Customer Reviews

A Shadow in the Flames

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't know what I expected when I started this book. I think I was leery of a first novel, but within a few pages Munz had me hooked. The story is remarkably philosophical without being pedantic or rhetorical. The blending of perspective, a sort of speaking stick between characters gave you a chance to see each event, character, and situation from several sides. It was seamless.
The character at the true focus of the novel matures and grows over the course of the story (one of my favourite things, I love adventure and so on but I lose interest in characters that are so wooden they are left unaffected by the most mind-numbing events). The maturation of the primary character, starting from his sense of confusion and hope, to one where he stands not just on his own (another fantasy, the solo superhero), but as a member of a society that shares his values, his ideals, and gives shape to his imagination.
The characters least explored are the violent ones. In truth, no amount of justification in a character study allows me to see the value of violence. Munz treats his characters with a generous heart and even those characters from whom the human heart has been eviscerated, Munz treats with a strong, delicate touch. I felt for everyone in the novel (except, of course, the true evil master mind whose presence was rare and yet pervasive).
There was pretty much a bit of everything in this book, action, adventure, intelligence, thrills, chills, and romance. No book is complete without characters that don't develop feelings for each other. It just wouldn't ring true.
Munz hints at events more complex than those witnessed in the novel. He does this with the deft touch of a story teller, what is needed in the scene is seeded in the scenes before. He gives you enough to be pleasing, not so much that you need a score card in the book to track what is going on. Besides, who said we had to understand mad men and their ways?
Munz ties things up with an opening. Brilliant.
Write more.

Michael G. Munz has painted a vivid portrait of his vision of our world in 2051 by verbally constructing Northgate, a city that has degenerated into a hardened, seedy place that makes even the toughest men apprehensive about entering there alone. We are also treated to a glimpse of the Moon and all its many secrets from this author's fertile imagination. Munz has the exceptional ability of creating a character, molding the personality and physical traits with glimpses of their psyche, to create a living, breathing person. Subtly revealing the plot in small, frequent increments, the reader is compelled and intrigued with to find the resolution of the story. With realistic advancements in technology and the insight into man's never-ending greed and corruption, Michael G. Munz makes this an entertaining and plausible work of speculative fiction.

I enjoyed learning about and following each character through the story. The descriptions are complete and concise, allowing the story to play like a movie in my head. Each section is written from a different character's point of view, allowing the story to be approached from different angles simultaneously. Brilliant, really.

Was a pretty good read. If you like futuristic Sci Fi , this is a book for you.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and am anxiously awaiting more from this author. Perhaps a sequel? I usually don't read sci-fi but this was a nice blend of sci-fi with a good mystery. It kept my interest and I didn't want to put the book down. It was a great read!!

This is a real page-turner. I couldn't put it down. I resented having to stop reading to go to work. The technology seems correct for the time period. The characters are well-drawn and remain true throughout. The change of action between the earth and moon was very well done. I really enjoyed the quirky sense of humor of the author as it was displayed through the character Felix. I cannot wait for the next book by this author to come out. I'll read anything he writes.

Let me start by saying, I am an avid reader. However, I usually can only read in 20 minute increments unless I am at the very end of a book. This book however, a first book for this author at that, I COULD NOT PUT DOWN! It is a well developed plot line, with interesting characters and great realism. The background done is greatly appreicated from this reader. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book from the rising first time author.

"A Shadow in the Flames" in an intriguing and plausible work of speculative fiction. It's a nice mix of thriller, mystery, and science fiction (with a smidge of comic relief here and there), and it has realistic, developed characters. It is also obvious that Munz did his homework regarding some of the futuristic technology. It gave me creeps a bit, because it seemed so possible, and Northgate is a creepy place. I'll never again look at security cameras and the DOT traffic cameras in quite the same way. Although the story line was engaging on its own, the character development is what made the book grab and hold me. Munz doesn't fall for creating the same old tired stereotypes found in such stories. The only character who seems a little cardboard is Diomedes, but I get the sense that that was the author's intent, that he has a purpose in doing that in this book. I'm hoping we'll find out more about Diomedes in the sequel. Speaking of the sequel, I hope there IS a sequel soon. I want to know what happens with that thing on the moon!!!

A Shadow in the Flames by Michael G. Munz is a futuristic, sci-fi novel cram packed with action, adventure and mystery. When Michael Flynn thought things couldn't get worse than being an unemployed security guard, down to his last few bucks, they did. He shared an apartment with his friend and now mentor Diomedes, well until it was blown up by the arsonist.

This is where the story begins. Diomedes connects with an old acquaintance after being approached by an unknown man with the information to help find out who blew up their home. Michael is now Romulus, and the year is 2051 and they're out to get the man known as Wraith. But there are some things that Michael/Romulus didn't know about his friend Diomedes... but he will soon discover more than he could ever hope to know.

From there the book speeds by, it was such a fast read while following Romulus, Felix, and Diomedes in their search. I should put this in as well, it kind of pulls the story together. Within the moon, something is buried and there are those sent to recover/ discover the foreign item. But they would be doing more than just digging, they will be watching and waiting! Then there are a few other secondary characters throughout the novel that you have to keep an eye on. I know it sounds like there is a ton of things going on at once, and there are but it is so well blended together you don't get lost!

Everything was so detailed, and in my opinion the technology and timeline was well laid out. The characters were three dimensional in a way, showing compassion, worry, fear, and just easy to connect with. Munz has me wondering if a second book is to come, if it is be prepared for the sci-fi book of the season. 5 Hearts

Contact Michael: www.myspace.com/michaelgmunz