Will Swardstrom

Having read Lyndon Perry’s short story, The Return, set in the Contact Window universe, I knew what I was getting with this short story. Basically the premise is that a Contact Window — akin to a wormhole — which only appears intermittently, is being used by an alien race to make first contact with Earth.

Contact Window deals with the mission talked about in The Return, as readers get to see the events referenced in that story, play out. Well-written and fairly involving, I enjoyed it, but I liked the ending somewhat less than Perry’s prequel/sequel short story set in this same world, and inexorably connected to this story. Perhaps if I hadn’t read The Return first, I might not have found the ending to this story — and mission — just a tad disappointing, or perhaps anti-climatic.

One positive here in Contact Window, as in Perry’s story, we see fully a sense of arrogance underscoring the outwardly noble endeavor to reach out to the stars. In both Perry’s story and Swardstrom’s, it backfires, but for the species doing the contacting, or the species being contacted, I can’t say.

Short and involving, this one is also recommended for quasi-science fiction fans who just want a morsel, and not a nine course meal.… (más)

BLINK by Will Swardstrom and Paul K. Swardstrom is a sci-fi action piece that kept me entertained and engaged until the very end. Agent Smith and The Utility Company are assigned to monitor and deal with problems out of the ordinary and are uniquely challenging to deal with. Project Blink is the most recent challenge, and Agent Smith has to use all of his wits and instincts as a agent to solve the case. BLINK deals with alternate realities transportation, and these discoveries could destroy our world.
Being a sci-fi fan, I immediately felt influences from X-FILES and FRINGE, not just in subject matter, but in properly placed humor and witty, sometimes even corny, banter throughout the book. BLINK starts with a quick case of the Corn Avenger, which was really just a vehicle to introduce Agent Smith and The Utility Company and how they work in the real world, albeit a kind of silly case. Soon, the book thrusts the reader into the Blink case, with things happening fast and clues towards the big picture slowly revealng themselves. Agent Smith is a likable confident agent who I started pulling for right away. The supporting cast are well written too, the good guys as well as the bad guys. Without reviewing the whole plot, I thought there were some good twists and turns and in the end, a satisfying conclusion. I would definitely recommend BLINK to any sci-fi fan and I look forward to the continuing adventures of the Agent Smith and The Utility Company!
Thanks to Pew! Pew! Pew! Publishing, Will Swardstrom and Paul K. Swardstrom, and Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!… (más)

Dead Sleep introduces readers to two characters (Jackson and Kristina) with secret abilities. The first few chapters were a little slow, but the author had considerable groundwork to lay for both the story and its characters.The reason I give this five stars despite the slow beginning is I kept reading. I think I was about a third of the way into the book when it picked up pace and I was completely immersed in the world of Jackson and Kristina.

And Swardstrom has an admirable talent for characterization and timing. I have to love the characters in a book to keep reading, and bad or good, I enjoyed every member of Dead Sleep’s cast. The author also wove plot twists (including conspiracies and such) and paced the story so that the reader is always engaged, which isn’t an easy thing to do. I'm very curious to see what happens with Kristina and Jackson romantically. I see sparks of interesting varieties coming in future books.

For those who aren’t fans of cliffhangers (I’m often one of those readers), Dead Sleep does end with one, but it’s satisfying. You’re not left wondering where the rest of the book is. Instead, you’re eager to check out the next installment of this trilogy. Definitely worth adding to your summer to-read list.… (más)