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The Uranus Fiasco: Hard Science Fiction
Two washed-up astronauts, a spaceship from the junkyard and a rusty robot save a world
A few million in his bank account, a nice winery and a great unconventional ex-astronaut Nick has the perfect life. But the past interferes and forces him to board a spaceship one last time. His destination is Uranus, the task seems simple. But as always when a certain mega-company is involved, the ultimate fiasco looms. And he alone has it in his blood to stop the catastrophe.
A few million in his bank account, a nice winery and a great unconventional ex-astronaut Nick has the perfect life. But the past interferes and forces him to board a spaceship one last time. His destination is Uranus, the task seems simple. But as always when a certain mega-company is involved, the ultimate fiasco looms. And he alone has it in his blood to stop the catastrophe.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2023
230 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Q. Morris
136 books467 followersBrandon Q. Morris is a physicist and space specialist. He has long been concerned with space issues, both professionally and privately and while he wanted to become an astronaut, he had to stay on Earth for a variety of reasons. He is particularly fascinated by the "what if” and through his books he aims to share compelling hard science fiction stories that could actually happen, and someday may happen. Morris is the author of several best-selling science fiction novels.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 19, 2024
The main character in this story is a now seventy-year-old astronaut named Nick. After some adventures in the past (and told in previous books that I will have to read), he bought a vineyard and now enjoys life with his lover Raissa, his daughter, his wife and her partner. An extended family that lives happily and peacefully.
The day of his 70th birthday Valentina (Raissa's former boss in a powerful and mysterious Russian group, RB, with which Nick had dealings previously) contacts him and blackmails him by asking to embark on a mission to Uranus or she will kill Nikolai, his and Raissa's son. Nick will start this new adventure together with his friend Vitali, a Russian astronaut and together they will embark on their old ship, the "Eve".
Meanwhile, Raissa leaves for Russia with the aim of finding her son Nikolai, using her old contacts.
This novel is an exciting mix of science fiction and spy story, with a touch of humor and suspense that will keep up the reader's attention. The two subplots are carried out alternately: on the one hand Nick's exciting journey and exploration of the moons of Uranus in search of Nikolai, on the other Raissa's dangerous investigations in a territory where the RB has eyes and ears everywhere and in which she will have to extricate hermself from blackmail, deception and armed men. Both Nick and Raissa are helped during their search by rather unique characters.
The end of the story is rather unexpected, the subplots are closed, but it is as if the author intends to resume it in a next book. At the end there is also a chapter with scientific information on Uranus and its satellites.
It's a fun reading, but I recommend reading up well and starting from the first book in which these characters appear.
The day of his 70th birthday Valentina (Raissa's former boss in a powerful and mysterious Russian group, RB, with which Nick had dealings previously) contacts him and blackmails him by asking to embark on a mission to Uranus or she will kill Nikolai, his and Raissa's son. Nick will start this new adventure together with his friend Vitali, a Russian astronaut and together they will embark on their old ship, the "Eve".
Meanwhile, Raissa leaves for Russia with the aim of finding her son Nikolai, using her old contacts.
This novel is an exciting mix of science fiction and spy story, with a touch of humor and suspense that will keep up the reader's attention. The two subplots are carried out alternately: on the one hand Nick's exciting journey and exploration of the moons of Uranus in search of Nikolai, on the other Raissa's dangerous investigations in a territory where the RB has eyes and ears everywhere and in which she will have to extricate hermself from blackmail, deception and armed men. Both Nick and Raissa are helped during their search by rather unique characters.
The end of the story is rather unexpected, the subplots are closed, but it is as if the author intends to resume it in a next book. At the end there is also a chapter with scientific information on Uranus and its satellites.
It's a fun reading, but I recommend reading up well and starting from the first book in which these characters appear.
March 4, 2023
Nick is blackmailed into going to Uranus to keep his son safe
Nick is currently enjoying life with his wife, daughter, Raisa and his wife's lover as an extended family and is celebrating his 70th birthday when Valentina contacts him and blackmail him into making a trip to Uranus otherwise she will kill his son. Nick contacts his old friend from the Pluto mission who offers to go with him and they get a basic Oscar unit to help out on board the EVE. They will be sleeping for most of the journey and they now have a gardening module. However they also have a furry stowaway.....
Meanwhile Raissa decides to try and go to Russia and try and rescue her son, but can she do so without getting caught?
This novel has a heady mixture of humor, suspense, surprises (well maybe... There's one obvious occurrence that is not a surprise), intrigue, mystery, spy novelesque, a headstrong son who does what he this is right and damn the consequences, AIs, and a great friendship between two old guys....
Unfortunately the novel does wrap up rather abruptly... But it is still an entertaining read.
Nick is currently enjoying life with his wife, daughter, Raisa and his wife's lover as an extended family and is celebrating his 70th birthday when Valentina contacts him and blackmail him into making a trip to Uranus otherwise she will kill his son. Nick contacts his old friend from the Pluto mission who offers to go with him and they get a basic Oscar unit to help out on board the EVE. They will be sleeping for most of the journey and they now have a gardening module. However they also have a furry stowaway.....
Meanwhile Raissa decides to try and go to Russia and try and rescue her son, but can she do so without getting caught?
This novel has a heady mixture of humor, suspense, surprises (well maybe... There's one obvious occurrence that is not a surprise), intrigue, mystery, spy novelesque, a headstrong son who does what he this is right and damn the consequences, AIs, and a great friendship between two old guys....
Unfortunately the novel does wrap up rather abruptly... But it is still an entertaining read.
March 11, 2023
“The Uranus Fiasco” by Brandon Q. Morris
Nick, Vitali and the robot, Oskar, have got some age on them in this novel. They are fearless and dedicated to finding Nick’s son, Nicolai.
In this solar system series, Book 9, I continue to learn about the planets and their moons. It is very informative reading.
Highly recommended!
Nick, Vitali and the robot, Oskar, have got some age on them in this novel. They are fearless and dedicated to finding Nick’s son, Nicolai.
In this solar system series, Book 9, I continue to learn about the planets and their moons. It is very informative reading.
Highly recommended!
April 6, 2023
great read!!!!!
This was a great story about Nick/Oskar and the friends alone with them on this journey. I hope the story continues and Oskar works with Nicks son and make some amazing discoveries.
This was a great story about Nick/Oskar and the friends alone with them on this journey. I hope the story continues and Oskar works with Nicks son and make some amazing discoveries.
December 28, 2022
Vielleicht hätte ich das Buch mehr geniessen können, wenn mir von Anfang an bewusst gewesen wäre, dass es sich um Teil neun der Reihe handelt. Nach so vielen Bänden hat man natürlich eine andere Verbindung zu den Charakteren, als wenn man einfach so reinspringt.
Aber auch so konnte ich der Handlung problemlos folgen. Morris erklärt genug, damit man auch als unbedarfte Leserschaft die früheren Geschehnisse und die Beziehungen der Figuren untereinander versteht. Sehr gut gemacht, kann ich hier nur anfügen.
Ansonsten ist dieser Titel ein weiteres Buch von Morris, das genau das bietet, was ich von Morris erwarte. Bisher hat er es auf jeden Fall noch nicht geschafft, mich zu enttäuschen. Und ja, ich freue mich schon auf mein nächstes Buch dieses Autoren. Egal, um welchen Band es sich handeln mag.
Aber auch so konnte ich der Handlung problemlos folgen. Morris erklärt genug, damit man auch als unbedarfte Leserschaft die früheren Geschehnisse und die Beziehungen der Figuren untereinander versteht. Sehr gut gemacht, kann ich hier nur anfügen.
Ansonsten ist dieser Titel ein weiteres Buch von Morris, das genau das bietet, was ich von Morris erwarte. Bisher hat er es auf jeden Fall noch nicht geschafft, mich zu enttäuschen. Und ja, ich freue mich schon auf mein nächstes Buch dieses Autoren. Egal, um welchen Band es sich handeln mag.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews