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The Chronicles of Anna Foster #1
Alone on the Edge: The Chronicles of Anna Foster
After accepting a job as a robotic engineer that sends her to a mining station at the edge of explored space, Anna Foster finds that her position is not what she expects and must adjust to life as the only living being aboard, struggling to keep her humanity while a relentless computer lords over her existence. But, the discovery of a secret could prove to be the key to her freedom.
- GenresScience Fiction
286 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2012
6 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Stutzman
8 books29 followers"I liked science fiction before it was cool."
The above statement is true with Patrick. He has always loved science fiction, being heavily influenced by Star Trek and Star Wars as a child. He read classic science fiction by authors such as Douglas Adams and Frank Herbert while in high school.
His career as a writer truly began when he became involved in roleplaying games while in college, where he created his own world and wrote his own adventures for his gaming group. Step by step, he finally achieved his dream job of working as a game designer for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game, Saga Edition produced by Wizards of the Coast.
When the game line was retired in 2009, he set forth on the next step of his writing career as an author by writing his first novel, Alone on the Edge.
The above statement is true with Patrick. He has always loved science fiction, being heavily influenced by Star Trek and Star Wars as a child. He read classic science fiction by authors such as Douglas Adams and Frank Herbert while in high school.
His career as a writer truly began when he became involved in roleplaying games while in college, where he created his own world and wrote his own adventures for his gaming group. Step by step, he finally achieved his dream job of working as a game designer for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game, Saga Edition produced by Wizards of the Coast.
When the game line was retired in 2009, he set forth on the next step of his writing career as an author by writing his first novel, Alone on the Edge.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 12, 2012
Good start for this new author. His pacing shows a dedication to learning his craft. Having befriended Patrick on social media platforms a year ago, I have followed his journey and I am proud of his accomplishment here.
February 15, 2012
*No spoilers* Alone on the Edge is about Anna, embarking on a new job aboard a mining rig at the edge of the galaxy. The only problem? She was never told she would be the only human on board. 6 years later finds her coping with lonliness and clutching onto her sanity. Her only company is the computer, who ofter nags her into waking up and doing her duties aboard the vessel. As a first time novelist, Stutzman really makes this ordeal believable. The dialogue between woman and machine is fun and most times hilarious, sometimes it is even touching. This was a great read and one I couldn't put down. This is first in an upcoming series. Get the book. Read it.
May 4, 2012
I loved the premise of this book. Mr. Stutzman does a good job of making you feel exactly how alone the heroine really feels. If you like your sci-fi on the gritty side, with a dash of smut and a storyline that hasn't been done-to-death, this is the book for you.
Format: 5 Stars
I read the Kindle version of this book. The book was well formatted with no typos (that I noticed).
Premise: 5 stars There are hundreds of thousands of sci-fi books on the market. Most of those have a futuristic space setting. Finding a book that is set in space, in the future, and doesn't make you roll your eyes and go "Oh not THIS again" is a nice change.
Prose: 4 stars This book is very descriptive. At times it was TOO descriptive. I wasn't expect graphic sexual language and you will find that in the first ten pages!
Plot and execution: 3 stars
I found the middle section of this book to be very slow. I had a hard time staying engaged. I know that the author was trying to make the reader feel the depth's of Anna's despair and loneliness, but I think he went a bit overboard. Also, there were several minor plot points raised during this time that were abandoned or did not reach a satisfying conclusion. The final climax of the story required far too many mental gymnastics and ripped me right out of the story.
I like this author and look forward to reading more from him. While I only gave this book 3 stars, I would still recommend it to my friends.
Format: 5 Stars
I read the Kindle version of this book. The book was well formatted with no typos (that I noticed).
Premise: 5 stars There are hundreds of thousands of sci-fi books on the market. Most of those have a futuristic space setting. Finding a book that is set in space, in the future, and doesn't make you roll your eyes and go "Oh not THIS again" is a nice change.
Prose: 4 stars This book is very descriptive. At times it was TOO descriptive. I wasn't expect graphic sexual language and you will find that in the first ten pages!
Plot and execution: 3 stars
I found the middle section of this book to be very slow. I had a hard time staying engaged. I know that the author was trying to make the reader feel the depth's of Anna's despair and loneliness, but I think he went a bit overboard. Also, there were several minor plot points raised during this time that were abandoned or did not reach a satisfying conclusion. The final climax of the story required far too many mental gymnastics and ripped me right out of the story.
I like this author and look forward to reading more from him. While I only gave this book 3 stars, I would still recommend it to my friends.
June 23, 2012
Once I started reading ALONE ON THE EDGE I couldn't stop. I had to know what happened to Anna and the computer.
The author spun a fascinating tale of a young woman as the sole crew member of a deep space mining outpost for six long years, with only the central computer for company. Unlike some depictions of young women written from a male perspective, I found Mr. Stutzman's presentation of Anna to be spot on in most respects.
The author deftly delivered a compelling story, rounding out the character of Anna with only the computer and drones for interaction. Parts of the story reminded me of 2001: A Space Odyssey and I frankly admit to hearing HAL's dulcet tones while reading the computer's dialog. I kept waiting for him to say "What are you doing, Dave?"
With elements of psychological thriller, romance, and rollicking good adventure, ALONE ON THE EDGE was a riveting read. I look forward to the sequel ALONE IN PARADISE and you can bet I'll lose a night's sleep reading that one, too!
The author spun a fascinating tale of a young woman as the sole crew member of a deep space mining outpost for six long years, with only the central computer for company. Unlike some depictions of young women written from a male perspective, I found Mr. Stutzman's presentation of Anna to be spot on in most respects.
The author deftly delivered a compelling story, rounding out the character of Anna with only the computer and drones for interaction. Parts of the story reminded me of 2001: A Space Odyssey and I frankly admit to hearing HAL's dulcet tones while reading the computer's dialog. I kept waiting for him to say "What are you doing, Dave?"
With elements of psychological thriller, romance, and rollicking good adventure, ALONE ON THE EDGE was a riveting read. I look forward to the sequel ALONE IN PARADISE and you can bet I'll lose a night's sleep reading that one, too!
June 28, 2012
At first, I wondered just what Patrick Stutzman would write about, to fill up an entire book, telling the tale of a lone woman with nothing but a computer to talk to and keep her company for the last six years. Sounds pretty dull, right? Not in the case of Alone On The Edge. Mr. Stutzman manages to get into the mind of a young woman who has grown from a fresh, ambitious, and eager college graduate to a strong, independent and very resilient woman. Even the computer that she interacts with daily grows on you towards the end (if you didn't want to kill it at first). This book kept me up at nights, trying to find out what happens next to Anna Foster. And like her, I ended up craving filet mignon and garlic mashed potatoes (and coveted a machine that could whips up meals in a flash!) Brilliant work, Patrick Stutzman! I look forward to the sequel.
January 3, 2016
Avevo preso questo libro attratto dalla trama: una donna che lavora da sola all’estremità dell’universo, con la sola compagnia di un’intelligenza artificiale che spadroneggia sulla sua vita.
Avevo immagini claustrofobiche di una guerra tra il computer impazzito e deciso a sterminare l’umana e la giovane donna disposta a tutto per sopravvivere e tornare sulla Terra.
Avevo negli occhi anche Moon di Duncan Jones, con il computer in questo caso amico del supervisore della stazione… un supervisore a tempo, con un oscuro segreto però che si scopre solo proseguendo nella visione del film.
Beh, tutto questo è stato per lo più disatteso.
Il libro comincia con Anna che parla con le amiche, prima di partire per lo spazio. Racconta le proprie speranze, e le amiche muovono alcune obiezioni: troppo bello come lavoro per una neo laureata come lei, sicuri non ci sia qualcosa dietro?
Dubbi che dovrebbero instillare anche a noi il tarlo, e che in breve tempo trovano una loro ragione nella scoperta che Anna sarà l’unico essere umano nella stazione mineraria in fondo all’universo.
Non vediamo niente del periodo di adattamento di Anna al nuovo ambiente, la ritroviamo di punto in bianco dopo sei anni di lavoro.
Insofferente nei confronti del computer, insofferente di non avere contatti con nessuno.
Tralasciamo l’assenza di regolamenti, il fatto che non si ponga domande su come e quando tornerà a casa…
il computer non spadroneggia né altro. Si comporta in maniera strana solo quando lei va palesemente contro di lui, o quando lei accoglie con gioia nella stazione un estraneo capitato lì per caso e a corto di carburante.
Perché nel frattempo il computer ha sviluppato una personalità (fatto contrario alle leggi e per cui la società rischierebbe grosse sanzioni) e si è innamorato di Anna.
Che però non si vede in una relazione con un’entità virtuale robotica.
Sono drammi!
L’apoteosi si raggiunge quando viene fuori che l’estraneo è in realtà uno della società, che avendo appurato che il pianeta da cui estraggono gas ormai è quasi esaurito, viene a chiudere la stazione.
Solo che, per motivi sconosciuti, la chiusura implica la distruzione della stazione -e qui ok, ci può stare- e l’omicidio dell’umana che vi lavora.
Perché mai?
E sopratutto… si può capire la finzione iniziale al puro scopo di farsela -ma anche no- ma quello che davvero è ridicolo è che decide di farla fuori di persona, la insegue giocando al gatto e al topo per tutta la stazione, anche attivando l’autodistruzione mentre non è al sicuro, e ovviamente viene così fregato ed eliminato.
Tutto per non essersi limitato ad allontanarsi imponendo al computer l’autodistruzione.
Ma scherziamo?
Cose da parodia di un cattivo, suvvia… cattivo da barzelletta lui, idiozia assurda della società… no, tutto senza senso.
Compresa la sinossi che non c’entra niente con il libro.
Una delusione cocente.
Avevo immagini claustrofobiche di una guerra tra il computer impazzito e deciso a sterminare l’umana e la giovane donna disposta a tutto per sopravvivere e tornare sulla Terra.
Avevo negli occhi anche Moon di Duncan Jones, con il computer in questo caso amico del supervisore della stazione… un supervisore a tempo, con un oscuro segreto però che si scopre solo proseguendo nella visione del film.
Beh, tutto questo è stato per lo più disatteso.
Il libro comincia con Anna che parla con le amiche, prima di partire per lo spazio. Racconta le proprie speranze, e le amiche muovono alcune obiezioni: troppo bello come lavoro per una neo laureata come lei, sicuri non ci sia qualcosa dietro?
Dubbi che dovrebbero instillare anche a noi il tarlo, e che in breve tempo trovano una loro ragione nella scoperta che Anna sarà l’unico essere umano nella stazione mineraria in fondo all’universo.
Non vediamo niente del periodo di adattamento di Anna al nuovo ambiente, la ritroviamo di punto in bianco dopo sei anni di lavoro.
Insofferente nei confronti del computer, insofferente di non avere contatti con nessuno.
Tralasciamo l’assenza di regolamenti, il fatto che non si ponga domande su come e quando tornerà a casa…
il computer non spadroneggia né altro. Si comporta in maniera strana solo quando lei va palesemente contro di lui, o quando lei accoglie con gioia nella stazione un estraneo capitato lì per caso e a corto di carburante.
Perché nel frattempo il computer ha sviluppato una personalità (fatto contrario alle leggi e per cui la società rischierebbe grosse sanzioni) e si è innamorato di Anna.
Che però non si vede in una relazione con un’entità virtuale robotica.
Sono drammi!
L’apoteosi si raggiunge quando viene fuori che l’estraneo è in realtà uno della società, che avendo appurato che il pianeta da cui estraggono gas ormai è quasi esaurito, viene a chiudere la stazione.
Solo che, per motivi sconosciuti, la chiusura implica la distruzione della stazione -e qui ok, ci può stare- e l’omicidio dell’umana che vi lavora.
Perché mai?
E sopratutto… si può capire la finzione iniziale al puro scopo di farsela -ma anche no- ma quello che davvero è ridicolo è che decide di farla fuori di persona, la insegue giocando al gatto e al topo per tutta la stazione, anche attivando l’autodistruzione mentre non è al sicuro, e ovviamente viene così fregato ed eliminato.
Tutto per non essersi limitato ad allontanarsi imponendo al computer l’autodistruzione.
Ma scherziamo?
Cose da parodia di un cattivo, suvvia… cattivo da barzelletta lui, idiozia assurda della società… no, tutto senza senso.
Compresa la sinossi che non c’entra niente con il libro.
Una delusione cocente.
February 16, 2012
Alone on the Edge was an enjoyable read. The premise of a woman alone on a space station with just a computer for company is well done. The character of Anna is one you can feel and root for. Even the computer, who is a stickler for pointless company policies, even though Anna is alone, grows on you as the book evolves.
The ending, while exciting and well paced, does require a bit of suspension of disbelief. The logic behind why the events occur are kind of weak and hard to believe.
A note to some readers, there are several sexual scenes that are described in a fair amount of detail, including one scene at the beginning which is fairly crude. However, these scenes are not the norm, and unless you are very offended by sexual content, they don't disrupt the story to much.
The ending, while exciting and well paced, does require a bit of suspension of disbelief. The logic behind why the events occur are kind of weak and hard to believe.
A note to some readers, there are several sexual scenes that are described in a fair amount of detail, including one scene at the beginning which is fairly crude. However, these scenes are not the norm, and unless you are very offended by sexual content, they don't disrupt the story to much.
April 27, 2012
Hired by a company to maintain robots on a mining station, Anna is sent to the edge of the travelled galaxy. It's only when she gets there that she discovers that she is the only human on the station, and her only company is the station's computer.
This is a great story of the relationship between Anna and the station computer. Patrick captures just how frustrating it can be when humans and computers collide and how, ultimately, the two can work together to achieve a common goal. The shocking events that lead up to the poignant conclusion of the book will leave you thinking for a good few hours after you finish the book.
I enjoyed reading Alone on the Edge, and look forward to reading what befalls Anna next.
This is a great story of the relationship between Anna and the station computer. Patrick captures just how frustrating it can be when humans and computers collide and how, ultimately, the two can work together to achieve a common goal. The shocking events that lead up to the poignant conclusion of the book will leave you thinking for a good few hours after you finish the book.
I enjoyed reading Alone on the Edge, and look forward to reading what befalls Anna next.
June 11, 2017
The book started well but what followed was a series of tedious conversations with a moronic computer, for half the book.
Eventually a visitor arrives, but apart from a few sexual encounters this didn’t do much to relieve the tedium.
Finally with the last 10% of the book something happens that made the book worth reading. Unfortunately the book then ends without any real conclusion to the story.
Eventually a visitor arrives, but apart from a few sexual encounters this didn’t do much to relieve the tedium.
Finally with the last 10% of the book something happens that made the book worth reading. Unfortunately the book then ends without any real conclusion to the story.
August 29, 2012
The execution is off. Sorry.
October 8, 2014
Loved this book. My favorite part is the dynamic between Anna and the computer.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews