Anniversary Day

Retrieval Artist #8

by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Jay Snyder (Narrator)

Four years ago, a bomb destroyed part of the dome protecting Armstrong, the largest city on the Moon. Now, as the city celebrates its survival with an event it calls Anniversary Day, a larger threat looms - one that begins with the murder of the mayor, and spreads across the moon itself.

Even with every new technological device at her disposal, Moon Security Chief Noelle DiRicci can't stay ahead of the unfolding disaster. As the situation gets worse, Retrieval Artist Miles Flint hurries to his daughter's school to protect her. And Detective Bartholomew Nyquist finds himself in the middle of everything, from that first bombing to the Anniversary Day crisis itself.

Fan-favorite series narrator Jay Snyder is back to lend his voice to this thriller with several mysteries at its core. Anniversary Day is Kristine Kathryn Rusch's most exciting Retrieval Artist novel yet and available exclusively through Audible for the first two months of its release.

Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller, Crime

9 pages, Audible Audio

First published September 27, 2011

About the author

Kristine Kathryn Rusch is an award-winning mystery, romance, science fiction, and fantasy writer. She has written many novels under various names, including Kristine Grayson for romance, and Kris Nelscott for mystery. Her novels have made the bestseller lists –even in London– and have been published in 14 countries and 13 different languages.

Her awards range from the Ellery Queen Readers Choice Award to the John W. Campbell Award. In the past year, she has been nominated for the Hugo, the Shamus, and the Anthony Award. She is the only person in the history of the science fiction field to have won a Hugo award for editing and a Hugo award for fiction.

In addition, she's written a number of nonfiction articles over the years, with her latest being the book "A Freelancer's Survival Guide".

She has also published as:
Sandy Schofield (collaborations with husband Dean Wesley Smith)
Kristine Grayson - romances
Kathryn Wesley (collaborations with husband Dean Wesley Smith)
Kris Nelscott - mysteries
Kris Rusch - historical fiction
Kris DeLake - romances

Reviews

[Anissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time around Miles is dealing with his daughter, Talia and a murder investigation of a sort of operative. Much of thr Miles/Talia thread feels like stage setting for future stories but it's a well laid foundation.

Nyquist is back and I have to say that I really like him. It's hard for anyone to top Noelle but he's up there. I'm finally used to her being in an admin position and not doing day to day investigations and I'm enjoying this path for her. The main thread of this story is the murder of once-up-and-coming-and-on-the-cusp-of-a-comeback, Ki Bowles. I never liked her so she being used as the means to carry a story of murder washed for me. The description of her death is very well done and was probably her best scene ever. This tangling with WSX and Justinian Wagner (he's still awful) is always good stuff.

This series is still recommended and I'm definitely going to finish it. I do think it's best read from the beginning though.

[Muff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Retrieval Artist series is a guilty pleasure. I'm not sure why I'm immediately sucked into these audio books, but once I start I find it hard to stop.

[Soo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notes:

This author doesn't really know how to pace a story. Still, it's a good build up for what will happen later in the series.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal installment in the series. Not much Miles but no problem for me. I really enjoyed Nyquist's point of view.
super excited about the continuation of this series.

[Eric_W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, this really is not a Retrieval Artist novel. Flint plays a very minor role and only appears toward the end. I enjoy the world that Rusch has created and the series has always appealed to me when I have a hankering for some light sci-fi. The writing is good mystery, if you can call it that, keeps you reading. I know this one is labeled #8 in the series, but it has the feel of the beginning of a longer, different series to track down the planner of the attack. I won't say more other than that I enjoyed it.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting story in the Retrieval Artist series. Rusch isn't so much an eloquent written as someone who delves deeply into the characters minds, feelings and interactions. Always look forward to her books

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now starts the 8 book digression that I warn people not to read. Miles flint isn't even in some of the next books... And yet after reading this book, I'm gonna start the next today. I'll keep you posted.

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but I didn't enjoy it as much as a lot of the other Retrieval Artist books, primarily because of the way that this ends.

It's definitely written for people who have followed the series so far. The story jumps through a lot of different POV characters, most of whom are familiar from previous books, and without that background and history a lot of their personality and interactions don't make as much sense. If you have read the other books though, it's a pretty satisfying read. I actually prefer series books that don't spend too much time on recap.

The biggest problem for me is that the last 30% or so of the book gets kind of repetitive in terms of themes and dialogue, with lots of people repeating the same sentiments to themselves and others. Even worse is that the ending is unsatisfying, not really wrapping up anything or answering any questions. I'm especially disappointed because most of the other books in this series actually do a pretty good job of providing a satisfying conclusion while still leaving room for continuation of the series.

So overall, not one of my favorite Retrieval Artist books. I still had fun reading it, but I'm glad it wasn't my introduction to the series.

[Noreen Braman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Retrieval Artist series is by far my favorite set of audiobooks, both because of the exciting and intricate storylines, but also because of the superior narration of Jay Snyder. A new Retrieval Artist audiobook means I'll be listening every chance I get - in the car, in the bath, while eating lunch at the office.

Anniversary Day continues the interwoven story of the future colonized moon, as well as its place in the greater Earth Alliance. What is especially appealing about this series is how each book builds on the previous ones, creating one long tale of not only retrieval artist Miles Flint, but also the stories of those who has worked with or crossed paths with. In Anniversary Day, he is not really the lead story, but his involvement is critical. We spend a lot of time with Bernard Nyquist, whom we've previously met. We also get glimpses of life in other areas, other domes, of the moon besides Armstrong as the entire moon, and perhaps the entire Earth Alliance faces a crisis of incomprehensible magnitude.

I will now be waiting impatiently for number 9!

[Charl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.

The story was interesting, but Rusch's style in this one really got in the way. Lots and lots of short, single sentence paragraphs, and almost every chapter ending with a short, declarative statement such as "And he did", or "She knew it wouldn't", or "Things would always be different." It quickly became repetitive and distracting, preventing me from really getting into the story.

Which is a shame, because I've read other works of hers that I liked, and I think I would have liked this one better if she hadn't chosen such an annoying style of story-telling.

2022 re-read: Well, the read dates say I read this in 2015, but I don't remember it at all. So when I picked up the rest of the Anniversery Day saga, starting back her at the beginning turned out to be a very good idea.

All my criticism above of Rusch's writing still applies, but I'm finding it less distracting. Maybe because I've read so much more of her work. Regardless, this kept me interested all the way through, and I'm looking forward to the next volume. (And I brought it up a star to "Liked it".)

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not primarily about Miles Flint or his daughter. It mainly centers around detective Bartholomew Nyquist. Starting off with the bombing of the Armstrong dome in the book Consequences, and continuing 4 years later with a murder that is prelude to an act of terrorism that is reminiscent of 9/11, Nyquist is sucked into a mystery which no one on the moon saw coming. Of course any act of terrorism would bring in Noelle DeRicci, head of moon security.

This is by far one of my favorite books in this series. It focuses on Nyquist, a sort of moon version of Columbo, and follows him mostly through the book. It really had just enough of Flint to be called a Retrieval Artist novel and feels like it is setting up Flint for further novels at the end of the book.

Personally I would like to see more books with Nyquist as the prime character in them, but I can recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the series or of Miles Flint wholeheartedly.

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Review: I don't like reading books out of order. But this was on sale and it was the start of a sub-series. So I picked it up. I followed along with the story line fine, but there was characterization that I missed out on because I had not read 6 of the previous 7 books.

The first book in the series was a well done police procedural with a scifi setting. This keeps the primary focus on the police procedural elements, but because the crime is a much bigger crime than the first book, the plot has to follow a number of different actors that are all working with the crimes in front of them. Part of the focus of the book then is the problem in getting the whole picture. That is well done but moves the story from a traditional police procedural to a larger thriller.

I alternated between the kindle edition and the audiobook. The audiobook was well done.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was ok, but definitely reads like.Part I of a two-parter (unsatisfying ending.)
Next book is due out Summer of 2012 - I recommend you wait until it's out and then read them consecutively.

ETA: turns out this is Part 1 of the Anniversary Day Saga, eight books long.

[Alain Normand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous. Difficult to put down. Loved this writer, she keeps me on the edge of my seat, always wondering what comes next. Can't wait for the next book in this series.

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anniversary Day by Kristine Kathryn Rusch is the eighth Retrieval Artist book of hers I've read, and the start of a new mini-series within the main set of books.

My previous ratings for these books have been 6x4-star and 1x3-star, so it's safe to say I'm a big fan.

But this one didn't really do much for me.

Considering it's about a multi-layered, decades-in-the-making attack on the Moon, involving all the familiar characters from previous books - it's mostly really boring...

There's one death at the start of the book, which eventually leads people to believe there are likely to be more - and the first half of the book is almost entirely made up of scenes of different people analysing different crime scenes, with very little progress made.

There are far too many viewpoint characters to keep track of (a lot of whom have not been in the series before) and there was too much of a gap between their scenes (for me, at least) to remember who they were when they came back into the story.

A lot of the scenes have only one character, looking at stuff and thinking about stuff, and not interacting directly with anyone else, which means the pace is pretty glacial.

It did pick up a bit in the second half, though it was still very drawn out, and the ultimate conclusion was quite exciting (and certainly impactful). The last 35 pages were dedicated to the three main characters I already knew and liked - Nyquist, DeRicci and Flint - and contained a lead-up to the rest of the series that definitely made me want to carry on reading, so that was a good ending, at least.

But I really struggled with this one - and if I hadn't already been heavily invested in the series as a whole, I would probably have given up partway through.

[Tbfrank · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though set on Earth's Moon, there is no real sense of location - other than the threat of explosive depressurization and pervasive moon dust. The novel relies on characters and situations familiar to long-time readers of the Retrieval Artist series. The story is reasonably suspenseful until it approaches the climax when it dawns on you that despite known vunerablities and a prior unsolved attack, security is actually woefully lax, straining the reader's ability to accept the premse. As for the climax, there isn't actually one. The current wave of attacks end with the promise of greater danger to come. I much prefer the previous seven novels and hesitate to pick up the next in this new universe, fearing it will mirror this installment.

[Chris Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most excellent.

It's been a while since I ventured into the Retrieval Artist series and I had forgotten how good they are.

Rusch is one of those authors I can return to anytime and know I am going to get a great read. All is on point, the characters, the setting, the plot, she is in the zone.

I read this one entirely online (Scribd) which is a rarity for me, and shows how much I enjoyed it. In this instance I couldn't put my device down.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kristine Kathryn Rusch is the mistress of dictation technology, allowing her to write faster than most of us can think. Her Retrieval Artist series now includes 15 novels and several between-the-numbers shorter pieces. Anniversary Day begins a new multivolume story arc that deals with well-organized terrorism on the Moon’s vulnerable domed cities. Once again, desperate police work and crazy data analytics are needed to save what is left of the day.

[Deborah Laux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series is part mystery/intrigue/psychology/sci fi/tech and the other part... great writing. A lot of characters though :-) Best quote: He liked survivors, people who overcame their problems, not people who returned to those problems and blamed them each and every day for the tough things that life threw at them.

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't seem to find the entry for the book in Goodreads, only the entry for the audio. In any case, I read the book and enjoyed it. It's a lovely, undemanding read. Lots of twists and turns, interesting concepts, and distracting events. Perfect, light summer reading.

[John Wegener · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story in the Retrieval Artist series. It was a complete story despite knowing the overlying story was incomplete. Almost a cliffhanger finish, but Kristine gave just enough to want you to read the next book in the saga without annoying her reader,

[tivasyk · Rating 1 out of 5]

sorry for that one star, but i have a little personal tradition from now on: every book starting with «name ― last name ― verb» just gets one star and ends in the «abandoned» list.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book by Rusch I've read. Fascinating. Interesting and original premise. Lots of suspense. Loved it.

[Jean Hontz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I really enjoy this series. Lots of atmosphere, great characters, and impressive world-building - in this case, world-destroying. Eager for the next book.

[Mjhancock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story begins with a prelude section four years before the main story, with Detective Bartholomew Nyquist investigating a murder with his unwanted, newly minted partner Usula Palmette. Things go wrong, but not because of the case--they're caught off guard by a series of major bombings that shake the Moon dome to the core. (Oh, did I mention the story takes place on the moon, at a point where it's been colonized with a series of domes? Well, pretend I said that.) Then we get the jump. Four years later, the day is remembered as Anniversary Day, and this Anniversary Day, whoever was behind the original bombings wants to make it clear they were just an opening act. Identical men are performing assassinations of the Moon's top political figures, and things only get worse from there. The story's told from the viewpoints of a number of different people trying to hold things together and get to the bottom of the attacks: Nyquist, now a high-ranking detective; Flint and his prodigy clone daughter Talia; Noelle DeRicci, Chief of Security for the United Domes of the Moon, and others. Starting the book with a low level case was a good idea; while it takes time to see what relevance the case has to the larger story, Rusch provides the reader with an entry point before the main plot, which is largely an escalation of terrorist disaster from the perspective of the government and law officials left without their heads of states. What follows is a little confusing and scattered at first, but once the story picks up steam, the plot really carries everything forward--Rusch is *good* at thriller-type writing. Unfortunately, the ending is somewhat of a low point, as there's not so much a resolution as trailing off. As a thriller book, the characters aren't terribly well developed; the focus is on dealing with the rising crisis, not with character arcs. The villain side of things is kept deliberately dark, but even then, it's a pretty clear white hat against black situation, as the terrorists we do see are bitter, fanatical, or a bit of both. Still, none of the characters are off-putting, and they fit the story well enough. I didn't know until after I'd finished the book that it was the eighth in a series, or at least, the eighth book featuring Flint in particular. That explains some of its stranger elements--for example, we don't find out that aliens exist and are a regular feature in this future until a quarter of the way through the book, and that seems like an odd choice unless it was an event described in an earlier book that didn't need to be elaborated here. I'd also imagine that I'd feel a little more positive towards the characters and book as a whole if I was familiar with the history they might share in earlier stories. It's to Rusch's credit that I didn't feel lost, or even missing out on events. It's a good sci-fi thriller, but the hump in the first third and the lack of resolution are definite detracting points for me. On the other hand, I got it from a StoryBundle, and so for the price and what I was expecting, it was definitely worth reading. I don't know if I'd go out of my way to find the rest of the series, but if our paths cross, I'd be interested in reading more.

[Marion Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m coming up on seventy posted reviews for this website and I’ve written many other reviews on various book social websites like Goodreads, Booklikes, and such. I have noticed there are some books you read and review because of their importance to the literary culture. There are some books you read and review and that you do not connect with but continue reading them to learn something from that experience. And there are some books you read and review that puts a smile on your face.

Anniversary Day by Kristine Kathryn Rusch goes into the section of the aforementioned sentence. This is the eight book that I’ve read and review of the excellent Retrieval Artist Series and the first one of the Anniversary Day Saga. This first book of the saga focuses on the celebration called Anniversary Day where the moon colony of Armstrong remembers the bomb that destroyed part of the dome protecting it four years ago.

A greater threat is happening on this Anniversary Day observance that not only affects Armstrong but the rest of the Moon. Moon Security Chief Noelle DeRicci is trying to stay one step of the unfolding disaster. However, the disaster is bigger than she could have ever imagined. She enlists Retrieval Artist Miles Flint for help and he learns just how widespread the disaster has become.

The story in Anniversary Day does not revolve around Retrieval Artist Miles Flint. Moon Security Chief Noelle DeRicci and Detective Bartholomew Nyquist take center stage in Anniversary Day. That might be a disappointment for fans of the series who are attached to Miles Flint (like myself). However, Rusch is such a skilled storyteller than I have found DeRicci and Nyquist are just as compelling to read as Flint. I appreciate the fact that the series does not rely one character to carry it for subsequent books. The diversity of the characters is one of the main reasons I have become an unabashed fan of the series. I hope that other writers in series-length genre fiction can take inspiration from Rusch on this important technique.

It’s hard for this reviewer to be totally objective for each book I post a review for in this series. It has become the literary version of Mad Men, House of Cards, or Breaking Bad for me. I have truly looked forward to reading each book in this series and glad to have seven more books of the Anniversary Day Saga to post reviews for.

However, I will admit that I thought the ending (after being built up with great tension) was a let down for me. I understand why Rusch had to wrap a bow on the ending. But, I wanted at least another 40 or 50 pages of it for selfish reasons. That is my only quibble with Anniversary Day. I highly recommended this series and Anniversary Day is an excellent entry point for those of you who are newcomers to the series.

[Bryan Thomas Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Kris Rusch has quickly become one of my favorite writers. I read more of her books in 2011 than anyone, I believe. I discovered two incredible series of hers which I adore. And she also did a SFFWRTCHT interview and became a friend. Nonetheless, this is the best Retrieval Artist book yet despite the fact that Miles Flint is a minor character. Yep. You heard me right. Flint is almost absent from the first half and only slightly more present in the second. But given the increasing importance of his role and the fact that this is the first Retrieval Artist novel I can remember which is not stand alone--the follow up will continue this story--I think he'll be more important in the next one.

Instead of Flint, this one centers around Noelle DeRicci and Bartholomew Nyquist as they investigate assassination attempts on major political figures and uncover a conspiracy which could change their entire universe forever. Yep. This is a major plot and the book centers around it and the affect it has on people who experienced the bombing of Armstrong in Consequences, book 3 in the series. The book starts powerfully with a flashback to Nyquist's experience of the bombing and then jump to modern day, four years later, and mantains a relentless pace that never lets up.

This is a page turner in the classic sense. I couldn't put it down. Rusch, as usual, does a great job with inserting needed backstory and developing the characters, even Flint who has been developed so much in other stories. Here Flint is adjusting to fatherhood for the first time and that challenges him to grow and change in many ways. Nyquist is better developed as well and DeRicci, too.

This is the first Retrieval Artist book that I've read (I own them all and have read 4 including this) which does not involved disappearing. That isn't even part of the plot so far, which is surprising but refreshing and proves to be a very wise choice. Rusch has done the disappearing thing so many times and built the universe. This time we have the chance to examine a larger and different plot. And the alien races play no role so far either. So it's a new kind of Retrieval Artist book and one which opens up all kinds of possibilities but still great writing and very enjoyable.

Highly recommended for fans and anyone else. This would be a good entry way into the series for characters, although not so much the Retrieval Artist concept. But once you get hooked, you'll want to read the rest, fear not.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid entry in Ms. Rusch's "Retrieval Artist" series. A solid page turner and a series that I will keep reading.

[Rhode PVD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This is the start of a new story arc in the Retrieval Man series. At first it returns to old material, the day of the dome explosion four years before. This time experienced through Nyquist's eyes. And it's very well written, but you start to think, retread. Getting bored now.

Then Armstrong's Mayor is assassinated, and the story splinters into dozen or so viewpoints. Various detectives, politicians, their assistants... Everyone is rushing about, doing this, doing that. It's well written, but not this author's strength. She's really really good at delving into just one to three protagonists viewpoints and focusing on in depth on a particular story line, often with personal development for the characters. Not this ceaseless action and flipping from perspective to perspective to perspective.

So, I was feeling disappointed in this book. Like, well, I guess the good days of this series are over.

And then BAM! The final third brings all the strings and perspectives together in a crescendo that you really were not expecting. Wow. Fantastic.

And I'm left hooked on the other side of the last page. Thank goodness I have the next books in this series set to go right now. Thank goodness they are all written! This is not a series you would want to wait for each installment of. I'm not saying it's a cliffhanger so much as it is a compelling story with a lot of legs left to it.

Well done.

[Ben Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pace of this felt faster than some of the other retrieval artist novels which never felt as lean and sharp as Rusch's shorter stories in the series which felt both more powerful and more focused. Also this book marks the series moving in a different direction with a large complicated and powerful story arc that will run for many books. Unlike the previous books which highlighted the tension and costs of interacting with alien races this volume is very, very focused on the humans.

The biggest downsides of this book are a) that much of the key story elements wont really be resolved for several volumes and whilst it doesnt finish on a cliff hanger it does finish on what feels like the end of act one and b) not many of the characters completely fit in with the new story - there was not much need or point to Miles and his daughter to this novel. They could have been left out and it would have essentially been the same story.

Overall though it was a compelling, unexpected and enjoyable read and I am looking forward to getting my teeth into the next volume and will then be looking forward to the rest of the Anniversary Day stories coming out in the next 6 months to year.