The Rush's Edge

September 14, 2020
Found family takes center stage in Smith’s gripping debut. Captain Ty Bernon is a “nat,” born naturally, while his one-time subordinate turned close friend Hal Cullen is a “vat,” a lab-created soldier with superior combat skills cut loose after seven years in military service and designed to die by 30. Their adventures kick off when Hal, an unstable but good-hearted adrenaline junkie, rescues techie Vivi Valjean from an attempted abduction and recruits her to the crew of the salvage ship Loshad, where medic Beryl McCabe patches her up. The four crewmates form a tightly bound group—and soon come face-to-face with a series of enemies: a vat assassin, a military ship, and an artificial intelligence named Eira that takes a keen interest in them. Along the way, they stumble upon some surprising allies and uncover a conspiracy that threatens all the vats. Smith masterfully cultivates a deep sense of camaraderie among the characters while keeping them on the edge of danger. The unlikely bonds linking the crew members and thoughtful exploration of the morality of genetic engineering are sure to draw readers into this well-crafted space opera.

November 1, 2020
Vivi is rescued by Hal and Tyce after two shady dudes roughly escort her from a bar. Hal is a genetically-engineered ex-soldier, one of the so-called ""vat-born"" who were trained to be expendable shock troops. Few have any hope of a normal life after retirement, though, because they have to deal with the Rush, which makes them edgy and prone to looking for trouble. Once pushed, they suffer from adrenal fatigue syndrome that shortens their lifespan considerably. Tyce was Hal's captain in the Armed Forces of the Coalition of Allied Systems (ACAS) and under his wing, Hal has flourished. Tyce and Hal recruit Vivi to be part of their crew, legally scavenging on the fringe of civilized space. Before long, they need to be rescued from a seemingly unprovoked attack by a rogue ACAS cruiser after discovering an AI-based alien race's artifact, and the loyalties of the crew are called into question. Vivid characters, fine action sequences, and thoughtful exploration of prejudices are blended with authority in Smith's debut.

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