From Gundam to Voltron to Pacific Rim, giant robots and their pilots permeate many different genres and types of media. The fascination with them, particularly when used as a form of human ingenuity versus an otherwise unstoppable force, can't be denied. Written by Anthony Dwayne Webb, THE HISTORY OF LIGHTNING: Book 1 of the Garna Cycle more than delivers in this arena. This novel offers mecha from colossal Titans to smaller pieces more similar to body suits.
The titular character, Lightning, is a major highlight of the novel. Without spoiling why or how, the man is older than most and has seen much more than his looks would suggest. Though some of his peers the same age don't always act like it, the main character refreshingly feels like he actually possesses both the wisdom and the almost jaded fatigue expected of someone his age. This is established well and early through lines like "flashes of dissent popped up every so often; they always had, and Lightning suspected that human nature dictated that they always would." As the glorified father of much of the technology used by his society, the protagonist is much more than just his fists or the mecha he pilots. Webb does a considerable job reinforcing that idea through words and actions, instead of just resorting to telling the reader.
A few key areas of THE HISTORY OF LIGHTNING feel less fleshed out, though. Despite the science fiction setting and use of technology in combat, there seems to be a lack of it described elsewhere in the novel. Outside of the described use of fiber optics during a festival, many scenes appear more like a period fantasy at certain points (especially toward the beginning). The frequent allusions to Arthurian legend help tip the balance. The result is that Lightning's society, the Covenant, comes across as a mix of both the archaic and the futuristic existing side-by-side, but it doesn't feel like an intentional portrayal. Also, later chapters do lean back toward futurism and technology.
There is a lot to love about THE HISTORY OF LIGHTNING, but the audience who would enjoy it leans heavily male. The entire cabal at the center of the Covenant is male, and the only female characters in the novel exist as either love interests or damsels in distress. Institutionally structured forced prostitution is also an element of the story.
Overall, the novel doesn't quite feel like it can function fully as a standalone, so readers should approach it as an exciting launch to the series.
A strong start to the series, Anthony Dwayne Webb's THE HISTORY OF LIGHTNING: Book 1 of the Garna Cycle excels at building a captivating world for its target audience.
~ Lisbeth Ivies for IndieReader