What do you think?
Rate this book
New Frontiers Trilogy #1
Excelsior
FROM THE USA TODAY BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF DARK SPACE
A MISSION TO ANOTHER WORLD COULD BE OUR ONLY HOPE...
The year is 2790 AD: with space elevators and giant orbital fleets hovering over Earth, open war looks inevitable, and people are anxious to get away.
The lines are drawn, with the Confederacy in the East, and the First World Alliance in the West. In hopes of finding a refuge from the looming war, the Alliance is sending Captain Alexander de Leon to explore an Earth-type planet, code-named Wonderland, but at the last minute before launch, a Confederate fleet leaves orbit on a trajectory that threatens both the mission and Alliance sovereignty. The resulting power struggle will determine not only the fate of Alexander's mission, but the fate of the entire human race.
A MISSION TO ANOTHER WORLD COULD BE OUR ONLY HOPE...
The year is 2790 AD: with space elevators and giant orbital fleets hovering over Earth, open war looks inevitable, and people are anxious to get away.
The lines are drawn, with the Confederacy in the East, and the First World Alliance in the West. In hopes of finding a refuge from the looming war, the Alliance is sending Captain Alexander de Leon to explore an Earth-type planet, code-named Wonderland, but at the last minute before launch, a Confederate fleet leaves orbit on a trajectory that threatens both the mission and Alliance sovereignty. The resulting power struggle will determine not only the fate of Alexander's mission, but the fate of the entire human race.
469 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2016
712 people are currently reading
920 people want to read
About the author
Jasper T. Scott
102 books513 followersJasper Scott is a USA Today bestselling author of more than 20 sci-fi novels. With over a million books sold, Jasper's work has been translated into various languages and published around the world.
Jasper writes fast-paced books with unexpected twists and flawed characters. Join the author's mailing list to get two FREE books: https://files.jaspertscott.com/mailin...
Jasper writes fast-paced books with unexpected twists and flawed characters. Join the author's mailing list to get two FREE books: https://files.jaspertscott.com/mailin...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
May 18, 2016
When I write reviews for any book (something I do very rarely), I tend to be really very blunt. I've always been the type to get to the point, and be pretty honest about how I feel during the process. I want to thank Mr Scott for two things he did really well with this book:
1. He writes REALLY well. This shouldn't need to be said in all honesty, about any author. But so frequently these days, people are getting published digitally, who would never have had a snowballs chance in hell before devices like Kindle. Good god some of them are so bad, they make you wanna just punch them. It's ridiculous. But Mr Scott, damn, you can write. Nice work. Also, be sure to thank your editor, because they did a fantastic job.
2. You know what's nice? When an Author writes a novel to tell a singular story. Rather than pretending he's writing a damn TV Show, trying to put in cliffhangers everywhere. That's not good writing. The fact that this book is part of a series, and yet didn't end leaving us in suspense, is just fucking brilliant. Cudos.
Finally, I just wanted to add, that I'm so impressed both with this mans writing and his ability to create a story, that I'll DEFINITELY be getting the next one in the series on pay day. One week to go, ugh...
1. He writes REALLY well. This shouldn't need to be said in all honesty, about any author. But so frequently these days, people are getting published digitally, who would never have had a snowballs chance in hell before devices like Kindle. Good god some of them are so bad, they make you wanna just punch them. It's ridiculous. But Mr Scott, damn, you can write. Nice work. Also, be sure to thank your editor, because they did a fantastic job.
2. You know what's nice? When an Author writes a novel to tell a singular story. Rather than pretending he's writing a damn TV Show, trying to put in cliffhangers everywhere. That's not good writing. The fact that this book is part of a series, and yet didn't end leaving us in suspense, is just fucking brilliant. Cudos.
Finally, I just wanted to add, that I'm so impressed both with this mans writing and his ability to create a story, that I'll DEFINITELY be getting the next one in the series on pay day. One week to go, ugh...
September 14, 2016
I didn't like this book, nor the narration by James Patrick Cronin. The dialogue was at times frustrating, but more so was the bad science and nagging details. For an instance of the latter, they travel through a wormhole, fine, which requires stasis tanks, and tubes to take in food & water and pull out waste. So there's a system of tubes down their throat, an IV in the arm and a tube up their butt, but only a cup for a males' urine. Isn't that a bit unsanitary? After months in stasis? Then, when removing said apparati, they unfailingly remove the throat tubes first, and the butt tubes last. Who are these people? Something up that way should at least rate second, no?
The author also brushes past the fact that we've made a lot of humans immortal, but doesn't deal with any of the issues Asimov calls out, like overpopulation. Also, all the characters act as if their timelines are human scale, which, I suppose, is not surprising, given that they've just achieved that status; however, the effect is that although they're immortal "in theory," and have hopes for the future, we never see anyone who is affected by this, or lives accordingly.
Also, the wormhole is not traversable, and when the Confederation tries it they are immediately nearly destroyed, with no time dilation - which begs the question, where did the 2 YEARS of time dilation for Alex's crew come from?
The reader, Cronin, is breathy on the ends of sentences, which becomes annoying fast, and he has the habit of making declarative statements into questions by a vocal upswing, when the sentence ends in a period. This is particularly bad when he's reading for a military person speaking to a superior officer. It makes them sound weak and unprofessional.
The author also brushes past the fact that we've made a lot of humans immortal, but doesn't deal with any of the issues Asimov calls out, like overpopulation. Also, all the characters act as if their timelines are human scale, which, I suppose, is not surprising, given that they've just achieved that status; however, the effect is that although they're immortal "in theory," and have hopes for the future, we never see anyone who is affected by this, or lives accordingly.
Also, the wormhole is not traversable, and when the Confederation tries it they are immediately nearly destroyed, with no time dilation - which begs the question, where did the 2 YEARS of time dilation for Alex's crew come from?
The reader, Cronin, is breathy on the ends of sentences, which becomes annoying fast, and he has the habit of making declarative statements into questions by a vocal upswing, when the sentence ends in a period. This is particularly bad when he's reading for a military person speaking to a superior officer. It makes them sound weak and unprofessional.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2016
Well written from a plotting perspective. Reasonably good characters with no dead spots.
Where I had problems was that there was not much science mixed into the fiction. Although the story is set several decades in the future, there seems to be no mention of computers and information systems, certainly nothing that even matches what is going on today. And where there are bits of science, there is not much in the way of "if this goes on" implications.
I read science fiction, at least in part, to observe world building. Not too much of that in this book. Some of the factors that affect the plot seem dropped in, without much in the way of justification. However, this is the first of a series. The subsequent books might be better.
Where I had problems was that there was not much science mixed into the fiction. Although the story is set several decades in the future, there seems to be no mention of computers and information systems, certainly nothing that even matches what is going on today. And where there are bits of science, there is not much in the way of "if this goes on" implications.
I read science fiction, at least in part, to observe world building. Not too much of that in this book. Some of the factors that affect the plot seem dropped in, without much in the way of justification. However, this is the first of a series. The subsequent books might be better.
December 18, 2016
This book (and audio) was free to me as part of my Amazon Prime membership. To be honest, even free was to much for this book.
Maybe it's me, but what's the deal with the recent spate of 'dinosaur in space' tropes? That's not what killed this for me though. What took this from being a 'meh, ho-hum', 2-star (tops!) story to the steaming pile that it is, is the narration.
I will actively avoid anything voiced by James Patrick Cronin in the future.
Maybe it's me, but what's the deal with the recent spate of 'dinosaur in space' tropes? That's not what killed this for me though. What took this from being a 'meh, ho-hum', 2-star (tops!) story to the steaming pile that it is, is the narration.
I will actively avoid anything voiced by James Patrick Cronin in the future.
November 1, 2024
Pārāk paredzama un pārāk piebāzta ar nevajadzīgām lietām.
Stāts par nākotni, kurā saules sistēmu pārvalda divas frakcijas - sociālisti un kapitālisti, kuri karo savā starpā. Nekautrējas naher ar atomenēm paslaucīt zemi.
Tajā pašā laikā kapteini Aleksandru aizsūta misijā caur tārpeju uz jaunu pasauli, kura varētu aizstāt zemi...
Pārāk daudz pavērsienu, pārāk maz interesantu sižeta līniju. Super viegla lasāmviela.
Stāts par nākotni, kurā saules sistēmu pārvalda divas frakcijas - sociālisti un kapitālisti, kuri karo savā starpā. Nekautrējas naher ar atomenēm paslaucīt zemi.
Tajā pašā laikā kapteini Aleksandru aizsūta misijā caur tārpeju uz jaunu pasauli, kura varētu aizstāt zemi...
Pārāk daudz pavērsienu, pārāk maz interesantu sižeta līniju. Super viegla lasāmviela.
May 8, 2016
This is the first time I have decided to write a review when I am not yet done with the book I am reading. Excelsior may seem nothing special in terms of the twists and turns of the plot, but the language the author uses is so ... great that I can't help enjoying every page. Part of the credit should definitely go to the editor, namely Aaron Sykes, and, to be honest, I plan to select my next novel to read by checking the list of books that this particular person has proofread.
March 8, 2017
Excellent
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The blurb does not do it justice, and the ending twist is very good and keeps you thinking. Without spoiling the story for anyone it is an epic adventure in space and unknown worlds. The science behind the events has been researched well and integrated well into the story, coupled with spaces battles, twists and well written characters it's hard to put down.
My only point that I'd like to say, not just about this book but a hell of a lot of books that have military elements, there are more ranks in the military than officers! 99% of the ground work is done by junior/senior ranks! And where authors always seem to get it wrong is that the higher up the rank structure you go the LESS action you see!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The blurb does not do it justice, and the ending twist is very good and keeps you thinking. Without spoiling the story for anyone it is an epic adventure in space and unknown worlds. The science behind the events has been researched well and integrated well into the story, coupled with spaces battles, twists and well written characters it's hard to put down.
My only point that I'd like to say, not just about this book but a hell of a lot of books that have military elements, there are more ranks in the military than officers! 99% of the ground work is done by junior/senior ranks! And where authors always seem to get it wrong is that the higher up the rank structure you go the LESS action you see!
May 13, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. End to end action. Scott built very imaginative worlds and described them so vividly I could almost taste them. Read it. You'll enjoy it. (Only two drawbacks. The characters frequently speak in Spanish, which I can't translate. And the ending is a bit drawn out.)
March 14, 2018
If you like a really good space opera you will definitely enjoy this book. Great cast of characters, awesome story line and lots of space action !
June 14, 2017
Jasper T. Scott's Excelsior was a decently written book that presented some interesting ideas of future conflict and world construct. Unfortunately, I found some of the ideas and major plot devices to be poorly constructed and not very believable. This was further exacerbated by a plot twist requiring an even further suspension of belief. Additionally, the motivations for characters did not make much sense and further just created unnecessary complications to plotting and character development. At the end of the book, I left scratching my head thinking, "Huh?" rather than (I would guess) the author's desire that the reader finished going "Wow." This is the first in a series, but I am not sure about continuing on. Lastly, many of the military parts of this book just do not make sense for how leadership really works.
October 27, 2016
Eh
I wanted to like this book but I found very little that I could connect or relate to.
I feel none of the characters were believable and many of their actions were strange and just not realistic. The relationship between the captain and the women in his life reminded me of highschool and the science part of science fiction was barely there.
Not terrible just not my cup of tea.
I wanted to like this book but I found very little that I could connect or relate to.
I feel none of the characters were believable and many of their actions were strange and just not realistic. The relationship between the captain and the women in his life reminded me of highschool and the science part of science fiction was barely there.
Not terrible just not my cup of tea.
April 4, 2018
I started off enjoying the book but it didn't last infact after Caty cheated on Alex I started skipping her parts as I just didn't care about her. Infact once Alex went off to save her at about 90% I realised I didn't care enough to even bother finishing. That was the best but. The relief was wonderful. I deleted the book immediately and felt better for it. Maybe you enjoyed it and that's cool me i'm happy it's gone.
November 3, 2016
Interesting storyline. I liked the book but it did seem a little choppy. Good characters with the possibility of more development now that I see there is a in. It's an enjoyable read.
Interesting storyline. I liked the book but it did seem a little choppyInteresting storyline. I liked the book but it did seem a little choppy
Interesting storyline. I liked the book but it did seem a little choppyInteresting storyline. I liked the book but it did seem a little choppy
December 23, 2016
I was somewhat disappointed in this book. The basic idea seemed to have some promise but I found some of the characters too bland and one dimensional. The end (the climax) had me throwing my hands in the air and really I only finished the book so that I wouldn't feel guilty about not having finished yet another disappointing read.
September 19, 2016
it was an ok reas but I didn't like Caty's lack of agency. she spent her entire time following men around instead of thinking for herself and I found that true for all of the female characters.
November 11, 2017
This was a nice read. There were no boring bits, it simply transitioned from interesting to action packed and back again seamlessly. The author didn’t try to fill in long gaps in the timeline with pointless flashbacks or boring filler to explain the gap. It was simply left to the reader to realise that nothing important to the story happened in that time, so no explanation for the gap was needed or desirable.
The basic story revolves around the journey of the destroyer Lincoln and its crew, to another galaxy. They are investigating what appears to be a relatively Earth like planet on the far side of a wormhole. All of this occurs in a political landscape where the world is divided by the rule of two opposing superpowers. Can the Alliance beat the Confederation in the race to colonise Wonderland? Or will the superpowers end up wiping each other out before either side has the chance?
I enjoyed the less rigid approach to the leadership style of Captain De Leon. Many starship captains are portrayed as stern authority figures. Alex was clearly in charge, but he was willing to let some insubordinate actions pass in the right circumstances. His style is of leadership is approachable and not one hundred percent politically correct. It’s refreshing and allows for a little humour to take place.
The story had a solid ending too which was nice for a series. I normally expect a bombshell at the end, to entice the reader into buying the next book. You can read this on its own and not be frustrated that the end of the book wasn’t really an ending at all. I appreciate that, it means a reader can continue reading the series or not, based on the merits of the writing and story. Not because they feel like they haven’t finished reading the story yet. I’m pretty sure I’ll continue reading this series, because I want to know what happens next. It has characters I’ve become invested in, so I want to see where they end up next. I’m looking forward to Mindscape.
The basic story revolves around the journey of the destroyer Lincoln and its crew, to another galaxy. They are investigating what appears to be a relatively Earth like planet on the far side of a wormhole. All of this occurs in a political landscape where the world is divided by the rule of two opposing superpowers. Can the Alliance beat the Confederation in the race to colonise Wonderland? Or will the superpowers end up wiping each other out before either side has the chance?
I enjoyed the less rigid approach to the leadership style of Captain De Leon. Many starship captains are portrayed as stern authority figures. Alex was clearly in charge, but he was willing to let some insubordinate actions pass in the right circumstances. His style is of leadership is approachable and not one hundred percent politically correct. It’s refreshing and allows for a little humour to take place.
The story had a solid ending too which was nice for a series. I normally expect a bombshell at the end, to entice the reader into buying the next book. You can read this on its own and not be frustrated that the end of the book wasn’t really an ending at all. I appreciate that, it means a reader can continue reading the series or not, based on the merits of the writing and story. Not because they feel like they haven’t finished reading the story yet. I’m pretty sure I’ll continue reading this series, because I want to know what happens next. It has characters I’ve become invested in, so I want to see where they end up next. I’m looking forward to Mindscape.
October 25, 2019
I picked this up as part of the whole "New Frontiers" trilogy for 99c. I'm glad that I didn't pay full price for this but since I've already purchased the whole series I might just move on to book two and see if it improves.
There are many reviews speaking to the lack of 'science' in this work of science fiction. I didn't see that as too large a problem. At least there weren't any "shock waves". My problems stem from the simple editing misses and the complete lack of understanding on many subjects by the author. He sure didn't let that stop him however. An editing example starts right at the beginning, the XO has "watery brown eyes" and literally on the next page her eyes are suddenly "cold blue". There is a lot of talk of gene editing but 'mood ring' eyes are never mentioned. While current military practice is often to place an officer ranked as Commander as the captain of a destroyer class vessel, Alex is only described as a "Captain" in rank. Making Captain in under ten years in any military is astonishing to say the least especially for a middling officer at best.
The final problem I had with the book was the geo-political arena of the world Scott creates. There is the "Alliance" who are supposedly the good guys because the come from Europe and the Americas. Then there are the communists who are called the "Confederates" because we all know that Confederates are evil.... (sarcasm intended). Where in this world is Africa? This huge continent that seems to be at the heart of so much innovation in this 21st century just up and disappears in Scott's proposed future.
The only saving grace was the plot twist at the end. I understand why many reviewers didn't like it but I feel it was the only thing that kept this mess in order.
There are many reviews speaking to the lack of 'science' in this work of science fiction. I didn't see that as too large a problem. At least there weren't any "shock waves". My problems stem from the simple editing misses and the complete lack of understanding on many subjects by the author. He sure didn't let that stop him however. An editing example starts right at the beginning, the XO has "watery brown eyes" and literally on the next page her eyes are suddenly "cold blue". There is a lot of talk of gene editing but 'mood ring' eyes are never mentioned. While current military practice is often to place an officer ranked as Commander as the captain of a destroyer class vessel, Alex is only described as a "Captain" in rank. Making Captain in under ten years in any military is astonishing to say the least especially for a middling officer at best.
The final problem I had with the book was the geo-political arena of the world Scott creates. There is the "Alliance" who are supposedly the good guys because the come from Europe and the Americas. Then there are the communists who are called the "Confederates" because we all know that Confederates are evil.... (sarcasm intended). Where in this world is Africa? This huge continent that seems to be at the heart of so much innovation in this 21st century just up and disappears in Scott's proposed future.
The only saving grace was the plot twist at the end. I understand why many reviewers didn't like it but I feel it was the only thing that kept this mess in order.
December 1, 2017
Alice here we come!
We meet Alexander & Caty as Alex is about set off for deep space through the Looking Glass in the midst of a 100 year Cold War. The protagonists are torn as Alex could be gone for as long as 10 years tearing them apart in the prime of the their lives. But with each being Geners, Time is truly of no importance as eternity is their oyster.
While Alex is the Captain of a crew exploring a possibly new habitable planet, Caty is struggling to survive after nuclear fall out. They are unable to communicate longer than either would desire which prompts Alex to tell Caty to move on without him, which of course is something they both regret as neither one knows where their relationship stands or if either is still breathing.
Caty learns to live with another man, Alex falls for the seductive crew mate but their relationships, the war and the exploration of a new planet, nothing is as it appears to be.
I really enjoyed this book. It took me completely off this planet into a new world but with all that I could recognize from modern day Earth. Some future concepts that have been discussed are just the norm in this setting, the elevator to spaces launching pad is employed but the underlining love story mixed in with government conspiracy is truly timeless. I will say loose ends were tied up a little to easily but I still cannot wait to see how this saga continues.
We meet Alexander & Caty as Alex is about set off for deep space through the Looking Glass in the midst of a 100 year Cold War. The protagonists are torn as Alex could be gone for as long as 10 years tearing them apart in the prime of the their lives. But with each being Geners, Time is truly of no importance as eternity is their oyster.
While Alex is the Captain of a crew exploring a possibly new habitable planet, Caty is struggling to survive after nuclear fall out. They are unable to communicate longer than either would desire which prompts Alex to tell Caty to move on without him, which of course is something they both regret as neither one knows where their relationship stands or if either is still breathing.
Caty learns to live with another man, Alex falls for the seductive crew mate but their relationships, the war and the exploration of a new planet, nothing is as it appears to be.
I really enjoyed this book. It took me completely off this planet into a new world but with all that I could recognize from modern day Earth. Some future concepts that have been discussed are just the norm in this setting, the elevator to spaces launching pad is employed but the underlining love story mixed in with government conspiracy is truly timeless. I will say loose ends were tied up a little to easily but I still cannot wait to see how this saga continues.
May 6, 2017
This was an interesting book because it had a few twists and turns. The time frame in the 28 century and the Earth is divided into powers known as the Alliance and The Confederacy. The latter bears no resemblance to the old US confederacy because this confederacy is composed of China, Russia and other European countries. Its not clear what countries make up either power but the Alliance seems to be the Americas.
Alexander is the captain of a space ship that is sent to go through a worm hole and explore an Earth-like world for possible colonization. He follows order and meanwhile a war breaks out back on Earth. When he gets back he is ready to go look for his wife who has had an affair and child with another man. But he finds out that the ship really never went through the worm hole and the whole thing was a make believe mirage on the order of what you might see if you went into the holideck on the Star Trek Next Generation series. The captain and all of the crew were put in stasis like cabinets to protect them from the G forces. In reality they went nowhere.
Its a good story, not all angles explained but still good.
Alexander is the captain of a space ship that is sent to go through a worm hole and explore an Earth-like world for possible colonization. He follows order and meanwhile a war breaks out back on Earth. When he gets back he is ready to go look for his wife who has had an affair and child with another man. But he finds out that the ship really never went through the worm hole and the whole thing was a make believe mirage on the order of what you might see if you went into the holideck on the Star Trek Next Generation series. The captain and all of the crew were put in stasis like cabinets to protect them from the G forces. In reality they went nowhere.
Its a good story, not all angles explained but still good.
June 23, 2021
I hate it when people with minimal grasp of science write science fiction.
I also hate it when people with minimal grasp of military write military fiction.
What concerns me, though, is when people with minimal grasp of what they write about, sell millions of copies. This means that the majority of the targeted audience is semi-literate as well. And we are talking about highschool level of knowledge. What makes me angry, is that the author doesn't even try to make his audience better. This kind of books are not art, it's just garbage.
The rest of the book is full of idiots making errors: Don't explore the planet from orbit, the captain leaves the ship to lead the landing party, the captain drives the rover himself, they don't have either satellites or exploration robotic rovers (like Opportunity in Mars) etc etc. Either the author targets specifically very young teens who don't know better, or he just doesn't know better than Star Trek level simplicity himself, even 60 years later. And he hasn't kept up with the technology, either.
Oh, well, i could read this to fall asleep at night.
I also hate it when people with minimal grasp of military write military fiction.
What concerns me, though, is when people with minimal grasp of what they write about, sell millions of copies. This means that the majority of the targeted audience is semi-literate as well. And we are talking about highschool level of knowledge. What makes me angry, is that the author doesn't even try to make his audience better. This kind of books are not art, it's just garbage.
The rest of the book is full of idiots making errors: Don't explore the planet from orbit, the captain leaves the ship to lead the landing party, the captain drives the rover himself, they don't have either satellites or exploration robotic rovers (like Opportunity in Mars) etc etc. Either the author targets specifically very young teens who don't know better, or he just doesn't know better than Star Trek level simplicity himself, even 60 years later. And he hasn't kept up with the technology, either.
Oh, well, i could read this to fall asleep at night.
December 21, 2017
Just wow, I really enjoyed this book a lot, it was well written and clever. It has good characters that I learned to love, and it was a good military space opera, with a lot of military space and opera.
I really enjoyed that the book touched on so many different styles, and had some bits that I enjoyed from all of them.
Three hurt felt really hurtful, and I was suffering with the characters, and the happiness so happy.
If you want some adventure, and some escape you can do a lot worse than this book, so I'd say, give it a try, if you like it as much as I did you'll be very happy that you gave it a chance. Also even though it is a series, this book can be read as a fulfilling stand alone book as well, and I'm really thankful if that, I'll be seeing if I'll get my hands on the other books in the series I'll probably read them, and I'll keep f an eye out for the author, another really surprisingly good read for this year. I really enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed that the book touched on so many different styles, and had some bits that I enjoyed from all of them.
Three hurt felt really hurtful, and I was suffering with the characters, and the happiness so happy.
If you want some adventure, and some escape you can do a lot worse than this book, so I'd say, give it a try, if you like it as much as I did you'll be very happy that you gave it a chance. Also even though it is a series, this book can be read as a fulfilling stand alone book as well, and I'm really thankful if that, I'll be seeing if I'll get my hands on the other books in the series I'll probably read them, and I'll keep f an eye out for the author, another really surprisingly good read for this year. I really enjoyed it.
April 17, 2021
Interesting first book for a series. This one takes place in the 2790s at a time when the world is divided into East, governed by the Confederacy, and West, where the Alliance calls the shots. Alexander and his wife live in the West and have traveled North to escape poverty but also to receive injections to be immortal and have the perfect looks. To do this, he had to join the Alliance navy. At the start of the story, he is captain of a spaceship with a mission to go through a wormhole and determine if the planet, Wonderland, on the other side would be a good new home for Earth humans. The foreshadowing through the early parts of the book tended to give away what would happen later in the book. Still, this was an interesting story with good characters. The bits about time dilution that would mean a trip that took five months would translate to years on Earth were quite believable. I’ve enjoyed Scott’s books before, and although this wasn’t the best, it was still a quick and good read.
March 4, 2018
A new take on the end of humans on earth. In a fight for a wormhole to an earth like world, the 2 earth factions, almost annihilate the humans on earth! The main character is the captain of a space ship, told to explore the new planet for possible colonization. He doesn't know there are secret plans he's not privy to.
He left his wife on earth, who, thinking he's dead, "moves on".
It's an involved story that carries on to other books.
It's a space novel, but not so much spacey, as human kind.
He left his wife on earth, who, thinking he's dead, "moves on".
It's an involved story that carries on to other books.
It's a space novel, but not so much spacey, as human kind.
August 11, 2017
This story is a mixed bag for me. It has a nice arc and satisfying conclusion. It deals with hard topics like what is justified in war and the hard circumstances of chance and how that can lead to exploitation and abuse. It's a very human book.
I did have trouble suspending my disbelief multiple times but recognize there were Compromises to tell a good story. I didn't like that there were two protagonists because both stories felt somewhat incomplete.
Still, a solid story. Thanks
I did have trouble suspending my disbelief multiple times but recognize there were Compromises to tell a good story. I didn't like that there were two protagonists because both stories felt somewhat incomplete.
Still, a solid story. Thanks
September 12, 2017
A story that has a huge Cold War feel - with capitalist vs communist powers of the Earth. All this in the future with starship, space elevators and colonies. We get spies, nuclear dawn threats and different viewpoints on life from each side.
The story follows mission to a far planet and due to travel time dilation more happens on Earth meanwhile. Some characters and story lines feel a bit cliché but by the end it makes more sense.
The story follows mission to a far planet and due to travel time dilation more happens on Earth meanwhile. Some characters and story lines feel a bit cliché but by the end it makes more sense.
December 25, 2017
A surprising read that I found by chance. An enjoyable storyline, great character development, & an ending that as others have said, closed the story but left you wanting more. A few grey areas that didn't write make sense (I.e. How they hooked themselves up to respirator tubes etc. ). The relationship between the main character & his wife was a bit odd as well, especially reading the opening of book 2 teaser. Overall though, a great read & has interested me enough to want to read book 2.
January 13, 2018
Science fiction
This book became more intriguing as I continued to read it, but at one point I was honestly getting mad; even though it is only fiction. I hate it when the hero loses. I was happy that everything turned out ok in the end, or does it? I need to continue reading to see how it all ends. The one thing that sort of annoyed me, was all the Spanish I had to keep translating.
This book became more intriguing as I continued to read it, but at one point I was honestly getting mad; even though it is only fiction. I hate it when the hero loses. I was happy that everything turned out ok in the end, or does it? I need to continue reading to see how it all ends. The one thing that sort of annoyed me, was all the Spanish I had to keep translating.
March 29, 2018
Great Start
Great start to this new series. It's the 28th century and the earth's split between the Alliance and the Confederacy. A cold war exists but the alliance have discovered a wormhole that leads to a new galaxy with an earth like planet. Alex the captain of the destroyer Lincoln and his crew must pass through the wormhole and check if the planet codenamed wonderland is habitable.
There is plenty of drama and space battles and a very intriguing finish
Great start to this new series. It's the 28th century and the earth's split between the Alliance and the Confederacy. A cold war exists but the alliance have discovered a wormhole that leads to a new galaxy with an earth like planet. Alex the captain of the destroyer Lincoln and his crew must pass through the wormhole and check if the planet codenamed wonderland is habitable.
There is plenty of drama and space battles and a very intriguing finish
June 25, 2016
This story is pretty far fetched with a lot of intrigue. You really don’t know who the good guys are until maybe the very end, and then I’m not so sure. I do know that Captain Alexander de Leon, the main character, serves the Alliance Navy which seems to be a pretty crappy organization. He’s serving in order to improve the life of his wife, Caty (sic), and himself.
Their society is divided by the wealthy and the poor. Those wealthy are born genetically enhanced with immortality. They live up North while the normal, natural born, with no genetic enhancements live in the South. Not a real good way to run a country which should seem obvious to anyone. Still, that’s they way it is. You can move to the North and get genetic enhancements if you can pay the enormous sums required to do so. There is also another way to get genetic treatments and that is by service in the Alliance military. Captain Alexander de Leon has chosen that method and is now serves a ten year term in order to provide genetic enhancements for himself and his wife Caty. They have moved up North or at least to Los Angles which seems to be a “Gener” city.
Unfortunately, he’s been assigned to a very long space mission. This one is highly classified and even he doesn’t know the extent of the mission, although they do know they could be gone for years! Yet, he and his crew are dutifully saying their goodbyes to family and friends. Caty is definitely against him leaving. She cannot believe that he has to go away so long. I can somewhat understand her feelings having left my wife for a few military tours, but she and Captain de Leon have become immortal, so what does it matter how long they may be separated when they have all eternity to be together?
Anyway, Captain de Leon leaves his wife and heads out on his mission. Then he finds out that he didn’t know anything at all about what he was getting into. He has bee assigned to Operation Alice mission which means he and his ship will be flying through a stable wormhole called the “Looking Glass” to a new planet called Wonderland. It is hoped that this new planet can be colonized by the Alliance alleviating the overcrowding on Earth, the Moon, Mars, and other colonies throughout the Solar System. This wormhole is of unknown origin and so far, they haven’t much information about the planet on the other side. For some reason, all the unmanned probes don’t come back. That right there would cause me to wonder about why they are sending in a manned spacecraft.
Ok, so Captain de Leon and his crew aboard the W. A. S. Lincoln ready to do their duty. He’s contacted by his Admiral who then fills him in on his mission. It turns out that the trip through the wormhole will take about 70 days of which most will be done in the G-tanks in suspension so they can survive the extreme G-forces during the trip. But, things are not as they seem!
It is also pointed out that traveling through a wormhole at the speeds they will attain will cause a time dilatation between them and Earth. For the 70 days they were in the tanks, 420 days elapsed on Earth (or 2 month 10 day versus 1 year, 1 month, and 25 days). It will take they at least two year or more to get back to Earth.
They also learned that the Confederation wants the “Looking Glass”. So much so, that they have started a war to get it. The Lincoln just barely made it through the wormhole entrance when the Alliance and Confederate fleets were firing missiles at each other. The last communications through the wormhole with the Admiral indicated that WWIII had broken out on Earth and several major cities were in nuclear ruin. It was imperative that Captain de Leon find Wonderland a habitable planet, else humanity might be near it’s end.
Ok, so that is part of the story. The other part involves his wife and what happens to her while he is gone. Now, this part i do not understand. She is the wife of a Naval Captain, a significant rank in the Navy. She has become a “Gener” and is living where others like her should live. She excapes to a bomb shelter that her and her husband built beneath their home and comes out of it about 2 months later. No other people appear to have done the same in her neighborhood? So she wonders around to get outside LA and eventually gets rescued by the military, but instead of identifying herself as the dependent wife of a Naval Captain and a new gener, she says she’s a natural born. So they just dump her off at the nearest work camp and she’s on her own. That doesn’t sound right. She has a terrible time over the next two years. That part of the book is kind of ridiculous. If there’s anyone group of people that should be cared for, it’s the dependents of those fighting for your country. I don’t like this part of the story.
I have read many other books by this writer. His other books are all quite good, but this book has a lot of editorial mistakes. There are small words just missing every now and then that distract from a smooth reading. There are also a lot of wholes in this approach to the war. Some crazy Admiral takes it upon himself to attack an emery that has surrendered. I think that’s very unlikely. I am glad the author left the story-line open to a sequel. It will be an interesting read.
Their society is divided by the wealthy and the poor. Those wealthy are born genetically enhanced with immortality. They live up North while the normal, natural born, with no genetic enhancements live in the South. Not a real good way to run a country which should seem obvious to anyone. Still, that’s they way it is. You can move to the North and get genetic enhancements if you can pay the enormous sums required to do so. There is also another way to get genetic treatments and that is by service in the Alliance military. Captain Alexander de Leon has chosen that method and is now serves a ten year term in order to provide genetic enhancements for himself and his wife Caty. They have moved up North or at least to Los Angles which seems to be a “Gener” city.
Unfortunately, he’s been assigned to a very long space mission. This one is highly classified and even he doesn’t know the extent of the mission, although they do know they could be gone for years! Yet, he and his crew are dutifully saying their goodbyes to family and friends. Caty is definitely against him leaving. She cannot believe that he has to go away so long. I can somewhat understand her feelings having left my wife for a few military tours, but she and Captain de Leon have become immortal, so what does it matter how long they may be separated when they have all eternity to be together?
Anyway, Captain de Leon leaves his wife and heads out on his mission. Then he finds out that he didn’t know anything at all about what he was getting into. He has bee assigned to Operation Alice mission which means he and his ship will be flying through a stable wormhole called the “Looking Glass” to a new planet called Wonderland. It is hoped that this new planet can be colonized by the Alliance alleviating the overcrowding on Earth, the Moon, Mars, and other colonies throughout the Solar System. This wormhole is of unknown origin and so far, they haven’t much information about the planet on the other side. For some reason, all the unmanned probes don’t come back. That right there would cause me to wonder about why they are sending in a manned spacecraft.
Ok, so Captain de Leon and his crew aboard the W. A. S. Lincoln ready to do their duty. He’s contacted by his Admiral who then fills him in on his mission. It turns out that the trip through the wormhole will take about 70 days of which most will be done in the G-tanks in suspension so they can survive the extreme G-forces during the trip. But, things are not as they seem!
It is also pointed out that traveling through a wormhole at the speeds they will attain will cause a time dilatation between them and Earth. For the 70 days they were in the tanks, 420 days elapsed on Earth (or 2 month 10 day versus 1 year, 1 month, and 25 days). It will take they at least two year or more to get back to Earth.
They also learned that the Confederation wants the “Looking Glass”. So much so, that they have started a war to get it. The Lincoln just barely made it through the wormhole entrance when the Alliance and Confederate fleets were firing missiles at each other. The last communications through the wormhole with the Admiral indicated that WWIII had broken out on Earth and several major cities were in nuclear ruin. It was imperative that Captain de Leon find Wonderland a habitable planet, else humanity might be near it’s end.
Ok, so that is part of the story. The other part involves his wife and what happens to her while he is gone. Now, this part i do not understand. She is the wife of a Naval Captain, a significant rank in the Navy. She has become a “Gener” and is living where others like her should live. She excapes to a bomb shelter that her and her husband built beneath their home and comes out of it about 2 months later. No other people appear to have done the same in her neighborhood? So she wonders around to get outside LA and eventually gets rescued by the military, but instead of identifying herself as the dependent wife of a Naval Captain and a new gener, she says she’s a natural born. So they just dump her off at the nearest work camp and she’s on her own. That doesn’t sound right. She has a terrible time over the next two years. That part of the book is kind of ridiculous. If there’s anyone group of people that should be cared for, it’s the dependents of those fighting for your country. I don’t like this part of the story.
I have read many other books by this writer. His other books are all quite good, but this book has a lot of editorial mistakes. There are small words just missing every now and then that distract from a smooth reading. There are also a lot of wholes in this approach to the war. Some crazy Admiral takes it upon himself to attack an emery that has surrendered. I think that’s very unlikely. I am glad the author left the story-line open to a sequel. It will be an interesting read.
September 21, 2022
Great book full of surprises
This book is relevant. To see people from one country serving in the military to have a better life reminds me of the French foreign Legion and the Philippinoes that served in our Navy as stewards. The plot is believable and technology interesting. Love twist and turns at end. Recommend
This book is relevant. To see people from one country serving in the military to have a better life reminds me of the French foreign Legion and the Philippinoes that served in our Navy as stewards. The plot is believable and technology interesting. Love twist and turns at end. Recommend
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews