First of all, let me be clear in stating that I do not normally write reviews of any kind. Still, such was the level of Dale M. Courtney's writing, I felt compelled to comment. This book is, without exaggeration, the best book I have ever had the honor of reading. The author has achieved something beyond traditional storytelling, and introduces the literary world to a new paradigm in what can be done with the written word. ‘Moon People’ is not limited to the confines of Pre-Courtney literature, that readers have perhaps naively come to expect. Elements like ‘plot’ and ‘tense’; all of these things are thrown out with bold abandon, as Courtney weaves an engaging tale of a man who gets offered a job on a space station, then accepts the job on the space station.
Throughout this 80 page masterpiece, Courtney introduces the reader to further development of the English language, as Shakespeare had in the early 1600’s, or more recently Orwell’s ‘1984’. Take for instance, Courtney’s “...a basket Ball court”. Such bold phrasing suggests that this is not a regular basketball court, but a new, evolved understanding. The author leaves the reader to construct the rules of this new game. Courtney then tosses aside the convention of regular punctuation, by gliding between character dialogue, without the reader being informed which character is doing the speaking, a clear critique of the modern socio-political climate. As a final masterstroke of wordsmithing, the author absorbs the reader into the world he has created by delicately dancing between referring the protagonist as “he”, then in the very next sentence, referring to them as “I”. This dichotomy confronts the reader with the question: “who is this protagonist, David Breymer?” Is it Courtney himself? Is it the reader the protagonist? Courtney again challenges the reader, by deftly adding seemingly random question marks to what appears like statements. The reader must then question the very foundation of the story. Is this story happening at all? Following the tradition of Lewis Carrol and a closer sci-fi contemporary, Phillip K Dick, Courtney slyly suggests that not everything is what it seems.
As if crafting new literary constructs were not enough, the author excels in gently guiding the reader through the minefield of complex techno-jargon and advanced high level astrophysics. With obvious mastery of the material, Courtney succinctly explains with otherwise would be incomprehensible to the average layperson. The scientists in the story discuss amongst themselves terms like “science stuff” and “radio emitters that can detect what gases and rocks or whatever else the planets are made of”. Courtney does not bog down the reader with heavy science, as to not distract from the main emotional core of the protagonist journey, that of the protagonist experiencing no conflict or challenges whatsoever.
I would consider myself a voracious reader, and a true lover of the written word. As a rough estimate, I would venture to say that I have read in my lifetime, upwards of seven books, perhaps even as many as nine. Still, no other written work has come anywhere close to this; not Tolstoy’s War and Peace, not the King James Bible. It is a privilege to read a work that will no doubt be required student reading in the future, and a foundational work in which surely new areas of study will emerge.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2019
As with the other Moon People books, the pioneering writing style shines through from the very first page. Any writer must assume an agreement from his readers that they will put forth a fair effort in understanding his prose. Dale M. Courtney exhibits unwavering faith in his reader by not compromising his style to make his work easier to read. He knows exactly how each thread builds his tapestry and these threads are his sentences. He dyes them by manipulating English itself to color his story and its tone. By replacing common words with unexpected alternatives he can create a new depth of meaning. It is not sufficiently important for Admiral Benson to call Commander David Braymer. Instead we see the urgency when he “communiqués” the Commander.
Even after the time and consideration I have given to reading and understanding the Moon People trilogy, there are elements of style that surprise and challenge me. What meaning am I to derive from the use of an open single quote in a conjunction; wouldn‘t an apostrophe do? We may analyze the very meaning of style itself when we ponder the variably punctuated conjunctions, yet every instance of ‘communiqué’ has its little accent in place. Is there a pattern, or does it simply establish a tone? It is for the reader to decide.
While we navigate the unexpected turns of phrasing, we can also find the comfort of familiarity. Measurements are as specific and meaningless as always, like, “temperatures 300 below zero.” The sense of awe and wonder persists at every invention or piece of technology. The casual way in which officers and diplomats work is as relaxed as always (crew meet for drinks on the way to a mission no less than three times). We continue to revere the Powleens as “truly angels from heaven”. “WA LA,” even the spelling is as malleable and impromptu as ever.
While the writing itself sets Dale M. Courtney’s work aside from all others, it is the plot of Moon People 3 which is his true triumph. The story starts with some of the same beats as Moon People 2, but we are treated to a major turn which is epic in scale. We feel the treachery and heartbreak after the battle with the Archons and Thracians. There is tangible despair when our heroes suffer their most terrible defeat. Best of all there is surprise, and eventually wonder at the plan Commander David Braymer hatches to save humanity, the Powleens and the Martians. If any of the previous books spent too much time on self congratulation and showing off amazing technology, so does this one. We are also treated to the most complex and surprising plot of the series. There are genuine twists and significant foreshadowing; generally there is more story meat to sink your teeth into.
If you have the time, patience and fortitude; the Moon People trilogy may be the most unique thing you’ll ever read. If you get to Moon People 3: Venus the Goddess of Love, then Dale M. Courtney will reward you with his best writing of the whole lot.
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Triumphantly Moon People 3!
By Positronic Brain on December 20, 2019
Many literary reviews carelessly overuse the word “triumphant” when describing the conclusion of a trilogy. I fear no disagreement when I call Moon People 3: Venus The Goddess of Love the TRIUMPHANT conclusion to Dale M. Courtney's Moon People Trilogy. We first knew Dale M. Courtney's triumph when Moon People reshaped our literary perceptions by driving a wedge firmly between quality and grammar. In Moon People 2: Mars Reborn we are triumphantly freed from pedantic specificity. In Moon People 3: Venus The Goddess of Love, we are shown humanity’s greatest triumph on the back of its most crushing defeat.By Positronic Brain on December 20, 2019
As with the other Moon People books, the pioneering writing style shines through from the very first page. Any writer must assume an agreement from his readers that they will put forth a fair effort in understanding his prose. Dale M. Courtney exhibits unwavering faith in his reader by not compromising his style to make his work easier to read. He knows exactly how each thread builds his tapestry and these threads are his sentences. He dyes them by manipulating English itself to color his story and its tone. By replacing common words with unexpected alternatives he can create a new depth of meaning. It is not sufficiently important for Admiral Benson to call Commander David Braymer. Instead we see the urgency when he “communiqués” the Commander.
Even after the time and consideration I have given to reading and understanding the Moon People trilogy, there are elements of style that surprise and challenge me. What meaning am I to derive from the use of an open single quote in a conjunction; wouldn‘t an apostrophe do? We may analyze the very meaning of style itself when we ponder the variably punctuated conjunctions, yet every instance of ‘communiqué’ has its little accent in place. Is there a pattern, or does it simply establish a tone? It is for the reader to decide.
While we navigate the unexpected turns of phrasing, we can also find the comfort of familiarity. Measurements are as specific and meaningless as always, like, “temperatures 300 below zero.” The sense of awe and wonder persists at every invention or piece of technology. The casual way in which officers and diplomats work is as relaxed as always (crew meet for drinks on the way to a mission no less than three times). We continue to revere the Powleens as “truly angels from heaven”. “WA LA,” even the spelling is as malleable and impromptu as ever.
While the writing itself sets Dale M. Courtney’s work aside from all others, it is the plot of Moon People 3 which is his true triumph. The story starts with some of the same beats as Moon People 2, but we are treated to a major turn which is epic in scale. We feel the treachery and heartbreak after the battle with the Archons and Thracians. There is tangible despair when our heroes suffer their most terrible defeat. Best of all there is surprise, and eventually wonder at the plan Commander David Braymer hatches to save humanity, the Powleens and the Martians. If any of the previous books spent too much time on self congratulation and showing off amazing technology, so does this one. We are also treated to the most complex and surprising plot of the series. There are genuine twists and significant foreshadowing; generally there is more story meat to sink your teeth into.
If you have the time, patience and fortitude; the Moon People trilogy may be the most unique thing you’ll ever read. If you get to Moon People 3: Venus the Goddess of Love, then Dale M. Courtney will reward you with his best writing of the whole lot.
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