Synopsis:
The Moon was once colonized. Now it lies silent—mostly.
When a mysterious radio signal echoes from the abandoned colony of Serenitatis, the Vatican dispatches an elite squad of space marines to investigate. Paladin-Captain Samuel Cohen’s mission is simple: locate survivors, uncover the signal’s source, and get out. But beneath the sterile domes, something ancient stirs—an adversary that challenges not only the mission but the very foundations of his faith.
A gripping new novella that explores the resilience of the human—and holy—spirit in the darkness of the void. For fans of Event Horizon and Richard Paul Russo’s Ship of Fools.
Review:
Sometimes it feels like we’re living through the golden age of the novella. I can think of at least a dozen published by some of my favorite authors in the past few months, and Orders of Magnitude was one of the first that started my streak.
Orders of Magnitude follows Samuel, who serves as a captain in what are essentially the future Catholic Space Marines. He heads a unit being sent to the moon to investigate a mysterious message. What follows is a gorgeous mash-up of sci-fi, horror, and action, all with strong religious themes tying it together. It’s safe to say I’ve never read anything quite like it, and now I want more.
This story does a lot in a limited space, and I enjoyed my time within these pages. This marked the first time I’ve read anything from the growing genre of incensepunk, of which Kordov is a leader.
Incensepunk, as I understand it, is a genre that seeks to honestly and genuinely explore what faith might look like in the future. It’s a fascinating question rife with possibility, not just for stories, but for discussion, and it was a treat to dip my toes in the water of this future world. Incensepunk feels fresh, freely combining ideas in a way I haven’t seen before.
As for the novella itself, it seems to me the less said about the story the better. If you like space marines or movies like Event Horizon, odds are favorable you’ll find something you like here. The pace moves quickly and Kordov is an excellent writer with sharp and evocative prose. The book packs an emotional punch in short order.
I was impressed by Kordov’s ability to slowly crank up the tension and horror throughout the story. He realizes that sometimes the most terrifying thing that can happen is nothing, and when the bullets do start flying, it’s almost a relief.
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