Last Star Standing
JUST longlisted for the prestigious Chanticleer Cygnus Award for science fiction!!
"original worldbuilding, dramatic flair and lively storytelling… brings 2094 Earth to vivid life"
US Review of Books
"Refreshingly unpredictable… Aiden is a fiery protagonist, making this outlandishly creative novel a pleasure to read."
Independent Review of Books
"A dazzling and chilling vision of the future… makes for a deeply addictive read"
"A sharp edge, with plenty of dark humour"
SPR
editorial review
"Masterful - a rare and engrossing treat."
Readers' Favorite
first editorial review
"An extraordinary tale with a dynamic storyline"
Readers' Favorite second editorial review
second editorial review
"Fast-paced, riveting"
Readers' Favorite
third editorial review
Humanity’s last chance rests on one man’s shoulders.
Earth, 2094 – and the restless, impetuous Aiden is part of the underground resistance against the alien Xirfell takeover. Despite his imprisonment, his ambition irks the rebel leadership, and he triumphs in freeing ‘the Creature’, only to be confronted by betrayal after betrayal, some going back years.
Gifted with a crucial mission, he and his two comrades are targeted by turncoat rebels, boarded mid-space, neurologically attacked, confronted with treason – only to be disbelieved. There’s a crisis of identity amidst constant action and several plot twists, but by the end of the book Aiden has become the leader he always longed to be.
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Excerpt from Last Star Standing
I caught hold of something, something which must have blended into its background so perfectly that I hadn’t even spotted it. Something alive, nestling under the co-pilot’s seat.
I couldn’t believe it. A live gromeline.
Trembling, possibly with fury, and trying in vain to squeeze back. Grabbing my trophy – I could feel its hot little heart throbbing like an injury against my palm – I hopped out of the plane so fast that my wound protested.
‘Bully!’
Bully raised one eyebrow. Two would have been overkill.
‘Bully, you are not going to believe this. I found a gromeline!’
Artwork © Irene Czusz
The gromeline – only about fifteen centimetres high – bit my finger, hard, even though I could have easily crushed its entire body with my fist – and probably would have, were I a real tester.
Feisty little gromeline.
I flicked it lightly with my sausage-sized finger. When it protested, I growled, ‘Cheese it, munchkin,’ though I could feel it struggling obstreperously against my palm.
Bully was intrigued.
‘Is it genuine?’
‘Of course it’s genuine. It just fucking bit me.’
Bully probably considered this no proof. But they’re rarer than clean air these days and his fascination was obvious. (Gromelines come from the farthest galaxy so far discovered, can speak any tongue and own enviable mental powers. They are also brave to the point of stupidity and ludicrously small. This one was mouse-coloured – they can be spectacular – with tiny red eyes. Few humans have ever seen one.)
Artwork © Irene Czusz
‘What on Earth was Ho Chi doing with a gromeline?’
It was a reasonable question. A mission was no place for such a valuable alien. Could have been bounced to pieces, even during that feather-silk landing. I leaned down. ‘Did you stowaway on Ho Chi’s blinguard?’ I asked, but it just slit its eyes, pursed its lips and glared at me.
Bully trotted to his backpack and removed a small bag.
‘Shove it in here. Not even a gromeline could tunnel out of that. Once we’ve had something to eat, we can find out what it knows.’
With some difficulty we succeeded in loosing the little creature inside, where it immediately started gnawing on a corner.
‘You sure it can’t just chew itself out?’ I asked.
‘Not unless it’s got a small but serviceable nuclear device. The bag’s made of one of those new materials, can’t remember what it’s called.’
US Review of Books
Feb. 2021
Taylor melds original worldbuilding, dramatic flair and a lively storytelling style, bringing late twenty-first-century Earth to vivid life… Last Star Standing spurs readers to understand the juxtaposition of inner desire and outer reality that serves to obstruct and to shape humanity.
Independent Review of Books
Feb. 2021
“Aiden is a fiery protagonist, making this outlandishly creative novel a pleasure to read. Last Star Standing is refreshingly unpredictable, while holding to classic form.”
Susan Sewell
Editorial review from Reader’s Favorite, Jan. 2021
Intriguing science-fiction with a post-apocalyptic flavor... the story captures and holds the imagination. The individual characters are artistic and original, giving a realistic feel. An extraordinary tale with a dynamic storyline.
G. Masso
Editorial review from Reader’s Favorite, Jan. 2021
The writing is crisp and the novel graced by a compelling protagonist. Last Star Standing is fast-paced, riveting, and an enjoyable read.
SPReview
Feb. 2021
A dauntless soldier’s epic tale of rebellion, escape, and redemption, Last Star Standing is a dazzling and chilling vision of the future...The writing has a sharp, post-apocalyptic edge with plenty of dark humor. Memorable characters leap off the page, the action is visceral and exciting, and Taylor’s unleashed imagination makes this dystopian novel a deeply addictive read.
Jack Magnus
Editorial review from Reader’s Favorite, Jan. 2021
Taylor displays a masterful touch at bringing his characters to life, making this action-packed and thought-provoking offering a rare and engrossing treat.
Gordon Long
Airborn Press, British Columbia, Feb 2021
This is a great dystopian novel written by a polished writer with great chops. For the rest, the story has plenty of action, great suspense, and wonderful character development in the hero, providing a depth of conflict and theme rarely seen in Sci-Fi. A highly enjoyable story by an expert writer, highly recommended. Five stars.