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The Burns #1
Fifty Degrees South
Listening time 4 hours 59 minutes
At the ends of the earth, we fought an enemy from beyond the stars.
1803. The Napoleonic War. A Royal Navy warship is ordered to pursue an enemy frigate to the frozen waters of the Southern Seas.
There it must capture the enemy ship and retrieve a mysterious sea-chest, contents unknown.
Failure is not permitted.
For the determined young captain, this already dangerous mission turns into a battle with a mysterious vessel that appears not in the sea, but, unbelievably, impossibly, in the sky above.
And the mysterious vessel is not friendly.
If you can imagine a genre blend of alien invasion and historical science fiction, you will love ‘Fifty Degrees South.’
It’s a tale of extraordinary courage and ingenuity in the face of overwhelming odds and events that defy human reason.
You’ve never read a story like it.
So what are you waiting for? Adventure is calling. Answer the call.
Click the link below, pull on a waterproof cloak, and climb the gangway to the quarterdeck of HMS Morgause.
See you on board.
At the ends of the earth, we fought an enemy from beyond the stars.
1803. The Napoleonic War. A Royal Navy warship is ordered to pursue an enemy frigate to the frozen waters of the Southern Seas.
There it must capture the enemy ship and retrieve a mysterious sea-chest, contents unknown.
Failure is not permitted.
For the determined young captain, this already dangerous mission turns into a battle with a mysterious vessel that appears not in the sea, but, unbelievably, impossibly, in the sky above.
And the mysterious vessel is not friendly.
If you can imagine a genre blend of alien invasion and historical science fiction, you will love ‘Fifty Degrees South.’
It’s a tale of extraordinary courage and ingenuity in the face of overwhelming odds and events that defy human reason.
You’ve never read a story like it.
So what are you waiting for? Adventure is calling. Answer the call.
Click the link below, pull on a waterproof cloak, and climb the gangway to the quarterdeck of HMS Morgause.
See you on board.
Audible Audio
Published March 25, 2022
1159 people are currently reading
516 people want to read
About the author
M.M. Holt
6 books18 followersM.M. Holt is a mysterious figure who lives partly in the real world, but more often in his imagination.
He writes science fiction, horror and adventure novels, often involving a Navy lieutenant named Alex Burns who struggles to keep his sanity in a future world gone mad with political correctness. This same Alex Burns also fights alien invaders. Sometimes Burns's great seafaring ancestors also appear in the books. They are also named Alex Burns, and in their own times, they also battled invaders from beyond the stars. Battling aliens and dystopian regimes is like a family tradition.
M.M. Holt is relentless traveler. He can usually be found writing in cafes by the sea, or in a bar on the edge of a crowded street, usually in far flung cities. If you see him, he'll be the handsome yet enigmatic stranger pounding the keyboard of his laptop, pausing only to sip black coffee and glance warily over his shoulder. He knows the Accord Of Nations is always one step behind.
He writes science fiction, horror and adventure novels, often involving a Navy lieutenant named Alex Burns who struggles to keep his sanity in a future world gone mad with political correctness. This same Alex Burns also fights alien invaders. Sometimes Burns's great seafaring ancestors also appear in the books. They are also named Alex Burns, and in their own times, they also battled invaders from beyond the stars. Battling aliens and dystopian regimes is like a family tradition.
M.M. Holt is relentless traveler. He can usually be found writing in cafes by the sea, or in a bar on the edge of a crowded street, usually in far flung cities. If you see him, he'll be the handsome yet enigmatic stranger pounding the keyboard of his laptop, pausing only to sip black coffee and glance warily over his shoulder. He knows the Accord Of Nations is always one step behind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
March 17, 2022
Could be an awesome movie if done right!
January 17, 2024
So much potential...
June 23, 2019
This was a very odd read. I think it's meant to lead into a series and it may make more sense in that context, but standing by itself there isn't a lot here. I suppose I was hoping for "sailpunk", but there's very little feel for the period in the writing. The transition from the rather good first encounter to alien femme fatale is frankly rather dull and the plot leaves many questions unanswered in the reader's mind. Perhaps if you've read some of the other books it makes more sense. The gaelic which is dropped into the mouth of one character and then immediately glossed in its entirety seems to have no point whatsoever. The writing isn't bad, though there's the odd cliche lurking in the corners. However, I was left cold (actually hypothermia should have been thought about a bit more I suspect) and doubt if I'll be back for more.
October 14, 2025
October 2025
Kindle edition
On the fence with this one. Believe this was another Stuff your kindle day book. Not one I would've picked. Short and worked for a group challenge. It was an interesting one but a strange one. Sea adventure with alien stuff going on with King Arthur names thrown in. Probably won't read the next one, but it was okay.
Kindle edition
On the fence with this one. Believe this was another Stuff your kindle day book. Not one I would've picked. Short and worked for a group challenge. It was an interesting one but a strange one. Sea adventure with alien stuff going on with King Arthur names thrown in. Probably won't read the next one, but it was okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2024
This was the first book in a series. The premise of Fifty Degrees South is a Napoleonic era captain of a British frigate is in pursuit of a French warship, south of the Cape of Good Hope, 1803. The French ship is carrying a chest which the British want desperately. As the ships get farther and farther south, the sailing gets quite dangerous. The British ship finally sees their prey when suddenly, extra-terrestrial beings and vehicles interfere and suddenly the plot changes dramatically.
The first part of the book was pretty good. The details of life aboard an 18th Century warship were vivid and accurate. The actual manning of a sailing ship and its operations were accurate. However, when the aliens make their appearance, things change. I thought the ending was quite muddled. I read that the next book in the series jumps a few hundred years into the future, so the characters we got to know in this book will be long gone. It was an easy read, fairly exciting, but ultimately left me a bit disappointed.
The first part of the book was pretty good. The details of life aboard an 18th Century warship were vivid and accurate. The actual manning of a sailing ship and its operations were accurate. However, when the aliens make their appearance, things change. I thought the ending was quite muddled. I read that the next book in the series jumps a few hundred years into the future, so the characters we got to know in this book will be long gone. It was an easy read, fairly exciting, but ultimately left me a bit disappointed.
April 19, 2019
19th Century 32 pounders battle death Ray's!
My two favorite genre's, alien invasion and Napoleonic naval war! As crazy as it sounds, Mr Holt has put them together in a very entertaining and interesting manner. I love the idea of 19th Century 32 pound cannon firing on an alien space ship! It's a well written book with great characters. Can't wait for the next volume.
My two favorite genre's, alien invasion and Napoleonic naval war! As crazy as it sounds, Mr Holt has put them together in a very entertaining and interesting manner. I love the idea of 19th Century 32 pound cannon firing on an alien space ship! It's a well written book with great characters. Can't wait for the next volume.
September 18, 2025
Review: Fifty Degrees South by M. M. Holt
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
High seas battles and aliens? Yes please. Holt sails straight into genre mashup territory with a cannonball’s confidence and a telescope aimed at the stars.
Set in 1803, Fifty Degrees South launches from the icy edge of the Napoleonic War and veers hard into cosmic horror. A Royal Navy warship, tasked with retrieving a mysterious sea-chest, finds itself not just chasing an enemy frigate—but confronting something far stranger: a vessel that hovers in the sky, not the sea. And it’s not flying a flag of truce.
The novel’s strength lies in its audacity. Holt doesn’t just flirt with genre blending—he marries historical naval fiction with alien invasion and makes it work. The young captain of HMS Morgause is a compelling lead: brave, resourceful, and increasingly aware that the rules of engagement no longer apply. The pacing is brisk, the atmosphere chilling, and the stakes escalate with every page.
There’s a touch of Patrick O’Brian in the naval detail, a dash of Ridley Scott in the extraterrestrial menace, and a whole lot of originality in the execution. It’s not flawless—some of the dialogue leans theatrical, and the alien tech remains more mysterious than explained—but the sheer boldness of the premise earns it high marks.
If you’re craving something that reads like Master and Commander meets War of the Worlds, this is your boarding call. Wrap yourself in a waterproof cloak and prepare for frostbitten dread, cannon fire, and the kind of skybound terror that rewrites history.
HMS Morgause awaits. Don’t keep her waiting.
Happy sailing ⛵️ 📚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
High seas battles and aliens? Yes please. Holt sails straight into genre mashup territory with a cannonball’s confidence and a telescope aimed at the stars.
Set in 1803, Fifty Degrees South launches from the icy edge of the Napoleonic War and veers hard into cosmic horror. A Royal Navy warship, tasked with retrieving a mysterious sea-chest, finds itself not just chasing an enemy frigate—but confronting something far stranger: a vessel that hovers in the sky, not the sea. And it’s not flying a flag of truce.
The novel’s strength lies in its audacity. Holt doesn’t just flirt with genre blending—he marries historical naval fiction with alien invasion and makes it work. The young captain of HMS Morgause is a compelling lead: brave, resourceful, and increasingly aware that the rules of engagement no longer apply. The pacing is brisk, the atmosphere chilling, and the stakes escalate with every page.
There’s a touch of Patrick O’Brian in the naval detail, a dash of Ridley Scott in the extraterrestrial menace, and a whole lot of originality in the execution. It’s not flawless—some of the dialogue leans theatrical, and the alien tech remains more mysterious than explained—but the sheer boldness of the premise earns it high marks.
If you’re craving something that reads like Master and Commander meets War of the Worlds, this is your boarding call. Wrap yourself in a waterproof cloak and prepare for frostbitten dread, cannon fire, and the kind of skybound terror that rewrites history.
HMS Morgause awaits. Don’t keep her waiting.
Happy sailing ⛵️ 📚
December 23, 2020
Great book
This story is about a ship of the line of the King of England sent on a secret mission to capture a French ship and its strange cargo and bring the chest beck to England. It runs into an alien ship after the same chest. Very good character descriptions and of the ships.
This story is about a ship of the line of the King of England sent on a secret mission to capture a French ship and its strange cargo and bring the chest beck to England. It runs into an alien ship after the same chest. Very good character descriptions and of the ships.
June 30, 2021
A simply wonderful read. Well written the whole sense appears easily in the imagination. Often an intriguing plot proves an uninteresting read. But not in this case. A Napoleonic War era Royal Navy ship encountering a UFO is an intriguing plot brilliantly executed.
You need to read this!
You need to read this!
January 27, 2024
A different kind of read.
I usually read soldiers stories. This was different and I loved it. Cannot wait to read Protocol. And the others in this series. This is the first time I have written a review on a book.
I usually read soldiers stories. This was different and I loved it. Cannot wait to read Protocol. And the others in this series. This is the first time I have written a review on a book.
April 11, 2022
a real Sea adventure
A well crafted tale of the sea with a SciFi twist. Combine the battle of sailing ships with Alien visitors and therein lies a spellbinding tale.
A well crafted tale of the sea with a SciFi twist. Combine the battle of sailing ships with Alien visitors and therein lies a spellbinding tale.
April 12, 2024
great SiFy
Wow. A really interesting science fiction/fantasy book. Great plot. Good story line. Wonderful intriguing characters. Held my interest well. Couldn’t put the book down.
Wow. A really interesting science fiction/fantasy book. Great plot. Good story line. Wonderful intriguing characters. Held my interest well. Couldn’t put the book down.
June 20, 2024
I really thought this was going to be a cool infusion between historical and science fiction. But all it is is a prolonged boat chase.
September 15, 2024
Not bad 3.5 stars.
March 7, 2022
Very enjoyable read
The book is short but I found it an enjoyable read. If it's a series I can see myself reading all of them. I highly recommend it.
The book is short but I found it an enjoyable read. If it's a series I can see myself reading all of them. I highly recommend it.
May 8, 2022
It is an interesting read. An unusual storyline but well told. Author has a vivid imagination!!
November 22, 2023
A really enjoyable read. Good detail in the feel of the era with an unusual twist. The author's style of writing kept me page turning for more. Just started book two, "Protocol" and hooked already.
October 19, 2021
Excellent book
I did not expect the book to be as good as it turned out to be. Great action and character development. I liked the idea of a time period sci-Fi novel. I can’t wait to download the next.
I did not expect the book to be as good as it turned out to be. Great action and character development. I liked the idea of a time period sci-Fi novel. I can’t wait to download the next.
December 29, 2020
Great read!
Very enjoyable read. Few typos here and there, but nothing that detracts from the enjoyment of the book. Rips along at a good pace, with never a dull moment. Really enjoyed this, and will be seeking out other works by the author.
Very enjoyable read. Few typos here and there, but nothing that detracts from the enjoyment of the book. Rips along at a good pace, with never a dull moment. Really enjoyed this, and will be seeking out other works by the author.
December 25, 2023
The advert for this book was interesting. Sci Fi in the 1800 with a Royal Navy ship....just had to read it.
When started reading, just had to finish it.
When started reading, just had to finish it.
May 20, 2021
This was my introduction to mr. holt. I like him already. This was one of my quickest ebook reads yet. It was an easy read, did bothering the reader down like some hard sci fi authors do with the mechanics of the science involved. Like the books I have written in other words. And the names of characters and the ship's put me right in the period. I look forward to meeting the rest of the Burns clan.
August 28, 2025
Rise of the Kraken!
Fifty Degrees by M. M. Holt is unsettling. Encourages questions of our futures and makes us wary of our present. Ambiguous???? What BBC would we do? Honor. Follow orders? Is there Life out there?
Fifty Degrees by M. M. Holt is unsettling. Encourages questions of our futures and makes us wary of our present. Ambiguous???? What BBC would we do? Honor. Follow orders? Is there Life out there?
August 31, 2023
UFO at Sea
Very interesting book here. How does a crew of a 19th century ship fight a advanced UFO from somewhere or sometime else? As I was reading this book, I kept thinking the Captain Horn lower would jump into the story? He dud not. Though the story did end in a way that wants me to have more? Did the ship make it back to England? And what of the sea chest?
Very interesting book here. How does a crew of a 19th century ship fight a advanced UFO from somewhere or sometime else? As I was reading this book, I kept thinking the Captain Horn lower would jump into the story? He dud not. Though the story did end in a way that wants me to have more? Did the ship make it back to England? And what of the sea chest?
September 18, 2024
Amazing
Not what you’d expect from a scifi novel. Wooden ships and iron men meet aliens from a distant galaxy! A well researched, well written book that will grab you from the first chapter and won’t put down until the last and then leave you begging for more!
Can’t recommend this book enough!
Not what you’d expect from a scifi novel. Wooden ships and iron men meet aliens from a distant galaxy! A well researched, well written book that will grab you from the first chapter and won’t put down until the last and then leave you begging for more!
Can’t recommend this book enough!
August 21, 2024
This is a lot more historic than I thought it would be. But still a good sci-fi story - it kept my interest and I always wanted to get back to it after setting it down. It was pretty disconnected, but in a way that makes me want to read the sequels. It was well narrated by David McCallion.
I think the most interesting thing was the way the captain handled leadership. I don't really know anything about Napoleon's campaign/war. But to see the way the sailors behaved, the respect for leadership, was refreshing. The whole thing about the woman found in the water was really interesting, it lent the sci-fi element to the story.
I'll be picking up the sequels as they come out on audio. This isn't a one-off for me. It was good enough to keep going.
I think the most interesting thing was the way the captain handled leadership. I don't really know anything about Napoleon's campaign/war. But to see the way the sailors behaved, the respect for leadership, was refreshing. The whole thing about the woman found in the water was really interesting, it lent the sci-fi element to the story.
I'll be picking up the sequels as they come out on audio. This isn't a one-off for me. It was good enough to keep going.
February 14, 2025
Excellent book. Held your interest from chapter to chapter. It's sci fi vs an 1803 Royal Navy Warship. The reader can easily relate to the characters. I really enjoyed this. It's one of those books where you think about it after you read it.
August 18, 2020
Excellent. Great stuff. Captured my interest right away with out knowing really what it was about. It was given to me to read on the plane for my overseas trip(s) which didn't happen because of the Covid19. The author's knowledge of the warships of the period is convincing. It made feel connected and anxious (unusual for me) as the story progressed. The science fiction felt real even though fiction and science fiction are not my choice of reading. War history and real life adventure are my thing. I couldn't put the book down and when I did I wasn't game to start reading again until I knew I had a slab of time to do so. It also reminded me of my childhood when I read "Mr. Midshipman Easy" comics, based on books written by Frederick Marryat about his experiences in the Napoleonic Wars.
Highly recommended and being a Novella it could be tempting to read it in one or two hits. It is an easy read and full of excitement. I finished it yesterday and ordered Mr. Holt's next book "Protocol"today. This book apparently has a futuristic approach with a relative of the same protagonist in this Burns series. I'm hooked! Mr. Holt in my opinion has natural talent, an incredible imagination and a penchant for detail.
Highly recommended and being a Novella it could be tempting to read it in one or two hits. It is an easy read and full of excitement. I finished it yesterday and ordered Mr. Holt's next book "Protocol"today. This book apparently has a futuristic approach with a relative of the same protagonist in this Burns series. I'm hooked! Mr. Holt in my opinion has natural talent, an incredible imagination and a penchant for detail.
September 29, 2022
I give this book 3 stars as it was quite entertaining, especially the premise of the story.
The execution however was lacking a little and gave the book a b.movie,pulp 50,s feel(maybe intended?). There were quite a few typo errors throughout which,while distracting, where quite easily overcome.
M M Holt I think needs to hone his craft a little,and flesh out his characters a tad more and have more expressive language.
Having said the above,for a self published book it was an enjoyable romp and i would certainly wish to read more Burns tales.
As the saying goes," it is what it is".
It put me in mind of Edgar Rice Burroughs John Carter of Mars books, but not quite as accomplished.
The execution however was lacking a little and gave the book a b.movie,pulp 50,s feel(maybe intended?). There were quite a few typo errors throughout which,while distracting, where quite easily overcome.
M M Holt I think needs to hone his craft a little,and flesh out his characters a tad more and have more expressive language.
Having said the above,for a self published book it was an enjoyable romp and i would certainly wish to read more Burns tales.
As the saying goes," it is what it is".
It put me in mind of Edgar Rice Burroughs John Carter of Mars books, but not quite as accomplished.
May 21, 2019
Excellent read
This is a novella that provides more meat to some of the events described in book Protocol.
It works by itself, but it leaves number of questions unanswered.
The book describes a voyage by British warship, tasked with recovering mysterious sea-chest from French warship near Antarctica in 1800s.
A real page turner and good prequel to Alex Burns series.
Highly recommended.
This is a novella that provides more meat to some of the events described in book Protocol.
It works by itself, but it leaves number of questions unanswered.
The book describes a voyage by British warship, tasked with recovering mysterious sea-chest from French warship near Antarctica in 1800s.
A real page turner and good prequel to Alex Burns series.
Highly recommended.
June 23, 2019
Baby It's Cold Out There
Captain Alex Burns has his first command. During the Napoleonic Wars, he is charged with chasing down and capturing the cargo of a French warship. The voyage takes them to a battle in the icebergs of Antarctica. A mysterious woman found overboard provides various temptations. I like the action, seamanship, and romantic temptations. As a prequel, I look forward to the first book of the series.
Captain Alex Burns has his first command. During the Napoleonic Wars, he is charged with chasing down and capturing the cargo of a French warship. The voyage takes them to a battle in the icebergs of Antarctica. A mysterious woman found overboard provides various temptations. I like the action, seamanship, and romantic temptations. As a prequel, I look forward to the first book of the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews