Imagine a company with so much power that it controlled the entire universe. Earth had been at war for 34 years, and Hunter had never known a world without war. But who was in charge, and why was the violence not subsiding? How did Tolbet know people existed and needed help at this exact moment? Cockroach was on the run, and he had chosen to hide in the capital of Indimium, Larolin. The people in Indimium did not support the longevity industry, which made it a weird choice since Cockroach worked as a mechanic for Ollem longevity. In Larolin, he meets Miss Sharp, who, despite her old age, is willing to help instead of calling the authorities on him. Why was Cockroach on the run? How had he arrived in Randran, and what had happened in the general assembly of the intergalactic senate? Get a copy of Caught In The Vortex by A. Elnas to find out.

Caught In The Vortex by A. Elnas is mind-gripping science fiction that lays the foundation for a promising series. The book was unique, and the easy-to-understand language used by Elnas hooked me from the first page. Elnas used suspense to great effect. I loved how he used flashbacks to take us through the events in the past before the current happenings in the life of the main protagonist, Cockroach. The book is also thought-provoking and got me thinking about the impact of concentrating power in a few hands and technology's roles in our society. The well-developed characters gave form to the flawlessly flowing plot, and I loved Elnas's vivid descriptions of events and places. It helped create a mental picture of what was happening. I can't wait to read something else from this talented author.

Caught in the Vortex by A. Elnas follows the mechanic Cockroach, who lives on the planet Randran and whose life routine revolves around work, rejuvenation, and mentorship. His life in harmony with nature takes a turn when he's offered a dangerous opportunity by Hunter that coincides with his friend Jaime's departure. Cockroach is thrust into the longevity industry and the sector's pivotal role, government scrutiny, and involvement with a terrorist group. Cockroach's journey takes him to war-torn cities, through organ replacement, and encounters with conflicting allegiances. Accusations force him to seek refuge on Indimium where Miss Sharp enters the picture. A plan to escape culminates in battles, desperate measures of survival, and efforts to thwart destruction. Elnas's novel is the first book in the futuristic Longevity Universe series.

I love the premise that A. Elnas introduces in Caught in the Vortex, with its life-prolonging industry that kept the post-Earth life of protagonist Cockroach going for a whopping 123 years. When the revelation of the industry's shutdown occurs, the implications it holds for the characters and the universe Elnas builds are immediate and really, really dramatic. There is the dichotomy of us liking, only somewhat at first, Cockroach and rooting for him to live on, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding the intersecting of life extension, industry exploitation, and politics. The dialogue feels completely authentic and often intelligently witty and reveals their personalities and motivations. Miss Sharp in particular has unexpected depth and those introduced as ancillary still play a role in Elnas's world but are within the realm of possibility. Who doesn't know someone like the "Jigglers," who monitor and manage the intricate network systems? Overall, this is a solid introduction to a new series and I look forward to seeing where it goes next. Very highly recommended.