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Rosetta
The future isn’t what it used to be for Tony Calanis Palermo. He’s a man with a past.
It has been a long fall from a member of the most clandestine branch of Lunar Intelligence to a mere able spaceman first class aboard a merchant starship. But after his latest misadventure, it will be an even longer fall to working out a long term indenture on a backwater sugar plantation. In fact, it would be a death sentence.
Except that he’s just been offered a single chance at freedom: If he uses his skills to obtain the language key of the mysterious, and dead, alien Galactic race before anyone else can get it. That anyone else may include, but may not strictly be limited to, interplanetary policorps, super soldiers, genetically modified assassins, heavily armed colonial revolutionaries, and the combined military might of the Union of Man.
Enough trouble for anyone’s plate, perhaps.
But once on the ground, Tony discovers the still functioning personality daemon of a quasi-religious mutant criminal megalomaniac that had once tried to start World War Four just before Tony . . . killed her. Turns out, that’s a problem.
Only he also decides to rescue an indentured savant slave girl and her dying pet Angel.
Has he finally bitten off more than he can chew?
But the real question is: Can he stay alive long enough to succeed?
It has been a long fall from a member of the most clandestine branch of Lunar Intelligence to a mere able spaceman first class aboard a merchant starship. But after his latest misadventure, it will be an even longer fall to working out a long term indenture on a backwater sugar plantation. In fact, it would be a death sentence.
Except that he’s just been offered a single chance at freedom: If he uses his skills to obtain the language key of the mysterious, and dead, alien Galactic race before anyone else can get it. That anyone else may include, but may not strictly be limited to, interplanetary policorps, super soldiers, genetically modified assassins, heavily armed colonial revolutionaries, and the combined military might of the Union of Man.
Enough trouble for anyone’s plate, perhaps.
But once on the ground, Tony discovers the still functioning personality daemon of a quasi-religious mutant criminal megalomaniac that had once tried to start World War Four just before Tony . . . killed her. Turns out, that’s a problem.
Only he also decides to rescue an indentured savant slave girl and her dying pet Angel.
Has he finally bitten off more than he can chew?
But the real question is: Can he stay alive long enough to succeed?
- GenresScience Fiction
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2016
25 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Patterson
1 book4 followersSteve is a lifelong reader.
But that’s not all.
He also invents imaginary people in his head.
They do stuff.
He also writes.
His first novel, Rosetta, is a dystopian, science fiction tale. Cyberpunk Space Opera, some say.
Steve is a trained Mathematician and a hardworking industrialist by day. He makes his home in Atlanta and enjoys the many activities of its vibrant science community.
But that’s not all.
He also invents imaginary people in his head.
They do stuff.
He also writes.
His first novel, Rosetta, is a dystopian, science fiction tale. Cyberpunk Space Opera, some say.
Steve is a trained Mathematician and a hardworking industrialist by day. He makes his home in Atlanta and enjoys the many activities of its vibrant science community.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 12, 2017
Rosetta is a really fun and engrossing space adventure novel. I don't want to say "space opera" because it's more of a "SF thriller" - Jack Reacher in Space, if you will. The protagonist (I don't want to say "hero") is Tony Palermo, an ex-agent of a powerful figure on Luna now reduced to thievery in an attempt to get himself back into his old boss's good graces. He gets caught trying to steal the blueprints to a stardrive, and in return for his life gets handed an even harder assignment - infiltrate an archaeological expedition on the planet Providence where they're digging up ruins of two ancient races: Martians (!) and an older Galactic civilization that enslaved them. The prize - a key to deciphering the Galactics' language and thereby gaining access to their advanced technology.
There is a lot going on in this novel. In addition to Tony's infiltration of the dig and the problems that arise from that, there are local politics at stake, galactic politics, indentured servitude, workers' unrest, an Earth on the brink of total collapse, corporations on the brink of war, a slave girl with a psychic connection to the alien artifacts, and a mystery about what actually happened to the Martians and Galactics thousands of years ago.
What I love is that the author doesn't feel the need to resolve all these threads (although he does a few). Tony Palermo isn't out to save the universe, after all. Instead, the book focuses on whether or not Tony Palermo can save his own humanity in the midst of everything going on around him. And that, in the end, is a much more satisfying story.
There is a lot going on in this novel. In addition to Tony's infiltration of the dig and the problems that arise from that, there are local politics at stake, galactic politics, indentured servitude, workers' unrest, an Earth on the brink of total collapse, corporations on the brink of war, a slave girl with a psychic connection to the alien artifacts, and a mystery about what actually happened to the Martians and Galactics thousands of years ago.
What I love is that the author doesn't feel the need to resolve all these threads (although he does a few). Tony Palermo isn't out to save the universe, after all. Instead, the book focuses on whether or not Tony Palermo can save his own humanity in the midst of everything going on around him. And that, in the end, is a much more satisfying story.
February 7, 2017
Brilliant!
Fantastic world building, intrigue, and action. I really enjoyed this and recommend it highly to anyone who likes a well-spun, gritty sci-fi yarn.
Fantastic world building, intrigue, and action. I really enjoyed this and recommend it highly to anyone who likes a well-spun, gritty sci-fi yarn.
November 15, 2017
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (complex sci-fi themes, language, violence, discussion of heavy topics)
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the author. All opinions are my own.
The future isn’t what it used to be for Tony Calanis Palermo. He’s a man with a past. It has been a long fall from a member of the most clandestine branch of Lunar Intelligence to a mere able spaceman first class aboard a merchant starship. But after his latest misadventure, it will be an even longer fall to working out a long term indenture on a backwater sugar plantation. In fact, it would be a death sentence. Except that he’s just been offered a single chance at freedom: If he uses his skills to obtain the language key of the mysterious, and dead, alien Galactic race before anyone else can get it. That anyone else may include, but may not strictly be limited to, interplanetary policorps, super soldiers, genetically modified assassins, heavily armed colonial revolutionaries, and the combined military might of the Union of Man. Enough trouble for anyone’s plate, perhaps. But once on the ground, Tony discovers the still functioning personality daemon of a quasi-religious mutant criminal megalomaniac that had once tried to start World War Four just before Tony . . . killed her. Turns out, that’s a problem. Only he also decides to rescue an indentured savant slave girl and her dying pet Angel. Has he finally bitten off more than he can chew? But the real question is: Can he stay alive long enough to succeed? - Amazon.com
Do you ever think that there should be a high science fiction genre kind of like there is for fantasy? I think this book would definitely qualify as a high science fiction novel because it has so many complex science fiction themes in it. Much more than a newbie like me could handle. I had to unfortunately DNF this book because I became very confused in the world, but I did like some things about this novel. I thought the writing was very well done. The characters are well developed as well. You can tell the author has a talent for writing and can craft an amazing story. I also thought the plot was very intriguing and interesting. For the book being as detailed as it was, the book didn’t suffer from pacing problems. The book was really good.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into the book. I consider myself a novice sci-fi reader and I just couldn’t grasp the book at all. It wasn’t that the book was boring, but I did feel that it was a bit complex. The book discusses a lot of heavy subjects such as over population and it kind of glosses over a lot of them. The book also throws a lot of things at the main character and he unrealistically solves the majority of them. While I did feel the characters were well developed, I did think they were unrealistic at times. I also felt that while the plot was too complex for my liking.
Verdict: Overall, this was a good book but because there were so many things happening in the book (that could easily fill 3-4 books on its own and probably should be separated into other books) I had to DNF the book. I’m going to blame my failure on my new emergence into the sci-fi genre. If you enjoy sci-fi then you’ll more than likely love this book! If you’re not a big sci-fi reader then you might not enjoy it as much. However, I encourage you to give the book a try regardless.
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (complex sci-fi themes, language, violence, discussion of heavy topics)
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the author. All opinions are my own.
The future isn’t what it used to be for Tony Calanis Palermo. He’s a man with a past. It has been a long fall from a member of the most clandestine branch of Lunar Intelligence to a mere able spaceman first class aboard a merchant starship. But after his latest misadventure, it will be an even longer fall to working out a long term indenture on a backwater sugar plantation. In fact, it would be a death sentence. Except that he’s just been offered a single chance at freedom: If he uses his skills to obtain the language key of the mysterious, and dead, alien Galactic race before anyone else can get it. That anyone else may include, but may not strictly be limited to, interplanetary policorps, super soldiers, genetically modified assassins, heavily armed colonial revolutionaries, and the combined military might of the Union of Man. Enough trouble for anyone’s plate, perhaps. But once on the ground, Tony discovers the still functioning personality daemon of a quasi-religious mutant criminal megalomaniac that had once tried to start World War Four just before Tony . . . killed her. Turns out, that’s a problem. Only he also decides to rescue an indentured savant slave girl and her dying pet Angel. Has he finally bitten off more than he can chew? But the real question is: Can he stay alive long enough to succeed? - Amazon.com
Do you ever think that there should be a high science fiction genre kind of like there is for fantasy? I think this book would definitely qualify as a high science fiction novel because it has so many complex science fiction themes in it. Much more than a newbie like me could handle. I had to unfortunately DNF this book because I became very confused in the world, but I did like some things about this novel. I thought the writing was very well done. The characters are well developed as well. You can tell the author has a talent for writing and can craft an amazing story. I also thought the plot was very intriguing and interesting. For the book being as detailed as it was, the book didn’t suffer from pacing problems. The book was really good.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into the book. I consider myself a novice sci-fi reader and I just couldn’t grasp the book at all. It wasn’t that the book was boring, but I did feel that it was a bit complex. The book discusses a lot of heavy subjects such as over population and it kind of glosses over a lot of them. The book also throws a lot of things at the main character and he unrealistically solves the majority of them. While I did feel the characters were well developed, I did think they were unrealistic at times. I also felt that while the plot was too complex for my liking.
Verdict: Overall, this was a good book but because there were so many things happening in the book (that could easily fill 3-4 books on its own and probably should be separated into other books) I had to DNF the book. I’m going to blame my failure on my new emergence into the sci-fi genre. If you enjoy sci-fi then you’ll more than likely love this book! If you’re not a big sci-fi reader then you might not enjoy it as much. However, I encourage you to give the book a try regardless.
December 16, 2017
An absolute knockout for a debut! Highly recommend. This guy knows his craft.
February 11, 2017
I enjoyed reading the book and I recommend it to all other readers. In general, I read all kind of genres, if I find in it something very interesting. I liked the book for its language, dialogs and the way the story develops. I would say the ideas and the story in the book are very interesting and I hope all readers will like.
June 14, 2017
Patterson's debut novel is a space opera with an undercurrent of vast political machinations underlying the world, but the focus of this story is much more on one small piece of that: millions of years ago, two space-faring species fought a vast war on a planet called Providence that humans have colonized, and one scientist is reportedly close to deciphering the language of the Galactics, the older and more technologically advanced of the two. No one has ever been able to do that, and a translation would put whoever controls the information into power over those who don't.
Everyone wants that power.
Into the middle of things comes Tony Palermo, an ex-military tough-guy covered in tattoos that everyone thinks is just exactly that, and not much more. After he's caught committing a low-level crime on the commercial ship he's currently serving on, he's offered a way out: go to Providence and get this doctor's research and return it to the captain, and he won't have to serve any time.
But Tony has his own ideas.
Mystery, espionage, science, changing loyalties, troubled pasts...and no one is what they seem.
Everyone wants that power.
Into the middle of things comes Tony Palermo, an ex-military tough-guy covered in tattoos that everyone thinks is just exactly that, and not much more. After he's caught committing a low-level crime on the commercial ship he's currently serving on, he's offered a way out: go to Providence and get this doctor's research and return it to the captain, and he won't have to serve any time.
But Tony has his own ideas.
Mystery, espionage, science, changing loyalties, troubled pasts...and no one is what they seem.
April 26, 2017
Stephen Patterson has deftly crafted a superb Sci-Fi novel full of action and mystery that sucks the reader in from the very first page. Driving the story are emotionally layered characters; and at its heart is anti-hero, Tony Palermo, whose checkered past informs his even more questionable actions. He's a thief with a tarnished heart of gold…and I love him!
This is the kind of storytelling that keeps me up reading well into the wee hours of the morning. Not since Pierce Brown's RED RISING have I gushed over a Sci-fi novel.
I absolutely loved ROSETTA and I believe you will too.
This is the kind of storytelling that keeps me up reading well into the wee hours of the morning. Not since Pierce Brown's RED RISING have I gushed over a Sci-fi novel.
I absolutely loved ROSETTA and I believe you will too.
March 13, 2017
Rosetta by Stephen Patterson is an enjoyable science fiction adventure with some mystery thrown in. It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once I got used to the characters, I really enjoyed the novel. While Tony ends up growing on you, Aja steals the show when she enters the picture, and I wish there had been more chapters from her point of view. I’d definitely read more in this universe in the future, if the author decides to write a sequel.
June 4, 2017
Very entertaining science fiction! I was a confused by the first chapter because it starts out rather cryptic, but once I got about four chapters in, it captured my interest and I had to find out how it turned out. The characters are believable and the plot is fun. I look forward to reading more of Stephen's work.
February 27, 2017
Rosetta
This is outside my usual reading type. I still enjoyed the story. Quite an interesting SciFi futuristic idea. Who is working for who? Will Tony survive to deliver Rosetta?
This is outside my usual reading type. I still enjoyed the story. Quite an interesting SciFi futuristic idea. Who is working for who? Will Tony survive to deliver Rosetta?
December 15, 2016
Good stuff!
March 14, 2017
Read it or I'll kick your ass like a Palermo on a good day.
July 15, 2017
Rosetta (Kindle Edition) by Stephen Patterson
Please note, the author reached out to me and gave me a free kindle edition of this book for an honest review. And here is my review, and it's honest. *chuckle*
I really enjoyed this book! This is his first effort, and I think it's a handsome one indeed. The characters are complex and textured, and they drive the plot. There are a few bumpy spots where I wasn't really sure of how our hero (or sort of hero) made certain connections. I did, however, enjoy the protagonist as being made to be a hero, even when he did not want to be. (How's that for obfuscation?)
I think that the author did a very good job with regards to revealing Tony's past bit by bit, and letting us get to know him by and by.
The action scenes were also well done and quite believable. I almost felt some bruising after a coup of them!
The end, I thought, felt a bit rushed. And all of a sudden we have too many angles to muddle through. Tony is a bright boy, and did get through them, but I'm still not sure how. But in all, a very good read indeed! I look forward to the next one already.
Please note, the author reached out to me and gave me a free kindle edition of this book for an honest review. And here is my review, and it's honest. *chuckle*
I really enjoyed this book! This is his first effort, and I think it's a handsome one indeed. The characters are complex and textured, and they drive the plot. There are a few bumpy spots where I wasn't really sure of how our hero (or sort of hero) made certain connections. I did, however, enjoy the protagonist as being made to be a hero, even when he did not want to be. (How's that for obfuscation?)
I think that the author did a very good job with regards to revealing Tony's past bit by bit, and letting us get to know him by and by.
The action scenes were also well done and quite believable. I almost felt some bruising after a coup of them!
The end, I thought, felt a bit rushed. And all of a sudden we have too many angles to muddle through. Tony is a bright boy, and did get through them, but I'm still not sure how. But in all, a very good read indeed! I look forward to the next one already.
March 18, 2018
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, so unfortunately, here goes:
Despite an interesting story premise and complex world-building, the plot was confusing and the main character Tony Palermo was...not enjoyable to read about it.
He’s aggressive, a killer who enjoys it, he sees every woman as a potential sex partner, and sooo good at everything he does (not sure his job - a hacker? an assassin? a linguist?).
AND he’s sooo handsome with big muscles that a major secondary character, Aja, a THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL (and a slave) who’s been having lesbian fantasies is instantly in love him, A GROWN MAN. Ew.
I usually don’t rate if I DNF a book, but I had to stop reading when the “Aja Likes Tony” chapter was followed by a scene in which Tony describes wanting to rape a woman that he’s getting busy with (they stop and he’s angry, blames her, and wants to rape her but doesn’t). This is the hero of the story??
I felt compelled to rate this also from seeing so many 5 starred reviews, many perhaps from people who know the author.
In summary: The violence and sex was unnecessary and took away from what could’ve been a good book.
Despite an interesting story premise and complex world-building, the plot was confusing and the main character Tony Palermo was...not enjoyable to read about it.
He’s aggressive, a killer who enjoys it, he sees every woman as a potential sex partner, and sooo good at everything he does (not sure his job - a hacker? an assassin? a linguist?).
AND he’s sooo handsome with big muscles that a major secondary character, Aja, a THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL (and a slave) who’s been having lesbian fantasies is instantly in love him, A GROWN MAN. Ew.
I usually don’t rate if I DNF a book, but I had to stop reading when the “Aja Likes Tony” chapter was followed by a scene in which Tony describes wanting to rape a woman that he’s getting busy with (they stop and he’s angry, blames her, and wants to rape her but doesn’t). This is the hero of the story??
I felt compelled to rate this also from seeing so many 5 starred reviews, many perhaps from people who know the author.
In summary: The violence and sex was unnecessary and took away from what could’ve been a good book.
November 8, 2017
In the way that quality science fiction works, Stephen Patterson mingles many elements into his novel, Rosetta. We have a lot of creativity and imagination represented in these pages, as it should be.
What struck me immediately in the first few pages was the mystical way Patterson writes his introductory section. It created more than enough mystery to keep me interested. Just as Tolkien gripped me in The Silamarillion, Patterson thrusts us into a puzzle of other beings and ontology, but does not leave us in the dark of space once he does so.
What follows is a story that reminded me of Heinlein in many ways. We have a protagonist, punchy dialogue, a mixture of the odd and the known, and a story that unfolds well in a world that is distant enough to be captivating, and simultaneously close enough to our reality so that we are not lost.
Patterson brings everything full circle and I was glad I had the opportunity to read another entry in science fiction, which I am embracing as one of my favorite genres.
What struck me immediately in the first few pages was the mystical way Patterson writes his introductory section. It created more than enough mystery to keep me interested. Just as Tolkien gripped me in The Silamarillion, Patterson thrusts us into a puzzle of other beings and ontology, but does not leave us in the dark of space once he does so.
What follows is a story that reminded me of Heinlein in many ways. We have a protagonist, punchy dialogue, a mixture of the odd and the known, and a story that unfolds well in a world that is distant enough to be captivating, and simultaneously close enough to our reality so that we are not lost.
Patterson brings everything full circle and I was glad I had the opportunity to read another entry in science fiction, which I am embracing as one of my favorite genres.
September 24, 2017
Tony Calanis Palermo had been a member of the clandestine Lunar intelligence service, but his misbehavior had caused his exile, and he found himself consigned to the role of able spaceman first class aboard a merchant starship. Unable to behave, he’s again caught, only now, he’s bound for long-term indenture on a sugar plantation—as much as a death sentence. There is, however, a way out. All he has to do is steal the key to the language of a long-dead race of Galactic aliens, and all will be forgiven. Piece of cake, right? Wrong! It seems that everyone else is also after the key, the Rosetta, that will unlock the technological secrets of the advanced alien race, and that everyone else is better armed, and all of them have Tony in their sights.
Rosetta by Stephen Patterson is space opera at its almost best. Riveting action, on the mark dialogue, and characters that, while you might not like them, you can certainly empathize with them.
A rollicking four-star weekend read.
Rosetta by Stephen Patterson is space opera at its almost best. Riveting action, on the mark dialogue, and characters that, while you might not like them, you can certainly empathize with them.
A rollicking four-star weekend read.
November 14, 2017
Patterson's novel feels like the novel you pick up as a 12 year old, the first science fiction novel you read that shows you exactly what science fiction can do. He creates a world that is both hopeful and dark, full of complexities and the affect humanity's flaws has on its society. He makes us wonder at the beauty of the universe, and then shows us the gritty reality of being human. It's an expansive space opera that makes the reader forget their own reality for a while. I would recap some of the story -- but as the other glowing reviews already do, I won't be repetitive.
I loved Rosetta, and I'm looking forward to reading more. It's an installment into the genre that I'm so glad to own.
I loved Rosetta, and I'm looking forward to reading more. It's an installment into the genre that I'm so glad to own.
July 27, 2017
Rosetta by Patterson. I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to read it. Unfortunately it didn't appeal to me. Scenes jumped around. I kept trying to follow the Tony thread and he had lots of conversations with the other characters. I did like the 14 year old and her ability to kill off the mutant borders on improbability. Whereas Tony's killer ability rang true. Anything is possible.
September 20, 2017
Yuck!
I can't believe I survived long enough to write this. Don't waste your time. Please give this a pass. Now!
I can't believe I survived long enough to write this. Don't waste your time. Please give this a pass. Now!
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November 27, 2017The book is full of mystery and action. It includes many complex sci-fi themes that might amaze you. Its universe grows and grows, but the main character makes his way in this difficult world. He struggles to get an unknown power. All characters are very well developed and very likable. The story absorbs you in an amazing universe, up to the point where you are simply perplexed.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews