Science Fiction and Fantasy is a genre with few boundaries.  Whatever an author can imagine, he or she can sculpt into a story that takes it's readers to new and amazing worlds.  Yet, even with so many limitless possibilities at their fingertips, writers must still bring their readers to believe in and accept what they have created.  In order to create a rich but believable world of fantasy or high science, writers must still abide by certain limitations.  Limitations that align with the basic principles of human nature so that the reader can relate and connect to the story on a personal level.

Ken Shufeldt's science fiction novel "Genesis," suffers from a lack of believability.  So many ideas are introduced all at once, that the ability to create any kind of intimacy with the reader is lost.  Character dialogue and actions lack depth and personality, cheapening their experiences throughout the book.  Everything is needlessly explained up front.  Plot and character intentions are revealed in a matter that makes the story easily predictable with any chance at mystery lost early on.  One of the most common mistakes a new writer makes is to tell a story rather than show it, and that is, unfortunately, what has happened with "Genesis."

Shufeldt's strength is definitely rooted in his experience with substances derived from a military or technological nature.  Perhaps if he had spent more time on the scientific and mechanical side of things and left more of life's softer experiences alone, his attempt with "Genesis" would have been more successful.  

Genesis is published by Tor Forge books and is due to hit the shelves on June 2nd of this year.