Mendoza's portal SF/fantasy novel explores themes of identity, betrayal, and corruption. Mendoza's story takes place in two parallel dimensions on Earth. In one, humanity is united under the rule of First Consul Gaius Octavius who has depleted the world's resources and is seeking to create a Gateway to the other dimension to obtain their resources in the hopes of winning a war with an alien species called "Stone Tails." In the other, Duster Raines, a hard-drinking LA investigator with a dark, military past, is the "Shade" (dimensional twin) to Octavius. Raines is solicited by Madison Andrews to find her husband, who she says was abducted by aliens. He's hesitant but agrees and acquires a package containing a key to a deposit box. Despite being pursued by FBI agents, SWAT operatives, and robotic canines, he gains access to the box, which contains a green stone ring. He then takes refuge in the apartment of 15-year-old neighbor, Juan, but government operatives soon discover him. An escape attempt leaves him badly injured, and he's nursed back to health by a mad scientist named Badger. Badger explains the ring can traverse dimensions, and he takes Raines to meet the War Council, a resistance formed against Octavius. When they arrive, they learn that Octavius is creating a Gateway not only to drain more resources from their dimension, but to unite the two realms, become the Eternal Watcher, and gain immense power. Raines agrees to help if they can confirm Juan's safety, and the team develops a plan: Use Raines' ring to open a portal to the other dimension and destroy the Gateway. But if they gain access to the alternate dimension, will they have enough firepower to save the multiverse? Mendoza creates an interesting premise and entertainingly combines elements of SF with detective noir. The pacing, while initially steady, soon falters, however, and action sequences often muddle important plot points. Mendoza depicts a richly detailed world ("The sky above barely showed blue anymore, dominated by those magnificent ebony towers...old skyscraper fronts like you might see back on your own Earth had been repurposed into a marketplace...like some sort of ancient bazaar") and poses interesting questions, like the nature of identity in a megaverse that contains multiple versions of people. The author also creates impressive depth in the reluctant hero, Raines, by weaving in traumatic dreams of his time in the military. Other cast members, however, don't enjoy the same intricate portrayal. Juan, for example, is a technological prodigy and adept with alien technologies, all of which is justified only by his explanation: "I play a lot of video games." Additionally, some aspects of the world remain unclear, such as who gets a dimensional counterpart. Similarly, the dynamic of the connection between Shades is inconsistent. Despite these missteps, the story succeeds in creating a dynamic world with high stakes and plenty of narrative twists. An SF novel with elaborate worldbuilding, a charismatic lead, and a befuddling plot.
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December 13, 2024
DEBUT Duster Raines, a private eye with an alcohol addiction, discovers that he has an alternate self who is the supreme leader of an alternate universe. The story opens with this dictator of a more scientifically advanced alternate Earth as he struggles against a rebellion. The action then cuts to Los Angeles, where Duster meets with a new client and learns that he is being followed by agents from the future, masquerading as the FBI. When he stumbles upon his new client dead in her home, he has to think quickly to evade capture, which he ultimately fails to do. Not sure whom to trust, when he travels to the other Earth, he meets with interdimensional aliens, further increasing the mystery, and narrowly escapes being killed. The hard-boiled style of the narrative evokes classic Los Angeles-set detective fiction and nicely counterbalances the overly melodramatic nature of the plot. The main character, torn between himself and his alter ego, is engaging and works well to explore the conundrum of the corrupting influence of power. An unresolved ending possibly indicates further installments. VERDICT Recommended for space opera fans with a taste for irony.--Henry Bankhead
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January 10, 2025
The central character of Mendoza's debut novel is an alcoholic private investigator straight out of classic hard-boiled detective fiction. The grizzled ex-military, ex-cop Duster Raines is living a depressing and lonely life when he is pulled into a mystery that transcends the bounds of any traditional mystery novel. Although Raines is initially asked to help a woman locate her missing husband, he finds that a cult-like group of militants are trying to hunt him down in connection with the disappearance. The story takes an unexpected turn when it is revealed that these dangerous individuals are from an alternate, more technologically-advanced dimension, and they are determined to take power in both their own dimension and Raines'. Raines soon discovers that his own counterpart from the alien dimension, his "Shade," is the leader of a faction engaged in this struggle to control multiple realities. The Shadow of the Eternal Watcher combines elements of Heinlein-esque sf, including space travel, aliens, and interdimensional doppelg�ngers, with the fast-paced plot and traditional troubled-yet-compelling hero of a classic mystery-thriller.
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