Metallic Realms: A Novel
“Lincoln Michel is an excellent writer, for sure, but no matter how well written, the narrator of this book is so inept and obviously mentally unwell that it can be off-putting to the reader.”
Lincoln Michel’s debut novel, The Body Scout, hit the virtual (and real) shelves with much fanfare. He gave the reader a gritty, fun sci-fi story with heart and wonder. With Metallic Realms, Lincoln Michel goes off with rails with an absurdist, satirical, and somewhat toxic tribute to the golden age of sci-fi.
Michael Lincoln (surely a not-subtle dig at himself) is the plodding narrator of this story, chronicling the creation of Orb 4, a collaborative writing group that creates the Star Rot Chronicles. Spearheaded by Michael’s only friend, Taras K. Castle (whom he practically worships), Orb 4 starts off with lofty dreams that ultimately faces dissolution.
If the narrator is to be believed, The Star Rot Chronicles is meant to be the rebirth of the great space opera genre, the greatest ever put into the written word. Featuring the adventures of Captain Baldwin and his intrepid crew as they traverse the Metallic Realms. The adventures are absurdist and remind the reader of Star Trek, the original series. So much so that the reader can almost hear William Shatner overact.
Our narrator is obviously enamored of Orbit 4, and it is obvious he thinks of Taras k. Castle is the greatest writer of sci-fi the world has ever produced. This love affair with the group (and Taras) drips off every page, leaks from every flattering paragraph to the point where the reader is slapped in the face at how clueless and hapless Michael really is and nothing seems to bring him to reality with these facts.
There are short stories slipped between the pages that take place within the Metallic Realms, each one a loving tribute to authors such as Heinlein, Clark, Asimov, and Piper. Each story is a riveting intermission so good that the reader really doesn’t want to go back to the “reality” of the Orbit 4 group and the main story. Not that the story of the Orb 4 and Michael’s silent love affair isn’t well written, it’s that the short story intermissions are far more enjoyable.
Lincoln Michel is an excellent writer, for sure, but no matter how well written, the narrator of this book is so inept and obviously mentally unwell that it can be off-putting to the reader. His narrative style is so full of cringy adoration that it sometimes makes the story a bit of slog. It’s rather jarring to go from a soap-opera narrated by a hapless romantic to inventive and fun sci-fi and back again. It is an excellent idea for story, but the execution here leaves much to be desired.
All in all, if the reader loves a well-written story starring some rather unsympathetic characters mixed some geeky sci-fi, then give this book a try. Otherwise, pick up an old copy of Rendezvous with Rama and have a rollicking good time.