SPSFC 4 Quarterfinalist: Of Friction

The teams in the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) have different ways to evaluate the books allocated to them. For SPSFC 4, Ground Control to Major Tom asked two judges to scout each book by reading it in full. After it was recommended on the team's Discord channel, another judge may have read it as well. The number of Strong Yes and Yes votes determined the six books that advanced.

The third quarterfinalist announced by the team is Of Friction by S.J. Lee.

Of Friction is a milSF novel set on an environmentally fubar Earth which is shared uneasily by original recipe humans and the Altered, people who were genetically improved to flourish amidst the devastation. The marine Sam "Valkyrie" Ryan and her half-brother Scott "Mute" Reckert are assigned to protect a summit between the two branches of humanity facing terrorist threats from supremacists.

A superior race of human mutants are cohabitating the planet with their genetic inferiors. You don't have to be Charles Xavier to know we're about to find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real.

The marines enjoyed the monicker "wunbies" for the terrorist group, a term stemming from their supremacist mantra "one blood, one promise."

Although the Altered were elitist, the majority of this genetically-altered race left humans alone most of the time, probably hoping they would die out on their own. Apostates, however, were violently supremacist and sought to actively guide humans to their demise. They brought their own kind's ire on themselves with their extreme loyalty to the last Altered Sovereign, whose reign sought to eliminate humankind. It didn't help that the Apostates lacked care and mindfulness about collateral damage.

The novel is devoted to real battles along with a deeply painful familial clash between two close siblings. Valkyrie struggles with Mute's decision to leave the military, where they've served alongside each other for seven years in special ops.

The fast-paced action, depiction of military life and compelling relationship between the main characters were praised by judges.

R. K. Stumblingbear (YouTube):

A small unit is sent out to investigate some discontent rumors during an important summit. I loved how blended the cultures are in the future as humanity has banded together against the Altereds (genetically modified humans that have taken over the Earth).

Usually I hate prologues because I think that they don't add anything to the book but this one sets you up on the setting and the world without giving you too big of an infodump.

Richard's Reviews (Goodreads):

I'm not a big fan of military science fiction. I am a pacifist and vegetarian so reading about killing is not my go-to topic. ...

[T]his is not my favorite genre. That said, there was quite a bit to like about this book. The writing is tight, the characters interesting and engaging, and the concept a bit original. Most importantly, there is something special about Lee’s ability to put you, the reader, right into the action.

InkFinger (Goodreads):

A key measure of a book for me is if I choose to read the book instead of do other things I ought to be doing. I did a bit of that. It went down easy. It's obvious that either Lee has spent time in theater or done her homework. She captures both the fear and the boredom of being a soldier on the ground, excuse me a Marine.

This book is S. J. Lee's debut novel and the start of the Altered Earth series. The second book Of Friction comes out on March 25.

SPSFC · SPSFC 4 · S. J. Lee ·

2025/02/27 · Link

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