Antimatter Blues

Antimatter Blues is a worthy sequel to Mickey7 and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Our protagonist, Mickey, is neither the bravest nor the smartest but at the end of the day will grudgingly rise to the occasion. In this installment of the story Mickey has to save the colony from the consequences of his actions in the first novel and does so once again without ever making a coherent plan or taking full responsibility. While our protagonist may not be virtuous or heroic, he is relatable and, as before, eventually does do the right thing.

As with Edward Ashton's previous books the world building is solid and all characters are fully flushed out. The novel is both humorous and a page tuner. I wouldn't advise anyone to read Antimatter Blues before first reading Mickey7 because this is in no way a standalone novel. If you have already read and enjoyed Mickey7 then don't hesitate before reading Antimatter Blues.

Much more conflict here compared to the first novel. 

I just finished Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton, A Mickey 7 Novel and here is my review.

Mickey Barnes is still alive, go figure! Things are a little different for Mickey now but it's not a bad life. The problem is that the antimatter that fuels the colony is running out and Commander Marshall, the reason Mickey is still alive, wants his bomb back. He wants Mickey to go get it. If he says no, everyone is doomed but the creepers aren't going to give it up without getting something better in return. So many things can go wrong and this time, he may not come back in one piece.

This book was pretty interesting but I didn't read book one and this book really does need you to have read the first installment.

What did I like? I loved the storyline. It was clever and fast with some really excellent storytelling.

What didn't I like? That I didn't pick up book one first. It truly had me gripped from start to finish. I also heard they are making this into a movie so that should be entertaining as all heck! The plot was wonderfully detailed and I usually don't enjoy Sci-fi books this much so if this is your kind of genre, GRAB IT!! Don't walk... RUN. Grab both books and settle in for the ride of your life.

I found I was really endeared by Mickey and the level of creativity that went into this book was truly delightful!

4 stars but I am going to admit it would have been higher had I had read the first installment first haha

Thank you to @stmartinspress for my review copy

I've been on a Sci-Fi kick this past month and decided to finally start Antimatter Blues. I absolutely loved Mickey 7 and was anxious to continue his story.

I'm always leery with a sequel but this did not disappoint. There are thrilling scenes, alien interaction and warfare. The storyline was engaging and easy to get lost in. I especially enjoy the relationship between Mickey and Nasha. They crack me up.

Not sure if there will be more to this series, but if so I am on board. I sincerely appreciate St. Martin's Press for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Pros: fast paced, good world-building, romance elements

Cons:

Due to a power decrease that means the colony won’t last through the next winter, Mickey7 is tasked with retrieving the anti-matter bomb he supposedly left with the creepers two years ago. But when he goes to get it, it’s not in the rock pile where he left it.

This is a fast paced continuation of Mickey7. I loved learning more about the new world and seeing a few more alien species. Mickey has to make a lot of difficult decisions and it’s fascinating seeing what he’ll do.

I loved Mickey’s relationship with Nasha. It was nice seeing a committed couple work together to save their colony.

There’s a fair amount of action as well as some attempts at diplomacy. I thought the author did a good job of showing that different species think in different ways and that communication isn’t always straightforward.

If you like light-hearted science fiction these books are fantastic.

Really enjoyed this sequel. I have to admit, for the first 20% or so, the words “cash grab” floated across my mind, as it felt like the story was trying to bend over backwards to exist. But once the narrative actually started, and the first contact storyline that was teased in Mickey7 is fully explored, I was hooked! I loved the interactions with the colonists and the alien lifeforms. I think this storyline made me like this book even more than the first one.

Also, the audiobook was excellent! Highly recommend listening to this book if possible.