The alien race Omega has arrived on Earth for humanity's first contact event in The Blackshade Machine by William D Latoria, book one of the Original Design science fiction epic series. Set in 2072, Canada and the United States of America are now combined to form Candaerica with Mexico also pulled in under deadly force. Chosen to lead first contact with the Omega, Colonel Blackshade, who the aliens are receptive to, is soon ensconced in the physical and technological advancements of the Omega. He is also made privy to what the Omega claim to be the history of everything earthly, including mankind. Their power is superior but they are oblivious to cultures, customs, and respect for human advancements, and this leads to a deep divide between Omega and man, and man and man, especially when mistakes prove deadly. “As Candaerica’s Ambassador to the Omegas, it was his duty to ensure the relationship between Omegas and Humans was an amiable one...”

The Blackshade Machine by William D Latoria is, in my estimation, a great initiation into science fiction for those who might be new to the genre. The plot is clear-cut with writing that is straightforward enough for readers who aren't accustomed to sci-fi-speak but not detailed enough for seasoned die-hard fans. Having point-of-view characters that include the aliens themselves is one of the book's greatest advantages because it kind of highlights the odds stacked against humans and Omegans and isn't a single-sided human cheerleading routine. Humans are technologically inferior but not so ridiculously insipid that we are what the Omega believe and believed in the past, or where we are not even worth taking. I never thought I could get mad about not being abducted by aliens but Latoria makes us feel how offensive it is. The reverse of this coin is that humans can be so ridiculously insipid that we turn against ourselves in the way we always have, by rioting and killing and looking for God in all the wrong places. The best and worst of man in a universe we do not control. Well done.

The Blackshade Machine is a work of fiction in the science fiction, action, and military subgenres. It was written for the mature reading audience owing to scenes of violence, the use of explicit language, and scenes of a sexual nature, and was penned by author William D Latoria. As the opening work in the series, we are introduced to a future world where Candaerica is the new power that has taken over the North American continent and Mexico. Our protagonist is Colonel William Herbert Blackshade, who spearheads the operation when an alien race makes contact with humanity. What follows is a dangerous and mysterious journey as Blackshade learns the secrets of the universe but only becomes more and more suspicious of who to trust.

Author William D Latoria has crafted a superb series opener that will have fans of alien-themed science fiction hooked from its earliest chapters. I enjoyed the grown-up sensibility of the work, which maintained a strong focus on the plot but also left room for character development and let us get to know the Colonel’s inner thoughts and feelings when it was appropriate to do so. In terms of the actual alien race themselves, the Omega are a highly original creation that doesn’t play into the over-dramatized tropes of aliens from many other types of sci-fi. Instead, their intellectual, calculating, and philosophical thinking made them formidable figures for the Colonel to match wits with. Overall, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend The Blackshade Machine to readers who adore superbly crafted plots with interesting twists and realistically-penned alien fiction that sounds intimidatingly believable.