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The Pax Humana Saga #2
Chains of Destiny
ESCAPE!
Captain Jacob Mercer and the USS Phoenix barely escape with their lives from the Imperial ambush at Liberty Station, and soon find themselves orbiting the frontier world Destiny, a forbidding planet infested with pirate gangs. With critically unstable engines, Jake is forced to seek raw material for badly needed repairs before the ruthless Admiral Trajan tracks them down.
A MYSTERY DEEPENS...
As they negotiate with the pirates, the crew learns some uncomfortable truths about their hero, Admiral Pritchard, and that Trajan's plans may not stop at the destruction of the Resistance. Before long, Jake and his team find themselves at the mercy of the most despised class in the Thousand Worlds: slavers.
AND SACRIFICES MUST BE MADE.
With the Captain stranded on the dusty planet below, Commander Megan Po leads the Phoenix in one more deadly showdown with Admiral Trajan, and comes face to face with her most dreaded nightmare: sending people under her charge to die.
Captain Jacob Mercer and the USS Phoenix barely escape with their lives from the Imperial ambush at Liberty Station, and soon find themselves orbiting the frontier world Destiny, a forbidding planet infested with pirate gangs. With critically unstable engines, Jake is forced to seek raw material for badly needed repairs before the ruthless Admiral Trajan tracks them down.
A MYSTERY DEEPENS...
As they negotiate with the pirates, the crew learns some uncomfortable truths about their hero, Admiral Pritchard, and that Trajan's plans may not stop at the destruction of the Resistance. Before long, Jake and his team find themselves at the mercy of the most despised class in the Thousand Worlds: slavers.
AND SACRIFICES MUST BE MADE.
With the Captain stranded on the dusty planet below, Commander Megan Po leads the Phoenix in one more deadly showdown with Admiral Trajan, and comes face to face with her most dreaded nightmare: sending people under her charge to die.
472 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2014
282 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Nick Webb
76 books349 followersNick became a scientist so that he could build starships. Unfortunately, his ship is taking longer to build than he'd hoped, so fictional starships will have to do for now. When he's not adding to his starship collection, you can find him tweeting and facebooking about Nasa, science, space, SciFi, and quoting Star Trek II.
He lives in Alabama with his wife, 2 kids, and 3 motorcycles.
Note: This author also writes books under the name of Endi Webb
He lives in Alabama with his wife, 2 kids, and 3 motorcycles.
Note: This author also writes books under the name of Endi Webb
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 26, 2016
Audio edition, narrator Greg Tremblay.
11 hours 17 minutes
Overall: 4
Performance: 5
Story: 4
The story picks up right where #1 The Terran Gambit left off. I really enjoyed The Terran Gambit, and I did this one as well. It's twice as long as the first book, though, but it's packed with story and action.
This time the story takes place planet side as well, since things continues to go wrong for Captain Mercer and his crew. Characters are more fleshed out and there are several secondary plot lines in addition to the main one.
Tremblay continues to do a great job with the narration. Distinct voices for each characters and he is able to bring the feeling of the characters out through his narration. Very well done.
Recommended if you liked the first one.
11 hours 17 minutes
Overall: 4
Performance: 5
Story: 4
The story picks up right where #1 The Terran Gambit left off. I really enjoyed The Terran Gambit, and I did this one as well. It's twice as long as the first book, though, but it's packed with story and action.
This time the story takes place planet side as well, since things continues to go wrong for Captain Mercer and his crew. Characters are more fleshed out and there are several secondary plot lines in addition to the main one.
Tremblay continues to do a great job with the narration. Distinct voices for each characters and he is able to bring the feeling of the characters out through his narration. Very well done.
Recommended if you liked the first one.
October 20, 2016
Chains of Destiny picks up where Gambit ended, with the crew of the Phoenix in trouble after getting ambushed and basically losing everything. They are now on the run, with nowhere to go, no friends or allies really, and the obsessive and crazed Admiral Trajan pursuing them at every turn.
I don’t want to give any spoilers away, as this is another example of Nick Webb’s exceptional writing, but just to give you an understanding, the crew basically flee to a rim world called ‘Destiny’ and this is where most of the story takes place.
This is a gruelling and desperate battle for our Rebellion Heroes, and Webb delivers another sensational Character based story going into the details of how the crew not only fight for their survival against impossible odds, but the mental and physical toll it takes on them. There are some brilliant battle scenes on the surface and in space that are very cleverly described to keep the reader interested, but not getting lost in too much detail.
Along with all of this, Webb continues to underlay his story with some amazing technological and scientific information, putting the ‘Science’ into the ‘Science Fiction’ of this story. The great thing though about Webb’s writing is that he does it in such a way so as to not make it difficult to understand. His characters have to break it down for other characters so they can understand it, allowing for the reader to not only comprehend what is going on, but to also appreciate the science and technology that is being used and how clever it is.
As will all of Webb’s books, the Character writing is exceptional. He manages to encapsulate the feelings of the various crew as they go through complex emotions in some impossible situations, to the degree, you feel like you are there with them. He creates some truly powerful characters, whether they are heroic, quirky engineers, obsessive Admirals, or psychotic Dr’s.
This is a really action packed thriller, and when you get to the end, and look back over what has occurred in the story, you suddenly realise how much has taken place. It is incredibly hard to put down.
For any fan of Nick Webb, or any Sci-Fi fan, this is a must read.
I don’t want to give any spoilers away, as this is another example of Nick Webb’s exceptional writing, but just to give you an understanding, the crew basically flee to a rim world called ‘Destiny’ and this is where most of the story takes place.
This is a gruelling and desperate battle for our Rebellion Heroes, and Webb delivers another sensational Character based story going into the details of how the crew not only fight for their survival against impossible odds, but the mental and physical toll it takes on them. There are some brilliant battle scenes on the surface and in space that are very cleverly described to keep the reader interested, but not getting lost in too much detail.
Along with all of this, Webb continues to underlay his story with some amazing technological and scientific information, putting the ‘Science’ into the ‘Science Fiction’ of this story. The great thing though about Webb’s writing is that he does it in such a way so as to not make it difficult to understand. His characters have to break it down for other characters so they can understand it, allowing for the reader to not only comprehend what is going on, but to also appreciate the science and technology that is being used and how clever it is.
As will all of Webb’s books, the Character writing is exceptional. He manages to encapsulate the feelings of the various crew as they go through complex emotions in some impossible situations, to the degree, you feel like you are there with them. He creates some truly powerful characters, whether they are heroic, quirky engineers, obsessive Admirals, or psychotic Dr’s.
This is a really action packed thriller, and when you get to the end, and look back over what has occurred in the story, you suddenly realise how much has taken place. It is incredibly hard to put down.
For any fan of Nick Webb, or any Sci-Fi fan, this is a must read.
December 26, 2018
Rising Star in Sci-Fi
Nick Webb gets better and better the more I read. He needs a more qualified proofreader (I would LOVE the job!), but his characters are relatable, his military references and jargon spot-on, and his writing flows beautifully. His books are like what I imagine David Weber ' s was in his early career.
Keep 'em coming, Nick! You have a great gift to share.
Lydia Erickson
ieparalegal@gmail.com
Nick Webb gets better and better the more I read. He needs a more qualified proofreader (I would LOVE the job!), but his characters are relatable, his military references and jargon spot-on, and his writing flows beautifully. His books are like what I imagine David Weber ' s was in his early career.
Keep 'em coming, Nick! You have a great gift to share.
Lydia Erickson
ieparalegal@gmail.com
June 1, 2019
excellent series episode 2 never dissapoits
Another great read from Nick Webb. A. with a variety of interesting characters, villians and hero's alike.. plot with many twists and turns.Fast paced and exciting end. Can't wait for the next great read.
Another great read from Nick Webb. A. with a variety of interesting characters, villians and hero's alike.. plot with many twists and turns.Fast paced and exciting end. Can't wait for the next great read.
January 22, 2020
Not a fan
Human trafficking/slavery isn't what I want in a good scifi book. The depth the author brought his readers to was beyond my measure of comfort. The first book was promising this one dropped the ball and I think my following any more of the series is now done.
Human trafficking/slavery isn't what I want in a good scifi book. The depth the author brought his readers to was beyond my measure of comfort. The first book was promising this one dropped the ball and I think my following any more of the series is now done.
June 10, 2017
Forced to review
I don't like being forced to review a book I've read. I read it. It passed the time. That's all
I don't like being forced to review a book I've read. I read it. It passed the time. That's all
November 7, 2017
Just got better...
The story just keeps getting better. Of course, now that the characters and their backstory is being filled in more and more, it makes the storyline better.
The story just keeps getting better. Of course, now that the characters and their backstory is being filled in more and more, it makes the storyline better.
March 2, 2021
Too dumb to be future space men
Had to put it down - which I never do - these kids are too dumb, I’m actually rooting for the bad guys!
Had to put it down - which I never do - these kids are too dumb, I’m actually rooting for the bad guys!
May 7, 2023
Chains of Destiny (Episode #2)
Nick Webb just is one of the great science fiction writers. His stories are always fast paced and gripping. This one is hard to put down, enjoy!
Nick Webb just is one of the great science fiction writers. His stories are always fast paced and gripping. This one is hard to put down, enjoy!
August 24, 2014
This is a new author I’ve never read before, but I’m certainly going to be reading more of this series. This book starts out like a lot of stories about today’s or yesterday’s Marines. While you would like to do what you’re supposed to do, things don’t always work out that way. For Ryck and his twin sister, Lysa, (why couldn’t the author just have used “I” in place of the “y”?) the farm is just not going to make it. It’s already killed their Mom and Dad and the way it’s going now, it could kill both of them if they don’t decide to do something else.
His sister has always had good looks and has managed to say fed by having her various boy friends take care of her. The farm isn’t producing enough for one person much less her and her brother. So they decide to sell the whole place and see if that will pay off their corporate debts. Lysa has a special friend that supposed to be a good guy and he wants to marry her. Her brother doesn’t think that’s such a good idea but the guy is a nice guy compared to some of the others. So he gives his blessing and that takes care of his sister. Now what is he going to do?
Working for one of the giant planetary corporations doesn’t really appeal to Ryck. He would rather do some thing more challenging. So he decides to join the Legion! Wait, I thought this was about the Federation Marine Corps. Well, it is, except that Ryck had really intended to join the Legion but while waiting for his interview, he met a friend who had just joined the Marine Corps. They got to talking and before you know it, he’s signing up to be a Marine. That should be challenging enough for any one!
From here the book takes off. We follow Ryck from his initial enlistment to basic training. Since I wasn’t foolish enough to join the Marines, I’ll have to assume that what the author writes about is reasonably close to what Marine basic training is like although these Marines also fight in space! That certainly throws a little twist into things. Ryck manages to survive basic and is sent to join his first unit.
Now remembering that this is some time in the future, fighting takes on a little different shape. You still close with the enemy and kill them but in the process, if you get seriously wounded, you go to the hospital and get repaired. Now seriously wounded means having a leg or two or even and arm or two blown off. You new combat suit has the capability to shut you down until you can be transported to a hospital and then you get to grow new arms and legs or whatever your missing. That sounds sick. What do you do after you’ve gone through all this trauma? You get right back into a new combat suit and re-join your unit for the next battle! No permanent ticket home, no million dollar wound, just a lot of rehabilitation with the knowledge that you might one day soon, get to do it all over again!
And Ryck gets wounded several times during the story. He remarkably recovers and continues to do his job like a Marine should. The story is pretty well written. I didn’t notice a lot of editorial mistakes which drive me crazy and the continuity seemed to be there. The story is exciting but there are periods where you can put the book down and rest while you and Ryck gear up for the next mission.
I do hope the author continues with this story. It’s one of those wide open stories that can go anywhere. Very good reading.
His sister has always had good looks and has managed to say fed by having her various boy friends take care of her. The farm isn’t producing enough for one person much less her and her brother. So they decide to sell the whole place and see if that will pay off their corporate debts. Lysa has a special friend that supposed to be a good guy and he wants to marry her. Her brother doesn’t think that’s such a good idea but the guy is a nice guy compared to some of the others. So he gives his blessing and that takes care of his sister. Now what is he going to do?
Working for one of the giant planetary corporations doesn’t really appeal to Ryck. He would rather do some thing more challenging. So he decides to join the Legion! Wait, I thought this was about the Federation Marine Corps. Well, it is, except that Ryck had really intended to join the Legion but while waiting for his interview, he met a friend who had just joined the Marine Corps. They got to talking and before you know it, he’s signing up to be a Marine. That should be challenging enough for any one!
From here the book takes off. We follow Ryck from his initial enlistment to basic training. Since I wasn’t foolish enough to join the Marines, I’ll have to assume that what the author writes about is reasonably close to what Marine basic training is like although these Marines also fight in space! That certainly throws a little twist into things. Ryck manages to survive basic and is sent to join his first unit.
Now remembering that this is some time in the future, fighting takes on a little different shape. You still close with the enemy and kill them but in the process, if you get seriously wounded, you go to the hospital and get repaired. Now seriously wounded means having a leg or two or even and arm or two blown off. You new combat suit has the capability to shut you down until you can be transported to a hospital and then you get to grow new arms and legs or whatever your missing. That sounds sick. What do you do after you’ve gone through all this trauma? You get right back into a new combat suit and re-join your unit for the next battle! No permanent ticket home, no million dollar wound, just a lot of rehabilitation with the knowledge that you might one day soon, get to do it all over again!
And Ryck gets wounded several times during the story. He remarkably recovers and continues to do his job like a Marine should. The story is pretty well written. I didn’t notice a lot of editorial mistakes which drive me crazy and the continuity seemed to be there. The story is exciting but there are periods where you can put the book down and rest while you and Ryck gear up for the next mission.
I do hope the author continues with this story. It’s one of those wide open stories that can go anywhere. Very good reading.
May 29, 2014
Jake Murcer and company return in Endi Webb’s continuation of the Pax Humana Saga: Chains of Destiny. I enjoyed The Terran Gambit, the first book in the series, so I read Chains of Destiny as soon as it was released. I had some issues with The Terran Gambit, though they were minor, and mostly concerned with how the action started. In Chains of Destiny we are yet again dropped into the middle of the action, but this time it makes a lot more sense.
The book starts with the Phoenix, the only ship to survive the ill-planned gambit by the Earth’s Resistance, in combat with another starship. Soon after, the ship is attacked and driven off by a group of pirates. The pirates offer a place to refuel and resupply, and despite reservations Jake accepts the offer. Thus begins another adventure.
I don’t want to give away any more of the story; it’s quite good and unpredictable. It also highlights the fact that there are many ways in which Jake is not ready for command, which I think is a nice touch. At the end of the Terran Gambit he falls into command of the Phoenix with no experience, and Webb does a good job of showing what happens when you give the keys of a starship to a fighter jock.
The other refreshing aspect of Chains of Destiny is that it breaks up the story a bit. No longer is the plot centered around the action on the ship, there are other storylines. Webb also hints at a great deal of intrigue that will probably play out in the next few books. With The Terran Gambit setting the major elements in motion Chains of Destiny is free to delve into the more subtle plot points. There are several things that are hinted at that I feel will be important later on, even if they don't play a large role in Chains of Destiny.
In terms of character development Chains of Destiny only improves upon The Terran Gambit, creating a convincing story and adding some depth to the characters in a natural way. While after The Terran Gambit I had a hard time separating some of the characters from each other, they are now distinct personalities. I think the reason is an interesting thing to call out. In The Terran Gambit, Webb had an interlude between the two sections of action, showing the characters on leave. Here they talked a lot about their lives, and their past, and had some occasional deviations into autobiography. This, to me, felt like I was being spoon fed a character outline. In Chains of Destiny, the basics of the characters have been established, so all of their development is through their action. This lets the characters develop naturally, as we see how they interact with the world. I think that if Webb had simply cut out the interlude between battles in The Terran Gambit, and let us get to know the characters as they responded to events, it would have lead to a better experience.
Overall, Chains of Destiny has everything that made me enjoy The Terran Gambit, while getting rid of some of it's issues. If you enjoyed The Terran Gambit at all, and if you haven't read it I would say you should consider it, you'll love Chains of Destiny. I certainly did. Considering the improvement from book one to two I’m looking forward to the next installment in the series, set to land in August 2014.
The book starts with the Phoenix, the only ship to survive the ill-planned gambit by the Earth’s Resistance, in combat with another starship. Soon after, the ship is attacked and driven off by a group of pirates. The pirates offer a place to refuel and resupply, and despite reservations Jake accepts the offer. Thus begins another adventure.
I don’t want to give away any more of the story; it’s quite good and unpredictable. It also highlights the fact that there are many ways in which Jake is not ready for command, which I think is a nice touch. At the end of the Terran Gambit he falls into command of the Phoenix with no experience, and Webb does a good job of showing what happens when you give the keys of a starship to a fighter jock.
The other refreshing aspect of Chains of Destiny is that it breaks up the story a bit. No longer is the plot centered around the action on the ship, there are other storylines. Webb also hints at a great deal of intrigue that will probably play out in the next few books. With The Terran Gambit setting the major elements in motion Chains of Destiny is free to delve into the more subtle plot points. There are several things that are hinted at that I feel will be important later on, even if they don't play a large role in Chains of Destiny.
In terms of character development Chains of Destiny only improves upon The Terran Gambit, creating a convincing story and adding some depth to the characters in a natural way. While after The Terran Gambit I had a hard time separating some of the characters from each other, they are now distinct personalities. I think the reason is an interesting thing to call out. In The Terran Gambit, Webb had an interlude between the two sections of action, showing the characters on leave. Here they talked a lot about their lives, and their past, and had some occasional deviations into autobiography. This, to me, felt like I was being spoon fed a character outline. In Chains of Destiny, the basics of the characters have been established, so all of their development is through their action. This lets the characters develop naturally, as we see how they interact with the world. I think that if Webb had simply cut out the interlude between battles in The Terran Gambit, and let us get to know the characters as they responded to events, it would have lead to a better experience.
Overall, Chains of Destiny has everything that made me enjoy The Terran Gambit, while getting rid of some of it's issues. If you enjoyed The Terran Gambit at all, and if you haven't read it I would say you should consider it, you'll love Chains of Destiny. I certainly did. Considering the improvement from book one to two I’m looking forward to the next installment in the series, set to land in August 2014.
September 22, 2014
Quite okay light reading in the science fiction / action genre. The books follows more or less directly from The Terran Gambit, the first book in The Pax Humana series. The rather badly mauled Phoenix is on the run from Admiral Trajan and his cronies and of course in need for supplies. Not a very original story of course but a working one.
The book is enjoyable to read. The writing is quite okay and I would say that it has improved somewhat from the first book. With the exception of the temporary bad guys introduced in this book the characters are the same which means that they are quite good, both the heroes and the nasty main villain, Admiral Trajan. The story itself is a bit of a shift from the story in the first book in that instead of involving some major fleet action we have ventured into the realm of lone ship running away and most of the story develops on the ground of the planet, Destiny. Personally I am more in favor of the major fleet action.
Also, the way this story went I am now wondering whether this is going to be a endless string of adventures with a red thread going through them for sure but where we still never really see the end. I really hope that intention for the series is that Jake and the Phoenix recovers, builds some muscle (as in a proper fleet) and proceeds to dish out some ass-whooping to the empire within a reasonably limited series of books.
The author is throwing around the “grand plan” of the Emperor quite a lot. I hope that, when it is finally revealed, it measures up to the expectations that the author is building.
Bottom line is that this is quite enjoyable reading although I am a bit worried that it might turn into a never ending Fugitive / Battlestar Galactica type of story.
The book is enjoyable to read. The writing is quite okay and I would say that it has improved somewhat from the first book. With the exception of the temporary bad guys introduced in this book the characters are the same which means that they are quite good, both the heroes and the nasty main villain, Admiral Trajan. The story itself is a bit of a shift from the story in the first book in that instead of involving some major fleet action we have ventured into the realm of lone ship running away and most of the story develops on the ground of the planet, Destiny. Personally I am more in favor of the major fleet action.
Also, the way this story went I am now wondering whether this is going to be a endless string of adventures with a red thread going through them for sure but where we still never really see the end. I really hope that intention for the series is that Jake and the Phoenix recovers, builds some muscle (as in a proper fleet) and proceeds to dish out some ass-whooping to the empire within a reasonably limited series of books.
The author is throwing around the “grand plan” of the Emperor quite a lot. I hope that, when it is finally revealed, it measures up to the expectations that the author is building.
Bottom line is that this is quite enjoyable reading although I am a bit worried that it might turn into a never ending Fugitive / Battlestar Galactica type of story.
September 1, 2014
I really felt like the author stepped it up a notch with this one in terms of the writing. Again, fast-paced, a gripping, twisty plot, and characters I still want to know more about. Can't wait for the third one!
May 16, 2016
From the frying pan to the fire, the non-stop adventure continues.
The rebel ship and crew face danger at every turn and only have their leaders to keep coming up with miracles to let them live to fight another day. Hang on as the ride gets bumpy.
The rebel ship and crew face danger at every turn and only have their leaders to keep coming up with miracles to let them live to fight another day. Hang on as the ride gets bumpy.
August 23, 2016
Every one of the "rebels" is an idiot! Jake and Willow especially. I am so annoyed with these people I can barely skim through. This is a struggle. It's so depressing and despite the "action" I'm incredibly BORED!
November 3, 2014
Another e r great episode
The sage continues with even more action, twists and turns to the story. Now to go on to episode #3
The sage continues with even more action, twists and turns to the story. Now to go on to episode #3
May 17, 2015
He'll beat you over the head with upcoming "surprises"... but it's still a page turner.
June 20, 2016
Wow! Great book.
Thank you Nick Webb for alot of action and drama in a great book series so far. Please keep writing.
Thank you Nick Webb for alot of action and drama in a great book series so far. Please keep writing.
October 15, 2016
great continuation fast moving. some convenient sub plots that take some accepting but that helps keep you engaged in the reading. onto the next one
November 2, 2016
Good read
Fairly good read. Not as good as other works by the same author but it was good enough. Hopefully there will be more to come.
Fairly good read. Not as good as other works by the same author but it was good enough. Hopefully there will be more to come.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews