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A Learning Experience #1
By Nuttall, Christopher G A Learning Experience: Volume 1 Paperback - April 2014
Earth is not alone. There is a towering civilisation out in the galaxy, far greater than anything we can imagine. But we are isolated from the galaxy ... until now.
When a bunch of interstellar scavengers approach Earth, intending to abduct a few dozen humans and sell them into slavery in the darkest, they make the mistake of picking on Steve Stuart and his friends, ex-military veterans all. Unprepared for humans who can actually fight, unaware of the true capabilities of their stolen starships, the scavengers rapidly lose control of the ship – and their lives.
To Steve, the captured starship represents a great opportunity, one to establish a new civilisation away from Earth and its increasingly oppressive bureaucracy. But with the aliens plotting their revenge and human factions suspicious of the new technology, it will be far from easy to create a whole new world ...
[A Learning Experience is DRM-free. You may reformat it as you choose. There is a large sample of the text on author's site.]
When a bunch of interstellar scavengers approach Earth, intending to abduct a few dozen humans and sell them into slavery in the darkest, they make the mistake of picking on Steve Stuart and his friends, ex-military veterans all. Unprepared for humans who can actually fight, unaware of the true capabilities of their stolen starships, the scavengers rapidly lose control of the ship – and their lives.
To Steve, the captured starship represents a great opportunity, one to establish a new civilisation away from Earth and its increasingly oppressive bureaucracy. But with the aliens plotting their revenge and human factions suspicious of the new technology, it will be far from easy to create a whole new world ...
[A Learning Experience is DRM-free. You may reformat it as you choose. There is a large sample of the text on author's site.]
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First published March 2, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
October 12, 2015
Keep your politics out of sci fi
I have purchased quite some few of the authors books end enjoyed his writing but this book get preachy about American politics and reads like a GOP propaganda manual.
Message to Chris - Just enter in your bio that I hate anything that is not White Anglo Saxon. I get it ......your conservative who lives in a society that has an artificially inflated standard of living based on colonialism. I get it as I benefit every day from being born in the U.S., however I'm not dumb enough to believe that life
would be the same for me if I was born poor in Turkey or I'm a better person because of my place of orign. Your a good sci fi writer. Stick to it and leave the politics out of it. What a tool.
I have purchased quite some few of the authors books end enjoyed his writing but this book get preachy about American politics and reads like a GOP propaganda manual.
Message to Chris - Just enter in your bio that I hate anything that is not White Anglo Saxon. I get it ......your conservative who lives in a society that has an artificially inflated standard of living based on colonialism. I get it as I benefit every day from being born in the U.S., however I'm not dumb enough to believe that life
would be the same for me if I was born poor in Turkey or I'm a better person because of my place of orign. Your a good sci fi writer. Stick to it and leave the politics out of it. What a tool.
August 13, 2016
Left me shaking my head in wonder, how did this book get printed?
Firstly no character development at all, they are literally pop up card board cut outs.
Secondly character interaction is awful! stereotypical, b-grade dialog,
which i can normally live with, as long as i get my sci fi fix, right? well i did read it all, so guilty there, sadly the book left me feeling almost insulted? it really does treat you, like your an intellectual muppet.
quick example
I loved the part where his girlfriend gets kidnapped, gets rescued hours later, then the main protagonist has to talked out of wiping out EVERYONE in Iran and Saudi Arabia.. I would let it slide, but the writer devotes literally dozens of pages to that shit, apparently annihilating over a hundred million people is a reasonable response(WHO DOES THAT??!!).. and this is the main protagonist, we are supposed to identify with and like this guy!..
The politics of this book is right out of fox news, and just to be clear, roughly 1/2 of this book is politics orientated.
the only part i liked? his name :P
chris nuttall i wont be buying another.
Firstly no character development at all, they are literally pop up card board cut outs.
Secondly character interaction is awful! stereotypical, b-grade dialog,
which i can normally live with, as long as i get my sci fi fix, right? well i did read it all, so guilty there, sadly the book left me feeling almost insulted? it really does treat you, like your an intellectual muppet.
quick example
I loved the part where his girlfriend gets kidnapped, gets rescued hours later, then the main protagonist has to talked out of wiping out EVERYONE in Iran and Saudi Arabia.. I would let it slide, but the writer devotes literally dozens of pages to that shit, apparently annihilating over a hundred million people is a reasonable response(WHO DOES THAT??!!).. and this is the main protagonist, we are supposed to identify with and like this guy!..
The politics of this book is right out of fox news, and just to be clear, roughly 1/2 of this book is politics orientated.
the only part i liked? his name :P
chris nuttall i wont be buying another.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2016
This might be the best of Nuttall's books that I have read. I can't think of any of his that I have enjoyed more.
March 22, 2014
I would say that this book is a bit different. It is not the usual adventure book about a bunch of humans that discover that aliens do exist, get hold of some alien tech, and boldly goes on an adventure into space. Well, it is a bit of that but it is also quite a bit a political story about breaking free from the Earth and the existing governments and creating a whole new nation.
Normally I do not like books with too much political slant in them but I have to say that I found this one rather enjoyable to read. It of course helps that I share much of the main characters aversion for bureaucratic over-sized governments. Everyone gets a bit of the ire in this book but I cannot help to be particular found of the slapping the European Community and United Nations get. I live in the middle of that mess as well as work for an international organization and as far as I am concerned the useless and disconnected-from-reality assholes in Brussels and Geneva deserves all the trashing they get. But I am digressing.
As usual the book is quite well written and the characters are well done and fun to follow. The rather far out “hey let’s make our own state” idea that just goes from crazy idea to reality is…well crazy but also a wee bit different as well as fun reading. Parts that I quite liked are when Steve and his friends take down the ignorant government agents and in general the “surprise effects” from the advanced technology he has acquired.
One criticism would be that it is all done a bit naively, simplistically and way to fast. Personally I think the book could have been a lot longer, or the story split over several books. Some things just feel rushed and glossed over. Although I can also understand that the author must cater for a reasonably wide audience and not all people like long detailed books.
So far I have quite liked all the books from Mr. Nuttall that I have read. This one is probably somewhere in the middle of the bunch. If a sequel comes out I will surely pick it up but there are other sequels from this author that I am looking forward to more eagerly.
Normally I do not like books with too much political slant in them but I have to say that I found this one rather enjoyable to read. It of course helps that I share much of the main characters aversion for bureaucratic over-sized governments. Everyone gets a bit of the ire in this book but I cannot help to be particular found of the slapping the European Community and United Nations get. I live in the middle of that mess as well as work for an international organization and as far as I am concerned the useless and disconnected-from-reality assholes in Brussels and Geneva deserves all the trashing they get. But I am digressing.
As usual the book is quite well written and the characters are well done and fun to follow. The rather far out “hey let’s make our own state” idea that just goes from crazy idea to reality is…well crazy but also a wee bit different as well as fun reading. Parts that I quite liked are when Steve and his friends take down the ignorant government agents and in general the “surprise effects” from the advanced technology he has acquired.
One criticism would be that it is all done a bit naively, simplistically and way to fast. Personally I think the book could have been a lot longer, or the story split over several books. Some things just feel rushed and glossed over. Although I can also understand that the author must cater for a reasonably wide audience and not all people like long detailed books.
So far I have quite liked all the books from Mr. Nuttall that I have read. This one is probably somewhere in the middle of the bunch. If a sequel comes out I will surely pick it up but there are other sequels from this author that I am looking forward to more eagerly.
March 14, 2014
A Learning Experience.......
A really good story, political and military science fiction... but as good as the story is, there are some very real and hard truths about the political realities in the USA. In today's world, this is a possibly very real portrait of the conditions underlying the premise of the story. Give it a shot....you'll be entertained....Plus have something to reflect on.
A really good story, political and military science fiction... but as good as the story is, there are some very real and hard truths about the political realities in the USA. In today's world, this is a possibly very real portrait of the conditions underlying the premise of the story. Give it a shot....you'll be entertained....Plus have something to reflect on.
January 5, 2016
This had such great potential then ruined it with political garble. I couldn't get past the anti government rambling to try to get to what could have been a good story
July 25, 2016
This is a new series by Nuttall. I have become a big fan of the various Nuttall series. In this book our hero is Steve Stuart and friends who are all ex-military. An interstellar gang of scavenger abducts Stuart and friends with the goal of selling them into slavery. Stuart and his buddies take over the ship (an advanced alien ship) and instead of returning to earth decide to establish a colony on the moon. Of course, they have lots of exciting adventures in the process.
The book is well written with lots of action. Nuttall did not do much character building in this story but maybe he plans on developing them over more books in the series. My complaint about this book is Nuttall allows himself to be side tracked into a lot of political ultra conservative advocacy. Unlike his other books Nuttall made a few missteps about science and physics in this story. I did like the comparison with Star Trek with some of the alien technology, great fun. The basic idea of the story is interesting. This story is based more or less in our time frame but it is similar in a way to the Empire Series. I am looking forward with anticipation to see what Nuttall will do with the storyline in future books in the series.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Christian Rummel does an excellent job narrating the story. Rummel is an actor and a 2013 Audie Award finalist for narrating Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet series.
The book is well written with lots of action. Nuttall did not do much character building in this story but maybe he plans on developing them over more books in the series. My complaint about this book is Nuttall allows himself to be side tracked into a lot of political ultra conservative advocacy. Unlike his other books Nuttall made a few missteps about science and physics in this story. I did like the comparison with Star Trek with some of the alien technology, great fun. The basic idea of the story is interesting. This story is based more or less in our time frame but it is similar in a way to the Empire Series. I am looking forward with anticipation to see what Nuttall will do with the storyline in future books in the series.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Christian Rummel does an excellent job narrating the story. Rummel is an actor and a 2013 Audie Award finalist for narrating Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet series.
March 7, 2019
Terrible, just terrible. Every other line has someone complaining about the government or talking up libertarian ideals. You may be thinking I'm exaggerating, and I am a little, but Nuttall wont shut up about his political ideology. It just ends up being a painful, boring lecture on the evils of governments and the virtues of the individual.
The book is written like a libertarian's wet dream, with the protaginist being ex military and somehow better then everyone at everything, including a whole galaxy of aliens. I've watched porn with a better setup, plot, and believablility then this book.
The book is written like a libertarian's wet dream, with the protaginist being ex military and somehow better then everyone at everything, including a whole galaxy of aliens. I've watched porn with a better setup, plot, and believablility then this book.
December 26, 2017
Nuttall might be the most prolific author in the world at the moment. Lots of fun fantasy and Military SF released in a timely fashion for very little cost. Even if I don't love every one of his books, I'm never bored.
A Learning Experience is the first of his novels I've actively disliked. It's hard to see how a lad from Edinborough can write characters that espouse far right US libertarian nonsense and it not be a satire. But he plays it so straight that I began to wonder if Nuttall himself might be something of a crank. Which is a depressing thought. At times it felt like Heinlein during his later senile fascist phase (though obviously not as well written).
Anyhow, the premise itself was kind of fun, and there are a couple of sequels which sound like they're less political and more traditional SF goofiness. I hope so.
A Learning Experience is the first of his novels I've actively disliked. It's hard to see how a lad from Edinborough can write characters that espouse far right US libertarian nonsense and it not be a satire. But he plays it so straight that I began to wonder if Nuttall himself might be something of a crank. Which is a depressing thought. At times it felt like Heinlein during his later senile fascist phase (though obviously not as well written).
Anyhow, the premise itself was kind of fun, and there are a couple of sequels which sound like they're less political and more traditional SF goofiness. I hope so.
March 17, 2014
Loved it
this is one of the few books that really kept me interested. lots of action and down home thinking. I for one would love to see a sequel to this book, maybe even a series.
I would recommend this book to everyone.
Country ways of life, military thinking and space ships, what more could you ask for.
this is one of the few books that really kept me interested. lots of action and down home thinking. I for one would love to see a sequel to this book, maybe even a series.
I would recommend this book to everyone.
Country ways of life, military thinking and space ships, what more could you ask for.
September 14, 2016
At times it was hard to listen to such a right wing nut job, but since the premise of the story is terrific, and Nuttall is a good writer when he's not being self-indulgent, I had to power through it. There are even some times when Stuart seems to acknowledge the error of his ways, and realize he is a hypocritical tool who bases many of his beliefs on unfounded propaganda. I'm hoping the next book in the series finds us in space among the stars where Stuart will find less cause to rave about how broken the American political and social system is.
November 11, 2014
This book is pure science-fiction. There isn’t much better science-fiction than what this story tells. You have aliens, advanced technology, Earth veterans/military guys, women, and a bunch of criticism of the government. What more could you ask?
This starts out with a group of military veterans, friends and their brothers out camping in Montana. The military veterans have all recently gotten out of the military for one reason or another with most not happy the way things were going. These people lived and grew up in Montana where people are few and far between and they prefer it that way. Most of these guys grew up on a ranch in Montana and learned how to take care of themselves while on the ranch prior to ever getting into the military.
Now, you have a alien starship coming out of the night sky, landing and telling them that they are now prisoners of this alien Horde and to kindly get into their spaceship. The aliens have weapons which they use on one of the guys, killing him fairly quickly. Once inside the starship, these guys find out these particular aliens don’t appear to be acting very smart. They don’t seem to be comfortable with the weapons their holding and certainly not used to watching prisoners. It doesn’t take long before Steve Stuart, the oldest Brother, to overpower one of the “guards” and take his weapon. From there, they escape the compartment they are in and finish off killing or capturing all the other aliens on the ship.
The ship is now theirs. The find the former Starship Captain and remove the silver band from around his head not realizing exactly what it is. Steve is holding it and feels a definite compelling need to put it on which he does. He now finds he is in neural contact with a fantastic computer/AI/database that instantly answers any question he puts to it. Additionally, once he has an answer, the finds the new knowledge is forever retained. So he starts asking about this ship and the former occupants.
He finds out that these are pretty stupid aliens who had a ship that definitely wasn’t theirs and they had not real knowledge of how to operate it. They also had no idea of how to us the weapons they wear carrying and his friends death might have just been an accident. So, Steve begins leaning more and more about the galaxy that is now bigger than he or any human ever thought. They find that humanity is a very small cog in a vast number of civilization, most very definitely more advanced than Earth.
So, what would you do if you found yourself now in control of significantly advanced alien technology that you could understand and put to use. This includes medical technology that can completely repair a human body and fix all existing illnesses forever if the human was still alive. They also have significantly more advanced weaponry than anyone on Earth and control the high orbitals of Earth with the ability to locate and destroy anything they wanted.
The only problem with this book is that there is so much that isn’t explained. But you shouldn’t dwell on that. Just read the book for the fun of it. I don’t know if given the same situation it would have come out as good as it did. These guys are way too forgiving.
I’ve read a lot of Christopher G. Nuttall’s books and all are extremely well written. I hope he keeps them coming. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
This starts out with a group of military veterans, friends and their brothers out camping in Montana. The military veterans have all recently gotten out of the military for one reason or another with most not happy the way things were going. These people lived and grew up in Montana where people are few and far between and they prefer it that way. Most of these guys grew up on a ranch in Montana and learned how to take care of themselves while on the ranch prior to ever getting into the military.
Now, you have a alien starship coming out of the night sky, landing and telling them that they are now prisoners of this alien Horde and to kindly get into their spaceship. The aliens have weapons which they use on one of the guys, killing him fairly quickly. Once inside the starship, these guys find out these particular aliens don’t appear to be acting very smart. They don’t seem to be comfortable with the weapons their holding and certainly not used to watching prisoners. It doesn’t take long before Steve Stuart, the oldest Brother, to overpower one of the “guards” and take his weapon. From there, they escape the compartment they are in and finish off killing or capturing all the other aliens on the ship.
The ship is now theirs. The find the former Starship Captain and remove the silver band from around his head not realizing exactly what it is. Steve is holding it and feels a definite compelling need to put it on which he does. He now finds he is in neural contact with a fantastic computer/AI/database that instantly answers any question he puts to it. Additionally, once he has an answer, the finds the new knowledge is forever retained. So he starts asking about this ship and the former occupants.
He finds out that these are pretty stupid aliens who had a ship that definitely wasn’t theirs and they had not real knowledge of how to operate it. They also had no idea of how to us the weapons they wear carrying and his friends death might have just been an accident. So, Steve begins leaning more and more about the galaxy that is now bigger than he or any human ever thought. They find that humanity is a very small cog in a vast number of civilization, most very definitely more advanced than Earth.
So, what would you do if you found yourself now in control of significantly advanced alien technology that you could understand and put to use. This includes medical technology that can completely repair a human body and fix all existing illnesses forever if the human was still alive. They also have significantly more advanced weaponry than anyone on Earth and control the high orbitals of Earth with the ability to locate and destroy anything they wanted.
The only problem with this book is that there is so much that isn’t explained. But you shouldn’t dwell on that. Just read the book for the fun of it. I don’t know if given the same situation it would have come out as good as it did. These guys are way too forgiving.
I’ve read a lot of Christopher G. Nuttall’s books and all are extremely well written. I hope he keeps them coming. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
June 28, 2022
I am tired of far right-wing Americans using sci-fi for propaganda, which is what this is. The only interesting thing about this is the author is from Edinburgh, but, after reading the bio he wrote for himself on his official website, it is pretty clear Mr. Nuttall has “drunk the cool-aid” so to speak. Granted he is somewhat circumspect in his bio but all the clues are there. Particularly telling is the author’s connection to Tom Kratman (who uses his books to show how much better the USA would be if run by the military).
To be fair this review must be qualified as “DNF” as I only got through the first 5 and 1/4 chapters before I couldn't stand to keep going. The MC is disgruntled because he wanted to open a gun store but found the paperwork too much. This book was published in 2014. Obama was President from 2009 to 2017 so when the characters say they don't dare give the advanced alien technology to "this President" it is pretty clear what is being said. The author, in a very slight nod to subtlety, doesn't name the President, but the references to unrestricted gun ownership being good makes it pretty clear from the start that this is far right propaganda. I am particularly irritated by the stupidity of people who pretend unrestricted gun ownership is good- we tried that, it was called the "Wild West" and the people who actually lived through it couldn't wait to get past it.
Bottom line: This book is far right propaganda.
To be fair this review must be qualified as “DNF” as I only got through the first 5 and 1/4 chapters before I couldn't stand to keep going. The MC is disgruntled because he wanted to open a gun store but found the paperwork too much. This book was published in 2014. Obama was President from 2009 to 2017 so when the characters say they don't dare give the advanced alien technology to "this President" it is pretty clear what is being said. The author, in a very slight nod to subtlety, doesn't name the President, but the references to unrestricted gun ownership being good makes it pretty clear from the start that this is far right propaganda. I am particularly irritated by the stupidity of people who pretend unrestricted gun ownership is good- we tried that, it was called the "Wild West" and the people who actually lived through it couldn't wait to get past it.
Bottom line: This book is far right propaganda.
June 11, 2021
We have a bunch of cardboard cutouts talking about fantasy land politics and conveniently stupid aliens who bring magical tech to make it all work out ... somehow. Wish it was more science fiction where science is about technology and space instead of a clumsy attempt at sociological and political science. The amount of nationalistic chauvinism, willful ignorance, muh guns, get off muh lawn, redneckishness of bumfuck nowhere of US of A is frankly impressive. The author wants us to believe that government is too big, yet wants everyone to pay more taxes, everyone to be individualistic to the point of anarchy yet glorifies military discipline as some sort of ideal ... Our main hero is little dictator, which I guess makes sense, you can't have smaller government than one person ... Constant 'we want individuals' shtick runs hollow when everyone who does anything smart or at all is American. So making a new nation is bullshit, it's 'making space America for people who get stiffy reading Atlas Shrugged'. There is not even one instance of the usage of 'Russian technology' that is not preceded by 'crude'. The amount of focus on battered women and some weird conclusion that it's the government's fault domestic abuse exists is baffling.
The premise is great, science fiction parts are great ... everything else is a waste of paper.
The premise is great, science fiction parts are great ... everything else is a waste of paper.
February 15, 2018
This comes across as a poor effort from the author. I haven't read any of his other work so perhaps this is an excellent effort on his part but he's just got a really low ceiling in terms of talent.
Nuttall appears to be poorly informed in terms of actual science which is unforgivable. The entire repository of human knowledge sits there, available for the perusal of anyone with time to spare. A SCIENCE fiction author should spare the time to know what they're talking about.
The characters are flat and unrealistic. They behave inconsistently with what is actually happening and lack any depth, at all. The only thing here is an interesting concept. Fortunately it isn't an original concept so you can find it performed much more successfully by other writers.
I won't waste the money on any other works by the author.
Nuttall appears to be poorly informed in terms of actual science which is unforgivable. The entire repository of human knowledge sits there, available for the perusal of anyone with time to spare. A SCIENCE fiction author should spare the time to know what they're talking about.
The characters are flat and unrealistic. They behave inconsistently with what is actually happening and lack any depth, at all. The only thing here is an interesting concept. Fortunately it isn't an original concept so you can find it performed much more successfully by other writers.
I won't waste the money on any other works by the author.
May 8, 2016
Essentially a condensed, twentieth-century take on BATTLEFIELD EARTH. A scruffy tribe of aliens try to abduct a group of disaffected ex-military Montanans. The Montana troopers proceed to annihilate the aliens, steal their technology, and set up a lunar base populated by libertarian misfits, almost literally straight out of Heinlein. The strident political message is cut a good bit by showing how the technological power corrupts those who wield it, but there's still more than a surfeit of anti-government whinging. But the space battles, a Nuttall specialty, are exciting, and the pacing seldom flags. Worth a read, and I am certainly grateful that the aliens picked up the Montanans than, say, the Amherst College gender-studies department.
March 28, 2014
Best of the books I read from Nuttall. There is more originality in 30 pages then the other books have combined. At the ending the auther confess to having listened to feedback, dunno if thats why the book feel so different in a good way.
Christopher, you should check out Simmel's theory on the tragedy of culture. Im sure it would help you abit.
Please continue to explore how earth would be affected and dont turn it into a generic spacebattle with alot of aliens.
PS. Would buy the sequel. DS
Christopher, you should check out Simmel's theory on the tragedy of culture. Im sure it would help you abit.
Please continue to explore how earth would be affected and dont turn it into a generic spacebattle with alot of aliens.
PS. Would buy the sequel. DS
October 21, 2019
Too fast paced. Skipping all details, the story jumps into action sequence too often. It would have been great if the author included more details on the setting of new colony, how humans rushed with the newly acquired star ships. Loved the action though, kept me engaged throughout. Would definitely want to read Steve's future adventures with the Galactics.
June 20, 2020
Christopher G. Nuttall's _A Learning Experience, Book 1_ receives four stars from me. The book is fun; the situation interesting. It is a great diversion especially in the Time of Corona.
Rummel's reading. Humm, I think I'm developing an unhealthy attachment to Rummel's readings. Astounding performance. This book is no exception to his ability to create so many different voices, and his female voices are good too. I think it may also be the type of books he reads. I don't know enough about the industry to know if he chooses them or if he is selected., but someone has paired him well. For combat, work, space opera, Rummel's deep resonant voice is perfectly matched. I first encountered his work with Something Wicked This Way Comes, and his performance was unbelievable. Highly recommended.
The book:
I'm going to start with some negatives first. Nuttall gets a bit redundant at times when discussing the main character's partner. Look we understand that she's his partner, the love of his life, and in every respect his wife without the title. We don't need to hear it 8 times. Once is enough. It would have been more interesting if Steve (the main character) questioned why he never married her, and most importantly why is this important. This is an interesting aspect of Steve that is both a positive and a negative. Steve is conservative, like more right than he might realize. He has ideas about others that are dancing on the line of prejudice. I think he's set for changing his ideas in the future. This was negative because his ideas seemed too stereotypical to me, and lacked any depth. This is a positive because he isn't as right as he may think he is, and this will allow him to question and grow. Lastly, I think the author gets distracted with outside elements, like environmental protest about terraforming Mars. I found that unbelievable (but who knows maybe). The story is fine without these occasional comments.
Ok, the book. This is great fun. I loved the situation of these aliens seeking to abduct some humans, but accidentally abducted a family of military men, well trained military men. I enjoyed the development of the book thereafter (since this happens in chapter 1, I've not given any spoilers). The situation is at many times kind of comical. The plot is pretty solid. It is clearly one book in a series, but it has a goal that is met in the end. If you read this, and enjoyed it but didn't think you wanted to go further, you'd be ok. YOu wouldn't really be hanging in the air.
Recommended: The book, yes, I recommended for anyone interested in a fun story. I also recommend it highly to my friends who are military men who are unsure if they would like space opera. This would be a good start for them.
Rummel's reading. Humm, I think I'm developing an unhealthy attachment to Rummel's readings. Astounding performance. This book is no exception to his ability to create so many different voices, and his female voices are good too. I think it may also be the type of books he reads. I don't know enough about the industry to know if he chooses them or if he is selected., but someone has paired him well. For combat, work, space opera, Rummel's deep resonant voice is perfectly matched. I first encountered his work with Something Wicked This Way Comes, and his performance was unbelievable. Highly recommended.
The book:
I'm going to start with some negatives first. Nuttall gets a bit redundant at times when discussing the main character's partner. Look we understand that she's his partner, the love of his life, and in every respect his wife without the title. We don't need to hear it 8 times. Once is enough. It would have been more interesting if Steve (the main character) questioned why he never married her, and most importantly why is this important. This is an interesting aspect of Steve that is both a positive and a negative. Steve is conservative, like more right than he might realize. He has ideas about others that are dancing on the line of prejudice. I think he's set for changing his ideas in the future. This was negative because his ideas seemed too stereotypical to me, and lacked any depth. This is a positive because he isn't as right as he may think he is, and this will allow him to question and grow. Lastly, I think the author gets distracted with outside elements, like environmental protest about terraforming Mars. I found that unbelievable (but who knows maybe). The story is fine without these occasional comments.
Ok, the book. This is great fun. I loved the situation of these aliens seeking to abduct some humans, but accidentally abducted a family of military men, well trained military men. I enjoyed the development of the book thereafter (since this happens in chapter 1, I've not given any spoilers). The situation is at many times kind of comical. The plot is pretty solid. It is clearly one book in a series, but it has a goal that is met in the end. If you read this, and enjoyed it but didn't think you wanted to go further, you'd be ok. YOu wouldn't really be hanging in the air.
Recommended: The book, yes, I recommended for anyone interested in a fun story. I also recommend it highly to my friends who are military men who are unsure if they would like space opera. This would be a good start for them.
May 7, 2014
I really like it when an author makes me think things like "what if" and "what might happen, next...". "A Learning Experience" is one of those books. Nuttall skips over some of his usually rich character development (the characters are good, just not as deeply developed as they could have been, nor as developed as Nuttall usually offers). This was an intersecting trade off, unfortunately it felt like a trade off instead of a balance between world building and characters.
One thing I am discovering is that no two Libertarians are alike; which is wonderful because that makes so very many different ideas available for discussion and consideration. I have never been an Objectivist, although Ayn Rand's writings were at the core of my formative years. I always liked the thought of "going Galt" but I never really thought about just how damn hard it would really be. I did consider many of the large problems; but like most of us, I didn't consider all the minutia that come up and bite you in the behind. Nuttall; while maybe not covering all the bases, sure has put a lot more thought into this then me and made me think.
I would be interested in more books like this that think about the nuts and bolts of a Libertarian society. I would just hope for more of a balance between world building and characters instead of a trade off...
One thing I am discovering is that no two Libertarians are alike; which is wonderful because that makes so very many different ideas available for discussion and consideration. I have never been an Objectivist, although Ayn Rand's writings were at the core of my formative years. I always liked the thought of "going Galt" but I never really thought about just how damn hard it would really be. I did consider many of the large problems; but like most of us, I didn't consider all the minutia that come up and bite you in the behind. Nuttall; while maybe not covering all the bases, sure has put a lot more thought into this then me and made me think.
I would be interested in more books like this that think about the nuts and bolts of a Libertarian society. I would just hope for more of a balance between world building and characters instead of a trade off...
September 8, 2018
Not bad, just...
I don’t really mind the politics. It’s a bit heavy handed, but it’s handled well. Some of the ‘humor’ is *really* heavy handed. The kind of inside jokes that don’t read well, more a way to wink and nod as if to say,”I am on the inside.”
The plot is good. The SF tech is a bit handwavium, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There is a decent amount of breadth to the scope, although Steve is clearly central and thus America.
The prose is clean and there were no noticeable editing errors.
There’s something missing.
It’s like watching a movie on tv. You can see the action and hear the dialogue, but there is a whole level of the experience that is missing. I don’t know how to describe what’s missing except to say that it is.
The easiest comparison is Ringo’s “Hot Gate”. Same basic plot with a lot of similar politics. Something about the characters reads differently, and it is that difference that makes a novel worth re-reading.
It’s almost like someone analyzed the plot points and wrote to the structure rather than a more organic style. Even the action goes by without ^feeling^ the adrenaline. It felt superficial.
I won’t be buying the next book.
I don’t really mind the politics. It’s a bit heavy handed, but it’s handled well. Some of the ‘humor’ is *really* heavy handed. The kind of inside jokes that don’t read well, more a way to wink and nod as if to say,”I am on the inside.”
The plot is good. The SF tech is a bit handwavium, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There is a decent amount of breadth to the scope, although Steve is clearly central and thus America.
The prose is clean and there were no noticeable editing errors.
There’s something missing.
It’s like watching a movie on tv. You can see the action and hear the dialogue, but there is a whole level of the experience that is missing. I don’t know how to describe what’s missing except to say that it is.
The easiest comparison is Ringo’s “Hot Gate”. Same basic plot with a lot of similar politics. Something about the characters reads differently, and it is that difference that makes a novel worth re-reading.
It’s almost like someone analyzed the plot points and wrote to the structure rather than a more organic style. Even the action goes by without ^feeling^ the adrenaline. It felt superficial.
I won’t be buying the next book.
August 12, 2019
The book reads like someone's libertarian daydream. Furthermore, and what bothered me less, is that the characters in the book show a ludicrous level of preference to Anglo-Saxon people. It fits the characters to associate themselves stronger with the US than the rest of the world, but you'd think your fledging moon nation would have more variety in people than the book shows. I mean, the highly educated around the world tend to speak English quite fluently. I was actually slightly surprised to find out that the author had grown in the UK rather than in the US since I expected him to be some stereotypical loud US libertarian.
Now, you could treat this all as the characters being libertarians. That'd be fine, but they are clumsily written and unbelieveable and truly feel more like paper cutouts to proclaim how bad large governments are.
All of the above is, however, not entirely a bad thing. The book isn't outright bad, it just isn't great in the "humans have first contact with aliens" theme either. Wanting to see how the very weird characters were going to act was perhaps a slight improvement to my willingness to finish the book, and as such perhaps the fact that it read like a libertarian daydream was a good thing?
Now, you could treat this all as the characters being libertarians. That'd be fine, but they are clumsily written and unbelieveable and truly feel more like paper cutouts to proclaim how bad large governments are.
All of the above is, however, not entirely a bad thing. The book isn't outright bad, it just isn't great in the "humans have first contact with aliens" theme either. Wanting to see how the very weird characters were going to act was perhaps a slight improvement to my willingness to finish the book, and as such perhaps the fact that it read like a libertarian daydream was a good thing?
June 11, 2017
The basic idea behind the story was OK but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I found the story a bit disjointed as if bits were missing and the only person I got to know during the whole book was Steve.
Unfortunately this was one of the problems, I want to like my heroes but at times I found Steve to be a naive reactionary toddler and even though he had his good parts I just couldn’t like him.
Another aspect of the book I found slightly worrying is that the women in the book were either nerds to be ‘hit on’, partners, prostitutes, idiots who took Women’s Studies at College or victims. Where any women part of the ‘command structure’ or did the author just decide they were incapable?
Unfortunately this was one of the problems, I want to like my heroes but at times I found Steve to be a naive reactionary toddler and even though he had his good parts I just couldn’t like him.
Another aspect of the book I found slightly worrying is that the women in the book were either nerds to be ‘hit on’, partners, prostitutes, idiots who took Women’s Studies at College or victims. Where any women part of the ‘command structure’ or did the author just decide they were incapable?
February 2, 2025
Im a fan of the premise but I don't like the main human characters. Its written like a libertarian/conservative wet dream about progressive snow flakes and how its up to them to rebuild society using alien technology without all the bureaucracy the world has previously established. Honestly though, I dont find the characters likeable but I am curious on how the tone will continue in the sequels. Honestly this book isnt amazing but if you like books like omega force this is like the dollar store version of it. Ill probably read the book that follows this and see if they take it in an interesting direction.
March 12, 2014
Interesting and of course readable
Christopher Nuttall never disappoints. You may not agree with him (I had also thought of Montana as the place where men are men and sheep are scared), but he is so prolific that just wait, you probably will agree with the next book. Anyway, I expected to hate this book, didn't, found myself agreeing with a lot of his protagonists' actions (even the adult sheep) and enjoyed the book. I recommend that you suspend your natural distaste and just enjoy.
Christopher Nuttall never disappoints. You may not agree with him (I had also thought of Montana as the place where men are men and sheep are scared), but he is so prolific that just wait, you probably will agree with the next book. Anyway, I expected to hate this book, didn't, found myself agreeing with a lot of his protagonists' actions (even the adult sheep) and enjoyed the book. I recommend that you suspend your natural distaste and just enjoy.
November 28, 2014
I always loved the work of mister Christopher Nuttall, I've fallen for the schooled in magic series and I was eager to test some more of his stories. Well, I wasn't disappointed ! I really liked how everything played out in that story, it was really realistic in a star trek kind of way. I'm definitely buying the second book.
June 20, 2014
This would be a great movie!
This was a good book from the beginning. Albiet a little slow to gain my total attention at first.
This book would be a great read for anyone wanting a great action suspence story.
This was a good book from the beginning. Albiet a little slow to gain my total attention at first.
This book would be a great read for anyone wanting a great action suspence story.
August 2, 2017
There's always a hidden jewel out there amongst the stars of books!
Large scale and fast paced galactic development. Much to ponder as I enjoyed this political and military ride.
Large scale and fast paced galactic development. Much to ponder as I enjoyed this political and military ride.
July 18, 2018
Great story!
Exciting read! First contact books always get me, but this one seems real. That makes it fun. And I love how he picks at liberalism. My kind of guy!
Exciting read! First contact books always get me, but this one seems real. That makes it fun. And I love how he picks at liberalism. My kind of guy!
March 19, 2019
The author constantly preaches his political beliefs. It takes away from what could have been a good story.
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