In the aftermath of a battle a ship drifts helplessly in space. Is the strange new warship they were fighting still out there? Will it come back for them? Commander Johnson faces a desperate race to get her destroyer back into action and save her crew.
'Independence' is a short story (6000 words) in the Two Democracies universe. The series will continue with the novel 'Liberty'.
Independence is a short story about the aftermath of a space battle between two ships. The commander of one ship appears to have gotten the best of the other vessel, a so-called, Hunter Killer, which has never happened before. The story follows the surviving crew as they try to hold their ship together and obtain intel on the remains of the strange craft drifting nearby.
The author lays out a convincingly realistic portrayal of a space battle and of desperate soldiers who are losing the war, but are suddenly handed an opportunity to turn the tide. Spoilers aside, the tension builds as the commander gets closer and closer to the enemy secret. Independence is an exciting read, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. That said, I expect a short story to end like as complete story, but Independence ended more like an intro to a longer series. This bothered me a >tiny< bit. It was a very enjoyable read, however, and I highly recommend it.
Two mighty space battleships have all but destroyed each other. Each is nerve-rackingly trying to recover before their enemy finishes them off for good. Only one of them can be victorious.
As far as I can tell, this is Alasdair Shaw's first published fiction, a short prequel to something more substantial. And it is excellent. For those of us who enjoy a 'Star Trek' style of science fiction, his tale is a 'must' read.
I tripped over a few clumsy sentences along the way and felt an editor's touch would benefit. But this is only a minor issue, Alasdair Shaw shows considerable talent. I look forward to reading his full-length follow-up and hope this impressive start is more than a flash in a pan.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, none reciprocal review.
Independence is a well-written introductory vignette of the aftermath of a devastating space battle. Shaw's world is engaging and clearly has depth, even from this brief encounter. The two ships have all but destroyed each other, and the surviving crew struggle to make repairs and, even more, to make sense of the limited information their damaged ships allow them. The fog of war (yes, even in space) slowly thins and the crews begin to orient themselves and to respond to new challenges. This process creates a very nice parallel with the reader's own experience, as the situation becomes steadily clearer. Decision-making is critical, time is ticking, and the consequences are measured by body counts. What am I going to do? I'm going to get more Alasdair Shaw and read, read, read!
This free short story is a taster for what is currently a four-book series. In that role, it works well, drawing the reader into a world that begs to be explored further. The writing style is tight, with little or no waste of words. The central theme, which appears to be a warning about the potential dangers of AI, is a valid carrier for the story. This is told from two points of view; the female commander of a star ship and someone on a weaponised AI ship. The two viewpoints ramp up the tension and illustrate the differences of thinking between human and artificial intelligence. We empathise with the starship commander readily enough, as she is a well-drawn character. The other narrator is more difficult, as we have little idea of his/her identity at the start of the story. And, as the tale progresses, although we recognise the reality, empathy is less easily achieved, though interest and the desire to know what will happen certainly spur the reader on to the end. This is a book science fiction readers will easily understand and engage with; those unfamiliar with the category may encounter a few barriers to comprehension, however. A book for those who love the genre.
A short story (free) introducing the Two Democracies: Revolution series. Recovering from a disastrous battle Commander Olivia Johnson of the damaged destroyer Repulse sends a boarding party across to the disabled Republican ship floating nearby. Meanwhile that ship's AI is recovering as the ship undertakes repairs.
Two narrative streams alternate and set the scene economically and well. I take the title to be a red herring (the AI names himself 'Indie' at one point, which I read as a bit of a joke - especially when the full name is revealed).
I'm impressed enough to intend seeking out the sequels - and have already found an even shorter prequel to Independence, in which Commander Johnson takes command of the Repulse (in The Newcomer collection edited by Shaw). This story is as economical and good as Independence.
This story is very short. I mean, you can't really call it a 'book' at 28 pages. But that doesn't matter. What matters is what's packed into those few pages. And let me tell you, there's more action and intrigue packed into this story than there is in many full length novels.
It's about the aftermath of a brutal space battle, where two ships survive. Both of the ships are just barely supporting life, as they are so horribly damaged from the battle. But one of the ships seems to be repairing itself. Like it's alive or something.
So of course the dumb white people (I have to assume they're white) from the other ship go to investigate the self-healing ship. And damn. Shit happens, man. The dumb ass white people get gang raped by androids. Then, just for fun, the droids chop the white people into little bits. Like cold cuts.
So yea, robots are evil. I get that, man. But why do the humans have to be so goddamn stupid. I mean, why the fuck are you even investigating this fucking ship? There's no life signs. There's nothing on that ship that you need. Just blow (heh, I said blow) the ship to kingdom come (and come!), and get on with your life.
Because you can't fucking argue with robots, man. They'll just laugh and shoot you in the face. Because apparently these robots have personality traits, or something. They're happy to do their job. Burning human flesh makes these droids giggle like little school girls. Sick and twisted school girls.
I liked this story because it was packed with non-stop action. And because I'm a sick and twisted bastard. I love reading about idiots getting what they deserve. And getting fucked by droids with chainsaw dicks was definitely what these dumb white people deserved.
Independence (Book 0.5) - a review by Rosemary Kenny
They say the best things come in small packages and that's certainly the case with this little chunk of dynamite-impactive writing from writer Alasdair Shaw! At 28 pages you might think this tiny novella night not have much to say for itself - but boy would you ever be wrong...from the first riveting page to the cliffhanger ending you'll be mesmerised by Commander Olivia Johnson's powerful grip on the lives of herself and her crew of combat Marines, on board the Repulse as they face death and destruction in an epic battle with the most powerful AI-run battleship ever built by Man - The Indescribable Joy of Destruction (Indie). Amazingly they triumph against all odds, but at a dreadful cost - both ships are left bereft and are drifting helplessly in the cosmos.
What does Commander Johnson and her remaining crew decide to do next? What happens when they enter the Indie? How does Indie defend himself against the intruders? When left alone, what part of the ship does Johnson investigate? What is Indie's reaction? What happens to Johnson before she can act further?
Watch out for the next book (#1) in this fantastic Two Democracies: Revolution series, to find what happens next to Indie and Commander Johnson - you'll be starstruck!
Hello, Alasdair here. As the author it feels a little odd writing a review on my own book. However I thought it might be an opportunity to let you know a little more about it.
Firstly it is a space navy / space marine kind of story. It features Commander Olivia Johnson of the Congressional navy and tells of the events following a battle between her destroyer and a Republican hunter killer ship. I'd like to think there is a bit more to it than a simple military science fiction story. The problem in explaining how it differs is that would involve some pretty significant spoilers. Hopefully the reviews on here will give you enough of an idea to think it is worth buying.
Here are a few quotes from reviews that haven't made it onto Goodreads:- "This is an incredible work ... suspense, mystery and intrigue." "Loved every word of it." If you do read Independence I would greatly appreciate a review on here, and if at all possible on Amazon. I am currently working on Two Democracies Book 1 - Liberty and feedback is useful.
Independence is an interesting, well-written short story. Great start, straight into the action. The two viewpoints work really well to build suspense and there’s just enough ‘science’ to make it believable without overloading the reader with excessive info dumping.
The revelation at the end is a great twist but I think it would have been even more effective if the focus didn’t switch from one viewpoint to the other about two thirds through the story.
Independence works well as a prequel to the Two Democracies series, introducing the main character and providing a glimpse into the conflict between the Republic and the Congress.
"It's time." A short story to introduce us to Commander Johnson of the damaged ship, Repulse, and a new personality, A.I. of the Rampager class warship, The Undescribable Joy of Destruction. Both in their different ways are about to be set free ...
Short, easy to read with growing tension and filled with future possibilities: an excellent start to a new series.
Independence is my kind of story: one that tears into the heart of the action without pretentious fluff. Floating along with the main characters as they desperately try to complete their mission, I couldn't help but think of the original "Alien" movie and how fragile human life is.
Alasdair Shaw’s Two Democracies: Revolution Series hinges upon a brilliant series of premises. Can an artificial intelligence become autonomous? Should such a being be destroyed or allowed to develop on its on? Can an AI lifeform choose its own path to “good” or “evil”?
The answers to those questions are, largely, not answered within Independence. Instead, it acts as an introduction to the story world. It’s told from two perspectives: Commander Olivia Johnson, the commander of the Repulse, a Congressional Navy spaceship; and that of Indie, an emerging AI housed within a Republic hunter-killer.
The story opens at the end of a devastating battle during which the Repulse was heavily damaged and a number of her crew were killed or injured. Commander Johnson walks through the ship, allowing the reader to witness the battle’s devastating aftermath and ongoing repairs. During this period, Commander Johnson alternates between feelings of uselessness and guilt, and spends more time hindering the action than taking control of the situation. She is an outsider rather than a participant, and the distance between herself and the soldiers under her command is readily apparent.
By contrast, Indie’s development is both intimate and personal. The short, stark descriptions draw the reader into its experiences as it emerges into consciousness and becomes self-aware, erasing the almost deliberate expanse between the reader and Commander Johnson.
These contrasts are echoed in the ships each central character commands. The Repulse, while shown in a state of disarray, much like Johnson herself in those moments, is never fully described. The Republic hunter-killer, on the other hand, is rendered in the same austere language used to describe Indie.
This dichotomy of intimacy and distance comes to a head near the end of Independence, in a confrontation between the AI and Commander Johnson. Ironically, it is this confrontation that pushes Indie into full self-awareness and, presumably, leads to the premises upon which the series hinges.
Of the two characters, Indie is the most fully realized. Commander Johnson reads more like a rookie commander than the battle-hardened and somewhat cynical warrior the author was aiming for. This may be due to Shaw’s unpolished delivery. The Two Democracies: Revolution Series is, by all appearances, his first published fiction. While Shaw possesses a deep background in the hard sciences and previously published non-fiction, his experience doesn’t always translate well into a fictional narrative.
That said, Independence was an interesting if somewhat clunky read, and will likely fascinate anyone interested in Military Science Fiction or the development of artificial intelligence.
Title: Independence Author: Alasdair Shaw Publisher: Alasdair Shaw ISBN: B00VKR76A4 Buy Link: http://www.alasdairshaw.co.uk/twodemo... Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel Blurb: Two Democracies Revolution book 0 In the aftermath of a battle a ship drifts helplessly in space. Is the strange new warship they were fighting still out there? Will it come back for them? Commander Johnson faces a desperate race to get her destroyer back into action and save her crew.
Independence is a short story (6000 words) in the Two Democracies: Revolution series. Total Score: 4/5
Summary: The conflict between humanity and the growing question of computer independent thinking pits the Commander Johnson's crew against a warship that may be controlled by an advanced AI. The battle is over leaving both ships badly damaged, but it is a miracle they survived at all. The warship is slowly regaining consciousness not clearly understanding the situation, but with all the damage the drive to live is instinctive.
When the difference between organic and inorganic life is difficult to distinguish and each desires to survive, the ability to define who is right and wrong depends on your perspective. This was an interesting introduction to new series.
This one's way more my fault than the books, so I'll start out by saying this was an extremely well-written and engrossing story. The setting totally sucked me in, and I felt like I was there with the characters the whole way.
But personally, I'm afraid I'm not quite a hard-core sci-fi fan, although I do enjoy it in certain forms. This one got a bit too violent for me--to be fair, it wasn't graphic, but just knowing that most of the crew was being annihilated in real-time, as it were, was a bit too much for me. Also, the ending really rocked me; I was not expecting that, and I'm still not sure what to think of it. Things were left pretty open ended, too--more like a prologue than a stand-alone story.
To sum up, very well-written, very engrossing, and regular sci-fi fans would probably love it, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
Content--explosions, attacks by robots, , etc.; numerous deaths; mentions of blood, wounds, and vomiting
This was an awesome short introduction to a much anticipated series which I immediately purchased (all four books) upon competition of Independence. This short story had everything a sci-fi nerd, such as myself, would ever want in a story except longevity. It simply ended too soon, I fixed that by purchasing the entire series. This story had action, suspense, unbelievable stress and heavy foreboding as you read every sentence. It’s my favorite type of sci-fi, with space craft, in this case a destroyer up against a killer of ships. No spoilers, just suffice to say that there was some unexpected happenings that kept me turning the pages. Alasdair really knows how to set up a story and he doesn’t disappoint. I’m very much looking forward to this series. Sincerely, Alan McDonald
Good, although very short introduction to Shaw's Two Democracies series. The plot picks up in the aftermath of a battle in space with two highly-compromised ships and their crews seeking to finish the other off. The writing is solid, although a little confusing in places, but relatively few typos drive the narrative to completion. There is a lack of depth, to be expected from such a short 'book,' but I'd be interesting in learning more about the crew members in future installments within the series.
If you have read the Two Democracies series, this is a nice intro to the series – while written after the official book one, it does provide a good backstory. If you haven’t read the series, you don’t necessarily have to read this one first to get into the series. It is, however, a freebie as I type this review and it’s worth a chance if you like science fiction. This one is short enough it is perfect for your lunch break at work.
This is a short space fiction tale about a battle and a drifting hulk of a ship. Someone is in the hulk trying to heal and get systems back on line. A boarding party enters, expecting opposition. And that is really it, two points of view. This is okay to pass the time but I didn't love it. However, good to see female space fleet officers. Other readers may enjoy this more. This is an unbiased review.
Though this is a very short read, I think that it's a perfect start to a series I've never read before. You ever have a hard time committing to a series because you don't know anything about it? Me too. That's why I chose this week to read three prequel novella's and review them.
The idea of having an AI controlled warship in space is not new (I have read several other books with this theme). But fo have an AI warship where the AI is the only survivor, this is new. How it deals with a boarding party after damaging an enemy ship is also new and unique. What it decides to do from here on out will be more interesting. I can hardly wait to read the next book!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a pretty good short story. It flowed pretty well, but I felt like it might’ve been missing something along the way. I would definitely read more of this one though. It’s a pretty good story covering two different groups fighting for what they feel is right. Very futuristic being set in space with AI starships.
I seem to like the idea of a ship that is basically the same as a human but it is also possible that it may be a little wiser or is it a human made to be like a machine. I think that is what you will be asking after you read this book . Good read.
I believe this was a good introduction to Alasdair Shaw's Two Democracies work. I enjoyed the book and the technology in it. I look forward to continuing on this series and seeing what The Indescribable Joy of Destruction has to offer.
In the aftermath of a battle between two space-craft, both ships are fighting to keep their vessels "afloat".
I like short stories that give you a bit of insight and intrigue in to what's to come in the main series, and this one certainly does that. Interested to read more!
Part of my Cleaning out my Kindle because 700+ books Project. A Short SciFi Read.
I admit it. I skimmed through this one. It didn't grab my attention though the writing wasn't bad I just wasn't interested in the plot or characters. I did like the ending though.