Writer

Daughter of Time #2

by Erec Stebbins

From hatred, Love. From many, One: A scifi epic about the tragic destiny of profoundly star-crossed lovers with a galaxy's fate in their hands. Speculative fiction with time travel, metaphysical mysteries, action, adventure, cosmology, cybernetics, religion, and romance.
“A work of literary fiction that transcends its genre. Read this novel. Immediately.” -Portland Book Review

“Deeply thoughtful and exciting, warping the expectations of the genre It stays fun while plumbing unexpected depths, and reminds me of Dan Simmons’ Hyperion and Endymion, though more approachable.” -San Francisco Book Review

“Stebbins’s trilogy remains both fascinating and unpredictable. WRITER possesses all of the style, elegance, and tension that made READER gripping. Those who loved the first book will find themselves enraptured by the second, which secures a ready audience for what will surely be a stunning conclusion.” -ForeWord Clarion Reviews

“Anticipate trips through time and space, wrenching separations and confrontations that will test the lovers' bond to each other and to their world…be prepared for another epic story that turns on a dime and leaves its ending open for yet more added attractions later.” -Midwest Book Review

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

444 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 25, 2014

About the author

Erec Stebbins is a biomedical researcher who writes novels in a variety of genres, focusing on thrillers and science fiction. His work has been praised for its action and thrills alongside a deeper, often philosophical angle. The Internet Review of Books dubbed him "master of the thinking reader's techno thriller".

His novels have been called "unique" and "pulse-pounding" ( The Ragnarök Conspiracy), "altogether profound, reminiscent of Bradbury and Dan Simmons’ Hyperion" (Daughter of Time Trilogy), and "startlingly dark" (Extraordinary Retribution) with five star ratings in Foreword Reviews, San Francisco Book Reviews, Portland Book Review, and others. His Daughter of Time trilogy is a Foreword Reviews' 2015 INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalist.

Amazon Author Page

Reviews

[Ann Gilbertson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh

I'm disappointed. I thought the first book was innovative and creative. This one just seemed like a techno-soap opera. More drama than a junior high school dance, and about as deep. I was bored by the end. I also was struck by the lack of concern about anything other than humanoid consciousness ... there are a few other species on this planet, ya know. I have no interest whatsoever in reading the third book ... I could barely get through this one. Bleah.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply intricate and powerfully intense, Writer by Erec Stebbins once again showcases his ability to create new worlds, as he shares what he imagines with his readers. Humans, as well as alien races, struggle for power and the control of Ambra Dawn, whose powers can make the winner nearly omnipotent. She is the ultimate prize, this girl whose appearance is flawed by a huge brain tumor that gives her incredible god-like abilities to shift through time and space may be the one being who can end the brutal reign of the Dram, hideous and cruel aliens who use humans as pawns with their force and power. Some love Ambra for the hope she brings, some despise her, out of fear or disbelief, but only one man loves her as Ambra, a kind and caring woman whose piercing, yet blind eyes caught his heart many years before. They are lovers who fate has seen fit to bring together, then brutally wrench apart.

Nitin is a soldier in a new world, filled with all races and religions, the remnants of the human population who now share the galaxy with aliens far advanced in their evolution. The Xix are allies, eager to assist the humans with their wealth of knowledge and abilities. Nitin is sent on a quest that he and his team may never return from, but for Ambra, he would do anything, including die to protect her. The heinous discovery they all make is unfathomable, warped and deadly, a test of the combined efforts of their knowledge and power, will Ambra have the strength to lead them to victory or has another race been playing puppetmaster behind the scenes with a script whose ending is already written.

Erec Stebbins is one of those authors who must mentally work overtime, blending each element of his tale with care and precision in the laboratory that is his mind. Where do his ideas come from, are they some form of mathematical equation he concocts with words? His ability to glue the reader’s eyes to every word is nothing short of phenomenal whether one is a sci-fi/fantasy aficionado or not. Mr. Stebbins has a brilliant sense of tension-building with a cleverly chosen quote for each chapter, that not only sets the stage for the next scene, but slams home the fact that their relevancy truly are timeless and universal. Step out of this world and enter the world Erec Stebbins has created, you’ll be glad you did.

I received a copy from Erec Stebbins in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Daughter of Time - Book 2
Publication Date: April 25, 2014
Publisher: Twice Pi Press
ISBN-13: 9780986057113
Genre: Science Fiction/Time Travel/Romance
Print Length: 324 pages
Available From: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

[Richard Bunning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stebbins has done it again. He has created a wonderful sequel to your marvellous 'Reader'. I suggest reading in order, though that isn't vital. However, doing so will help you understand and empathise with the expanding vision that is the mind of Ambra Dawn. I sure this book stands alone, but there is a definite downsides to the lack of story revision. All authors of book series have the same impossible problem of balancing back-story and progress that can never satisfy all readers. This is a second visionary, speculative fiction masterpiece; and yes, as is all the best fiction in this category, it is highly philosophical.
Stebbins takes us through the lows of his dystopian vision to soar out like the Phoenix into a new and growing existence, a possible Utopia. Well at least the vision can be left to grow unmolested until the inevitable third instalment arrives. What will that be called? My speculation gives me, 'Creator'. I feel sure that we will then come to be told whether the Orb is an essence of God, or is just one of His old lanterns.
There is one 'improvement' in this second volume. We have escaped the terrors of mathematical formulae that pitched up at the start of every chapter. These are replaced by very sharply relevant, richly worded, quotations.
I was thoroughly absorbed by this book, even though my weak mind faced the occasional threat from drowning in metaphysics. But then I'm sure we were meant to feel submerged, as was the mind of our heroic, tragic narrator, Nitin. We were lead by the thoughts of a 'human' doing his best to explain a story that he couldn't ever really comprehend. I guess Nitin was even more at sea than I would be in explaining mathematics. I sympathised with Nitin to the very end, for ever relieved that at least Ambra Dawn, through Stebbins pen, seemed to understand. What the heck are sentient being doings in the physical cosmos anyway? We understand far more now, don't we Nitin? But do we yet really know anything? We need book three.
Stebbins puts together words very well, which is just as well because as we leave the Earth behind, let alone New Earth, the cosmos gets very complicated. In this exciting plotting we are so spellbound that that doesn't actually matter, or even anti-matter.

[Lynelle Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the book from the author for an honest review.



I really loved these books. The author's absolute flair with words as he painted the love between the two main characters, Ambra Dawn, and Captain Nitin Ratava, with so much depth and passion that you feel like a third person most of the time when they met. As if you are invading their privacy. I have never read a science fiction book with this much romance in it that it really grasps your attention all through its pages.

The turmoil of their choices as they accept this love just to be together, kept you turning the pages. The love that this man had for this deformed young woman was something you don't witness often. When they finally meet and was introduced to her world his devotion became just clearer. But yet he was a strong man with his own unique characteristics that qualifies to be her lover and friend.

Adding the plot of the New Earth that is still in danger and had to be rescued from the ever dreadful Dram, you were totally lost in the story itself. As the story unfolds and you become involved with it, you could not help but be fascinated with this Universe he was describing, with so much color and life that you are in awe yourself as they go from new planet to new planet, even the Milky Way, riding the Orbs in the quest: it all becomes so alive right in front of you.

I liked the new cast of characters as well, with some of the older ones still there, giving it more substance. But I must say I really liked Moore's character the best. His wit was just something that made the story very realistic.

With the eminent threat of Dram, the Anti and Shadows a new threat surfaced as well. One amongst their own that left them with many riddles as calamity follows them wherever they went to investigate. Time was of the essence.

A fascinating tale of endurance, and love infused with science fiction at its best. Really a keeper to add to your shelf. Again, the quotes was a wonderful edition to each chapter that keeps you curiosity, wondering what will happen next.

[Teresa Vogt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can the Universe and Earth stand another fight with the Dram, and the cloned Ambra's made from her eggs?

This review is from: Writer (Daughter of Time Book 2) (Kindle Edition)

Erec Stebbins once again takes you on an emotional roller coaster in this second part of his Daughter Of Time trilogy. Ambra Dawn has lived and been glorified as the savior of Earth. Yet once again the Dram the race that abducted and abused her so horribly in the first book is back, with a race of Anti, Chaos beings. The stolen eggs have been mutilated and manipulated into a pretend replacement for Ambra. Fighting beside her is a solider, who loves her and wants to protect her at any cost, Nitin, unknown to him is not what he believes he is. Ambra knows what he is but loves him anyway, he is her soul mate, even as a engineered one. There is one of the False Ambra Dawns is acting on her own, not following the others. She steals Ambra's most faithful and trusted Xix adviser. Earth has been destroyed before and Ambra brought it back as a New Earth and is treated as a Goddess, now it's endanger again, she is endanger again. Her assassin is the one you don't expect. The fight is one that will change her more then the tumor ever could, to repel the danger coming she must merge with her temple in a manner that leaves you wondering can she really survive? Will she fall, fail and lose all for Humanities survival? she told her story in the first book, Nitin tells her story in this book. Can he tell it objectively as much as he loves her? Will they meet at some point in the distant future? Will she lose all in her that is Human and what is left of her Humanity? The final book will tell us the end of the battle and the outcome of the entire Universe.

[Norm Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extraordinary Literary Descriptions

In this second installment of the Daughter of Time series, author Erec Stebbins continues the saga of Ambra Dawn, The Daughter of Time.

This is a tale of survival and cooperation between species and races, an account of hatred, vengeance and annihilation. But woven throughout is a remarkable love story.

The Dram and their allies, the Anti, created the ultimate weapon to use against the Daughter of Time … one she would never suspect—one that could not fail. Can the connection of the star-crossed lovers save the universe or will nothing prevail?

The depth of love between Ambra and MECHcore Lieutenant Nitin Ratava cannot be expressed in a few words in this review; it is something that needs to be experienced by immersing one’s self in their story.

Stebbin’s’ extraordinary literary descriptions of time, place, action, emotions and spirituality take us to worlds and experiences heretofore unknown to us. Enthralling to experience.

I did find a couple of instances where the narrative seemed to go on longer than necessary, but soon found myself drawn back into the world of the Daughter of Time. In the end I didn’t have the feeling that anything had been left out.

I am once again pleased to recommend Erec Stebbins’ work.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I read the book, I read the reviews. It was immediately apparent you really liked the book (4or 5 stars) or you hated it (1 star).

This book, the second in the series, was much more complex than book one. It changed focus from the individual into a projected many. It did a good job in the authors dimension and required the reader to stretch his/her mind to understand several of the concepts.

I don't personnally buy into the theory that a group mind is what our ultimate goal is, but it is a fairly common concept in science fiction. Maybe it's the premise that with total immersion comes understanding, that with understanding comes love and that love is the greatest strength of all. I can easily accept that love is the greatest strength, but I'm not sure that subsumming myself into a group is the way to go, or that failure of an individual or race to do so dooms them to eternal nothingness and complete desolution of mind, body and soul.

Could be I'm wrong and I have misunderstood everything I have been taught throughout my life.

I highly recommend this book and believe you must read the first book first to be able to better comprehend this one.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Reader and expected Writer to be more of the same.

Writer is in a way a continuation of Reader. Yet it is completely different as it is from the perspective of Ambra Dawn's lover, Nitin. As a love story it is okay. As a novel it is not particularly engaging. If I say that I like watercolours and Reader was a watercolour. Then Writer was an overworked oil painting. It was too heavy and intense in the way it was presented and I found myself skipping bits to move the story along. I wanted to know what happened so I continued to the end, but a lighter touch would have kept me more engaged.

[Bookman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Writer is the second book in the Daughter of Time series. The point of view has changed from Ambra (Book 1) to Nitin Ratava (Book 2), who is Ambra's prophesied love interest.

I thought the book was well written, though perhaps with a bit too much foreshadowing. I enjoyed the combat sequences, some of which reminded me of something David Drake would write.

Daughter of Time has been a solid series so far, I am interested to see what the third book will bring.

[Gretchen Fatouros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 is a bit confusing to start because it goes from book 1, where Ambra Dawn narrated to book 2 narrated by someone else, who you find is writing 200 years after the 1st book...

This is a very unusual series. I am not sure how to explain it to say whether you would enjoy it or not. Sort of like how do you explain the Sixth Sense before someone sees it? Some how I find myself thinking in lines of the Matrix movies... There is no other way to describe this book and the previous one without experiencing it yourself.

[Ken Rideout · Rating 5 out of 5]

A series that keeps getting better - can't wait for the third book. Love the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. The book is (like several of the quotes) a cross between Olaf Stapledon and Carl Sagan. "We are the Universe's way of knowing itself"!

[Dawn Lennox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, different from the first book and continued the plot from the first book. Definitely for me, reading the first book helped to enhance the story of Ambra Dawn, and what is needed for her to survive.

[Siva Kumar S A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing continuation of series Has some vivid imagination that is unlike anything that I have read.

[Oliver · Rating 1 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first book in this trilogy, but the second book has disappointed me across the board. I won't be finishing this series, and cannot recommend it.

[Isabelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah, I don't enjoy doing this either, but this book was just. Not as good as the first. Every now and then, there'd be a poetic passage exploring the cool sci-fi ideas set up in the first and I'd catch a glimpse of what I have loved so much about it, but for the most part, it was worse. It reminds me of what I've heard about Andy Weir -- he wrote The Martian and it was terrific, but as soon as he tried writing with a larger cast, it just wasn't as good because it isn't where his talents/skills lie.

One cool new idea was the Xix's reproductive system. I'm curious about how genetic material is passed down and the sex of the offspring is decided. One time I tried to make a three-chromosome system work, and that was complicated enough.

The romance backstory was not quite problematic, but kinda obsessive. But the twist ending totally resolved my misgivings. Regardless, I would have liked a bit more about why they liked each other than "they love each other because they're in love and find each other attractive and of good character." Then again, it's not like I'm known for understanding love and perhaps that is just the way it is haha.

I'm pretty sure it's a mistake, but Waythrel was occasionally referred to by she/her pronouns. We love one it/she user.

Anyways, I found it hilarious (morbidly) that the two East Asian team members were the first two to die. I did appreciate the diversity of the team, however. Arguably the most offensively-written was the British guy, haha.

I will read the third book, probably after many months. Whether or not I consider this one worth reading will be based off that one is good again.

(Once again, I'm nearly sure that I had more to say, but I don't remember.)

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Definitly gonna read the other
Ones. The discription for the setting and characters was fenominal.

[Walter Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writer is narrated by a warrior of India’s Armed forces. As with Reader, the narrator concedes that Erec Stebbins is, at best, totally incompetent to translate the concepts of Nitin’s story. But you get used to it.
I took issue with the sweaty-lovey-dovey romance that consumed Amber Dawn and Nitin at first glance. That theme came up several more times, before Erec Stebbins floored me by putting that relationship into its proper perspective. I apologize. Writer, like Reader, is a completely original concept. The only writer of my early years of science fiction that even hinted as to where Writer takes you was Roger Zelazny (and he was damn good!), and Stebbins goes way beyond Zelazny.