AMP Colossus

AMP #5

by Stephen Arseneault

An alternate cover edition can be found here.

The fifth book in the exciting AMP series! The Grid has come to rest in a new sector. New hostiles emerge, once again setting the Human existence in jeopardy. A peek is given of the origin of the Human race. Follow along with the action as the follies of Don Grange and his Gray Ghoul fighters continues!

Genres: Science Fiction

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2014

About the author

I came to this planet sixty some odd years ago. After exiting my mother's portal, the doctor slapped me around until I started breathing the oxygen. I'll admit, at the time, I had no idea what I was doing or where I was. Being an infant Human, I was completely reliant on the responsible actions of others. It was a time that I have largely forgotten.

I reside in Central Florida with the wife and children. After thirty years in engineering, my time is now spent chronicling the adventures of fictitious heroes. They are off-world, fighting the good fight. For me? I'm stuck here on this planet in this feeble existence that we Humans are all forced to endure.

So, I ask you this... do you wish to escape the bonds of this surly planet we call Earth? Are you looking for a bit more adventure than what the grocery store has to offer? Do you worry about being enslaved by alien androids or six-eyed alien goats with lasers? Pew, pew, pew!

Yeah, that's what I thought. Asking yourself those questions and getting back an answer is the first hurdle to cross in the race to get off this world. Sounds like you are ready to venture out, to put this place behind you.

So crack open one of my books. Take to the heavens and let me shout this out to those who remain: "Watch out universe! Another Human is on the loose!"


Take care and I hope you have a great day!

Stephen

Reviews

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The longer the AMP series goes on the more it reminds me of Battlestar Galactica – yes you have your occasional victories, but you are forever on the run.
This time round the Grid is sabotaged during a Jump and ends up short on fuel, minus its fleet and … in a heap of trouble.
As always Don faces insurmountable and, in this case, inscrutable odds. When he finally takes out the head of the enemy forces, well, that's when it gets interesting.
As always Stephen Arseneault has a pretty cynical disregard for his characters/races.
I think the series is running out of steam as there is a lot of plot repetition but it is not a bad read.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable page turner

Now book 5 into the series this has some good light moments while Don attempts to find a safe haven and a friendly race for the grid to survive along with.
A few niggles but overall this didn't cause any issues with the enjoyment of the book

[Bruce Dinsman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Rocket Ride

Critics can say what they want, but the author has done a great action series in space numerous times, developed multiple story lines and literally dozens of species including sentient androids. Going for book 6 now.

[Antonino Mario · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great episode of the "Don Grange" saga.
The Grid is on the move, looking for a new home and dealing with the next tyrannical alien specie...
Somehow it starts reminding me of the "Battlestar Galactica" odyssey...
I can't wait to start reading episode 6, The Siege!

[Beau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the AMP series. It can't be easy for Arseneault to keep writing the same book over and over. This time he tried something new. But I didn't like it as much.

Why not?

I didn't like the genocide. Sure, Grange and the humans have done some similar things - particularly in AMP3 Blitzkreig. But I liked the Grell. We should have saved some of them. I'm not sure it's believable for them to take the risk that they did. But I'm pretty sure that the Colossuns were strong enough to wipe them out.

Then again, what were there, 20,000 robots on a planet with millions of Grell? You shouldn't be able to keep them down with 50,000. But I'm grasping at the wind, it's just my bias, and Arseneault gets to tell his story however he likes.

The other thing I didn't like was the climax. It went too easily. They captured the next Duke in a single throwaway sentence. We never got to see an argument between the two android brothers. And something on Ponix bugs me - like if there are still people or things there that we forgot to go back and get. It felt like the author didn't want to write the critical scenes. So, instead of 4 stars I gave 3.

I enjoy the basic way that the Grid has been separated from their fleets, and find themselves far from home and off course, with more Durians to deal with, and out of gas. I think Arseneault deserves credit for trying something different. I just wished things had gone a bit differently.

I'm still gonna read them all, and then all of the OMEGAs. Next!

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this volume, we find the giant space station known as the Grid arriving in a new region of space. As work begins to acquire raw materials, a new threat is discovered...

After the epic battle of book 4, this story has a fresh feel to it. Our heroes face a new enemy, but with limited resources, they have to be smart about using what they have.

Positives:
Very little new technology falling in to human hands like manna from heaven. They pretty much have to use what's already available.

The ending is a satisfying conclusion, without precluding a return of this enemy at some point in the future. I suspect that will be the case.

We get a hint that the deeper mystery of how humans came to be living on the grid will eventually be explored.

Negatives:
An entire race became the victim of genocide, but our heroes shrugged it off rather quickly.

There's a big science error, where deuterium is identified as inferior to hydrogen-1 as a fuel for a fusion reactor, as if the extra neutron were a contaminant. This doesn't impact the story arc in any meaningful way, but it's certainly a disappointment.

-----
Volume 6, when it's released, will be titled 'Siege'. I'm looking forward to it.

Note: The proper title of this book is 'Colossus', it is book 5 of the AMP series.

[Glenn Solberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Scifi story and gets better as you go

Great Scifi story and gets better as you go

I have enjoyed the AMP novels. Each one better than the previous one. A smooth read and you can't wait to see what happens next. Science fiction and excellent battles well thought out. Many wonderful touches of humor and human interaction along with aliens also. Thank you. I look forward to the next one.

[Kelvin Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our hero Granger finds himself in a new sector of space after the Grid come to a halt after escaping there last enemy, only he has left friends behind that need to catch up. So while they wait they send out there Harvester space craft to resupply them with fuel and much needed metal ore to rebuild there fleet of space craft. They stumble upon a world they think is empty only to find new troubles and a new enemy.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this episode with the Colossuns defeated, or are they. The Duke has proved to be a robot and his bodyguards humans. They have the Duke's head to interrigate so hopefully information will be gleamed.

[James L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of dragged. It boiled down to one single concept that could have been thoroughly articulated in 20 pgs. or so.

[Glen Larned · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 for 5!