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Mineran #1
Mineran Influence
Sam, an ex-soldier who is trying to rediscover himself after twenty years of service, stumbles upon a mysterious alien presence in rural Wales. He is drawn into dangerous situations that are out of his control whilst trying to discover if the aliens are as benevolent as they claim.
Sam is wary of his new friend and mentor, Reb, as they traverse to the centre of the secret enclave. Here Sam comes face to face with his greatest challenge yet, not only does he have to overcome his fears and scepticism he also has to deal with many deadly alien life forms. He soon finds himself embroiled in intrigue, alien technology, assassination attempts and stumbles into conflicts that threaten more than his own life. As with most things in life there are good and bad and the aliens are no different. Sam is caught up in a spider’s web of intrigue as he and his new allies seek the truth behind a heinous plot. Learning that there is much more in the universe, Sam embarks on a journey that will change him forever, meeting new friends and discovering deadly enemies, he forges on to find justice.
Sam is wary of his new friend and mentor, Reb, as they traverse to the centre of the secret enclave. Here Sam comes face to face with his greatest challenge yet, not only does he have to overcome his fears and scepticism he also has to deal with many deadly alien life forms. He soon finds himself embroiled in intrigue, alien technology, assassination attempts and stumbles into conflicts that threaten more than his own life. As with most things in life there are good and bad and the aliens are no different. Sam is caught up in a spider’s web of intrigue as he and his new allies seek the truth behind a heinous plot. Learning that there is much more in the universe, Sam embarks on a journey that will change him forever, meeting new friends and discovering deadly enemies, he forges on to find justice.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 12, 2016
2 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 29, 2016
I have two bits of advice for any fledgling authors out there:
#1. Hire an editor. Editors are your friends.
#2. Don't try to screw with people who review your books, even if you don't like their reviews.
My first review, which did not include any star rating, was flagged and then removed by GR because it did not focus on the content of the book. For further information on the sock puppetry that led to my original review, take a look at this thread, starting with Post #23: SFFWorld thread. (And no, the central issue of sock puppetry is not whether a person could or could not have read a book when they claim to have read it; the issue is that the person is misrepresenting themselves as a disinterested reader when actually they have a personal and/or financial stake in whether the book sells.)
Since someone (I wonder who) obviously didn't appreciate my previous review, I was happy to download the free Kindle sample that is now available at Amazon and check it out so that I could post a new, more substantive review. And here's what I found:
My first impression is one of clunky writing with waaaay too much explanation and too many factual and lexical errors. The grammar and punctuation are actually not too bad for a self-published book, though hardly perfect -- but the general long-windedness and air of "look how much I can show off all the research I did before writing this" eliminate any chance of a reader being grabbed by the story's opening scenes.
A few examples of problem passages:
1: "Again he inserted the key, activated the barely visible print scanner with his little pinkie and carefully sang the first two lines from Louis Prima’s 1946 swing classic, ‘“ Just a Gigolo’”, at the correct tempo of 127 beats per minute."
-- This cracked me up. Aside from the clunky construction and those oddly doubled quotation marks, as an experienced musician myself, I know that it would be nearly impossible to reliably hit precisely 127 beats per minute without a metronome. Is this some superpower of Our Hero?
-- Additional note: authors should fact check their references. This song was not actually written by Louis Prima nor written in 1946; in fact, it was adapted into English by Irving Caesar in 1929 from an Austrian tango. And Louis Prima recorded the song in 1945 and 1956, not in 1946. Get your facts straight, please!
-- And btw, what is a "little pinkie"? Is there such a thing as a "big pinkie"?? Redundant much? (Yes, thanks, we all know that a "pinkie" is a little finger. Duh. "Little pinkie", however, is redundant -- look up the word "redundant" sometime.)
2: "With slow but firm precision, he loaded 15 hollow-points into the magazines, having checked the tension in the springs first. A common rookie mistake was to leave the magazines loaded in storage, causing the spring tension to decrease with fatigue and consequently causing a jam at a most inconvenient time. Sam slowly inserted a magazine and cocked the weapon, the smell of the gun oil filling his nostrils as the first bullet entered the chamber. He ejected the magazine back into his hand to insert another round and then replaced it back into the butt of the Glock."
-- No, we really do NOT need to know all this. I promise. We don't care if you are eager to use every bit of research that you did while prepping to write this book -- and we equally don't care if you happen to already know all these details. Just get on with the story, please!
-- Yes, there are many additional examples of this overtelling and showing-off-the-research in the first few pages alone. No, I won't inflict them on you.
3: "This simple walk across the Mineran landscape had thwarted him several times and, in hindsight, in suspicious circumstances."
-- Another remark that cracked me up. This guy has just told us that he had been starting out on a hike, but the next thing he remembers is "sobering up" stinking of whisky, and he's several miles from where he had been at his last memory. And now he thinks those circumstances just might possibly be suspicious? Might be? Seriously? This sounds rather like a blackout drunk who has become inured to waking up in strange places, not like the competent professional we're supposed to believe he is.
4: "Society could afford to lose a few of the rich, pimple-faced executives with cosmetically rebuilt columellae"
-- Please. Don't try to prove to readers how smart you are by throwing the dictionary at them, especially when you are using the word incorrectly. The columella is part of the inner ear, not something that would be cosmetically rebuilt. (Merriam-Webster: col·u·mel·la -- 2a : the bony or partly cartilaginous rod connecting the tympanic membrane with the internal ear in birds and in many reptiles and amphibians; b : the bony central axis of the cochlea.) Now, if we go over to dig through M-W Medical Dictionary, we do find this additional definition: "the lower part of the nasal septum". We can imagine this being cosmetically rebuilt, but it's hardly anything that folks would go around noticing left and right, now is it? What you really mean is "executives with nose jobs." Refer back to "don't throw the dictionary at people" -- if you mean nasal septum, then for heaven's sake SAY "nasal septum", or better yet, "nose jobs" (which includes a much broader set of cosmetic surgeries than merely septal procedures anyway). You want to draw readers in, not put them off or set them to laughing at you.
5: "After giving him a quick once-over, and telling Sam not to go walking when still drunk, his prognosis was that his thick skull was normal except it housed a Homer-sized brain."
-- This is not a prognosis, it's a diagnosis. Again, it's a bad idea to try to impress readers when you don't even know the proper words to use.
6: "The surrounding fields had a smattering of arable, horticultural and livestock, where small, tired-looking hedges enclosed grassy areas."
-- Um. Yet another example of the above dictionary problem. "Arable" land IS horticultural. Arable means capable of growing crops. And horticultural means -- guess what -- pertaining to growing plants.
7: "It was a little before 11 am, the sun was shining, and a varied selection of birds were singing a plethora of songs trying to attract mates now that spring had arrived."
-- Wow. Clunky writing, much?
Anyway -- you get the point. All these examples are just a few selections from the free sample, folks. Can you imagine how many more there must be in the book as a whole?
The plot might eventually turn out to be interesting; I wouldn't know. The sample certainly isn't. And the excruciatingly boring prose would be likely to suffocate any possible excitement before the reader had a chance to notice it.
Based on the sample, I would probably have rated this book at two stars under most circumstances. But due to conduct unbecoming, I'm knocking it down to one.
#1. Hire an editor. Editors are your friends.
#2. Don't try to screw with people who review your books, even if you don't like their reviews.
My first review, which did not include any star rating, was flagged and then removed by GR because it did not focus on the content of the book. For further information on the sock puppetry that led to my original review, take a look at this thread, starting with Post #23: SFFWorld thread. (And no, the central issue of sock puppetry is not whether a person could or could not have read a book when they claim to have read it; the issue is that the person is misrepresenting themselves as a disinterested reader when actually they have a personal and/or financial stake in whether the book sells.)
Since someone (I wonder who) obviously didn't appreciate my previous review, I was happy to download the free Kindle sample that is now available at Amazon and check it out so that I could post a new, more substantive review. And here's what I found:
My first impression is one of clunky writing with waaaay too much explanation and too many factual and lexical errors. The grammar and punctuation are actually not too bad for a self-published book, though hardly perfect -- but the general long-windedness and air of "look how much I can show off all the research I did before writing this" eliminate any chance of a reader being grabbed by the story's opening scenes.
A few examples of problem passages:
1: "Again he inserted the key, activated the barely visible print scanner with his little pinkie and carefully sang the first two lines from Louis Prima’s 1946 swing classic, ‘“ Just a Gigolo’”, at the correct tempo of 127 beats per minute."
-- This cracked me up. Aside from the clunky construction and those oddly doubled quotation marks, as an experienced musician myself, I know that it would be nearly impossible to reliably hit precisely 127 beats per minute without a metronome. Is this some superpower of Our Hero?
-- Additional note: authors should fact check their references. This song was not actually written by Louis Prima nor written in 1946; in fact, it was adapted into English by Irving Caesar in 1929 from an Austrian tango. And Louis Prima recorded the song in 1945 and 1956, not in 1946. Get your facts straight, please!
-- And btw, what is a "little pinkie"? Is there such a thing as a "big pinkie"?? Redundant much? (Yes, thanks, we all know that a "pinkie" is a little finger. Duh. "Little pinkie", however, is redundant -- look up the word "redundant" sometime.)
2: "With slow but firm precision, he loaded 15 hollow-points into the magazines, having checked the tension in the springs first. A common rookie mistake was to leave the magazines loaded in storage, causing the spring tension to decrease with fatigue and consequently causing a jam at a most inconvenient time. Sam slowly inserted a magazine and cocked the weapon, the smell of the gun oil filling his nostrils as the first bullet entered the chamber. He ejected the magazine back into his hand to insert another round and then replaced it back into the butt of the Glock."
-- No, we really do NOT need to know all this. I promise. We don't care if you are eager to use every bit of research that you did while prepping to write this book -- and we equally don't care if you happen to already know all these details. Just get on with the story, please!
-- Yes, there are many additional examples of this overtelling and showing-off-the-research in the first few pages alone. No, I won't inflict them on you.
3: "This simple walk across the Mineran landscape had thwarted him several times and, in hindsight, in suspicious circumstances."
-- Another remark that cracked me up. This guy has just told us that he had been starting out on a hike, but the next thing he remembers is "sobering up" stinking of whisky, and he's several miles from where he had been at his last memory. And now he thinks those circumstances just might possibly be suspicious? Might be? Seriously? This sounds rather like a blackout drunk who has become inured to waking up in strange places, not like the competent professional we're supposed to believe he is.
4: "Society could afford to lose a few of the rich, pimple-faced executives with cosmetically rebuilt columellae"
-- Please. Don't try to prove to readers how smart you are by throwing the dictionary at them, especially when you are using the word incorrectly. The columella is part of the inner ear, not something that would be cosmetically rebuilt. (Merriam-Webster: col·u·mel·la -- 2a : the bony or partly cartilaginous rod connecting the tympanic membrane with the internal ear in birds and in many reptiles and amphibians; b : the bony central axis of the cochlea.) Now, if we go over to dig through M-W Medical Dictionary, we do find this additional definition: "the lower part of the nasal septum". We can imagine this being cosmetically rebuilt, but it's hardly anything that folks would go around noticing left and right, now is it? What you really mean is "executives with nose jobs." Refer back to "don't throw the dictionary at people" -- if you mean nasal septum, then for heaven's sake SAY "nasal septum", or better yet, "nose jobs" (which includes a much broader set of cosmetic surgeries than merely septal procedures anyway). You want to draw readers in, not put them off or set them to laughing at you.
5: "After giving him a quick once-over, and telling Sam not to go walking when still drunk, his prognosis was that his thick skull was normal except it housed a Homer-sized brain."
-- This is not a prognosis, it's a diagnosis. Again, it's a bad idea to try to impress readers when you don't even know the proper words to use.
6: "The surrounding fields had a smattering of arable, horticultural and livestock, where small, tired-looking hedges enclosed grassy areas."
-- Um. Yet another example of the above dictionary problem. "Arable" land IS horticultural. Arable means capable of growing crops. And horticultural means -- guess what -- pertaining to growing plants.
7: "It was a little before 11 am, the sun was shining, and a varied selection of birds were singing a plethora of songs trying to attract mates now that spring had arrived."
-- Wow. Clunky writing, much?
Anyway -- you get the point. All these examples are just a few selections from the free sample, folks. Can you imagine how many more there must be in the book as a whole?
The plot might eventually turn out to be interesting; I wouldn't know. The sample certainly isn't. And the excruciatingly boring prose would be likely to suffocate any possible excitement before the reader had a chance to notice it.
Based on the sample, I would probably have rated this book at two stars under most circumstances. But due to conduct unbecoming, I'm knocking it down to one.
February 9, 2016
The plot of this story is quite good. Aliens have been around for a LONG time and the main character of the story bumps into some of them on a walk around.....and not just the once it seems.
Starting to read the book I then realised it is set around where I grew up so I started to get a small level of familiarity to the surroundings being described. From the start you don't expect the acceleration for an earthling getting embroiled with Aliens...however as the story develops you learn this ex-military man is still evaluating and learning, trying to adjust to some massive leaps and still try to be in control. This is just as we are slowly learning about the author's view of the "universe" and how Earth fits into it.
The ingenuity within the story is good, however at times there are deep tangents to attempt to explain things being mentioned and then a quick divert back to the storyline. Whilst this happens it doesn't detract from the story and the need to keep reading to learn more about the vision of Earth and its past as the aliens have seen it along the lines as we earthlings are used to.
The author bridges quite a few areas of scifi we are used to (time travel, worm holes, genetics, etc.) but brings them well into a defined story line. One disappointment is how abrupt the story ended in the book - they are about to do some things, discover who a traitor is and then ends. No hint of continuation etc - just as I was getting to empathize with Sam I want to know what happens next and why he is key and other aliens seem to want him. Or is this a very clever cliff hanger....
An enjoyable read, and one that I want to know what happens next and how things develop. A good sign for what could be the start of a series.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Starting to read the book I then realised it is set around where I grew up so I started to get a small level of familiarity to the surroundings being described. From the start you don't expect the acceleration for an earthling getting embroiled with Aliens...however as the story develops you learn this ex-military man is still evaluating and learning, trying to adjust to some massive leaps and still try to be in control. This is just as we are slowly learning about the author's view of the "universe" and how Earth fits into it.
The ingenuity within the story is good, however at times there are deep tangents to attempt to explain things being mentioned and then a quick divert back to the storyline. Whilst this happens it doesn't detract from the story and the need to keep reading to learn more about the vision of Earth and its past as the aliens have seen it along the lines as we earthlings are used to.
The author bridges quite a few areas of scifi we are used to (time travel, worm holes, genetics, etc.) but brings them well into a defined story line. One disappointment is how abrupt the story ended in the book - they are about to do some things, discover who a traitor is and then ends. No hint of continuation etc - just as I was getting to empathize with Sam I want to know what happens next and why he is key and other aliens seem to want him. Or is this a very clever cliff hanger....
An enjoyable read, and one that I want to know what happens next and how things develop. A good sign for what could be the start of a series.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
September 16, 2018
I was attracted to this book simply because I know the Minera area. I am not a great sci-fi fan so was prepared not to enjoy the book. Nothing could be further from the truth. I was soon gripped. The location description is credible and I could imagine myself there. The author clearly carried out much research for this book. The characterisation is strong. I was soon caring what would happen to Sam Shepard. Some of the 'aggression' events lost me, but that is more about me than about the text. There is some excellent dialogue which keeps the story moving and makes you want to read on. There is a lot to keep track of in this book, but the style and structure help you to do that. Well done to P.N. Burrows. You got me reading something that I thought that I wouldn't enjoy.
January 18, 2017
With inventive zeal, Burrows takes us on a spacefaring adventure. Employing the soldier’s skills in surveillance, survival and combat, we follow Sam through a series of events that are bewildering yet intrinsically believable, as various mysteries of the universe are revealed. Battling an unknown sniper who threatens to destroy both the known and unknown, Sam’s unlikely comrades in arms challenge the reader’s understanding of good and evil, state and police control and the Earth’s place in the cosmos. Are all aliens bent on destruction? Are humans the only guardians of our planet? Just how many ‘major climate changing apocalyptic populace extinctive wars’ have taken place on Earth already?
In this fast-paced narrative, Burrows links the village of Minera on the outskirts of the washed-out town of Wrexham to the highly-advanced, technologically brilliant, super race of Minerans through gravitational distortions, wormholes and metal-blasting portals.
This is a compelling read, with flashes of black humour, technical wizardry and an enigmatic ending.
In this fast-paced narrative, Burrows links the village of Minera on the outskirts of the washed-out town of Wrexham to the highly-advanced, technologically brilliant, super race of Minerans through gravitational distortions, wormholes and metal-blasting portals.
This is a compelling read, with flashes of black humour, technical wizardry and an enigmatic ending.
March 25, 2017
This novel is unlike anything I have read. I think that it is a great testament to the imagination of a writer that I can say that. This novel really kept me on my toes as far as expecting the unexpected.
I enjoyed that some aspects of the story were taken from history and facts and other were complete fantasy. It was a great balancing act.
I really enjoyed the pacing and how it was steady throughout. It is fast paced and doesn't let up and didn't have moments that dragged. It made for a fast and furious read.
It really shined light on to the characters and world in general.
I enjoyed that some aspects of the story were taken from history and facts and other were complete fantasy. It was a great balancing act.
I really enjoyed the pacing and how it was steady throughout. It is fast paced and doesn't let up and didn't have moments that dragged. It made for a fast and furious read.
It really shined light on to the characters and world in general.
March 25, 2017
This was a Sci-Fi novel that really made me think on a deeper level than most Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels.
I liked that this novel is written and can be enjoyed by all fans of Sci-Fi and Fantasy.
There is a lot going on and a lot to understand since you are diving into a new world. I think that P N Burrows really managed to keep his readers up to speed by giving them just enough along the way without making them feel lost or bogged down with information.
I liked that this novel is written and can be enjoyed by all fans of Sci-Fi and Fantasy.
There is a lot going on and a lot to understand since you are diving into a new world. I think that P N Burrows really managed to keep his readers up to speed by giving them just enough along the way without making them feel lost or bogged down with information.
April 12, 2017
This was a thrill ride and quite a fun read. I liked that from the very beginning we understood what the “world” was looking for and what would happen once they got it.
Sam as a main character really drew me in.
Great, Sci Fi novel and writing from P.N. Burrows. The world he has created is so vivid and really helps the reader feel like they are there with the characters.
A strong and fast paced plot will keep you invested the entire way through.
Sam as a main character really drew me in.
Great, Sci Fi novel and writing from P.N. Burrows. The world he has created is so vivid and really helps the reader feel like they are there with the characters.
A strong and fast paced plot will keep you invested the entire way through.
March 25, 2017
I think this was a very character driven novel. Sam is compelling and fun. His personality really jumps off the pages and makes it easy to get behind him.
The other great thing about this novel was that it was very exciting. There was so much going on and so many twists and turns and unexpected moments. It really kept me as the reader engaged throughout.
The other great thing about this novel was that it was very exciting. There was so much going on and so many twists and turns and unexpected moments. It really kept me as the reader engaged throughout.
March 25, 2017
This novel has a very mysterious element to it. Even from the synopsis you are not sure what you are going to get. I would like to say that P N Burrows does a great job of bringing to life characters and a plot that are fresh and captivating to read about. It is really worth investing the time to delve in and get to the bottom of it. A very well written Sci Fi Novel
December 6, 2016
one of my all time favourite books, absolutely loved it! the story constantly had me gripped I couldn't put the book down. I can't wait for the next book so I can continue the journey. highly recommend
September 17, 2018
This is a gripping adventure for any sci-fi enthusiast! I was hooked by the suspense and intrigue involved in the story. The descriptive language and experiences of the characters add to the excitement and mystery in the story. As we follow Sam an ex-soldier through his journey he encounters aliens, danger and a personal fight with his own demons. I would highly recommend this story!
February 29, 2016
I'm sorry but this s book wasn't for me. I just couldn't get into it, I tried on many occasions and finally admitted defeat. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in return for an honest review.
May 10, 2021
Enjoyable read
Very much enjoyed this book. I'm now going to be walking around looking for aliens in the local Wrexham area.
Very much enjoyed this book. I'm now going to be walking around looking for aliens in the local Wrexham area.
January 19, 2016
I liked the plot of this story. However, the pacing wasn't quite right and I just didn't connect with the story as much as I had hoped I would. It was good but not great. Very slow start and it got bogged down at times. Interesting but not as entertaining as I would have liked.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews