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Vision Rising #2
Vision's Gambit: A Military Sci-Fi Series
Sometimes great power requires greater sacrifice
Joe Kovacs isn’t your average special forces warrior. There’s an alien artifact embedded in his skull that allows him to predict the future. It’s served him well so far, uncovering a conspiracy that would have shifted the balance of power in the Sol system for years to come.
Now the artifact is warning of a greater peril. Devastation on a galactic scale.
One man holds the key to stopping it.
Of all the possible futures Joe can see, there is only one path to victory… and it’s the vision least likely to come true.
Joe will have to pull off the impossible — divert the path of time itself — if humanity is to survive.
Book 2 in this exciting new Military Science Fiction Series that will make you not only question just what it means to be human, but also if there is ever a "right" side. It's perfect for fans of Ricj Partlow (Drop Trooper), Jeffery H. Haskell (Grimm's War), and Joshua Dalzelle (Black Fleet Saga).
Joe Kovacs isn’t your average special forces warrior. There’s an alien artifact embedded in his skull that allows him to predict the future. It’s served him well so far, uncovering a conspiracy that would have shifted the balance of power in the Sol system for years to come.
Now the artifact is warning of a greater peril. Devastation on a galactic scale.
One man holds the key to stopping it.
Of all the possible futures Joe can see, there is only one path to victory… and it’s the vision least likely to come true.
Joe will have to pull off the impossible — divert the path of time itself — if humanity is to survive.
Book 2 in this exciting new Military Science Fiction Series that will make you not only question just what it means to be human, but also if there is ever a "right" side. It's perfect for fans of Ricj Partlow (Drop Trooper), Jeffery H. Haskell (Grimm's War), and Joshua Dalzelle (Black Fleet Saga).
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2023
146 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
L.L. Richman
21 books30 followersL.L. Richman has a diverse career background, having spent more than a decade working in radiation physics, and twice that as a director of film and video. Richman is also a pilot and has close ties to the special forces community.
Richman's series feature the pulse-pounding action of small mission units set in the future and near future. Woven into each story is a scientific backdrop that is, if not plausible, at least grounded in some aspect of hard science.
For more information on upcoming releases or the latest news on space science and technology, subscribe to the newsletter at www.llrichman.com/newsletter, or follow on Facebook at facebook.com/LLRichman.
Richman's series feature the pulse-pounding action of small mission units set in the future and near future. Woven into each story is a scientific backdrop that is, if not plausible, at least grounded in some aspect of hard science.
For more information on upcoming releases or the latest news on space science and technology, subscribe to the newsletter at www.llrichman.com/newsletter, or follow on Facebook at facebook.com/LLRichman.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 29, 2023
Special forces covert operators pride themselves on overcoming any obstacle and their ability to kick ass and take names while breaking down doors. But what happens when an operator loses that ability and is taken off mission status?
In Book 1, of LL Richman’s new series, Vision Rising, Master Sergeant Joe Kovacs lost his vision in a training incident. He thought he would have to spend the rest of life in the dark and could no longer be an operator in Delta Squadron of Special Operations of the United Terran Forces. Seemingly, like a deux ex machina — a voice asks him if he would like to get his vision back. When he says yes, an alien device is implanted in his head. He does regain his vision but with some curious side effects — he can see future events and possible outcomes.
Without telling his team members why he has regained his vision he accompanies them on missions and his new found abilities help them to complete them. His secret is eventually exposed and his life enters into a new arc, different from his role as a regular operator in Delta Squadron.
In Book 2, his special ability helps him define what directions the Delta Square squadron takes on missions and what they will do. His command structure accepts his special abilities, at first reluctantly, then with less resistance, as he and his team are reassigned to a different command, one in which they will be sent on a mission that places them 300 light years away from Earth.
MSG Kovacs, his team, the experimental ship on which they find themselves assigned, and an accompanying squadron, find themselves in contact with an alien race that has one goal: to wipe out all life except for them. Getting back to Earth will require all of the knowledge of future events MSG Kovacs discovers and acceptance of his special skill in interpreting them and his guidance by those in charge.
Along the way, there will be space battles, and decisions are made as to who will live and who will die. Don’t worry about finding the time to read this fast-paced adventure — it will keep you up nights reading to finish it.
In Book 1, of LL Richman’s new series, Vision Rising, Master Sergeant Joe Kovacs lost his vision in a training incident. He thought he would have to spend the rest of life in the dark and could no longer be an operator in Delta Squadron of Special Operations of the United Terran Forces. Seemingly, like a deux ex machina — a voice asks him if he would like to get his vision back. When he says yes, an alien device is implanted in his head. He does regain his vision but with some curious side effects — he can see future events and possible outcomes.
Without telling his team members why he has regained his vision he accompanies them on missions and his new found abilities help them to complete them. His secret is eventually exposed and his life enters into a new arc, different from his role as a regular operator in Delta Squadron.
In Book 2, his special ability helps him define what directions the Delta Square squadron takes on missions and what they will do. His command structure accepts his special abilities, at first reluctantly, then with less resistance, as he and his team are reassigned to a different command, one in which they will be sent on a mission that places them 300 light years away from Earth.
MSG Kovacs, his team, the experimental ship on which they find themselves assigned, and an accompanying squadron, find themselves in contact with an alien race that has one goal: to wipe out all life except for them. Getting back to Earth will require all of the knowledge of future events MSG Kovacs discovers and acceptance of his special skill in interpreting them and his guidance by those in charge.
Along the way, there will be space battles, and decisions are made as to who will live and who will die. Don’t worry about finding the time to read this fast-paced adventure — it will keep you up nights reading to finish it.
March 28, 2024
Vision's Gambit is the second of a military science fiction story with multiple point of views, which works as a stand-alone. The first of the series is great, so you don't want to miss it, but if you wind up with the second of the trilogy in your hands, you can start there. The author, L.L. Richman, never forgets they are writing (1) military and (2) science fiction. Whether you want team tactics, political maneuvers, pew-pew space battle, deep embedded spies, or a very, very light touch of sweet romance, this book has you covered.
To recover from blindness, an alien artifact got embedded in Joe's head during the first book, but physical vision is the least of its gifts. It provides him visions of the future, from the most-likely blue-shifts to the least-likely red-shifts. His most recent vision shows an ongoing future for humanity ... in the deepest red he had ever seen. All other futures from vivid blue to light pink, humanity ends, never to breathe oxygen again. How will he switch the impossible red to a real blue before the future catches up with them all?
At least he isn't in it alone. He has his team - from the special forces he is a part of, to high level political leadership, from coast guard to space navy to research & development, from allies to enemies. Shifting the river of time to a different bed won't be easy, but the tip of a spear has the entire weapon flying behind it. All he had to do is get the tip aimed right, midflight. Hoo-ah!
To recover from blindness, an alien artifact got embedded in Joe's head during the first book, but physical vision is the least of its gifts. It provides him visions of the future, from the most-likely blue-shifts to the least-likely red-shifts. His most recent vision shows an ongoing future for humanity ... in the deepest red he had ever seen. All other futures from vivid blue to light pink, humanity ends, never to breathe oxygen again. How will he switch the impossible red to a real blue before the future catches up with them all?
At least he isn't in it alone. He has his team - from the special forces he is a part of, to high level political leadership, from coast guard to space navy to research & development, from allies to enemies. Shifting the river of time to a different bed won't be easy, but the tip of a spear has the entire weapon flying behind it. All he had to do is get the tip aimed right, midflight. Hoo-ah!
June 7, 2023
First contact with an alien nation can be exhilarating (for the uninitiated at least) but first contact can also be the most frightening experience ever. Let's face it. First contact means meeting with aliens you know nothing of. Nada.
Making a costly mistake can be legion. More so when they also seem making perfectly good suns go nova.
That is why the visions of Joe Kovacs, derived from, of all possible cases, an alien gadget in his head and which is showing him various possible future outcomes. Handy but not so much when most of them are worst case outcomes for Earth.
Except for one.
But he least likely to happen, at that?
And the local head hunting honchos from wealthy corporations trying at the same time to gain his willing or unwilling assistance for their own mighty financial gains...no matter what!
Vision's Gambit is one book that will thrill the reader to bits, that is, if he or she got any nails left after the first few chapters. Author LL Richman is to be commended for a brilliant and imaginative series, interesting and well developed characters and twisty plots to make you paging well past your normal sleeping hours.
Enjoy.
Making a costly mistake can be legion. More so when they also seem making perfectly good suns go nova.
That is why the visions of Joe Kovacs, derived from, of all possible cases, an alien gadget in his head and which is showing him various possible future outcomes. Handy but not so much when most of them are worst case outcomes for Earth.
Except for one.
But he least likely to happen, at that?
And the local head hunting honchos from wealthy corporations trying at the same time to gain his willing or unwilling assistance for their own mighty financial gains...no matter what!
Vision's Gambit is one book that will thrill the reader to bits, that is, if he or she got any nails left after the first few chapters. Author LL Richman is to be commended for a brilliant and imaginative series, interesting and well developed characters and twisty plots to make you paging well past your normal sleeping hours.
Enjoy.
June 7, 2023
VISION’S GAMBIT is another super story with Special Ops’ secret missions and wonderful characters fighting for the future of the human race. I especially love the character development as well as the way the author actually brought this part of the tale to a satisfactory end. I want to read the next in series NOT because of a cliffhanger (no cliffhanger!) but because the ending gently teased another great story!
Disclosure: I reviewed a free Advance Reader copy of this book (and also purchased a copy)!
Disclosure: I reviewed a free Advance Reader copy of this book (and also purchased a copy)!
September 6, 2023
Rough Vision
I want to give this book 4 stars because I liked the first book so much and the author's portrayal of the characters is engaging, but the structure of the story telling in this second book really destroyed any sense of anticipation or mystery to the outcome. At one point I had to skip CHAPTERS to find a point that caught my interest again. I will have to set the series aside for a while before deciding if I want to give book 3 a chance. Regardless, I will keep an eye on this author's work.
I want to give this book 4 stars because I liked the first book so much and the author's portrayal of the characters is engaging, but the structure of the story telling in this second book really destroyed any sense of anticipation or mystery to the outcome. At one point I had to skip CHAPTERS to find a point that caught my interest again. I will have to set the series aside for a while before deciding if I want to give book 3 a chance. Regardless, I will keep an eye on this author's work.
June 12, 2023
Blue Shift
I liked the pacing of the story, the brotherhood of team was on point. Kovacs finding a way to make the blue happen was never a sure thing until it was. I really enjoyed this second book in the series, can't wait for the next book.
I liked the pacing of the story, the brotherhood of team was on point. Kovacs finding a way to make the blue happen was never a sure thing until it was. I really enjoyed this second book in the series, can't wait for the next book.
August 2, 2023
intrigue, Suspense & Action
I liked the first book in this series but this one was even better. The pace was faster w/something going on at every turn. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
I liked the first book in this series but this one was even better. The pace was faster w/something going on at every turn. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
September 11, 2023
Book 2 really came together
Book one made me a bit nervous, but book two was a huge leap. And I love the appendix section, so few authors take the time to explain their science and the artistic liberties to deliver such wonderful stories.
Book one made me a bit nervous, but book two was a huge leap. And I love the appendix section, so few authors take the time to explain their science and the artistic liberties to deliver such wonderful stories.
July 26, 2023
Great Storyline
Great Storyline with plenty of action and great to read not everything is fictional. Found this storyline well written and very entertaining
Great Storyline with plenty of action and great to read not everything is fictional. Found this storyline well written and very entertaining
August 8, 2023
4.5
This was a Great read. I am really enjoying this series and am looking forward to the next book in this series.
This was a Great read. I am really enjoying this series and am looking forward to the next book in this series.
November 5, 2023
Military SF with reasonable explanation for precog abilities. Always feel the ending will be successful, but its a nice ride.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews