BOOK REVIEW - THE EUROPA ASCENT BY PATRICK LOVELAND

 despite the occasional sense of overwriting this, The Europa Ascent is still a highly enjoyable read and if Loveland does return to this universe I for will gladly dive back into it cold and nightmarish waters 

Sometimes a book leaves you wanting more, and The Europa Ascent by Patrick Loveland is one such book. This fast-paced SciFi horror novella is a classic example of one such book. Don't get me wrong it is a satisfying read, an action-packed, horror that is driven by throwing the reader into a non-stop thrill ride, rather than having character development, but it suffers a little from having the story too self-contained. Loveland has created a fascinating world, where a corporate research mission, deep under the oceanic outer crusts of the Jupiter moon Europa, discover a bizarre structure while on a routine mission, and with shades of Alien and the Thing, quickly descends into a cold nightmarish battle for survival for the team of scientists and engineers.  

The Europa Ascent wastes no time in throwing the reader headlong into a breathtaking relentless battle for survival as the station is overrun by creatures beyond our understanding, and as the crew are picked off one by one you are left gasping for breath as Loveland slams his foot down onto the narrative gas pedal, and doesn't lift it once during, smashing right through a literal narrative crash barrier.  

In terms of world-building, . However, we are left with too many questions as to the nature of the building and the relationship of it to the creatures that attack the base. He even teases us more with an account from one of the personnel, about the time he encountered another species of a killer alien on a desert planet. It was somewhat annoying not to have these elements expanded on, but maybe that was the idea all along. Hopefully, there will be further adventures in this universe.  

Those of you who have read a lot or watched a lot of SciFi horror will quickly pick up on a lot of tropes from many other films and books, we have the evil mega-corporation, the hardnosed female character and the world-weary lead protagonist who just wants to go home. In terms of plot, it is not highly original, but it is a lot of fun, and you will devour this book in one sitting. Loveland has a knack for turning what should be dull well-worn threads and weaving them into a narrative that is way more satisfying than you expect if you were to sit down and list all of the tropes.  

His creature design is excellent; these almost unstoppable amorphous creatures are an interesting concept, and he utilises them great skill throughout the novella and even manages to though in a few surprises.  

My main criticism of the book, is there are times where it seems overwritten. The very first page of the book is a prime example; at times, Loveland gets bogged down in describing the technical aspects of the world that he has created to the detriment of the narrative flow.  

However, despite the occasional sense of overwriting this, The Europa Ascent is still a highly enjoyable read and if Loveland does return to this universe I for will gladly dive back into it cold and nightmarish waters 

While on a corporate research mission, deep under the oceanic outer crusts of Europa, a structure of bizarre design is discovered, its purposes unknown. But what starts as an excursion in scientific discovery quickly dissolves to the stuff of nightmares as something else quickly rises from the depths, something intent on consumption.

A small group of survivors is forced to set differences aside as they enter into the race for their lives, trapped within the depths of a submerged facility, enclosed by the terrifying darkness of alien night. While they desperately flee upwards towards the surface and their only salvation, their inevitable end seeks to draw them back down into infinite darkness.

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