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General Ledger
The Planet: Bergot is a world on the far side of the galaxy. The humans who have negotiated a place for themselves have implemented a stifling government, run primarily by trade unions, and unkind to independent contractors and corporate conglomerates alike.
The Protagonist: Achilles is an interplanetary merc on Bergot for one purpose, to illegally obtain an idol from a forest temple on the planet's third continent. It's a dangerous place, and what's worse, human are expressly forbidden to travel there due to planetary treaties with Bergot's indigenous race, the Quell.
The Sidekick: Joining Achilles on his journey is Swiss, a robotic "company store", whose job is to sell helpful items to the mercenary at an absurd mark up. Swiss can be maddeningly human at times, fearing for its life and questioning its client's every move, but it's also a integral piece in deciding whether or not Achilles leaves Bergot in one piece.
The Sizzle: What's supposed to be a moderately dangerous caper turns into nerve-wracking battle for life as the two get closer to their goal. All Achilles wants is to make a profit and take a long vacation. All Swiss wants is to make a profit and help his new friend steal a rare object from the very heart of the Quell's Holy Land. What they'll get is the beginning of an adventure that will change them both forever.
The Protagonist: Achilles is an interplanetary merc on Bergot for one purpose, to illegally obtain an idol from a forest temple on the planet's third continent. It's a dangerous place, and what's worse, human are expressly forbidden to travel there due to planetary treaties with Bergot's indigenous race, the Quell.
The Sidekick: Joining Achilles on his journey is Swiss, a robotic "company store", whose job is to sell helpful items to the mercenary at an absurd mark up. Swiss can be maddeningly human at times, fearing for its life and questioning its client's every move, but it's also a integral piece in deciding whether or not Achilles leaves Bergot in one piece.
The Sizzle: What's supposed to be a moderately dangerous caper turns into nerve-wracking battle for life as the two get closer to their goal. All Achilles wants is to make a profit and take a long vacation. All Swiss wants is to make a profit and help his new friend steal a rare object from the very heart of the Quell's Holy Land. What they'll get is the beginning of an adventure that will change them both forever.
78 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 19, 2015
8 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
L. Joseph Shosty
47Ìýbooks29ÌýfollowersL. Joseph Shosty has twenty-plus years in publishing, doing everything from writing in a host of genres to stints as a literary critic and a freelance editor. He is the creator of several series, including The Hardwood Case Files (hardboiled mystery), The Adventures of Achilles & Swiss (science fiction), Boomtown Novellas (novella-length genre stories), and The Books of Magus (short story collections). He lives in Texas with his family and is a member of International Thriller Writers.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 11, 2024
General Legacy is a short volume about a mercenary and his hired robot helper and their mission to gain an alien idol. This turns into an Indiana Jones-like escapade, with familiar tropes, in which the duo encounter all sorts of traps and perils before reaching their goal.
I wasn’t sure about this at the outset, with the first chapter or two perhaps not as sharp as they could be, but the more I read, the more I got into it, and my subjective rating rose. And by the end, I was enjoying the ride very much indeed. What we effectively have is a buddy movie with a difference, and I loved the interaction between the two protagonists. It is actually well written, clever, and there’s a lot of humour, too, as Achilles � the mercenary � is ever aware of the cost of the different services that Swiss - the robot - can provide for additional fees. In fact, I think Achilles and Swiss make such a great pair, I hope the author writes about them some more � perhaps a series of vignettes, like this, or even a full novel (he certainly hints as much). In short: this is a lot of fun, and I’m happy to recommend it!
I wasn’t sure about this at the outset, with the first chapter or two perhaps not as sharp as they could be, but the more I read, the more I got into it, and my subjective rating rose. And by the end, I was enjoying the ride very much indeed. What we effectively have is a buddy movie with a difference, and I loved the interaction between the two protagonists. It is actually well written, clever, and there’s a lot of humour, too, as Achilles � the mercenary � is ever aware of the cost of the different services that Swiss - the robot - can provide for additional fees. In fact, I think Achilles and Swiss make such a great pair, I hope the author writes about them some more � perhaps a series of vignettes, like this, or even a full novel (he certainly hints as much). In short: this is a lot of fun, and I’m happy to recommend it!
July 29, 2024
A fun sci-fi Indiana Jones-ish adventure
I really enjoyed this book. The sci-fi elements are engaging with just enough world building to get me into the story. We hit the ground running with action and danger as we meet Achilles on his “caper� to steal an idol from a mysterious temple. It just keeps going from there as we follow him and his robot sidekick for hire. The concept of Achilles being charged for tools and services from the rent a-bot added a fun dimension to the narrative, as did the growing dynamic between them.
I really enjoyed this book. The sci-fi elements are engaging with just enough world building to get me into the story. We hit the ground running with action and danger as we meet Achilles on his “caper� to steal an idol from a mysterious temple. It just keeps going from there as we follow him and his robot sidekick for hire. The concept of Achilles being charged for tools and services from the rent a-bot added a fun dimension to the narrative, as did the growing dynamic between them.
July 6, 2024
General Ledger is a quick and easy to read adventure/heist tale. It is well written, fast paced, and familiar but in a good way. I’d have preferred a stronger character arc for the main character and the dynamics between the two man characters—a human named Achilles and a robot named Swiss—could have been more complicated for my tastes. The ending wasn’t my favorite but I would follow these two on another adventure.
July 27, 2024
Quick fun read
This was a neat little story which kind of gave me Indiana Jones in space vibes. I had fun reading it and enjoyed both Achilles and Swiss.
This was a neat little story which kind of gave me Indiana Jones in space vibes. I had fun reading it and enjoyed both Achilles and Swiss.
August 24, 2024
Well conceived and written. Think... a thoughtful Indiana Jones buddy story in space. With an unexpected ending.
I look forward to reading more of L. Joseph Shosty’s flowing style.
I look forward to reading more of L. Joseph Shosty’s flowing style.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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