Book Review: Flawless
Flawless by J. Scott Coatsworth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another reviewer called this short story “The Expanse meets Drag Race”, and they aren’t wrong. I’m just mad I didn’t think of that first. 🙂
It’s always satisfying to find a short story that efficiently conveys its concepts, without wasting words. You won’t be tempted to pigeonhole Flawless as a formulaic space opera, that’s for sure. It IS a space opera but that’s only one facet of this gem.
I don’t like to give away the plot in reviews (I’ve said this before), as that can ruin a lot of hard work put in by the author to give you a lovely onion to peel. Revealing the layers slowly is part of the adventure, and the craft of writing.
I WILL tell you that you should read this story. Oh, you need a stronger push? Okay. It’s immersive. It will teach you about a lifestyle you may think you already know about but in reality, you probably don’t fully get it. You’ll learn about the limitations and frustrations of mining in space. You’ll encounter evil. You’ll encounter love.
You’ll be a better person for having spent a little time in space with Grayson Eck. I’m only sad he can’t be my friend in real life. But we have this book. And you should read it.
Lori Alden Holuta
Lori Alden Holuta lives between the cornfields of Mid-Michigan, where she grows vegetables and herbs when she’s not writing, editing, or playing games with a cat named Chives.
