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Lost Orbit
Too many questions and not enough hope for answers.
Two days ago, Earth was orbiting within the Milky Way Galaxy.
Now, all that is left is space and questions no one can answer.
On the metropolis planet, Haple, Doctor Reed Doyle, once considered to be the Universe’s most brilliant Planetologist, is brought by the Cosmos Order to find and retrieve Earth.
With a past too terrible to tell, Reed agrees to assist the Order, hoping he can avoid being sent to Eion, a prison planet where everyone is made immortal and forced to live out centuries of sentencing.
But when Reed begins to investigate Earth’s disappearance, he realises how corrupt the Order has become.
And worst of all, how this is all his fault.
Two days ago, Earth was orbiting within the Milky Way Galaxy.
Now, all that is left is space and questions no one can answer.
On the metropolis planet, Haple, Doctor Reed Doyle, once considered to be the Universe’s most brilliant Planetologist, is brought by the Cosmos Order to find and retrieve Earth.
With a past too terrible to tell, Reed agrees to assist the Order, hoping he can avoid being sent to Eion, a prison planet where everyone is made immortal and forced to live out centuries of sentencing.
But when Reed begins to investigate Earth’s disappearance, he realises how corrupt the Order has become.
And worst of all, how this is all his fault.
- GenresScience Fiction
193 pages, Paperback
Published June 28, 2024
25 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 17, 2024
This was a great story! I bought this without seeing any reviews or hearing anything about it (like the good old days), and am incredibly impressed.
Lost Orbit was a fantastic foundation to what I think could be an incredible sci fi series.
I wish there was slightly more world building and detail in this book, but nonetheless I think it was a great set up for a much larger story.
Lost Orbit was a fantastic foundation to what I think could be an incredible sci fi series.
I wish there was slightly more world building and detail in this book, but nonetheless I think it was a great set up for a much larger story.
September 16, 2024
This was a great book that I enjoyed from the first page. The characters are great and the plot was also good with believable hints of the future. My only issue was that it was too short. I felt like the main character especially needed more detail in his back story and it would have allowed a deeper understanding of his journey. I was invested in his past and wanted to know more! 😅 In saying that though it was a great quick read from an emerging author and I can't wait to read the next book to see what happens!
December 9, 2024
Incredibly captivating read. Fantastic worldbuilding, memorable characters and a plot that consistently rewards you for asking questions. Lost Orbit is filled with the simple joys of sinking your teeth into a new fictional setting and expanding your knowledge of this new universe page by page, chapter by chapter. But above all, this book is fun. Very rarely do I have the pleasure of reading something that I refuse to put down. I was hooked in the prologue, and before I knew it I was in the epilogue wanting more. My only complaint is that it wasn't longer. Eager for the rest of the trilogy!
August 6, 2024
Good sci fi adventure
But the Cosmos Order isn't good, the worldbuilding is dark, and bad stuff happens. Reed is a likeable, believable character with a tortured past. Lost Orbit is a fast, thrilling read.
But the Cosmos Order isn't good, the worldbuilding is dark, and bad stuff happens. Reed is a likeable, believable character with a tortured past. Lost Orbit is a fast, thrilling read.
September 7, 2024
Wow what an amazing introduction to this series! I was hooked from the first chapter and am craving more. Excellent world building, a main character with depth, enthralling story. Throughly enjoyable ✨✨
August 27, 2024
Great mystery, short story! It captures you from the very start, right to the end, I just wish there was more of it😍
January 6, 2025
Really simple and straightforward, super easy read especially for anyone who’s new to sci-fi. Would highly recommend as I definitely enjoyed it myself
February 9, 2025
great book! I really enjoyed it, took me about 3hrs but that was with a break in the middle. Engaging characters and a different plot to anything I'd read before. Did not see the way it ended coming.
May 31, 2025
A brisk little sci-fi novel that can be taken down in one or two sessions.
Would have liked a little more time to develop the characters, but overall I enjoyed it.
Would have liked a little more time to develop the characters, but overall I enjoyed it.
June 30, 2024
What a journey this was!
September 24, 2024
Lost Orbit by Peter Osterlund is a thrilling, fast-paced sci-fi adventure with a ton of mystery. The story follows Doctor Reed Doyle, a brilliant but troubled Planetologist who’s brought in by the Cosmos Order to solve one of the biggest mysteries in the universe—Earth’s sudden disappearance. No pressure, right? Reed has a dark past that he’s trying to outrun, and the stakes are high. If he doesn’t figure out what happened to Earth, he’s headed to Eion, a prison planet where people are made immortal just so they can live out their centuries-long sentences. Talk about a nightmare!
What I loved most about this book is the way it blends suspense, action, and just the right amount of humor. Reed is such a relatable protagonist. He’s flawed, sarcastic, and completely over it, but he’s also trying his best in an impossible situation. Plus, the deeper he gets into the mystery of Earth’s disappearance, the more he realizes that the Cosmos Order—the people who hired him—are way more corrupt than he ever imagined. And somehow, Reed himself is connected to all of this.
Osterlund does an awesome job of world-building here. The metropolis planet Haple feels alive and bustling, while the concept of Eion, the prison planet, is just the right amount of terrifying. The twists come at just the right moments, keeping the tension high while still giving you room to breathe with some of Reed’s darkly funny observations.
My only small gripe is that a few of the plot twists were a little predictable, but honestly, that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. The pace is snappy, and I couldn’t stop reading to see how Reed would figure everything out.
Lost Orbit is a fantastic sci-fi mystery that combines an engaging plot with sharp, witty dialogue and a protagonist you can’t help but root for. If you love space adventures with a hint of dark humor, this is one book you won’t want to miss. Can't wait to see where Osterlund takes this story next!
What I loved most about this book is the way it blends suspense, action, and just the right amount of humor. Reed is such a relatable protagonist. He’s flawed, sarcastic, and completely over it, but he’s also trying his best in an impossible situation. Plus, the deeper he gets into the mystery of Earth’s disappearance, the more he realizes that the Cosmos Order—the people who hired him—are way more corrupt than he ever imagined. And somehow, Reed himself is connected to all of this.
Osterlund does an awesome job of world-building here. The metropolis planet Haple feels alive and bustling, while the concept of Eion, the prison planet, is just the right amount of terrifying. The twists come at just the right moments, keeping the tension high while still giving you room to breathe with some of Reed’s darkly funny observations.
My only small gripe is that a few of the plot twists were a little predictable, but honestly, that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. The pace is snappy, and I couldn’t stop reading to see how Reed would figure everything out.
Lost Orbit is a fantastic sci-fi mystery that combines an engaging plot with sharp, witty dialogue and a protagonist you can’t help but root for. If you love space adventures with a hint of dark humor, this is one book you won’t want to miss. Can't wait to see where Osterlund takes this story next!
September 4, 2024
I never know if it's a good thing if I'm left wanting more...
Lost Orbit is a fun and intriguing space mystery with a great hook and a satisfying resolution. It is absolutely worth your time, especially if you like fast-paced soft sci-fi with a flair for imagination.
However, I feel like this is somewhat held back from being a novella rather than a full-length novel. The idea and the characters - if worked out a little more - could absolutely fill a longer story, and this may have helped Osterlund to tie up some of the loose ends at the end of the narrative. The protagonist, in particular, is a fascinating character, and I wanted to hear more about his motivations and backstory by the time the story was done; this would also have helped the story's conclusion. Plus, the political system promises to be intriguingly dark, and more details on that would have been interesting for fans of intricate space politics such as myself.
This is not to take away from the fact that this story already works as a novella. Osterlund pulls off a fast-paced universe-spanning space mystery with a satisfying and earned conclusion, and that is commendable at a time when a lot of sci-fi has been regurgitating similar ideas. Sit down with a cup of tea on a weekend and give this a try - you won't regret it!
*Note: I received a free copy of this novella for the purposes of this review. All opinions are my own.
Lost Orbit is a fun and intriguing space mystery with a great hook and a satisfying resolution. It is absolutely worth your time, especially if you like fast-paced soft sci-fi with a flair for imagination.
However, I feel like this is somewhat held back from being a novella rather than a full-length novel. The idea and the characters - if worked out a little more - could absolutely fill a longer story, and this may have helped Osterlund to tie up some of the loose ends at the end of the narrative. The protagonist, in particular, is a fascinating character, and I wanted to hear more about his motivations and backstory by the time the story was done; this would also have helped the story's conclusion. Plus, the political system promises to be intriguingly dark, and more details on that would have been interesting for fans of intricate space politics such as myself.
This is not to take away from the fact that this story already works as a novella. Osterlund pulls off a fast-paced universe-spanning space mystery with a satisfying and earned conclusion, and that is commendable at a time when a lot of sci-fi has been regurgitating similar ideas. Sit down with a cup of tea on a weekend and give this a try - you won't regret it!
*Note: I received a free copy of this novella for the purposes of this review. All opinions are my own.
September 6, 2024
3.5 stars!!!
Super fun and easy read! Love.. no I mean LOVE ❤️
Would recommend for anyone who wants a quick page turner. The sci-fi terminology was super easy to understand for anyone who doesn’t read too much sci-fi and wants to get into the genre.
An amazing first book for the series. I would have loved to get to know some of the characters a little better so definitely looking forward to the next book!
My only criticism for this book is that I wanted moreee!
Super fun and easy read! Love.. no I mean LOVE ❤️
Would recommend for anyone who wants a quick page turner. The sci-fi terminology was super easy to understand for anyone who doesn’t read too much sci-fi and wants to get into the genre.
An amazing first book for the series. I would have loved to get to know some of the characters a little better so definitely looking forward to the next book!
My only criticism for this book is that I wanted moreee!
October 13, 2024
I bought this today, even got it signed by the author. He's a very nice guy. I got home and read it all in just under 2hrs? Didn't put it down.
it was a very enjoyable journey. The world building was very good, though that prison planet sounds downright terrifying and creepy. I honestly didn't put the pieces together till right towards the end as to what had happened to Earth which is really good. I look forward to further books in the series.
it was a very enjoyable journey. The world building was very good, though that prison planet sounds downright terrifying and creepy. I honestly didn't put the pieces together till right towards the end as to what had happened to Earth which is really good. I look forward to further books in the series.
November 14, 2024
Character development is good.
Needs a copy editor.
Science is off. For instance, if the earth disappeared, how would the moon stay in place and not get pulled toward the sun?
And I suppose if one could bend space or travel in 5 dimensions you could travel to the far reaches of the universe even though most galaxies are separating from the milky way at greater than the speed of light. But there's no attempt to explain what's going on.
Needs a copy editor.
Science is off. For instance, if the earth disappeared, how would the moon stay in place and not get pulled toward the sun?
And I suppose if one could bend space or travel in 5 dimensions you could travel to the far reaches of the universe even though most galaxies are separating from the milky way at greater than the speed of light. But there's no attempt to explain what's going on.
September 16, 2024
What can I say…. I couldn’t put it down! I needed to know what was gonna happen. There was so much packed into the book. From the start I was hooked and I can’t wait to see what happens next, to get a deeper fuller understanding of Reed and where his future lies.
June 30, 2024
It's short page turner and a great sci-fi mystery, getting you attached to all the characters. You even love to hate the villans too.
August 7, 2024
Met the author at a local store and decided to read as it was on KU, loved the story line but it felt too fast-paced for me to really enjoy connecting with the characters.
October 27, 2024
Read it in one sitting - couldn’t put it down. Great effort!
February 2, 2025
Intriguing storyline that made me want to keep reading.
April 20, 2025
Good.
Very good.
Extremely good.
Extremely very good.
Cheers,
Tristan
Very good.
Extremely good.
Extremely very good.
Cheers,
Tristan
December 26, 2025
We love a good old traditional style Sci-Fi and this made us reminscient of Star Trek (TNG). This novella follows the mystery of Earth disappearing and a reluctant hero trying to solve it. We were pleasantly surprised with the political machinations and emotionally charged scenes in this book. Elevating the story from a simple "Dude wheres my planet?" story. Also need to mention, the inclusion of characters named Whells and Isaac made our little classic Sci-Fi hearts happy.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews