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The Terran Cycle #1
Intrinsic
2nd edition – 5th March 2021
Praise for Philip C. Quaintrell’s ‘The Terran Cycle’:
‘A breath of fresh air. Philip C Quaintrell is up there with Asher, Hamilton and Banks.’ – Stephen Whitfield – Amazon customer
‘Great blend of sci-fi and fantasy themes, fast-moving and packed with action.’ – Steven Matthews – Amazon customer
---
KALIAN GAINES HAS A SECRET.
He looks like us.
He lives like us.
But he is not one of us…
Lightyears away, a human hand print, embedded into a rock, has been discovered on a moon; yet mankind has never set foot on it. This discovery holds a secret which will sweep Kalian into the heart of a conspiracy that has corrupted the galaxy for two hundred thousand years.
Dive into the first volume in Philip C. Quaintrell’s Terran Cycle quadrilogy, exploring the origins of mankind.
INTRINSIC LAUNCHES AN UNMISSABLE GALAXY-SPANNING EPIC SERIES.
---
‘This is staggeringly good.’ – Kindle customer
‘This series is going to be at the top of my re-read list for the foreseeable future.’ – Jemma R – Amazon customer
Praise for Philip C. Quaintrell’s ‘The Terran Cycle’:
‘A breath of fresh air. Philip C Quaintrell is up there with Asher, Hamilton and Banks.’ – Stephen Whitfield – Amazon customer
‘Great blend of sci-fi and fantasy themes, fast-moving and packed with action.’ – Steven Matthews – Amazon customer
---
KALIAN GAINES HAS A SECRET.
He looks like us.
He lives like us.
But he is not one of us…
Lightyears away, a human hand print, embedded into a rock, has been discovered on a moon; yet mankind has never set foot on it. This discovery holds a secret which will sweep Kalian into the heart of a conspiracy that has corrupted the galaxy for two hundred thousand years.
Dive into the first volume in Philip C. Quaintrell’s Terran Cycle quadrilogy, exploring the origins of mankind.
INTRINSIC LAUNCHES AN UNMISSABLE GALAXY-SPANNING EPIC SERIES.
---
‘This is staggeringly good.’ – Kindle customer
‘This series is going to be at the top of my re-read list for the foreseeable future.’ – Jemma R – Amazon customer
556 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2016
567 people are currently reading
732 people want to read
About the author
Philip C. Quaintrell
26 books1,455 followersPhilip started his career as an emergency nurse and began writing the books he’d want to read as a hobby between shifts.
He published his first novel in 2016, and soon began his epic fantasy series, The Echoes Saga which went straight into the Amazon bestsellers list in 4 countries.
Now one of the best-selling indie authors worldwide, Philip lives in Manchester, England with his wife and two young children and is hoping this is just the beginning.
He published his first novel in 2016, and soon began his epic fantasy series, The Echoes Saga which went straight into the Amazon bestsellers list in 4 countries.
Now one of the best-selling indie authors worldwide, Philip lives in Manchester, England with his wife and two young children and is hoping this is just the beginning.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 21, 2017
Very pleasant surprise, great story on a grand scale.
Yes, there is room for improvement with the writing, but as this is a first novel, I'm sure it will come.
Fewer lengthy combat descriptions would be welcome, but that's just for my personal taste.
Have already purchased the next volume.
Very much recommended.
Yes, there is room for improvement with the writing, but as this is a first novel, I'm sure it will come.
Fewer lengthy combat descriptions would be welcome, but that's just for my personal taste.
Have already purchased the next volume.
Very much recommended.
August 13, 2017
Good plot, interesting ideas but reading this book feels a lot like watching a Netflix sci-fi movie - lots of action, baddies with tattoos, detailed battle and combat scenes but characters are very wooden. The author has some great ideas but needs to develop his style.
December 1, 2025
This book has a lot of things that make me nuts … missing and misplaced commas, homonyms used incorrectly, misspellings, an awkward edit or two, and switches in POV without acknowledgment of such. I reasoned this must be a first book, and as such, gave it more leeway.
My first impression was that the book was like the pulpy Sci-fi stories I read as a teen ... a whole lot of action and not much of the more nuanced writing that now decorates my shelves. When we hit the midway mark of the book, the action was pretty much flat-out. Each chapter was interesting, each POV switch added another layer to the story. At one point, I found my heart pounding; always a good sign when reading.
The world building was good, perhaps a tad excessive occasionally. I really didn’t need a detailed breakdown of a species the MC hadn’t seen for a character that was going to be a driver for three paragraphs. I did get the author’s enthusiasm for the subject though.
The three main characters were good, except that the strong female lead had been relegated to “love interest” by the end of the story, a significant role reduced to providing a reason for the MC to go macho-ham when she was endangered. Tsk - lazy plotting. The third character, a hard-luck drinkin’, fightin’ badass, just sort of drove off into the sunset before the final showdown. I’m not sure if his role is over, or whether he’ll appear in the next books.
The plot was interesting. Earth has grown beyond the home world. Colonies on Luna, and a sister planet, Century, are growing, thanks to a discovery of a downed ship on Century that provided a new clue to long-voyage propulsion. Turns out, there are tons of species who know of us, but are leaving us alone because we have an overseer out there beyond Jupiter, one who can cloak themselves. When humans make the mistake of assuming that we are alone out here in the black, and begin terraforming a planet, one of the other species takes umbrage. Because of course, they own that planet.
There’s a lot more going on that involves our MMC, but it’s convoluted, so I’ll just leave with with saying it’s interesting,
The book is worth a read, and I may go look up the author’s later fantasy works to see how he’s progressed, because he’s a decent storyteller.
My first impression was that the book was like the pulpy Sci-fi stories I read as a teen ... a whole lot of action and not much of the more nuanced writing that now decorates my shelves. When we hit the midway mark of the book, the action was pretty much flat-out. Each chapter was interesting, each POV switch added another layer to the story. At one point, I found my heart pounding; always a good sign when reading.
The world building was good, perhaps a tad excessive occasionally. I really didn’t need a detailed breakdown of a species the MC hadn’t seen for a character that was going to be a driver for three paragraphs. I did get the author’s enthusiasm for the subject though.
The three main characters were good, except that the strong female lead had been relegated to “love interest” by the end of the story, a significant role reduced to providing a reason for the MC to go macho-ham when she was endangered. Tsk - lazy plotting. The third character, a hard-luck drinkin’, fightin’ badass, just sort of drove off into the sunset before the final showdown. I’m not sure if his role is over, or whether he’ll appear in the next books.
The plot was interesting. Earth has grown beyond the home world. Colonies on Luna, and a sister planet, Century, are growing, thanks to a discovery of a downed ship on Century that provided a new clue to long-voyage propulsion. Turns out, there are tons of species who know of us, but are leaving us alone because we have an overseer out there beyond Jupiter, one who can cloak themselves. When humans make the mistake of assuming that we are alone out here in the black, and begin terraforming a planet, one of the other species takes umbrage. Because of course, they own that planet.
There’s a lot more going on that involves our MMC, but it’s convoluted, so I’ll just leave with with saying it’s interesting,
The book is worth a read, and I may go look up the author’s later fantasy works to see how he’s progressed, because he’s a decent storyteller.
November 13, 2016
Good story, poor writing
An interesting plot that certainly kept my attention. However, the writing style is clumsy with the author telling you what people are thinking and feeling rather than exploring it through dialogue.
The biggest issue is that editing is largely non-existent. Lots of commas in the wrong place, incorrect words used (to vs too for example), and repetitious use of words and phrases in the same paragraph.
An interesting plot that certainly kept my attention. However, the writing style is clumsy with the author telling you what people are thinking and feeling rather than exploring it through dialogue.
The biggest issue is that editing is largely non-existent. Lots of commas in the wrong place, incorrect words used (to vs too for example), and repetitious use of words and phrases in the same paragraph.
December 25, 2019
you could tell how young and dumb the writer is by the way he treats love as something special,that love matters and that it could change any thing
you could feel the writer was trying hard to write a good story ,but his naivety was in relief.
you could feel the writer was trying hard to write a good story ,but his naivety was in relief.
December 29, 2016
Couldn't finish it I'm afraid. Whilst the plot was interesting the writing was just too poor to overlook.
July 23, 2017
It's been a while since had a book that has had me as interested in the story as the characters.
My favorite author is Roger Zelanzy, with Stevan Brust a close second, and with those writer's the characters are what makes their books enjoyable. Kalian reminds me of a Zelanzy character with the incomprehensible power that is available to them.
Yet the story and how it is going to progress is what I find pulling me in and making me eager for more. There are times when I like to read the minutiae of a fight, or of the science in a book, but this story didn't need that to pull this story off. I am excited to read more to find out what happens next.
To me the most complete character in the book is ALF, and we don't know if it's a good guy or bad guy yet. All of the other characters, other than Savick, have a lot of room to grow in the story yet, and I think it fits in this book. At this point in the story I don't know enough about anyone to feel that connection with anyone that I usually get from the above mentioned authors characters. But let me be clear, I think I will still like the story even if there is no Kalkin, Vlad, or Sethra in in the story.
My favorite author is Roger Zelanzy, with Stevan Brust a close second, and with those writer's the characters are what makes their books enjoyable. Kalian reminds me of a Zelanzy character with the incomprehensible power that is available to them.
Yet the story and how it is going to progress is what I find pulling me in and making me eager for more. There are times when I like to read the minutiae of a fight, or of the science in a book, but this story didn't need that to pull this story off. I am excited to read more to find out what happens next.
To me the most complete character in the book is ALF, and we don't know if it's a good guy or bad guy yet. All of the other characters, other than Savick, have a lot of room to grow in the story yet, and I think it fits in this book. At this point in the story I don't know enough about anyone to feel that connection with anyone that I usually get from the above mentioned authors characters. But let me be clear, I think I will still like the story even if there is no Kalkin, Vlad, or Sethra in in the story.
October 29, 2018
This book would probably make a good movie, it is fast paced with a multitude of characters. If you like Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Wars you'd probably like this story. The writing isn't great though, the dialogue made me roll my eyes at times, the two main characters made me groan in frustration - the main character spent the first half of the book unable to figure anything out for himself and having others explain basic things to him that the reader had already figured out. The other character just operated out of the emotional brain for the second half of the book, and did nothing but act as a motivation for the primary antagonist. There were other things too that jolted me out of suspended disbelief, but perhaps you should just check it out.
Overall I did like the story, it has lots of potential for a great series. This was a worthwhile investment of my time, but I'm not planning on continuing the series.
Overall I did like the story, it has lots of potential for a great series. This was a worthwhile investment of my time, but I'm not planning on continuing the series.
June 21, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love the premise of a history professor turning out to be the hope of all mankind.
I'm more of a fantasy reader, not a sci fi one so I didn't examine the science too closely, I've read reviews that have complained about the science. I have no complains at all. The author explained the advanced technologies just enough for them to move the plot along. I was not bombarded by technicalities just taken on an amazing journey across the galaxy to meet aliens who are more advanced than the human race.
I loved the underlying question the main character had asked all throughout the book. Why me? Why am I special? And in the end, it became the question his whole race asked. Why should these ancient species, these advanced races, be scared of us? The author's answer was very inspiring.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy space travel, first contact, or just a great adventure. I will definitely explore more works by this author.
I'm more of a fantasy reader, not a sci fi one so I didn't examine the science too closely, I've read reviews that have complained about the science. I have no complains at all. The author explained the advanced technologies just enough for them to move the plot along. I was not bombarded by technicalities just taken on an amazing journey across the galaxy to meet aliens who are more advanced than the human race.
I loved the underlying question the main character had asked all throughout the book. Why me? Why am I special? And in the end, it became the question his whole race asked. Why should these ancient species, these advanced races, be scared of us? The author's answer was very inspiring.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy space travel, first contact, or just a great adventure. I will definitely explore more works by this author.
November 29, 2018
Terrific
Wow! I really enjoyed this book, not quite sure where the negative reviewers were coming from!?
I read to immerse myself in elsewhere and forget about my day (also nurse related!) I want to be entertained, to be able to "see" fantastic worlds and "travel" with the characters experiencing the weird and wonderful, the terrifying and mind blowing and for that short while be transported into that universe. If the book achieves all that, it's a winner with me.
Philip C. Quaintrell does just that, he ticks all the boxes and more he writes a compelling, exciting story and I can't wait to get onto the next book to see how the story develops because he packed a lot into the first!
It's a gold star from me! ( 5 actually! 😁)
Wow! I really enjoyed this book, not quite sure where the negative reviewers were coming from!?
I read to immerse myself in elsewhere and forget about my day (also nurse related!) I want to be entertained, to be able to "see" fantastic worlds and "travel" with the characters experiencing the weird and wonderful, the terrifying and mind blowing and for that short while be transported into that universe. If the book achieves all that, it's a winner with me.
Philip C. Quaintrell does just that, he ticks all the boxes and more he writes a compelling, exciting story and I can't wait to get onto the next book to see how the story develops because he packed a lot into the first!
It's a gold star from me! ( 5 actually! 😁)
March 4, 2022
I can't wait to read the next book!!
I wasn't sure how this author would do, going from epic fantasy to space opera, but after reading this first book, I am impressed with his ability to create an adventure with memorable characters and many suspenseful twists and turns that kept me drawn in. He also has the perfect balance of giving enough details to bring the story to life without leaving me drowning in excessive details and slow plot progression. The loss of humanity is on a scale I've never seen in other books, making the stakes even higher.
If you enjoyed Mr Quaintrell's early works, but are hesitant to make the jump from epic fantasy to space opera, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I wasn't sure how this author would do, going from epic fantasy to space opera, but after reading this first book, I am impressed with his ability to create an adventure with memorable characters and many suspenseful twists and turns that kept me drawn in. He also has the perfect balance of giving enough details to bring the story to life without leaving me drowning in excessive details and slow plot progression. The loss of humanity is on a scale I've never seen in other books, making the stakes even higher.
If you enjoyed Mr Quaintrell's early works, but are hesitant to make the jump from epic fantasy to space opera, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
October 23, 2017
Brilliant..
5 star for me , loved the characters and how they evolved , also the twist and turns were well done , can't wait to read more , only thing against it was the book had to end , got more and more engrossed as each chapter progressed..... Looking forward to finding out what is coming that even the gomar wanted to get as far away from (after there revenge of course) and best of all finding another author in Philip c . quaintrell that can bring world's , characters and stories to life , were your imagination is pushed to it's limits ...more and more please
5 star for me , loved the characters and how they evolved , also the twist and turns were well done , can't wait to read more , only thing against it was the book had to end , got more and more engrossed as each chapter progressed..... Looking forward to finding out what is coming that even the gomar wanted to get as far away from (after there revenge of course) and best of all finding another author in Philip c . quaintrell that can bring world's , characters and stories to life , were your imagination is pushed to it's limits ...more and more please
November 21, 2017
Sci fi Heaven
Thank goodness. A SciFi novel that wasn't overly technical but conversely not too simplistic either. So glad too, that it wasn't bogged down by adding an overly simpering, lovey dovey romance. It was a great story that took me along for a ride and wrapped me up in other world's and lives. Would be happy to pay much more knowing what great story telling lies ahead. First book AND still full time nursing?! Genius. Well done! I've purchased the next book already but need to catch up on sleep, work, chores, life, before I allow it to consume me.....or do I?!
Thank goodness. A SciFi novel that wasn't overly technical but conversely not too simplistic either. So glad too, that it wasn't bogged down by adding an overly simpering, lovey dovey romance. It was a great story that took me along for a ride and wrapped me up in other world's and lives. Would be happy to pay much more knowing what great story telling lies ahead. First book AND still full time nursing?! Genius. Well done! I've purchased the next book already but need to catch up on sleep, work, chores, life, before I allow it to consume me.....or do I?!
September 25, 2023
Good Start to series
Let me start by saying I love the Echo’s saga by Philip Quaintell. This is not it, this is Space Opera, this first book in the Terran Cycle is good and I’m going on to read the second one. The world built in this book didn’t feel complete as his other books and I’m not sure which series came first. It does introduce us to a a new universe and characters. There are three main human characters, one while pivotal to the story does seem thrown in and not planned out from the beginning. It is worth the read.
Let me start by saying I love the Echo’s saga by Philip Quaintell. This is not it, this is Space Opera, this first book in the Terran Cycle is good and I’m going on to read the second one. The world built in this book didn’t feel complete as his other books and I’m not sure which series came first. It does introduce us to a a new universe and characters. There are three main human characters, one while pivotal to the story does seem thrown in and not planned out from the beginning. It is worth the read.
February 24, 2018
Were humans seeded from another species?
So it seems from the story that we definitely not alone . Enjoy the unique situations that occur when our first and second alien visitors show up - one to help and one to destroy us. Our mild manner hero has a lot of growing to do to save mankind.
So it seems from the story that we definitely not alone . Enjoy the unique situations that occur when our first and second alien visitors show up - one to help and one to destroy us. Our mild manner hero has a lot of growing to do to save mankind.
August 25, 2019
Good Book.
I picked up this author in his Fates trilogy and really enjoyed that. This story has been good but for me, his best story telling is in fantasy. This book is very readable but though I used to read a lot of sci-fi, My preference has gone onto fantasy. I might well get the next episode in this set as it is good enough to want to see how it goes.
I picked up this author in his Fates trilogy and really enjoyed that. This story has been good but for me, his best story telling is in fantasy. This book is very readable but though I used to read a lot of sci-fi, My preference has gone onto fantasy. I might well get the next episode in this set as it is good enough to want to see how it goes.
June 3, 2024
Another masterful work
I have been a fan of Mr. Quaintrell's work since I read the Echos series, and this, work is just as brilliant.
If you like this, genre and, are ready to have to think a little bit while reading, you're going to live this series!
Don't just take my word for it. Pick this one up and see if you can put it down....
I have been a fan of Mr. Quaintrell's work since I read the Echos series, and this, work is just as brilliant.
If you like this, genre and, are ready to have to think a little bit while reading, you're going to live this series!
Don't just take my word for it. Pick this one up and see if you can put it down....
August 20, 2017
Brilliant
I was browsing and started a few books I've lost interest in and put down but this book got me hooked good characters and a fantastic paced story I've now downloaded the series I cannot recommend more this author or his other books rise of the ranger series
I was browsing and started a few books I've lost interest in and put down but this book got me hooked good characters and a fantastic paced story I've now downloaded the series I cannot recommend more this author or his other books rise of the ranger series
September 26, 2017
Addictive, believable and not once did the science either bore me or make no sense.
Awesome. As a man of science - Physics degree - a fan of fast paced, addictive books (David Gemmell) this is right up there. It's also the best SCI-FI book I've read.
Awesome. As a man of science - Physics degree - a fan of fast paced, addictive books (David Gemmell) this is right up there. It's also the best SCI-FI book I've read.
September 30, 2017
Absolutely Loved it!
This was the author's first book!? Well..freaking kudos, Mr. Quaintrell. Just read this one in two days, so gonna get some sleep and jump into Tempest tomorrow morning.
This was the author's first book!? Well..freaking kudos, Mr. Quaintrell. Just read this one in two days, so gonna get some sleep and jump into Tempest tomorrow morning.
October 5, 2017
Fascinating book. Don't usually read sci-fi, more of a fantasy buff, but I was very engaged by this story. I'm not much of a critic just know what I like and this was it! Give it a read you won't be sorry.
March 8, 2018
Great action but nothing else.
The story is full of tired worn out clichés. Quaintrell writes action brilliantly however, he doesn't do much else, zero character development and a forced love story. I won't bother reading parts 2&3.
The story is full of tired worn out clichés. Quaintrell writes action brilliantly however, he doesn't do much else, zero character development and a forced love story. I won't bother reading parts 2&3.
June 16, 2019
Kinda canned
While I enjoyed much of the book it was kinda canned.
The second hero soldier who came along was a bit to much for me n I just skipped his parts, as far to unrealistic.
Then our hero becomes nigh a God n still drools over a mere mortal?
Naw
While I enjoyed much of the book it was kinda canned.
The second hero soldier who came along was a bit to much for me n I just skipped his parts, as far to unrealistic.
Then our hero becomes nigh a God n still drools over a mere mortal?
Naw
October 23, 2019
Completely different.
After stumbling across Philip C. Quantrell's Echoes of Fate series, which I binge read due to being awesome, I found it harder to fall into this storyline.
However, having said that I did enjoy reading this book enough to want to read the next book.
After stumbling across Philip C. Quantrell's Echoes of Fate series, which I binge read due to being awesome, I found it harder to fall into this storyline.
However, having said that I did enjoy reading this book enough to want to read the next book.
December 13, 2024
Excellent
I don't have any real complaints. I loved the sci-fi and fantasy blend, loved the rapid tempo and pacing, and looking forward to this next challenge now that humanity is but a shadow of itself.
I don't have any real complaints. I loved the sci-fi and fantasy blend, loved the rapid tempo and pacing, and looking forward to this next challenge now that humanity is but a shadow of itself.
February 24, 2025
I am surprised at the bad reviews. I found the entire series to be one of the most entertaining SciFi I have read in a very long time. The storyline is unique and kept me up late at night wanting to know what comes next.
October 14, 2017
I really enjoyed this book though I did find it a bit confusing at times. I definitey will be reading #2
November 26, 2017
Good initially...Had me gripped with the beginning....but was a really disappointment... pity I thought it had real potential.
August 21, 2018
For the life of me I can’t remember what this book was really about....
October 9, 2018
Very good all the way thru.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews