First

by Randy Brown

Winner of the 18th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards for Best Science Fiction Book, Reader Views Literary Award Silver Medal for Best Science Fiction Book of 2023, and the Gold Medal for Best Book of any genre set in the US Mountain West region.

Lewis is a rookie astronaut for SpaceFirst, a company headed for the stars. They race against rival corporation Deep Sky to be the first in history to send a person from Earth to another star system and bring them home safely.

Along with four teammates and his new AI, Lewis prepares for humanity's first push into the galaxy. The journey from SpaceFirst headquarters to Proxima Centauri includes triumph, loss, competition, and a friendship with the promise of more.

But then it all goes wrong.

Lewis is the first human to travel to another star system. Unless he can find a way home, it might end up being a one-way trip.

"The novel that's going to be a break-out hit this year...a mind-blowing, perception-altering, unputdownable book...truly a novel not to be missed." - Reader Views

Genres: Science Fiction, Space

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2023

About the author

Award-winning author of FIRST and NEXT TIME along with the Desert Sun series, which includes SUNSET, SUNDOWN, and SUNBURST.

NEXT TIME is the winner of the Literary Titan Gold Book Award for Fiction, 1st Place in the 8th Annual PenCraft Book Awards for Romance-Fantasy/Sci-Fi, and highlighted as a Must-Read Book for 2024 by Independent Book Review: "Of the many time-travel novels I've read, this is undeniably among my favorites."

FIRST is the Winner of the 18th Annual National Indie Excellence Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, 1st Place in the 8th Annual PenCraft Book Awards for Science Fiction, as well as winner of the Reader Views Literary Award Silver Medal for Best Science Fiction Book of 2023: "The novel that’s going to be a break-out hit this year...a mind-blowing, perception-altering, unputdownable book...truly a novel not to be missed."

Reviews

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your average sci-fi novel, not the normal race to the stars drama. Please give me a couple of minutes to give you some insight into the novel that’s going to be a break-out hit this year. I’m speaking of Randy Brown’s mind-blowing, perception-altering, unputdownable book with the understated name, “First.”

If I had read “First” ten or fifteen years ago I would have found it highly implausible, yet fun. But these days, Randy Brown’s concept could have been torn from potential headlines. It’s that spot-on with current society. Two mega-billionaires are each determined to put the first astronaut not only on the outer edges of our solar system, but into the next closest solar system as well. Each billionaire’s private space company has designed a new type of spaceship that utilizes electromagnetic energy (I won’t attempt an explanation), allowing them to travel well beyond the speed of light. This opens the possibility of travel to distant planets. And beyond. Without the need to put astronauts into stasis for years. Since I’m a total space nerd, I was already excited.

As readers on this astounding space race, we’ll be following a group of five people who have been chosen by SpaceFirst to train as the astronauts who will venture to all the planets in our system- including Pluto, because Chris, SpaceFirst’s CEO still considers Pluto a planet. Then one of the lucky five will be given the chance to be the first person to travel beyond, to Alpha Centauri. The possibilities are nearly limitless.

As if the basic premise isn’t enough to get a reader totally engrossed, the characters Mr. Brown has created will certainly do the trick. They are genuine characters with all the quirks and flaws. The story’s POV is from one of the five space travelers, Lewis. He is so warm and witty, so… ordinary (almost) that he seems like someone you’d want to sit down and have a beer with. He’s a brilliant engineer whose self-deprecating “aww-shucks” nature keeps him from being overrun by pride and ego. My favorite thing about Lewis, though, is his razor-sharp inner monologue that berates him regularly. Even his shipboard AI computer piles on the deprecating humor to Lewis’ chagrin, providing laugh out loud moments that provide balance for the more weighty moments.

Joining Lewis are the others chosen for the space program. Colt is pure testosterone and charisma, and reminiscent of the Mercury/Gemini astronauts; full of the right stuff and bearing the swagger to prove it. Eve is smart and awesome, even if she is super-competitive and shows her feelings easily. Sandra’s got this amazing ability to lead the others without even trying- they just naturally trust her judgment. Then there’s Peter. He’s very volatile, complains about everything, and is largely oppositional to the rest. He can be hard to like. If that sounded like an understatement, well, it was. All five of our intrepid heroes are excited to be part of the program, but they all want to be the first person to Alpha Centauri. Period.

“First” is about more than a space race. It’s about the human spirit and its drive to succeed before others. It’s about the breaking of societal norms to accomplish that goal no matter what the cost. It’s about the personal price tag we’d like to pretend has no control over us- the price we would allow others to pay so that we may be first instead of them. Some of us, as it turns out, have no problem allowing others to pay the price for our ticket to success. “First” is also about the unexpected and unintended consequences of being first.

I want to write thousands more words about this novel and its impact. This story is written with an easy style, like one friend talking to another. In fact, the words seemed to flow over the pages like quicksilver, and with equal fascination. Chock full of “holy cow” moments that don’t give any hint they’re coming, this read is spellbinding. Readers will also experience a full range of emotions from pride to gloom, elation to fear, anger to pain, and the complete spectrum within. As if this weren’t enough to keep you turning those pages, readers just KNOW who the antagonist is by the halfway point in the book.

Or do they?

Of all the elements Randy Brown has brought together to create a story that is greater than the sum of its parts, the best might just be his use of various creative elements without detracting from the storyline, characters, or pace. Be sure to catch the author’s comments after the epilogue because I’m going to leave those devices like little nuggets to be discovered by readers, just as the author did. Since I read, on average, more than 300 books a year, I am completely confident declaring that “First” is truly a novel not to be missed. Sci-fi fans will find a slice of heaven here, so to speak. But so will those who enjoy thrillers, mysteries, character-driven stories, and even romantic suspense. I loved all the flavors of genres that were floating around like water droplets in zero g. It made the entire read that much richer. This wonderful work negotiates the genres much the same way these characters traverse the stars. With ease, strength, intelligence, wit, and grace.

Do not wait to find out what gives Randy Brown’s “First” that true it factor, making it unforgettable.

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sad this book hasn't gotten more recognition. Well written, imaginative, character driven. Best science fiction I've read in a long time. Hard to put down.

[Kathy Brown]

I don't do stars, but awesome science fiction about our next new age of space exploration. Character driven, and uplifting tale of people overcoming adversity. See my complete review at Independent Book Reviews!

[David G Dillon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is why SciFi is fun to read.

Fun read with an inventive plot and blow by blow action.
If the author finds a physics partner, award winning SciFi is in his future.

[Emz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book didn’t work for me. Its length and extremely slow pacing made it difficult to stay engaged, and I often found myself bored or reluctant to continue. Much of the narrative feels like filler, and even with skim‑reading I had no trouble keeping track of the plot, which suggests the story could have been told far more concisely. The final section does offer some meaningful content, but not enough to justify the long, drawn‑out journey to get there. Overall, it fell flat.

[Dan Grout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story, good writing. A worthwhile read.

At last! A well written contemporary science fiction novel. Maybe I've just been unlucky, but I've recently endured a string of SF book that seem to have been written by sixth graders who struggled with both science and English classes. This book by contrast, reads well and employs plausible (though certainly far-fetched — it is science fiction) science. The behavior of the characters near the end stretches credulity but it's a good story nevertheless.

[Wvfgolden · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was awful

Sophomoric at best. Many paragraphs could be eliminated without detracting from what is a very trite storyline. I find it hard to believe this won any awards. The Scooby-Doo ending really caps it off.

[(Grace) Kentucky Bohemian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of paradoxes, both profound and fun.
Originally reviewed for Reader Views, the full review can be found here: https://readerviewsarchives.wordpress...

This is not your average sci-fi novel, not the normal race-to-the-stars drama. My friends, give me a couple of minutes to give you some insight into the novel that’s going to be a break-out hit this year. I’m speaking of Randy Brown’s mind-blowing, perception-altering, unputdownable book with the understated name, “First.”

If I had read “First” ten or fifteen years ago I would have found it highly implausible, yet fun. But these days, Randy Brown’s concept could have been torn from potential headlines. It’s that spot-on with current society. Two mega-billionaires are each determined to put the first astronaut not only on the outer edges of our solar system, but into the next closest solar system as well. Each billionaire’s private space company has designed a new type of spaceship that utilizes electromagnetic energy (I won’t attempt an explanation), allowing them to travel well beyond the speed of light. This opens the possibility of travel to distant planets. And beyond. Without the need to put astronauts into stasis for years. Since I’m a total space nerd, I was already excited.

As readers on this astounding space race, we’ll be following a group of five people who have been chosen by SpaceFirst to train as the astronauts who will venture to all the planets in our system- including Pluto, because Chris, SpaceFirst’s CEO still considers Pluto a planet. Then one of the lucky five will be given the chance to be the first person to travel beyond, to Alpha Centauri. The possibilities are nearly limitless.

As if the basic premise isn’t enough to get a reader totally engrossed, the characters Mr. Brown has created will certainly do the trick. They are genuine characters with all the quirks and flaws. The story’s POV is from one of the five space travelers, Lewis. He is so warm and witty, so… ordinary (almost) that he seems like someone you’d want to sit down and have a beer with. He’s a brilliant engineer whose self-deprecating “aww-shucks” nature keeps him from being overrun by pride and ego. My favorite thing about Lewis, though, is his razor-sharp inner monologue that berates him regularly. Even his shipboard AI piles on the deprecating humor to Lewis’ chagrin, providing laugh-out-loud moments that are greatly appreciated.

I want to write thousands more words about this novel and its impact. This story is written with an easy style, like one friend talking to another. In fact, the words seemed to flow over the pages like quicksilver, and with equal fascination. Chock full of “holy cow” moments that don’t give any hint they’re coming, this read is spellbinding. Readers will also experience a full range of emotions from pride to gloom, elation to fear, anger to pain, and the complete spectrum within. As if this weren’t enough to keep you turning those pages, readers just KNOW who the antagonist is by the halfway point in the book. Or do they?

Of all the elements Randy Brown has brought together to create a story that is greater than the sum of its parts, the best might just be his use of various creative elements without detracting from the storyline, characters, or pace. Be sure to catch the author’s comments after the epilogue because I’m going to leave those devices like little nuggets to be discovered by readers, just as the author did. Since I read, on average, more than 300 books a year, I am completely confident declaring that “First” is truly a novel not to be missed. Sci-fi fans will find a slice of heaven here, so to speak. But so will those who enjoy thrillers, mysteries, character-driven stories, and even romantic suspense. I loved all the flavors of genres that were floating around like water droplets in zero g. It made the entire read that much richer. This wonderful work negotiates the genres much the same way these characters traverse the stars. With ease, strength, intelligence, wit, and grace.

Do not wait to find out what gives Randy Brown’s “First” that true IT factor, making it unforgettable.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this for many reasons, maybe not so much the tech gobbledegook (the author admits he is no physicist and this is just fiction), but the premise, characters and plot.

The main character, Lewis (and his brother, Clark) are named for the explorers who discovered the routes to the North American West. I almost wished the author had kept the Clark name for Lewis’s paired AI ( named Ray for Lewis’s grandfather). It sets the scene for readers to expect Lewis to be a trailblazer who can think his way out of the problems that arise on a journey into the unknown. Lewis (and other European explorers) actually owed their ‘discoveries’ to the help of the indigenous peoples already there… so I almost expected our trailblazers to be given alien guides. In this respect, the AI systems are their guides and protectors… or at least they must hope this to be the case.

Lewis, along with Eve, Colt, Sandra and Peter are the astronauts selected, employed and trained by Chris, a tech billionaire aiming to be the first with the technology to send a human to Alpha Centauri and thence to other galaxies. His company, Space First, is in competition with a rival, Deep Space that uses different technology, to see who gets there first.

The reader is given a made-up guide to the ElectroMagnetic technology that allows Space First’s craft to bend/suspend time while it transports itself through space. I skimmed through some of the nerdier paragraphs as it was all improbable/made-up/garbage probably beyond my comprehension - or patience.

The competitive spirit (yay capitalism, urgh) that operates between Space First and Deep Space is echoed in the characters, all of whom want to be the first person to leave the Galaxy, set foot on another planet etc. It even extends to the AI systems, each tailored to their specific crafts and pilots.

But competitiveness, like the other emotional drivers of human nature, has a dark side that soon comes to the fore. One of the candidates and their AI are sabotaging the operation and their cohort while leaking falsehoods to the media. We live in an age of misinformation and bots that spread lies and this reminds us that evidence that proves facts is, all too frequently, a runner-up in the race where the lie sprints to victory.

This is not high literature and the writing is often clunky. But the premise is so good, the characters well realised and the pace kept up, that it was a breeze to read in a single sitting. A little more editorial expertise and this would be a fully 5* read. Even so I’d give it 4.5* for enjoyment and also because in an age of chaos and negativity, it is a story of hope, of trust in human ingenuity, expertise and above all, love.

[Alex Arriaga · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was flat-out not a good book. The pacing was okay, but there was simply not enough sci-fi in a purported sci-fi book. There was, however, an overwhelming amount of cheesy romance. At a certain point, our main character, Lewis, is flying around aimlessly in space with his life on the line, and all he can think about is a woman whom he kissed once. Not even the romance parts are well-written.

I would think a driven and intelligent engineer, one of five people who passed a rigorous selection program to become the first interstellar astronauts, would be more focused on attaining his life's goal than daydreaming about a woman whom he had again, only kissed once, while in such a precarious situation.

"Peter laughed. 'Oh, you heard me, did you? You didn't deserve to be the first, and you sure don't deserve her.' This time he pointed right at Eve. Either he was sobering up or got lucky."

What? An accomplished communications engineer who passed and continues to pass multiple psych evaluations has an obvious tendency for petty jealousy and a clear alcohol problem? This is one of many examples of the characters' explicit immaturity, especially Lewis'. The character development was overall awful, with the best character killed off in the first half of the book.

All in all, this story is Elon Musk fan fiction, as Chris, the CEO of SpaceFirst, is portrayed as a caring billionaire, even though he completely disregards his astronauts' safety in an effort to be the first company into interstellar space. Unfortunately, I do not see how this book won so many literary science fiction awards. I would be less harsh if this were categorized as a YA romance book, but it's not; it's advertised as sci-fi.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a near perfect blend of SF, who-done-it and soap opera. I would have preferred more of the SF part, but given the overall feeling of the story it's hard to fault these choices made by the author.

I would have given this book a 5 star rating except for one problem which seems endemic to many SF authors -- I am referring to WHEN the story of the book takes place. For some reason, many SF authors have their story beginning way too close to the present calendar date, in most cases laughably before the scientific advancements used in the book could realistically occur. If the time when this story takes place were 50 - 100 years in the future it would be far more plausible. But as with "Blade Runner" (and, yes, I know that is only a Hollywood movie adaptation of Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep"), the time line of this book is way too close to the present date, and this book will seem foolishly optimistic very soon.

[Volpot · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I finished it, but that's about the only positive thing I can say about the book. The main problem was that the book simply had too many implausibilities. First, the notion that two "Elon Musk" type of characters just happen to have both simultaneously invented a separate /different faster than light space travel technology and are simultaneously trying to be "first" to the stars was unbelievable. Second, that the five astronauts "carefully selected" by the "home team", of which the MC is a part, seem to have no greater skill and maturity than a random selection of people off the street. Third, that a crucial element of the story is that the "home team's Elon Musk" has also invented an AI technology far in advance of anything else on Earth. Fourth, that the race to the stars has all of the scientific and engineering discipline as a bunch of primary school children competing in a science fair.

[Robert A Geloran · Rating 5 out of 5]

thoroughly enjoyable and exciting

I took a chance on this unknown author and was not disappointed. Randy Brown weaves a fascinating tale with a strong focus on the human element of space exploration. This is not what I would call hard science fiction but has many of the classic elements, such as, space travel, artificial intelligence, astronomy, as well as some more basic themes like intrigue, sabotage, and jealousy, a sprinkling of humor and even a touch of romance. It does take some suspension of belief for the technology of how the spacecraft gets from point A to point B, but once you get beyond that, the rest of the story is quite believable. Well written with only a few errors like missing words and missing/misplaced quotation marks.

[Karen Bauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great storyline!

I enjoyed this book very much, but then I was raised by a Mom who got us 4 kids out of bed at 3am for the 4am (West Coast time) launches at Cape Canaveral.

This feels like it was written by an engineer (lots of those in our family, thanks to my Auntie Mom’s 2nd husband, a nuclear physicist w a family tree dominated by engineers of all sorts.

I love hard sci-fi, near future with tech we are trying to develop now.

It’s enjoyable as a detective novel, too, as the team must figure out why a series of life-threatening events occurred.

I’ll read the next in this series!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a minute since I've read a book that I stayed up late reading, but FIRST is that kind of book. It takes a concept like instantaneous travel (think Star Trek teleportation) and replaces it with another idea. Hard science fans should stay away because there are holes in this idea. But I was there for the story. There's not much new in the story; you have all your typical tropes and characters. But somehow, Brown makes it work. Yes, it drags a little in a few places but not for long. The characters are likeable, and the "special" characters are enjoyable, too. The bonus is that the Kindle edition is very affordable.

[LaDonna Sepers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A science fiction work with action, real drama, mystery and heart.

As a lifelong lover of science fiction, my tastes tend to favor colonizers on alien places and challenges, especially other life forms. But this story drew me immediately with engaging characters, intriguing science (but not too hard) and dramatic situations. The drama and mystery are brilliantly timed, problem solving and execution felt realistic and fraught with crisis. I loved every minute, even without a single monstrous alien.

[Juli-Yashka]

I tried to suppress my disbelief and criticism, but gave up at approximately 20%. The story is so freaking idiotic at times, I just couldn't. It felt more like a fanfic of somewhat scientific tv-show than a real sci-fi novel. From fantastical technology with zero explanations to absolutely brainless management and safety of the facility (like when MC took apart his spaceship with a screwdriver for funzies). I also have to say that romantic subplot felt strange and unnatural. But I don't ship 99% of pairs in books, so it's not unusual for me.

[Andy Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A SIMPLE MAN'S REVIEW:

Better than I thought! You've got a few sci-fi tropes throughout the story, but it takes a strong turn once you think the book should be over.

The character is the typical "humble yet can do anything" man who is tasked with just about everything in the story. Throw in a bit of a love interest and some mysteries about the technical problems that keep arising and you've got a pretty entertaining read. The epilogue was far too cheesy for my taste, but at least it's not a setup for a sequel!

Your call!

[Tod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, but flawed.

I enjoyed this book lot — at least most of it. A lot of sci-fi books by lesser-known authors are embarrassingly bad, yet still rate 4 or 4.5 stars on Amazon. As I was reading this, I felt that this genuinely deserved its high ratings. Until I got to the last 20 pages or so. A well-written, adult, intelligent story (albeit one that owes a lot to “Hail Mary”) was wrapped up in a ridiculously cliche fashion, which kinda ruined it for me.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars, really well done. Believable characters who interact well, and a plot driven by a realistic assessment of how humans really behave.

Only weak spots are the science of how to travel instantaneously across the galaxy, and the ending. Ending seemed contrived and hastily written with a deus ex machina feel to it.

A few drinking scenes, one risque scene, but nothing too bad.

[Thorsten E. Fisher · Rating 2 out of 5]

A descent story but reads like a trashy dime store novel

If you are a serious sci- fi reader you most likely won’t enjoy reading this. I had to skip a lot of lame filler to finish this. The characters were not very interesting and it just felt like the same characters you’d find in any modern day kindle thriller.

[Joe Chambliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suddenly we're exploring the solar system and beyond

The EMD technology enabled a private venture to do what only NASA had done before (and I'm a NASA retiree). The development of the technology then using it for exploration was well written and the course of history was believable and engaging. The main character was down to Earth and relatable. Good hard science fiction!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!!

This is an excellent story, full of gripping drama and humanity at its best and worst. I read it almost without stopping, and could barely put it down. The technological descriptions are very credible. As an engineer myself, I can truly relate to Lewis on many levels. Thank you, Randy!

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like finding a pearl in an oyster

I read a great deal and I start a lot of books that aren't well written enough to hold my interest until the end. Every now and then I get a surprise by an author that I'm not familiar with - a book that is a great light read and is good all the way to the end. This is one of them. Enjoy.

[Becca Bastin · Rating 4 out of 5]

took a minute

I wasn’t that enthralled in the first few chapters, but it was definitely worth the effort of continuing the story as it bloomed into quite a thrilling ride and I enjoyed it all the way to the very end, it also has a really good plot twist.
definitely recommend it’s a good read

[William Remsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty fun story overall! The first part might have been a little slow, but it picked up nicely after that. I will say that some parts of the writing felt like a simplified version of an idea where it didn't need to be. That might be a personal preference.

I read this while the Artimis II made its flight to the Moon. Very interesting to imagine our next steps. 🛰️

[Cujo James · Rating 3 out of 5]

If i could give a 3.5, i would. It wasn’t horrible. But there was a a lot of suspense. And I knew who gone done did it. I finished the book to see if I was wrong or if there was a twist, but not really? Also, keep in mind, I’m not typically a suspense fan. So even though I may not have liked it, doesn’t mean you won’t

[Coleen Rockandel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tough to put down.

Quirky. Far fetched but fun. the characters are likeable and have some depth. The story is not complicated, few surprises, certainly attention grabbing and a very easy read.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believable science fiction, but the only reason I would call this SF is because it does involve space. It is really a nice mystery and the author knows how to tell a tale. Looking forward to reading more.

[Lorrainee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great story. It starts Deceptively simple and draws you into the story before you know what hit you. I couldn't put it down even when I didn't always understand the science. (which doesn't happen too often).