Homesteaders

by Wes Hubert

For the first time in history, humans are heading to an exoplanet to establish a colony. Rasht and his companions thought the challenges would begin when they arrived, but the universe had other plans.A sequel to Toward Renaissance, Homesteaders brings you along for the trials and tiumphs of starting life over on an alien world.

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2023

About the author

Wes Hubert is an extensive traveler and a lover of life. Fueled by his ADD, he has written historical fiction, science fiction, a memoire, and a children's book. He now lives and writes in Northern Ontario, Canada.

Reviews

[Laura Lukasavage · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scary thought

Our adventure begins with our travelers waking from their sleep of 134 years in individual stasis pods. Their hasty departure from Earth made things a little rocky but the ship’s leaders organize and plan a government for the colony and the new life that awaits. It soon becomes evident that all is not as expected; there is corruption in the ship’s leadership, a separation in power develops, and a battle of logic and strategy begins.

The story is full of scary, thought provoking moments to make us wonder where our planet is heading with global warming and wonder if this is what's in store.

The author does a great job of keeping you interested as the pages flow and doing go on and on with description and the dialog is interesting enough to keep the story moving. I enjoyed getting to know the group and seeing the way they moved through this very different but real new reality for them all. Trial and jury and the law verse what the people wants and think is right an fair. Being thrown into a new crazy reality that was both scary and fun to dive into.

[Hieu Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Homesteaders" picks up where "Toward Renaissance" left off, launching humanity into an ambitious and incredibly challenging new chapter: colonizing an exoplanet. Rasht and his fellow pioneers quickly discover that the true trials of establishing a new home begin long before they even set foot on alien soil. The author masterfully conveys the immense scale of this endeavor, from the technical complexities of interstellar travel to the unexpected, often terrifying, hurdles thrown at them by the vastness of space itself.

This isn't a glossy, idealized vision of space colonization. Instead, "Homesteaders" presents a raw and honest portrayal of what it would truly take to start life over on an alien world. You feel the grit, the determination, and the sheer human will required to overcome each obstacle. The book excels at detailing the "trials and triumphs," making you genuinely invested in the survival and success of Rasht and his companions. The sense of adventure is palpable, but it's grounded in the very real struggles of adaptation, resourcefulness, and the constant threat of the unknown. For anyone who loves hard science fiction blended with compelling human drama and the ultimate quest for a new beginning, "Homesteaders" is a captivating and thought-provoking read that truly brings the pioneering spirit to the stars.

[William Turmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in classic science fiction style, we have a story of a group of brave individuals who have set out from Earth to colonize a planet in a faraway solar system. They are the first, and possibly the only, humans to do so.

The story is told in a nice, easy-to-read fashion. The actors are well-developed with understandable characteristics and reliable actions. The telling focuses more on dialogue than description, and Hubert creatively peppers his text with interesting euphemisms, obsolete spellings, and even foreign language to disguise some necessary vocabulary in this tale. And, while there are many important individuals, the story is about the group as a whole.

The adventure begins as our travelers are waking from 134 years in individual stasis pods. Because of a hasty departure from Earth, the ship’s leaders must now organize and plan a government for the colony. It soon becomes evident that all is not as expected; there is corruption in the ship’s leadership, a separation in power develops, and a battle of logic and strategy begins.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read more than one book from this author, and I think he has a very pleasant way of writing. This book, Homesteaders, is an engaging and accessible sci-fi story about a group of colonists awakening after many years in stasis to begin a new life far from Earth. What starts as an organized mission quickly turns complicated as power struggles, hidden agendas, and unexpected dangers surface within the ship’s leadership. The book does a great job showing how fragile a new society can be, and how quickly hope can shift into conflict. The author keeps the pacing smooth and easy to follow, which is not always easy in storylines like this. Great job. The characters feel relatable, and it’s interesting to watch how each person adapts to the pressure of building a new world while dealing with fear, uncertainty, and clashing ideas of what is “right,” which might not be so far off how society is even when established.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the authors best

I have read several of the authors books and must say this one was very easy to read, follow and stay interested in. Lots of thoughtful conundrums as we think about what a future event like this could look like. Enjoyed the book.