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The Ship #1
Landfall
5,000 years into a Mission meant to last 100, both the Ship and its society are on the verge of collapse.
Launched as the last gasp of a dying Earth, the Ship set out to preserve humanity by seeding the universe with one billion colonists. Generations of Crew, trained to be either Flight or Marines, have protected the Ship and its civilian cargo from the constant threat of alien violence.
Fifteen-year-old Zax has always had trouble fitting in with the other cadets, but he's finally on the cusp of attaining his dream and gaining entrance to the Flight Academy. Catching the eye of the Flight Boss and winning him as a mentor should guarantee Zax a top spot, unless the shocking discovery he makes along the way destroys not only his career, but also the Ship itself.
Launched as the last gasp of a dying Earth, the Ship set out to preserve humanity by seeding the universe with one billion colonists. Generations of Crew, trained to be either Flight or Marines, have protected the Ship and its civilian cargo from the constant threat of alien violence.
Fifteen-year-old Zax has always had trouble fitting in with the other cadets, but he's finally on the cusp of attaining his dream and gaining entrance to the Flight Academy. Catching the eye of the Flight Boss and winning him as a mentor should guarantee Zax a top spot, unless the shocking discovery he makes along the way destroys not only his career, but also the Ship itself.
340 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2015
1003 people are currently reading
1651 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Aubin
14 books77 followersJerry Aubin is a technology executive who runs a venture-backed startup. A lifelong science fiction fan, he decided to write his own series when he became disenchanted with the stories available to read to his kids. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, two boys, and one awesome boxer named Queso.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
January 3, 2017
I wish this book was labelled Young Adult. I hate not finishing a book, but I only got through this one because it is so short. The characters were very one dimensional, the plot was predictable and not worth the read. It would probably be a great book for a early/pre-teen and should be marketed as such.
September 9, 2019
I have previously said that Tris from Divergent was the biggest Mary Sue to every Mary Sue, but I was wrong. Jax is the biggest Mary Sue to ever Mary Sue. Good characters have flaws and struggles, they have depth. Jax's biggest/only flaw is that he tends to puke at embarrassing but predictable times. The entire plot can be summarized like this: "Oh my goodness! Jax, you have accomplished something in [short period of time] that normally takes people [long period of time] and you have done it flawlessly!"
The actual plot of the book is okay, but it's ruined by the horribly simplistic and one-dimensional characters and an obsession with telling, not showing. Aubin does not trust the reader to figure out anything on his own and instead insists on spelling everything out for them. To call this book as deep as a puddle would be insulting to the puddle.
The actual plot of the book is okay, but it's ruined by the horribly simplistic and one-dimensional characters and an obsession with telling, not showing. Aubin does not trust the reader to figure out anything on his own and instead insists on spelling everything out for them. To call this book as deep as a puddle would be insulting to the puddle.
September 17, 2016
Loved it. Nerdy sci-fi set thousands of years into the future and the writing style gets you right amongst the action. Its like a cross between 'Battlestar Galactica' and 'Enders Game'. Look forward to reading the second book in the series.... :-)
October 23, 2017
My original Landfall audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
An enormous colony ship has fled a dying Earth, housing a billion suspended humans and a vast crew in search of habitable worlds. Now five thousand years in the future, a culture of competition and perfection pervades the crew. Points and credits are given for excellent performance, taken away for mistakes and failure. Go too low and you are added to the suspended colonists dropped on hospitable worlds.
Zax is an exceptional crewman, agile, brilliant and effective, only he can’t seem to control his stomach during faster than light travel. He is constantly bullied and ostracized for this ailment. He is driven to command a pilot’s seat or even the commander’s chair, so he’ll do anything to succeed. And in this dog-eat-dog environment, he’ll let others fail if it means his own success. His problem is a quirky girl who doesn’t care about the merit system but is just as brilliant and skillful as he is. When they discover the ulterior motives of the command structure, they have to decide to speak up and lose all hope of achieving their ambitions, or sit by and allow the evil to perpetuate a corrupt system.
Landfall is a futuristic coming of age story. Zax’s character feels a little contradictory a lot of the time. Constantly bullied and threatened, he sounds more like a victim, yet is being groomed for command. The action and comradery are a welcome addition to the simple plot, though the constant attention to his nausea affliction is distracting to the story. Five thousand years of technology and they can’t fix this? Seems unrealistic.
Landfall is performed by Eric Martin, who does an excellent job. His voice is pleasant and his characters are easily discerned. He lends the appropriate mood to the novel and holds a quick pace.
Because the protagonists are teens, the novel is a good fit for young adults, but anyone interested in futuristic space colonization stories should enjoy it too. An entertaining and easy listen that doesn’t break too much new ground. The strange and destructive culture of advancement is the exception and gives the listener something to think about. This is book one and two in the series. It ends well enough but is clear that the story is far from complete. If you enjoy it, you’ll be looking forward to the sequel(s).
Audiobook was purchased for review by ABR.
An enormous colony ship has fled a dying Earth, housing a billion suspended humans and a vast crew in search of habitable worlds. Now five thousand years in the future, a culture of competition and perfection pervades the crew. Points and credits are given for excellent performance, taken away for mistakes and failure. Go too low and you are added to the suspended colonists dropped on hospitable worlds.
Zax is an exceptional crewman, agile, brilliant and effective, only he can’t seem to control his stomach during faster than light travel. He is constantly bullied and ostracized for this ailment. He is driven to command a pilot’s seat or even the commander’s chair, so he’ll do anything to succeed. And in this dog-eat-dog environment, he’ll let others fail if it means his own success. His problem is a quirky girl who doesn’t care about the merit system but is just as brilliant and skillful as he is. When they discover the ulterior motives of the command structure, they have to decide to speak up and lose all hope of achieving their ambitions, or sit by and allow the evil to perpetuate a corrupt system.
Landfall is a futuristic coming of age story. Zax’s character feels a little contradictory a lot of the time. Constantly bullied and threatened, he sounds more like a victim, yet is being groomed for command. The action and comradery are a welcome addition to the simple plot, though the constant attention to his nausea affliction is distracting to the story. Five thousand years of technology and they can’t fix this? Seems unrealistic.
Landfall is performed by Eric Martin, who does an excellent job. His voice is pleasant and his characters are easily discerned. He lends the appropriate mood to the novel and holds a quick pace.
Because the protagonists are teens, the novel is a good fit for young adults, but anyone interested in futuristic space colonization stories should enjoy it too. An entertaining and easy listen that doesn’t break too much new ground. The strange and destructive culture of advancement is the exception and gives the listener something to think about. This is book one and two in the series. It ends well enough but is clear that the story is far from complete. If you enjoy it, you’ll be looking forward to the sequel(s).
Audiobook was purchased for review by ABR.
February 18, 2016
Having received this book as a part of the firs-reads program, I was yet again excited to test a new author's work.
I have to say up front, I love this book. While the story is geared towards a bit too low of a reading level, and he treats the potential reader much like the crew of the ship, things came together nicely. There was enough resolution in this first book of five to wrap up the introduction well, and enough major questions left unanswered to draw the reader back for round two, and potentially rounds three through five.
I have to say up front, I love this book. While the story is geared towards a bit too low of a reading level, and he treats the potential reader much like the crew of the ship, things came together nicely. There was enough resolution in this first book of five to wrap up the introduction well, and enough major questions left unanswered to draw the reader back for round two, and potentially rounds three through five.
February 23, 2016
First off I will say this is definitely a YA story. The MC are teenagers and instead of having complex plot-lines and subtext it is pretty straight forward with the MC involved in things no teenager would normally be allowed to do. Things like piloting ships, teaching other kids, shooting weapons, ect. That being said it was an engaging read with enjoyable characters. There were some mysteries that still have me guessing and I really felt for the characters and the problems they faced.
July 14, 2017
Couldn't read past the first third.
Struggled to read the little bit that I did. I found the main character to be irritating and could not relate to him. Maybe it gets better later on but the behavior exhibited by literally every character introduced in the story was insane. They seemed like they were intentionally written to be bad stock characters.
Maybe it gets better later on but I couldn't force myself to keep going.
Struggled to read the little bit that I did. I found the main character to be irritating and could not relate to him. Maybe it gets better later on but the behavior exhibited by literally every character introduced in the story was insane. They seemed like they were intentionally written to be bad stock characters.
Maybe it gets better later on but I couldn't force myself to keep going.
December 11, 2016
The paramilitary story environment reminded me of Starship Troopers. Zax is likable, and the story flows smoothly. The young adult genre tropes of children doing adult things is alive and well in this story. The overall plot structure is without complication, and easy to follow. A great first book in the series, and I look forward to reading more from Jerry Aubin. Landfall is a 3.5-star read.
December 19, 2016
Interesting ideas
The setting and plot points were interesting.
The first part of the book was a little slow.
The pace does pick up nicely. I basically enjoyed the book. However
Many characters seemed too one dimensional. You have your bullies and loyal friends.
I would have liked more character growth.
The setting and plot points were interesting.
The first part of the book was a little slow.
The pace does pick up nicely. I basically enjoyed the book. However
Many characters seemed too one dimensional. You have your bullies and loyal friends.
I would have liked more character growth.
February 19, 2016
A great start to a new series.
Jerry Aubin has started a enjoyable beginning to a new series that'll only get better. The ending was a cliffhanger worth finding out yet another twist in book 2!
Jerry Aubin has started a enjoyable beginning to a new series that'll only get better. The ending was a cliffhanger worth finding out yet another twist in book 2!
Read
July 21, 2016Action, adventure,treachery, plots, rivalry, everything you could want in a book. Even a little bit of affection and respect. I enjoyed this book immensely. A quick read that held my attention from the first page. I recommend this book to anyone. I received this book from Goodreads for free.
July 6, 2016
This is very good YA science fiction. Characters are interesting and growing in legitimate ways. The plot is complicated enough, with lots of story left to tell. I would definitely encourage kids to get involved with this series.
November 1, 2016
Great Story Line
I picked the book up for some lite reading. Then I was caught by the unfolding story, which kept me glued to it. Before finishing this book I already bought the next. Thank you Jerry. I love the book.
I picked the book up for some lite reading. Then I was caught by the unfolding story, which kept me glued to it. Before finishing this book I already bought the next. Thank you Jerry. I love the book.
December 19, 2016
Pretty good juvie spaceship ark story, with an inevitable twist. I was reminded of the Heinlein juvies I read when I was a teen.
March 5, 2024
Nice read. Exciting with interesting and charming characters. The plot is sickening so starting already the 2nd book in the serie now.
April 17, 2016
I received this book from the author as a Goodreads Giveaway.
This is a fun story about a large colony of people that have been travelling through space on The Ship looking for planets in which they can start new human colonies. It is told through the POV of a teenager who has grown up in the elite Crew of the ship. It shows the roles the Crew performs, their day to day life, their missions, and their friendships and adversaries.
I actually would have given this book 4.5 stars if that were an option, but since it was not I think this book deserves to have the overall rating go up slightly instead of down. I really thought that this was an entertaining story with likable characters and enough intrigue to keep me wanting to read and find out what happens next. It was written very simply, but gave enough information on what it is like to grow up and live in a completely different societal structure. There were parts of the society that I would like to know more about, such as if there is family life, dating, etc; or how the Civilians on the Ship live and what has happened to all of the colonies that have been developed, but I think at this point this is information even the main character may not even know. Maybe we will get more about this in the future books. I am generally not into sci-fi OR YA, but this book was a pleasant surprise.
This is a fun story about a large colony of people that have been travelling through space on The Ship looking for planets in which they can start new human colonies. It is told through the POV of a teenager who has grown up in the elite Crew of the ship. It shows the roles the Crew performs, their day to day life, their missions, and their friendships and adversaries.
I actually would have given this book 4.5 stars if that were an option, but since it was not I think this book deserves to have the overall rating go up slightly instead of down. I really thought that this was an entertaining story with likable characters and enough intrigue to keep me wanting to read and find out what happens next. It was written very simply, but gave enough information on what it is like to grow up and live in a completely different societal structure. There were parts of the society that I would like to know more about, such as if there is family life, dating, etc; or how the Civilians on the Ship live and what has happened to all of the colonies that have been developed, but I think at this point this is information even the main character may not even know. Maybe we will get more about this in the future books. I am generally not into sci-fi OR YA, but this book was a pleasant surprise.
February 5, 2017
An outstanding sci-fi book! I couldn't put it down!
As one of the highest ranking cadets, Zak is finding that his dreams of becoming a more integral part of the Ship are getting closer. With only studies to teach him of the end of Earth over 5,000 years ago, he tries to do his utmost to ace his classes....and avoid the bullies.
When he is paired up with a chatterbox of a cadet named Kalare, he realizes that (one) girls don't need to breathe as much when they talk and (two) he might have just found a true and intelligent friend.
However, everything that Zak has been striving for is thrown into chaos with an infinitesimal discovery.....and who knows what the cost will be?
An amazing story that brought me back to my youthful days of reading Orson Scott Card, Douglas Adams, and Eoin Colfer. A wonderful tale that has me begging for the next book. Very well done!
As one of the highest ranking cadets, Zak is finding that his dreams of becoming a more integral part of the Ship are getting closer. With only studies to teach him of the end of Earth over 5,000 years ago, he tries to do his utmost to ace his classes....and avoid the bullies.
When he is paired up with a chatterbox of a cadet named Kalare, he realizes that (one) girls don't need to breathe as much when they talk and (two) he might have just found a true and intelligent friend.
However, everything that Zak has been striving for is thrown into chaos with an infinitesimal discovery.....and who knows what the cost will be?
An amazing story that brought me back to my youthful days of reading Orson Scott Card, Douglas Adams, and Eoin Colfer. A wonderful tale that has me begging for the next book. Very well done!
October 21, 2016
Great Sci-Fi Novel!
I use to be an avid reader, but thanks to college, I have not read a book from beginning to end in over 5 years. College made reading a chore with the dry, textbooks and required reading from books that held very little interest from me.
Because of that, I've avoided reading! However, Landfall has broken that awful streak and allowed me to sit down and read a novel for once. The past couple days have been wonderful as I rediscovered the calmness and good feelings of reading a book despite a stressful career. Not to mention the long lost feeling of what finishing a book page to page feels like without the tedious skimming of paragraphs just for the sake of being in a rush to finish without actually enjoying the literature.
I use to be an avid reader, but thanks to college, I have not read a book from beginning to end in over 5 years. College made reading a chore with the dry, textbooks and required reading from books that held very little interest from me.
Because of that, I've avoided reading! However, Landfall has broken that awful streak and allowed me to sit down and read a novel for once. The past couple days have been wonderful as I rediscovered the calmness and good feelings of reading a book despite a stressful career. Not to mention the long lost feeling of what finishing a book page to page feels like without the tedious skimming of paragraphs just for the sake of being in a rush to finish without actually enjoying the literature.
December 30, 2016
I didn't realize this was YA S/F before I started reading it, but I enjoyed it anyway. In a lot of good ways it reminded me of R.A. Heinlein's YA S/F (Podkayne of Mars, etc.) of which I'm quite fond. There's lots of naval and marine military situations, camaraderie, adventure, and mystery.
My biggest complaint is that little is resolved. I understand that the author and publisher want me to buy the next volume. But I prefer that the current one be wrapped up, then perhaps tease me into the next. I have no idea whether the story will be resolved in the next book, so it's likely I won't bother finding out.
My biggest complaint is that little is resolved. I understand that the author and publisher want me to buy the next volume. But I prefer that the current one be wrapped up, then perhaps tease me into the next. I have no idea whether the story will be resolved in the next book, so it's likely I won't bother finding out.
November 10, 2016
One of the best on unlimited
One of the best things about Kindle Unlimited is trying new authors without worrying about wasting money on a book that sucks. Unfortunately there are a lot of books that suck on Unlimited. However, this one was a real page-turner. The book is essentially "soft" sci-fi that obviously draws from a few different books. I would say it's a mix between Hugh Howey's 'Wool' and Ender's Game. I read it in about a day and enjoyed every minute of it. Give this author a shot, I can't recommend this book enough.
One of the best things about Kindle Unlimited is trying new authors without worrying about wasting money on a book that sucks. Unfortunately there are a lot of books that suck on Unlimited. However, this one was a real page-turner. The book is essentially "soft" sci-fi that obviously draws from a few different books. I would say it's a mix between Hugh Howey's 'Wool' and Ender's Game. I read it in about a day and enjoyed every minute of it. Give this author a shot, I can't recommend this book enough.
November 2, 2016
Landfall is good for a quick easy read. The storyline is fun, but the book as a whole suffered from prescriptive descriptions of emotional states of its characters. I enjoy non-fiction reading because it flexes my empathy muscles and Landfall felt a lot like a sound track got encoded in low definition and distinctive notes that would otherwise give me goosebumps got flattened.
October 11, 2016
Interesting
This book gave a realistic look at how humans may create large space craft. The characters stayed consistent and their accomplishments were merited through hard work, timely actions, and a bit of luck. Not a bad read!
This book gave a realistic look at how humans may create large space craft. The characters stayed consistent and their accomplishments were merited through hard work, timely actions, and a bit of luck. Not a bad read!
October 27, 2016
4.5 stars. A fun space yarn. Science fiction set on a generation ship, cryogenic passengers, space battles, some mystery about those who control things, young romance, plausible science. Free right now if you have Amazon Prime.
October 19, 2016
Great!
Really good book. I'm a fan of sci-fi and dystopia and this book had all the ingredients to please me.
Really good book. I'm a fan of sci-fi and dystopia and this book had all the ingredients to please me.
June 1, 2017
Goodreads Synopsis:
5,000 years into a Mission meant to last 100, both the Ship and its society are on the verge of collapse.
Launched as the last gasp of a dying Earth, the Ship set out to preserve humanity by seeding the universe with one billion colonists. Generations of Crew, trained to be either Flight or Marines, have protected the Ship and its civilian cargo from the constant threat of alien violence.
Fifteen-year-old Zax has always had trouble fitting in with the other cadets, but he's finally on the cusp of attaining his dream and gaining entrance to the Flight Academy. Catching the eye of the Flight Boss and winning him as a mentor should guarantee Zax a top spot, unless the shocking discovery he makes along the way destroys not only his career, but also the Ship itself.
My Review:
Zax is fifteen and has a habit of puking whenever the spaceship he lives on, jumps through space. I don't blame him. That would probably make me sick too. He's super smart, and bullied a lot. But that doesn't stop him from doing whatever he wants. I love books about space and aliens, so this book was great for me. I was immediately sucked into the story and although I am five years older than Zax is, I didn't feel too old reading this like I usually do when the characters are below a certain age. The characters in the book acted their age, and the story was action packed and super interesting. I don't have much to say about this book, but I really enjoyed reading it, and there isn't really anything I didn't like about it. I will definitely check out the next book in the series!
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
5,000 years into a Mission meant to last 100, both the Ship and its society are on the verge of collapse.
Launched as the last gasp of a dying Earth, the Ship set out to preserve humanity by seeding the universe with one billion colonists. Generations of Crew, trained to be either Flight or Marines, have protected the Ship and its civilian cargo from the constant threat of alien violence.
Fifteen-year-old Zax has always had trouble fitting in with the other cadets, but he's finally on the cusp of attaining his dream and gaining entrance to the Flight Academy. Catching the eye of the Flight Boss and winning him as a mentor should guarantee Zax a top spot, unless the shocking discovery he makes along the way destroys not only his career, but also the Ship itself.
My Review:
Zax is fifteen and has a habit of puking whenever the spaceship he lives on, jumps through space. I don't blame him. That would probably make me sick too. He's super smart, and bullied a lot. But that doesn't stop him from doing whatever he wants. I love books about space and aliens, so this book was great for me. I was immediately sucked into the story and although I am five years older than Zax is, I didn't feel too old reading this like I usually do when the characters are below a certain age. The characters in the book acted their age, and the story was action packed and super interesting. I don't have much to say about this book, but I really enjoyed reading it, and there isn't really anything I didn't like about it. I will definitely check out the next book in the series!
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
August 28, 2025
Landfall by Jerry Aubin
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
Aubin launches readers into a high-concept spacefaring saga aboard the Ship—a generational ark carrying the remnants of humanity across the stars. With a premise that blends military sci-fi and coming-of-age drama, Landfall sets the stage for an epic journey. But while the setup is compelling, the execution occasionally stumbles.
The Good:
• The worldbuilding is ambitious and immersive. The idea of a billion colonists protected by generations of trained crew evokes shades of Battlestar Galactica and Ender’s Game, with a dash of Halo thrown in for good measure.
• Zax, the teenage protagonist, is easy to root for. His struggle to fit in and rise through the ranks adds emotional weight to the story, especially as he uncovers secrets that threaten everything.
• The pacing is brisk, and the stakes escalate quickly, keeping the tension high.
The Not-So-Good:
• Some plot developments feel undercooked or inconsistent. There are moments where character decisions or world logic don’t quite add up, pulling the reader out of the narrative.
• The supporting cast could use more depth—many feel like archetypes rather than fully realized individuals.
• While the mystery Zax uncovers is intriguing, its resolution leans on exposition rather than earned revelation.
Verdict:
Landfall is a solid start to a series with big ideas and a likable lead, but it doesn’t fully stick the landing. Worth checking out if you enjoy space academy stories and don’t mind a few narrative hiccups. I’ll be curious to see if future installments tighten the bolts and expand the emotional core.
Happy reading 🚀🪐📚
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
Aubin launches readers into a high-concept spacefaring saga aboard the Ship—a generational ark carrying the remnants of humanity across the stars. With a premise that blends military sci-fi and coming-of-age drama, Landfall sets the stage for an epic journey. But while the setup is compelling, the execution occasionally stumbles.
The Good:
• The worldbuilding is ambitious and immersive. The idea of a billion colonists protected by generations of trained crew evokes shades of Battlestar Galactica and Ender’s Game, with a dash of Halo thrown in for good measure.
• Zax, the teenage protagonist, is easy to root for. His struggle to fit in and rise through the ranks adds emotional weight to the story, especially as he uncovers secrets that threaten everything.
• The pacing is brisk, and the stakes escalate quickly, keeping the tension high.
The Not-So-Good:
• Some plot developments feel undercooked or inconsistent. There are moments where character decisions or world logic don’t quite add up, pulling the reader out of the narrative.
• The supporting cast could use more depth—many feel like archetypes rather than fully realized individuals.
• While the mystery Zax uncovers is intriguing, its resolution leans on exposition rather than earned revelation.
Verdict:
Landfall is a solid start to a series with big ideas and a likable lead, but it doesn’t fully stick the landing. Worth checking out if you enjoy space academy stories and don’t mind a few narrative hiccups. I’ll be curious to see if future installments tighten the bolts and expand the emotional core.
Happy reading 🚀🪐📚
May 20, 2017
I actually ended up enjoying this book. And while I would like to rate it 3.75, there were too many things that bothered me about it to bump it up to a 4.
First off, the first two chapters were terrible. I wanted to stop reading because of them, and I never do that. Fortunately, the book got better. Chapter three drew my interest, and not long afterward, the first exciting events of the story take place.
Though I was drawn into the story, I was still dissatisfied with awkward writing, odd word choice, and a few typos I found. A FEW examples:
"She rolled the dice (!) to pick Flight Ops and miraculously walked into a situation where she earned five thousand (!!) bonus points on her first (!!!) shift, only to put all of that at risk to score a little extra edge over Zac by arguing with the Flight Boss (!!!!) about how many more she deserved."
"The officer's smile widened even furthered."
"The man turned to face them and Zax was shocked to identify him as the sergeant they had met their very first day in Marine Country. The sergeant whose coffee Zax had spilled. The sergeant with a smile of recognition which revealed he indeed never forgot a face."
"I think he was pleased about how I hadn't told you about the fighter, but it felt was like he was testing me since he asked three separate times in three different ways whether or not you knew about it."
Overall, the story was fine. It was predictable or obvious at parts, but not in an annoying way.
First off, the first two chapters were terrible. I wanted to stop reading because of them, and I never do that. Fortunately, the book got better. Chapter three drew my interest, and not long afterward, the first exciting events of the story take place.
Though I was drawn into the story, I was still dissatisfied with awkward writing, odd word choice, and a few typos I found. A FEW examples:
"She rolled the dice (!) to pick Flight Ops and miraculously walked into a situation where she earned five thousand (!!) bonus points on her first (!!!) shift, only to put all of that at risk to score a little extra edge over Zac by arguing with the Flight Boss (!!!!) about how many more she deserved."
"The officer's smile widened even furthered."
"The man turned to face them and Zax was shocked to identify him as the sergeant they had met their very first day in Marine Country. The sergeant whose coffee Zax had spilled. The sergeant with a smile of recognition which revealed he indeed never forgot a face."
"I think he was pleased about how I hadn't told you about the fighter, but it felt was like he was testing me since he asked three separate times in three different ways whether or not you knew about it."
Overall, the story was fine. It was predictable or obvious at parts, but not in an annoying way.
February 18, 2019
This is first rate YA science fiction, a series of five books. It reminded me of Ender’s Game with a touch of Star Trek. Earth is a dying planet and humanity heads into space to save the human race, harnessing an asteroid as its star ship. The teenage protagonist, Zax, is likeable, earnest and often fearless. The author, Jerry Aubin, is apparently a tech guy and it shows in his mastery of explaining new technology without letting it get in the way of a fast-paced story. This is serious sci fi with a few creatures but it’s also an engaging and compelling read with interesting characters, lots of plot twists and moral challenges. I enjoyed the entire series. Sometimes I’m not a fan of ending a book on a cliff hanger, which he does, but I was invested in the series so it really didn’t matter. In this future time, teenagers and adults actually speak in complete sentences which is unusual for a novel like this but perhaps heartening that someday people will be able to move beyond emojis and monosyllabic communication. I recommend it.
August 16, 2024
( Format : Audiobook )
"The one and only lighthouse for humanity."
An huge ship, carrying Earth's survivors, most in cryo but still with a,substantial crew, flying in deep space in search of new inhabitable planets on which to seed humanity's future. The reader is given only a shadowy impression of the where,when, why and hows of this great space monolith, concentrating entirely on the now as the story revolves around Zax, a 15 years old boy, bright and near the top of the ability charts, aiming for a top job, but friendless, picked on and afraid of loss of merits which could precipitate his journey out of the ranks of crew and into the tanks of the frozen.Claudius
This is very much a Young Adult story, very two dimensional, with lacklustre action and devoid of character content - other than boy meets girl by throwing up and she becomes, of couse, the one to look out for him. Could make a decent enough YP movie.
Read by Eric Martin who holds it together enough to keep it interesting, and a free download through the Audible Plus programme.
"The one and only lighthouse for humanity."
An huge ship, carrying Earth's survivors, most in cryo but still with a,substantial crew, flying in deep space in search of new inhabitable planets on which to seed humanity's future. The reader is given only a shadowy impression of the where,when, why and hows of this great space monolith, concentrating entirely on the now as the story revolves around Zax, a 15 years old boy, bright and near the top of the ability charts, aiming for a top job, but friendless, picked on and afraid of loss of merits which could precipitate his journey out of the ranks of crew and into the tanks of the frozen.Claudius
This is very much a Young Adult story, very two dimensional, with lacklustre action and devoid of character content - other than boy meets girl by throwing up and she becomes, of couse, the one to look out for him. Could make a decent enough YP movie.
Read by Eric Martin who holds it together enough to keep it interesting, and a free download through the Audible Plus programme.
October 17, 2017
Guys, this is a stay up all night, cause you can't put it down book
I absolutely loved this book. Yes I found some typo's, but if the story has got me hooked. I could care less about typo's. With the word ship in the title, you have to have guessed it's a sci-fi book. Quick summary: Earth has sent a huge ship to colonize planets because the plant is dying. The story is based 5000 years in the future on that ship. There are two classes of people. The crew,and marines which are genetically engineered and grown people. They run the ship and police it. Then there are the civilians. They do the grunt work aboard the ship and are the ones left on the planets to colonize (for the most part) The main character is one of the crew. This is a story about him.
Guys, this is a stay up all night, cause you can't put it down- so good. So do yourself a favor and read it! Someday I can totally see this being a movie someday.
I absolutely loved this book. Yes I found some typo's, but if the story has got me hooked. I could care less about typo's. With the word ship in the title, you have to have guessed it's a sci-fi book. Quick summary: Earth has sent a huge ship to colonize planets because the plant is dying. The story is based 5000 years in the future on that ship. There are two classes of people. The crew,and marines which are genetically engineered and grown people. They run the ship and police it. Then there are the civilians. They do the grunt work aboard the ship and are the ones left on the planets to colonize (for the most part) The main character is one of the crew. This is a story about him.
Guys, this is a stay up all night, cause you can't put it down- so good. So do yourself a favor and read it! Someday I can totally see this being a movie someday.
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