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Frozen Sky #3
Blindsided
RETURN TO THE FROZEN SKY
Beneath the ice, Vonnie tries to rescue an ESA biologist who was kidnapped by the sunfish.
In space, the People's Supreme Society of China moves against the ESA, launching thousands of drones and hunter-killers as Vonnie uncovers a secret of ancient power.
Conflict above. Conflict below.
Beneath the ice, Vonnie tries to rescue an ESA biologist who was kidnapped by the sunfish.
In space, the People's Supreme Society of China moves against the ESA, launching thousands of drones and hunter-killers as Vonnie uncovers a secret of ancient power.
Conflict above. Conflict below.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 11, 2016
47 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Carlson
36 books162 followersJeff Carlson is the international bestselling author of "Plague Year," "Long Eyes," "Interrupt" and "The Frozen Sky." To date, his work has been translated into sixteen languages worldwide.
His new novel is "Frozen Sky 3: Blindsided."
Readers can find free fiction, contests, videos and more on his web site at http://www.jverse.com
His new novel is "Frozen Sky 3: Blindsided."
Readers can find free fiction, contests, videos and more on his web site at http://www.jverse.com
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 10, 2016
Frozen Sky: Blindsided by Jeff Carlson is book 3 in the Europa series and it continues to look at what happens when the governments of Earth find life on Europa. The main character is a biologist named Vonnie who learns to communicate with the sunfish at the risk of her own safety. She also has to deal with the governments on Earth and the threat of war for the resources that Europa has to offer.
What makes the Frozen Sky series interesting to me is the science involved. There were news stories not to long ago saying that it’s possible there could be life on Europa. Even more recently we heard the news that the space probe Juno had made it to Jupiter. Frozen Sky takes place in the distant future but a lot of the politics and science in the story ties into the present. In reading this series you get the impression that Jeff Carlson did a lot of research on current events and here he presents his vision of what could happen in our future.
My only complaint about this book is that there was almost too much going on. Later in the story when the action picks up and war breaks out, I found myself thinking “this is good but I want to get back to how the sunfish evolved and hear about how they’re smarter than we think.” What I liked most about Blindsided was the relationship between Vonnie, her crew, the sunfish who inhabit Europa and the history behind how they got to where they are.
One of my favorite scenes was when the Sunfish turned their back on Vonnie because they see how she doesn’t trust the robot(called mecha in the story) that is trying to save her crew mate. At this point you think the sunfish aren’t very intelligent but little by little we learn that the sunfish are as smart as the earthlings but haven’t advanced as much due to the harsh living conditions of Europa. The sunfish have a history that gets more interesting as the story unfolds.
Another part I really liked is how it shows Earth in the future. There is still tabloid tv and people still give their opinions on news shows even when they don’t have all the facts. There is a scene when Vonnie is checking to see what the media is saying about her and her boyfriend Ben points out how politicians and the media all have their own agenda and everyone is trying to feed their own ego. He goes on to say that things are always bad for humankind, we have the technology to make paradise on Earth but we choose to lie, steal, point fingers, cheat and kill for land or for god. I love this revelation because we see it in the news every day and I guess in the future nothing really changes.
Blindsided is a book that works on several different levels. I’m not a big Science Fiction fan but I still loved the story, the science behind it and all of the characters. Also the ending of this book left a big smile on my face. I was happy to hear that we will be learning more about the Sunfish of Europa because book 4 is on its way. It will be interesting to see how much deeper Jeff Carlson can go into developing the Sunfish’s world and the politics of future Earth.
http://www.jverse.com/
What makes the Frozen Sky series interesting to me is the science involved. There were news stories not to long ago saying that it’s possible there could be life on Europa. Even more recently we heard the news that the space probe Juno had made it to Jupiter. Frozen Sky takes place in the distant future but a lot of the politics and science in the story ties into the present. In reading this series you get the impression that Jeff Carlson did a lot of research on current events and here he presents his vision of what could happen in our future.
My only complaint about this book is that there was almost too much going on. Later in the story when the action picks up and war breaks out, I found myself thinking “this is good but I want to get back to how the sunfish evolved and hear about how they’re smarter than we think.” What I liked most about Blindsided was the relationship between Vonnie, her crew, the sunfish who inhabit Europa and the history behind how they got to where they are.
One of my favorite scenes was when the Sunfish turned their back on Vonnie because they see how she doesn’t trust the robot(called mecha in the story) that is trying to save her crew mate. At this point you think the sunfish aren’t very intelligent but little by little we learn that the sunfish are as smart as the earthlings but haven’t advanced as much due to the harsh living conditions of Europa. The sunfish have a history that gets more interesting as the story unfolds.
Another part I really liked is how it shows Earth in the future. There is still tabloid tv and people still give their opinions on news shows even when they don’t have all the facts. There is a scene when Vonnie is checking to see what the media is saying about her and her boyfriend Ben points out how politicians and the media all have their own agenda and everyone is trying to feed their own ego. He goes on to say that things are always bad for humankind, we have the technology to make paradise on Earth but we choose to lie, steal, point fingers, cheat and kill for land or for god. I love this revelation because we see it in the news every day and I guess in the future nothing really changes.
Blindsided is a book that works on several different levels. I’m not a big Science Fiction fan but I still loved the story, the science behind it and all of the characters. Also the ending of this book left a big smile on my face. I was happy to hear that we will be learning more about the Sunfish of Europa because book 4 is on its way. It will be interesting to see how much deeper Jeff Carlson can go into developing the Sunfish’s world and the politics of future Earth.
http://www.jverse.com/
June 25, 2016
Jeff Carlson is a daredevil and maniac on snow, so of course his protagonist is a maniac in ice. Wow. Frozen Sky 3 continues to deliver - and it has become an even better story. Jeez. Really Big Things are happening in the storyline. [But no spoilers here.] The story is chunky, juicy, and mostly fast-paced. And I could kick Jeff in the shins for leaving me hanging at the end of the book. The blinkety-blink story won't conclude until the end of Book Four. And now I wait . . .
September 28, 2019
Blindsided is another great read in the Europa series and Jeff Carlson continues this amazing story. Blindsided continues to look at what happens when the governments of Earth find life on Europa and then jockeying for positions of supremacy.
The protagonist is a biologist, Vonnie, learns to communicate with the sunfish and begin to understand their society. She has to survive the political machinations of the governments on Earth for the resources that Europa has to offer. She seem to be the scientist with the pure heart trying to protect the Sunfish from Earth while they do not trust her either.
There is plenty of science involved and it is both realistic and understandable. Man can travel great distances, but they are great distances with both supply chain issues and survivor issues when it comes to fighting in a hostile environment. Man can travel, but he is still man with all of his foibles and he does not transcend these. This is science fiction, but it just as easily apply to first contact with the Aztec and Conquistadors and there are plenty of parallels.
Blindsided is ultimately a story about social interaction and the lack of understanding between different societies. Earthlings misunderstand what they think they see with the Sunfish, thinking they are primitive and can be exploited.
Blindsided is a book that works on several different levels. I loved the character driven story, the realistic science, and the societal study of first contact.
The protagonist is a biologist, Vonnie, learns to communicate with the sunfish and begin to understand their society. She has to survive the political machinations of the governments on Earth for the resources that Europa has to offer. She seem to be the scientist with the pure heart trying to protect the Sunfish from Earth while they do not trust her either.
There is plenty of science involved and it is both realistic and understandable. Man can travel great distances, but they are great distances with both supply chain issues and survivor issues when it comes to fighting in a hostile environment. Man can travel, but he is still man with all of his foibles and he does not transcend these. This is science fiction, but it just as easily apply to first contact with the Aztec and Conquistadors and there are plenty of parallels.
Blindsided is ultimately a story about social interaction and the lack of understanding between different societies. Earthlings misunderstand what they think they see with the Sunfish, thinking they are primitive and can be exploited.
Blindsided is a book that works on several different levels. I loved the character driven story, the realistic science, and the societal study of first contact.
July 14, 2018
Things come to a boil (and refreeze) both below the ice and above in this 3rd installment of Frozen Sky. The tension that's been steadily bubbling beneath the surface explodes in betrayals and twists you half expected but didn't really see coming. Carlson baits you like a sunfish and leaves you hungry for more. Now if I can only make it until the next book! Will have to occupy myself with the Juno probe orbiting Jupiter now! Fingers crossed they discover life. :)
April 2, 2018
It's impossible to sum up this book with a star rating. Jeff Carlson passed away before he could finish the series and it ends on a cliffhanger. There is no star rating for something like that.
I like this series a lot. None of the books are perfect, but they're packed with action, speculative technology, geologic and biologic science on a planetary scale, personalities under pressure, lives in constant peril, and truly "alien" aliens.
If you've read the previous two books, you owe it to yourself to read this one to see where the series was heading. I presume the fourth book would have been the conclusion, and it would have been a hell of a story.
Jeff Carlson and I communicated by email for a while back around the time when he'd published Frozen Sky 2. He was extremely personable and gracious. Reading his author's note at the end of this book was like an extension of that communication. Do you see why part of me wants to give this five stars?
But I'm going to rate it as I would any book. A book that is part of a series that I suppose will now live on its own, never quite ending.
I like this series a lot. None of the books are perfect, but they're packed with action, speculative technology, geologic and biologic science on a planetary scale, personalities under pressure, lives in constant peril, and truly "alien" aliens.
If you've read the previous two books, you owe it to yourself to read this one to see where the series was heading. I presume the fourth book would have been the conclusion, and it would have been a hell of a story.
Jeff Carlson and I communicated by email for a while back around the time when he'd published Frozen Sky 2. He was extremely personable and gracious. Reading his author's note at the end of this book was like an extension of that communication. Do you see why part of me wants to give this five stars?
But I'm going to rate it as I would any book. A book that is part of a series that I suppose will now live on its own, never quite ending.
July 13, 2016
Frozen Sky: Blindsided (the Europa Series Book 3) by Jeff Carlson is the best book in this series so far. It has a never ending conflict and tension driving the story. There are romantic entanglements between crewmembers, hot sex (just a little), more interpersonal conflict, clashing personalities, people spying for their various governments, and conflict between nations in space. And that’s just the humans.I could not put it down.
The backbone of the book is the relationship between Vonnie and the Sunfish. Carlson continues to paint a unique picture of the language, culture, and mind of these alien creatures. They are complex, and Vonnie spends a lot of time getting to know them. As the story progresses, you begin to suspect that the Sunfish have more dimensions than has first been apparent.
There is a fascinating conflict on Europa between the European Space Agency (Vonnie’s people), the Brazilians, and the Chinese. Carlson has done a lot of homework to describe how this would look, and it add’s a realistic feel to the story. You will appreciate his hard work. I love the fact that science is so integral to understand what’s going on.
Carlson is a talented writer. Many of his observations are timeless descriptions of the human condition:
Carlson has a personal essay at the end of the book describing how he originally planned on making this a trilogy, but the characters took on a life of their own and the story just kept getting bigger and bigger, so he split the third book in two to make a fourth book. I’m glad he did. This story has many threads and subplots that deserve a complete ending. And this story is so good you don’t really want it to end. I can’t wait for the fourth book.
The backbone of the book is the relationship between Vonnie and the Sunfish. Carlson continues to paint a unique picture of the language, culture, and mind of these alien creatures. They are complex, and Vonnie spends a lot of time getting to know them. As the story progresses, you begin to suspect that the Sunfish have more dimensions than has first been apparent.
There is a fascinating conflict on Europa between the European Space Agency (Vonnie’s people), the Brazilians, and the Chinese. Carlson has done a lot of homework to describe how this would look, and it add’s a realistic feel to the story. You will appreciate his hard work. I love the fact that science is so integral to understand what’s going on.
Carlson is a talented writer. Many of his observations are timeless descriptions of the human condition:
“The Americans were tainted by the anger of fallen kings.”
“The ice was always the same because it was never the same…”
“Stubbornness was a trait linked to vision and productivity.”
“Waiting was the hardest part.” (Tom Petty?)
“There should have been enough for everyone, but only the angels shared.”
“It's always bad. Bad is the normal state of affairs for humankind. We have the technology to make paradise on Earth. Instead we point fingers, we lie, we steal, we kill for land or God or other ideologies.”
Carlson has a personal essay at the end of the book describing how he originally planned on making this a trilogy, but the characters took on a life of their own and the story just kept getting bigger and bigger, so he split the third book in two to make a fourth book. I’m glad he did. This story has many threads and subplots that deserve a complete ending. And this story is so good you don’t really want it to end. I can’t wait for the fourth book.
November 8, 2016
Can't wait for the fourth book and to find out what awaits below in the deep ocean.
July 2, 2017
Searching for a fellow scientist who took off into Europa's icy, cavernous interior thrusts Vonnie, boyfriend Ben, and friend Ashley into an exciting, intense journey of survival in the sunfish-laden world. Interacting with the creatures and staying alive are two very important and often simultaneous tasks. This is where the good part ends. Then we're back to insufferable Vonnie and Ben ranting about the moronic humans.
So in this book things come to a head between sunfish and humans. China is secretly digging and trying to reach something in the Great Ocean deep inside Europa, and all others are considered in the way. Among all the chaos Vonnie helps her sunfish and her friends help her. She uncharacteristically wants to fire on Chinese spaceships but her diplomatic boss wants to hold back; then when the Chinese bombs rip everyone to pieces Vonnie's the only one who gets off a shot and becomes a hero. Telling you, this girl can do no wrong.
There's lots about how cool the universe is but how greedy and mean and stupid and brutish humans are Remember that. It's only what this whole series is about. Space, science, insubordination, sex, filthy language, sunfish, Vonnie = cool and good. Humans, morality, religion, anything Vonnie disagrees with = dumb and bad.
And the evolution. So much evolutionist bunk. Going on and on about how everything evolved from simple to complex, when that's never been observed. Things evolve, yes, but from complex to simple. They lose information. It's called microevolution. That's what was observed with the fictional sunfish losing capabilities. There's absolutely no reason something would be in its natural environment, decide to change, and get everything needed to do so exactly right the first time--that's even what evolutionists say because they need millions of years for something to evolve into something else. So once it started changing and inevitably found that change uncomfortable, awkward, or weird (because this change admittedly took ages to fully carry though), natural selection itself would select AGAINST that change or mutation. Attributing all the different things in the world to mutations and random chance is at best extremely naive and at worst malicious lying to avoid any mention of the Creator.
And they take God's name in vain a lot for considering Him a mythological being, and they mysteriously never use any other deity's name like "Oh my Allah" or "by Odin," despite having the same disdain for all religions. Or maybe it's just Christianity they hate. Hmm.
It ends on a cliffhanger with some huge unknown thing transmitting from inside the ocean. Supposed to make you wait on pins and needles for the last book, which I will not be because I'm fed up with this insufferable series.
So in this book things come to a head between sunfish and humans. China is secretly digging and trying to reach something in the Great Ocean deep inside Europa, and all others are considered in the way. Among all the chaos Vonnie helps her sunfish and her friends help her. She uncharacteristically wants to fire on Chinese spaceships but her diplomatic boss wants to hold back; then when the Chinese bombs rip everyone to pieces Vonnie's the only one who gets off a shot and becomes a hero. Telling you, this girl can do no wrong.
There's lots about how cool the universe is but how greedy and mean and stupid and brutish humans are Remember that. It's only what this whole series is about. Space, science, insubordination, sex, filthy language, sunfish, Vonnie = cool and good. Humans, morality, religion, anything Vonnie disagrees with = dumb and bad.
And the evolution. So much evolutionist bunk. Going on and on about how everything evolved from simple to complex, when that's never been observed. Things evolve, yes, but from complex to simple. They lose information. It's called microevolution. That's what was observed with the fictional sunfish losing capabilities. There's absolutely no reason something would be in its natural environment, decide to change, and get everything needed to do so exactly right the first time--that's even what evolutionists say because they need millions of years for something to evolve into something else. So once it started changing and inevitably found that change uncomfortable, awkward, or weird (because this change admittedly took ages to fully carry though), natural selection itself would select AGAINST that change or mutation. Attributing all the different things in the world to mutations and random chance is at best extremely naive and at worst malicious lying to avoid any mention of the Creator.
And they take God's name in vain a lot for considering Him a mythological being, and they mysteriously never use any other deity's name like "Oh my Allah" or "by Odin," despite having the same disdain for all religions. Or maybe it's just Christianity they hate. Hmm.
It ends on a cliffhanger with some huge unknown thing transmitting from inside the ocean. Supposed to make you wait on pins and needles for the last book, which I will not be because I'm fed up with this insufferable series.
February 17, 2019
This book is amazing. This series is definitely one of my favorites of all time. The scientific aspects and ideas of this book (which is a lot of it) are very interesting and seems so real, as all of this i going to happen. I don't know how Jeff does it, but he does. In the skirmish with the Chinese, it seems as though it is the Chinese against everyone. Also the fact of China usurping America for world power is probably going to happen at some point. I can't wait for Battlefront to come out.
August 18, 2021
More fully-formed than the second book, Blindsided is a spectacular ride. I can't wait to see the final tale, despite knowing that Carlson didn't live to finish it himself. Carlson was born 364 days before I was, and his untimely passing will undoubtedly color my reading of "Battlefront." While reading Blindsided, I could still feel immersed in his writing, and the world could really use more authors of his caliber. Vonnie, Lam, Ben, Ash, and all the rest - good luck.
June 2, 2017
Great series
Highly absorbing, I did not want to put it down. Can't wait for the sequel. Space opera, love and politics at its best.
Highly absorbing, I did not want to put it down. Can't wait for the sequel. Space opera, love and politics at its best.
April 12, 2018
This has been a fun series. Very well put together overall and the sociological underlying currents are fun too.
March 9, 2021
Interesting continuation
March 11, 2017
Vonnie’s commitment to understand and protect the alien sunfish faces even more challenges. The more she learns about them, the more questions that arise. The politics of the earth sponsors of the Europa mission get complicated even more. And then (spoiler) war becomes inevitable, and the different groups of scientists need to decide how to respond to it. It gets messy.
Throughout all of this, Jeff Carlson is in complete control of his story: the relationships between a very diverse set of humans, the science of that future era, and a storyline that cannot be predicted but always makes sense.
Another spoiler: There will be a fourth novel to complete this story. If you read the author’s afterword for Frozen Sky Blindsided, you should be able to understand (and forgive ☺) the rational, and learn something of the special individual who has given his readership such a rich reading experience.
I truly hope that you started this adventure with The Frozen Sky, and have followed that with The Frozen Sky Betrayed.
Throughout all of this, Jeff Carlson is in complete control of his story: the relationships between a very diverse set of humans, the science of that future era, and a storyline that cannot be predicted but always makes sense.
Another spoiler: There will be a fourth novel to complete this story. If you read the author’s afterword for Frozen Sky Blindsided, you should be able to understand (and forgive ☺) the rational, and learn something of the special individual who has given his readership such a rich reading experience.
I truly hope that you started this adventure with The Frozen Sky, and have followed that with The Frozen Sky Betrayed.
July 26, 2017
With Jupiter being a hot topic item in the news these days, it’s time for a riveting science fiction thriller set on one of Jupiter’s moons. Cue bestselling author Jeff Carlson’s latest novel, the third installment in the Frozen Sky universe.
Like the previous novellas, Carlson throws the reader right in the middle of some intense action, with Vonnie dealing with the Sunfish and things being pushed to the limit. In Blindsided readers learn more about the complexities of the Sunfish and the fact that they’re a lot more intelligent and developed than anyone really thinks, except perhaps Vonnie. Carlson cuts back and forth between Vonnie working with the sunfish and the interactions of the people in the European Space Agency, giving an insight into what life is like living in a small space many millions of miles from Earth.
Meanwhile, tensions are increasing with the Brazilians and the Chinese, as well as a new “competitor” entering the ring, just as the sunfish are getting all haywire because of a creature deep below the ice that is having a strong effect on them, but the big deal is it isn’t a sunfish.
Originally written on August 11, 2016 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
Like the previous novellas, Carlson throws the reader right in the middle of some intense action, with Vonnie dealing with the Sunfish and things being pushed to the limit. In Blindsided readers learn more about the complexities of the Sunfish and the fact that they’re a lot more intelligent and developed than anyone really thinks, except perhaps Vonnie. Carlson cuts back and forth between Vonnie working with the sunfish and the interactions of the people in the European Space Agency, giving an insight into what life is like living in a small space many millions of miles from Earth.
Meanwhile, tensions are increasing with the Brazilians and the Chinese, as well as a new “competitor” entering the ring, just as the sunfish are getting all haywire because of a creature deep below the ice that is having a strong effect on them, but the big deal is it isn’t a sunfish.
Originally written on August 11, 2016 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
April 5, 2017
Good Build To A Cliffhangar
I'd have given this a 5 star but for some prolonged uneven inner dialogue by the protagonist that reads too much like exposition and sometimes seems contrived. And while I appreciate and am intrigued by the sexual mores of the author's future society I could do without the bits of sexual erotica thrown in. There is a borderline of "social preaching" throughout the series and while mostly contained, it does press the line once or twice here.
Otherwise, a great story and even though it ends with a cliffhanger I appreciate the need by the author for it and look forward to the conclusion. Great use of science and compelling combat scenes. Worth the read!
I'd have given this a 5 star but for some prolonged uneven inner dialogue by the protagonist that reads too much like exposition and sometimes seems contrived. And while I appreciate and am intrigued by the sexual mores of the author's future society I could do without the bits of sexual erotica thrown in. There is a borderline of "social preaching" throughout the series and while mostly contained, it does press the line once or twice here.
Otherwise, a great story and even though it ends with a cliffhanger I appreciate the need by the author for it and look forward to the conclusion. Great use of science and compelling combat scenes. Worth the read!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews