My latest read was Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue by Hugh Howey. I read his short story Wool back in 2012. It was an early self-publishing success with Kindle Direct. I was doing a lot of work with book publishers and authors at the time. Howey definitely got people’s attention. Since I started reading on a daily basis again, I have had Howey on my “go back and read more” list. When I pick up an author like this, I try and read their books in the order they were written in. This book was Howey’s first. It was released in 2009.
This novel is more “space opera” than the harder-core science fiction of Wool. Howey does do some interesting world building. He also tries to keep things believable from a science and technology perspective. The characters are interesting and the story is well paced. This will probably appeal to those that enjoy YA stories more than those that like stories with more adult themes. I don’t read much that is YA-themed. I will probably try one more in this series to decide if I will continue or switch to one his more adult-themed series.

Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue
Hugh Howey
Bern Saga Book 1
It wasn’t easy for Molly being the only girl in Flight Academy, but getting expelled was even worse. Abandoned by her family when she was young and now tossed from the only home she’s ever known, her future looks bleak.
But then Molly hears that her father’s old starship has turned up halfway across the galaxy. Setting off to retrieve the old craft, she hopes it will hold clues to his disappearance. Accompanying her as a chaperone is Cole, her old flight partner from the Academy.
Molly can’t believe it. She’s now the proud owner of her own starship. Her Spring Break is going to be spent traveling across the galaxy with a cute boy. Could things possibly get any better?
Little does Molly know, they are about to get much, much worse . .
Released August 22, 2009
506 pages