Set in a near-future where humankind must look to the stars for its rare earth elements to sustain its high-tech existence, the first volume of Lou Iovino’s Rare Earth trilogy is an irresistible science fiction page-turner that will have readers openly weeping in places and applauding in others.

The story starts with Thea Watts attending her late father’s funeral services. Her dad, a legend in astromining circles when the industry was booming, has left his daughter his old ship, the Zephyr, which has been collecting space dust on the moon for years. Planning on selling the ship and moving on with her life, everything changes when she sits in her late father’s captain’s chair.

Deciding to oppose the all-powerful Conglomerate and relaunch her father’s independent astromining company, Thea has no idea what she’s up against. The ruthless Conglomerate has a stranglehold on the industry, but more insidious is a terrorist organization obsessed with resetting the world and returning the population to the “human condition.” As tragic accidents impact ship after ship and the body count increases, Thea and her crew of misfits begin operations.

This narrative is a masterclass in storytelling. While no novel is flawless, this little SF gem comes close. The deep character development and dynamism is extraordinary; readers will find themselves intensely invested in Thea and her team. The pacing is breakneck and the narrative action-packed. The backstory is believable but not over-explained, while the intertwining plot threads are impressively knotty.

But it’s the secondary elements that make this novel such a treasure. Subtle literary and science fiction references abound, which will delight deep readers (e.g., Thea’s middle name is Octavia). And every chapter ends with tremendous impact: a bombshell plot twist, a stunning image, a perception-altering statement, etc., making the reading addictive.

Inheritance is highly recommended, not just for discerning science fiction fans but also for aspiring writers looking to up their game. This is a blueprint of how it’s done.

Also available as an ebook.