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The Engines of Dawn

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Over hundreds of years, Earth's humans become dependent on the powers of the alien Enamorati to propel their starships, until a physicist and his students uncover the shocking secret of the aliens' technology and spark a revolt. Original.

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 1999

6 people are currently reading
70 people want to read

About the author

Paul Cook

30 books28 followers

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5 stars
22 (17%)
4 stars
47 (37%)
3 stars
37 (29%)
2 stars
17 (13%)
1 star
4 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Sic Transit Gloria.
177 reviews2 followers
October 7, 2022
A surprisingly okay sci-fi college story about a college kid stumbling into a vast web of conspiracies about alien spaceships and their mysterious means of propulsion. Probably best for those people who are actually in college.

Gotta admit I was not expecting the slight focus on sexuality or the involvement of a loli as a side character (page 30) but here we are.
44 reviews
July 15, 2018
This book is solid space-opera, but light reading for the most part.

Some readers may not like the way the dominant religion (which is similar to some denominations of Christianity) is portrayed.
Profile Image for Rodney Bond.
Author 39 books7 followers
August 8, 2020
Good story. Somewhat predictable using a few ideas borrowed from other stories. Overall a good read with a good pacing.
122 reviews
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October 2, 2020
Organized religion supports aliens who have bargained existence by allowing giant aliens to be used as engines while they feed on life forces, the students of a university ship result
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mike.
28 reviews2 followers
November 18, 2012
It is a decent book that moves rapidly to a startling ending.

It is written in a style reminiscent of a 1950 Heinlein novel where the main protagonists are mostly young college age kids and a junior lecturer. You have a series of mysteries that the protagonists confront that really are engrossing.

The only issue is that these aliens (and their religious zealot followers) that murder dissenters, use weapons that are considered war crimes, and exterminate civilizations seem to be cowed by pointing lawyers at them for a few seconds. It moves the story along, but it seems kind of bizarre.
Profile Image for Ken.
155 reviews5 followers
May 10, 2009
Another vacation book--it could have been very good except for 2 things. It is way too profane and Paul Cook obviously has too much hatred for organized religion in general and Mormons in particular.
Profile Image for Mike Franklin.
712 reviews10 followers
February 18, 2013
Excellent idea, plot and storytelling let down by some clumsy writing and/or sloppy editing. Occasionally pushing the bounds of belief.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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