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Odysseus: Bound
In the year 2164, humanity is expanding outward into the cosmos at an unprecedented rate, and has yet to meet up with another form of intelligence. Knowing it's only going to be a matter of time before it does, it is decided, and at incredible expense, to dispatch ships qualified to search out and make contact with these unknown civilizations, in the hope of peaceful coexistence.
It is aboard one of these vessels that we find Lt. Barrett Hannom, a simple navigator, forced to confront explosive, and far from peaceful, first contact scenarios way outside his qualifications. With some unconventional help in the form of AI, it is now up to him to self-rescue himself and any of the crew he can find still alive. Along the way he will have to face many mysteries head on, because answers here will be his only avenue for salvation.
It is aboard one of these vessels that we find Lt. Barrett Hannom, a simple navigator, forced to confront explosive, and far from peaceful, first contact scenarios way outside his qualifications. With some unconventional help in the form of AI, it is now up to him to self-rescue himself and any of the crew he can find still alive. Along the way he will have to face many mysteries head on, because answers here will be his only avenue for salvation.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 17, 2013
75 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 15, 2021
I liked the world building, the action, even though one sided, and that's my issue with the execution, The so called "Collector" got away with his loot. All along as I read on, I kept getting a feeling that the main character was not up to the task in front of him and lo and behold I was right, so that was rather predictable and disappointing. I have read the synopsis for the next chapter, in the series, and it doesn't sound like it's going in the direction of catching "The Collector" which is the only reason I would read the next book, perhaps I should ask the author, himself, about that, huh!
August 5, 2017
Impressed with the level of detail.
Highly detailed, no doubt the author did his homework to present an astounding read. This is a book in which you must take your time with such detail. Great read nice story, recommended.
Highly detailed, no doubt the author did his homework to present an astounding read. This is a book in which you must take your time with such detail. Great read nice story, recommended.
May 13, 2015
Reviewed by J C Steel for Readers' Favorite
Odysseus: Bound by Stephen Logsden tells the story of the CCEV-3 Odysseus, a first contact ship, designed for stealth and crewed for exploration. Equipped with artificial intelligence and some of the most advanced technology available, Odysseus has encountered nothing beyond bacteria at a hundred uninhabited systems, and frustration has the relations among her crew stretched to breaking point. Initially, system number 144 looks exactly like numbers 1 to 143, at least until the discovery of a huge satellite in an anomalous orbit above the possibly habitable planet. The excitement blows the divisions in the crew into the open, and suddenly the Odysseus is committed to a headlong rush towards the discovery of a lifetime, her power reserves running low and expectations running high. No one could have anticipated what they found.
In Odysseus: Bound, Stephen Logsden creates a richly-textured experience of artificial intelligence and virtual realities, contrasted with the very gritty reality of survival. The depth of technological detail in this book, right down the literal tendencies of AIs, will thrill fans of science-fiction. Lieutenant Barnett Hannum is a strong and credible protagonist, whose lapsed military training allows you to travel along with him as he discovers weaponry that can manufacture its own ammo and evaluate strategy and armour that can integrate with the wearer’s nervous system. His action-packed adventures lead you through despair and triumph on a breath-taking series of discoveries, while the plot poses questions and introduces possibilities that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next installment of the trilogy.
Odysseus: Bound by Stephen Logsden tells the story of the CCEV-3 Odysseus, a first contact ship, designed for stealth and crewed for exploration. Equipped with artificial intelligence and some of the most advanced technology available, Odysseus has encountered nothing beyond bacteria at a hundred uninhabited systems, and frustration has the relations among her crew stretched to breaking point. Initially, system number 144 looks exactly like numbers 1 to 143, at least until the discovery of a huge satellite in an anomalous orbit above the possibly habitable planet. The excitement blows the divisions in the crew into the open, and suddenly the Odysseus is committed to a headlong rush towards the discovery of a lifetime, her power reserves running low and expectations running high. No one could have anticipated what they found.
In Odysseus: Bound, Stephen Logsden creates a richly-textured experience of artificial intelligence and virtual realities, contrasted with the very gritty reality of survival. The depth of technological detail in this book, right down the literal tendencies of AIs, will thrill fans of science-fiction. Lieutenant Barnett Hannum is a strong and credible protagonist, whose lapsed military training allows you to travel along with him as he discovers weaponry that can manufacture its own ammo and evaluate strategy and armour that can integrate with the wearer’s nervous system. His action-packed adventures lead you through despair and triumph on a breath-taking series of discoveries, while the plot poses questions and introduces possibilities that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next installment of the trilogy.
August 22, 2015
ODYSSEUS: BOUND (Book 1 in 'The Collector' series) displays one of the most fully-realized future technological story worlds I’ve ever encountered. It’s also just a fun read. The variety and complexity of technologies the hero interacts with in his struggle to survive is staggering – from the ship’s resident AI, EVA suits, data pads, Pinnacle shuttles, AutoDoc medical treatment suites to Darkstars and a plethora of weapons systems large and small. This is fictional world-building of a high order. For this alone the novel will hold your interest.
The hero, Lieutenant Hannum, possesses many normal idiosyncrasies that contrast sharply with the literal-minded Aeon, the ship’s AI, both of whom are exhaustively revealed as the story unfolds. All human and AI characters seem quite authentic.
The action continues throughout following the tragic opening encounter. Much of the story is Hannum puzzling out what and how the alien enemy force is up to, why, and what their endgame might be. It keeps you guessing. I’d argue some of the revelations might have been profitably conflated and abbreviated in the 2nd half, where the volume of continuing unknowns seems to impede the story. I look forward to the next book in this series. I’ll enjoy seeing Hannum face different and likely worse challenges, with doubtless more characters (human, AI, and alien) giving him grief along the way. Warning: the novel has a cliffhanger that will have you wondering for days afterwards.
The hero, Lieutenant Hannum, possesses many normal idiosyncrasies that contrast sharply with the literal-minded Aeon, the ship’s AI, both of whom are exhaustively revealed as the story unfolds. All human and AI characters seem quite authentic.
The action continues throughout following the tragic opening encounter. Much of the story is Hannum puzzling out what and how the alien enemy force is up to, why, and what their endgame might be. It keeps you guessing. I’d argue some of the revelations might have been profitably conflated and abbreviated in the 2nd half, where the volume of continuing unknowns seems to impede the story. I look forward to the next book in this series. I’ll enjoy seeing Hannum face different and likely worse challenges, with doubtless more characters (human, AI, and alien) giving him grief along the way. Warning: the novel has a cliffhanger that will have you wondering for days afterwards.
February 7, 2017
I found this to be a very intelligent, forward thinking space opera novel. I really admire how much research the writer must have done. They not only present the futuristic technology to the reader but also explain it in a very comprehensible, enjoyable way. I look forward to reading more work by this author.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews