"The Razor" eBook was published in 2018 (November) and was written by J. Barton Mitchell (http://jbartonmitchell.com). Mr. Mitchell has published five novels. 

I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence and Mature Language. The story is set in the far future. Humanity has spread throughout the stars and one planet, Razor, has been designated as a prison planet for the galaxy's most dangerous criminals. The main character is Marcus Flynn, a brilliant engineer.

Flynn has been sentenced to Razor, though he contends that he has been set up. Being sentenced to Razor is usually a one-way trip, and conditions there are severe and the work dangerous. .nexpectedly 'Lost Prophet' - a catastrophic failure - is declared and before long most guards and civilians have been evacuated from the planet surface. The prisoners though are expendable and are left behind. 

Chaos and anarchy reign as the prisoners free themselves and struggle to gain power and settle old grudges. They may have only days left before the barely habitable zone on Razor ceases to exist. Flynn may have an answer, but he must ally himself with murderers, assassins, pirates, and smugglers in order to survive and find a solution. 

Will Flynn and his allies survive long enough to save the planet, and more importantly themselves? What will the hidden secrets of Razor they uncover mean for their future? Will there be any kind of future with the young woman Flynn has met, or will she turn on him and slit his throat? Even if Flynn is able to save the planet, will there be any future for those sentenced to Razor?

I enjoyed the 10.5+ hours I spent reading this 400-page science fiction thriller. While this is science fiction, because of the dark setting for much of the story and the savages that Flynn and his allies must face, this almost has a horror feel to it. It also reminded me of some of the first person shooter computer games I have watched my son play where you must make your way through some deserted facility filled with crazies that want to kill you. I do like the characters and would enjoy reading a sequel to this novel. The cover art is OK. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.

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In some ways, this reminded me of a strange cross between Heinlein's _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_ and the episode of Star Trek Voyager "The Chute" where Tom and Harry are in prison on a space station and they have to figure out how to get out. A super fun, straight sci-fi. I will likely buy a copy when it's out.

Hard for me to say if this was a good book or a great one. Razor is much more than a prison planet that has extreme polpulation diversity, geography, and geology. Throw in an ancient alien presence and you have a complex story that is very hard to follow. The action and personalities are over the top crazy and a scorecard to keep everything staight is a must.

A very fast paced ride in a new adventure series set on the Razor. I loved the characters and action and am looking forward to the next installment.

It has been some time since I've read or reviewed any sci-fi/fantasy books. This was a welcoming reintroduction to the genre. Mitchell did a great job with the world he created and remained consistent with it. As a scientist, his setting impressed me and I kept waiting for him to err. So many authors do.

J. Baron Mitchell is new to me. I looked on Amazon and saw that he is a prolific writer. The Razor is not his first rodeo and it shows in his plot and character development. Some aspects were predictable but much of it was surprising.

I don't want to say too much in the review to reveal anything that would be a spoiler. What I will say is I can highly recommend this book. Buy it as soon as it is available.

I enjoyed this, it was not as fast paced as expected, but kept me captivated. I look forward to a continuation of the story.

It isn’t a question of what will kill you on Razor, but what won’t.  The Razor is the perfect prison - deadly, impossible to escape, and profitable for the corporation that runs it.  Razor is a death sentence, it’s just a matter of how and when - the harsh environment, the brutal guards, Xytrilium exposure, or gang violence.  J Barton Mitchell’s world is desolate and harsh, all jagged edges giving a clear feeling of man versus the elements. To survive requires more than will.  It requires ingenuity. From the start it is made clear that to survive requires value, leverage. A deal can keep you alive. Flynn, Key, Maddox and Raelynn have all made deals, but whether they will survive is in doubt.  At a signal, the mining platforms are scuttled and the prisoners are left to fend for themselves. Flynn and Key have a chance - retrieve some data and they will be rescued. But what they and the others find is a planet of secrets, some more horrifying than they could ever imagine.


Mitchell’s protagonists come together in a believable way.  They aren’t friends, but become something more as they work together to survive.  Light, dark, good, evil -there are no absolutes in Mitchell’s Razor, because survival takes compromise.  What we know affects the decisions we make. Flynn is a genius, but the results of his actions are undetermined.  He has brought hope to the survivors, but he has also unleashed something powerful and alien.


The Razor is an incredible novel, made all the more real by the characters’ need to make tough choices in order to survive.  Cooperation is a necessity, even if one of the people you are dealing with is the devil herself. I hope there will be a sequel.


5 / 5


I received a copy of The Razor from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


— Crittermom

Mitchell's The Razor is the must read sci-fi book of the Summer. Great plot and characters keep you turning pages until the end!

This is a brilliant book with the great story line that has not been discovered. It holds you on the razor edge throughout the whole book. I recommend this book for any fan of sci-fi . i can't wait for the follow up book that i am expecting the author will write.

A prison planet novel featuring a former guard as the newest prisoner. Call it a guilty pleasure if you're so inclined.