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Day One
September 15, 2241
Near Mars, a traitorous admiral opens fire on a fleet he’d once led, and a Navy he’d once loved.
In Earth orbit, a drone pilot stands over the poisoned bodies of his co-workers, crying out in triumph as nine hijacked drones slam into their unsuspecting targets.
Thirty-six thousand kilometers below, citizens in the mega-city of Atlanta, Georgia, look to the sky as a massive ship plummets from orbit, the dying remains of the largest deep-space warship ever built… now the largest bomb ever conceived.
Sol War 1 has begun.
* * * *
Day One is the first book in a riveting, multi-book military science fiction series that chronicles the Outer Colony’s war of independence against Earth.
From the history of the Outer Colonies to the riots on Ganymede and a secretive plot for war, Day One presents an in-depth account of mankind’s path leading to Sol War 1, as well as an unforgettable look at the events of the war’s horrific opening day from those who experienced it: from fleet admirals and intelligence agents to technicians, refinery workers, and those who would not live to see the end of Day One.
Near Mars, a traitorous admiral opens fire on a fleet he’d once led, and a Navy he’d once loved.
In Earth orbit, a drone pilot stands over the poisoned bodies of his co-workers, crying out in triumph as nine hijacked drones slam into their unsuspecting targets.
Thirty-six thousand kilometers below, citizens in the mega-city of Atlanta, Georgia, look to the sky as a massive ship plummets from orbit, the dying remains of the largest deep-space warship ever built… now the largest bomb ever conceived.
Sol War 1 has begun.
* * * *
Day One is the first book in a riveting, multi-book military science fiction series that chronicles the Outer Colony’s war of independence against Earth.
From the history of the Outer Colonies to the riots on Ganymede and a secretive plot for war, Day One presents an in-depth account of mankind’s path leading to Sol War 1, as well as an unforgettable look at the events of the war’s horrific opening day from those who experienced it: from fleet admirals and intelligence agents to technicians, refinery workers, and those who would not live to see the end of Day One.
- GenresScience Fiction
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2012
1 person is currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
John Forsberg
2 books4 followersMy earliest attempts at "being a writer" occurred in the fourth grade. One of my first projects was a short story about UFOs, having just seen "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". The second was a story about terrorists taking over a nuclear missile silo. I can't tell you where the inspiration for that one came from (it was about the time of the Three Mile Island accident, so perhaps I had nuclear disasters on my mind). Whatever the case, it must have been disturbing for my parents to read my account of terrorists blowing away silo guards with machine guns.
At eighteen and in love with "The Hunt For Red October", I began my own techno-thriller. Hundreds of pages into it, lost and flailing, I sent a letter to Tom Clancy, asking for advice. A few weeks later (still living at home), a letter arrived. It read:
'Tried to call you, but you were out. For a guy the first time out of the box, you pretty much have to be able to present a finished book, or enough that the publisher can make an informed judgment on what and how good the book will be.
So, GET TO WORK AND WRITE THE BOOK.'
Twenty years later I finally got to work, writing a few short stories and a couple (what I consider) test novels that taught me a great deal about the craft.
Clancy's framed letter sits just six inches from this computer monitor as I write this.
In late 2010, I started work on Day One. In February of 2012, I finished the first draft.
Done.
It took two decades but I got to work, and wrote the book.
Thanks, Tom.
At eighteen and in love with "The Hunt For Red October", I began my own techno-thriller. Hundreds of pages into it, lost and flailing, I sent a letter to Tom Clancy, asking for advice. A few weeks later (still living at home), a letter arrived. It read:
'Tried to call you, but you were out. For a guy the first time out of the box, you pretty much have to be able to present a finished book, or enough that the publisher can make an informed judgment on what and how good the book will be.
So, GET TO WORK AND WRITE THE BOOK.'
Twenty years later I finally got to work, writing a few short stories and a couple (what I consider) test novels that taught me a great deal about the craft.
Clancy's framed letter sits just six inches from this computer monitor as I write this.
In late 2010, I started work on Day One. In February of 2012, I finished the first draft.
Done.
It took two decades but I got to work, and wrote the book.
Thanks, Tom.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 11, 2013
I've always been a fan of military and space sci-fi so it was no surprise that I got a copy of this book. It was great decision to do so. I really enjoyed the history section of the universe in which the story is set and I loved the little descriptions at the start of the book, the abbreviations and stuff.
I attempted a similar history section in my own book, The Silent Saga: Desolate but on a smaller scale, just in the prologue and Forsberg showed me that it can be employed effectively.
The action sequences in the second part of the book flowed with good pace and did not embellish to much nor understate what needed to be said. It was just right. The end section of the book where also right up my street but I better not elaborate to much so readers can see for themselves.
All in all, I will be getting the second part or any subsequent releases in the series as I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I attempted a similar history section in my own book, The Silent Saga: Desolate but on a smaller scale, just in the prologue and Forsberg showed me that it can be employed effectively.
The action sequences in the second part of the book flowed with good pace and did not embellish to much nor understate what needed to be said. It was just right. The end section of the book where also right up my street but I better not elaborate to much so readers can see for themselves.
All in all, I will be getting the second part or any subsequent releases in the series as I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 17, 2019
Day One (Sol War 1) by John Jay Forsberg
I'm giving this 5 stars because its played well even though there are some potential road bumps. And because I'm giving it 5 stars I'm going to be a bit brutal about those bumps.
First and foremost I loved this book and I loved it a lot more than I expected. I am a fan of many of the movies and shows that contain the War in Space themes but not so much the ones that are heavy on the battle engagements. My focus always falls on the characters and how they develop within the context of the story. Damn the torpedoes; I want to know about the people.
This book starts with Day One: H-HOUR and its a good lead in with some mystery and intrigue and the beginning of war. Only problem is of course that everyone dies. Well that usually isn't a game changer since there's the rest of the story.
The quibble I have with this book is it takes the next third of the book to get to the rest of the story and there are a lot of people who after reading a hundred pages or less are going to say 'what the heck.' Yell 'Abandon ship.' and throw another log on the fire.
I'm glad i resisted all those urges. And John redeems himself well enough to let that all pass. I just think that there's a whole bunch of people who will get a bit upset. Here's why. There's this whole bunch of Poli-Sci fiction going here that reads almost like a stale history analysis of what led up to this one moment we saw in passing from above(What I said up there.), all lumped together.
Really there are some things in that history that the reader needs to know and though I don't usually agree with the notion of skimming or scanning a fiction book I think it's appropriate here because the reader really needs to get past page 100 to get to the rest of the story or their missing a really well told well paced action packed thriller.(Don't really skim or you might miss something important.)
Honestly, John needs to make cliff notes for Part1 for the reader who wants to read the action and character development. (I'm sure somewhere along the line he thought that's what part 1 is but seriously.) I have to be careful here because in this instance the author knows where I work.
Honestly though, I couldn't put this down once things really started to happen. As history showed us the colonies in space have very good reasons to rebel and now they have the support of a former Admiral Dermot Coughlan. Dermot has many motivations for helping the colonists but his deepest I wasn't sure about. It could be the senseless death of his son but he also seems to have some vision of the value of the strength of the colonies and that's somewhere locked in that Poli-Sci section that needs this shown in the cliff notes.
Nolan Shaw, the charismatic leader of the rebels is a dangerous and possibly overreaching man who is clearly leading his people beyond his own abilities and that is going to have to play out in future stories. He's building some bad karma.
Navy Admiral of the Fleet, Terry Hutchins is an old friend of Dermot Coughlan and is the counter-point to him on the other side in this war. His daughter Rear Admiral Evelyn Hutchins is the one who will have to face off with Coughlan and I want to say I'm in love with this character. She does everything right within her abilities and sometimes beyond and she is unswerving in the face of death.
I've no idea how well Evelyn will come out of all of this but look out Honor Harrington you have staunch competition.
Paulo Mantega is the investigator tracing after the infamous Somachai and trying to prevent the catastrophe that will set things off. He has a lot of guilt and a self imposed mission.
John Hanson is living with the knowledge of what his brother Michael has done and knowing he had a part in it all.
I'm definitely looking for the next book in this series.
And when you get a chance John shoot me those cliff notes.
J.L. Dobias
I'm giving this 5 stars because its played well even though there are some potential road bumps. And because I'm giving it 5 stars I'm going to be a bit brutal about those bumps.
First and foremost I loved this book and I loved it a lot more than I expected. I am a fan of many of the movies and shows that contain the War in Space themes but not so much the ones that are heavy on the battle engagements. My focus always falls on the characters and how they develop within the context of the story. Damn the torpedoes; I want to know about the people.
This book starts with Day One: H-HOUR and its a good lead in with some mystery and intrigue and the beginning of war. Only problem is of course that everyone dies. Well that usually isn't a game changer since there's the rest of the story.
The quibble I have with this book is it takes the next third of the book to get to the rest of the story and there are a lot of people who after reading a hundred pages or less are going to say 'what the heck.' Yell 'Abandon ship.' and throw another log on the fire.
I'm glad i resisted all those urges. And John redeems himself well enough to let that all pass. I just think that there's a whole bunch of people who will get a bit upset. Here's why. There's this whole bunch of Poli-Sci fiction going here that reads almost like a stale history analysis of what led up to this one moment we saw in passing from above(What I said up there.), all lumped together.
Really there are some things in that history that the reader needs to know and though I don't usually agree with the notion of skimming or scanning a fiction book I think it's appropriate here because the reader really needs to get past page 100 to get to the rest of the story or their missing a really well told well paced action packed thriller.(Don't really skim or you might miss something important.)
Honestly, John needs to make cliff notes for Part1 for the reader who wants to read the action and character development. (I'm sure somewhere along the line he thought that's what part 1 is but seriously.) I have to be careful here because in this instance the author knows where I work.
Honestly though, I couldn't put this down once things really started to happen. As history showed us the colonies in space have very good reasons to rebel and now they have the support of a former Admiral Dermot Coughlan. Dermot has many motivations for helping the colonists but his deepest I wasn't sure about. It could be the senseless death of his son but he also seems to have some vision of the value of the strength of the colonies and that's somewhere locked in that Poli-Sci section that needs this shown in the cliff notes.
Nolan Shaw, the charismatic leader of the rebels is a dangerous and possibly overreaching man who is clearly leading his people beyond his own abilities and that is going to have to play out in future stories. He's building some bad karma.
Navy Admiral of the Fleet, Terry Hutchins is an old friend of Dermot Coughlan and is the counter-point to him on the other side in this war. His daughter Rear Admiral Evelyn Hutchins is the one who will have to face off with Coughlan and I want to say I'm in love with this character. She does everything right within her abilities and sometimes beyond and she is unswerving in the face of death.
I've no idea how well Evelyn will come out of all of this but look out Honor Harrington you have staunch competition.
Paulo Mantega is the investigator tracing after the infamous Somachai and trying to prevent the catastrophe that will set things off. He has a lot of guilt and a self imposed mission.
John Hanson is living with the knowledge of what his brother Michael has done and knowing he had a part in it all.
I'm definitely looking for the next book in this series.
And when you get a chance John shoot me those cliff notes.
J.L. Dobias
January 26, 2013
Space opera/military novel set in our space system. First of a series. First half of the book is pretty much a Traveler or other sci-fi RPG module where the world is set up with the background on politics and the military situation. The second part introduces the characters during the first day of a war. Good but not great. Hopefully the next book broadens the characters, otherwise they are sort of forgettable. Some maps of the planetary orbits are included for those of us who are spatially lacking:)
June 2, 2014
There is a fantastic story hidden inside this book, unfortunately it doesn't feel quite as finished or as polished as it might be. The ideas are fantastic, but most of the characters could use a little more fleshing out. I really enjoyed it, but it read more like notes than a finished product.
May 1, 2013
Once you get past the onslaught of acronyms, this story expands and engrosses. It is a slow burner but I enjoyed it and want to read the second part quickly.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews