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Black Dawn #1
Ashen
In 2065 a nuclear strike was initiated that almost resulted in the annihilation of all life on Earth.
On the 11th October 2078, leaving behind their irradiated homelands and heading out into the night, mankind start the hugely ambitious and dangerous task of building a permanent colony on Mars.
The year is now 2102 and, against the odds, the Sanctuary colony and its inhabitants have thrived.
Meanwhile on the distant planet of Ashen 2, a team of scientists have made an unprecedented breakthrough that could herald a new golden era for mankind, but instead unleashes a new and unpredictable terror.
When communication with Ashen 2 is lost, a mission to investigate is quickly launched.
Amongst the team is Robert Hewson, an experimental physicist responsible for the ongoing terraforming of Mars and bringing his late father’s dream of Mars having a breathable atmosphere to fruition.
Hewson soon finds himself being carried along in a whirlwind, as he and the rescue team engage a faceless enemy across space and time.
Something has been watching from beyond the veil and the fight for survival has begun.
Links: Ashen (Black Dawn, Book One)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007Z3QZ5O
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Z3QZ5O
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
On the 11th October 2078, leaving behind their irradiated homelands and heading out into the night, mankind start the hugely ambitious and dangerous task of building a permanent colony on Mars.
The year is now 2102 and, against the odds, the Sanctuary colony and its inhabitants have thrived.
Meanwhile on the distant planet of Ashen 2, a team of scientists have made an unprecedented breakthrough that could herald a new golden era for mankind, but instead unleashes a new and unpredictable terror.
When communication with Ashen 2 is lost, a mission to investigate is quickly launched.
Amongst the team is Robert Hewson, an experimental physicist responsible for the ongoing terraforming of Mars and bringing his late father’s dream of Mars having a breathable atmosphere to fruition.
Hewson soon finds himself being carried along in a whirlwind, as he and the rescue team engage a faceless enemy across space and time.
Something has been watching from beyond the veil and the fight for survival has begun.
Links: Ashen (Black Dawn, Book One)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007Z3QZ5O
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Z3QZ5O
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2012
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 27, 2013
What I liked:
How General whatsisname wasn't made out to be the "bad guy" just because he had a different POV than the protagonists.
Reads like Doom 2- the giant cyborg at the end was scary & the smaller ones reminded me of the Imps
Cliffhanger at the end made things interesting
What I didn't like:
Reads like doom 2
Many instances of muddled up character POVs
Needs editing
Also reviewed at:
Shelfari
How General whatsisname wasn't made out to be the "bad guy" just because he had a different POV than the protagonists.
Reads like Doom 2- the giant cyborg at the end was scary & the smaller ones reminded me of the Imps
Cliffhanger at the end made things interesting
What I didn't like:
Reads like doom 2
Many instances of muddled up character POVs
Needs editing
Also reviewed at:
Shelfari
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2012
This was a good read with plenty of character development. I especially enjoyed the political machinations involved in the story line.
There are still some spelling errors and on the Kindle reader there was one section of corrupted text (but I think it was a duplicated section). **Update** Searched through for the corrupted section but was unable to locate it so may have been a transient glitch **update** But that didn't detract from the story which is what I'm giving the stars based on.
The only real negative for me were the references to late 20th Century music which didn't feel right in the context of the narrative.
In another review the poster complains about terminology and light speed technology. I have no such complaints as in a work of fiction the reality is that of the author, not the reader.
Enjoyable story, believable characters.
[*Previous updates*]
Couldn't read it. The words were cut off on the right side.
[update] The author has updated the file and the problem should now be fixed.
There are still some spelling errors and on the Kindle reader there was one section of corrupted text (but I think it was a duplicated section). **Update** Searched through for the corrupted section but was unable to locate it so may have been a transient glitch **update** But that didn't detract from the story which is what I'm giving the stars based on.
The only real negative for me were the references to late 20th Century music which didn't feel right in the context of the narrative.
In another review the poster complains about terminology and light speed technology. I have no such complaints as in a work of fiction the reality is that of the author, not the reader.
Enjoyable story, believable characters.
[*Previous updates*]
Couldn't read it. The words were cut off on the right side.
[update] The author has updated the file and the problem should now be fixed.
November 3, 2022
Using "Look Inside" on Amazon reveals these notable quotes:
"Terraforming activity on Mars was now well into its second decade, but as yet the planet still couldn't support life, though Hewson was sure that it was now only a matter of a few years, relatively speaking anyway, until everyone would again breathe an unpolluted atmosphere."
"In an attempt to cure his fear of heights, Hewson would often stare down into the abyss, though only for as long as it took the bones in his legs to melt and for him to lose his vertical base and on rare occasions his lunch."
"He wasn't too ripe, so he'd have a shower later!"
"It never ceased to amaze him the effect that this artificial paradise had on him and anyone else that had the full use of their five senses."
" 'She's good thanks. Though she's probably not best pleased about me missing breakfast once again.' "
" 'Anyway enough of this tom-foolery. You need to go home and prepare.' Cruishank said, his last few words trailing off into not much more than a whisper."
"Hewson quickly filled a cup and immediately started sipping the boiling black nectar, feeling its bitter sweet embrace massage his tired mind into a more cohesive state."
"The only foreign object in the room that reminded you that you were in the 22nd century was the three-meter wide monitor at the far end of the circular chamber."
"Feeding off the commotion, Cruishank paused for the perfect length before continuing."
" 'Which is all well and good until someone ends up floating in space.' "
"They wanted a ship of their own for exploration and research and as always they had made their argument to the council in an eloquent, logical and amiable manner."
"Ironically, in the end, it had been a meteorite that had saved the planet and six months after the evacuation order had been given, a rogue comet collided with the offending moon, putting it back into its original orbit."
"Terraforming activity on Mars was now well into its second decade, but as yet the planet still couldn't support life, though Hewson was sure that it was now only a matter of a few years, relatively speaking anyway, until everyone would again breathe an unpolluted atmosphere."
"In an attempt to cure his fear of heights, Hewson would often stare down into the abyss, though only for as long as it took the bones in his legs to melt and for him to lose his vertical base and on rare occasions his lunch."
"He wasn't too ripe, so he'd have a shower later!"
"It never ceased to amaze him the effect that this artificial paradise had on him and anyone else that had the full use of their five senses."
" 'She's good thanks. Though she's probably not best pleased about me missing breakfast once again.' "
" 'Anyway enough of this tom-foolery. You need to go home and prepare.' Cruishank said, his last few words trailing off into not much more than a whisper."
"Hewson quickly filled a cup and immediately started sipping the boiling black nectar, feeling its bitter sweet embrace massage his tired mind into a more cohesive state."
"The only foreign object in the room that reminded you that you were in the 22nd century was the three-meter wide monitor at the far end of the circular chamber."
"Feeding off the commotion, Cruishank paused for the perfect length before continuing."
" 'Which is all well and good until someone ends up floating in space.' "
"They wanted a ship of their own for exploration and research and as always they had made their argument to the council in an eloquent, logical and amiable manner."
"Ironically, in the end, it had been a meteorite that had saved the planet and six months after the evacuation order had been given, a rogue comet collided with the offending moon, putting it back into its original orbit."
September 11, 2012
This is a weird mash-up of military science fiction, horro, zombie and techno-thriller with some Nazis thrown in for good measure at the end. It didn't work for me.
First things first. A military science fiction book should get the language right. It is not "over and out". It is "over" or "out"! I also had a hard time believing all of the niceties that were present on Mars, and the FTL ship to Ashen. How can they afford the weight of the decorations in the captains quarters?
The author would have benefitted from a good editor to trim out some of the more stilted dialogue and characters. All in all I won't be getting the sequel. I can't complain though, as I got this for free. 8-)
First things first. A military science fiction book should get the language right. It is not "over and out". It is "over" or "out"! I also had a hard time believing all of the niceties that were present on Mars, and the FTL ship to Ashen. How can they afford the weight of the decorations in the captains quarters?
The author would have benefitted from a good editor to trim out some of the more stilted dialogue and characters. All in all I won't be getting the sequel. I can't complain though, as I got this for free. 8-)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2012
Not one of the better books I have read. I think the author tries to do too much in too little space. Just not much meat in the plot.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews