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Won Race
“History is full of fallen empires.” That’s what Commander Atera had always told her young pilots. Time and again, she warned them to prepare for the unthinkable, but they did not believe. Then, everything changed. An age old war between the Puratist Worlds had spilled over to an unsuspecting and uncharted world, Earth.
To survive, the people of Earth put their trust in a small band of heroes and the quest begins; a search to find the one ancient artifact that they believe will save them. An advanced weapon from a bygone era. Along the way Atera’s young pilots will have to distinguish friend from foe, uncover ancient myths and prophecies, and more. They will have to battle against an evil that emerges from Earth’s darker past. An evil with an insatiable urge to control, and with the ancient weapon in it’s hands, it will finally control everyone and everything.
To survive, the people of Earth put their trust in a small band of heroes and the quest begins; a search to find the one ancient artifact that they believe will save them. An advanced weapon from a bygone era. Along the way Atera’s young pilots will have to distinguish friend from foe, uncover ancient myths and prophecies, and more. They will have to battle against an evil that emerges from Earth’s darker past. An evil with an insatiable urge to control, and with the ancient weapon in it’s hands, it will finally control everyone and everything.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
2 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
D.F. Laborde
1 book1 followerDavid Francis Laborde Jr, born August 1967 in the city of New Haven. Graduated Hamden High School in 1985. Days later, joined the United States coast Guard. Served two years aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous WMEC627. Participating in missions ranging from drug interdiction, immigration ops, search and rescue, and a few others. Serving another two years as staff at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy as a computer network technician. Having completed 4 year enlistment, enrolled in Southern Connecticut State University to complete Bachelors degree in computer science. While a sophomore in college, entered self employment as a personal computer software developer authoring a handful of systems for use in small business. Most notably, an advanced exercise and nutrition software complete with supplements, books, and seminars. It was fun while it lasted, but eventually, the computerized fitness craze came to an end. I moved over to the corporate world and transitioned to large scale mainframe development where I am currently employed today.
As a science fiction author, I am just now making my first work available to the reading community. I promise to adhere to a simple model for Science Fiction\Fantasy. Stories full of action and vision, but most of all, stories with an element of realism and an emphasis on the human experience.
That's why I love Sci-Fi...it lets us look at ourselves from a distance, some far away place, some distant future, but always at ourselves.
I'm a real Sci-Fi\Fantasy lover and grew up reading Asimov and Herbert, but my all time favorite is "Armor" by J.Steakley. I've been a lifelong believer in the "Ancient Alien" theory(long before The History Channel made it so popular). That means I love futuristic vision, but more so, I love ancient stuff...real, real, real, ancient. If it's older than Egypt, if it borders on the last ice age, I'm into it.
As a science fiction author, I am just now making my first work available to the reading community. I promise to adhere to a simple model for Science Fiction\Fantasy. Stories full of action and vision, but most of all, stories with an element of realism and an emphasis on the human experience.
That's why I love Sci-Fi...it lets us look at ourselves from a distance, some far away place, some distant future, but always at ourselves.
I'm a real Sci-Fi\Fantasy lover and grew up reading Asimov and Herbert, but my all time favorite is "Armor" by J.Steakley. I've been a lifelong believer in the "Ancient Alien" theory(long before The History Channel made it so popular). That means I love futuristic vision, but more so, I love ancient stuff...real, real, real, ancient. If it's older than Egypt, if it borders on the last ice age, I'm into it.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 25, 2014
"Won Race" by D.F. Laborde is a great piece of science fiction writing that really took me by surprise with its forceful action, excellent suspense and interesting characters.
The author instantly draws you in with a heavy and ominous prologue about the rise and falls of eras and civilizations of the world that gripped my attention and rose my curiosity. It felt more mythological than scifi/ fantasy territory.
What followed however is the bitter war of two worlds, two races if you will which are both highly imaginative creations and could easily have been the subject of a book each. Said fighting parties end up in the well thought out setting of life on a futuristic Earth.
The Puratist World, where there are no different races, the swarm with its Queen and the great lead characters on Earth make for an excellent science fiction read, one that is innovative, inspired and a fascinating world to dive into.
The plot and the action are superb. The futuristic war fare, the fighter scenes and military jargon are incredibly convincing and detailed and make you feel as if you were part of their army.
A change of perspective in the narrative allows the conflict to be experienced from several sides.
Like many science fiction stories this book is full of subtle philosophy as it shows us the purpose and ideals of different races. A lot can probably be read as symbolic and metaphoric for present human kind, which makes this enjoyable on more than one level.
This is the first in a series and leaves us with a glimpse of what will be the plot of book 2.
Well written, fast paced and with excellent suspense this is a very impressive work of art.
The author instantly draws you in with a heavy and ominous prologue about the rise and falls of eras and civilizations of the world that gripped my attention and rose my curiosity. It felt more mythological than scifi/ fantasy territory.
What followed however is the bitter war of two worlds, two races if you will which are both highly imaginative creations and could easily have been the subject of a book each. Said fighting parties end up in the well thought out setting of life on a futuristic Earth.
The Puratist World, where there are no different races, the swarm with its Queen and the great lead characters on Earth make for an excellent science fiction read, one that is innovative, inspired and a fascinating world to dive into.
The plot and the action are superb. The futuristic war fare, the fighter scenes and military jargon are incredibly convincing and detailed and make you feel as if you were part of their army.
A change of perspective in the narrative allows the conflict to be experienced from several sides.
Like many science fiction stories this book is full of subtle philosophy as it shows us the purpose and ideals of different races. A lot can probably be read as symbolic and metaphoric for present human kind, which makes this enjoyable on more than one level.
This is the first in a series and leaves us with a glimpse of what will be the plot of book 2.
Well written, fast paced and with excellent suspense this is a very impressive work of art.
November 10, 2013
Hmm... Where To Start... This Book Resonates With My Thoughts..
This is my first time reading this sci-fi novel by D.F. Laborde. As I was reading this story, there is a quote that I reading like to share, "All that one generation experiences, so too will the next. Love is Love. Fear is fear. Hate is hate and War is war. Save but technology is all that divides the generations. And technology rises. And technology falls." ~ D.F. Laborde
This novel is about the future where the destiny unfolds between warring planets and their inhabitants. The author also displayed exceptional skills in describing futuristic weaponary and warfare. I see lots of chaos within this novel. There is this character that I really like, Prowler. This character is fearsome as he bring upon fear onto their enemies plants. Sometimes, they appreared overconfident on their battles which led to their defeat. However, his resourcefulness did saved him from his enemies attacks.
What this storyline attracts me is that the author cleverly describes the various scenes of space warface with ease. I do not have much problems reading it. There is a constant contrasting between the Good vs Evil as the author builds a climax that encourages me to keeps on turning the pages.
This book is a great book with lots of suprises, twists. This book is not only for sci-fi fans, but also great for teens, young adults, and for even mature readers like myself. If you like unconventional sci-fi action thriller, you'll definitely get lots of entertainment and enjoyment out of this novel.
If you like :
- Joe Haldeman's The Forever War
- Jasper T. Scott's Dark Space
- Ender's Game's Orson Scott Card
- B.V. Larson's Steel World
you'll definitely get lots of entertainment out of this novel!
If there's one thing I'd change about this book, it would be to create the images of the space war scenes more vividly. This book looked great on my Kindle app on my iPad. It has good formating and layout.
If you found this review useful, let the community know.
This is my first time reading this sci-fi novel by D.F. Laborde. As I was reading this story, there is a quote that I reading like to share, "All that one generation experiences, so too will the next. Love is Love. Fear is fear. Hate is hate and War is war. Save but technology is all that divides the generations. And technology rises. And technology falls." ~ D.F. Laborde
This novel is about the future where the destiny unfolds between warring planets and their inhabitants. The author also displayed exceptional skills in describing futuristic weaponary and warfare. I see lots of chaos within this novel. There is this character that I really like, Prowler. This character is fearsome as he bring upon fear onto their enemies plants. Sometimes, they appreared overconfident on their battles which led to their defeat. However, his resourcefulness did saved him from his enemies attacks.
What this storyline attracts me is that the author cleverly describes the various scenes of space warface with ease. I do not have much problems reading it. There is a constant contrasting between the Good vs Evil as the author builds a climax that encourages me to keeps on turning the pages.
This book is a great book with lots of suprises, twists. This book is not only for sci-fi fans, but also great for teens, young adults, and for even mature readers like myself. If you like unconventional sci-fi action thriller, you'll definitely get lots of entertainment and enjoyment out of this novel.
If you like :
- Joe Haldeman's The Forever War
- Jasper T. Scott's Dark Space
- Ender's Game's Orson Scott Card
- B.V. Larson's Steel World
you'll definitely get lots of entertainment out of this novel!
If there's one thing I'd change about this book, it would be to create the images of the space war scenes more vividly. This book looked great on my Kindle app on my iPad. It has good formating and layout.
If you found this review useful, let the community know.
October 8, 2013
This is an epic sci-fi adventure written by a true storyteller with a command of the world he has created. There is a great description and Kirkus review on the amazon listing page for this book. I completely agree with the folks from Kirkus when they called Won Race big and brash. There is so much going on in this book and Laborde keeps peeling back the layers like a galactic onion. He has a way of writing characters that we can easily picture and understand – we get their motivations. Good vs evil certainly charts the course for the storyline, but the quest for discovery wraps it all up in a dramatic sense of urgency that keeps the pages turning. This book is an exciting ride and I can’t wait to read more form this author. Recommended – five (shooting) stars!
November 28, 2013
Xenomorphic Fun Read!
Swarming across the universe, an intelligent race of aggressive Xenomorphs are dead set on conquering all, but of course they are put in check by the inhabitants of Earth. Well written, Laborde paints a vivid picture of what a good science fiction is all about. And what I truly loved about this story was the fantastic dialogue and one liners. "...Apes? Is that where you Earth people come from? The Neferan do not evolve, we are born from the Gods..." D.F. Laborde. I highly recommend this Science Fiction Xenomorphic fun read!
Swarming across the universe, an intelligent race of aggressive Xenomorphs are dead set on conquering all, but of course they are put in check by the inhabitants of Earth. Well written, Laborde paints a vivid picture of what a good science fiction is all about. And what I truly loved about this story was the fantastic dialogue and one liners. "...Apes? Is that where you Earth people come from? The Neferan do not evolve, we are born from the Gods..." D.F. Laborde. I highly recommend this Science Fiction Xenomorphic fun read!
May 27, 2014
This is a must read for sci-fi adventure fans. The novel Won Race begins with an interstellar war that really transcends both time and place. D.F. Laborde does an excellent job of integrating the lore of his fantasy world through out the fast-paced story. There is a lot of gripping and shocking action. What I appreciated the most from the battle scenes, for example, was the combination of both technical details and heart. The author shows both sides of the conflicts and you feel as if you are right there in the middle. I could really see and feel the action. During some of the earlier confrontations between warring Lycerene and Neferan spaceships, I was literally on the edge of my bed as I read from the Kindle. Later on in the book, I could feel the fear in the characters as they struggled to survive tenuous circumstances.
The book is a brisk read and I couldn’t put it down. There are many shocking and unexpected twists in the story. Whenever I expected that it would go into familiar Sci-Fi territory, a new development would complicate the story. The tale would be thrown into jarring, but satisfying new directions. I really appreciated that the author showed the different sides to the massive conflicts in his universe; which Earth ends up being at the center of. This book, as the title would suggest, makes some really poignant observations about race relations and global conflicts in the world today. The title itself seems to have multiple meanings. Rather than tell you what I mean by that, you should pick up the book!
However, there are a few things that I wished D.F. Laborde would have done differently. There are many characters and races to follow in this book and the transitions from different character perspectives often come in the middle of chapters. At times, this was challenging for me to follow, as there weren’t always clear indications of when the perspectives had shifted. I also had to re-read certain parts several times to keep track of all the names as well as the ever expanding number of races.
Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by the novel. I think fans of sci-fi, military adventures, and even horror should definitely pick up Laborde’s book. Be prepared for an entertaining read, but also a journey that probes you philosophically and makes you think.
The book is a brisk read and I couldn’t put it down. There are many shocking and unexpected twists in the story. Whenever I expected that it would go into familiar Sci-Fi territory, a new development would complicate the story. The tale would be thrown into jarring, but satisfying new directions. I really appreciated that the author showed the different sides to the massive conflicts in his universe; which Earth ends up being at the center of. This book, as the title would suggest, makes some really poignant observations about race relations and global conflicts in the world today. The title itself seems to have multiple meanings. Rather than tell you what I mean by that, you should pick up the book!
However, there are a few things that I wished D.F. Laborde would have done differently. There are many characters and races to follow in this book and the transitions from different character perspectives often come in the middle of chapters. At times, this was challenging for me to follow, as there weren’t always clear indications of when the perspectives had shifted. I also had to re-read certain parts several times to keep track of all the names as well as the ever expanding number of races.
Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by the novel. I think fans of sci-fi, military adventures, and even horror should definitely pick up Laborde’s book. Be prepared for an entertaining read, but also a journey that probes you philosophically and makes you think.
February 24, 2014
I was raised on a staple diet of science fiction, and do you know what I love about it? The diversity.
Take military sci-fi, for example. In my humble opinion that’s the sub-genre where this book belongs, and it can be a pretty difficult one in which to write. One major aspect that makes it so difficult is the application of advanced, future weaponry in a war being conducted between rival races/planets. All too often, authors overlook the details of how and why such weaponry can turn the tide of a war, and, in most cases, win it for them. What I liked about D.F. Laborde’s Won Race is that he didn’t just assert the use of cutting-edge weapons in a superior war, he supplemented their purpose with an explanation behind his technology. Well done, Mr. Laborde. You’ve aimed where many have not even tried.
A steady, debut effort by this new author, Won Race explores a conflict from each faction involved, offering insights into their struggles, their reasons, their objectives, and how far they’ll go to achieve them. Very interesting when you want an understanding of the minds and machinations behind those who value conflict as the accomplishment, the means to their end.
With every new race introduced (and there are a few!), every now and then I kind of strained to understand whose perspective I was following, and I had to re-read certain passages again to get the gist of what was occurring, something that... well... it does make my right eye go a bit twitchy at times!
Generally, though, this a good, entertaining, thoughtful read, with an array of colorful characters and enough intrigue to satisfy all you military sci-fi enthusiasts! I’m sure you’ll enjoy all the elements involved here, but far be it from me to give away or even outline any plot details. You’re just going to have to read it yourself.
Take military sci-fi, for example. In my humble opinion that’s the sub-genre where this book belongs, and it can be a pretty difficult one in which to write. One major aspect that makes it so difficult is the application of advanced, future weaponry in a war being conducted between rival races/planets. All too often, authors overlook the details of how and why such weaponry can turn the tide of a war, and, in most cases, win it for them. What I liked about D.F. Laborde’s Won Race is that he didn’t just assert the use of cutting-edge weapons in a superior war, he supplemented their purpose with an explanation behind his technology. Well done, Mr. Laborde. You’ve aimed where many have not even tried.
A steady, debut effort by this new author, Won Race explores a conflict from each faction involved, offering insights into their struggles, their reasons, their objectives, and how far they’ll go to achieve them. Very interesting when you want an understanding of the minds and machinations behind those who value conflict as the accomplishment, the means to their end.
With every new race introduced (and there are a few!), every now and then I kind of strained to understand whose perspective I was following, and I had to re-read certain passages again to get the gist of what was occurring, something that... well... it does make my right eye go a bit twitchy at times!
Generally, though, this a good, entertaining, thoughtful read, with an array of colorful characters and enough intrigue to satisfy all you military sci-fi enthusiasts! I’m sure you’ll enjoy all the elements involved here, but far be it from me to give away or even outline any plot details. You’re just going to have to read it yourself.
July 29, 2016
Won Race: [David Laborde]
Full on epic battles with races bent on each others destruction. David pulls some very original ideas akin to Indiana Jones and Stargate as alien races seek to eradicate the impure from the galaxy, drifting into Earth's path through lost technology. The only way to stop this war may lie in the ancient relics hidden away for millenia in the deep, dark reaches of the world.
Will the Earth be annhilated in the process? Well, maybe. Just maybe.
Dark and addictive, Won Race draws upon religious symbolism to give sway to interesting ideas of existance. His finesse for descriptive narration is staggering as a myriad of protagonists and antagonists jostle for position amidst the carnage.
The story is enthralling, with believable characters steeped in a variety of symbolism and metaphor. I'd recommend Won Race to anyone who likes cut-and-thrust action with a splash of gore.
Full on epic battles with races bent on each others destruction. David pulls some very original ideas akin to Indiana Jones and Stargate as alien races seek to eradicate the impure from the galaxy, drifting into Earth's path through lost technology. The only way to stop this war may lie in the ancient relics hidden away for millenia in the deep, dark reaches of the world.
Will the Earth be annhilated in the process? Well, maybe. Just maybe.
Dark and addictive, Won Race draws upon religious symbolism to give sway to interesting ideas of existance. His finesse for descriptive narration is staggering as a myriad of protagonists and antagonists jostle for position amidst the carnage.
The story is enthralling, with believable characters steeped in a variety of symbolism and metaphor. I'd recommend Won Race to anyone who likes cut-and-thrust action with a splash of gore.
August 31, 2016
Terrific epic science fiction!
I had a great time with this book. Filled with wonderful details about the martial cultures that the novel revolves around, "Won Race" is tense and atmospheric military sci-fi at its finest. It starts in the midst of a battle and never lets up. Really, the author has done a great job of making the various war gear and tactics seem realistic and viable, and the warriors themselves are likable and interesting.
The novel is about the conflict between two peoples that couldn't be more different, and yet I found myself caring about characters on both sides and hoping they would be the ones to succeed, although I knew both sides couldn't both prevail. An enthralling read from start to finish. Can't wait for the next one!
I had a great time with this book. Filled with wonderful details about the martial cultures that the novel revolves around, "Won Race" is tense and atmospheric military sci-fi at its finest. It starts in the midst of a battle and never lets up. Really, the author has done a great job of making the various war gear and tactics seem realistic and viable, and the warriors themselves are likable and interesting.
The novel is about the conflict between two peoples that couldn't be more different, and yet I found myself caring about characters on both sides and hoping they would be the ones to succeed, although I knew both sides couldn't both prevail. An enthralling read from start to finish. Can't wait for the next one!
February 17, 2014
The epic grandeur of Dune, the sinister robotic savagery of Terminator and the warring worlds and space battles reminiscent of Star Trek combine to make D F Laborde's Won Race a very engaging and entertaining read. If you are a fan of any of the classics just described, you will thoroughly enjoy this sci-fi novel. A well-thought out and well-crafted story, with thought provoking depths, it will have you turning pages and looking forward to the sequel (hopefully out soon), this piece of work gets a deserved 5 galactic stars! Highly recommended.
February 17, 2014
Won Race is a spectacle of suspense and thrilling Sci-fi action. The writing and imagination flows off of the page and into the mind of the reader. It was an effortless book to read - and a pleasure. A fine novel indeed.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews