Destined for Oblivion: As Nature Intended / Mario Stinger

Reviewed by: Sooz

Genre: Science Fiction

Approximate word count: 190-195,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: NO  Smashwords: NO  Paper: YES

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Author:

Mario Stinger is a Canadian author. His previous jobs include security and industrial counter-espionage.

Description:

Two SCUBA divers discover an underwater facility that was not made by current humans. Their discovery leads to amazing tools and gadgets that move the human race light years into the future. However, not everyone has good intentions and the new residents of the Facility have to navigate personal relationships, bureaucracy and the unknown.

Appraisal:

Mario Stinger’s book starts with a note saying he was told to cut the book by more than 100 pages to save money on shipping costs of hard covers. Since it was not for an editorial reason, he left all 600-plus pages for the readers.

I wish he cut it. For editorial purposes, reading purposes and enjoyment purposes.

Destined for Oblivion: As Nature Intended was a long, tedious book that seemed promising. However, the book needed to be cleaned up with its several errors, run-on and passive sentences, and unnatural dialogue.

An example, “Of course, does it have anything to do with what happened last night? I tried to call your cell phone many times but all I got was my own voice urging me to leave you a message. Then I called your family’s phone line, but your mother had no clue where you were. I left a message with her, you know how your mother doesn’t approve of our relationship. She still thinks I’m only your (sex) friend. At least it was how she ‘elegantly’ put it to me last time. If I had not been raised in a properly mannered family, I might have been inclined to say that I was. What l else would I be since the sex is so great with you?”

The above was said by a 17-year-old high school girl. Detailing every account was unnecessary and that is far too much dialogue for one person in one paragraph. They also don’t speak that way. There were many sections like this and it made the book difficult to read.

There was a decent science-fiction story bogged down within the extraneous text, but the main story was never completed. Just when the action picked up in the last quarter of the book with military intervening at the Facility and Steven, the main character, having to run for his life, the book swerved and finished as a love story – but left it open-ended and not in a good way.

The main character also didn’t come across as likeable as the author may have wanted. He seemed rather smug and overly confident in his ability to make any woman feel comfortable around him.

Also, a large theme of anti-religion littered the book, which may put off some readers.

Again, there is something there with Destined for Oblivion: As Nature Intended, but this book needs a heavy-duty edit.

FYI:

There is some cursing. There is a strong anti-religion sentiment.

Format/Typo Issues:

There were a number of errors.

Rating: ** Two Stars