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Enigma
Two friends, divided by tragedy, race to thwart an insidious plot that threatens humanity’s survival across the galaxy.
10,184 A.D. Britta is heir to the Silverstar legacy and the youngest ambassador in Galilean history. Crystal is the smartest scientist in ten generations and is happy to live in her lab without talking to anyone—except Britta. Even diametrically opposite interests haven’t managed to separate these childhood friends whose journey has led them to a space station orbiting Enigma, a planet with strange atmospheric properties that nullify their technology.
A tragic drop-ship disaster leaves Britta stranded on the planet’s surface, and Crystal fleeing for her life. Each possess a critical piece to diffusing a plot that may allow their ancient enemy to annihilate the Lost Colonies Alliance, from outside and within.
Equipped with only her prized hairpin, Britta must survive a harrowing trek across a primitive landscape to have any hope of helping the colonies, while Crystal must embark on a mad flight across the stars in a desperate mission to save her own colony, who are also hunting her for the alleged murder of Britta.
Timers on both sides are ticking. If either fails to reach their goal, it could spell the end for the entire human race.
10,184 A.D. Britta is heir to the Silverstar legacy and the youngest ambassador in Galilean history. Crystal is the smartest scientist in ten generations and is happy to live in her lab without talking to anyone—except Britta. Even diametrically opposite interests haven’t managed to separate these childhood friends whose journey has led them to a space station orbiting Enigma, a planet with strange atmospheric properties that nullify their technology.
A tragic drop-ship disaster leaves Britta stranded on the planet’s surface, and Crystal fleeing for her life. Each possess a critical piece to diffusing a plot that may allow their ancient enemy to annihilate the Lost Colonies Alliance, from outside and within.
Equipped with only her prized hairpin, Britta must survive a harrowing trek across a primitive landscape to have any hope of helping the colonies, while Crystal must embark on a mad flight across the stars in a desperate mission to save her own colony, who are also hunting her for the alleged murder of Britta.
Timers on both sides are ticking. If either fails to reach their goal, it could spell the end for the entire human race.
561 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2024
3 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Southwick
14 books48 followersRyan Southwick decided to dabble at writing later in life, and quickly became obsessed with the craft. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three children.
His technical skills as a software developer, healthcare experience, and lifelong fascination for science fiction became the ingredients for his first series, The Z‑Tech Chronicles, which combines these elements into a fantastic contemporary tale of super-science, fantasy, and adventure, based in his Bay Area stomping grounds. He has since published other science fiction works, including the Timeless Keeper Saga, Lost Colonies, and One Man's Trash.
Ryan’s skills as a Writing Coach have earned him a spot on the Coach Foundation, one of the biggest names in the coaching industry.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 5, 2024
DISCLAIMER - I received a free copy of this book to review for the 2024/25 Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC).
Enigma by Ryan Southwick kept me riveted from start to finish. He has penned over five hundred pages of great characters, plot twists, villains, heroes, antiheroes, some romance, some sex, and lots of suspense.
The characters were the first thing that drew me into this book. Southwich has done a fantastic job of bringing to life believable and relatable men and women. All of the characters were three dimensional with both strengths and weaknesses part of their personalities and storyline. There was a bit of heterosexual sex but, as opposed to some other male authors, Southwick has it fit into the storyline rather than just being dumped in for prurient interest.
The plot centers around the themes of fighting vs pacifism and weapons vs diplomacy with our main character, Britta, working to build cooperation between divergent worlds and cultures. That does not mean there aren’t a few fights and battles but this book is anything but a typical space opera. But don’t let the mention of diplomacy fool you, the action in this tale is non-stop and I found myself reading faster and faster to find out what came next.
I was disappointed that, despite an opening quote about science, there is very little actual science in this book. Fortunately, the made-up science and the little bit of “magic” were not excessive and did not distract from the excellent storyline.
I particularly enjoyed how Southwick ended this book. While the cover announces this as book one in the Lost Colonies series, Enigma ends in a way that lets you walk away playing out how the story continues in my own imagination. That said, I definitely will be on the lookout for book two.
Enigma by Ryan Southwick kept me riveted from start to finish. He has penned over five hundred pages of great characters, plot twists, villains, heroes, antiheroes, some romance, some sex, and lots of suspense.
The characters were the first thing that drew me into this book. Southwich has done a fantastic job of bringing to life believable and relatable men and women. All of the characters were three dimensional with both strengths and weaknesses part of their personalities and storyline. There was a bit of heterosexual sex but, as opposed to some other male authors, Southwick has it fit into the storyline rather than just being dumped in for prurient interest.
The plot centers around the themes of fighting vs pacifism and weapons vs diplomacy with our main character, Britta, working to build cooperation between divergent worlds and cultures. That does not mean there aren’t a few fights and battles but this book is anything but a typical space opera. But don’t let the mention of diplomacy fool you, the action in this tale is non-stop and I found myself reading faster and faster to find out what came next.
I was disappointed that, despite an opening quote about science, there is very little actual science in this book. Fortunately, the made-up science and the little bit of “magic” were not excessive and did not distract from the excellent storyline.
I particularly enjoyed how Southwick ended this book. While the cover announces this as book one in the Lost Colonies series, Enigma ends in a way that lets you walk away playing out how the story continues in my own imagination. That said, I definitely will be on the lookout for book two.
September 12, 2024
I can’t wait for the next book to come out! I’m in love with “Goliath” and would love to snuggle him. I can’t wait to see what he does with Britta in the books to come. I love that Britta and Crystal are the main characters and best friends. The girls are opposite of each other, but yet just alike and they have to draw on what they know of the other to survive.
The storyline is fantastic and held my attention and then some, it made me cry towards the end. The characters all mesh well together and all of it is very believable. I truly can’t wait for the next book!
The storyline is fantastic and held my attention and then some, it made me cry towards the end. The characters all mesh well together and all of it is very believable. I truly can’t wait for the next book!
June 12, 2024
Wow! This masterfully woven book has it all – political backstabbing, nefarious aliens, the promise of connecting estranged communities, dastardly and wondrous ecology, metaphysical beings, women helping women, and a noble quest to save humanity against all odds.
What if you were a high-powered ambassador trying to unite the scattered remnants of humanity before they were found and annihilated by malicious aliens, and your cyborg body wouldn’t obey you? And, worse, when you figured out why – what would you do if you were shipwrecked in a foreign land where your inbuilt technology was likely to kill you?
I love a high-stakes, urgent adventure story, and watching Britta’s determination carry her to the ends of her endurance was exhilarating. Grounded on a low-tech planet, isolated from the resources of the Colonies, suffering cybernetic failure, she valiantly carries on trying to save humanity from the dreadful Uu’nok. What a badass!
Meanwhile, on the interplanetary scale, Britta’s best friend Crystal strives to save the Colonies through thrilling gambits of her own. Laying her own luminary reputation on the line, she risks everything to carry on Britta’s work - and save her friend.
The mirrored narratives of two friends, each engaged in a desperate quest, show how powerful we can be when we are forced outside of our comfort zones. I could not put down this inspiring story: I literally got up in the middle of the night two nights in a row to finish it, I was so captivated. I loved both Project Xerxes and Enigma, and I wait impatiently for more titles in the gripping universe of The Lost Colonies.
What if you were a high-powered ambassador trying to unite the scattered remnants of humanity before they were found and annihilated by malicious aliens, and your cyborg body wouldn’t obey you? And, worse, when you figured out why – what would you do if you were shipwrecked in a foreign land where your inbuilt technology was likely to kill you?
I love a high-stakes, urgent adventure story, and watching Britta’s determination carry her to the ends of her endurance was exhilarating. Grounded on a low-tech planet, isolated from the resources of the Colonies, suffering cybernetic failure, she valiantly carries on trying to save humanity from the dreadful Uu’nok. What a badass!
Meanwhile, on the interplanetary scale, Britta’s best friend Crystal strives to save the Colonies through thrilling gambits of her own. Laying her own luminary reputation on the line, she risks everything to carry on Britta’s work - and save her friend.
The mirrored narratives of two friends, each engaged in a desperate quest, show how powerful we can be when we are forced outside of our comfort zones. I could not put down this inspiring story: I literally got up in the middle of the night two nights in a row to finish it, I was so captivated. I loved both Project Xerxes and Enigma, and I wait impatiently for more titles in the gripping universe of The Lost Colonies.
June 13, 2024
"Enigma" is an exciting read with a great mix of adventure and character development. Highly recommended for fans of science fiction and fantasy!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews