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Sullivan's War: Prologue - Sergeant Riley's Account
In the jungles of the planet Edaline, a mysterious species known as the Squamata has long avoided the planet's human colonizers. But as the only survivor of an apparent attack by the Squamata, Sergeant Leonard Riley knows that the government's official version of events is untrue. Now he must make a choice between protecting the government he once proudly served and exposing the lies and corruption of an oppressive regime. Length: 10,000 words/40 pages.
This stand-alone story serves as a prologue to the new science fiction adventure series Sullivan's War. Sullivan's War: Book I - All Good Men Serve the Devil, is now available.
This stand-alone story serves as a prologue to the new science fiction adventure series Sullivan's War. Sullivan's War: Book I - All Good Men Serve the Devil, is now available.
- GenresScience Fiction
33 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2011
2 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Michael K. Rose
36 books606 followersMichael K. Rose is a part-time writer and a full-time idler.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 21, 2011
Mr. Rose knocks another one out of the galaxy with the prologue of Sullivan's War: Sergeant Riley's Account.
The planet of Edaline is home to a rare species called 'The Squamata'. Sergeant Riley and a group of other scientists and military personnel fall victim to an apparent Squamata attack in which Riley is the sole survivor. Riley's recollection of the event differs from that of is superiors and soon Sergeant Riley is forced to make a decision: Protect the government or reveal their true colors.
This is a prologue for an upcoming series Sullivan's war. Mr. Rose tends to shine his brightest in stories like this blending the elements of Science Fiction and political thriller into an 'on the edge of your seat' story
I need three more hands so I can give this 'Five Thumbs Up'
The planet of Edaline is home to a rare species called 'The Squamata'. Sergeant Riley and a group of other scientists and military personnel fall victim to an apparent Squamata attack in which Riley is the sole survivor. Riley's recollection of the event differs from that of is superiors and soon Sergeant Riley is forced to make a decision: Protect the government or reveal their true colors.
This is a prologue for an upcoming series Sullivan's war. Mr. Rose tends to shine his brightest in stories like this blending the elements of Science Fiction and political thriller into an 'on the edge of your seat' story
I need three more hands so I can give this 'Five Thumbs Up'
February 12, 2012
Sergeant Riley's Account is a gem of a novella. Tight, well-written, masterfully formed, this thrill-a-minute ride will keep you glued to your seat until the very end. As the Afterword explains, this novella was not conceived as a prologue to Michael K. Rose's Sullivan's War, but it serves so well as an introduction to the his universe that I want to run out and read everything else immediately.
The dialogue, the rising action, the ultimate climax at the end--everything presented is stitched together with a master's hand, weaving a tapestry of imagination out of the blank page.
The dialogue, the rising action, the ultimate climax at the end--everything presented is stitched together with a master's hand, weaving a tapestry of imagination out of the blank page.
December 9, 2012
An exciting story by itself, but also a great prologue to the trilogy Sullivan's War, as described in a first hand account from the person that knew best.
This is the account of how the military started a war on Edaline. It is the story told by a lone survivor of an attack on the Squamata, the natives of Edaline.
I was able to relate easily to the main character of this story. The confusion Sergeant Riley felt, and the military pressure he was given brought the story to life for me. Although written as science fiction, there is an edge of possibility that brings the reader into the story. While this does not require the reader run out and find the next book, it does work very well to explain some of the story presented in Sullivan's War.
Since this was written as a stand-alone science fiction story, it works very well. It is not necessary to read any other books to be excited by this one.
I can easily recommend this book to those of us who really enjoy science fiction, but also those who enjoy military fiction. Having enjoyed this story, I was really looking forward to reading the Sullivan's War trilogy.
This is the account of how the military started a war on Edaline. It is the story told by a lone survivor of an attack on the Squamata, the natives of Edaline.
I was able to relate easily to the main character of this story. The confusion Sergeant Riley felt, and the military pressure he was given brought the story to life for me. Although written as science fiction, there is an edge of possibility that brings the reader into the story. While this does not require the reader run out and find the next book, it does work very well to explain some of the story presented in Sullivan's War.
Since this was written as a stand-alone science fiction story, it works very well. It is not necessary to read any other books to be excited by this one.
I can easily recommend this book to those of us who really enjoy science fiction, but also those who enjoy military fiction. Having enjoyed this story, I was really looking forward to reading the Sullivan's War trilogy.
January 11, 2013
I’ve been wanting to read Michael K. Rose’s Sullivan’s War books for months now and haven’t gotten to that part of my to-be-read pile just yet. But tonight I have a little down time for a short read, and decided to at least start with the Sullivan’s War Prologue, Sergeant Riley’s Account.
This is just the short story I needed to sit down with. It’s a fast ready, yet it has a lot going on inside it where it’s memorable. As the description states, this is a stand-alone story, yet at the same time it fits perfectly as the start of something much bigger.
As I stated this story was a fast read. It flowed from beginning to end as the action moved along. As the story kept unfolding I kept turning the pages, but I didn’t want it to end. I was only left wanting more. I wanted to know what happens next. I wanted to see the politics of Edaline more, and I’m not very in to politics. I wanted to see the aftermath of the ending. What am I saying? I’m saying that I want to read Sullivan’s War now! Luckily, I have it loaded up on my Kindle already for what I can dive into those three books.
This is just the short story I needed to sit down with. It’s a fast ready, yet it has a lot going on inside it where it’s memorable. As the description states, this is a stand-alone story, yet at the same time it fits perfectly as the start of something much bigger.
As I stated this story was a fast read. It flowed from beginning to end as the action moved along. As the story kept unfolding I kept turning the pages, but I didn’t want it to end. I was only left wanting more. I wanted to know what happens next. I wanted to see the politics of Edaline more, and I’m not very in to politics. I wanted to see the aftermath of the ending. What am I saying? I’m saying that I want to read Sullivan’s War now! Luckily, I have it loaded up on my Kindle already for what I can dive into those three books.
January 21, 2013
Three words come to mind after reading this. Intriguing. Entertaining. More.
What Rose does in a few pages is establish a world and a defining set of scenarios that puts into motion a need for the reader to know more.
Sgt. Riley is a pawn in a government plot designed to further its own ambitions. He is, in a sense, the everyman in this tale, railing against the political and military forces of the planet Edaline.
The writing is crisp and vivid; there is nothing extraneous. If you are a science or speculative fiction fan, then this is a must read for you. While it can be read as a stand alone, I encourage you to read this and then dive into the Sullivan's War series to learn more about Edaline and her fate.
Kudos to Rose for penning a sharp and interesting story that opens the door onto worlds I want to discover. What I am left with is the desire to read on. You should too.
What Rose does in a few pages is establish a world and a defining set of scenarios that puts into motion a need for the reader to know more.
Sgt. Riley is a pawn in a government plot designed to further its own ambitions. He is, in a sense, the everyman in this tale, railing against the political and military forces of the planet Edaline.
The writing is crisp and vivid; there is nothing extraneous. If you are a science or speculative fiction fan, then this is a must read for you. While it can be read as a stand alone, I encourage you to read this and then dive into the Sullivan's War series to learn more about Edaline and her fate.
Kudos to Rose for penning a sharp and interesting story that opens the door onto worlds I want to discover. What I am left with is the desire to read on. You should too.
July 29, 2012
In this science fiction thriller, Sgt. Riley is faced with a difficult choice- to tell the truth in direct conflict with the government or remain quiet about what he knows of the massacre of the mysterious Squamata. The difficulty and heart-pounding consequences of Sgt. Riley's choice are conveyed masterfully in this "edge of your seat" short story. This is wonderful prologue to Michael Rose's writing and his series, Sullivan's War.
July 1, 2012
I read this as part of Michael's new collection of Short Stories, it was awesome. I appreciate the mystery and sci-fi elements thrown into this story. It was intense and I felt that I was along in the decisions and outcome with Sgt. Riley. He's put into a difficult situation, but ends up deciding that he needed to do what was right in the end. Great writing!
July 8, 2012
Sergeant Riley's Account is an excellent read. It can certainly be read as a stand alone short story, but it's an enticing prologue for Sullivan's War. It was so good that I promptly started reading Sullivan's War. Hurry and read this book.
June 11, 2012
I liked this short story. It's well written and left me the curiosity to read more about this universe.I'll surely buy the other volumes.
December 22, 2013
Short but definitely in the vein of Phillip K. Dick. Awesome.
January 30, 2015
short
This story could have been a bit longer. Too many details were left unanswered. But since this is part of a series perhaps the answers are in other stories.
This story could have been a bit longer. Too many details were left unanswered. But since this is part of a series perhaps the answers are in other stories.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews