Retired Colonel Carl Butler is reluctantly drawn into a dangerous investigation on a remote moon to find a missing man, uncovering corporate intrigue and facing off against powerful adversaries. With a team of trusted allies, Butler navigates a treacherous path filled with mystery, action, and unexpected twists as he races to uncover the truth behind the disappearance.

Reader Review Summary

Michael Mammay's Darkside is a thrilling, masterfully crafted addition to his acclaimed Planetside series. With its gripping mystery, pulse-pounding action sequences, and Mammay's deft handling of complex corporate intrigue, Darkside cements the series' place among the best in contemporary military science fiction.

The story follows the reluctant yet irresistibly compelling retired Colonel Carl Butler as he's roped into another high-stakes investigation at the pleading of a runaway 12-year-old girl seeking her missing archaeologist father. Drawn to the moon Taug, where his father was last seen excavating for a famous scientist, Butler soon finds himself in the crosshairs of his old corporate nemeses Caliber and Omicron in a race to uncover the truth.

From the opening pages, Mammay deftly reintroduces readers to Butler's richly developed character - a grizzled, no-nonsense military man who colors outside the lines when necessary to get the job done. Jaded by past ordeals yet guided by an unshakable moral compass, Butler remains an utterly magnetic protagonist that fans will delight in rejoining. His acerbic wit and keen tactical mind make for endlessly entertaining reading as he navigates increasingly Byzantine layers of mystery and deception.

Supporting characters like Butler's steadfast right-hand man Mac and indispensable hacker Ganos shine just as brightly. Their bantering camaraderie and unflappable loyalty to their commanding officer make them a team readers will fervently root for against daunting odds. Even newcomers to the series will find themselves quickly invested in their plights and triumphs.

Balancing propulsive, cinematic action set pieces with taut suspense and political maneuvering, Mammay fires on all cylinders. The battle sequences viscerally convey the chaos and adrenaline of military engagements through the author's keen insider's perspective. But the pages exploring corporate malfeasance and characters' hidden agendas are just as gripping in their own way, gradually pulling back layers of an intricately constructed mystery.

While highly accessible for new readers - the book opens with helpful recaps of prior installments - series fans will be especially rewarded by how organically the story's arc flows from prior events. Deep character arcs find their natural progression, while simmering feuds and power dynamics ratchet up the personal stakes. Without spoiling anything, certain game-changing reveals land like a gut-punch while opening up new storytelling runways for future installments.

In the end, Darkside is an unmitigated triumph for Mammay - a masterclass in melding riveting interstellar escapism with relatable human stakes and character work. It's sci-fi adventure fiction firing on all thrusters, sure to enthrall existing fans and convert new ones. For those who have yet to experience Mammay's work, Darkside serves as an excellent entry point into the Planetside universe while whetting the appetite for wherever this juggernaut of a series heads next.