Fun read! Edward Ashton writes scifi with such humor. In this second book in his Mickey7 series, Mickey Barnes has retired as an 'Expendable' for the space colony but one of his last acts in book #1 has come back to haunt him in the present. It will be up to him to communicate with the native alien species they call 'creepers' and get 'the antimatter bomb' back. The fate of the colony is in his hands!

An action-packed sci fi novel with delightful characters, a good dose of humor and even some romance. Mickey has been through a lot in his time as an 'expendable' but tries to be brave and can be counted on to blunder in where others fear to go. He tries to make honorable decisions when put to the test--I really liked that about our hero. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

I am grateful to have received an arc from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review though is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

One heck of a book. Ashton really cracked a more compelling story this time and elevated the concepts introduced in Mickey7. Without the gimmick of the concept's newness to rely on, Antimatter Blues has a much more compelling story to rely on. An incredibly fun novel.

Finding out that Mickey7 had a sequel, I knew it was a no brainer that I needed to read this book. While Mickey7 was about expendable clones set on a new world, Antimatter Blues is more about the colony and the sentient beings on this new world. This story takes place about 2 years after Mickey7 ends. The colony is having a rough go and may not be able to continue. Enter the snarky Mickey7 and his even snarkier companions to try to save the colony. This was another fun read with some rather interesting aliens. If you’re a fan of snarky characters and science fiction, this should be right up your alley.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this arc

Edward Ashton has made a sci-fi lover out of me! The character of Speaker was so charming and its interactions with Mickey reminded me of Andy Weir's Hail Mary Project. However, Nasha was very unlikeable and detracted from the overall story. Her actions and attitude seemed out of line with the rest of the book. Despite that, I cannot wait for another Mickey Barnes book-Please write another one!!

Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton is a very well written novel with engaging characters and plot.
This was a fascinating science fiction and such an phenomenal adventure.
The world-building was amazing here.
Ashton has done a wonderful job imagining and building the world of Niflheim.
The dialogue is realistic and engaging.
And the characters are well-developed and relatable.
The story was so entertaining and very thought-provoking I couldn’t have enjoyed this more if I tried.
With its creative premise, strong characters and lots of action, this was a wonderful adventure.
Imaginative, expertly written, creative Edward Ashton has written a compelling story.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC

Really impressed with how creative the author has been with Mickey and this world! The story stays fresh and inventive, despite living in the crowded scifi genre. I was happily surprised to see the level of character development between Mickey and his crew, especially with Berto and another unexpected ally they meet along the way. I'm looking forward to more stories from Mickey and the Niflheim colony!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

The universe's favorite expendable is back!!!
Mickey and the other colonists of Niflheim continue to try and adapt to the changing environment and plan for the colony's future. Of course, things are never simple where Mickey is concerned. Several of the decisions he made in the prior book are brought back front and center in this follow up story. Edward Ashton does a terrific job in creating a new and engaging story without making you feel like you are treading on repeated territory.
Mickey, Nasha and Berto face increasingly dangerous situations with their usual gallows humor, fierceness and "well, what else are we going to do" attitude. The fast pace keeps you on edge and the tension builds to a surprising ending. I really enjoyed the interactions and relationship between Mickey and Speaker. This is a fun and exciting successor to Mickey7 and I feel certain that if you liked the first book that this one will not disappoint!! If you love sci-fi and haven't tried this series then you need to get on it and go on another wild journey with Mickey!!!

Move over Muderbot, you've got some competition!

Mickey has a bit of a hard time coming to a decision, so he comes off as a bit... well dim perhaps. Which makes the fact that he is in charge of a diplomatic mission hysterical. What could possibly go wrong? Doesn't help that Mickey has been lying about the location of the bomb and it isn't really a diplomatic mission to begin with. Of course only Mickey and Nasha know that.

Throw in an alien who doesn't communicate very well and all kinds of problems arise. Very funny problems. Most of them of Mickey's own making. Usually that annoys me in a character, but it works so well in this case.

I loved Mickey7 last year and this was such a good follow-up!

Warm weather has finally come to the colony, but of course there are still problems. This book maybe (?) has a bit more action than the previous one - the plot is very humor and action driven (similar to book 1). I really liked how storylines were extended from book one. I like the character of Mickey7 a lot, and I liked seeing more of Berto and Nasha in this book.

The aliens are also interesting. In this sequel we see more of the planet and learn a lot more about its original inhabitants. There's room for another book in this universe, but all of the current problems are tied up nicely.

Wonderful read! I just love the world Edward Ashton has created. This book picks up right where Mickey7 left off. In both books you are plopped right into the story without having to do intense world building. This makes them fun and quick reads. I read this one in a couple days. The plot and writing definitely feel like a fresh take to me. Ashton has a unique way of blending a compelling story with a dash of humor. Would highly recommend for sci-fi fans all around. But especially for fans of John Scalzi and Andy Weir.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing a digital copy of Antimatter Blues in exchange for an honest review.

As a lover of a very specific type of science fiction, and a MASSIVE fan of Mickey7, I was thrilled to get approved for this title and read it right away. Mickey is once again the star of our show, but he's a normal colonist now and enjoying a calm, civilized life. Obviously, that changes very quickly.

Just as fun and exciting as Mickey7, Antimatter Blues draws the reader in immediately and does a great job of reminding us of the events of the first book without resorting to pure exposition. I hope Ashton continues to write about Mickey's adventures, because he has a loyal follower in me.

I’m not even finished and already I can tell this book is as hard to put down as the first one! Mickey is a hero for the very things that make him disposable to most of the rest of the colony - he’s not a tech or science genius, but an outcast that speaks to everyone who dreams of space travel but lacks the science speciality
I hope this isn’t the last story from Mickey’s universe, even if this is the last story with Mickey as the main character.

Another fun action packed read from Ashton. The story did not go where I expected, but it was pleasing to read. I find the setting in these books very interesting.

Antimatter Blues
by Edward Ashton
Science Fiction
NetGalley eARC

For two years Mickey is still retired from his job of being an expendable, meaning for the last two years he hadn't died, but the reason he was able to retire has come back to haunt him. That antimatter bomb he said the creepers have, well if the humans want to make it through the upcoming winter, they need it back. But if he brings it back will that mean his retirement is over?

A short book with quite a few flashbacks to the first, some needed some not, and a few extras about Mickey's life before signing up for the job. It's not a hard storyline to follow, the science of it is simple for the most part, and the native lifeforms are interesting, simple, but interesting. Though the new species could've used some more descriptions.

The characters are likable, though some of them seem as if they are just filler, and others are even less than that, they don't even have a decent description. The world itself needs more history, it's only brushed over, as is the colony's habitat. They both need more so readers can center themselves into the world and what life is like.

Not a bad story; short, simple, and suitable for readers fourteen and older.

3 Stars

I did not realize when I first started reading this that it was second in a series. I decided to still read it, and overall I really enjoyed it. While there was a lot of science jargon that went over my head, the basic premise of the story was easy enough for me to follow, even without having read the first book. I liked all of the characters and thought the story was very interesting. I recommend reading it if you're interested in science fiction stories dealing with inhabiting new planets or space travel.

I was so happy for the opportunity to read this ARC, the sequel to Mickey7, but I was also a little apprehensive. What could be written that hadn’t already been covered in the first one? I need not have been concerned. Edward Ashton dealt with new sci-fi issues: being a good citizen, sacrifice, allies, strategy, and more.
I honestly think the reader should read Mickey7 before they read this sequel so they understand the full character arc of Mickey and can fully appreciate where he has been and how he’s gotten to where he is.
As a reader and fan of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, I thought there were some similarities, but enough differences to make this an extremely enjoyable read.
I’m really looking forward to the movie adaptation of Mickey7!
Thanks St. Martin’s Press for access to this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Cloning, space monsters, terraforming planets, life threatening mysteries… what’s not to love?

In this sequel to Mickey7, the only thing keeping Mickey from being recycled is that he is the only one who knows where the antimatter bomb is being kept. He's also the only one who can communicate with the native species of aliens affectionately termed the Creepers. Mickey seems to be safe from any future consequences. Then, the commander informs Mickey that the only way their colony will have enough energy to survive the winter is if he retrieves that bomb so they can recycle the energy. It's now up to Mickey to save the colony... which would be a lot easier if he had as much knowledge of the creepers as he pretended to.

The story continues with a small cast of characters getting caught between warring aliens and trying to broker a deal to save them all. The character voices are very well done with the right amount of quip and sarcasm. I also appreciated that this sequel showed more of the action. This is a solid sci-fi romp and it is well deserving of being turned into a movie. I'm excited to watch it come to life in 2024. It is more of the snappy, quick paced, modern Andy Weir type of fantasy that is easy to digest as opposed to the more classic, lengthy world building type of story. I was a fan!

Thank you for the opportunity to review Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton. In the interest of full disclosure: this is a new author for me, and I did not read the first book in the Mickey7 series. So... I was prepared to be a little lost. Turns out I needn't have worried- everything was quite clear and while I probably missed a few small details from not having read the first in the series, Antimatter Blues was a fun, engaging romp. If I ever get through my tbr list, I may circle back and read that first novel. But even without that- Antimatter Blues is totally worth your time.

If the first volume was a blast, this second encounter with Mickey 7 and the gang is pure dynamite! Or antimatter. Life is sweet for Niflheim but, as the Starks know, winter is coming and fuel is running low. The bomb that Mickey secreted at the end of the last novel could save them, but it’s missing and he’ll need to make new friends to get it back. Enter Speaker, a delightful new addition. He is not human, but a creeper. All his dialogues are pure gold. It’s not easy to make readers care for such an alien entity, but Ashton somehow manages it. The rest of the interactions amongst the characters we already know are so funny that I was chuckling out loud. If this is not enough to make this an excellent novel, the plot is so addictive that it’s impossible to resist the “one more chapter” trap. It’s not a spoiler to say that Mickey is constantly in such peril that it's hard to see how he’s going to survive. The author doesn’t rely on chance to get the team out of sticky situations, but every twist is well thought out. I really hope there is another one after this. I could keep reading Mickey’s stories forever.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#St. Martin's Press!

Full of snark and sass, Antimatter Blues takes up the mantle of Mickey as he struggles with retirement... and saving the colony. Again.

Ashton's Sophmore novel in the series is leaps and bounds better than his first, with a perceived higher quality of writing and more emphasis on character growth now that the background if the world has been established.

Overall, high marks!