“A snarky, charismatic lead and nonstop action make this series title an irresistible addition.

Joseph Kainz’s Sector 12 and the Art of Burning blends humor, adventure, and heart into an over-the-top space adventure.

Once again, Ranger 2-12—alias Relentless or Rel—finds himself the only one capable of stopping a growing threat that has spilled over from Sector 13 and is targeting Rangers specifically and without mercy.

One horrendous war crime pushes him over the edge; Rel does what he does best, stirring up trouble and chasing down leads, including those in several acts of arson and corporate espionage. Events culminate in an epic battle for the fate of the Sector.

Though it is the third book in the Sector 12 series, Sector 12 and the Art of Burning sprinkles character histories and important backstory in liberally, making it an accessible starting point for new readers but also rewarding returning fans.

The narrative voice is distinctive, and rowdy humor is at play in full force, as seen in the increasingly pointed names that Rel gives to his frequently destroyed ships. Even though an unstoppable force is slaughtering Rangers and Rel is the next target, Rel keeps the book’s proceedings firmly tongue in cheek. The action is over the top, incorporating sometimes ridiculous technology, but Rel’s snarky commentary interjects believability and heart into the work.

In this entry, Rel adopts a more conversational voice than he has used in titles previous. The voice-over narration style is a fantastic complement to the book’s plot and pacing. Even when the text veers into exposition—which happens frequently—it retains humor and charisma and keeps the story moving.

The plot stays tantalizingly centered on the mysterious attacks on the Rangers; those events maintain their suspense to the end. An important confrontation leads to a strong conclusion for this title, though plenty remains to threaten other sectors, and Rel still has hard tasks ahead.

A conclusion that finds Rel recruiting youthful allies with little chance of survival in a battle against superior forces encapsulates the book’s strengths. The scope of the conflict, varied characters, witty dialogue, snappy action sequences, and Rel’s distinct voice imbue the pivotal event with gravitas without diminishing the series’ trademark humor.

The unique nature of Rel’s region of space grows both clearer and darker, promising earth-shattering confrontations and revelations in the future. The buildup to the next book in the series is excellent, and overarching connections between novels are developed in a satisfying way.

Because the fate of the other Rangers plays into this novel so acutely, forcing Rel into action, world building is stronger and more fleshed out here than in entries previous. The nature of the Rangers and their organization is expounded upon, and Rel is interestingly rounded out, examined against other heroes and graduating into a lead with surprising emotional strength, though retaining his irreverent humor and riotous actions.

With polished prose and snappy dialogue, Sector 12 and the Art of Burning lays strong foundations for future books.”

“Joseph Kainz’s action-packed Sector 12 and The Art of Burning continues his acclaimed series of tongue-in-cheek military science fiction featuring Rev (previously known as Rab), a Frontier Corps Ranger up against a clandestine paramilitary force bent on the annihilation of soldiers like himself.

In the wake of the destruction wrought in Kainz’s previous Sector 12 and the Art of Dying, most Rangers have gone into hiding, but that’s just not Rev’s style; never one to shy from danger, he embarks on a mission to uncover the orchestrators of the anti-Frontier Corps plot and take the fight to their front door.

As Sector 12’s narrator and protagonist, Rev is portrayed as a likeable rogue—reckless in the service of what’s right and eager to challenge conventions, even to the point of butting up against (though not quite breaking) the fourth wall separating him from the reader. His storytelling is reminiscent of action movie voice overs: sarcastic, self-deprecating, and filled with hilarious digressions, striking a tone somewhere between Harry Dresden and Deadpool.

Kainz immerses readers in a sociologically rich universe, populated with distinct cultures and races. It’s a smart, funny, hazardous/haphazard world, and Rev’s adventures reflect that.

Many chapters begin in media res, with Rev meandering backwards to set up the events unfolding, which helps ratchet up tension but also serves to disguise an arguably thin plot: Rev seeks information on a generic enemy, engages in tangentially-related misadventures to obtain it, but delays the real confrontation for a future volume.

While this may slightly diminish enjoyment for new readers of the author’s work, it won’t detract from the enjoyment for fans of Kainz’s irreverent and intrepid hero. For anyone craving military science fiction that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Sector 12 And The Art of Burning is a welcome addition to an entertaining series from an author happily in his element.”

“With flavors of a western but set in space, this military adventure is over-the-top fun.

Joseph Kainz’s raucous, ribald space adventure Sector 12 and the Art of Falling follows a heroic agent who’s combating a conspiracy.

Ranger 2-12, adopting the moniker “Red,” returns for another mission in the Kill Zone, a region of hostile space primarily occupied by nonhuman races. Red receives a call for Ranger assistance on a colonized planet besieged by marauders.

Though the call was intended for a specific, indisposed Ranger, it is one that Red is ultimately unable to ignore. He intervenes and becomes swept up in an even larger threat. As a human and a Ranger, he has very little recognized authority, but he manages to scrappily adapt and overcome all odds.

Sector 12 and the Art of Falling is the second entry in the Sector 12 series. While events and characters are referenced and built upon from the previous book, more than ample context is spread throughout the book, making it an accessible entry point.

This is military science fiction unlike most titles in the genre. Instead of focusing on hyping one side or the other, the emphasis is on humor and explosive action, with Red embodying both. His narration builds upon inside-joke-filled reports to his superiors, rife with funny asides: when a weapon launches him in the air, he reports that a planet suddenly hit him.

Red’s voice is the strongest; interactive dialogue with other characters is less robust, though characterizations and scene settings are stellar. Every character benefits from realistic motivations that allow the novel’s events depth and that give meaning to its twists and turns, from character deaths to dramatic reveals. Scenes are built up through Red’s interjections and musings; his perspective adds a glimmer to stale descriptions or lines that might otherwise be limited.

While they are appropriate and fitting for his character, Red’s frequent information dumps are the only weak point in the story. Frequently, especially when a new technology or alien race is introduced, Red will slam events to a halt to explain it in great detail. The information is relevant and filled with humor and wit, but it still slows the action down. It could as easily have been spread out or slipped into footnotes without hampering the otherwise strong pacing.

Ranger 2-12’s second adventure blends western tropes with military science fiction to produce a swashbuckling adventure filled with humor, warmth, and heart. Sector 12 and the Art of Falling appeals to fans of the genre, the cult classic Firefly, or anyone looking for a fun and over the-top adventure.”

“Joseph Kainz’s Sector 12 and the Art of Falling is chock full of military science-fiction action, augmented with his protagonist’s wise-cracking asides and other clever touches of metafiction.

In this sequel to Sector 12 and the Art of Dying, Ranger R 2-12, is back in Sector 12 of the Kill Zone. His Ranger Star, connected to his brain, allows him “to interact with the digital world” to routinely breach electronic/computer systems, and he has an artificial tentacle that was installed when his original Star self-destructed, destroying his arm.

R 2-12 uses the Star and tentacle to the fullest, helping the folks of Crashed Springs on the planet Acan solve a series of complex murderous thefts and fight a grave threat to the planet. “I may subordinate local laws to the needs of justice,” he admits, as he schemes, slaughters and uses his implanted Star to penetrate every computer system in his rollicking, stumbling way through a series of adventures and misadventures.

There are some truly nice touches here: The action sequences are first rate. And the plot is engaging. The metafiction often arrives in amusing strikeouts (such as: “Infiltration was only going to be viable if their current positioning could be fucked all the way to hell adjusted.”) and comments to readers, such as this description of crab juice: “Tastes like phrem blended with kreel. They don’t have those behind The Wall, though, do they? Okay, I don’t think we share a frame of reference. Let’s just say it tastes pretty good.”

Like R 2-12, Kainz is adroit with computer systems, military tactics, and weaponry, and his aliens are distinct. But, like R 2-12, he too stumbles, too often defaulting to an omniscient viewpoint, rather than staying in the hero’s head. He also offers too much information, such as a two-page aside on “multi-spectral shielding” in the middle of a firefight and wordy descriptions of computer systems. These interrupt the action sequences, breaking reader engagement. Readers should also be forewarned that there’s an over-abundance of four-letter words.

Although the story’s flow suffers from some less-than-engaging sequences and occasional editing issues (incorrect periods, missing commas, etc.), it offers many rewards and should appeal to aficionados of systems detail and science-fiction/military genres.”

“Joseph Kainz’s Sector 12 and the Art of Dying offers up a banquet of rock ‘em, sock ‘em military science fiction, all enhanced with his character’s amusing asides and touches of metafiction.

Ranger R 2-12, called “Rab” (for “rabid”), is a cunning human assigned to Sector 12, a realm of alien and human thieves, cutthroats and desperadoes where Rangers are the only law, out on “the bad side” of what’s called the Wall, “a series of space borne fortresses, minefields, turrets and other nasty things” designed to keep potential invaders out of the alliance of planets’ home space.

Rab is a rascal, practiced in the art of deception who routinely disregards standard operating procedure and exceeds his orders to the point of outrageous insubordination. He’s a self-described combination of “a madman, a principled man and a fanatic.” “I try to be true to Justice whenever possible,” he tells readers. “… I can’t bring her everywhere, but I can take her out for a night on the town once in a while.” When Rab is assigned to rescue a group of Frontier Corps Marines who’ve been “blasted into Sector 12,” he sets about his mission in his usual fashion.

There’s a wealth of action and richly described alien worlds here, and readers will enjoy Kainz’s salty, heroic Ranger who wisecracks to them as he schemes, sidesteps and slaughters his way through a series of adventures, misadventures, and downright calamities. Rab narrates, consistently discussing his choice of words and phrases, crossing out text and interjecting comments, all in a delightfully amusing way.

Kainz knows his weaponry, tactics, and above all, soldiers. There’s a salty helping of four-letter words that may deter some. But if your idea of a good time is sitting around a virtual campfire while “Old Sarge” tells deeds of derring-do, seasoned with wiseass comments, you’ll be delighted as Kainz takes you beyond the point of no return in this well-written, fast-paced, mighty tasty science-fiction stew.”

“Joseph Kainz explores the effect of underestimating a foe in his fantasy novel In the Shadow of the Nasilene.

In this story, expert healer Rachel Harversian is kidnapped by a group of Nasilene, the ruling class of lords with varying levels of magical abilities and an unwavering desire to gain more land and power. Rachel soon realizes that the reason they are so hell-bent on kidnapping a beautiful, intelligent healer is to increase their population of young men with powerful magic skills.

Wilkarian, a mysterious boy with strength, speed, and impressive healing powers, single-handedly saves Rachel from the Nasilene. Learning that the Nasilene have a bounty on Rachel, the duo travel through the wilderness for months, scheming to outsmart and kill their enemies, which eventually also include vicious changelings called Krenyk. Their effectiveness is complemented by their knowledge of herbs and how to survive in the wilderness.

With clear writing, the author constructs a frightening world in which the Nasilene rule through fear and violence. The fight scenes, in particular, show a keen understanding of combat and are entertaining to follow. Rachel and Wilkarian’s backstories, divulged entirely in their own words, show a thoughtful understanding of storytelling and character development.

Still, there are several flaws in the narrative. The author often makes sudden leaps in the storyline. For example, after a detailed lead up to Rachel’s foray into a nearby town to scavenge for supplies, the actual event is summed up in one sentence: “Her foray into Leath had gone without a hitch.” Irrelevant plot details also bog down the narrative. The first 63 pages focus on Rachel’s original captors and her healing process. But what happens in these pages has little bearing on the rest of the plot.

Despite its flaws, the book offers many rewards and may intrigue readers seeking a suspenseful story in a unique fantasy world setting.”