Heavy Weight of Darkness
Self-Publishing Review
"A soul-searching second piece to an exceptional sci-fi series. Reflecting the dark truth of humanity’s history of colonialism, the novel is also a multilayered exploration of the struggle and humility of changing one’s ideology or beliefs, a crucial aspect of personal growth that feels sorely lacking in today’s deeply divided world. While the action sequences and revolutionary stakes are riveting on their own, the probing philosophies and radical ideas are where the book really thrives, elevating the emotional core of this twisting plot, and transcending other works in the genre."
US Review of Books
Book Review by Kate Robinson
"I now understand what Kurtz meant in one of her transmissions about the ‘heavy weight of darkness killed them.’"
Earth’s Third Great Republic is in further crisis due in part to the news of Cassandra Kurtz freeing slaves and plebs on Mars. Meanwhile, her depredations of Martian colonies have cost billions in lost revenue. Willard Bennett’s previous mission imploded because of his failure to eliminate Kurtz when he was delivering her to Mars for an arranged marriage. Plucked from prison, Bennett is given a second chance. He is reinstated as acting captain in the Plebian Auxiliary Corps Task Force. Court-ordered to locate Kurtz, Bennett is charged with destroying her base of operations, executing her and all mutinous members of Bennett’s former crew, and returning all property, particularly slaves.
Just hours before the mission begins, Bennett delves into Kurtz’s psych files to better understand her motivation, and he makes a brief trip into Delta Exchange, a market where humans are bought and sold for labor and sexual pleasure. Kurtz was lost in the market for just thirty minutes as a child, an experience that radicalized her and which erodes Bennett’s confidence in Earth’s social order in just half the time.
Bennett, the former captain of the light cruising ship Jefferson Davis, and Cassandra Kurtz, a convicted terrorist formerly known as Cassandra IX, meet again four years after their original confrontation in this gritty sequel to Erickson’s Endless Fall of Night. Tight writing, fast pacing, prodigious conflict, and a knack for no-frills description make Erickson’s dystopian thrillers a good bet for sci-fi readers also interested in the complexities of racial and class inequity, extreme capitalism, and imperialism. Erickson also takes a creative spin on fictive environments on Mars and the fantastic flora, deadly fauna, and unique conditions underground that make any human journey there nearly impossible as Bennett and two selected crew members seek their elusive quarry.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
Heavy Weight of Darkness
Independent Book Review
Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopia
Reviewed by Elizabeth Reiser
"A cinematic sci-fi dystopia following one man's search for redemption."
In J.M. Erickson's Heavy Weight of Darkness, readers follow former military officer Willard Bennett as he confronts the consequences of his past actions. Bennett, once a first-class patrician, has been stripped of everything that allowed him privileges in society. Instead of being revered, he is now just like the people he once found deplorable. To regain his freedom and the life he misses, Bennett must find the person who helped put him in this state. Once he captures the rebellious Cassandra Kurtz, he then must kill her.
However, as Bennett begins his journey and starts looking into more about the elusive Cassandra, he learns the world he has always fought to protect is far more corrupt than he was willing to acknowledge. He now finds himself at an impasse regarding what to do. Bennett is one intriguing protagonist. He begins the story angry at being in a low place, searching for redemption for his prior perceived failures. His anger is palpable, and that underlying rage adds to the tension that drives the first third of the story.
It is a slow-burn start to the book, but the reader stays interested up and through the embarking of his adventure. Bennett does not work alone on his task, and his cohorts are the ones who help open his eyes to the truth. Working with the mysterious Betsy Ann Hall on his mission to capture Cassandra, they engage in conversations where he is forced to confront and question what he has always believed. Betsy and their other sidekick Virgil balance one another nicely, with Betsy being frank and Virgil more malleable until he finds his way. Their conversations range from serious topics like racism to humorous ones where they tease one another in a genuine, likable way. Combined, they make a great trio.
Cassandra is not seen much in this story. As a sequel to Erickson’s Endless Fall of Night, which follows Cassandra closely, this book focuses primarily on Bennett. While this can be read as a standalone, reading the first installment would provide more context to understand the nuances of Bennett’s tumultuous relationship with Cassandra. It should also be noted that this series uses Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness as inspiration. Like Conrad, Erickson focuses on how different power dynamics work within classes, race, and morality. The topic is heavy, but it makes for an entertaining read nonetheless.
Fans of the science fiction genre and classic books like Conrad’s will enjoy this one. Heavy Weight of Darkness reads like watching a movie—and an exciting one at that. What a terrific job Erickson has done in creating this world. - Independent Book Review