Anne McCaffrey Freedom Collection: Freedom's Landing, Freedom's Challenge, Freedom's Choice

Catteni #1-3

by Anne McCaffrey

Freedom's Landing - read by Susie Breck, directed by Ruth Bloomquist
It's the dawning of a new age for mankind when the Catteni descend to Earth and easily overcome the Earth's population. Thousands are herded onto slave ships headed for the intergalactic auction block.
Kris Bjornsen is captured in Denver on her way to her college classes and wakes up on the primitive planet Barevi. Courageous and resourceful, she manages a single-woman escape from the Catteni and is living in the wilds of the planet when she comes to the aid of a Catteni soldier pursued by his own ranks. Recaptured together, they join forces with other slaves to outwit their captors and a hostile planetary environment.

Freedom's Challenge - multi-voice narration, directed by Ruth Bloomquist
Kris Bjornsen has come a long way since alien slave ships scooped her up in Denver with thousands of others. Dropped off on an apparently uninhabited world with the rest, she has fallen in love with Zainal, a renegade Catteni, and made a comfortable life for herself and her new family. But she feels a soldier's duty to escape Botany and rejoin the struggle for freedom.

Freedom's Choice - multi-voice narration, directed by Ruth Bloomquist
The shipments of Catteni slaves continue, but they find that they are enjoyably reinventing the creature comforts of home, and searching for the origin of the Farmers who were the original occupants of Botany, all under the keen eyes of two very different observers. When scouts for the Emassi come to retrieve Zainal, shanghaied in the original shipment of slaves, Botany changes irrevocably. Listeners will delight in this continued adventure of survival, romance, and ingenuity.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Romance

Audiobook

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Anne Inez McCaffrey was an American writer known for the Dragonriders of Pern science fiction series. She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction (Best Novella, Weyr Search, 1968) and the first to win a Nebula Award (Best Novella, Dragonrider, 1969). Her 1978 novel The White Dragon became one of the first science-fiction books to appear on the New York Times Best Seller list.
In 2005 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named McCaffrey its 22nd Grand Master, an annual award to living writers of fantasy and science fiction. She was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame on 17 June 2006. She also received the Robert A. Heinlein Award for her work in 2007.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read A LOT of sci-fi/fantasy, and a LOT of Anne McCaffery. This was very, very good in that it was different. Set in modern times (in one book, they go back to Earth to steal some HP printers to use for barter), but with pretty realistic elements of sci-fi sprinkled throughout. I don't want to give too much away, because I don't want to spoil the story for you. Wonderful descriptions of surroundings and in-depth characterizations. This is a book that I think about again and again (and if you read a lot of books, you'll know what a big deal that is--something you ruminate on years after the fact. I read so many books that I've found myself re-reading something that I forgot I read in the first place!); books like that stand out to me. It does have some grown-up stuff (mostly mention of adult sex--not lurid details or anything, but it's still there) so I'd give it a "mostly for grown-ups" rating. A fantastic story that will stick with you. Get all the books in the series at once (from the library or something) because you won't want to wait for the next one!

[Dlora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first of these books years ago and when I noticed Freedom's Ransom, which came out in 2002 at the library, I decided to finish the series, which meant, for me, starting from the first again. It's a story of the invasion of earth by an alien race, whose modus operandi is to scoop up whole cities-full of inhabitants and use them as slaves or drop them off on planets they want colonized for later use. That practice usually subdues the people left behind but earth types are more rebellious and troublesome than other planets had been. The story revolves around Kris Bjornsen from earth who started as a slave on the planet Barevi but then was scooped up, along with one of the conquering Catteni, in a demonstrating group and dumped on one of the new worlds. The group that was dropped actually manages to survive quite well, especially with the help of Zainal, the Catteni, and their plans grow from survival to stealing spaceships from the Catteni's when they make more drops, and hitting back to gain their freedom.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great science fiction series about aliens who conquer other species to use to colonize planets, how the oppressed species rise up, and how well they all manage the differences among their own and other species once on their own.
I absolutely adored the main human female character Kristin, her character growth and development throughout the novels was phenomenal. I laughed at her spunky personality as she falls in love with a Catteni despite everyone else’s disapproval.
A few minor loose ends and a big what happens next question at the end of the series, but otherwise an excellent series to read.

[Lisa Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only frustration is that in all her world building she creates the Farmers to be peaceful and benign as a race of advanced beings. They can farm entire worlds with no waste if space. They cultivate and create and are called pacific in nature. If this is true why do they gather up and eat meat from live animals? Why was nothing done about the fact that humans were rounded up and also made into chow that the farmers who are so peaceful snacked on?

[Archer Hay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 3 was the best one of the bunch so far, but still lacking in the action department. And the final confrontation was very quick and felt rushed. Interesting that a 4th book was written, because the story ended all nice and tidy here. Curious what book 4th has in store.

[Cathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous series by one of my favorite authors.

[Pauline Jeffery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the series years ago and re-read them recently. They are brilliantly written and the series was enthralling and captivating from the start to finish. Would recommend them

[Meriah Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read all three books, very good story. would be happy to read it again someday. I want the audios! So far, I only have the first one.

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I completely change my mind on a series, so want to change my scoring down a lot)

4.75

This series has been a favourite for many years. The only reason it's not a full 5 stars is they are not actually safe, but all the women who are of an age to have children, are pushed to do so.

First time read the author's work?: No

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes -- One of my favourite authors, I tend to rate her series at 4 or 5 stars.

-----------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly (if you've noticed how many of her books I've given high ratings to), I just really love Anne McCaffrey. She does a great job mixing sci-fi with romance, which I'm a total sucker for. She's also really good at world-building. The Catteni series is a very interesting take on What if the earth were taken over by a hostile alien race?

Books
Freedom's Landing 4 stars
Freedom's Choice 4 stars
Freedom's Challenge 4 stars
Freedom's Ransom 4 stars

[Tosin Patrice Orimoloye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series of books, love love love Anne Mccaffrey books (well most of them anyway). Her world building is great and her characterization is superb. However, that been said, I did find that these books had a slight element of racial stereotyping, and Chris displayed some very laxed morals and blamed it on alcohol and loneliness, regardless of being in a committed relationship, which is why I generally pretend that those parts of the book don't exsist. That being said these were great reads.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series about humans being relocated to another planet by an alien race and what ensues. One concept this book explores that I have thought on many times is as the humans learn to form a society and have nothing those with certain skills have more value. Those with value to the society were engineers, pottery artists, cooks,those with survival and first aid skills. Makes you wonder what skills you have that would be useful...

[Phil]

Loved this set of books. Castaways are set on an island having been kidnapped from earth. A new world to be built and new way of life to be forged. Naturally, the heroine is tall, blond, sexy young woman and she falls for an alien. One that she can't make babies with. Hilarity ensues there but we do help to free the captive Earth and establish trade with our aliens who thought to become our overseers.

[JustJen · Rating 5 out of 5]

... I LOVED McCaffery's Dragonriders of Pern series, I tried a couple of her other books, but nothing really clicked until this "Freedom" series. I can't even comprehend the imagination it takes to create a completely different world like this (and Pern), the customs, the NAMES ... I do like the "survivalist" theme, with the sci-fi and little bit of romance thrown in, it was a series I've purchased and will come back to read again.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't usually choose science fiction, but I was looking for a lively story to keep me awake while driving and this one did the trick. Even though it takes place in an alien environment, it touches on themes of acceptance vs. discrimination we are all familiar with. She creates an interesting environment and believable characters. However, sometimes the morals of her characters are a little too loose for my taste.

[Nicole Marble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writers love analogies. Couldn't work w/o them. 'Dark as' ......... is often followed, for some reason, by 'the inside of a cat.' This author used 'dark as the inside of a pocket.' It has a lovely rhythm to it.
Here we are in another far away world, this time populated by familiar earthlings dealing with slavery and fighting back.
Good for them!

[JenBsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

... I did NOT listen to this on tape, but just wanted to add the group of books and this was the listing I'd found. I'd discovered PERN while a teen and adored the Dragon series. I love the complete different worlds McCaffery creates. I enjoy "survivor" type books/shows, so this appealed to me and kept my interest.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

when you want alien abduction and settling on a new planet battling the Unknown this is the series for you. It really captivated me from the first book where the heroine was abducted to the next book where you see her relationship with her captor and then the conclusion.. It'll knock your socks off.

[MegInAk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't finished the series. The 1st book has been my favorite, though the 2nd is definitely going in some interesting directions. I do want to know more about the 'farmers' - who are they? what will they do when they find out about the settlers?

[AgtDianaPrince · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been quite a while since I read this series. But it is one of my all time fav's. I recommend it to all sci-fi lovers.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Involuntarily dropped on the planet Botany by the Catteni, Kris and her fellow slaves attempt to survive and overthrow their slave masters.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the books. I have always enjoyed books that show how people deal with whatever situation they are landed in.

[Alan Norrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 1 is interesting. Halfway through book 2 I just couldn't take it any more. I didn't bother with book 3. The story becomes a bit flat.

[Karen Koenig · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok.

[Jea]

Like the books easily read- survival -could we work together.

[Brittney Bower · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series.

[Warrenbru · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the series three times in 5 years...it would make a great movie trilogy!