Similar: But Not the Same

Domino Sagas #1

by A. Nation

Science fiction story set 300 years in the future when another intelligent species contacts us. In the aliens's quest to reclaim their species after their world had been destroyed; they hope to seek others like themselves. Humans and aliens reveal that they are similar in appearance, but not the same physically and culturally. Mars is a dangerous place to be. Murder and accidents can happen.

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 22, 2013

About the author

I grew up in northern Idaho and met my husband at the University of Idaho. We traveled across the USA and back due to his jobs.
I became a screen printer and embroiderer for twenty years before retiring. So I'm well aware of design techniques.
After wintering in Arizona, I joined a wonderful writing class in 2011 which helped me write and publish by 2013. Today I have written over 25 novels and a collection of short stories, and novellas. I chose Science Fiction and Urban Fantasy as my genre because I enjoy reading and watching those types of stories. After our trips to Europe, I added Travel mysteries to my writing.
Some ask me about writer's block. I don't believe in that, it's a myth that excuses procrastination. Having said that, I agree there are times when you aren't sure of what scene comes next. I take a walk, watch a show, read a book, or just clean house. It will come to you.
I was unsure about tackling the Nanowrimo challenge the first time I did it so I planned out my story. In eleven days I wrote 50,000 words of a urban fantasy story that I added 9000 more words by the end of November 2015. Since then, I have won many more nano book awards, The Pottery Sale, The Cruise, The Takers, A Witch Comes a Haunting, Eye of the Throne, Mystery Along the Danube, and Mystery Along the Italian Coast. The fifth book in my UF, The Magic Within

Reviews

[Elle Sie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of a woman called Alice bringing her cat into space is the reason I chose this book, but instead I found the first few chapters focusing on an alien species called the 'ahman' less of interest. I gathered that they were humanoid in appearance but found them hard to visualise as the description of how they appeared was in a short section of dialogue in chapter two, describing some as being two to three metres tall and others as having oval bodies and having "funny large feet". Much of the back story of the ahman species was also squeezed into the dialogue between two characters in chapter two. The story picked up once Alice was introduced in chapter five. Sent to Mars and tasked with meeting a small delegation of ahman, I found Alice's excitement at meeting the humanoid beings much more interesting than the alien backstory. I also found myself warming to the benign ahman, and sympathising with them, after they were subjected to rigid rules, banning them from going to earth or the moon, etc. Halfway through there was finally a description of the ahman as having either brown hair or blonde, and some with brown eyes. What I enjoyed about this story is that I felt it was more of a social commentary that can be related to current times: in some ways, the ahman seemed like migrants fleeing their own countries only to be subjected to rigorous checks before being put to work in a new place and always viewed as an outsider. The unconscious bias from some of the humans towards the ahman was believable as to how people would treat those perceived as different and unfamiliar; when an ahman was murdered and human DNA found on the body, an investigation was started. I thought the investigative team's responses were sadly realistic too: that although they weren't comfortable having aliens within the human team on Mars, they had to show transparency, therefore making it into a checklist exercise rather than showing actual duty of care towards the ahman. There were also comparisons with the situation of native Americans within the narrative, and of religious beliefs by the ahman or lack thereof. I would have preferred this information to have been shown through Poppi's memories or ancestral memories, rather than through several pages of exposition within dialogue, telling the backstory in a way that I found less imaginative. Overall, I thought this novel was an original concept that could really have been great with a bit more polish on the prose, though remained enjoyable throughout. It had a satisfying ending that ended on a positive note for both humans and ahmans.

[Tracy Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and thought-provoking sci-fi read

I really enjoyed this book because it had two cultures attempting to respect each other, starting with nothing in common. Everyone wants to get along, and the others are so similar, but yet different. Fear courses through some, but actions show there is nothing to fear, but could you accept the actions of a different walking, talking, much bigger species from space? I want to think I could. But even when basic things are different, I think it might be tough. I love how the human characters go through this process. The alien characters have their own discovery to go through. Thought-provoking book. Quick and fun read!

[Jean Dunstan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A glimpse into the future!
If you are a sci-fi fan, I'm sure you will enjoy this fascinating glimpse into the two worlds of the Earthlings and the Ahmans. In the 25th century, the Earthlings, who have small colonies on Mars, are contacted by the Ahmans from outer space. Facing the unknown, both species face a world of challenges when they try to communicate with each other. What happens between the two species is sure to keep the reader engaged until the end. I plan to read more of this author'work.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf at 10%
Very poor writing.

[Todd Haffner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Its a documentary

The story reads like a documentary or it was written by a fifth trader without any editing. I couldn't read past twenty pages its that bad.

[A. Nation · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is no longer listed under ASIN: B00HL21084 The new one is: B00RNM62YQ