Review: The Planet Thieves

The Planet Thieves by Dan Krokos
Published by Starscape on May 21, 2013
Genres: Young Adult-Science Fiction
Source: FTC: Exchange for honest opinion, Netgalley
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Two weeks ago, thirteen-year-old Mason Stark and seventeen of his fellow cadets from the Academy for Earth Space Command boarded theSS Egypt. The trip was supposed to be a short routine voyage to log their required spacetime for summer quarter.

But routine goes out the airlock when they’re attacked by the Tremist, an alien race who have been at war with humanity for the last sixty years.

With the captain and crew dead, injured, or taken prisoner, Mason and the cadets are all that’s left to warn the ESC. And soon they find out exactly why the Tremist chose this ship to attack: the Egypt is carrying a weapon that could change the war forever.

Now Mason will have to lead the cadets in a daring assault to take back the ship, rescue the survivors, and recover the weapon. Before there isn’t a war left to fight.

This is my second book that I have picked up from author Dan Krokos and I was fully satisfied with what I read. The Planet Thieves was like a re-introduction to the world of Science Fiction and I fell in love with the world that this imaginative genre brings.

Plot: I have to be honest when I say that I haven’t read a book with this type of story or plot. The creativity that was taken from the mind of Dan Krokos and placed onto paper was so brilliant that it showed individuality in the book. Usually books have similar plots or events taking place but just different places and characters but for this book that wasn’t the case. The plot hooked onto me and took me on an adventure with young cadets through the wonders of space that showed not only the beauty but the terror that greed shows in humans.

Characters: There were two characters that really caught my attention: Mason and Tom. Mason a young cadet, put in a situation where he is ordered to take role of Captain and lead his other fellow cadets on an adventure to save the world. Mason although is seen as a childish character in the beginning with the actions he acts on, we see him grow into a mature character who takes the role of Captain to heart and understands the sacrifices that he has to make to bring safety not only to his fellow cadets but his superiors. Tom, on the other-hand, I felt he wasn’t on the same level that Mason was on. Mason lost both of his parents while Tom still had both his mom and dad. However, as soon as Tom loses his mom I came to think that Tom was able to understand where Mason was coming with his decisions and even though we can see that there was a little bit a resentment and jealousy when Mason was given the role of Captain, we see Tom grow as a character and he comes to respect Mason as an individual.

Plot Twist: I am not going into this as much but there was a twist that I truthfully didn’t see coming and when realizing what it was, I had to put the book down for a second and take a deep breath and come to an understanding what that could mean for the rest of the book and how the views of characters could change. Shocking!!! But to understand this you must read the book for yourself.

Ending: The ending of the book was definitely interesting and I am curious to see where this series could go in the future. There isn’t an indication that I know of  for a continuation but the novel does leave it open for the opportunity to continue. I know for sure that I will be keeping my eyes peeled if not for news of a possible sequel or for any books by the brilliant Dan Krokos.

The Planet Thieves was an enjoyable read that showed the book’s own individuality. Magnificently scientific The Planet Thieves is a story that brings great recognition to the science-fiction genre. Absolutely Brilliant!

I give it 5 bites!

Also I had the amazing opportunity to interview the one and only…Dan Krokos!

After pumping gas for nine years to put himself through college, Dan Krokos, now twenty-six, dropped out to write full-time. He enjoys watching TV, playing MMORPGs, and drinking coffee. Currently, he’s hard at work on the next book in Miranda’s journey.

1. What inspired you to become a writer 

 I worked at a gas station for almost ten years, and during that time books were the only way to escape the misery. I would work these 15 hour shifts, so they were very important to my mental stability.

 I started reading the dark elf series by RA Salvatore. It was so badass that I had to put the books down just to think about what was happening on the page. Like they were too cool. I wanted to tell my own stories and give people that feeling, too.

2. How did you get the idea to write The Planet Thieves?

The idea originally came about after seeing the 2009 Star Trek movie. I thought it was cool that the younger crew had to run the ship in a situation that was new to them. But then I thought it would be cooler if they were actually cadets and not like thirty years old. Kids with training but no experience, who were really out of their element. I ran with that.

What I really wanted to do was create my own big world. Star Trek and Star Wars are so massive, with so many different layers. The Planet Thieves is the start of my own exploration.

3. Growing up, did you imagine yourself writing Young Adult books?

 I didn’t imagine myself writing at all. I was a terrible English student. I didn’t like reading that much either, which is awful, I know. I just played videogames nonstop. It was bad. It wasn’t until I read the Hunger Games that I realized my style and the kinds of things I like are perfectly suited for teen books.

4. If you could rewrite any scene in The Planet Thieves would you and if yes, which scene.

 Oh man, I don’t want to think about it. If I DID think of a scene, I’d just be bummed I couldn’t rewrite it!

5. What was the hardest thing that you faced when writing a first draft?

 First drafts are easy. It’s the editing that’s hard. With a first draft, I allow myself to have fun. I have an outline that guides me, but it’s really all about exploration and just getting the words down.

 I would say the hardest part is definitely going back and making things fit when you make a change. Like if I change something halfway through the book, it has to make sense in earlier parts.

6. What book/books are you excited to read this upcoming year?

 Allegiant by Veronica Roth, because of course. Also excited for the new Charlie Huston novel Skinner. What else is coming out that’s cool? I’m behind on my reading. Oh, the new Sarah Maas and Susan Dennard books are gonna be mad tight.

7. What is your favorite hobby?

 I don’t really have one. I write and play videogame and watch shows/movies. I lead a very exciting, dangerous life.

8. If you could give advice to any teenager who would like to become a writer one day. What advice would you give? 

 Go out and live life so you can write about it. Every single experience, good or bad, boring or exciting, is fuel for writing.

 Also, come up with a backup plan just in case.

 Oh, and write a lot. And read. And the biggest piece of advice: don’t get attached to any one project. Don’t work on something for two years early on, just put it aside and keep moving forward. You can always come back.

So thank you again Dan Krokos for taking time to answer these questions and for everyone’s information The PlanetThieves is available for sale as long as his other book False Memory!