Book Review: Black Hole Guns for Hire By Friday Strout

 Book pals, you may have noticed that I do not do a lot of Indie author reviews here.  I don't really read a lot of Indie published books. There are two reasons for this:  Firstly I do a lot of my reading via Audio-book, and secondly, I've been sent a lot of Indie works that weren't quite ready for readers- with an expectation that I will provide a 5 star review. That said- Indie's are so important. They often move us beyond what one of the Big Five publishers would consider "marketable" or "profitable" and provide readers with unique views and perspectives. 

   I felt that Black Hole Guns for Hire really did give me a different perspective, and I'm happy to recommend it - for certain readers. 

I was immediately smitten with the cover. It just screamed adventure, with a smidge of irreverence! If you are curious about the cover art (I was)  it was "made with Reedsy, a Designer based in New Zealand." 

   In short this story encompasses all sorts of current issues within an exciting space adventure. Lina Bho is captain of a Space Transport Junker. After retiring herself from the United Earth Marines, she's completing her transition with a rough and ready crew at the edges of the universe.  Things start out rough for Lina and crew, and only get rougher as the story evolves. They are stalked by pirates and aliens as they realize that the United Earth has stranded billions of people to control a rebel stronghold. Lina and her tight knit crew have only one chance, and a slim chance at that- to survive this. If you, like me, have to know what happens in this fast moving, lit-rpg type novel, you'll have to read to find out! 

    

      For me this novel did read a bit rough and ragged around the edges. I loved the diverse representation within the novel that was natural and not didactic or weird. I also enjoyed all the space battles, movements and machinations of the ships, and crew. I was less fond of the very stridently masculine tone of the novel, but that was possibly a "me" thing that may not affect other readers. Definitely a book to recommend for the Trans-rights readathon which occurs every March. I wouldn't wait til March to pick it up though, it comes out May 28th and I know it's one that will surprise and broaden reader's horizons! 

First Published :  5/28/26

Pages: 177

Available as an Audio Book :  possibly? 

Trigger Warnings: Violence, death, on page sexual content, alcohol use/abuse, war, gratituitous references to women's body parts (this is not a full list, read responsibly)