Black Hole Sun

August 30, 2010
Gill (Soul Enchilada) shifts literary gears, delivering an exciting and brutal science fiction tale about teenage mercenaries on Mars. Durango is a disgraced Regulator who, roninlike, did not kill himself when his previous master (his father) was arrested. Along with his gorgeous second, Vienne, and the snarky AI of his former commander, Mimi, which has been “flash-cloned” to his brain, he now takes jobs that most other Regulators would refuse, using the money to try to make his father’s life in prison more bearable. When they get called to protect a group of miners from the cannibalistic monstrosities called Dræu, they discover secrets that could cast new light on the entire history of Mars, as well Durango’s own past. Gill fills his story with well-crafted action sequences and witty dialogue, and the fast pace more than makes up for the predictability of the plot. Everything from the inevitable betrayals and the heroic sacrifices to the dark secrets is by the numbers, though the character development, banter between Durango and Mimi, and solid action will entertain most readers. Ages 14–up.

August 15, 2010
Intrepid teen regulator Jake Durango leads a daring pack of fearless freedom fighters in a dystopian future where humans rage against ferocious, porcine creatures called Drau, who prey upon human flesh. Based on Mars, Jake and his crew are hired to protect a colony of human miners from the Drau and their evil queen. Throw in a forbidden love triangle, an extensive underground cave system, a smart-alecky, trigger-happy Buckaroo Banzai–like soldier and plenty of blood and guts, and Gill scores a fast and funny science-fiction novel with plenty of surprises. The author injects many of the elements from his unforgettable first novel (Soul Enchilada, 2009) into this new work, including bizarro plot twists, kooky oddball characters and plenty of laugh-out-loud humor. His energetic sense of pacing keeps the pages turning even when the most ridiculous episode seems to be getting steroid injections. Despite the insanity, the plot races onward seamlessly, and well-rounded characters and sharp, contemporary dialogue keep the work grounded. Fans of science fiction and the strange will eat this up. (Science fiction. 12 & up)

(COPYRIGHT (2010) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

Starred review from November 1, 2010

Gr 9 Up-In this high-energy dystopian novel set on Mars, 16-year-old Durango and his crew of Regulators have been hired to protect a group of miners and their children from the cannibalistic Draeu, who are led by an evil, enigmatic queen in search of the miners' reputed treasure. The Regulators are vastly outnumbered, and this might be their last mission unless quick-witted Durango and his feisty lieutenant, Vienne, can come up with a plan. The spirited, sarcastic dialogue between them masks their growing feelings for each other, though there's no time to explore romance with the high-octane action going on around them. The story is more violent than many YA science-fiction novels; there's scarcely a moment between flying shrapnel, explosions, and bloody fistfights. The occasional lack of exposition on the unfamiliar Martian technology may stump some readers, but that tiny flaw is easily overcome by the appealing characters, sharp dialogue, and action-packed plot. Durango's tendency toward acting first and thinking later is tempered by his former chief, Mimi, now a symbiotic nano-implant in Durango's brain, who offers equal parts hilarious sarcasm and logical advice sprinkled with quotes from classical poetry and 20th-century pop culture. Science-fiction fans will cheer Durango on in his exploits and enjoy the twists in the novel's satisfying conclusion. Those clamoring for more of Durango, Vienne, and Mimi will find their hopes for a sequel bolstered when the trio set off at the novel's end for a mysterious outpost that seems perfect for another adventure.-Leah J. Sparks, formerly at Bowie Public Library, MD

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2010
Grades 8-11 *Starred Review* Durango is the 16-year-old chief of a team of mercenaries who eke out a living on Mars by earning meager commissions for their dangerous work. Their current job, and the main thrust of this high-energy, action-filled, science-fiction romp, is to protect South Pole miners from the Dru, a cannibalistic group who are after the miners treasure. Two feisty women help Durango lead. Second-in-command Vienne and Durango care more for each other than either wants to admit, although there is little time for romance amid all the flying bullets and detonating bombs. Mimi, the other central woman and Durangos former chief, is now implanted in his brain as an artificial intelligence. The repartee between Durango and Mimi is particularly brilliant, but throughout the novel, the dialogue crackles with expertly delivered sarcastic wit and venom. If intelligent sophomoric humor exists, Gill is the master at creating it. The intriguing dystopian setting is a Mars purposely polluted by immigrants from Earth. Readers will have a hard time turning the pages fast enough as the body count rises to the climactic, satisfying ending, which will leave new fans hopeful for more adventures.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

September 1, 2010
Now that life on Mars has evolved beyond mere survival, humans have increasingly brought their corruption and vices from Earth to the newly inhabited planet. As the story opens, Durango and his crew of teenage bounty hunters are working to liberate the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat from the clutches of a kidnapper. Their next assignment takes them to Mars's South Pole to defend poor miners against the attacks of savage cannibals. As Durango confronts nemeses from the past and present, he also works through his complicated feelings about his father and deftly juggles the romantic overtures of several different girls. At times, the witty dialogue, fast-paced action, and futuristic setting seem a bit too facile, but that should hardly matter to reluctant teen readers. Gill's latest effort isn't the genre mash-up that Soul Enchilada (rev. 3/09) is -- Black Hole Sun fits squarely in the science fiction category -- yet elements of action, romance, and humor virtually guarantee his second novel a similarly broad appeal. jonathan hunt

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2011
Durango and his crew of teenage bounty hunters travel to Mars's South Pole to defend poor miners against savage cannibals. As Durango confronts his nemeses, he also works through feelings about his father and juggles the romantic overtures of several different girls. Witty dialogue, fast-paced action, and a futuristic setting, along with elements of romance and humor, guarantee broad appeal.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)