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Spaceman Chronicles #1
SpaceMan
Clayton Shepard is 249 miles above Earth when the lights go out.
He has no communication, limited power, and an unbreakable will to survive.
His one goal: find his way BACK to his family.
Shepard is an astronaut on his first mission to the International Space Station.
When a violent blast of solar magnetic radiation leaves him stranded in orbit, he’s forced to use his wit and guile to find a way home.
He has no idea what he’ll find when he gets there.
SPACEMAN is a post-apocalyptic/dystopian tale that tells the survival story of a man and the family he left behind. It’s written with the help of former astronauts, NASA team members, and well-respected astrophysicists that give SPACEMAN a unique sense of detail and desperation.
He has no communication, limited power, and an unbreakable will to survive.
His one goal: find his way BACK to his family.
Shepard is an astronaut on his first mission to the International Space Station.
When a violent blast of solar magnetic radiation leaves him stranded in orbit, he’s forced to use his wit and guile to find a way home.
He has no idea what he’ll find when he gets there.
SPACEMAN is a post-apocalyptic/dystopian tale that tells the survival story of a man and the family he left behind. It’s written with the help of former astronauts, NASA team members, and well-respected astrophysicists that give SPACEMAN a unique sense of detail and desperation.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 22, 2016
277 people are currently reading
595 people want to read
About the author
Tom Abrahams
71 books342 followersTom Abrahams is an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award winning television journalist and member of International Thriller Writers.
He is also a Kindle Unlimited All-Star, an Audible 5 Star Favorite, and author of more than forty novels.
He writes in several genres including dystopian, sci-fi techno-thriller, post-apocalyptic, and political thrillers.
The dramatic rights for his "A Dark World" trilogy are optioned for television and film.
He's married with two children and lives in Southeast Texas.
He is also a Kindle Unlimited All-Star, an Audible 5 Star Favorite, and author of more than forty novels.
He writes in several genres including dystopian, sci-fi techno-thriller, post-apocalyptic, and political thrillers.
The dramatic rights for his "A Dark World" trilogy are optioned for television and film.
He's married with two children and lives in Southeast Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
May 20, 2021
After listening to this audiobook I went back to the book blurb to see if perhaps I had misunderstood what I was purchasing. After all, I thought that I was getting a book much like The Martian only this time the astronaut who is in trouble is in earth’s orbit. Sure enough, that’s what seven out of eight lines of the blurb is about. Why then was it only about twenty percent of the story? Out of the one hundred twenty-seven words that form the blurb, there are six pesky little words that tell you what the real story is about: “And the family he left behind”. Honestly, I find this a little misleading because this should have been titled “The SpaceMan’s Family.” It isn’t that the story of what’s happening to the astronaut’s family on earth when the lights go out doesn’t make for a potentially good story, but it isn’t what I thought I was buying.
And it is only “potentially” good. Perhaps I am naïve, but I hope that when a solar storm knocks out all the computers on the planet (which the vast majority of people don’t know has happened—they just know the lights are out) I hope it takes more than six or eight hours for the world to start down the road toward a Mad Max-style apocalypse. But honestly, the lights go out late enough at night that many people are already asleep, but a weird cult has already mobilized shortly after dawn the next day, and within another hour instant street gangs are forming and people are trying to steal from each other, and a couple of hours later cops are getting in on the stealing. I mean, it could happen that way, but honestly, the whole story happens in less than 24 hours and I just found the break down of society a bit rushed.
To complete my frustration, the novel ended on a cliffhanger. Now I recognize that in a series there are often unresolved events, but really, there is no pretense at even coming to a resolution point on two of the three storylines.
That being said, I did like the cast of characters, and that’s important. I just think that the blurb would have been much more honest if it had focused on the astronaut’s family struggling to survive and reunite during an apocalyptic crisis while the astronaut tried to find a way back to earth.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
And it is only “potentially” good. Perhaps I am naïve, but I hope that when a solar storm knocks out all the computers on the planet (which the vast majority of people don’t know has happened—they just know the lights are out) I hope it takes more than six or eight hours for the world to start down the road toward a Mad Max-style apocalypse. But honestly, the lights go out late enough at night that many people are already asleep, but a weird cult has already mobilized shortly after dawn the next day, and within another hour instant street gangs are forming and people are trying to steal from each other, and a couple of hours later cops are getting in on the stealing. I mean, it could happen that way, but honestly, the whole story happens in less than 24 hours and I just found the break down of society a bit rushed.
To complete my frustration, the novel ended on a cliffhanger. Now I recognize that in a series there are often unresolved events, but really, there is no pretense at even coming to a resolution point on two of the three storylines.
That being said, I did like the cast of characters, and that’s important. I just think that the blurb would have been much more honest if it had focused on the astronaut’s family struggling to survive and reunite during an apocalyptic crisis while the astronaut tried to find a way back to earth.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
July 15, 2017
SpaceMan by Tom Abrahams
I'm not much of a space person - I wasn't impressed with The Martian (film, not book. I will eventually get to the novel...), and I have never been super into the whole "space" thing (unless it's Star Wars). But, I love reading books in different genres! I don't like reading the same old read every single time. I like spicing it up to see what authors are doing and how genres are changing! So SpaceMan seemed like the right kind of fit for me. It looked different, space-y and had a cool cover (come on, admit it, we all judge books by it's cover).
This novel is set in a post-apocalyptic time and our main character is on on the Space Station. You see both Clayton in space and his family down on Earth, which gives some interesting points of views from all angles. I'll be the first to admit I know almost nothing about the Space Station, so I cannot tell you how accurate the accounts of it are - but they seemed uber cool!
This novel is a fast moving, easy read, action-adventure. I enjoyed that aspect of it, despite not totally loving this novel in general. It's a great read for those interested in space, action and adventure and who want a novel that sounds like it knows what's it's talking about (not random made-up babble about space. Tom seems to have researched some of this!). It's a refreshing, different type of space novel - people are comparing it to the Martian, and I would compare it to the hype of the Martian. It's smart, funny and different. It's not just a Star Wars/Trek spin-off, it's got it's own vibe.
There is a sequel to this novel, and while I might not be reading it I would absolutely suggest this novel to other people. It's just not my thing. I do think this could have been one stellar novel if the entire story would have been concluded in this book. My rating might have been higher if that had happened. I really enjoyed this book, but I felt it was just to incomplete. I like when a series has a story "complete" at the end of each book, but the universe is continued in the next novel.
Three out of five stars.
I received this novel from Goodreads First Reads.
I'm not much of a space person - I wasn't impressed with The Martian (film, not book. I will eventually get to the novel...), and I have never been super into the whole "space" thing (unless it's Star Wars). But, I love reading books in different genres! I don't like reading the same old read every single time. I like spicing it up to see what authors are doing and how genres are changing! So SpaceMan seemed like the right kind of fit for me. It looked different, space-y and had a cool cover (come on, admit it, we all judge books by it's cover).
This novel is set in a post-apocalyptic time and our main character is on on the Space Station. You see both Clayton in space and his family down on Earth, which gives some interesting points of views from all angles. I'll be the first to admit I know almost nothing about the Space Station, so I cannot tell you how accurate the accounts of it are - but they seemed uber cool!
This novel is a fast moving, easy read, action-adventure. I enjoyed that aspect of it, despite not totally loving this novel in general. It's a great read for those interested in space, action and adventure and who want a novel that sounds like it knows what's it's talking about (not random made-up babble about space. Tom seems to have researched some of this!). It's a refreshing, different type of space novel - people are comparing it to the Martian, and I would compare it to the hype of the Martian. It's smart, funny and different. It's not just a Star Wars/Trek spin-off, it's got it's own vibe.
There is a sequel to this novel, and while I might not be reading it I would absolutely suggest this novel to other people. It's just not my thing. I do think this could have been one stellar novel if the entire story would have been concluded in this book. My rating might have been higher if that had happened. I really enjoyed this book, but I felt it was just to incomplete. I like when a series has a story "complete" at the end of each book, but the universe is continued in the next novel.
Three out of five stars.
I received this novel from Goodreads First Reads.
November 21, 2016
The Martian and a post-apocalyptic tale have a baby
While I might compare this to The Martian (which I absolutely loved, FYI) -- Tom Abrahams' SpaceMan was different. Where in The Martian he was stranded on Mars because of a storm, this story follows an astronaut who is aboard the International Space Station when a massive CME (coronal mass ejection) plunges the station into darkness.
The narration for SpaceMan was done by the amazing Kevin Pierce, who kills it as always. I've said it a bunch of times, but he really has the perfect Post-Apocalyptic voice. I was so pleased to find out that Pierce and Abrahams were teaming up again for this book (and hopefully series). Pierce is able to provide the perfect narration to Abrahams writing style.
The story itself, as with all of Abrahams' stories was perfect. The pacing and writing just flowed so effortlessly. I put this audiobook on last night and wanted to listen for a half hour or so -- I ended up listening for almost 2 hours. And even today, I couldn't put it down. Listening on my way to work, on my lunch break, and any other time I could find time.
The combination of a Post-Apocalyptic world and astronauts is such a fresh and unique point of view, I couldn't get enough. Thankfully, there will be more -- with Descent being written as the next story in this series. Also, if you're curious -- the entire story does not take place in space. You also get to meet his wife and child and a few other people who are around the family. The back and forth from space to Earth was also really different and made the book feel that much more real.
The main character, Clayton, made me laugh numerous times throughout. The way that he kept himself from freaking out or from losing it was so humorous (I won't ruin it here, just know it's funny). And the ability to make a person laugh when the person they are reading about is in a dire situation is a rare commodity.
Overall, the fresh take on post-apocalyptic fiction -- mixed with the humorous main character make SpaceMan an incredibly enjoyable book, and honestly easily a contender for the best book I've read this year (out of 150+).
While I might compare this to The Martian (which I absolutely loved, FYI) -- Tom Abrahams' SpaceMan was different. Where in The Martian he was stranded on Mars because of a storm, this story follows an astronaut who is aboard the International Space Station when a massive CME (coronal mass ejection) plunges the station into darkness.
The narration for SpaceMan was done by the amazing Kevin Pierce, who kills it as always. I've said it a bunch of times, but he really has the perfect Post-Apocalyptic voice. I was so pleased to find out that Pierce and Abrahams were teaming up again for this book (and hopefully series). Pierce is able to provide the perfect narration to Abrahams writing style.
The story itself, as with all of Abrahams' stories was perfect. The pacing and writing just flowed so effortlessly. I put this audiobook on last night and wanted to listen for a half hour or so -- I ended up listening for almost 2 hours. And even today, I couldn't put it down. Listening on my way to work, on my lunch break, and any other time I could find time.
The combination of a Post-Apocalyptic world and astronauts is such a fresh and unique point of view, I couldn't get enough. Thankfully, there will be more -- with Descent being written as the next story in this series. Also, if you're curious -- the entire story does not take place in space. You also get to meet his wife and child and a few other people who are around the family. The back and forth from space to Earth was also really different and made the book feel that much more real.
The main character, Clayton, made me laugh numerous times throughout. The way that he kept himself from freaking out or from losing it was so humorous (I won't ruin it here, just know it's funny). And the ability to make a person laugh when the person they are reading about is in a dire situation is a rare commodity.
Overall, the fresh take on post-apocalyptic fiction -- mixed with the humorous main character make SpaceMan an incredibly enjoyable book, and honestly easily a contender for the best book I've read this year (out of 150+).
December 7, 2016
Wowser! !!
Tom's writing never ceases to amaze me. Can't wait for the next one. Scary notions that hopefully never become reality. Keep up the great work Tom.
Tom's writing never ceases to amaze me. Can't wait for the next one. Scary notions that hopefully never become reality. Keep up the great work Tom.
January 23, 2018
Keeps interrupting the good parts with useless extra information that does the book down!
This book could've been so much better. The problem i have with it is that every time he gets going with some excitement or fast paced action, the author interrupts it with some long ass dialogue about explaining some minor detail about something like a song or hoe JPL got there it why the space shuttle is in NYC. Or why and how the main character became an astronaut. I don't need to read all that in the middle of all the good parts! And the good parts are really good! Which makes it all the more frustrating. Build your characters in the beginning, tell their stories first and leaving the juicy parts alone! I couldn't take it anymore after i got to
the part where the women ride they're bikes to JPL and then Jackie starts to reminisce about the space shuttle and the layout of the buildings. OMG! Enough already! Sorry but i can't recommend this book because of it.
This book could've been so much better. The problem i have with it is that every time he gets going with some excitement or fast paced action, the author interrupts it with some long ass dialogue about explaining some minor detail about something like a song or hoe JPL got there it why the space shuttle is in NYC. Or why and how the main character became an astronaut. I don't need to read all that in the middle of all the good parts! And the good parts are really good! Which makes it all the more frustrating. Build your characters in the beginning, tell their stories first and leaving the juicy parts alone! I couldn't take it anymore after i got to
the part where the women ride they're bikes to JPL and then Jackie starts to reminisce about the space shuttle and the layout of the buildings. OMG! Enough already! Sorry but i can't recommend this book because of it.
January 4, 2017
Absolutely loved this one! A slightly different but believable plot than recent works I've read in the genre. Believable plot, rich characters, well described settings combined to provide a great story! Very well written with an easy flow. I am eagerly awaiting the second installment which I have already pre-ordered.
November 30, 2016
“Sapaceman” by Tom Abrahams is a distinctive blending of various space-based survival movies such as “Gravity” and “The Martian” with additional apocalyptic or dystopian storylines happening back on Earth. The book was interesting and entertaining; however, I could not find anything that was truly new or different from others in the survival genre. The book is wonderfully narrated by the renown Kevin Pierce having nearly 300 narrated books to his name on Audible. Be aware this book is also the first in a series of books. It ends with many of the story’s plots unanswered along with a few cliff-hangers so if you enjoy it, be ready to dive into the rest of the series if you want all the answers. On a side note, if you enjoy disaster/apocalyptic stories along with Mr. Pierce’s narration, make sure to check out the Disruption series by R. E. McDermott; you will not be disappointed.
The story opens in a very breathtaking way, like the movie “Gravity”, 249 miles above our big blue planet with astronauts servicing equipment when the unimaginable occurs. A large blast of solar magnetic radiation crates an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) wreaking havoc not only for the astronauts, but the entire population below. In a split-second Clayton Shepard’s life is turned upside down and he needs to discover a way of surviving alone and ultimately get back to earth reuniting with his family. This becomes a life or death challenge with nearly all communications severed due to the solar storm. The author does an excellent job of creating tension and emotional effect and his characters are well developed. One example was Clayton’s drive to bring back the bodies of his friends instead of leaving them to the coldness of space. His actions often revealed his selflessness even when his own life was at risk.
The book shifts between Clayton’s efforts of survival to events taking place on the planet where everyone, including his family, begins to realize the serious nature created by the solar event. No electricity, no cellphone service, no law, and airplanes falling out of the sky keeping people busy and the story’s level of action and excitement always peeked near maximum. People quickly begin to form groups whom they feel they can trust, but this becomes a harder thing to do as conditions worsen. People quickly realize they do not know everything they believed about even their own neighbors. With the lack of communication, people on Earth do not know what happened and things becomes more understood as the book unravels.
The author either knows about his subject matter or he did a good job of researching it. I did not have to suspend belief as with many other books where they wanted more flash and flair than substance. For me, this made the book more realistic and enjoyable. One thing that I would have liked to have seen less of would have been the author’s many references to more modern or past events, trivia, or humor; the book takes place in 2020 so not that much in the distant future, but they seemed to pull me out of the story. I also thought the author did a disservice with some of his representation of religious people in this book, it may change in later titles in the series. The story at one point covers what would best be described as a mob fringe cult, however the author portrays them as nearly all people who hold such religious beliefs.
It will be no surprise to those who know the narrative works of Kevin Pierce that this is another professionally recorded audiobook. As with all the material I have listened to of his, he does an outstanding job with this book. He easily narrates both male and female characters without incident. His reading is clear and reading pace is just right.
Disclaimer: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
The story opens in a very breathtaking way, like the movie “Gravity”, 249 miles above our big blue planet with astronauts servicing equipment when the unimaginable occurs. A large blast of solar magnetic radiation crates an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) wreaking havoc not only for the astronauts, but the entire population below. In a split-second Clayton Shepard’s life is turned upside down and he needs to discover a way of surviving alone and ultimately get back to earth reuniting with his family. This becomes a life or death challenge with nearly all communications severed due to the solar storm. The author does an excellent job of creating tension and emotional effect and his characters are well developed. One example was Clayton’s drive to bring back the bodies of his friends instead of leaving them to the coldness of space. His actions often revealed his selflessness even when his own life was at risk.
The book shifts between Clayton’s efforts of survival to events taking place on the planet where everyone, including his family, begins to realize the serious nature created by the solar event. No electricity, no cellphone service, no law, and airplanes falling out of the sky keeping people busy and the story’s level of action and excitement always peeked near maximum. People quickly begin to form groups whom they feel they can trust, but this becomes a harder thing to do as conditions worsen. People quickly realize they do not know everything they believed about even their own neighbors. With the lack of communication, people on Earth do not know what happened and things becomes more understood as the book unravels.
The author either knows about his subject matter or he did a good job of researching it. I did not have to suspend belief as with many other books where they wanted more flash and flair than substance. For me, this made the book more realistic and enjoyable. One thing that I would have liked to have seen less of would have been the author’s many references to more modern or past events, trivia, or humor; the book takes place in 2020 so not that much in the distant future, but they seemed to pull me out of the story. I also thought the author did a disservice with some of his representation of religious people in this book, it may change in later titles in the series. The story at one point covers what would best be described as a mob fringe cult, however the author portrays them as nearly all people who hold such religious beliefs.
It will be no surprise to those who know the narrative works of Kevin Pierce that this is another professionally recorded audiobook. As with all the material I have listened to of his, he does an outstanding job with this book. He easily narrates both male and female characters without incident. His reading is clear and reading pace is just right.
Disclaimer: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
January 22, 2017
Astronaut Clayton Shepard is 72 days into his first space mission when a coronal mass ejection disrupts everything on the International Space Station and on Earth. His wife, Jackie, is home in Clear Lake, Texas near Houston when the lights go out and everything stops working. Rick Walsh, a family friend, has the Shepard’s son, Chris, with him and his son, Kenny, on a camping trip in Dinosaur Valley State Park, Texas when a red aurora appears overhead. How has their world changed now that it has been plunged into darkness from the EMP caused by the solar storm? Will Clayton make it back to Earth and to his family? Will Jackie and her neighbors come together during this time of crisis? Will Rick get the boys safely back home?
Abrahams first novel in The SpaceMan Chronicles, SpaceMan: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller, takes a unique approach to the post-apocalyptic story by focusing on an astronaut stranded in space. The story is told from the prospective of Clayton, Jackie, and Rick. These characters are compelling and relatable. The sense of urgency keeps the pace in the fast lane. With several heart stopping moments you won’t be disappointed.
I will admit to skimming over some of the technical details of the ISS to get to the human side of the story. The details were necessary to understand the difficulties Clayton is having trying to get back home. The reality of the situation has not set in yet for Jackie and she is not thinking long-term. I can see her situation turning ugly in the very near future. I’m not sure what Rick’s role will be in big picture. But, I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
5 out of 5 stars.
Abrahams first novel in The SpaceMan Chronicles, SpaceMan: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller, takes a unique approach to the post-apocalyptic story by focusing on an astronaut stranded in space. The story is told from the prospective of Clayton, Jackie, and Rick. These characters are compelling and relatable. The sense of urgency keeps the pace in the fast lane. With several heart stopping moments you won’t be disappointed.
I will admit to skimming over some of the technical details of the ISS to get to the human side of the story. The details were necessary to understand the difficulties Clayton is having trying to get back home. The reality of the situation has not set in yet for Jackie and she is not thinking long-term. I can see her situation turning ugly in the very near future. I’m not sure what Rick’s role will be in big picture. But, I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
5 out of 5 stars.
April 8, 2018
Great story, minor flaws
This was an excellent story. A new twist on the post apocalyptic theme. An astronaut trying to get back to earth after a cataclysmic solar event. The story shifts between the astronaut and his family on earth, both struggling to survive. The book was well written,, well edited and the characters were well developed and interesting. So what were the flaws? I found myself skipping page after page of description of the space station and it's workings. Maybe the engineers who read this will find it fascinating but I think most people won't. There was just too much technical detail. That being said, I immediately ordered the next book in the series. This is a cut above most of the free books for kindle.
This was an excellent story. A new twist on the post apocalyptic theme. An astronaut trying to get back to earth after a cataclysmic solar event. The story shifts between the astronaut and his family on earth, both struggling to survive. The book was well written,, well edited and the characters were well developed and interesting. So what were the flaws? I found myself skipping page after page of description of the space station and it's workings. Maybe the engineers who read this will find it fascinating but I think most people won't. There was just too much technical detail. That being said, I immediately ordered the next book in the series. This is a cut above most of the free books for kindle.
January 28, 2017
This was an amazing read! So different of other post-apocalyptic books I've read. A great idea to have a CME happening while at the a International Space Station! Imagine yourself having to get back to earth, and finding your way home when most everything that needs electricity isn't working!! I read this book in one sitting, couldn't put it down. I recommend this book to anyone who like a read that is thrilling, emotional and fast paced. Many Thanks Tom Abrahams!!
December 24, 2016
I thought this would be more martian-like.. and it had the potential to be, but much of the story is earth bound... LOVE the story of the astronaut, but the rest is pretty run of the mill... and the sequel seems to be setup for ALL run of the mill crap. This is okay if you're bored and need an easy read.
May 16, 2018
Interesting idea but for the length of this book, not much seemed to happen.
March 6, 2017
My original SpaceMan audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
A solar CME (coronal mass ejection) leaves Earth and the ISS without electricity. Clayton Shepard is an astronaut on his first mission on the ISS, and he will have to find a way to rescue his two colleagues who were on an EVA at the moment of the CME, and try to get back to Earth before life support fails completely. On Earth his wife Jackie will suffer the consequences on a different level but not less stressful, taking care of their daughter and part of the neighborhood, while their son is on a camping trip with a friend.
The premises of this book were so good, and the blurb mentions that some Nasa team members collaborated on this, that I was ready for a hard sci-fi book. The parts at the ISS were a bit, but I found them a bit confusing, like they were somehow not very well described. I had problems to visualize what Clayton was doing and the space he was in. Even though the book is titled 'Spaceman' most of the action happens on Earth, where we see the rest of members of his family facing a post-apocalyptic world in which almost everybody has become selfish and cruel. The ISS part was a bit original, but not the part on Earth; we found the same stereotypes than in many other books. Nevertheless I found that the riots started too early, while at the same time some people were still working at gas station stores. It just did not make a lot of sense.
The action in the book is quite slow, and the several flashbacks, instead of helping us to know the characters better, make the story drag. I was not able to connect to any of the characters, and Abrahams failed at transmitting their emotions and Clayton's sense of urgency at the ISS. I found myself not really caring for any of them, which bothered me, since the setup was really great.
I have read comparisons between this book and the Martian, and even Clayton mentions Matt Damon during his ramblings while fighting for his life, but I would not put both books at the same level. As I have just said, I did not get the sense of urgency, nor could I connect to any of the characters. I just wanted to laugh at Clayton's sense of humor but couldn't.
And in the end I felt cheated. Clayton's story, the one giving the title to the book, is just a small part of it, and it is not even finished. I understand that this will be a series, but the end was quite underwhelming.
Kevin Pierce's narrations was spot on, though, and he tried to transmit the characters emotions, even though they were not clear in the text. I am looking forward to other books narrated by Pierce.
I have found this book basically anecdotal. The fact that part of it happens on the ISS makes it more interesting, but the rest of the material did not live up to my expectations. Just another post-apocalyptic story.
A solar CME (coronal mass ejection) leaves Earth and the ISS without electricity. Clayton Shepard is an astronaut on his first mission on the ISS, and he will have to find a way to rescue his two colleagues who were on an EVA at the moment of the CME, and try to get back to Earth before life support fails completely. On Earth his wife Jackie will suffer the consequences on a different level but not less stressful, taking care of their daughter and part of the neighborhood, while their son is on a camping trip with a friend.
The premises of this book were so good, and the blurb mentions that some Nasa team members collaborated on this, that I was ready for a hard sci-fi book. The parts at the ISS were a bit, but I found them a bit confusing, like they were somehow not very well described. I had problems to visualize what Clayton was doing and the space he was in. Even though the book is titled 'Spaceman' most of the action happens on Earth, where we see the rest of members of his family facing a post-apocalyptic world in which almost everybody has become selfish and cruel. The ISS part was a bit original, but not the part on Earth; we found the same stereotypes than in many other books. Nevertheless I found that the riots started too early, while at the same time some people were still working at gas station stores. It just did not make a lot of sense.
The action in the book is quite slow, and the several flashbacks, instead of helping us to know the characters better, make the story drag. I was not able to connect to any of the characters, and Abrahams failed at transmitting their emotions and Clayton's sense of urgency at the ISS. I found myself not really caring for any of them, which bothered me, since the setup was really great.
I have read comparisons between this book and the Martian, and even Clayton mentions Matt Damon during his ramblings while fighting for his life, but I would not put both books at the same level. As I have just said, I did not get the sense of urgency, nor could I connect to any of the characters. I just wanted to laugh at Clayton's sense of humor but couldn't.
And in the end I felt cheated. Clayton's story, the one giving the title to the book, is just a small part of it, and it is not even finished. I understand that this will be a series, but the end was quite underwhelming.
Kevin Pierce's narrations was spot on, though, and he tried to transmit the characters emotions, even though they were not clear in the text. I am looking forward to other books narrated by Pierce.
I have found this book basically anecdotal. The fact that part of it happens on the ISS makes it more interesting, but the rest of the material did not live up to my expectations. Just another post-apocalyptic story.
June 9, 2017
I come to this as a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, and I kinda liked this one.
I think it's no spoiler (since it's in the blurb above) that the book concerns Clayton Shepard, the eponymous astronaut, who's stranded in orbit by solar activity, and of his family back on Earth.
The scenes in space rang true enough for me. On Earth, I felt
Things I especially liked: nobody we've met so far is a explicitly a prepper, though they are suspiciously competent, it's not a thinly disguised gun fantasy where <$group> can be shot with impunity, and as far as I can tell the number of zombies sighted is zero. That's a statement you could make of far too few post apocalyptic books of the past decade or two.
This is the first book by Mr Abrahams I have read, and his experience in writing thrillers is evident - it's a quick read, even though I only read it on the bus to and from work.
I think it's no spoiler (since it's in the blurb above) that the book concerns Clayton Shepard, the eponymous astronaut, who's stranded in orbit by solar activity, and of his family back on Earth.
The scenes in space rang true enough for me. On Earth, I felt
Things I especially liked: nobody we've met so far is a explicitly a prepper, though they are suspiciously competent, it's not a thinly disguised gun fantasy where <$group> can be shot with impunity, and as far as I can tell the number of zombies sighted is zero. That's a statement you could make of far too few post apocalyptic books of the past decade or two.
This is the first book by Mr Abrahams I have read, and his experience in writing thrillers is evident - it's a quick read, even though I only read it on the bus to and from work.
November 24, 2016
SpaceMan
: Tom Abrahams
A fast paced novel following an EMP, or solar flare, solar storm, or was it an attack by a foreign government or ours? We have an astronaut aboard the International Space Station that has also been effected. The journey to return to Earth, plus his family and neighbors attempt to survive are a nail biting experience. I hope this will have a sequel or even better ................a longer series.
The narration was well done.The characters were well portrayed.Kevin Pierce did a fantastic job!
"I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator."
: Tom Abrahams
A fast paced novel following an EMP, or solar flare, solar storm, or was it an attack by a foreign government or ours? We have an astronaut aboard the International Space Station that has also been effected. The journey to return to Earth, plus his family and neighbors attempt to survive are a nail biting experience. I hope this will have a sequel or even better ................a longer series.
The narration was well done.The characters were well portrayed.Kevin Pierce did a fantastic job!
"I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator."
December 17, 2016
WARNING! This story is incomplete. It's also rather stereotypical dystopian fiction. Solar weather plunges the world into darkness and people go crazy.
Abrahams uses reminisces and flashbacks to aid in character development, but these episodes are too long, dragging the reader out of the story and bogging it down. If he'd shortened or omitted these episodes, the story would have moved along better and he could have finished it.
Kevin Pierce performs well. My rating is not indicative of his performance, but I cannot give a high rating to an unfinished story.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for this unbiased review.
Abrahams uses reminisces and flashbacks to aid in character development, but these episodes are too long, dragging the reader out of the story and bogging it down. If he'd shortened or omitted these episodes, the story would have moved along better and he could have finished it.
Kevin Pierce performs well. My rating is not indicative of his performance, but I cannot give a high rating to an unfinished story.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for this unbiased review.
September 28, 2017
Good start to a new series.
I read Tom's Traveler series and am waiting for the next release, so I decided to check out this series. It carries the same methodical flow as his other series and jumps back and forth between two story lines that will eventually come together. Tom makes these jumps smooth without losing the readers and get you involved in the character trials within the storyline. His use of everyday scenarios/references that relate to all of our lives make this an enjoyable and close to all of us. Getting ready to start the next book and so glad that I don't have to wait yet for the next installment.
I read Tom's Traveler series and am waiting for the next release, so I decided to check out this series. It carries the same methodical flow as his other series and jumps back and forth between two story lines that will eventually come together. Tom makes these jumps smooth without losing the readers and get you involved in the character trials within the storyline. His use of everyday scenarios/references that relate to all of our lives make this an enjoyable and close to all of us. Getting ready to start the next book and so glad that I don't have to wait yet for the next installment.
March 16, 2017
Excellent book!
As an avid fan of PA fiction, a CME is nothing new. However, telling the story with the main character on the International Space Station at the time of the event is new and genius! The story follows Clayton Shepherd, his wife and two children as he must somehow get back to Earth and his family must deal with the grid being down and not knowing if he will ever get back home to them. Just reading about the ISS was an education. The story Mr. Abraham's writes is terrific! Highly recommend this book! I'm off to read book two in this series!
As an avid fan of PA fiction, a CME is nothing new. However, telling the story with the main character on the International Space Station at the time of the event is new and genius! The story follows Clayton Shepherd, his wife and two children as he must somehow get back to Earth and his family must deal with the grid being down and not knowing if he will ever get back home to them. Just reading about the ISS was an education. The story Mr. Abraham's writes is terrific! Highly recommend this book! I'm off to read book two in this series!
May 25, 2020
The planet has been devastated by a powerful Coronal Mass Ejection.
All the world's electric power is lost to the magnetic storm of the CME. Few people have stockpiled enough supplies for more than a few days. The worst of mankind is beginning to rear its ugly head. The International Space Station caught the blast head on. Getting home to Earth is also problematic. The stuff has hit the fan!
Terrific characters and an amazing storyline combine with excellent writing to produce one heck of a story! I highly recommend this great read!
All the world's electric power is lost to the magnetic storm of the CME. Few people have stockpiled enough supplies for more than a few days. The worst of mankind is beginning to rear its ugly head. The International Space Station caught the blast head on. Getting home to Earth is also problematic. The stuff has hit the fan!
Terrific characters and an amazing storyline combine with excellent writing to produce one heck of a story! I highly recommend this great read!
February 15, 2019
Good enough as ep.1 in a series, but not a good stand alone book. Someone clearly read through the ISS schematics and design when writing this book and thought that we cared enough to include it in excessive detail. They were wrong. The author did a good job of building a general state of anxiety and mistrust in people, but that wasn't what I was looking for as I was reading this book. Sometimes I just want a light and relaxing apocalyptic read!
February 6, 2017
Spacebar. Tom Abrahams
The world is blacked out. No power. Anything that has any type of computer chip doesn't work. An EMP or something else? An astronaut is stranded in space. His family is on there own. Society is starting to break Down. No police, no emergency help of any kind. This is a apocalyptic thriller! I highly recommend! Can't wait to read next book of the series!
The world is blacked out. No power. Anything that has any type of computer chip doesn't work. An EMP or something else? An astronaut is stranded in space. His family is on there own. Society is starting to break Down. No police, no emergency help of any kind. This is a apocalyptic thriller! I highly recommend! Can't wait to read next book of the series!
October 11, 2017
Great concept, good writing. I did however find it a titch slow in places due to the extreme details given to certain situations. Also, there were a number of grammatical errors (mostly missing words) that I thought should have been found in proofreading. But I did buy the second book in the series and plan on reading it.
June 5, 2017
Amazing
This book was so good! I'm really glad I read it. I wasn't too sure about it at first but I knew Tom was a good author. Once I started reading I could not put it down. It's great highly recommended.
This book was so good! I'm really glad I read it. I wasn't too sure about it at first but I knew Tom was a good author. Once I started reading I could not put it down. It's great highly recommended.
March 20, 2017
Good story needed more Space time.
June 12, 2017
Scary stuff
This is a great fantasy that makes you wonder what you would do in this situation. I love the characters and now need to read book 2.
This is a great fantasy that makes you wonder what you would do in this situation. I love the characters and now need to read book 2.
November 24, 2017
Great book
I really enjoyed this book and already know I’ll be buying and reading the rest of the books in this series. I highly recommend this book and author.
I really enjoyed this book and already know I’ll be buying and reading the rest of the books in this series. I highly recommend this book and author.
January 14, 2018
A combination of a guy alone in an unusual situation like The Martian, mixed with the Survivalist series by A American. They work pretty well together.
February 20, 2018
Since it's part of a 3 book series. It lacks the action or thrillingness which may come with the next 2 books. This felt like a setup for the main plot.
May 23, 2018
Loved this series from start to finish. One of the best I've read in a while.
April 2, 2019
Wow
What an awesome read! I stayed up too late to finish it and will grab the next book to read tonight. Loved the interesting characters and their flaws.
What an awesome read! I stayed up too late to finish it and will grab the next book to read tonight. Loved the interesting characters and their flaws.
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