Wizard Omega

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at the ‘wizard scout’ premise—until the first ambush. Hartman doesn’t waste time on exposition; he drops you into a reconnaissance op gone wrong, where the protagonist’s psychic ‘gifts’ are less about flashy telekinesis and more about reading the *intent* behind an enemy’s hesitation. That’s the hook: this is military SF for readers who love *The Expanse*’s tactical realism but crave something weirder, where ESP isn’t a deus ex machina but a double-edged tool. The worldbuilding is dense but never overwhelming, with a focus on how psionics would actually integrate into a hierarchical empire—right down to the bureaucracy of ‘mind-wipe’ debriefings. Guy Williams’ performance is *almost* flawless. His character voices are distinct without veering into caricature, and he nails the dry humor of soldiers who’ve seen too much. My only gripe? The female characters occasionally slip into a slightly breathy register that feels out of step with their hardened personas. Pacing-wise, the middle act drags during a protracted training sequence, but the payoff—a heist-like infiltration where the team’s psychic sync is the only advantage—is worth it. The audio production is pristine, with no distracting edits or volume spikes. If you love military SF that’s cerebral *and* visceral, this is a standout. Just be warned: the body count is high, and the moral gray areas are wider than a wormhole.