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Metamorphosis #1
Wilderness Five: Hard Science Fiction
Technology accelerates human evolution ...
Yet extinction draws near ...
After manifold technology accelerates evolution, humanity has colonised the stars. Lifespans stretch to hundreds of years. Worlds bloom with strange new life.
Bryn, an Invigilator with a dark past, is tasked with keeping watch over the utopia. Summoned to stop a galaxy-devouring threat, he must discern friend from foe on the most distant human colony in Wilderness Five.
"Intelligent, fascinating and imaginative science fiction!” – Therese Schwartz, Amazon 5-star review, 2025
From Cambridge planetary scientist Dr. Craig R. Walton, Wilderness Five starts like The Expanse and echoes Tchaikovsky’s bold visions. Book 1 in an epic trilogy.
Yet extinction draws near ...
After manifold technology accelerates evolution, humanity has colonised the stars. Lifespans stretch to hundreds of years. Worlds bloom with strange new life.
Bryn, an Invigilator with a dark past, is tasked with keeping watch over the utopia. Summoned to stop a galaxy-devouring threat, he must discern friend from foe on the most distant human colony in Wilderness Five.
"Intelligent, fascinating and imaginative science fiction!” – Therese Schwartz, Amazon 5-star review, 2025
From Cambridge planetary scientist Dr. Craig R. Walton, Wilderness Five starts like The Expanse and echoes Tchaikovsky’s bold visions. Book 1 in an epic trilogy.
405 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 22, 2025
An original and deeply imaginative far-future singularity tale
An original and deeply imaginative deep-dive into the nature of consciousness, sentience, evolution, and the dangers of playing god with any of them. The term "singularity" has a specific meaning here that's different from how futurists typically use the term, but this is a book about that singularity, too. Set in an indeterminate far-ish future where we've built vast solar ring habitats but have only begun to expand beyond our solar system, There are definite echoes of The Expanse and its protomolocule, except here our potential destruction is home-grown. The heroes come firmly gray-shaded, and while I wouldn't exactly call the book fatalistic, it is definitely a cautionary tale on the dark side of human hubris and the unrestrained quest for immortality.
An original and deeply imaginative deep-dive into the nature of consciousness, sentience, evolution, and the dangers of playing god with any of them. The term "singularity" has a specific meaning here that's different from how futurists typically use the term, but this is a book about that singularity, too. Set in an indeterminate far-ish future where we've built vast solar ring habitats but have only begun to expand beyond our solar system, There are definite echoes of The Expanse and its protomolocule, except here our potential destruction is home-grown. The heroes come firmly gray-shaded, and while I wouldn't exactly call the book fatalistic, it is definitely a cautionary tale on the dark side of human hubris and the unrestrained quest for immortality.
July 3, 2024
A must read for fans of Peter F Hamilton or Adrian Tchaikovsky!
Following in the tradition of modern Sci-fi greats, like Peter F Hamilton or Adrian Tchaikovsky, Wilderness Five is a wonderful blend of mystery, suspense, and cosmic dread. Through his prose, Walton skillfully immerses you in this vision of a near-future frontier, exposed to the most perverse extremes of scientific excess and human hubris, whilst still managing to keep its characters relatable and nuanced. However, at the heart of it all is a story of scientific mystery and corporate intrigue that kept me glued to its pages from beginning to end.
Following in the tradition of modern Sci-fi greats, like Peter F Hamilton or Adrian Tchaikovsky, Wilderness Five is a wonderful blend of mystery, suspense, and cosmic dread. Through his prose, Walton skillfully immerses you in this vision of a near-future frontier, exposed to the most perverse extremes of scientific excess and human hubris, whilst still managing to keep its characters relatable and nuanced. However, at the heart of it all is a story of scientific mystery and corporate intrigue that kept me glued to its pages from beginning to end.
April 12, 2025
Gripping science fiction!!!
This is a fantastic book of science fiction! I don't usually read books like this one but I am happy that I picked it.
The author does a wonderful job creating rich and vibrant characters. The story is one of intrigue and action. Plus, it makes you think! Highly recommended!!!
This is a fantastic book of science fiction! I don't usually read books like this one but I am happy that I picked it.
The author does a wonderful job creating rich and vibrant characters. The story is one of intrigue and action. Plus, it makes you think! Highly recommended!!!
June 17, 2025
Awesome book. It was really good. I did not understand what a singularity was until I started this book. Now I know lol. It was well written and fast paced. 5 stars!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews