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Distant Suns #1
Distant Suns
A massive cloud of hydrogen is travelling through space on a collision course with Earth.
At a high-ranking meeting two astronomers, Edward and Joseph, are sworn to secrecy when they reveal that in six months’ time, as the gas envelops the planet, it will turn the atmosphere into a fireball.
Their beautiful young prodigy, the resourceful Lauren, is initially kept in the dark, but soon discovers the destination of the cloud when she calculates its route.
Two months before its encounter with Earth, the gas is captured and absorbed by the planet Jupiter. They think they have avoided disaster, but you can be looking the wrong way when the end of the world sneaks up on you.
A beautifully descriptive, action packed story about love, self-sacrifice and the desperate battle to avoid extinction on a dying world.
* * *
Those by the coast had advanced warning something was wrong when the tide suddenly swept an incalculable distance out to sea. A violent wind followed then, as the air thickened and breathing became difficult, a glow appeared around the horizon.
This was not unusual on a world with two suns, but the speed and intensity with which the light grew was a different matter. It climbed to fill the sky until, further and higher than sight allowed, a wall of blue fire sped towards the land at a phenomenal pace.
Fear and wonder held some in place, but for those who did run there would still be no escape.
The closer the flame drew, the more ferocious the wind; it ripped at trees and undergrowth to combine animals and plants in a terror-filled roar. Then moments later a sonic blast reached the shore: a solid wall of air which tore across the land, smashing any stronghold in its path, to leave most dead or dying when the inferno arrived and burned all to ash in its wake.
* * *
At a high-ranking meeting two astronomers, Edward and Joseph, are sworn to secrecy when they reveal that in six months’ time, as the gas envelops the planet, it will turn the atmosphere into a fireball.
Their beautiful young prodigy, the resourceful Lauren, is initially kept in the dark, but soon discovers the destination of the cloud when she calculates its route.
Two months before its encounter with Earth, the gas is captured and absorbed by the planet Jupiter. They think they have avoided disaster, but you can be looking the wrong way when the end of the world sneaks up on you.
A beautifully descriptive, action packed story about love, self-sacrifice and the desperate battle to avoid extinction on a dying world.
* * *
Those by the coast had advanced warning something was wrong when the tide suddenly swept an incalculable distance out to sea. A violent wind followed then, as the air thickened and breathing became difficult, a glow appeared around the horizon.
This was not unusual on a world with two suns, but the speed and intensity with which the light grew was a different matter. It climbed to fill the sky until, further and higher than sight allowed, a wall of blue fire sped towards the land at a phenomenal pace.
Fear and wonder held some in place, but for those who did run there would still be no escape.
The closer the flame drew, the more ferocious the wind; it ripped at trees and undergrowth to combine animals and plants in a terror-filled roar. Then moments later a sonic blast reached the shore: a solid wall of air which tore across the land, smashing any stronghold in its path, to leave most dead or dying when the inferno arrived and burned all to ash in its wake.
* * *
262 pages, Paperback
First published December 13, 2011
20 people are currently reading
780 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Smith
9 books26 followersPatricia Smith worked for fourteen years in technical support and as a computer programmer before changing career to help young people to improve their numeracy and English skills.
She has enjoyed writing stories all of her life and her first novel Time Split, which made several best sellers lists, was published in 2011. This was soon followed by her Distant Suns stories, Islands - The Epidemic and more recently the long awaited sequel to Time Split, Time Split - Briggs.
Her choice of genre stems from her passion for astronomy, her love of apocalyptic thrillers and the 'What if?' scenario.
She strives in her writing to give the reader a roller-coaster ride of emotions and excitement, mixed in with a good dash of fear - all from the safety of their armchair.
You can contact Patricia at: patriciasmith@timesplit.co.uk
She has enjoyed writing stories all of her life and her first novel Time Split, which made several best sellers lists, was published in 2011. This was soon followed by her Distant Suns stories, Islands - The Epidemic and more recently the long awaited sequel to Time Split, Time Split - Briggs.
Her choice of genre stems from her passion for astronomy, her love of apocalyptic thrillers and the 'What if?' scenario.
She strives in her writing to give the reader a roller-coaster ride of emotions and excitement, mixed in with a good dash of fear - all from the safety of their armchair.
You can contact Patricia at: patriciasmith@timesplit.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 4, 2015
While this book was not action packed by any stretch of the imagination, the constant moving of the reader through the events of the Earth facing its final destruction, whether through a flaming ball of fire, or slowly cooked to death by a second sun, it was amazing. While there were a lot of characters in this book, only a few took center stage. Among them were Edward and his wife, Jenny. Jenny's sister Sarah and her little boy, Ben, and Lauren. Lauren was a brilliant astronomer brought in straight out of school to help Edward and his colleagues chart the path of the hydrogen gas cloud.
When I first started reading this book, I'll admit I was a bit disappointed in the prologue. I personally believed it could have been left off completely and wouldn't have affected the book in any way. I got into the story as soon as I was past it. Another thing to keep in mind is the author is British, so she obviously uses terms Americans aren't used to hearing on a normal basis. Of course, if you're a fan of any kind of British television or authors, it won't be a problem in the least.
All I know is I was captivated from beginning to end and had to force myself to put the book down when it was time for bed. While many books are apocalyptic these days, Patricia looks at it from a different angle. She looks at it in the light of it beginning to happen and what it could potentially lead to. She does a stellar job and I would highly recommend this book.
When I first started reading this book, I'll admit I was a bit disappointed in the prologue. I personally believed it could have been left off completely and wouldn't have affected the book in any way. I got into the story as soon as I was past it. Another thing to keep in mind is the author is British, so she obviously uses terms Americans aren't used to hearing on a normal basis. Of course, if you're a fan of any kind of British television or authors, it won't be a problem in the least.
All I know is I was captivated from beginning to end and had to force myself to put the book down when it was time for bed. While many books are apocalyptic these days, Patricia looks at it from a different angle. She looks at it in the light of it beginning to happen and what it could potentially lead to. She does a stellar job and I would highly recommend this book.
February 19, 2015
Distant Suns begins with the discovery of a massive cloud of hydrogen headed toward Earth. The cloud is hijacked by Jupiter and for a brief time those who knew of the world’s potential death heaved a sigh of relief. Then Jupiter begins to heat up. The extra mass kicked started its fusion furnace and the massive planet becomes a second sun in the solar system. Even the much smaller amount of energy from Jupiter is enough to push global warming into high gear.
Like another John Wyndham, Patricia Smith weaves a story of the Earth’s demise caused by some random unfortunate occurrence. As in any murder story, the manner of the death is carefully constructed. The science is plausible enough to make it possible to let go and enjoy the ride. Patricia’s cast of characters are two astronomers and the beautiful young Lauren, who is a recent astrophysics grad. They follow the ups and downs of the story and provide a continuous thread that is interwoven with the stories of a wide range of characters.
While Distant Suns is a disaster novel, Patricia stays away from the gruesome and the people of her world are oddly orderly. Nonetheless she creates an evocative story, and hints at what might still be our fate, with or without wandering gas clouds.
I recommend Distant Suns to sci fi readers and any who enjoy a good disaster.
Like another John Wyndham, Patricia Smith weaves a story of the Earth’s demise caused by some random unfortunate occurrence. As in any murder story, the manner of the death is carefully constructed. The science is plausible enough to make it possible to let go and enjoy the ride. Patricia’s cast of characters are two astronomers and the beautiful young Lauren, who is a recent astrophysics grad. They follow the ups and downs of the story and provide a continuous thread that is interwoven with the stories of a wide range of characters.
While Distant Suns is a disaster novel, Patricia stays away from the gruesome and the people of her world are oddly orderly. Nonetheless she creates an evocative story, and hints at what might still be our fate, with or without wandering gas clouds.
I recommend Distant Suns to sci fi readers and any who enjoy a good disaster.
January 3, 2014
To say that i won this on a goodreads give away i wasn't sure what to expect. Glad to say, this book was amazing! 5 stars and 10/10. The language the author used was elegent and flowed really well, the plot simply never stopped and the characters were 3D and completely realistic. I fell in love with each and everyone of them.
The plot itself is something to be admired and adored! The ending, oh, WHAT AN ENDING! The author didn't go down the typical "they all held hands and lived happily ever after" which would have ruined the book as everyone knows life is never like that. I won't post spoilers however because it will ruin everything the book will launch at you.
Saying all of this, my mother caught me reading it and asked what it was about. (I simply couldn't put this book down and i took it everywhere with me so i could get an additional page or chaper in whenever i could). I explained and now in the four days i have had it, two people have read it! Both my mother and I are now constantly talking about it to everyone else we know who reads and are looking for a plot that is so clearly on another level!
I will end this review by saying this; I've just brought all her other books and i am eagerly awaiting Patricia's next masterpiece. Read this book; you will not be sorry.
The plot itself is something to be admired and adored! The ending, oh, WHAT AN ENDING! The author didn't go down the typical "they all held hands and lived happily ever after" which would have ruined the book as everyone knows life is never like that. I won't post spoilers however because it will ruin everything the book will launch at you.
Saying all of this, my mother caught me reading it and asked what it was about. (I simply couldn't put this book down and i took it everywhere with me so i could get an additional page or chaper in whenever i could). I explained and now in the four days i have had it, two people have read it! Both my mother and I are now constantly talking about it to everyone else we know who reads and are looking for a plot that is so clearly on another level!
I will end this review by saying this; I've just brought all her other books and i am eagerly awaiting Patricia's next masterpiece. Read this book; you will not be sorry.
January 11, 2014
Having not heard of the author befor but having read the synopsis on Good reads, I decided to try my luck at winning the book in a giveaway and I'm very glad I won.
On reading the first few pages, however, I wasn't sure whether I would like the rest but I decided to persevere. Having a love for physics and astronomy definitely helped. There are parts of the book that mention scientific terms that a person may not know so I would say, only read if you like astronomy in some way.
Distant Suns is very descriptive and like all good books, makes you feel like you are in the story with the character. The plot is a real eye opener to a disaster that might one day happen and certainly should make you question your own life. The story is very well told and the ending is left open making us wonder what happens next.
This book kept me enthralled for 3 days. The only negatives I found was the very large amount of characters, which made it necessary to flick back a few pages to see who they were.
On reading the first few pages, however, I wasn't sure whether I would like the rest but I decided to persevere. Having a love for physics and astronomy definitely helped. There are parts of the book that mention scientific terms that a person may not know so I would say, only read if you like astronomy in some way.
Distant Suns is very descriptive and like all good books, makes you feel like you are in the story with the character. The plot is a real eye opener to a disaster that might one day happen and certainly should make you question your own life. The story is very well told and the ending is left open making us wonder what happens next.
This book kept me enthralled for 3 days. The only negatives I found was the very large amount of characters, which made it necessary to flick back a few pages to see who they were.
March 14, 2014
Very interesting book and not my usual thing at all but I decided to read it as an exercise in broadening my reading horizons and this one has definitely done that.
I don't have a science background and some of the more technical aspects did go over my head quite a bit but I did find it to be interesting read regardless as it's well written and the flow of the books does flow nicely throughout the whole book making it an easy enough read if you don't dwell on the bits that you don't quite understand, characterization is strong and very good indeed.
I did enjoy this but not sure who'd I would recommend it too though.
More in depth review to come.....
I don't have a science background and some of the more technical aspects did go over my head quite a bit but I did find it to be interesting read regardless as it's well written and the flow of the books does flow nicely throughout the whole book making it an easy enough read if you don't dwell on the bits that you don't quite understand, characterization is strong and very good indeed.
I did enjoy this but not sure who'd I would recommend it too though.
More in depth review to come.....
January 25, 2014
Honestly, if I had read the synopsis of this book in a book shop I would have put it back on the shelf. That would have been a real shame as the book was excellent.
Given the material being covered it would have been all too easy to drop in to a lot of techno-speak, but I found the technical detail both enthralling and easy to follow. Most importantly of all though, it was utterly believable, which is important for a book of this sort.
Overall a great read and well worth adding to your book shelf.
Given the material being covered it would have been all too easy to drop in to a lot of techno-speak, but I found the technical detail both enthralling and easy to follow. Most importantly of all though, it was utterly believable, which is important for a book of this sort.
Overall a great read and well worth adding to your book shelf.
March 27, 2014
Wow that was a rush and enjoyed ever minute of it I my self am not emotional but this book had me in tears in a good way so if you are an emotional person you will love this moving and lovable story it was the best so thank you Patricia for this wonderful story and the characters you felt you where there with them if you know what I mean so with that all said keep smiling and happy reading to you all with love from wee me.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
May 4, 2014
I won this book in the Goodreads Giveaway. This book is like an apocalyptic science fiction novel!! A good mix of facts and fantasy! It left me wondering what would happen next, a real page turner, that i truly enjoyed. Will be reading the next book in this series very soon. Highly recommended.
June 6, 2018
There is a supernova explosion somewhere near the Solar System, and the cloud of gas and radiation will hit the Earth...until it hits Jupiter. And Jupiter begins transforming into a star. And the Earth is still doomed, because the solar wind from the new star is stripping away the atmosphere, and the heat from the star along with Climate Change is making the Earth inhabitable anyway. In between all this, there are a few characters, and in this brief story, they have a bit of time to develop. I like the premise, but I think some of the science is lacking...I plan to read the 2nd and 3rd books, just to see where this goes and if the author begins to hone her writing skills.
October 15, 2018
I liked the idea that the book stirred emotions within me as far as a parent. Something I don't normally get from a science fiction story. Patricia Smith has done a great job in a long played out genre.
August 5, 2019
More politically correct global warming nonsense.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book with the potential disaster coming from beyond our solar system, then the author became a shill for fake science and the global warming warmongers. Too bad. It turned me off.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book with the potential disaster coming from beyond our solar system, then the author became a shill for fake science and the global warming warmongers. Too bad. It turned me off.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews