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Evan Gabriel Trilogy #1
Gabriel's Redemption
North American Federation Navy Commander Evan Gabriel was dishonorably discharged after a disastrous mission on a far off world called Eden. He's spent the last five years hiding from his past, from those responsible for the failed mission, from those responsible for running him out of the Navy, and from those originally responsible for making him into who he was - a highly-trained, physically and mentally augmented Special Forces soldier. Two mysterious visitors appear unannounced at the door of Gabriel's seedy hotel room in the slums of Jamaica. His past has finally caught up with him.
From the decaying Caribbean to politically-charged South America, from the back alleys of Mars to a tiny colony on a planet six hundred light years from Earth, Gabriel's Redemption is a near-future military science fiction story of a personal journey seen from the perspective of a soldier who has lost everything -- one who desperately needs to redeem himself not only in his government's eyes, but also his own. Interstellar action and political intrigue mix with one-on-one battles on the surface of a frozen planet in Book One of the science fiction-adventure trilogy.
From the decaying Caribbean to politically-charged South America, from the back alleys of Mars to a tiny colony on a planet six hundred light years from Earth, Gabriel's Redemption is a near-future military science fiction story of a personal journey seen from the perspective of a soldier who has lost everything -- one who desperately needs to redeem himself not only in his government's eyes, but also his own. Interstellar action and political intrigue mix with one-on-one battles on the surface of a frozen planet in Book One of the science fiction-adventure trilogy.
270 pages, ebook
First published February 2, 2011
35 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
About the author
Steve Umstead
13 books1,012 followersSteve Umstead has been the owner of a Caribbean & Mexico travel company for the past ten years, but never forgot his lifelong dream of becoming an author. After a successful stab at National Novel Writing Month, he decided to pursue his dream more vigorously…but hasn't given up the traveling.
Steve lives in scenic (tongue-in-cheek) New Jersey with his wife, two kids, and several bookshelves full of other authors' science fiction novels. Gabriel's Redemption is his debut novel.
Steve lives in scenic (tongue-in-cheek) New Jersey with his wife, two kids, and several bookshelves full of other authors' science fiction novels. Gabriel's Redemption is his debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
March 25, 2011
Gabriel’s Redemption by Steve Umstead tells the tale of a man named Evan Gabriel. Evan’s past haunts him, but the opportunity arises for him to make up for what happened. He accepts a mission to a far off planet, Poliahu, to find and capture a drug lord. And what he finds upon arriving at the planet, not only surprises him, but has the potential to change all human lives dramatically.
The Good: Gabriel’s Redemption is a very well written book. The author’s use of words is very easy to follow and not cluttered with too much information. I particularly like that the author uses colloquialisms more in the writing than proper grammar. This doesn’t mean that the writing sounds unintelligent. Rather, you feel like a friend is relating the story to you. It’s actually very pleasing to read this style of writing. And I can honestly say this is the first time I read a book that made me feel that way.
The Bad: This is a very minor gripe, because overall, the book does a fine job of explaining details about the characters. However, the main character, Evan Gabriel, doesn’t appear enough in the book, in my opinion. I feel like there is more about him and his personality that the author should reveal but never does. I understand who he is as a character, but feeling more of that within the pages (or maybe I should say locations) of the book would have been nice. Although it is completely possible that this was the author’s intent, since this book is part of a trilogy and the author my further develop the character in future books.
The Ugly: There is one thing about this book that would greatly improve it. Cut it in half and you have a great story! However, this is not the case. The book clocks in at around 66,000 words – which is a good length. However, the first half of the book is very slow. The author introduces many characters and their personalities, but I feel that it just drags. While there is a goal introduced in the beginning of the story, it takes way too long to get to that goal and introduce the next one. It is not until about halfway through the book that it really picks up and becomes interesting. I feel shortening this book would have made it better.
Overall, I liked Gabriel’s Redemption. I see great potential within the world the author has created and hope that the next book in the series improves upon some of the aspects mentioned above. If you’re into trilogies, give this one a shot, because the ride is just getting started.
The Good: Gabriel’s Redemption is a very well written book. The author’s use of words is very easy to follow and not cluttered with too much information. I particularly like that the author uses colloquialisms more in the writing than proper grammar. This doesn’t mean that the writing sounds unintelligent. Rather, you feel like a friend is relating the story to you. It’s actually very pleasing to read this style of writing. And I can honestly say this is the first time I read a book that made me feel that way.
The Bad: This is a very minor gripe, because overall, the book does a fine job of explaining details about the characters. However, the main character, Evan Gabriel, doesn’t appear enough in the book, in my opinion. I feel like there is more about him and his personality that the author should reveal but never does. I understand who he is as a character, but feeling more of that within the pages (or maybe I should say locations) of the book would have been nice. Although it is completely possible that this was the author’s intent, since this book is part of a trilogy and the author my further develop the character in future books.
The Ugly: There is one thing about this book that would greatly improve it. Cut it in half and you have a great story! However, this is not the case. The book clocks in at around 66,000 words – which is a good length. However, the first half of the book is very slow. The author introduces many characters and their personalities, but I feel that it just drags. While there is a goal introduced in the beginning of the story, it takes way too long to get to that goal and introduce the next one. It is not until about halfway through the book that it really picks up and becomes interesting. I feel shortening this book would have made it better.
Overall, I liked Gabriel’s Redemption. I see great potential within the world the author has created and hope that the next book in the series improves upon some of the aspects mentioned above. If you’re into trilogies, give this one a shot, because the ride is just getting started.
May 9, 2011
Every so often, a book comes along to cause a shift in one's thinking...Gabriel's Redemption was one of those books for me. I've never been a reader of the Sci-Fi genre, but I read Umstead's book blurb, and became intrigued. As the ebook was a relative bargain, I took a chance on it. I'm pleased to report that after having read Mr. Umstead's novel, not only will I read future works by this author, but I've actually developed a genuine interest in the genre.
Umstead made some decisions in his debut that really worked for me. The story line was set one-hundred, sixty-five years in the future. The technological advances Umstead created for this future world seemed quite logical, and plausible, never causing me to question the clever weapons, and equipment he created. There were enough characters involved to produce a comfortable dynamic, without overdoing it. Their depth and development were well conceived, which added a richness to the plot. I found the pacing comfortable, allowing me time to absorb, and adjust to this new world.
If I were to change anything about Gabriel's Redemption, I might have suggested a longer book, as there was certainly room to elaborate on several plot points. However, this is merely an opinion, and in no way detracted from the overall quality of the read.
Steve Umstead is a fine writer with a vivid imagination...likely a huge fan and voracious reader of the genre. It was obvious to this reader that he did his due dilligence in learning the sci-fi genre inside and out before trying his hand at crafting a work of his own. As a result, I highly recommend Gabriel's Redemption.
Umstead made some decisions in his debut that really worked for me. The story line was set one-hundred, sixty-five years in the future. The technological advances Umstead created for this future world seemed quite logical, and plausible, never causing me to question the clever weapons, and equipment he created. There were enough characters involved to produce a comfortable dynamic, without overdoing it. Their depth and development were well conceived, which added a richness to the plot. I found the pacing comfortable, allowing me time to absorb, and adjust to this new world.
If I were to change anything about Gabriel's Redemption, I might have suggested a longer book, as there was certainly room to elaborate on several plot points. However, this is merely an opinion, and in no way detracted from the overall quality of the read.
Steve Umstead is a fine writer with a vivid imagination...likely a huge fan and voracious reader of the genre. It was obvious to this reader that he did his due dilligence in learning the sci-fi genre inside and out before trying his hand at crafting a work of his own. As a result, I highly recommend Gabriel's Redemption.
March 6, 2011
Gabriel's Redemption takes us into a highly believable glimpse of mankind's not too distant future. The story revolves around a dishonored North American Federation Naval special forces commander Evan Gabriel, called back into active duty for a special mission. He is enticed with promises of redemption for past convictions. The Story takes place in a distant galaxy on a desolate ice-covered planet. The story is well written, and the characters are brought masterfully to life by the author. You are pulled quickly into the story and the pace never let's up until the very end. The world of this future is both believable and interesting. The author took great care covering the smallest of details to make this world perfect. The plot has finely woven twists and turns to keep you on your feet. The technology portrayed through out the story is both interesting and believable. Enough for any Sci Fi junkie.
I found this book a thoroughly enjoyable read. I could not put it down. This is a very well written Sci Fi action adventure. I highly recommend it to any age.
I found this book a thoroughly enjoyable read. I could not put it down. This is a very well written Sci Fi action adventure. I highly recommend it to any age.
May 1, 2013
Flunked the 100 page test, but I read the whole thing. It didn't get better. As pulp fiction it's a rousing tale; as science fiction it's poor. Cliché ridden. Sophomoric. Flunked high school physics.
"Drop dead gorgeous"? "(or in a few thousand years) an opposable thumb"? An asteroid hit straightens a planet's axis tilt and boosts it into a higher orbit, which is still circular? "I'm a paperpusher at heart."? Obvious data dumps for the reader's sake. An acoustic guitar on a combat mission? Plot holes and inconsistencies throughout. Hero who sleeps with junior subordinate?
Don't waste your time, unless you happen to like pulp fiction.
"Drop dead gorgeous"? "(or in a few thousand years) an opposable thumb"? An asteroid hit straightens a planet's axis tilt and boosts it into a higher orbit, which is still circular? "I'm a paperpusher at heart."? Obvious data dumps for the reader's sake. An acoustic guitar on a combat mission? Plot holes and inconsistencies throughout. Hero who sleeps with junior subordinate?
Don't waste your time, unless you happen to like pulp fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2011
I am not one that delves too deeply into science fiction. I enjoy Star Wars and Star Trek; I adore Firefly. However, I do not often leave the mainstream and explore the other sources of sci-fi that is available to the reader. So, when I met Umstead in the wonderful world of Twitter and promised him a review, I was biting my lip. Would my biased love of more classic novels make me not appreciate the work of Steve Umstead? Would I be able to finish the book? Most importantly, will I be able to give constructive criticism?
Luckily, I was presented with writing that goes beyond what I expected when it comes to self-published work. As someone who more often studies works that deal with the 1800s, I found myself easily drawn into this futuristic world that Umstead so eagerly presents. The technology, history, and political circumstances of his civilization are realistic enough to be believable; the reader can easily see how things situations could occur, especially regarding today's world. Umstead prognosticates a world in which the reader can easily find themselves.
His creation of future technology is brilliant. Everything from the infrastructure, weaponry, and transportation is presented in a way that is logical. I am impressed with Umstead's creativity, especially when he goes into the manner in which the government actually made the soldiers themselves into weapons by increasing the potential of their natural abilities.
Evan Gabriel himself is a perfect anti-hero, a modern-day Byronic hero that struggles greatly with the plaguing memories of a failed mission. Though his personality can sometimes be confusing (there are some instances of him acting out of character), the character is complicated. The only thing that worries me is that there may be too many minor characters and that they may be taking some of the spotlight away from the actual hero of the story. If the intention of the author was to emphasize the importance of a military team, then I am all for this. Unfortunately, Evan Gabriel is the title character and the reader expects more from him than what was delivered.
My review is 4 stars due to one flaw to this otherwise brilliant piece of writer: pacing. I read Victorian novels every week and I can understand slow pacing. I also know that I am a bit more patient than other readers. Sometimes, the novel can seem a bit prolix. I will tell you that Umstead manages pacing a lot better than Dickens, which is why his pacing only cost him one star.
Overall, I am impressed. As a budding critic with an extensive personal library, it is not often that I truly enjoy the work of a self-publishing author. My experience in the field of literature has taught me to look first to publishing houses and then to the indie writers. I will say that I struck gold with this novel. I am thoroughly delighted in the book and look forward to reading the next one in the series.
Cheers and love,
S.R.Sleasman
Luckily, I was presented with writing that goes beyond what I expected when it comes to self-published work. As someone who more often studies works that deal with the 1800s, I found myself easily drawn into this futuristic world that Umstead so eagerly presents. The technology, history, and political circumstances of his civilization are realistic enough to be believable; the reader can easily see how things situations could occur, especially regarding today's world. Umstead prognosticates a world in which the reader can easily find themselves.
His creation of future technology is brilliant. Everything from the infrastructure, weaponry, and transportation is presented in a way that is logical. I am impressed with Umstead's creativity, especially when he goes into the manner in which the government actually made the soldiers themselves into weapons by increasing the potential of their natural abilities.
Evan Gabriel himself is a perfect anti-hero, a modern-day Byronic hero that struggles greatly with the plaguing memories of a failed mission. Though his personality can sometimes be confusing (there are some instances of him acting out of character), the character is complicated. The only thing that worries me is that there may be too many minor characters and that they may be taking some of the spotlight away from the actual hero of the story. If the intention of the author was to emphasize the importance of a military team, then I am all for this. Unfortunately, Evan Gabriel is the title character and the reader expects more from him than what was delivered.
My review is 4 stars due to one flaw to this otherwise brilliant piece of writer: pacing. I read Victorian novels every week and I can understand slow pacing. I also know that I am a bit more patient than other readers. Sometimes, the novel can seem a bit prolix. I will tell you that Umstead manages pacing a lot better than Dickens, which is why his pacing only cost him one star.
Overall, I am impressed. As a budding critic with an extensive personal library, it is not often that I truly enjoy the work of a self-publishing author. My experience in the field of literature has taught me to look first to publishing houses and then to the indie writers. I will say that I struck gold with this novel. I am thoroughly delighted in the book and look forward to reading the next one in the series.
Cheers and love,
S.R.Sleasman
May 1, 2011
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Gabriel's Redemption
from the author after I sent out a request for Indie Sci-Fi books to be considered for inclusion in my upcoming blog post on NYX Book Reviews. Umstead was not guaranteed inclusion in the review nor was a review even mentioned. However, after reading his book I would like to include it in my list of recommended reads.
Gabriel's Redemption is a near future science fiction work that includes all of the hallmarks of top quality sci-fi. Umstead has created a readable, accessible and highly engaging world where intrigue, aliens, drugs and intergalactic travel work together seamlessly. There is never a moment in this book where you think to yourself: well now that didn't make a lick of sense! Instead we are presented with a combination of real and imagined science that is so commonplace to the characters it never occurs to the reader to question it.
Evan Gabriel is a taciturn and troubled man who has buried so much of himself in order to survive the horrors and injustices he has witnessed that he has become a mere shell of the hero we come to know and love by the end of the book. Quickpaced, Gabriel's Redemption is an easy read. It flows from scene to scene and moment to moment flawlessly, always leaving the reader begging for more. By the third chapter I was so hooked I read the entire novel in one night.
Umstead deals with issues like honor, responsibility and human nature. While deep in thematic content the forward thrust of the story never stops. In this way Umstead has been able to create a rich, dynamic and believable world with a cast of characters who entertain and inspire. The bad guys are quality villains and the aliens are just strange enough to evoke the reader's inherent xenophobia. At the core of the story is one man's pain and regret and the opportunity to redeem himself.
My only complaints about Gabriel's Redemption are not reasons not to pick it up.
1 - It's a military based fiction which I personally don't generally enjoy. Umstead does a phenomenal job of making the military jargon and topics accessible to non-military readers without sacrificing the details. It just doesn't speak to me. I was able to enjoy the story despite this which if anything speaks to the author's skill at weaving a compelling yarn.
2 - It's not in paperback. This is one I'd love to have on my shelf.
Similar books you may enjoy:
Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000
Mr. Spaceman
from the author after I sent out a request for Indie Sci-Fi books to be considered for inclusion in my upcoming blog post on NYX Book Reviews. Umstead was not guaranteed inclusion in the review nor was a review even mentioned. However, after reading his book I would like to include it in my list of recommended reads.Gabriel's Redemption
is a near future science fiction work that includes all of the hallmarks of top quality sci-fi. Umstead has created a readable, accessible and highly engaging world where intrigue, aliens, drugs and intergalactic travel work together seamlessly. There is never a moment in this book where you think to yourself: well now that didn't make a lick of sense! Instead we are presented with a combination of real and imagined science that is so commonplace to the characters it never occurs to the reader to question it.Evan Gabriel is a taciturn and troubled man who has buried so much of himself in order to survive the horrors and injustices he has witnessed that he has become a mere shell of the hero we come to know and love by the end of the book. Quickpaced, Gabriel's Redemption
is an easy read. It flows from scene to scene and moment to moment flawlessly, always leaving the reader begging for more. By the third chapter I was so hooked I read the entire novel in one night.Umstead deals with issues like honor, responsibility and human nature. While deep in thematic content the forward thrust of the story never stops. In this way Umstead has been able to create a rich, dynamic and believable world with a cast of characters who entertain and inspire. The bad guys are quality villains and the aliens are just strange enough to evoke the reader's inherent xenophobia. At the core of the story is one man's pain and regret and the opportunity to redeem himself.
My only complaints about Gabriel's Redemption are not reasons not to pick it up.
1 - It's a military based fiction which I personally don't generally enjoy. Umstead does a phenomenal job of making the military jargon and topics accessible to non-military readers without sacrificing the details. It just doesn't speak to me. I was able to enjoy the story despite this which if anything speaks to the author's skill at weaving a compelling yarn.
2 - It's not in paperback. This is one I'd love to have on my shelf.
Similar books you may enjoy:
Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000
Mr. Spaceman
April 28, 2011
In a Nutshell:
A down and out former military heavy weight finds himself re-instated on a top secret mission to stop drug trafficing.
First Thoughts:
It's all very cliched and unimaginative as far as plot line goes however Steve Umpstead uses this simple plot line and character to create a very imaginative and believable world around. His detail and style make Gabriel's Redemption a quick study and suspension of disbelief is easy to achieve as he takes current 20th century technology and imagines it as it would evolve with the world from now until when this story takes place. I am very impressed and although I can likely figure out how it will end that doesn't mean it's not worth finding out if I'm correct, and even if I am correct I won't be dissappointed.
Thoughts Upon Completion:
An excellent first book and well written. It's very easy to image Gabriel's universe as Mr. Umstead's descriptions paint a very vivid picture of how it is. He is able to do this without making it seem contrived either.
Gabriel's Redemption does fall short in a couple of ways though. It seemed odd to me that hard living hard fighting men (Both Bad and Good) didn't swear. The use of the word Baggin' seemed like an odd choice and made the fact that the language in the book was very much 'G-rate' obvious. The other critisism I have is that the ended seems a drawn out, I don't want to spoil it but somethings can be left unsaid, however after learning that there is indeed a sequel in the works it may work as part of the build up to that.
Overall
This is a Sci-Fi story and very comfortable as such. Steve Umstead put a lot of thought behind his characters and settings making them jump off the page. Gabriel is sure to become more relaxed as the stories go on as will Mr. Umstead and both will continue to entertain I'm sure.
A down and out former military heavy weight finds himself re-instated on a top secret mission to stop drug trafficing.
First Thoughts:
It's all very cliched and unimaginative as far as plot line goes however Steve Umpstead uses this simple plot line and character to create a very imaginative and believable world around. His detail and style make Gabriel's Redemption a quick study and suspension of disbelief is easy to achieve as he takes current 20th century technology and imagines it as it would evolve with the world from now until when this story takes place. I am very impressed and although I can likely figure out how it will end that doesn't mean it's not worth finding out if I'm correct, and even if I am correct I won't be dissappointed.
Thoughts Upon Completion:
An excellent first book and well written. It's very easy to image Gabriel's universe as Mr. Umstead's descriptions paint a very vivid picture of how it is. He is able to do this without making it seem contrived either.
Gabriel's Redemption does fall short in a couple of ways though. It seemed odd to me that hard living hard fighting men (Both Bad and Good) didn't swear. The use of the word Baggin' seemed like an odd choice and made the fact that the language in the book was very much 'G-rate' obvious. The other critisism I have is that the ended seems a drawn out, I don't want to spoil it but somethings can be left unsaid, however after learning that there is indeed a sequel in the works it may work as part of the build up to that.
Overall
This is a Sci-Fi story and very comfortable as such. Steve Umstead put a lot of thought behind his characters and settings making them jump off the page. Gabriel is sure to become more relaxed as the stories go on as will Mr. Umstead and both will continue to entertain I'm sure.
May 21, 2011
Gabriel’s Redemption by Steve Umstead is a science fiction that I have been waiting to read for a long time.
Books like Gabriel’s Redemption are the reason I started reading science fiction as a young man. It brought back great memories of space flight and strange new worlds and spacemen fighting to save entire planets. What a great read.
Steve Umstead has written a book that reminds me of Ray Bradbury and many scifi authors from the past. I could see in Steve’s writing that he has knowledge of combat tactics, both with squads and hand-to-hand. The author’s imagination is amazing as he brings this new world to life.
Gabriel’s is given a chance to once again do what he was born to do. He and his team work through deceit and treachery to save new found life forms and the people who would protect them. This story is not all combat but what science fiction was meant to be, an adventure.
Read Gabriel’s Redemption and you will be taken on a ride through possibilities and page turning adventures.
Anyone who is a Treckie or science buff will love this tale. Steve Umstead has done a wonderful job and I look forward to reading more of his great stories.
Books like Gabriel’s Redemption are the reason I started reading science fiction as a young man. It brought back great memories of space flight and strange new worlds and spacemen fighting to save entire planets. What a great read.
Steve Umstead has written a book that reminds me of Ray Bradbury and many scifi authors from the past. I could see in Steve’s writing that he has knowledge of combat tactics, both with squads and hand-to-hand. The author’s imagination is amazing as he brings this new world to life.
Gabriel’s is given a chance to once again do what he was born to do. He and his team work through deceit and treachery to save new found life forms and the people who would protect them. This story is not all combat but what science fiction was meant to be, an adventure.
Read Gabriel’s Redemption and you will be taken on a ride through possibilities and page turning adventures.
Anyone who is a Treckie or science buff will love this tale. Steve Umstead has done a wonderful job and I look forward to reading more of his great stories.
August 7, 2011
Disclaimer: I’m rather fond of Steve Umstead as a friend and fellow #pubwrite. We met at ReaderCON this year where he presented me with a signed copy of Gabriel’s Redemption. That being said, if I didn’t enjoy his writing and the SciFi thriller GR is, I would have sent him a quiet e-mail rather than posting a review.
This first of a series follows Commander Evan Gabriel of the near-future North American Federation. As the title suggests, this is a tale of a soldier’s journey redeem himself, not only as a warrior, but as a man.
Umstead has created a futuristic world I look forward to exploring in further adventures. He paints a wide picture—a matte painting, if you will—that sets the tone both for humanities future and the far-off world of Poliahu. The character-rich story is non-stop adventure (think Jason Bourne travels the stars) and a completely immersive read.
Fantastic character development, “Lord of the Rings” style scenery and an attention to detail that was a pure joy to experience.
This first of a series follows Commander Evan Gabriel of the near-future North American Federation. As the title suggests, this is a tale of a soldier’s journey redeem himself, not only as a warrior, but as a man.
Umstead has created a futuristic world I look forward to exploring in further adventures. He paints a wide picture—a matte painting, if you will—that sets the tone both for humanities future and the far-off world of Poliahu. The character-rich story is non-stop adventure (think Jason Bourne travels the stars) and a completely immersive read.
Fantastic character development, “Lord of the Rings” style scenery and an attention to detail that was a pure joy to experience.
February 11, 2012
I used to read SciFi quite often when I was younger and, while I still enjoy it as an occasional pastime, it is not my main area of interest.
I think My. Umstead does a good job offsetting up his version of the future. I particularly like the timeline he sets out at the end of his novel as it sets the scene for this series of novels - Gabriel's Redemption being the first in the series. We have a world in the not to distant future where Mars has been colonized and interstellar travel is accomplished through wormholes. The novel is fast paced and I think will be much enjoyed by fans of the genre. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who likes SciFi.
While the author does take some care to tell us the backstory of the main character, Evan Gabriel, I found most of the other characters to be not realistic. As is often the case in the thriller genre, action replaces realism. This is not bad as this is meant to be entertainment, rather than thought provoking. All in all, a good debut to a series that many will find enjoyable.
I think My. Umstead does a good job offsetting up his version of the future. I particularly like the timeline he sets out at the end of his novel as it sets the scene for this series of novels - Gabriel's Redemption being the first in the series. We have a world in the not to distant future where Mars has been colonized and interstellar travel is accomplished through wormholes. The novel is fast paced and I think will be much enjoyed by fans of the genre. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who likes SciFi.
While the author does take some care to tell us the backstory of the main character, Evan Gabriel, I found most of the other characters to be not realistic. As is often the case in the thriller genre, action replaces realism. This is not bad as this is meant to be entertainment, rather than thought provoking. All in all, a good debut to a series that many will find enjoyable.
April 6, 2012
Meet Evan Gabriel. He’s your lovable military flunky. Does the right thing, saves his men, gets knifed in the back by political nepotism. You want the truth! You can’t handle the truth! Anyway, in this little gem of a book, Gabriel is reactivated for duty after a dishonorable discharge during the latter half of the 22nd century.
The assignment is to stop a designer drug called Dew from overwhelming the military and the human race at large. The twist is that it comes from off planet, a long way off planet. That should be all you need to get you revved up and ready for reading Gabriel’s Redemption, a well conceived and executed science fiction, military thriller.
The tech is thought out and sprinkled throughout the opening at a smooth pace, as is Gabriel’s character. Overall, Umstead offers us a shining example of why independent authors are here to stay. Oh, and the other two in the trilogy are available as well. Read it! Review it! Share it!
The assignment is to stop a designer drug called Dew from overwhelming the military and the human race at large. The twist is that it comes from off planet, a long way off planet. That should be all you need to get you revved up and ready for reading Gabriel’s Redemption, a well conceived and executed science fiction, military thriller.
The tech is thought out and sprinkled throughout the opening at a smooth pace, as is Gabriel’s character. Overall, Umstead offers us a shining example of why independent authors are here to stay. Oh, and the other two in the trilogy are available as well. Read it! Review it! Share it!
November 16, 2011
I am a fan of sci-fi and the Kindle (and Twitter) has helped me discover authors such as Steve Umstead. Gabriel's Redemption is Steve's first novel and is a nicely written sci-fi novel where Earth has colonized Mars and a wormhole allows for discovery of planets. Besides the story, I enjoyed the author's resourcefulness with his use of technology, gadgets, bio-tech, and his vision of what Earth will be like in the future. The only minor criticism is the novel starts a bit too slow (back story for main character) and ends a bit too fast. Looking forward to reading the other books in the trilogy.
September 23, 2011
Within the first few pages you're taken into the world of Evan Gabriel as he's "drafted" into helping an alien species against the tyranical company exploiting them. As the adventure grows Evan is faced with demons from his past as he works to set right the world he finds waiting for him.
December 23, 2012
This was pretty good yarn. I finished it quickly, a good sign, and enjoyed the main character enough that I bought the second book and started it immediately upon finishing the first: high praise from me. If you enjoy sci-fi action adventure you should give it a read.,
May 14, 2011
The detail that went into the world-building was just fantastic - made the whole thing utterly believable. I loved the story and the characters. I can't wait to read Steve's next book!
December 31, 2011
Two-haiku review:
Straightforward mission
Stop torture, drug extraction
From alien life
But deeper motives
Gabriel's team in danger
Stirring space thriller
Straightforward mission
Stop torture, drug extraction
From alien life
But deeper motives
Gabriel's team in danger
Stirring space thriller
November 13, 2022
When I started this novel, I was afraid it was going to be one of those military science fiction books that simply overwhelm readers with all kind of statistics about the weaponry and then spend the rest of the time painstakingly detailing every minute of their battles. I was pleasantly surprised because this is NOT how this one worked! It did have some of that, but, mainly, it was a quick read with just enough action. There were good guys (and gals), bad ones, and some surprise loyalty switches.
I am now looking forward to the next volume with more anticipation than I had before. I'm hoping we will be able to learn more about our team.
I am now looking forward to the next volume with more anticipation than I had before. I'm hoping we will be able to learn more about our team.
Read
April 1, 2022Sci fi
This is overall an interesting story. But the formatting drove me to the point of skimming. It jumped from one group to another with no indications. Also to much explaining the backstory and technical terms.
This is overall an interesting story. But the formatting drove me to the point of skimming. It jumped from one group to another with no indications. Also to much explaining the backstory and technical terms.
January 18, 2018
Fast paced high adventure Sci-Fi. Fun, action packed, but not deep literature.
August 10, 2025
this seems like it could be the beginning of a 30 issue serial
April 1, 2012
Gabriel's Redemption, you may remember, was one of the two titles that won my twitter contest a while back. I picked this self-published title at random from the 100 followers I had and agreed to review it. Honestly, it couldn't have gone better.
Now, I'm going to come clean about something, and I don't want anyone mocking me too badly. I don't read Sci-Fi. I know, I know. I really need to get started, and I am slowly getting there. Fantasy has always been my baby, but I'm trying to change that. So I started into Gabriel's Redemption expecting...nothing, really. I've had terrible luck with self-pubbed titles in the past, and I'm horribly under-read when it comes to Sci-Fi. However, I left Gabriel's Redemption with a newfound belief that there are authors out there self publishing that are worth reading, which might surprise some folks out there.
Evan Gabriel was easy to like as a character. He's got that Danny Glover "gettin' too old for this shit" vibe going for him. A hard man that had something terrible happen in his past, he's getting thrown back into the action all of a sudden, and it's no surprise that not everything it what it seems. The other characters weren't quite as well rounded, particularly Sabra and Lamber, which led to a little disappointment on my end when things took a twist about 50% of the way through the book.
I kept turning pages, and not just because I had promised a stranger on the internet that I would. I actually enjoyed the book. Sci-Fi has a different feel than fantasy, and as someone who hasn't read a lot of it, it was interesting to get a feel for the pacing and description, which seem somewhat different than fantasy. If I had to point out any major flaw in the book, it would be that things seemed to take too long to get going. I was reading on the Kindle, so I don't have a page count, but I think i was over 50% of the way through the book before our protagonist got into a scuffle with our antagonist. The stuff leading up to it was interesting enough for me, but for someone that's more well-read in Sci-Fi, it might not have held their attention as easily.
The book felt somewhat predictable, but once the pace got moving it was easy to just keep turning pages and enjoying the whole experience. Umstead's got a career ahead of him, and he's already got books 2 and 3 in this trilogy published for a good price, so it just might be something I'll come back to in the future. I won't declare that this is the greatest Sci-Fi epic of all time, but it was a fun read, with an enjoyable protagonist that had an almost James Bond feel to him (especially by the end of the first book).
I loved
The Fun Factor: This felt like a summer read of a classic-style Sci-Fi.
Umstead's action scenes. He can write them pretty darned well.
The idea of extracting pituitary glands from Ewoks and making drugs out of them (that's how I imagined it prior to meeting the aliens on the distant planet).
I hated
The slow start. While I kept turning pages (which is a testament to his writing) others might be turned off by the long setup to the action of the book.
More than anything, I came away from this with the knowledge that there ARE good writers out there doing self-publishing, and that Steve Umstead is probably toward the head of the pack. It's a light, fun read, but that doesn't mean there's no talent there. Also, you can tell that his book is actually pretty worthwhile just by looking at Amazon. Unlike all of the other people who have 20 5 star reviews, 3 four star reviews and nothing else, Umstead actually has people who AREN'T his mother reading and reviewing his book, which means 3 stars are present and have meaningful reviews. Good luck, Steve! You impressed me and made me a believer in the self-pub industry to a degree. I was expecting another novel that fell apart halfway through, but yours got considerably better with each page.
Now, I'm going to come clean about something, and I don't want anyone mocking me too badly. I don't read Sci-Fi. I know, I know. I really need to get started, and I am slowly getting there. Fantasy has always been my baby, but I'm trying to change that. So I started into Gabriel's Redemption expecting...nothing, really. I've had terrible luck with self-pubbed titles in the past, and I'm horribly under-read when it comes to Sci-Fi. However, I left Gabriel's Redemption with a newfound belief that there are authors out there self publishing that are worth reading, which might surprise some folks out there.
Evan Gabriel was easy to like as a character. He's got that Danny Glover "gettin' too old for this shit" vibe going for him. A hard man that had something terrible happen in his past, he's getting thrown back into the action all of a sudden, and it's no surprise that not everything it what it seems. The other characters weren't quite as well rounded, particularly Sabra and Lamber, which led to a little disappointment on my end when things took a twist about 50% of the way through the book.
I kept turning pages, and not just because I had promised a stranger on the internet that I would. I actually enjoyed the book. Sci-Fi has a different feel than fantasy, and as someone who hasn't read a lot of it, it was interesting to get a feel for the pacing and description, which seem somewhat different than fantasy. If I had to point out any major flaw in the book, it would be that things seemed to take too long to get going. I was reading on the Kindle, so I don't have a page count, but I think i was over 50% of the way through the book before our protagonist got into a scuffle with our antagonist. The stuff leading up to it was interesting enough for me, but for someone that's more well-read in Sci-Fi, it might not have held their attention as easily.
The book felt somewhat predictable, but once the pace got moving it was easy to just keep turning pages and enjoying the whole experience. Umstead's got a career ahead of him, and he's already got books 2 and 3 in this trilogy published for a good price, so it just might be something I'll come back to in the future. I won't declare that this is the greatest Sci-Fi epic of all time, but it was a fun read, with an enjoyable protagonist that had an almost James Bond feel to him (especially by the end of the first book).
I loved
The Fun Factor: This felt like a summer read of a classic-style Sci-Fi.
Umstead's action scenes. He can write them pretty darned well.
The idea of extracting pituitary glands from Ewoks and making drugs out of them (that's how I imagined it prior to meeting the aliens on the distant planet).
I hated
The slow start. While I kept turning pages (which is a testament to his writing) others might be turned off by the long setup to the action of the book.
More than anything, I came away from this with the knowledge that there ARE good writers out there doing self-publishing, and that Steve Umstead is probably toward the head of the pack. It's a light, fun read, but that doesn't mean there's no talent there. Also, you can tell that his book is actually pretty worthwhile just by looking at Amazon. Unlike all of the other people who have 20 5 star reviews, 3 four star reviews and nothing else, Umstead actually has people who AREN'T his mother reading and reviewing his book, which means 3 stars are present and have meaningful reviews. Good luck, Steve! You impressed me and made me a believer in the self-pub industry to a degree. I was expecting another novel that fell apart halfway through, but yours got considerably better with each page.
January 14, 2012
I received the copy from the author.
This is the first book I read in 2012.
Set in a not to far away future, Steve Umstead delivers a believable story centered on Evan Gabriel, an dishonored special forces commander. I liked that the story is embedded into a greater time line.
I gave four stars because there have been parts in the book which have been too technical for me.
I posted my full review over at Edi's Book Lighthouse.
And this is the main text:
My Expectations
My expectations have been nebulous. There was something in the blurb which forced my wanting to read the book. It was something like a gut decision. And mostly I'm happy with the result when I follow my gut.
Theme
Gabriel's Redemption is a near-future military science fiction story of a personal journey seen from the perspective of a soldier who has lost everything; one who desperately needs to redeem himself not only in his government’s eyes, but also his own. Interstellar action and political intrigue mixed with one-on-one battles on the surface of a frozen planet in this exciting tale of salvation.
Not to forget the recurring questions of responsibility, honor and humanity.
Setting
The setting is definitely one of the highlights for me. Steve Umstead delivers a sometimes appalling but always believable description of the near future. The timeline at the end of the book is very helpful. It is incredible to see that with a few sentences the reader can imagine a fully developed world. I also appreciated that it is possible to reach other worlds by using wormholes but that the final approach still takes time. The distance between our world and Steve Umstead's Earth is nearly nothing compared to Star Trek.
Plot and Character(s)
Gabriel's Redemption does not accelerate as a Ferrari. It gave me time to get comfortable with the world the characters and the style of the author. Without the blurb you would not have a clou in which direction the the story will develop. I like that because it gives me the opportunity to speculate. I found it refreshing and promising at the same time that the reader only gets hints about the terrible event on Planet Eden. You know something worse happened. It is a deep impact on Gabriel's life, his actions and opinions.
I also liked the unobtrusive depiction of the inhabitants of Poliahu. There is more behind them as you can see at first sight. The reader seems to know the "good" and the "bad" guys from the beginning. But there are more janus-faced persons as you assume.
Style
Even in fast paced action scenes Steve Umstead takes his time to deliver details and that does not interrupt the flow of the story.
Most of the time the writing is rich and let you forget that you are reading a book. It sounds more like a good friend tells you an amazing story. But there are parts where I felt ripped out of the story. That was the case when it got too technical. I do not mind to read technical explanations as long as I'm able to imagine what I read.
The Inevitable
What shall I say. A well done science fiction debut and a good start into a new series. My only complaint is that some parts of the story have been too technical for me. I do not want to understand every single detail but it must be possible for me to imagine what I read.
You like to read science fiction with
- a great and convincing back story,
- well done action scenes,
- a main character who does not reveal everything from his past
- a believable story with twists and turns and without a cliffhanger
then you should give Gabriel's Redemption a try and then you will end like me:
Hungry to get more information about Gabriel and his world.
I look forward to read Gabriel's Return and Gabriel's Revenge.
This is the first book I read in 2012.
Set in a not to far away future, Steve Umstead delivers a believable story centered on Evan Gabriel, an dishonored special forces commander. I liked that the story is embedded into a greater time line.
I gave four stars because there have been parts in the book which have been too technical for me.
I posted my full review over at Edi's Book Lighthouse.
And this is the main text:
My Expectations
My expectations have been nebulous. There was something in the blurb which forced my wanting to read the book. It was something like a gut decision. And mostly I'm happy with the result when I follow my gut.
Theme
Gabriel's Redemption is a near-future military science fiction story of a personal journey seen from the perspective of a soldier who has lost everything; one who desperately needs to redeem himself not only in his government’s eyes, but also his own. Interstellar action and political intrigue mixed with one-on-one battles on the surface of a frozen planet in this exciting tale of salvation.
Not to forget the recurring questions of responsibility, honor and humanity.
Setting
The setting is definitely one of the highlights for me. Steve Umstead delivers a sometimes appalling but always believable description of the near future. The timeline at the end of the book is very helpful. It is incredible to see that with a few sentences the reader can imagine a fully developed world. I also appreciated that it is possible to reach other worlds by using wormholes but that the final approach still takes time. The distance between our world and Steve Umstead's Earth is nearly nothing compared to Star Trek.
Plot and Character(s)
Gabriel's Redemption does not accelerate as a Ferrari. It gave me time to get comfortable with the world the characters and the style of the author. Without the blurb you would not have a clou in which direction the the story will develop. I like that because it gives me the opportunity to speculate. I found it refreshing and promising at the same time that the reader only gets hints about the terrible event on Planet Eden. You know something worse happened. It is a deep impact on Gabriel's life, his actions and opinions.
I also liked the unobtrusive depiction of the inhabitants of Poliahu. There is more behind them as you can see at first sight. The reader seems to know the "good" and the "bad" guys from the beginning. But there are more janus-faced persons as you assume.
Style
Even in fast paced action scenes Steve Umstead takes his time to deliver details and that does not interrupt the flow of the story.
Most of the time the writing is rich and let you forget that you are reading a book. It sounds more like a good friend tells you an amazing story. But there are parts where I felt ripped out of the story. That was the case when it got too technical. I do not mind to read technical explanations as long as I'm able to imagine what I read.
The Inevitable
What shall I say. A well done science fiction debut and a good start into a new series. My only complaint is that some parts of the story have been too technical for me. I do not want to understand every single detail but it must be possible for me to imagine what I read.
You like to read science fiction with
- a great and convincing back story,
- well done action scenes,
- a main character who does not reveal everything from his past
- a believable story with twists and turns and without a cliffhanger
then you should give Gabriel's Redemption a try and then you will end like me:
Hungry to get more information about Gabriel and his world.
I look forward to read Gabriel's Return and Gabriel's Revenge.
November 11, 2011
It’s suspense from the outset of Steve Umstead’s debut novel, and book 1 of the ‘Evan Gabriel Trilogy’, named for his main character. This is one of the better science fiction, action novels you’ll find out there whether indie or big market. Umstead is meticulous in establishing the back story for not only his characters but this futuristic universe while being mindful to maintain the pace and flow of his plot.
Umstead intertwines much of his character development and interaction with some jazzy futuristic technology incorporated in a way that is very believable. Those deftly written inter-character relationships in the early chapters enable the reader to understand the social, political and economic realities of this future timeframe because it is based on an evolution of our modern standards. All the while you will get to know Gabriel and his past, which drives much of the suspense throughout the story.
It’s that combination of the anticipation of a action-packed collision between our hero and his antagonists, along with genuine curiosity surrounding this futuristic world that make this novel very difficult to put down. While some may argue that there are elements that are too predictable, I think they are very few but well timed and strategically placed to keep the story moving at a fast pace and in a linear fashion.
All too often a stories are lost by an author chasing and explaining far too many details in the setting or trying to incorporate too many turning points throughout the plot that a reader becomes confused or bored. In both scenarios, Gabriel’s Redemption follows a logical path of genuine suspense and story development to a fitting climax with enough surprises to make you take more than one deep breath.
Umstead carefully balances the need to educate the reader while keeping you glued to the pages, an absolute must to elevate to a great sci-fi. More importantly you have to relate or empathize with the main character to some degree. You’ll easily do that as you learn more about Evan Gabriel and his bid for redemption.
Gabriel is that fallen hero who lost everything he worked for as a special operations officer. This former elite military man must take on one more mission for the man who brought him down in order to redeem his career and restore faith in himself. Gabriel knows there is more behind the mission than he’s been told but he’s surrounded by a team he knows nothing about. With no allies, Grabriel will have to follow his instincts in order to bring himself and his team back alive.
Gabriel is flawed by the universal politics and ambitions of the powerbrokers in this world. He is a tool, an instrument whose race to uncover a truth will completely reshape the universe one way or another. With only a finite amount of time, he must flush out the villains nearest him and expose their masters amongst the elite. More than his own skill and intuition, Gabriel must learn who to trust others because these are monumental tasks he cannot do along.
Gabriel’s Redemption is a 'guys read'; a hard-core science fiction with plenty of gadgets and adrenaline to keep the synapses firing while you turn the pages all night long. In fact, I managed to devote twelve straight hours to reading this novel and highly recommend it to any guy who loves science fiction or military-style action because this has plenty of both. I couldn’t put it down and I can’t give it less than five stars.
More importantly, I can't wait to read the next book - Gabriel's Return
Tom Clementson (Kindle Book Review)
Umstead intertwines much of his character development and interaction with some jazzy futuristic technology incorporated in a way that is very believable. Those deftly written inter-character relationships in the early chapters enable the reader to understand the social, political and economic realities of this future timeframe because it is based on an evolution of our modern standards. All the while you will get to know Gabriel and his past, which drives much of the suspense throughout the story.
It’s that combination of the anticipation of a action-packed collision between our hero and his antagonists, along with genuine curiosity surrounding this futuristic world that make this novel very difficult to put down. While some may argue that there are elements that are too predictable, I think they are very few but well timed and strategically placed to keep the story moving at a fast pace and in a linear fashion.
All too often a stories are lost by an author chasing and explaining far too many details in the setting or trying to incorporate too many turning points throughout the plot that a reader becomes confused or bored. In both scenarios, Gabriel’s Redemption follows a logical path of genuine suspense and story development to a fitting climax with enough surprises to make you take more than one deep breath.
Umstead carefully balances the need to educate the reader while keeping you glued to the pages, an absolute must to elevate to a great sci-fi. More importantly you have to relate or empathize with the main character to some degree. You’ll easily do that as you learn more about Evan Gabriel and his bid for redemption.
Gabriel is that fallen hero who lost everything he worked for as a special operations officer. This former elite military man must take on one more mission for the man who brought him down in order to redeem his career and restore faith in himself. Gabriel knows there is more behind the mission than he’s been told but he’s surrounded by a team he knows nothing about. With no allies, Grabriel will have to follow his instincts in order to bring himself and his team back alive.
Gabriel is flawed by the universal politics and ambitions of the powerbrokers in this world. He is a tool, an instrument whose race to uncover a truth will completely reshape the universe one way or another. With only a finite amount of time, he must flush out the villains nearest him and expose their masters amongst the elite. More than his own skill and intuition, Gabriel must learn who to trust others because these are monumental tasks he cannot do along.
Gabriel’s Redemption is a 'guys read'; a hard-core science fiction with plenty of gadgets and adrenaline to keep the synapses firing while you turn the pages all night long. In fact, I managed to devote twelve straight hours to reading this novel and highly recommend it to any guy who loves science fiction or military-style action because this has plenty of both. I couldn’t put it down and I can’t give it less than five stars.
More importantly, I can't wait to read the next book - Gabriel's Return
Tom Clementson (Kindle Book Review)
October 24, 2012
I actually won "Gabriel's Redemption" alongside the 2nd novel in the "Evan Gabriel Trilogy" in an online competition and it had always stayed quite low on my reading priorities. However, I am very happy that I did finally put it onto my kindle as it is a thoroughly enjoyable near future Science Fiction novel that had me entertained from start to finish.
The novel follows Evan Gabriel, a future commander in the North American Federation Navy who has fallen from grace due to a previous mission that had gone bad on a planet called Eden. However, when a new dangerous drug is traced to the far-distant world of Poliahu, Gabriel is asked to help by the very man who had previously let him take the full blame for what occurred on Eden. Gabriel knows there is more behind the mission than he's been told but he takes up the offer anyway as a chance to restore some faith in himself. When he arrives on the frozen planet of Poliahu he soon discovers that not all his allies are what they at first appeared and so he must rely on his instincts and skills to enable him to bring his team back alive.
Umstead really has created a convincing, well developed world that had me completely believing that what I was reading about could actually be possible. The novel was also a superb example of what military sci-fi can actually be as it wasn't just a war story where the guns have been swapped guns; it shows the reader some of the impact of new technology on strategy and combat. I also enjoyed how it used the well defined, varied and dynamic characters to delve into aspects of a soldier's life such as honour, teamwork, responsibility and guilt.
In addition I found myself struggling to the put the book down as it is full of twists, suspense, action and moves along at a quick pace once you pass the first few chapters. In fact, the only real flaw in the book that I found is that it was rather short, I would have loved to see Umstead really develop some of the plot points more as I don't think the overall pace would have actually suffered that much. The first few chapters highlight this point really well in my opinion, as they are slower paced and quite in-depth so that the reader can explore the inter-relationships of the characters and the world they currently inhabit so that the later portions of the story could be fully appreciated.
The biggest surprise I found with the book was the high quality of the editing; I hardly noticed any issue with the grammar, spelling or sentence structure which was quite an eye opener. To be honest, I never usually let this type of thing bother me unless it is terrible and therefore never usually comment on it but I wanted to highlight with this review how well written this book was when I compare it against other books, both self-published and traditionally published.
Overall, I found this to be a very enjoyable book that has been written to a high standard and does a great job at entertaining the reader with a believable and interesting future society. I have actually already rocketed through the next book in the trilogy and will definitely be picking up the 3rd book at some point in the near future.
The novel follows Evan Gabriel, a future commander in the North American Federation Navy who has fallen from grace due to a previous mission that had gone bad on a planet called Eden. However, when a new dangerous drug is traced to the far-distant world of Poliahu, Gabriel is asked to help by the very man who had previously let him take the full blame for what occurred on Eden. Gabriel knows there is more behind the mission than he's been told but he takes up the offer anyway as a chance to restore some faith in himself. When he arrives on the frozen planet of Poliahu he soon discovers that not all his allies are what they at first appeared and so he must rely on his instincts and skills to enable him to bring his team back alive.
Umstead really has created a convincing, well developed world that had me completely believing that what I was reading about could actually be possible. The novel was also a superb example of what military sci-fi can actually be as it wasn't just a war story where the guns have been swapped guns; it shows the reader some of the impact of new technology on strategy and combat. I also enjoyed how it used the well defined, varied and dynamic characters to delve into aspects of a soldier's life such as honour, teamwork, responsibility and guilt.
In addition I found myself struggling to the put the book down as it is full of twists, suspense, action and moves along at a quick pace once you pass the first few chapters. In fact, the only real flaw in the book that I found is that it was rather short, I would have loved to see Umstead really develop some of the plot points more as I don't think the overall pace would have actually suffered that much. The first few chapters highlight this point really well in my opinion, as they are slower paced and quite in-depth so that the reader can explore the inter-relationships of the characters and the world they currently inhabit so that the later portions of the story could be fully appreciated.
The biggest surprise I found with the book was the high quality of the editing; I hardly noticed any issue with the grammar, spelling or sentence structure which was quite an eye opener. To be honest, I never usually let this type of thing bother me unless it is terrible and therefore never usually comment on it but I wanted to highlight with this review how well written this book was when I compare it against other books, both self-published and traditionally published.
Overall, I found this to be a very enjoyable book that has been written to a high standard and does a great job at entertaining the reader with a believable and interesting future society. I have actually already rocketed through the next book in the trilogy and will definitely be picking up the 3rd book at some point in the near future.
August 3, 2016
Over the last year I have enjoyed the fact that you can find a huge range of relatively inexpensive books on Amazon, and as a writer I have been very interested to observe the number of self published titles that are cropping up. Self publishing gets a lot of criticism, some warranted and some unfair, and the Amazon selection provides ammunition to both sides of the debate.
Quite a few of the books I have purchased are ones where I have read a few chapters and it has quickly become obvious that they are self published for a reason. Many haven’t been proofed properly and could have done with the services of an editor, or just contain terrible writing, and would have never seen the light of day if it weren’t for the platform Amazon provides. But, there have also been some books where the quality, both of production and of writing, has been indistinguishable from anything coming from a traditional publisher, and demonstrate why self publishing can be a legitimate avenue that provides opportunities for the production of great books.
“Gabriel’s Redemption” is one of those books. From a technical point of view the production values are excellent, with less errors than I have seen in releases from major publishers, though there were one or two places where an a little more editorial input might have been useful. Umstead’s writing is extremely tight, and gives the impression of someone who has been writing for a long time and has put a great deal of effort into honing his craft (whether this is the case I don’t know). Some self published work can be self indulgent and sloppy, but Umstead avoids this trap and is writer at the top of his game.
But, none of that would matter if the story itself wasn’t any good, and this where “Gabriel’s Redemption” really shines. Some so called “military sci fi” simply substitutes lasers for machine guns, but “Gabriel’s Redemption” is science fiction in the true sense of the term. It examines the impact that technological advances would have on combat and the changes it would bring about in traditional strategy, and creates a convincing future with a well fleshed out world and believable science.
This does not come at the expense of action by any means, “Gabriel’s Redemption” moves at a frenetic pace from beginning to end. The plot is full of twists, most of which I didn’t see coming, and the characterisation is strong. It was great to see some original concepts in what can be a derivative field, Unstead is to be commended for the scope of his ideas.
If you are a fan of this genre there is no excuse to not give it a try, especially at this price point (I felt vaguely guilty for getting it so cheap). If you enjoyed books like Scalzi’s “Old Man’s War”, Michael Marks’ “Dominant Species” or S.M. Stirling’s “Draka” series you will undoubtedly enjoy this book immensely.
Quite a few of the books I have purchased are ones where I have read a few chapters and it has quickly become obvious that they are self published for a reason. Many haven’t been proofed properly and could have done with the services of an editor, or just contain terrible writing, and would have never seen the light of day if it weren’t for the platform Amazon provides. But, there have also been some books where the quality, both of production and of writing, has been indistinguishable from anything coming from a traditional publisher, and demonstrate why self publishing can be a legitimate avenue that provides opportunities for the production of great books.
“Gabriel’s Redemption” is one of those books. From a technical point of view the production values are excellent, with less errors than I have seen in releases from major publishers, though there were one or two places where an a little more editorial input might have been useful. Umstead’s writing is extremely tight, and gives the impression of someone who has been writing for a long time and has put a great deal of effort into honing his craft (whether this is the case I don’t know). Some self published work can be self indulgent and sloppy, but Umstead avoids this trap and is writer at the top of his game.
But, none of that would matter if the story itself wasn’t any good, and this where “Gabriel’s Redemption” really shines. Some so called “military sci fi” simply substitutes lasers for machine guns, but “Gabriel’s Redemption” is science fiction in the true sense of the term. It examines the impact that technological advances would have on combat and the changes it would bring about in traditional strategy, and creates a convincing future with a well fleshed out world and believable science.
This does not come at the expense of action by any means, “Gabriel’s Redemption” moves at a frenetic pace from beginning to end. The plot is full of twists, most of which I didn’t see coming, and the characterisation is strong. It was great to see some original concepts in what can be a derivative field, Unstead is to be commended for the scope of his ideas.
If you are a fan of this genre there is no excuse to not give it a try, especially at this price point (I felt vaguely guilty for getting it so cheap). If you enjoyed books like Scalzi’s “Old Man’s War”, Michael Marks’ “Dominant Species” or S.M. Stirling’s “Draka” series you will undoubtedly enjoy this book immensely.
December 10, 2013
Gabriel���s Redemption by Steve Umstead tells the tale of a man named Evan Gabriel. Evan���s past haunts him, but the opportunity arises for him to make up for what happened. He accepts a mission to a far off planet, Poliahu, to find and capture a drug lord. And what he finds upon arriving at the planet, not only surprises him, but has the potential to change all human lives dramatically.
The Good: Gabriel���s Redemption is a very well written book. The author���s use of words is very easy to follow and not cluttered with too much information. I particularly like that the author uses colloquialisms more in the writing than proper grammar. This doesn���t mean that the writing sounds unintelligent. Rather, you feel like a friend is relating the story to you. It���s actually very pleasing to read this style of writing. And I can honestly say this is the first time I read a book that made me feel that way.
The Bad: This is a very minor gripe, because overall, the book does a fine job of explaining details about the characters. However, the main character, Evan Gabriel, doesn���t appear enough in the book, in my opinion. I feel like there is more about him and his personality that the author should reveal but never does. I understand who he is as a character, but feeling more of that within the pages (or maybe I should say locations) of the book would have been nice. Although it is completely possible that this was the author���s intent, since this book is part of a trilogy and the author my further develop the character in future books.
The Ugly: There is one thing about this book that would greatly improve it. Cut it in half and you have a great story! However, this is not the case. The book clocks in at around 66,000 words ��� which is a good length. However, the first half of the book is very slow. The author introduces many characters and their personalities, but I feel that it just drags. While there is a goal introduced in the beginning of the story, it takes way too long to get to that goal and introduce the next one. It is not until about halfway through the book that it really picks up and becomes interesting. I feel shortening this book would have made it better.
Overall, I liked Gabriel���s Redemption. I see great potential within the world the author has created and hope that the next book in the series improves upon some of the aspects mentioned above. If you���re into trilogies, give this one a shot, because the ride is just getting started.
The Good: Gabriel���s Redemption is a very well written book. The author���s use of words is very easy to follow and not cluttered with too much information. I particularly like that the author uses colloquialisms more in the writing than proper grammar. This doesn���t mean that the writing sounds unintelligent. Rather, you feel like a friend is relating the story to you. It���s actually very pleasing to read this style of writing. And I can honestly say this is the first time I read a book that made me feel that way.
The Bad: This is a very minor gripe, because overall, the book does a fine job of explaining details about the characters. However, the main character, Evan Gabriel, doesn���t appear enough in the book, in my opinion. I feel like there is more about him and his personality that the author should reveal but never does. I understand who he is as a character, but feeling more of that within the pages (or maybe I should say locations) of the book would have been nice. Although it is completely possible that this was the author���s intent, since this book is part of a trilogy and the author my further develop the character in future books.
The Ugly: There is one thing about this book that would greatly improve it. Cut it in half and you have a great story! However, this is not the case. The book clocks in at around 66,000 words ��� which is a good length. However, the first half of the book is very slow. The author introduces many characters and their personalities, but I feel that it just drags. While there is a goal introduced in the beginning of the story, it takes way too long to get to that goal and introduce the next one. It is not until about halfway through the book that it really picks up and becomes interesting. I feel shortening this book would have made it better.
Overall, I liked Gabriel���s Redemption. I see great potential within the world the author has created and hope that the next book in the series improves upon some of the aspects mentioned above. If you���re into trilogies, give this one a shot, because the ride is just getting started.
August 30, 2013
There's one tiny problem with rating this ebook: I read it in two time periods. I began and stopped reading it before I started LORETA neurofeedback and direct brain stimulation to help me with my reading. And I picked it up again and finished reading it one session short of the end of my LORETA treatments. Thus there are two different reading-level 'me's who read it with two different reactions.
The first problem for me is that it's not my usual genre. Due to my brain injury, I'm rather partial to sticking to mysteries and to series I know by authors I've lived with for years. But this year I wanted to make a concerted effort to try and read new-to-me authors; hence, buying this ebook. Plus I follow the author on Twitter and wanted to try and support him. Well, my good intentions kind of tanked. I couldn't keep all the characters in my head; I had trouble following the plot; my injured brain was not happy with something new; and despite the fact that Umstead used Toronto as one of the settings -- which definitely perked me up -- I couldn't engage with the story. Because of my brain injury, I really was pushing my limits with this novel. The worse thing for my ego is it's not a hard read. It's written well and with good flow. Anyway, a library ebook became available, and I dropped Gabriel's Redemption. I intended to go back. Really, I did! But one thing led to another, and I couldn't face the effort.
But then I picked it up just before my penultimate LORETA session, right after the third direct stimulation of my Wernicke's area (area for language input, aka reading), and finished reading it after that LORETA session. Big difference. I still couldn't keep the characters straight at first. But then they started to firm up in my mind. The plot became knowable. And the story engaged me. I wanted to read it because now my brain was up for the challenge. And I finished it quickly, almost too quickly.
I have some quibbles, like the use of imperial instead of metric. Metric will be dominating by the time of the story. :) And the cliché of Chinese goods. And the lack of women. I know the US Army has only just managed to consider women for combat roles, but that's not true for the rest of the world. And in the future, I think there will be more . . . or they'll be put back into purdah. But it won't be the current status American quo. The ending reminded me of how old 1970s' TV dramas used to end. I could take it or leave it. So all in all, I'd recommend this ebook.
The first problem for me is that it's not my usual genre. Due to my brain injury, I'm rather partial to sticking to mysteries and to series I know by authors I've lived with for years. But this year I wanted to make a concerted effort to try and read new-to-me authors; hence, buying this ebook. Plus I follow the author on Twitter and wanted to try and support him. Well, my good intentions kind of tanked. I couldn't keep all the characters in my head; I had trouble following the plot; my injured brain was not happy with something new; and despite the fact that Umstead used Toronto as one of the settings -- which definitely perked me up -- I couldn't engage with the story. Because of my brain injury, I really was pushing my limits with this novel. The worse thing for my ego is it's not a hard read. It's written well and with good flow. Anyway, a library ebook became available, and I dropped Gabriel's Redemption. I intended to go back. Really, I did! But one thing led to another, and I couldn't face the effort.
But then I picked it up just before my penultimate LORETA session, right after the third direct stimulation of my Wernicke's area (area for language input, aka reading), and finished reading it after that LORETA session. Big difference. I still couldn't keep the characters straight at first. But then they started to firm up in my mind. The plot became knowable. And the story engaged me. I wanted to read it because now my brain was up for the challenge. And I finished it quickly, almost too quickly.
I have some quibbles, like the use of imperial instead of metric. Metric will be dominating by the time of the story. :) And the cliché of Chinese goods. And the lack of women. I know the US Army has only just managed to consider women for combat roles, but that's not true for the rest of the world. And in the future, I think there will be more . . . or they'll be put back into purdah. But it won't be the current status American quo. The ending reminded me of how old 1970s' TV dramas used to end. I could take it or leave it. So all in all, I'd recommend this ebook.
June 20, 2011
GABRIEL'S ADVENTURES BEGIN
Steve Umstead's debut science fiction novel is brilliant from page one.
One might actually be more precise by noting that the fabulous color and character of the book starts with the impressive cover designed by the author himself: a stunning, bursting celestial body, like a star in a storm, over a dreamlike world that blends visuals of alien ice with a scene of dramatic, rolling sea.
Of course, the action really begins as soon as one passes the cover and leaves it behind.
Meet Evan Gabriel, a dishonorably discharged super soldier in the year 2175. He is filled with both sanctioned and illegal implants that heighten his military skills and mental aptitude. But he has a shady past.
Drawn into a mission that, at its core has the possibility of expunging his pejorative record and giving him a second chance to do what he does best, Gabriel meets a team of rough killers and specialists (members in good standing within the North American Federation Naval Special Forces) and travels through a wormhole to their target, oblivious to the twist in their story planned from the start--one that will leave them all dead, marked as scapegoats, in a power play between evil men.
In Gabriel's Redemption, Steve Umstead positions twin powerhouses against one another and then lets nature take its course. The book becomes a dance of all out tension, action, and intelligence.
With Gabriel's Redemption, Steve Umstead proves his worth. Steve Umstead uses his unique background in international travel to add a level of depth that is a pleasure to experience. Every page is filled with rich language the causes the book to burst with life.
Gabriel's Redemption in a technical tour de force: war in the far future!.
Peppered with a wealth of detail that makes the book three-dimensional, Steve Umstead writes like Tom Clancy doing science fiction in space. Specs and military tactics are cleverly defined.
Gabriel's Redemption is an action thriller, a tough joy ride with no disappointment that races the reader all the way to the end. At the same time, the novel never loses sight of that all-important human element.
Steve Umstead's book is certain to keep readers awake and wondering until that final page. Easily, I recommend this book to all who enjoy the prospects of devious political intrigue and the play of soldiers in distant wars.
Outstanding!
Steve Umstead's debut science fiction novel is brilliant from page one.
One might actually be more precise by noting that the fabulous color and character of the book starts with the impressive cover designed by the author himself: a stunning, bursting celestial body, like a star in a storm, over a dreamlike world that blends visuals of alien ice with a scene of dramatic, rolling sea.
Of course, the action really begins as soon as one passes the cover and leaves it behind.
Meet Evan Gabriel, a dishonorably discharged super soldier in the year 2175. He is filled with both sanctioned and illegal implants that heighten his military skills and mental aptitude. But he has a shady past.
Drawn into a mission that, at its core has the possibility of expunging his pejorative record and giving him a second chance to do what he does best, Gabriel meets a team of rough killers and specialists (members in good standing within the North American Federation Naval Special Forces) and travels through a wormhole to their target, oblivious to the twist in their story planned from the start--one that will leave them all dead, marked as scapegoats, in a power play between evil men.
In Gabriel's Redemption, Steve Umstead positions twin powerhouses against one another and then lets nature take its course. The book becomes a dance of all out tension, action, and intelligence.
With Gabriel's Redemption, Steve Umstead proves his worth. Steve Umstead uses his unique background in international travel to add a level of depth that is a pleasure to experience. Every page is filled with rich language the causes the book to burst with life.
Gabriel's Redemption in a technical tour de force: war in the far future!.
Peppered with a wealth of detail that makes the book three-dimensional, Steve Umstead writes like Tom Clancy doing science fiction in space. Specs and military tactics are cleverly defined.
Gabriel's Redemption is an action thriller, a tough joy ride with no disappointment that races the reader all the way to the end. At the same time, the novel never loses sight of that all-important human element.
Steve Umstead's book is certain to keep readers awake and wondering until that final page. Easily, I recommend this book to all who enjoy the prospects of devious political intrigue and the play of soldiers in distant wars.
Outstanding!
May 27, 2012
I just finished “Gabriel’s Redemption” by Steve Umstead. Before I talk about the book I want to say a thing or two about the author. I first encountered Steve via his Twitter feed and then through his blog. He is very much a guy I would like to be; a regular guy with a family and a 9 to 5 job who had the dream of becoming an author. Yet unlike so many of us mere wannabes he actually took the plunge and wrote. I am glad he did because the result is one of the better sci-fi books I’ve ever read.
As the title indicates “Gabriel’s Revenge” is the story of a disgraced Special Forces soldier who has been plucked from his self-imposed exile and given a chance to redeem himself if he and his team survive.
I don’t want to talk too much more about the plot. I want to talk about what I think Umstead does exceptionally well in this book. The book is set in the year 2,176 and Umstead does a great job of creating a fascinating history of the future. The trouble with many sci-fi novels is that the authors create such an elaborate future that it appears all but unrecognizable. Not so with Umstead. He creates a future that is advanced to be sure but at the same time still feels familiar. This is one the best aspects of the book.
The other thing the author very well is to do something I do not think I’ve seen before. To be sure military sci-fi is a staple of the genre. Yet what Umstead does I think is unique is to create a sci-fi techno-thriller. He merges the political intrigue and action of a Tom Clancy novel with sci-fi. At times it reminded me very much of the best of Babylon 5 and the movie “Aliens”.
“Gabriel’s Redemption” is an outstanding debut by what I hope becomes a widely read author.
As the title indicates “Gabriel’s Revenge” is the story of a disgraced Special Forces soldier who has been plucked from his self-imposed exile and given a chance to redeem himself if he and his team survive.
I don’t want to talk too much more about the plot. I want to talk about what I think Umstead does exceptionally well in this book. The book is set in the year 2,176 and Umstead does a great job of creating a fascinating history of the future. The trouble with many sci-fi novels is that the authors create such an elaborate future that it appears all but unrecognizable. Not so with Umstead. He creates a future that is advanced to be sure but at the same time still feels familiar. This is one the best aspects of the book.
The other thing the author very well is to do something I do not think I’ve seen before. To be sure military sci-fi is a staple of the genre. Yet what Umstead does I think is unique is to create a sci-fi techno-thriller. He merges the political intrigue and action of a Tom Clancy novel with sci-fi. At times it reminded me very much of the best of Babylon 5 and the movie “Aliens”.
“Gabriel’s Redemption” is an outstanding debut by what I hope becomes a widely read author.
January 13, 2012
My normal reading usually consists of fantasy, horror, and thrillers, but I decided to try out the SciFi genre with Gabriel's Redemption. After reading the first chapter I immediately grew interested in the story, while a bit confused at first with some of the technology, such as "neuretics" and "Mindseye". However, as I continued to read further, it all started making sense, which actually made for some interesting reading. I loved the technology presented in Gabriel's Redemption. Umstead does an excellent job of creating believable technology that isn't too far-fetched.
There's a lot of back story in Gabriel's Redemption, but while some have noted that it was too slow-paced, I enjoyed the back story. A little patience is rewarded with some great action and a satisfying ending! I finished reading Gabriel's Redemption with a smile on my face. I really enjoyed the first book of this series.
My only complaint (which is very minor) is that I wish I could have learned a little more about the title character Evan Gabriel, but since this is part of a trilogy, I believe Umstead gave me just enough information to keep me interested. In a way, this is a positive note because I cared enough about Evan Gabriel to want to get to know him more in the story. The last pages of Gabriel's Redemption leads me to believe I'll be getting just that in the coming books.
I'm looking forward to continuing with Gabriel's journey in the next two books.
Highly recommended read for SciFi fans and those just trying out the genre.
There's a lot of back story in Gabriel's Redemption, but while some have noted that it was too slow-paced, I enjoyed the back story. A little patience is rewarded with some great action and a satisfying ending! I finished reading Gabriel's Redemption with a smile on my face. I really enjoyed the first book of this series.
My only complaint (which is very minor) is that I wish I could have learned a little more about the title character Evan Gabriel, but since this is part of a trilogy, I believe Umstead gave me just enough information to keep me interested. In a way, this is a positive note because I cared enough about Evan Gabriel to want to get to know him more in the story. The last pages of Gabriel's Redemption leads me to believe I'll be getting just that in the coming books.
I'm looking forward to continuing with Gabriel's journey in the next two books.
Highly recommended read for SciFi fans and those just trying out the genre.
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