, space travel, and big stakes action included with enough sciency sounding stuff to be convincing. I didn’t feel book 1 ended as a stand-alone. While I enjoyed the story, it feels book one sets the stage for the coming books in the trilogy with all the back story out of the way.

The story moves along at a good pace. I was never bored despite the clear world-building that occurs throughout. Characters are somewhat one-dimensional but act consistently with what the reader knows about them. Good and bad are well-defined. Lots of action though I didn’t really feel any affinity for the protagonists. There is an open question in my mind if the author is asking the reader to choose a side based on some questions the main characters ask themselves toward the end of the book. Had some of this been fleshed out more throughout the story, I would have given that 5th star.

In all, an enjoyable story to pass an afternoon.

1 comment Stephen63 1 follower

A ceasefire between humans and the K-Chaan, only there are factions that don't want the war to end and they get their wish.
We get a juxtaposition of two circumstances: a disgraced human former pilot who is forced into working for the HDC (the Corps, or spooks), the secret-holders of the Hegemony, or human space empire. The other is a Kresz (a bipedal cross between a lobster and a crab, more or less) "diplomat" named Udun from a planet called Homeworld in the Lenticular region of space.
Political machinations are at work in both the Hegemony and out on the Kresz homeworld, and the secretive HDC leader Troels Volmar is at the heart of it all.

Space opera and straight-up sci-fi at work in an excellent tale by Keith Stevenson, an author new to this reader. The two main characters are interesting narrators for the story thus far (part 1 of a new series). Our journey with Udun is particularly enthralling as we get to see a wholly alien society up close. The Hegemony, too, as an idea and character has much of 1984 about it, with more than a hint of the bad side of the CIA/FSB.
A very worthy beginning to the series & definitely recommended. Sharondblk780 12

I love a space opera, and I thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this one.

And what a space opera it is. Galaxy and civilisation spanning, with fully fleshed out aliens, not just as "enemies because they are not us" (one of my least favourite tropes). The civilisations are complex and interesting.

The book is told from two points of view, one in first person and one in third, which is a bit odd. There is also a lot of telling and explaining, although this is somewhat balanced by a plot that moves along at a good pace, and the amount of action packed in there.

I could have done without Rhees constant swearing, even in the third person thoughts part. It was particularly jarring since she apparently only knows I swear word!free netgalley Dakota Zaengle1 review1 follower

I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series! It found a balance that I haven't seen in the sci-fi books I've read recently, it focused more on worldbuilding in a xeno/political/biological way and had less of the focus on 'here is a long description of how this technology works'. It was a refreshing change and made for some excellent species that I think will lead to really interesting conflict in the sequel(s). Anthony Philosophos326 1 follower

The Hegemony is an alliance of planets dominated by humanity to the detriment of alien species. Rhees is a human pilot that figures out what humanity is doing and decides to fight against the tyranny. I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next novel by Keith Stevenson.

I recieved an ARC in return for an honest review.1 Stephen OrmsbyAuthor 7 books54

This is outstanding space/galactic opera that takes you for a real ride. The aliens are unique and the setting takes you away. The intrigues and the situations, as well as the vastness of the societies, are engrossing. As the beginning of a trilogy, I am hooked and will be looking for the rest of the series.

I received an eARC from the publisher for an honest review.1 Lori Peterson982 21

Received as a review copy from Story Origin, this is an honest review. A fine read but never really felt all that attached to any part of the story... kinda blurred together; while not for me in the end of it, the author does have a passion I could appreciate. Trent JamiesonAuthor 45 books209

Keith brings energy and invention to one of my favourite genres. Space Opera done right. Intelligent, thrilling with heart. James Balasalle299 6

Not bad! I thought the author did a great job of having a non-human as a main, viewpoint character. I'd read more of them.dystopian sci-fi space-opera Chet A.55 6

Review originally posted on Reedsy Discovery Here

Traitors run is a fast paced galaxy hopping space opera. The story focuses on two main characters on opposite sides of a conflict that will soon determine the fate of an entire planet.

Udun is a Kresz, a bipedal race with evolutionary ties to carapaced insects, and who have developed an organ that allows them to connect empathically one to another. Udun is one of the few Kresz who doesn’t enjoy the constant connection he shares with his neighbors. Others can feel this about him and makes his strangeness even more pronounced. He has always ever wanted one thing, an escape. If he could just leave this world and make a way for himself somewhere that others couldn’t feel his every emotion perhaps he could be happy. That is until his planet has first contact with a new group who calls themselves The Hegemony.

Rhees is a human pilot of the Earth Hegemony. After a recent tragedy during a training exercise she has left the fleet to join the Hegemony Diplomatic Corps. She knows that many of her new colleagues are eager to see her fail, but she is determined to be of service to the people of the Hegemony. When a large-scale attack takes out half a colonized star system she is tasked with finding the unknown aliens. During her investigation she begins to realize that, perhaps, the Hegemony may not be as amiable towards its member races as the HDC would have people believe.

I am a fan of space opera and this feels a lot what I want out of a space opera novel. First contact stories can be really interesting and I love that we get to hear about this first contact from the perspective of the alien rather than the humans involved. I love the world building that Stevenson has done here to make “Homeworld” feel historically rich and deeply alien, while also feeling homey. Rhees’s story however evokes a more traditional sci-fi espionage with bar room brawls and spaceship chases. There are a lot of elements that I really enjoyed about this book.and as it is only the first in the series I’m sure the intrigue is only just beginning.

From a critical perspective I did have a few issues while reading that negatively impacted my enjoyment of the novel. The first issue that I found may not be as major for other readers, but the narration switches from first person during Udun’s story to third person during Rhees’. This was jarring for me every time and although it may have been a deliberate choice to try and make the reader feel more a part of Udun’s world and make it feel less alien, but it just kept pulling me out of my immersion with the story. The second, and also mostly editorial, issue was the sheer amount of repeat phrases. I stopped counting the number of times people “retraced their steps” which ultimately only affected my immersion. My last issue is a little more about the choice for this book to be two distinct stories, because that is really what we have here. Typically in a space opera with multiple pov or split pov we would eventually see some intersection of the stories that is impactful to the plot, but other than a single referenced character there is no meaningful connection between these stories in the first novel. I think I would have enjoyed them better as two separate books with more focus on individual character development and switching character

The final verdict, for me, is that I want to know more about Udun’s story and I will probably try the second book. If you first contact stories and/or space opera then I think this will be a diverting read and worth a look. I also hope that the second book starts delivering on some much needed connections between these stories right out of the gate. I hope this helps in your search for new worlds to explore.
Plots and Reviews257 4

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