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Rebel Stars #0
Rebel
In the early 21st century, an alien attack drove humanity to the brink of extinction. A thousand years after their defeat, the aliens haven't been seen since.
Rada Pence has spent the last three years driving carts for an independent mining crew. Most likely, that's how she'll die, too. Then, deep beneath the ice of a Neptune moon, her crew discovers a long-lost ship. If it's from Earth's first space age, it would be worth millions.
When they dig down to it, they discover it's not human—it's alien. And its secrets are worth killing for.
Rada Pence has spent the last three years driving carts for an independent mining crew. Most likely, that's how she'll die, too. Then, deep beneath the ice of a Neptune moon, her crew discovers a long-lost ship. If it's from Earth's first space age, it would be worth millions.
When they dig down to it, they discover it's not human—it's alien. And its secrets are worth killing for.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2014
75 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Edward W. Robertson
68 books1,242 followersEd is the author of the post-apocalyptic Breakers series and the epic fantasy series The Cycle of Arawn. A former New Yorker and Idaho-guy, he currently lives in the LA area. His short fiction has appeared in a whole bunch of magazines and anthologies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 27, 2023
In all honesty probably 3.5 stars, but as I can't give half stars I'll round up. I have to honest, it wasn't until I read the 'blurb' for the book that I realised that this series is connected to the Breakout series in that it contains the same aliens who invaded earth after inflicting the 'Pan-Handler' virus on its inhabitants.
This book focuses on what happens when a small independent mining team discover an alien ship encase in ice on the asteroid they are mining. Things turn ugly when they return to try and excavate the ship as an armed team come to take it from them. In the somewhat one sided battle only one member of the crew (Rada) survives. Eventually she is rescued by rich entrepreneur that he captain had contacted to sell the ship to. Between them they hatch a plot to trace the thieves and murders, retrieve the ship and if possible get justice /revenge for Rada's dead crew mates but things don't go quite according to plan as one might expect.
This was a reasonably paced novel, that kept the reader turning the pages and wondering how it was going to end. Looking forward to the next instalment in the series.
This book focuses on what happens when a small independent mining team discover an alien ship encase in ice on the asteroid they are mining. Things turn ugly when they return to try and excavate the ship as an armed team come to take it from them. In the somewhat one sided battle only one member of the crew (Rada) survives. Eventually she is rescued by rich entrepreneur that he captain had contacted to sell the ship to. Between them they hatch a plot to trace the thieves and murders, retrieve the ship and if possible get justice /revenge for Rada's dead crew mates but things don't go quite according to plan as one might expect.
This was a reasonably paced novel, that kept the reader turning the pages and wondering how it was going to end. Looking forward to the next instalment in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2017
I keep wishing that Goodreads had half-stars. I enjoyed Rebel a lot, but parts of it felt rushed and some of the characters felt shallow or one-dimensional, like they were cutouts rather than real people. There's also a lot of exposition where demonstration ought to be. This has the odd effect of making some of the peripheral characters seem fleshier than the main character, Rada, since we are forced to imagine who they are by what is implied in their actions. I wonder if it was edited too aggressively? Still, good escapist science fiction. I'm looking forward to reading the next few books in the series.
March 2, 2020
Interesting story that has plenty of action and moves along quickly. I came at this story from the wrong direction. I had already read "Outlaw (Rebel Stars, #1)" thinking it was the first book in the series only to find that the series actually starts with "Rebel (Rebel Stars, #0)." So I had more information than someone starting this series from scratch, but still think that starting form this point will be better in the long run.
January 8, 2019
I'm concurring with some of the other GoodReaders here in wanting to have half-star ratings. Three is not enough, but 4 is too high, so being the optimist we'll go with four.
This is the start of another series set in the same universe as the Breakers, although somewhat further into the future. We'll see how things develop ...
This is the start of another series set in the same universe as the Breakers, although somewhat further into the future. We'll see how things develop ...
March 14, 2018
Good book
Really enjoyed this story set a thousand years after the breaker series. Interesting characters and it is set up nicely for the next book. Looking forward to reading the rest in the series. Edward Robertson is definitely one of my favourite authors.
Really enjoyed this story set a thousand years after the breaker series. Interesting characters and it is set up nicely for the next book. Looking forward to reading the rest in the series. Edward Robertson is definitely one of my favourite authors.
December 16, 2018
Great read
Very good start to a science fiction series. The story kept my attention and I liked how circumstances developed the main character into a badass. I'll definitely continue with the series.
Very good start to a science fiction series. The story kept my attention and I liked how circumstances developed the main character into a badass. I'll definitely continue with the series.
January 6, 2021
Excellent
Rebel is a will written novel with interesting will developed characters. The story line is fast moving with lots of twist and turns leading to the conclusion. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys will written Sci-Fi novels. 2019
Rebel is a will written novel with interesting will developed characters. The story line is fast moving with lots of twist and turns leading to the conclusion. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys will written Sci-Fi novels. 2019
September 3, 2022
Ok, but not spectacular. Encouraged enough to go to next in series, but not commit to all. Too many loose ends, and the current trend to not provide a completely independent book, but rather try to encourage commitment to a series is evident.
November 26, 2023
The hero's introduction
This is the lady talked about in the next few books, this is her background information, why she quit drinking and how she became a pilot, how she met Simn. It's a good beginning to a great story, I recommend this series.
This is the lady talked about in the next few books, this is her background information, why she quit drinking and how she became a pilot, how she met Simn. It's a good beginning to a great story, I recommend this series.
January 18, 2018
ok but not his best
October 24, 2019
Curious where this series will take us and how it will tie into the Breaker series!!
I hope Ness and Sebastian are a part of it :P
I hope Ness and Sebastian are a part of it :P
December 30, 2020
What a Good Read! Fun, with lots of thrills. Does run so quick that it blurs, at times. I do love a good space book.
September 8, 2024
Short novel that sets up the series very well. Alien ships, evil captains and adventure. Leaves interesting info on potential side characters.
February 26, 2015
What an exciting way to continue the Breakers Series. You don't have to read any of those books to get into this book/series but you'd certainly be foolish to pass up the chance to enjoy them as well.
The pacing for me had a good slow/quick balance and I enjoyed the action/reflection balance too. For me the most exciting parts are the various stations and the taste of Cyber Punk references they include. Robertson played around with various elements of this with his multiverse jumping Cutting Room series. In this context I think those previous efforts have paid off to present a world that seems utterly realistic with people naturally attuned to their favorite tech so that it doesn't become the focus and instead falls to the background. Like much of his work, I think this is a character driven narrative and this book introduces not only the characters but also the events that motivate them into the next book. While I'm not inclined to embrace the 'lucky accidents' that save our heroine, they aren't IMHO excessive and beyond being adopted by a bazillionaire, they basically fall well within the realm of creating your own luck.
I think this book sets up the series in a wonderful way and I can't wait to read what comes next!
The pacing for me had a good slow/quick balance and I enjoyed the action/reflection balance too. For me the most exciting parts are the various stations and the taste of Cyber Punk references they include. Robertson played around with various elements of this with his multiverse jumping Cutting Room series. In this context I think those previous efforts have paid off to present a world that seems utterly realistic with people naturally attuned to their favorite tech so that it doesn't become the focus and instead falls to the background. Like much of his work, I think this is a character driven narrative and this book introduces not only the characters but also the events that motivate them into the next book. While I'm not inclined to embrace the 'lucky accidents' that save our heroine, they aren't IMHO excessive and beyond being adopted by a bazillionaire, they basically fall well within the realm of creating your own luck.
I think this book sets up the series in a wonderful way and I can't wait to read what comes next!
November 28, 2014
Picked it up as part of the "Stars and Empires: 10 Galactic Tales" bundle for Kindle. Wasn't expecting much considering the middling quality of the other books in the bundle, but I was pleasantly surprised.
It starts a bit slowly, but picks up steam and maintains a good pace until the end. The prose is well written, the characters are intriguing and feel very human (I particularly liked Toman for some reason, perhaps because he lives on his personal asteroid like The Little Prince), and the world building felt... oddly fresh. Similar in some ways to The Expanse series, but more exuberant, and more "expansive", perhaps because the plot's scope is narrower, the size of the solar system feels larger.
I'll certainly be buying the next book (Outlaw).
It starts a bit slowly, but picks up steam and maintains a good pace until the end. The prose is well written, the characters are intriguing and feel very human (I particularly liked Toman for some reason, perhaps because he lives on his personal asteroid like The Little Prince), and the world building felt... oddly fresh. Similar in some ways to The Expanse series, but more exuberant, and more "expansive", perhaps because the plot's scope is narrower, the size of the solar system feels larger.
I'll certainly be buying the next book (Outlaw).
June 9, 2015
Solid but not sexy
Rebel was a good read and did a nice job of setting up the series. Like Robertson's other work Rebel takes a solid but uninspired character, an Everyman or woman, and thrusts her into a situation much bigger than she is. The fun is in watching to see if the character rises to the challenge.
Rebel lacked the strong narrative of the Breakers series, wherein a character walks across the country or survives a labor camp or any other the other scenes that went on for twenty plus pages with nothing but the character and the strength of Robertson's writing. He was always working on a much smaller scale, though-perhaps that's why. It also lacked the wittiness of the former series. But this is just a prelude. I look forward to seeing where it goes.
Rebel was a good read and did a nice job of setting up the series. Like Robertson's other work Rebel takes a solid but uninspired character, an Everyman or woman, and thrusts her into a situation much bigger than she is. The fun is in watching to see if the character rises to the challenge.
Rebel lacked the strong narrative of the Breakers series, wherein a character walks across the country or survives a labor camp or any other the other scenes that went on for twenty plus pages with nothing but the character and the strength of Robertson's writing. He was always working on a much smaller scale, though-perhaps that's why. It also lacked the wittiness of the former series. But this is just a prelude. I look forward to seeing where it goes.
March 16, 2016
One of my favorite genres is science fiction, especially space opera. Rebel by Edward W. Robertson fits that type of book to a tee. It is full of intrigue and mystery and kept me glued to it for the entire book.
I really like the fast paced and action packed adventure in the tale. With all the plot twist and turns this novel lift me breathless but unable to take a break. Even with this it was easy to read and follow.
Edward W. Robertson did a great job of creating a cast of characters that were real and easy to identify with. I like a strong hero in a story and this book had it.
I really liked Rebel by Edward W. Robertson and highly recommend this book to all readers.
I really like the fast paced and action packed adventure in the tale. With all the plot twist and turns this novel lift me breathless but unable to take a break. Even with this it was easy to read and follow.
Edward W. Robertson did a great job of creating a cast of characters that were real and easy to identify with. I like a strong hero in a story and this book had it.
I really liked Rebel by Edward W. Robertson and highly recommend this book to all readers.
June 28, 2015
This was a fun read! Rada and her crewmates discover an alien ship from a thousand years ago, part of the invasion that slagged the Earth. While trying to figure the best way to salvage it, their plans are discovered and a rival group invade, kill her friends and steal the ship. Rada narrowly escapes.
She manages to be rescued and become employed by the group that stole the ship and begins to plot her revenge....
She manages to be rescued and become employed by the group that stole the ship and begins to plot her revenge....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2015
Great start to a new series. This was the first Edward W. Robertson book I have "read" via Audible, and I thought the narrator Ray Chase did a great job.
No time to wax poetic, time to jump in and Read/Listen to Outlaw to see what happens next!
No time to wax poetic, time to jump in and Read/Listen to Outlaw to see what happens next!
June 28, 2016
"I’m inclined to fight. See if they’ve got the claws to match their growl.”
“Wouldn’t surprise me if not.” Rada said. “If you’re strong, pretend weakness. if you’re weak, pretend strength."
Parson’s brows drew together. “Did you come up with that?”
“Sure, after reading it in Sun Tzu.”
Rada is a HBIC, if she weren't in this series, I would be far more disinterested in it.
July 10, 2015
Excellent read
I ended up reading the first book and then noticed that there was a book 0 . So if you start the series start with this one. I think it's a great read and I will be reading book one again and then the next. Give it a try if you're into space storylines like me , then you will love it. Nice job Mr Robertson.
I ended up reading the first book and then noticed that there was a book 0 . So if you start the series start with this one. I think it's a great read and I will be reading book one again and then the next. Give it a try if you're into space storylines like me , then you will love it. Nice job Mr Robertson.
January 17, 2015
Robertson writes really good sci-fi techno-thrillers. He is such a good story teller that I become quickly immersed in the story and thoroughly enjoy the experience. I am now starting "Outlaw" and I hope it is as good as "Rebel".
March 19, 2015
This is the beginning of the series and unlike a lot of books labeled “0” this one actually had a full storyline that carried on to completion. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens now that this ship has had so much blood shed over it and what is salvaged before the return of the aliens.
December 12, 2014
A pretty decent prequel. It's quick and entertaining, but not super shallow.
December 19, 2014
Loved I could not put it down
I like stories of space I have read many novels about the live of future type scenario s I rate this book in the top ten!
I like stories of space I have read many novels about the live of future type scenario s I rate this book in the top ten!
June 8, 2015
It was ok.
August 19, 2015
good book
July 8, 2016
Good story
I liked this story it was fairly well written and did a good job of making you feel like you knew the primary character.
I liked this story it was fairly well written and did a good job of making you feel like you knew the primary character.
February 18, 2023
I love the entire series! They all weave together beautifully but also stand alone.
January 29, 2015
Good quick read. Nice lead up to the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews