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Project Columbus #2
Columbus: Ashes
In the wake of a terrifying awakening, the refugees of sleeper ship Raphael find themselves strewn across an island, far from their intended landing zone. The planet Demeter proves at once fascinating and deadly as Captain Kimura struggles to recover supplies scattered by the crash while reuniting the survivors—both military and civilian—in order to protect them from nature, and each other...
The revelation that Raphael has been destroyed leaves the crews of Michael and Gabriel at each others throats. In the face of a near war between the vessels, Lieutenant Owens desperately works to repair the rift between the commanders. His success may hold the key to saving the mission. As he races to avert a meltdown, Darius comes to realize that the consequences of failure are too great to consider...
Cal McLaughlin awakens brittle, having been weakened by decades of nightmares. In spite of his hardships the young man is determined to try to make himself useful once more. His condition rouses distrust in many, and a fateful outburst at an inopportune moment leaves the entire outcome of the mission in jeopardy...
The revelation that Raphael has been destroyed leaves the crews of Michael and Gabriel at each others throats. In the face of a near war between the vessels, Lieutenant Owens desperately works to repair the rift between the commanders. His success may hold the key to saving the mission. As he races to avert a meltdown, Darius comes to realize that the consequences of failure are too great to consider...
Cal McLaughlin awakens brittle, having been weakened by decades of nightmares. In spite of his hardships the young man is determined to try to make himself useful once more. His condition rouses distrust in many, and a fateful outburst at an inopportune moment leaves the entire outcome of the mission in jeopardy...
262 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2013
1 person is currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Rainier
7 books12 followersJ.C. Rainier is product of the Pacific Northwest, born in the Seattle area in 1978, and living in the Puget Sound area his whole life. He is the younger of two children in his family, and his older brother proved to be a giant pest up through his teenage years (as siblings tend to be).
J.C.’s parents were both educators working at the middle school level, and he married into another family of educators. In his family, counting in-laws, there are now two retired principals, two retired teachers, a retired school counselor, and an active science teacher.
In his youth, J.C. read quite a lot. The Call of the Wild was one of his early favorites, and into middle school he began to devour other books such as Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series. Unfortunately, J.C. developed a form of dylexia that made reading from the page of a book difficult. It was later discovered that the curvature of the page itself caused the issue, and the advent of the eReader (with its perfectly flat screen) has allowed him to once again enjoy reading as he used to.
He enjoys both indoor and outdoor pursuits including computers, cars, and camping. J.C. and his wife enjoy hockey, and set aside time several times each season to watch the local WHL franchise. They are raising three boys, including a set of twins.
J.C.’s parents were both educators working at the middle school level, and he married into another family of educators. In his family, counting in-laws, there are now two retired principals, two retired teachers, a retired school counselor, and an active science teacher.
In his youth, J.C. read quite a lot. The Call of the Wild was one of his early favorites, and into middle school he began to devour other books such as Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series. Unfortunately, J.C. developed a form of dylexia that made reading from the page of a book difficult. It was later discovered that the curvature of the page itself caused the issue, and the advent of the eReader (with its perfectly flat screen) has allowed him to once again enjoy reading as he used to.
He enjoys both indoor and outdoor pursuits including computers, cars, and camping. J.C. and his wife enjoy hockey, and set aside time several times each season to watch the local WHL franchise. They are raising three boys, including a set of twins.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 20, 2016
The second part of the series focusses largely on the survivors from the ship Raphael, first to arrive at the new planet and destroyed by a reactor breach on the final approach, who struggle to survive in their new and entirely unknown environment. Scattered into small groups, with limited radio contact, many dead or injured when the pods crashed to the ground and the military command structure virtually non-existant, they face sickness, indigenous predators, supply shortages as well as strife within their groups. Meanwhile, the two remaining sleeper ships approach the planet, knowing only that disaster befell Raphael shortly before the ship was able to land. Unable to make contact with anyone on the planet, the two crews assume the worst. With their respective commanding officers at each other's throats, things to do bode well for the future.
I was glad to see Haruka get a lot of time on the page, as well as getting to see events on the ground through the perspectives of new POV characters. Lots of action, and we got answers to some questions left open at the end of the first book. With the survivors of the first ship beginning to settle down after facing their first trials on the planet, I assume the next part will spend a lot of time with the other two crews. I just hope we'll get some new POV characters there too, because I still find Calvin extremely annoying and always feel tempted to skip his parts, if it weren't for the possibility of missing important parts of the story when he's with other members of the crew rather than engaging in teenage drama. And there better be a good reason for this ridiculous pissing contest the two Colonels have going on, because... seriously, people? Don't you have anything better to do? Like, say, acting in the best interests of those 4000 people you're supposed to be responsible for? Oh well. We'll see where that goes.
I was glad to see Haruka get a lot of time on the page, as well as getting to see events on the ground through the perspectives of new POV characters. Lots of action, and we got answers to some questions left open at the end of the first book. With the survivors of the first ship beginning to settle down after facing their first trials on the planet, I assume the next part will spend a lot of time with the other two crews. I just hope we'll get some new POV characters there too, because I still find Calvin extremely annoying and always feel tempted to skip his parts, if it weren't for the possibility of missing important parts of the story when he's with other members of the crew rather than engaging in teenage drama. And there better be a good reason for this ridiculous pissing contest the two Colonels have going on, because... seriously, people? Don't you have anything better to do? Like, say, acting in the best interests of those 4000 people you're supposed to be responsible for? Oh well. We'll see where that goes.
March 12, 2013
I just read Ashes straight through (today is release day) and was very happy with the book. This volume builds on Flight very nicely indeed, offering us a great look at the aftermath of the disaster which befell Raphael.
Much of the book belongs to Captain Kimura and the other survivors, but we do see Cal and Darius again in parts. As far as Haruka is concerned, she (and the rest of the crashed military and civilians) face a heck of a rough time. As one might expect from how Flight ended the problem lies in how scattered and unprepared they are. Ashes focuses on the human cost of this situation.
There's death, betrayal, action, suspense, and more awaiting readers in this volume.
The ending is a bit more rounded-off in Ashes than it was in Flight. There's obviously a lot to wonder about, and a definite "what's going to happen in Demeter" question . . . but it's not quite the same post-calamity mess that Flight left us with, and for that I'm honestly thankful. I'd rather not wait another six months tugging on my hair.
Five stars. Sci-fi adventure fans, get in on this one. It looks like a great series (not sure how many books . . . more than three) is shaping up.
Much of the book belongs to Captain Kimura and the other survivors, but we do see Cal and Darius again in parts. As far as Haruka is concerned, she (and the rest of the crashed military and civilians) face a heck of a rough time. As one might expect from how Flight ended the problem lies in how scattered and unprepared they are. Ashes focuses on the human cost of this situation.
There's death, betrayal, action, suspense, and more awaiting readers in this volume.
The ending is a bit more rounded-off in Ashes than it was in Flight. There's obviously a lot to wonder about, and a definite "what's going to happen in Demeter" question . . . but it's not quite the same post-calamity mess that Flight left us with, and for that I'm honestly thankful. I'd rather not wait another six months tugging on my hair.
Five stars. Sci-fi adventure fans, get in on this one. It looks like a great series (not sure how many books . . . more than three) is shaping up.
December 20, 2013
I was worried that since this was book 2 in a series that I was not going to be able to follow the story, I could not have been more wrong. It is written so well it can be read as a stand alone or as part of the series.
I am a huge science fiction fan and Columbus Ashes was just what the doctor ordered. We follow several groups of survivors military and civilian whom have crashed on a hostile Earth-like planet. Captain Haruka must gather as many supplies as possible and set out on a journey through unknown hostile territory to re-unite with other survivors.
This book offers murder, mystery, suspense, action, betrayal and death with great character development. I cannot wait to see what happens in book 3. I am going to pick up book one just because I like the way the author writes and not to fill in story plot lines.
I highly recommend to any Sci-Fi fan although it is sure to please those who enjoy suspense murder and mystery.
I am a huge science fiction fan and Columbus Ashes was just what the doctor ordered. We follow several groups of survivors military and civilian whom have crashed on a hostile Earth-like planet. Captain Haruka must gather as many supplies as possible and set out on a journey through unknown hostile territory to re-unite with other survivors.
This book offers murder, mystery, suspense, action, betrayal and death with great character development. I cannot wait to see what happens in book 3. I am going to pick up book one just because I like the way the author writes and not to fill in story plot lines.
I highly recommend to any Sci-Fi fan although it is sure to please those who enjoy suspense murder and mystery.
March 12, 2013
In Ashes, we follow Haruka and other survivors through the perils of setting up a new civilization on a mostly Earth-like planet. In addition to the expected difficulties of setting up camp, they're scattered all over due to the crash, and have lost critical supplies. They face strange flora/fauna, sickness, murder and have to sort out how to enact justice in its wake.
Back on the coming ships, it's a whole 'nother soap opera with feuding colonels, a budding romance, prophetic dreams, the distress call from the crashed ship and finally their arrival.
Really enjoyed this book! It's easy to get lost into the world the author has created and to connect with the characters. I cannot wait to read more!
Back on the coming ships, it's a whole 'nother soap opera with feuding colonels, a budding romance, prophetic dreams, the distress call from the crashed ship and finally their arrival.
Really enjoyed this book! It's easy to get lost into the world the author has created and to connect with the characters. I cannot wait to read more!
September 4, 2013
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I enjoyed reading this book. I love science fiction (began with Andre Norton in the 60s) and wasn't sure if this was something I'd like. However after just a few pages, I was hooked. The characters are interesting and many feel like they are people you would like, although some of my favorites don't have happy endings.
I did find the switch from planet to ship a little too sharp. I had a hard time with some of the ship scenes, whether because I found the other story lines more compelling or because there was too much unknown backstory with the ship scenes. I did not read the first book in the series and I think that is a must to really understand what is going on in parts of the story.
I look forward to reading the next installment.
I enjoyed reading this book. I love science fiction (began with Andre Norton in the 60s) and wasn't sure if this was something I'd like. However after just a few pages, I was hooked. The characters are interesting and many feel like they are people you would like, although some of my favorites don't have happy endings.
I did find the switch from planet to ship a little too sharp. I had a hard time with some of the ship scenes, whether because I found the other story lines more compelling or because there was too much unknown backstory with the ship scenes. I did not read the first book in the series and I think that is a must to really understand what is going on in parts of the story.
I look forward to reading the next installment.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews