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Ostraya
Six hundred years ago, a nuclear war devastated the planet, particularly the northern hemisphere. The war started over gene modifications that gave some humans special powers. Areas of the southern hemisphere are now slowly recovering, and civilization has begun to rebound.
Ostraya, being the least damaged of the southern hemisphere areas, is also the most advanced along that road to recovery, but its population density is still far lower than it had been before the nuclear war. After centuries of poor treatment, those Ostrayans who inherited the gene modifications are finally starting to be accepted by mainstream society.
Then, Ostraya is invaded by the brutal, totalitarian forces from the Japanese part of the Triple Alliance that extends across thousands of worlds. The Japanese enforce their rule through the use of chips they place in people's heads. These are attached to metal tendrils that spread throughout the brain of the person, allowing the gene-modified mentalists of the Alliance to control them. This is the story of that invasion.
Ostraya, being the least damaged of the southern hemisphere areas, is also the most advanced along that road to recovery, but its population density is still far lower than it had been before the nuclear war. After centuries of poor treatment, those Ostrayans who inherited the gene modifications are finally starting to be accepted by mainstream society.
Then, Ostraya is invaded by the brutal, totalitarian forces from the Japanese part of the Triple Alliance that extends across thousands of worlds. The Japanese enforce their rule through the use of chips they place in people's heads. These are attached to metal tendrils that spread throughout the brain of the person, allowing the gene-modified mentalists of the Alliance to control them. This is the story of that invasion.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2025
61 people are currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
Peter Rhodan
35 books66 followersI grew up in Sydney Australia but have lived on the Gold Coast, Australia for over thirty years. I have been many things over my life, courier driver, retail sales assistant, casino croupier, small business owner, a bankrupt former small business owner, a graphic designer, poker tournament operator and most recently an Uber driver.
I have a marvellous wife and two great kids (both adults now) plus a border collie cross dog who thinks she's a human.
I have always liked science fiction books, especially gung-ho space opera, time travel and alternate history genres. The first fiction book I read that I liked was Eagle of the Ninth and fist Science Fiction book I read and liked was Foundation by Asimov.
My favourite authors, at the moment, are David Weber, Lois McMaster Bujold, Christopher Nuttall and Pam Uphoff. Weber writes the best space opera while Bujold is simply the best writer and Miles Vorkisgan an amazing character. Chris Nuttall rarely writes anything that is only so-so and his Schooled in Magic books are the best magic school series I have read so far. Pam Uphoff writes primarily a cross dimensional series called the Wine of the Gods with the Directorate stories offshoot. These are delightful, entertaining and often thought provoking books that I love.
Chris Nuttall and Pam Uphoff inspired me to "have a go mate" and so I have.
My first novel is On the Rocks, the first story of Arturo Sandus (Sanders) and his adventures as a Space Ship captain marooned on a primitive swords and sandals era planet. Sort of...
I have a marvellous wife and two great kids (both adults now) plus a border collie cross dog who thinks she's a human.
I have always liked science fiction books, especially gung-ho space opera, time travel and alternate history genres. The first fiction book I read that I liked was Eagle of the Ninth and fist Science Fiction book I read and liked was Foundation by Asimov.
My favourite authors, at the moment, are David Weber, Lois McMaster Bujold, Christopher Nuttall and Pam Uphoff. Weber writes the best space opera while Bujold is simply the best writer and Miles Vorkisgan an amazing character. Chris Nuttall rarely writes anything that is only so-so and his Schooled in Magic books are the best magic school series I have read so far. Pam Uphoff writes primarily a cross dimensional series called the Wine of the Gods with the Directorate stories offshoot. These are delightful, entertaining and often thought provoking books that I love.
Chris Nuttall and Pam Uphoff inspired me to "have a go mate" and so I have.
My first novel is On the Rocks, the first story of Arturo Sandus (Sanders) and his adventures as a Space Ship captain marooned on a primitive swords and sandals era planet. Sort of...
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 17, 2025
I've read some of Pam Uphoff's books and really liked them, which is why I read this one. I was mostly not disappointed. She has a better editor though. And that's why I gave this one 4 instead of 5 stars out of 5. Not for grammar, but for continuity. There are a dozen or so times when the MC does something and then, chapters later he is said to not know how to do that very same thing. So, he has to work it out. What? Wait a minute! You haven't yet figured out how to see long distances using your magic, but yet back in chapter 5, or whatever, you used that same magic to see across a river at the enemy. Which is it?
Also, I didn't really like how easy learning new magic was for the MC. Sure, it's sort of a thing in Uphoff's books that the MC is really strong. But, they have to train, or learn from someone. They can't just think about it for 2 minutes in the middle of a fight and all of a sudden win the day! They work at it, sometimes for years. This MC has about 2 years in high school, a month in basic training, and then it's off to the front where he saves the day. It's too quick.
Another pet peeve (in general, not just with this book) is when the MC is telling their superior officer, or king, or even just a colleague, how to do something, when it's plain the other person should know that already. And might even be better at it than the MC. Do you really think a captain is not going to be able to use binoculars and see what is going on on that bridge? Or not know what to do with those civilians? Don't try to teach your gramma how to cook eggs! I might have butchered that aphorism, but I hope you get the point. It only happened, maybe twice, but still. That's twice too much.
So, why did I still give it 4/5 stars? Because it moved along and was exciting, and I was always wanting to know what happened next. That, in the end, is how a book should be, isn't it? A good story. And it definitely was that. This was a stand alone story, but I will be watching for new material by this author. I just hope they get a continuity editor. And more training, even if it's just referencing that it happened.
Also, I didn't really like how easy learning new magic was for the MC. Sure, it's sort of a thing in Uphoff's books that the MC is really strong. But, they have to train, or learn from someone. They can't just think about it for 2 minutes in the middle of a fight and all of a sudden win the day! They work at it, sometimes for years. This MC has about 2 years in high school, a month in basic training, and then it's off to the front where he saves the day. It's too quick.
Another pet peeve (in general, not just with this book) is when the MC is telling their superior officer, or king, or even just a colleague, how to do something, when it's plain the other person should know that already. And might even be better at it than the MC. Do you really think a captain is not going to be able to use binoculars and see what is going on on that bridge? Or not know what to do with those civilians? Don't try to teach your gramma how to cook eggs! I might have butchered that aphorism, but I hope you get the point. It only happened, maybe twice, but still. That's twice too much.
So, why did I still give it 4/5 stars? Because it moved along and was exciting, and I was always wanting to know what happened next. That, in the end, is how a book should be, isn't it? A good story. And it definitely was that. This was a stand alone story, but I will be watching for new material by this author. I just hope they get a continuity editor. And more training, even if it's just referencing that it happened.
May 4, 2025
hmm
So, it doesn’t have the special Pam-sauce that makes her stuff so awesome. But it *does* come at the multiverse from a unique perspective.
First, no [WINE]. Which is very odd in a Wine of the Gods story. And in some ways very welcome.
Second, this is almost exclusively a military book. Okay, not *that* much, but a significant portion of the book is fighting and maneuvering military units.
I liked it. Not my favorite entry in the multiverse, but an interesting change of pace.
So, it doesn’t have the special Pam-sauce that makes her stuff so awesome. But it *does* come at the multiverse from a unique perspective.
First, no [WINE]. Which is very odd in a Wine of the Gods story. And in some ways very welcome.
Second, this is almost exclusively a military book. Okay, not *that* much, but a significant portion of the book is fighting and maneuvering military units.
I liked it. Not my favorite entry in the multiverse, but an interesting change of pace.
May 18, 2025
Absolutely brilliant!!
Great job, Peter. I was thrilled to see you writing in Pam Uphoffs "Fall of the Alliance" series. In fact, Igor was my favorite one. You have so much action. Never a dull moment. Please, please write more in this universe.
Great job, Peter. I was thrilled to see you writing in Pam Uphoffs "Fall of the Alliance" series. In fact, Igor was my favorite one. You have so much action. Never a dull moment. Please, please write more in this universe.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews