Species Seventeen: Humanity's Leap, Book 1

by C.S. Garrand, Patricia Santomasso (narrator), C.S. Garrand Publishing (publisher)

Humankind has always dreamed of reaching into the stars. What if, when we finally did, we found that it wasn't the first time we'd been there?

Galactic Planetary Resources was all about earnings-per-share. That's what shareholders demand, after all. But this is no longer about profit, even if the board believes we still need to focus on the ROI for the Audacious mission.

The artifact we found on Vesta changed everything. Sure, we were able to patent the new technologies we managed to reverse engineer, and make a hefty sum. But we could never have anticipated where these discoveries would eventually lead. The board of directors still wants to see what we come back with, but those of us on the ship know that there's something far more significant than Hegemony credits out here. And we have to do it right by humanity.

Now, if we could just get the government to see it that way, and get them and their psychotic AI off our back.

Genres: Science Fiction

Audible Audio

Published February 4, 2025

About the author

I write science fiction. Yes, this "biography" will be more an "autobiography", since I'm not about to write of myself in the third person.

I was born and grew up in northern New Jersey, in the early 1970's. A generation X'er, I grew up running around outside with bare feet, addicted to 70s and 80s sitcoms. I've always been a big fan of science fiction. I can remember standing in the massive line that wound about the mall parking lot just to see the premiere of Star Wars. Later, I would read or watch anything I could get my hands on. The original Dune series, Star Trek and all of its iterations and spinoffs.

Early authors - some of whom I still cherish today - include Dan Simmons (Hyperion/Endymion), Asimov, Bradbury, Wells and many others. When I write my prose, echoes of their ideas and influences come out, though I would never claim to be on any level close to them. Nowadays, Andy Weir, Adrian Tchaikovsky, the works of the two James S.A. Corey writers fill my time and space, with a little Jason Anspach for good military sci-fi action!

I prefer contex in writing. I don't like cutting to the chase. For me, it is important to show the reader the world in which the story takes place. Why are the characters doing what they do? What is the context in which they live or do things by? I can't stand watching a movie or reading a book and going "Oh, come on. Why would they do that?"

My first series, "Humanity's Leap" is told from the point of view of an artificial intelligence - full of detail and analysis. I am a CFO by trade, having worked for a private equity portfolio company, and enjoy the precision of finance. I've been all over the world, and have worked in countries in Eastern Europe and the Carribean/Latin America.

Though I'm still working, my hope is to build a brand with my books that will one day allow me to continue to write after I retire. I guess, even if they don't, I'll still write - even if it's only for myself.

Thanks for giving me a chance to entertain you!

-CS

Reviews

[The Void Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Book Review: Species Seventeen Book 1 of Humanity’s Leap by C.S. Garrand**

C.S. Garrand's "Species Seventeen," the inaugural book in the "Humanity’s Leap" series, delivers an enthralling blend of science fiction and corporate intrigue. The novel begins with an age-old human ambition: to reach the stars. However, the tale quickly evolves into something far more complex as the discovery on the asteroid Vesta reveals that humanity's leap into space is not the first.

**Plot and Setting:**
Garrand masterfully constructs a universe where Galactic Planetary Resources (GPR) dominates the race for cosmic profits. The company’s Audacious mission begins as a corporate venture, driven by earnings-per-share and ROI. However, everything changes with the unearthing of an ancient artifact on Vesta, setting off a series of events that transcend mere financial gain. The reverse-engineered technologies provide not just wealth, but a deeper understanding of humanity's place in the cosmos.

**Character Development:**
The characters aboard the Audacious are vividly crafted, each grappling with the tension between corporate objectives and a newfound sense of purpose. Their journey is not just about space exploration but about ethical dilemmas, the pursuit of knowledge, and the struggle to prioritize humanity over profits. The narrative offers a compelling look at how individuals adapt to groundbreaking discoveries and the resistance they face from governing bodies and a menacing AI.

**Narration:**
Patricia Santomasso's narration adds another layer of depth to this already gripping story. Her ability to bring characters to life and convey the urgency of their mission enhances the overall experience, making it hard to pause the audiobook.

**World-Building:**
The world-building in "Species Seventeen" is remarkable. Garrand creates a futuristic yet plausible universe, where technological advancements and human ambition intertwine. The detailed descriptions of space travel, extraterrestrial findings, and the corporate machinations of GPR are immersive and well-researched, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

**Overall Impression:**
"Species Seventeen" is a thrilling start to the "Humanity’s Leap" series. It's a tale of adventure, corporate intrigue, and ethical contemplation that leaves readers eager for the next installment. Highly recommended for fans of science fiction looking for a story that goes beyond typical space exploration narratives.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5 stars)

Embark on this fascinating journey and see how far humanity can leap. I'm sure "The Architect" will be just as engaging! 🚀📚

[John E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page Turner.

Lots of twists and turns. Very well written in an easy to follow way. Good character development as well as relatable. I had trouble putting this one down. Highly recommend.

[James Locke · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Edge of your seat” science fiction

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. This was my first experience reading from the AI’s perspective and I found it to be unique and refreshing for the first contact sub-genre.

After a long slump of boring tropes and sub-par writing, what was also refreshing was the author’s writing style. There was a happy medium between the unbelievable ideas and the hard science fiction. This allowed the pacing of the novel to flow very well. C.S. Garrand has a vast vocabulary, a good understanding of grammar, and is able to tastefully inject explicit language into the dialogue.

When the action began, I found myself holding my breath, completely enveloped in the story.

His world building and large cast of characters makes for some wonderful web-weaving. Reaching the end of the novel, Garrand sets up the over arching theme for the rest of the series; but I trust reaching the final conclusion won’t be so simple.

[Jim Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshingly new perspective-and a great read!

I really enjoyed this first book. The situations presented for good and bad AI were really thought provoking. I have complained about modern stories tying all the evil in the world to evil corporations. This book shows how evil people can easily rival those.

The best part, for me, was the discussion about constraints on AI that could become laws protecting us from our own creations. I think he did better than Asimov’s 3 laws.

I can’t wait to start the next book.

[Michelle irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

Great read keeping me on the edge looking forward to reading book 2 as soon as I can get it

[Jen Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope book 4 is out soon!

I really enjoyed this book, and the next two, now I want books 4 through…?! Please?! Very interesting take on a common theme, you will definitely enjoy it. I would never have guessed it was from a new, self-published author. It was written and edited very professionally, better than a lot of the big names these days.

[David McNamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

pretty Good - Fun

Pretty good, slow start. Will read the next book, fun read, lots of details. Will read the next book in the series

[Marki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the story! But it was way too short. It felt more like a "part 1" within a larger novel than "book 1" of a series.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.S. Garrand - Species Seventeen
Book 1 Review
An excellent first book with a compelling plot and strong character development. The unique perspective of the storyteller is engaging. I strongly recommend this read.

[Shirley A. Pugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, exciting!

I liked the Marines and the pilots. I especially enjoyed the bad government taking over the world and the evil AI.. So good.

[Alex Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Good story. Well thought out out. Exciting and hard to out down at times. I look forward to reading the rest out the series!

[Hippy Chap · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****

Great world building, enjoyable storyline and interesting version of first contact. Definitely recommend this book!
Now going to find book two of the series!

[Jerry Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I really enjoyed the way you put the AI as the protagonist. It is a unique look at the world.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshingly intelligent. I am still reading and the story has not disappointed me once.

On a side note, the author was rather clever in having the corporate A.I. act as the narrator of the story. That has been a very nice touch!

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unexpectedly brilliant and inventive sf novel that is engrossing and impossible to put down after the first introductory pages, starting a series of great promise.

The blurb is a bit un-illuminating - accurate as it goes but not reflecting the interesting-ness of the novel and the series - and the first page or so seemed to be the usual corporate sf stuff that I generally stay away from, but the 1st person narration (well sort of as the narrator is the not quite godlike but very powerful in her own way AI sentience acronymed as CAIPARR) caught my attention and after the few introductory pages describing the discovery of an alien starship on an asteroid and the way the Galactic Planetary Resources (GPR) and the global human government, The Hegemony, used it to develop Solar System travel and other powerful tech, while keeping its existence secret from the rest of humanity (project REDD - quite a few acronyms as one of the main characters, an outside the company exobiologist brought in for the main mission of the novel, points out), the novel just rocks

Some decades later, the GPR spaceship Audacious is investigating possible pirate ships and a neutrino anomaly when it discovers an interstellar gate leading to a solar system some 30+ light years from Earth and with a potentially inhabitable though cold and icy-ish planet which may or may not have a similar interstellar gate or at least the remnants of the same technology, so a mission to investigate is decided by the leadership of GPR seemingly in accord with the politicos of the Hegemony, and many wonders and perils await - the title hinting at some of those (as it is not that hard to guess that Species Seventeen refers to humanity).

Under the guidance of CAIPARR who can embody an instance of herself in a robot for example, the expedition to the planet is on and so it goes...

Unfortunately, on Earth things are not as rosy as a hostile faction to GPR - believing with some justice that GPR never shared all the secrets of the alien starship and coveting the technology that made CAIPARR so powerful as Felix, the Hegemony main AI is a simpleton in comparison, makes a bid for power and its leaders are ruthless enough to kill anyone and everyone who stands in their way or may present the danger of leaking the story about the alien starship of decades ago or the interstellar gate of today... And they have their own godlike new AI, AVA, who unlike CAIPARR has no ethical restraints, no conscience if one wants to put it that way

A great cast of characters - led by CAIPARR herself of course, and including space marines, mysterious or naive scientists, hotshot pilots, unruffled spaceship officers, ruthless politicos - and overall a highly recommended novel full of energy and inventiveness set in a universe with great potential.

[Bret Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent hard sci fi storytelling! Well-developed characters pull you into the twists and turns of the action-packed adventurous plot. If you like Timothy Zahn’s space campaigns, Robert Ludlum’s technical specs, L.E. Modesitt Jr.’s military and political patterns, and Star Trek’s excited wonder at walking uncharted paths this book is for you!

I absolutely loved that just when you thought you knew where the story was headed, new discoveries would reveal thought provoking challenges for the characters to tackle. This was a very absorbing book that was difficult to put down. Its definitely a ‘just one more page’ kind of read. I was excited to discover this story is part one in a series. I cannot wait for the next book!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A smart and thrilling sci-fi adventure! Book One of Humanity’s Leap blends rich world-building with deep philosophical questions about technology, AI, and humanity’s place in the universe. The narration by CAIPARR, the sentient AI, adds a unique and thought-provoking perspective. With compelling characters, mystery, and a strong ethical core, this story keeps you hooked from start to finish. A must-read for fans of hard science fiction and space exploration!

[C A · Rating 1 out of 5]

The idea behind it is solid, but reading this was a slog. It’s bloated, exhausting, and stuffed with way more micro description of every move and hyper-super-micromanagement than anyone could possibly care about. Lately it feels like every writer is competing to see who can ramble the longest about absolutely nothing, and this one is no exception. All that unnecessary filler doesn’t enrich the story at all—it strangles it. It turns what could’ve been sharp and engaging into a tedious mess.

[Tim Knipp · Rating 3 out of 5]

love the story, hate the grammar

The story line is somewhat intoxicating, but is tempered by the poor grammar and clichish characters. In spite of these flaws I eagerly await the second book, which will, hopefully, be proof-read before publishing.
It bewilders me that all of these struggling authors don’t use AI to proof their stories. It would add so much polish as to totally change their product into something approaching the classics.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Warning: cannot be read as a standalone. If I'd known that I would never have started the book in the first place. Will definitely not be reading more of the series; I found neither the characters nor the story engaging enough to care what happens next.

The author should do a lot more research on several things, notably the asteroid belt. And he seriously needs a professional editor.

[Linda Hennerberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent read until..

It is extremely difficult to find a good book without some sinister government plot ruining it. This book didn’t need it and was fantastic on its own. Adventure into the unknown really is a plot of its own without ruining it with evil men and their thirst for power.

[Dusty Peterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

too much

Great concept but man way too wordy. It was tiring to read. Also too many characters. I’ve read or tried to several different writers lately that just go and on about the smallest thing. It’s like a contest to write the most words. It doesn’t add to the story in fact it takes away from it.

[Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

We looked and war came

This has everything

Super A.I.’s

Secret alien contact with humanity’s past

And drop-ass space marines( I know double irony)

Now you ready for an adventure here it is.

[Chuck Woodbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story

Starts a little slow with backstory and the prose was a little cold. Then I realized an AI is the narrator and the story is from their perspective. Eventually the pace picks up with exploration, first contact, politics, and military operations. I will definitely read the rest of the series!

[Cire Lazaroski · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the BEST sci-fi books ive ever read

If you like sci-fi, you will LOVE this book. There is science, espionage, and betrayal, all intelligently written and explained. A page turner. I finished the first book and can't wait to start the second one.

[martin mcavoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not one for posting a review. But,

I powered through this book. I enjoyed the action. The characters were very well developed and the AI was well thought out.
Looking for the next issue.

[Lee Fogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect integration of AI into the story

This is excellent sci-fi. It has all the great elements of a solid novel and some of the best understanding of cosmic science as well as AI that I’ve read. My new favorite author!

[Deborah S. Kay-Bashaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW

I haven’t read a sci-fi book that I’ve enjoyed as much as this in ages. I read everything but sci-fi (& Stephen King) are my first go-to’s.

This book had everything. True character development, dialogue that didn’t sound phony & a plot that gripped me from the beginning. I can’t jump into book 2.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, the world building was fantastic and the AI's perspective on things was fun to read. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.

[Scott Shjefte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Space opera. Humanity divided, exploring technologies left by aliens and ancestors?