This past week we gave the spotlight to Goodbye to the Sun, Jonathan Nevair’s debut Sci-Fi novel, the first in the Wind Tide series! Our Roadies brought a wide selection of content to this show with reviews and other posts. Now it’s time to bring the show to an end and it’s my pleasure to present you with the encore, including some extra content. Come and learn a bit more about the world of Goodbye to the Sun through Jonathan’s playlist!
Shall we?
Jonathan Nevair is a science fiction writer and, as Dr. Jonathan Wallis, an art historian and Professor of Art History at Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia. After two decades of academic teaching and publishing, he finally got up the nerve to write fiction. Jonathan grew up on Long Island, NY but now resides in southeast Pennsylvania with his wife and rambunctious mountain feist, Cricket. You can find him online at www.jonathannevair.com and on twitter at @JNevair
Tucked away in the blue sands of Kol 2, the Motes are on the brink of cultural collapse. Razor, a bold and daring pilot, leads a last-ditch gambit against their local oppressors, the Targitians. The plan – abduct visiting Ambassador Keen Draden and use him as a bargaining chip to restore her people’s independence in the Sagittarius Arm. But when the operation unravels, Razor is forced to renegotiate terms with the arrogant diplomat. Battling furious Wind Tides and pursuit by an infamous bounty hunter, Razor and Keen find mutual assistance in a dubious freelancer with a knack for exposing cracks in people’s pride.
Light years away on Heroon a radical resistance blossoms. The alluring rainforest planet haunts Keen. All his problems started there during the Patent War, but it’s where Razor’s troubles may find a solution. The moral tide ebbs, exposing an impossible choice that links their futures together more tragically than they ever thought possible. Goodbye to the Sun – a nonstop thrill ride across an unstable galaxy, combining moral struggle and character-driven adventure.
Click on the blog name to read their full review or other content!
JUNE 6TH – THE KICKOFF
Whispers & Wonder – interview + IG spotlight
JUNE 7TH
Westveil Publishing – review + IG spotlight
“The political intrigue is so detailed I can tell Jonathan must have way more details figured out and filed away somewhere (even if only in his head) than what we ended up reading on the page. That makes me so excited to read more in this universe! Between the great characters and the clear evidence that the author knows so much more than we know, it’s clear this book has only scratched the surface and we’ve got a lot more to look forward to.”
Theswordsmith – review
“Now while the worldbuilding was well done, there is a lot to take in in this book. Everything for technological advances, elaborate cultural practices, political tensions and bodies. For someone like me, this is information that I crave about created worlds, it was amazing to learn about the Motes (Razor’s people) history in a dream like sequence and how they are in the position you find them in. There are some amazing sequence’s waiting for you, this is something I found very compelling each time I picked this book up to read.”
JUNE 8TH
Paul’s Picks – review
“I felt a little Star Trek flavor in the presentation of this book. The politics and the focus on the past conflicts created an excellent opportunity for me to feel both the immediate concerns of the characters as well as the big-picture forces weighing on the universe.”
@fantasybookcraz_mum – review + IG spotlight
“This book was an enjoyable sci-fi debut novel with complex relationships and politics. The world building is so imaginative and the actions scenes were described so well. I was unable to move away from the book. The story was character driven so made it easy to follow the plot.”
JUNE 9TH
OllieSpOt SFF Book Reviews (& Reactions) – review
“So realistic and forward thinking was the inclusion of referring to a person’s gender that he should be congratulated for going the extra mile and bringing the future back into the now.
I loved the story and not only would re-read it when my life is a little less chaotic, but am excited for the series to continue and to see what ideas and story lines we see from Jonathan in the future.”
JUNE 10TH
Spells & Spaceships – review
“Overall, Goodbye to the Sun is an excellent space opera with its own unique flavour, filled to the brim with passion and personality. That it’s a debut makes this all the more impressive and I can see big things are coming from Jonathan Nevair.”
JUNE 11TH
Bookwyrm’s Guide to the Galaxy – interview
Sue’s Musings – review
“Within the story there are strong themes of diplomacy, ethics, ecological issues on a galactic level, the tragedy of war and the loss of family members, and the importance of respecting someone’s gender. The theme of gender comes up often. Whenever someone new is introduced, they either introduce themselves using a naming convention that includes gender, they use hand signs to confirm their gender or have an identity mark, if unable to express themselves in other ways. “
Book and Nature Professor – review
“I am very impressed with Jonathan Nevair’s debut science fiction novel, Goodbye to the Sun. The idea to use Anitgone as base material made for a beautiful, tragic story against the backdrop of scientific technology. Keen, Razor and Jati were deeply flawed and troubled. Their story arcs were complete, they developed throughout the book, and ultimately came to terms with the demons that haunted them and faced the consequences of their actions. Gender fluidity included in this novel was not forced, it was simply part of the overall culture of the entire system they lived in. The terraforming planets into desert wastelands to harvest wind energy drives much of the narrative of the Patent War and rebellions. While this is novel is an emotional ride from start to finish, I highly recommend it for everyone, not just fans of science fiction. I look forward to the next book.”
Sastanàqqàm (Tinariwen)
This song sets a tone for the opening of the book on Kol 2. There’s something about the rhythm and electric guitar combination that puts out a determined excitement and confidence. It brings to mind the Motes, and especially Razor, but also the general atmosphere of walking into a risky situation prepared to pull off the impossible. The title translates in English as, “I Question You,” and is directed at a specific region of the Sahara desert (Ténéré). The lyrics celebrate that location to the singer who talks about an intimate and lasting relationship between the two, themselves and the land. This is so fitting for the Motes, a culture that has and continues to live and survive in the high deserts of Kol 2.
Fuel to Fire (Agnes Obel)
Break your heart open and pour out everything you have for your people. This song is a beautiful lamentation that carries a strength and perseverance that only Razor can own. It speaks to the quieter side of the Motes, their culture, their persistence, and their losses. There is a beauty to the remote desert of Kol 2 that only those who live there understand. I tried to convey its qualities in later passages by Razor in the book. This song comes close to capturing it sonorously. But it’s also about absence from that place – “be gone be faraway” repeats in the song, and that fits for Razor who is so far from her home.
Heart of Eternity (Revolt Production Music)
This whole album on loop. Wrote the book to it. It’s THE background that drives my writing. This particular track is a standout, but here’s your classic dramatic scifi ambient soundtrack.
Galatea’s Guitar (Gábor Szabó)
Welcome to Heroon. A planet like no other, with a mysterious soul all its own. This song (especially after the 2-minute mark) does a good job of capturing the allure, seduction, and uncanny aspect of the rainforest planet. Heroon is minor key, but always with texture – that’s why the guitar is here, as well as for the resonance. Heroon lingers in one’s mind after you leave. It haunts anyone whose stepped foot on its soil.
Always (Jessica Curry)
The ending. Final moments Act III. For both Keen and Razor. No need to explain in words. The music speaks it.
If you are interested in Goodbye to the Sun and would like to get in contact with Jonathan Nevair, you can find him on social media:
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