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Earth's Last Gambit #1
Freefall
An alien ship is orbiting Europa. A handful of astronauts must confront the threat, alone.
Despite NASA budget cuts threating to put a sharp end to his career as an astronaut, British-born space shuttle pilot Jack Kildare knows without a doubt that his life will never be the same. Photographs snapped from the International Space Station reveal an alien spaceship in orbit around Europa, opening a terrifying new chapter in human history, and Jack finds himself in the center of a gigantic international effort to respond to the alien threat.
But when he is dismissed from NASA over a trumped-up security gaffe, Jack and his close friend Oliver Meeks combine their skills in an attempt to generate an innovative new development: a spaceship drive based on their observations of the alien craft's technology.
With the unknown threat driving international competition and the entire planet's spaceflight resources thrown into the fray, the focus of attention turns toward one single goal… a ship capable of traveling to Jupiter to confront the alien menace… the Spirit of Destiny. Amid unknown entities pushing to destroy the project from the inside out, and enemies baying for blood, Jack finds himself submerged in a world of secrets, sabotage attempts and cold-blooded murder.
Can Jack decode the secrets surrounding the arrival of the alien spaceship in our solar system? Or will his dreams of the ultimate space adventure be taken into the ashes with the Spirit of Destiny?
ABOUT FREEFALL: Freefall is the first book of a fast-paced trilogy of technothrillers. It contains hard science fiction elements in the tradition of The Martian and other science-based thrillers. You won't need a calculator to follow the story, but if you'd like to build a spaceship to the Spirit of Destiny's specifications, it really will take you to Jupiter! ($300 billion budget not included.)
Lifeboat, the second book in the Earth's Last Gambit Trilogy, will be published soon.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2016
593 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
Felix R. Savage
90 books120 followersFelix R. Savage writes hard science fiction, space opera, and comedic science fiction. He has also occasionally been known to commit fantasy.
Felix has a long history associated with rebellion. He was born in the 1970s, a decade of American youth rebelling against the safe culture of their parents. He is married to a wonderful woman and they have two beautiful daughters. Together the four of them live in Tokyo serving their cat overlord and benevolent protector. Felix pounds the keyboard while not translating, delighting in his family, or catering to the whims of the family’s cat. He woke up one day to learn that he was a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, but he continues to keep a low profile, and never stops watching out for any sign the lizard people have found him.
Felix has a long history associated with rebellion. He was born in the 1970s, a decade of American youth rebelling against the safe culture of their parents. He is married to a wonderful woman and they have two beautiful daughters. Together the four of them live in Tokyo serving their cat overlord and benevolent protector. Felix pounds the keyboard while not translating, delighting in his family, or catering to the whims of the family’s cat. He woke up one day to learn that he was a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, but he continues to keep a low profile, and never stops watching out for any sign the lizard people have found him.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
December 11, 2020
Given that the summary of Freefall alludes to Earth's first contact with an alien species, it’s not a spoiler to say that Savage’s depiction of that moment was not very believable. To call it "first contact" seemed like a stretch of the word "contact," as if we were contacted or we contacted them. From there, the panic and worldwide mobilization that ensued seemed grossly out of proportion to the evidence that Savage provided. The plot introduces other scenes of eye-rolling unbelievability along the way to the book's part-one-of-four type ending, trading reality for sensationalism and sometimes for mere convenience in moving the story forward.
Beyond falling short of believability, the writing is thinly adequate. If you are looking for any profound insights into humanity, which in my opinion is the purpose of the science-fiction genre, then there is not much here. While some of the characters have certain flaws that add depth to their existence, these flaws are more like window-dressing and seldom interfere with the progression of the story. Overall, the main feeling that I have after reading Freefall is one of being underwhelmed.
Beyond falling short of believability, the writing is thinly adequate. If you are looking for any profound insights into humanity, which in my opinion is the purpose of the science-fiction genre, then there is not much here. While some of the characters have certain flaws that add depth to their existence, these flaws are more like window-dressing and seldom interfere with the progression of the story. Overall, the main feeling that I have after reading Freefall is one of being underwhelmed.
March 23, 2017
I read the entire Interstellar Railroad series by Felix Savage already, so I was expecting a bit of irreverence with my hard science fiction when I started reading the Earth’s Last Gambit series. There wasn’t nearly as much cheekiness, but Freefall did have its own humor. I was a little disappointed in the cliffhanger ending, but, the sublime writing more than made up for it.
Freefall has everything I’ve come to expect in a great space opera – Intrigue, political maneuvering, religiosity, tech, grizzled space bums who just want their last chance to walk on the moon, clandestine sabotage, and so much more.
As with any novel, the characters motivations and dimension are supremely important. Moreso in a long-form space novel quartet. We science fiction fans have grown up on Star Trek and Star Wars. We were cheated with Firefly and Space: Above and Beyond. I could easily see Earth’s Last Gambit picked up as an ongoing series – one season per book.
Freefall is easily five stars, and you’re daft if you like sci-fi and don’t get it.
Freefall has everything I’ve come to expect in a great space opera – Intrigue, political maneuvering, religiosity, tech, grizzled space bums who just want their last chance to walk on the moon, clandestine sabotage, and so much more.
As with any novel, the characters motivations and dimension are supremely important. Moreso in a long-form space novel quartet. We science fiction fans have grown up on Star Trek and Star Wars. We were cheated with Firefly and Space: Above and Beyond. I could easily see Earth’s Last Gambit picked up as an ongoing series – one season per book.
Freefall is easily five stars, and you’re daft if you like sci-fi and don’t get it.
February 21, 2017
Not my kinda book
Too much techno-speak, not enough human dialogue. Sixty pages of stuff describing how to build a spaceship and MAYBE a few revelations about the people. The CIA posing as ...FAA, FBI and more ...and murdering people, all to steal a propulsion drive away from an AMERICAN??!! Made zero sense.
Maybe someone who enjoy reading pages of technical manuals will like this. I didn't. But the plot, the idea, was really good. Just too much techno-speak. This could've been a great book if it'd been ONE novel. As it is, I'm sure the second book will be like this one: boring for half, great for half. Cut boring out and it'd be one great book.
Too much techno-speak, not enough human dialogue. Sixty pages of stuff describing how to build a spaceship and MAYBE a few revelations about the people. The CIA posing as ...FAA, FBI and more ...and murdering people, all to steal a propulsion drive away from an AMERICAN??!! Made zero sense.
Maybe someone who enjoy reading pages of technical manuals will like this. I didn't. But the plot, the idea, was really good. Just too much techno-speak. This could've been a great book if it'd been ONE novel. As it is, I'm sure the second book will be like this one: boring for half, great for half. Cut boring out and it'd be one great book.
August 21, 2017
Lifeboat & Free fall - Felix R. Savage Earth last gambit series (four books)
Alright, to get the important caveat out of the way, this review applies only to the first two books in a series of four action-packed first contact techno thrillers. To this date, for better or worse I am quite ignorant of parts three and four.
There is plenty of action to go around - especially in the second book. The author got the measure of the action but what about the all important First Contact part? There, I found some situational catawompus that just didn’t seem straight.
The author seems to think that when confronted with a First Contact Scenario, high-ranking NASA officials, a hand-selected spaceship crew, the creme della creme of scientists - and all, would, for want of something better to say let loose a profusion of profanity in every other dialogue. The number of times the F&*(! word or variations of same used might go in the dozens, for a single book of the series that is.
I, for once, doubt this would be quite so.
Worse even, the author seems to think that extraterrestrials would, themselves, happily indulge in such language abuses.
Apart from satisfying inclinations to linguistic crudeness (amongst some readers), having from the mouthes of unsuspecting characters - Alien and human alike - streaming variations on the “four letter word”, Felix R. Savage doesn’t disappoint the infantile streak (within some of us) heaping rather generously on the reader close to every cliche that exists in science fiction. This includes but is obviously not restricted to :
Aliens are adorned with something tentacle-like - are bigger and stronger than us, - are war-like and altogether more or less just like us, yet with every little difference there is a contradictory emphasis is put on the Aliens being oh so incomprehensible and unforgivably at odds with us, - have incredibly unimaginative space-drives, - are masters of our human physiology to the extent that they can heal cancer or worse within minutes - last but not least and certainly maximally cliched (in this selective list) - space flight is boring so let’s have space sex.
I could end this review right here and now.
That, however, wouldn’t do justice to this quartet album of science fiction. After all, I managed to read two books in the series - a feat deserving further elicitation. Clearly, Mr. Savage must have done something right.
The premises and chain of events to follow are just intruiging enough to produce a plot keeping you reading over the lukewarm character interaction with their detached-from-reality disconsonance of expression and behavior. In fact, after completion of the book it was the satisfactory plot that had me reflect further on the author’s purpose.
I was even given to find a perhaps deep but yet undetected irony that could connect the out-of-place and out-of-line conduct of characters with the overall reasonable premises and scenario of the story that had somehow escaped me - unsuccessfully though.
Despite this perceived failure, I deem Felix R. Savage’s Earth’s Last Gambit a fairly readable product. In the end, if you are not put off as much as I am by the character interactions and are willing to focus on the technology and plot you might even enjoy this science fiction effort of quartet proportion.
Alright, to get the important caveat out of the way, this review applies only to the first two books in a series of four action-packed first contact techno thrillers. To this date, for better or worse I am quite ignorant of parts three and four.
There is plenty of action to go around - especially in the second book. The author got the measure of the action but what about the all important First Contact part? There, I found some situational catawompus that just didn’t seem straight.
The author seems to think that when confronted with a First Contact Scenario, high-ranking NASA officials, a hand-selected spaceship crew, the creme della creme of scientists - and all, would, for want of something better to say let loose a profusion of profanity in every other dialogue. The number of times the F&*(! word or variations of same used might go in the dozens, for a single book of the series that is.
I, for once, doubt this would be quite so.
Worse even, the author seems to think that extraterrestrials would, themselves, happily indulge in such language abuses.
Apart from satisfying inclinations to linguistic crudeness (amongst some readers), having from the mouthes of unsuspecting characters - Alien and human alike - streaming variations on the “four letter word”, Felix R. Savage doesn’t disappoint the infantile streak (within some of us) heaping rather generously on the reader close to every cliche that exists in science fiction. This includes but is obviously not restricted to :
Aliens are adorned with something tentacle-like - are bigger and stronger than us, - are war-like and altogether more or less just like us, yet with every little difference there is a contradictory emphasis is put on the Aliens being oh so incomprehensible and unforgivably at odds with us, - have incredibly unimaginative space-drives, - are masters of our human physiology to the extent that they can heal cancer or worse within minutes - last but not least and certainly maximally cliched (in this selective list) - space flight is boring so let’s have space sex.
I could end this review right here and now.
That, however, wouldn’t do justice to this quartet album of science fiction. After all, I managed to read two books in the series - a feat deserving further elicitation. Clearly, Mr. Savage must have done something right.
The premises and chain of events to follow are just intruiging enough to produce a plot keeping you reading over the lukewarm character interaction with their detached-from-reality disconsonance of expression and behavior. In fact, after completion of the book it was the satisfactory plot that had me reflect further on the author’s purpose.
I was even given to find a perhaps deep but yet undetected irony that could connect the out-of-place and out-of-line conduct of characters with the overall reasonable premises and scenario of the story that had somehow escaped me - unsuccessfully though.
Despite this perceived failure, I deem Felix R. Savage’s Earth’s Last Gambit a fairly readable product. In the end, if you are not put off as much as I am by the character interactions and are willing to focus on the technology and plot you might even enjoy this science fiction effort of quartet proportion.
April 8, 2017
This is a good book, well worth the time to read. The author has created an engaging story about first contact that is set in our own time period, and thus, technologically speaking, is something we can relate to instantly. The timeline seems reasonable and thus the book is believable.
Using current technology references can also be a drawback, and the one nitpick I have about this book (I am reading the second, so can't really comment about whether or not this issue crosses into the second and third in the series) is its over specificity when referring to current technology. For instance, Twitter and Instagram are specifically mentioned. Additionally, specific real-world people are mentioned. While this specificity brings instant meaning and relation to current readers, how about 10 years from now? or 20 years from now? For instance, say I wrote a sci fi book that started in the mid-80s, and I specifically mention CompuServe's CB channel 33 as a tool used by the contemporaries. Does anyone now even know that that is? CompuServe had a rudimentary chat system that was named after something relatable to the time: citizen band radio. But would an outright reference to it even resonate now? I doubt it.
Elon Musk is mentioned, and frequently using only his first name. Will anyone 20 years from now even know who he is? More to the point, do current readers even know who he is when mentioned by his first name only?
Every writer who starts a science fiction tale suffers from this issue. Over specificity usually dates a book and makes it less relatable to people reading in the future. I guess the trick is to talk about the technology, but not be specific. For instance, with social media, just call it that. I believe people 20 years from now will relate, even if the then technology has moved on.
One small nitpick as well is references in time. I believe there is one chapter that starts out indicating a passage of 14 months since the end of the last chapter. It then refers to an event happening "August 4." But the even had happened nearly a year and a half before. I believe this could be a problem with editing with context.
A lot of my nitpicks with all books of this specific genre are also a symptom of the fact that I read so fast. Therefore, the August 4 reference was actually something I had just read an hour before. Thus it jumped out at me. People who read at a more normal rate would probably not even notice.
All in all, this is a very good effort with an engaging story, and well worth the time to read the entire trilogy!
Using current technology references can also be a drawback, and the one nitpick I have about this book (I am reading the second, so can't really comment about whether or not this issue crosses into the second and third in the series) is its over specificity when referring to current technology. For instance, Twitter and Instagram are specifically mentioned. Additionally, specific real-world people are mentioned. While this specificity brings instant meaning and relation to current readers, how about 10 years from now? or 20 years from now? For instance, say I wrote a sci fi book that started in the mid-80s, and I specifically mention CompuServe's CB channel 33 as a tool used by the contemporaries. Does anyone now even know that that is? CompuServe had a rudimentary chat system that was named after something relatable to the time: citizen band radio. But would an outright reference to it even resonate now? I doubt it.
Elon Musk is mentioned, and frequently using only his first name. Will anyone 20 years from now even know who he is? More to the point, do current readers even know who he is when mentioned by his first name only?
Every writer who starts a science fiction tale suffers from this issue. Over specificity usually dates a book and makes it less relatable to people reading in the future. I guess the trick is to talk about the technology, but not be specific. For instance, with social media, just call it that. I believe people 20 years from now will relate, even if the then technology has moved on.
One small nitpick as well is references in time. I believe there is one chapter that starts out indicating a passage of 14 months since the end of the last chapter. It then refers to an event happening "August 4." But the even had happened nearly a year and a half before. I believe this could be a problem with editing with context.
A lot of my nitpicks with all books of this specific genre are also a symptom of the fact that I read so fast. Therefore, the August 4 reference was actually something I had just read an hour before. Thus it jumped out at me. People who read at a more normal rate would probably not even notice.
All in all, this is a very good effort with an engaging story, and well worth the time to read the entire trilogy!
December 4, 2016
Freefall is an amazing book, so many different stories in one. There is the overarching Alien Arrival scenario, with a mysterious object having arrived in orbit around Europa. First Contact is the most obvious of story arcs with an Alien Arrival, but the Author has taken this book to the next level. The arrival also sets in motion a series of other stories and scenarios that make this story utterly brilliant, political intrigue, murder, a space race to reach the object as well as some fairly fascinating spy games. This is reminiscent of Carl Sagan’s Contact, only it has more twists.
When you first start reading this book you think you are in for a first contact story that will lead to a space race but it develops so fast that you will not be able to put this book down.
As well as an incredible story line there are some exceptional characters. This story is written from the point of view of a couple of main characters, Jack an American Astronaut with an interesting past. Hannah, a propulsion genius who is the lead on the original probe to Jupiter, and later the Mission to Europa and Skyler, a Federal Agent with an agenda.
There are a multitude of minor characters as well that impact heavily on the story, but it is these 3 that really tell the story, and tell it so well. There are times that this is written so well that it is almost like it is a documentary, retelling actual events, giving you a real feeling of immersion in the story. The characters are brilliant in this book, with creative and clever dialogue that is realistic and absorbing. Hannah is incredibly real as the alcoholic, workaholic genius that wants more from her life, but doesn’t want to stop her work long enough to find it. Jack’s character is so driven, wanting to be the best, and when that doesn’t happen, finding the next thing, constantly on the go, always trying to be number 1. Skylar is a truly fascinating character as the quasi spook, with a degree, that doesn’t really have all it takes to be a ‘true’ agent, but is too smart for his own good.
I don’t want to give away spoilers for this book, it should be read and enjoyed. However, I could go on for pages about how brilliant the writing is. If you enjoy a good Sci-Fi story, especially a First Contact story with a bunch of twists, then this is for you. I can’t wait for the next part.
When you first start reading this book you think you are in for a first contact story that will lead to a space race but it develops so fast that you will not be able to put this book down.
As well as an incredible story line there are some exceptional characters. This story is written from the point of view of a couple of main characters, Jack an American Astronaut with an interesting past. Hannah, a propulsion genius who is the lead on the original probe to Jupiter, and later the Mission to Europa and Skyler, a Federal Agent with an agenda.
There are a multitude of minor characters as well that impact heavily on the story, but it is these 3 that really tell the story, and tell it so well. There are times that this is written so well that it is almost like it is a documentary, retelling actual events, giving you a real feeling of immersion in the story. The characters are brilliant in this book, with creative and clever dialogue that is realistic and absorbing. Hannah is incredibly real as the alcoholic, workaholic genius that wants more from her life, but doesn’t want to stop her work long enough to find it. Jack’s character is so driven, wanting to be the best, and when that doesn’t happen, finding the next thing, constantly on the go, always trying to be number 1. Skylar is a truly fascinating character as the quasi spook, with a degree, that doesn’t really have all it takes to be a ‘true’ agent, but is too smart for his own good.
I don’t want to give away spoilers for this book, it should be read and enjoyed. However, I could go on for pages about how brilliant the writing is. If you enjoy a good Sci-Fi story, especially a First Contact story with a bunch of twists, then this is for you. I can’t wait for the next part.
April 25, 2021
"Ollie, do you believe in aliens?"
Jack Kildare was only the third astronaut ever to be dismissed from NASA. He'd been with them a long time, flying several missions before being one of the crew on the ill fated Atlantis shuttle which, struck by space debris, had to find temporary rescue with the International Space Station. And, no, that wasn't why he was fired.
Skyler Taft, a guitar playing graduate, was watching Jupiter through an infrared telescope when a brief anomaly occurred. He thought it would change his life. It didn't. So he left his job and was recruited by a specialist government agency.
Skyler and Jack are just two of the.many well drawn characters whose lives are destined to collide as Felix Savage's story unfolds. A true science fiction techno thriller, set in the present day and into the near future, it follows the progress of the building of a starship designed to travel to Jupiter's moons and the lives of the people involved with her, the politics surrounding the venture and a load of earthly chaos, sabotage and murder as well. Detailed and thoughtful, tense and exciting, this is no thrill a minute, blood and guts racy book, but holds the reader's attention throughout by it's very plausibility as well as the unexpected turns and the real people who walk it's pages.
Well, amazingly, the Spirit of Destiny is finally launched. What happens now? I, for one, am anxiously awaiting the next book, Shiplord.
Definitely recommended.
(Nearly five years later ....)
Always a fan of author, Felix Savage, I decided to revisit his Earth's last Gambit series, this time in audio. The first of the books, Freefall, has lost none of it's original appeal and the narration, by James Anderson Foster, is well preformed, his pleasing voice well paced and modulated, his voicings of the numerous protagonists gent!y delineated.
Love this series.
Jack Kildare was only the third astronaut ever to be dismissed from NASA. He'd been with them a long time, flying several missions before being one of the crew on the ill fated Atlantis shuttle which, struck by space debris, had to find temporary rescue with the International Space Station. And, no, that wasn't why he was fired.
Skyler Taft, a guitar playing graduate, was watching Jupiter through an infrared telescope when a brief anomaly occurred. He thought it would change his life. It didn't. So he left his job and was recruited by a specialist government agency.
Skyler and Jack are just two of the.many well drawn characters whose lives are destined to collide as Felix Savage's story unfolds. A true science fiction techno thriller, set in the present day and into the near future, it follows the progress of the building of a starship designed to travel to Jupiter's moons and the lives of the people involved with her, the politics surrounding the venture and a load of earthly chaos, sabotage and murder as well. Detailed and thoughtful, tense and exciting, this is no thrill a minute, blood and guts racy book, but holds the reader's attention throughout by it's very plausibility as well as the unexpected turns and the real people who walk it's pages.
Well, amazingly, the Spirit of Destiny is finally launched. What happens now? I, for one, am anxiously awaiting the next book, Shiplord.
Definitely recommended.
(Nearly five years later ....)
Always a fan of author, Felix Savage, I decided to revisit his Earth's last Gambit series, this time in audio. The first of the books, Freefall, has lost none of it's original appeal and the narration, by James Anderson Foster, is well preformed, his pleasing voice well paced and modulated, his voicings of the numerous protagonists gent!y delineated.
Love this series.
June 27, 2017
Professional quality writing by an author who knows his stuff when it comes to all things NASA-related. The story rocked along briskly.
November 20, 2016
*NOTICE: I received an ARC of this book from the author. This is my voluntary, independent and honest review.* Freefall is just the first installment of author Felix R Savage's trilogy, Earth's Last Gambit. I state this upfront, because those who are put off by cliff-hanger endings will want a head's up. I'm not a CH fan myself, but in this case all is forgiven, because what unfolds between the covers of this book is fantastic. It begins calmly enough: astronaut and amateur shutterbug Jack is the pilot on Space Shuttle Atlantis' last (classified) mission before she's mothballed. When the mission goes spectacularly wrong, Jack saves shuttle and crew, and they limp to the International Space Station to await rescue. Happily snapping photos of Jupiter and its moon, Europa, Jack accidentally captures something strange on film. Meanwhile on Earth, astronomer Dr. Skyler Taft is at Mauna Kea's IRTF observatory to do his boss's gruntwork observations of Jupiter and Europa. He's thoroughly bored, until he documents an anomaly on Europa with stunning implications for the scientific community. Jack and Skylar independently go through channels to share their strange discovery, and nothing happens... seemingly. But Jack somehow is fired from NASA's astronaut corps, while Skyler is recruited by a mysterious government acronym: he's now a techno-spy. Jack partners with old friend Oliver Meeks, and the two deduce what Jack has actually photographed: the exhaust plume of a spaceship in orbit around Europa. As in: NOT A HUMAN SPACE SHIP. A-a-a-and the race is on. What Jack and Skyler know soon becomes public knowledge, and humanity's first response – argue whether the alien presence is friend or foe – is followed by a second response – build a spaceship to go visit/welcome/destroy the aliens. Countries jockey for position in public opinion, in mission-critical roles, and for representation on the 5-year mission's crew. Said jockeying involves maximum deceit and skullduggery, and extends even to murder. The years of preparation are fraught with danger for everyone connected to the mission. 'Accidents' befall ship and crew, until at last they launch from Earth orbit for Europa. Jack and Skyler are among the crew. So is the spy responsible for their pre-launch mishaps. Up next? Five years of confinement on a mission to determine humanity's future, on a ship with a saboteur aboard. The suspense in this story is KILLER! Author Felix R Savage's depiction of the total (private and public) human response to this crisis rings authentic. The clandestine sabotage and murder play out, hidden beneath a propaganda facade that all is well. Governments act as we have all seen them act: in their own unenlightened and often erroneously perceived best interests. The private struggles and personal foibles of mission members, drawn with such detail by the author, contribute to the instability of the mission's crew. His characters, even secondary ones, live and breathe with strengths and flaws that spin consequences far beyond their intentions. Freefall espouses a gently cynical view of the whole first contact scenario, but with five years in space, and two volumes to fill, there is still opportunity for someone, somehow, to be the hero this saga needs. Sign me up for the full mission. I'm hooked!
June 23, 2017
Freefall was definitely hard science fiction. It also had elements of a spy thriller and a Project Manhattan style race. That may make it sound scattershot but its not.
Spoilers ahead, you have been warned (I will keep them light however)
Just after the shuttle program is shut down we detect an alien ship in orbit of one of the moons of Jupiter. The book is about our reaction to this. The leaders of the world decide they have to send a ship there and at minimum make sure it's no threat (the ship looks like its dead in space) and at best grab everything not nailed down.
In pursuit of this, the entire worlds supply of rockets are used over the course of two years to put our new ship and its supplies into orbit. To make the ship itself requires a massive level of resources from the five richest nations on earth. Many authors would underestimate the scope of the resources needed, but Felix R. Savage did not.
Beyond the money spent, the government (at least the US) was willing to lie, steal and kill to get the technologies needed to make the ship work.
One of my pet peeves is when books show everyone as selfish, or evil with little redeeming characteristics. While freefall does not go that far, and many of the characters exist in a shade of gray, it does veer in that direction. The main character, Jack Kildare, is a main part of the reason this does not became too much of an issue. He is a good man who really only wants to just be an astronaut.
The scope of the book, in concept and scope truly made it a pleasure to read and I am looking forward to reading the sequels.
Spoilers ahead, you have been warned (I will keep them light however)
Just after the shuttle program is shut down we detect an alien ship in orbit of one of the moons of Jupiter. The book is about our reaction to this. The leaders of the world decide they have to send a ship there and at minimum make sure it's no threat (the ship looks like its dead in space) and at best grab everything not nailed down.
In pursuit of this, the entire worlds supply of rockets are used over the course of two years to put our new ship and its supplies into orbit. To make the ship itself requires a massive level of resources from the five richest nations on earth. Many authors would underestimate the scope of the resources needed, but Felix R. Savage did not.
Beyond the money spent, the government (at least the US) was willing to lie, steal and kill to get the technologies needed to make the ship work.
One of my pet peeves is when books show everyone as selfish, or evil with little redeeming characteristics. While freefall does not go that far, and many of the characters exist in a shade of gray, it does veer in that direction. The main character, Jack Kildare, is a main part of the reason this does not became too much of an issue. He is a good man who really only wants to just be an astronaut.
The scope of the book, in concept and scope truly made it a pleasure to read and I am looking forward to reading the sequels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2021
Multiple Stories Crammed into One
The story starts out as a space mission. A group of astronauts go into space to complete a public mission as well as a private/classified mission. During the mission, Jack Kildare, hears very odd noises almost music like. He also takes pictures with a new camera. They get hit by what appears to be space dust and almost the worst thing possible happens.
Later during a hearing to discuss accident, he mentions part of the private mission by accident and gets fired from NASA. He ends up working with one of his former friends at a propulsion company. While Jack is enhancing his photos, he notices something odd in the pictures.
Skyler Taft works at an outpost that colleges, corporations and others rent time at to look into the far reaches of space. During one night, he finds something that is very odd around Europa. He calls his professor and they think they have a great discovery at hand.
Skyler gets recruited by a government organization who have analyzed everything to dive deeper. The organization later tries to steal the propulsion being worked on by Jack and his friend. Soon the public knows that there is an alien space vessel in bad shape hovering over Europa. It looks like it will be a race to get there first unless a compromise can be reached.
The story starts out as a space mission. A group of astronauts go into space to complete a public mission as well as a private/classified mission. During the mission, Jack Kildare, hears very odd noises almost music like. He also takes pictures with a new camera. They get hit by what appears to be space dust and almost the worst thing possible happens.
Later during a hearing to discuss accident, he mentions part of the private mission by accident and gets fired from NASA. He ends up working with one of his former friends at a propulsion company. While Jack is enhancing his photos, he notices something odd in the pictures.
Skyler Taft works at an outpost that colleges, corporations and others rent time at to look into the far reaches of space. During one night, he finds something that is very odd around Europa. He calls his professor and they think they have a great discovery at hand.
Skyler gets recruited by a government organization who have analyzed everything to dive deeper. The organization later tries to steal the propulsion being worked on by Jack and his friend. Soon the public knows that there is an alien space vessel in bad shape hovering over Europa. It looks like it will be a race to get there first unless a compromise can be reached.
July 9, 2021
I received a copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
I enjoyed this book. I also like the author's other books, but this one is new to me. I find his ability to make the characters come to life and act human in all ways. His humor is contagious and the interaction among the characters is realistic.
An anomaly is discovered - what is it? An alien ship is orbiting Europa and a group of astronauts head to Jupiter to find out what it is, and if there is an alien ship, why is it just sitting there? How long has it been there? What do they want? Some of the questions that need to be answered. Is earth in danger? Thus, come together a group of people determined to answer those questions. This book introduces us to a crew of strong characters with interesting backstories.
The story line is intriguing and held my interest, drawing me into the book. There was plenty of action to keep me interested and I look forward to reading more. If you are into space - join the crew.
I enjoyed this book. I also like the author's other books, but this one is new to me. I find his ability to make the characters come to life and act human in all ways. His humor is contagious and the interaction among the characters is realistic.
An anomaly is discovered - what is it? An alien ship is orbiting Europa and a group of astronauts head to Jupiter to find out what it is, and if there is an alien ship, why is it just sitting there? How long has it been there? What do they want? Some of the questions that need to be answered. Is earth in danger? Thus, come together a group of people determined to answer those questions. This book introduces us to a crew of strong characters with interesting backstories.
The story line is intriguing and held my interest, drawing me into the book. There was plenty of action to keep me interested and I look forward to reading more. If you are into space - join the crew.
March 18, 2017
It is the first book in a series. Therefore it should not be unexpected that there is a cliff hanger at the end.
It is true that this is a techno-thriller and there is a lot of tech-talk.
It is true that it is a thriller and there are a lot of secret agencies involved.
There is something orbiting the Jupiter moon Europa which could be an alien starship. To proof that you need a spaceship and a crew.
Now we come to the core of the story which is to tell the story about the development of the spaceship and the persons involved.
The story ends with the the start of the spaceship.
I must say I was not really aware that the whole book was about building a starship and about the people involved. I found it partially interesting. I hope the sequel won't be all around the travel to Europa
It is true that this is a techno-thriller and there is a lot of tech-talk.
It is true that it is a thriller and there are a lot of secret agencies involved.
There is something orbiting the Jupiter moon Europa which could be an alien starship. To proof that you need a spaceship and a crew.
Now we come to the core of the story which is to tell the story about the development of the spaceship and the persons involved.
The story ends with the the start of the spaceship.
I must say I was not really aware that the whole book was about building a starship and about the people involved. I found it partially interesting. I hope the sequel won't be all around the travel to Europa
September 19, 2017
Well constructed HARD Sci-Fi page-turner
Will have to check Savage's back numbers for Cyberpunk roots. If the rest of the series is as tightly crafted as Freefall we're all in for a great read.
The only weak plot point is pretending there's no aliens when the title includes the words 'first contact'.
Beyond that it wouldn't surprise me if Savage turned out to be a drunken Neal Stephenson in a kimono because there's a similar attention to detail and fluid literacy in the writing.
We can't tell who the author actually is because the bio on his web site was clearly written by a lying bastard.
Will post another review after finishing the next in the series which I'm going to read right now.
Will have to check Savage's back numbers for Cyberpunk roots. If the rest of the series is as tightly crafted as Freefall we're all in for a great read.
The only weak plot point is pretending there's no aliens when the title includes the words 'first contact'.
Beyond that it wouldn't surprise me if Savage turned out to be a drunken Neal Stephenson in a kimono because there's a similar attention to detail and fluid literacy in the writing.
We can't tell who the author actually is because the bio on his web site was clearly written by a lying bastard.
Will post another review after finishing the next in the series which I'm going to read right now.
May 6, 2017
Jack Kildare and his buddy Oliver Meeks, brilliant minds, combine to design a spaceship drive from observations made of an alien craft after being unceremoniously dumped from NASA. It all started with photographs Jack had taken from the International Space Station that showed an alien spaceship orbiting Europa, one of Jupiter's moons. Hooked? If you're any kind of sci fi fan, Savage's FREEFALL is the beginning of several novels based on a thrill ride adventure. Get on board with Jack making an unprecedented discovery of life outside of Earth's. Did I mention deception, secrets, murder? This is one book series you don't want to miss.
July 10, 2021
I have had this freebie ebook in my collection for a while and finally decided to give it a read.
This is a practical and credible science / technically achievable science fiction story. It is only the first segment in a much longer arc of man's first contact with an alien spacefaring race. Mostly glossed over the hard science portions, but that would have bogged down even further the pacing. It was a bit long in the setup.
I found the piece interesting and will consider continuing into the next segment. But for now I have lots of other books in my to be read stack.
Have a GoodReads.
This is a practical and credible science / technically achievable science fiction story. It is only the first segment in a much longer arc of man's first contact with an alien spacefaring race. Mostly glossed over the hard science portions, but that would have bogged down even further the pacing. It was a bit long in the setup.
I found the piece interesting and will consider continuing into the next segment. But for now I have lots of other books in my to be read stack.
Have a GoodReads.
May 12, 2018
Good story
The writing was pretty good, the characters were very interesting and each was fleshed out enough for their role. Several made decisions that didn't quite fit their situation. That was jarring.
The portrayal of U.S. government agents committing murder and theft was realistic but feeling any remorse later didn't quite fit. It was hard to say that I liked any of the main characters but the story doesn't require that you do. The geopolitics caused interesting twists. Altogether it's a good story with some rough patches.
Looking forward to The next book.
The writing was pretty good, the characters were very interesting and each was fleshed out enough for their role. Several made decisions that didn't quite fit their situation. That was jarring.
The portrayal of U.S. government agents committing murder and theft was realistic but feeling any remorse later didn't quite fit. It was hard to say that I liked any of the main characters but the story doesn't require that you do. The geopolitics caused interesting twists. Altogether it's a good story with some rough patches.
Looking forward to The next book.
August 26, 2018
Space opera about trying to put together a trip to Europa (a moon of Jupiter) to investigate an alien spacecraft. A multi-national team, working at several different locations, goes from a concept to the design, engineering, procurement, and fabrication, in space, of two support vehicles and a command module for the five year mission. This is all done in three years, and members of the astronaut crew, again multi-national, are changed out as the ship is preparing to leave earth orbit for Jupiter. Too many things just don't add up.
April 12, 2019
A FRS. SYFY. Novel (ELGB - 1)/An Alien Spacecraft Has Been Located
FRS. has. penned a Mystery Adventure SYFY. novel about NASA locating a alien spacecraft near one of the moon's of Jupiter. The rush to build our own spaceship is coordinated world wide. One small company who already had a working spacecraft had developed a new engine and that begins would allow them to travel at in-flight speed. The inventor was murdered be Federal Agents being directed by NASA and the man's partner was turned away with any clue he presented. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
FRS. has. penned a Mystery Adventure SYFY. novel about NASA locating a alien spacecraft near one of the moon's of Jupiter. The rush to build our own spaceship is coordinated world wide. One small company who already had a working spacecraft had developed a new engine and that begins would allow them to travel at in-flight speed. The inventor was murdered be Federal Agents being directed by NASA and the man's partner was turned away with any clue he presented. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
November 1, 2019
A really good book where real science and technology mixes with possible discoveries
I really enjoyed this book a lot, the possibilities are there the science is possible the technology and many other things. It put me off the mentioning of real actual characters, like President Obama or Elon Musk and his SpaceX program. This kind a dated the events and makes the line of fiction a bit blurry, but at the same time makes the setting of future events more credible. The Author goes in details creating the main characters for the next book.
I really enjoyed this book a lot, the possibilities are there the science is possible the technology and many other things. It put me off the mentioning of real actual characters, like President Obama or Elon Musk and his SpaceX program. This kind a dated the events and makes the line of fiction a bit blurry, but at the same time makes the setting of future events more credible. The Author goes in details creating the main characters for the next book.
June 26, 2018
Just couldn't get into enjoying the read. Author is creative but his choice of story line didn't appeal to me. I have read other books by Mr. Savage so I thank him for writing his series. Perhaps I'll try again in the future. In the meantime I ask Mr. Savage to read my first novel and add a review on ONLY CHILD? It tells of a family's love for each other and how technology is used to keep the family together.
November 6, 2018
I really really enjoyed this especially towards the end.
I had to restart it at one point as I felt a little lost not so far in, and I do think that the slow pacing of things really didn't help. As well as that there was no real big plot points that made me stay super interested until towards the end I felt super drawn into it and couldn't stop!
I think the character development in this was really good and in particular I seemed to be drawn to Hannah as a character.
Overall 4/5.
I had to restart it at one point as I felt a little lost not so far in, and I do think that the slow pacing of things really didn't help. As well as that there was no real big plot points that made me stay super interested until towards the end I felt super drawn into it and couldn't stop!
I think the character development in this was really good and in particular I seemed to be drawn to Hannah as a character.
Overall 4/5.
July 23, 2019
First contact reality
I had some trouble at the beginning latching on to this story and then I realized what bothered me was the reality of it. I was angry and depressed over what was happening around the world within the book because it was presented so life like that it seemed like I was living it. This book has been an emotional read for me but I am absolutely looking forward to reading the continuing story!
I had some trouble at the beginning latching on to this story and then I realized what bothered me was the reality of it. I was angry and depressed over what was happening around the world within the book because it was presented so life like that it seemed like I was living it. This book has been an emotional read for me but I am absolutely looking forward to reading the continuing story!
January 16, 2018
I thought this was a "First Contact" story, but it turned out to be a spy thriller. I've been reading Sci-fi all my life, so I'm used to serials, but Freefall just...ended. Just stopped then "Continued in the next book in this series". Unless you're willing to commit to the next novel, there is no resolution whatsoever.
May 25, 2018
The book was kinda disjointed to me. The story went off on tangents in my opinion. And in places just not good writing. Hard to follow in places. Some actions just did not make sense in real life. Bad thing is I also bought book #2 on Amazon for my kindle so I must suffer through that one or just skip it. Hope I didn't pay much for it.
October 9, 2018
Makes you want to read the next
I am really curious as to where the next book takes me. This one had enough suspenseful drama interspersed with humor and mindless murder to keep me fully engaged. Not crazy about the casual way the “high-functioning alcoholic” is treated but, it’s a story not a suggestion of the way to live your life.
I am really curious as to where the next book takes me. This one had enough suspenseful drama interspersed with humor and mindless murder to keep me fully engaged. Not crazy about the casual way the “high-functioning alcoholic” is treated but, it’s a story not a suggestion of the way to live your life.
November 15, 2023
Tbh I was soldiering on, waiting for something interesting to happen when this gem definitively stopped me in my tracks :
"He never considered the question whether he hated America or not. The closest he'd come was a vague sense that maybe America wasn't all bad but that was no more than instinctive contrarianism BECAUSE EVERYONE HE KNEW IN ACADEMIA DID HATE AMERICA."
Yuck!
"He never considered the question whether he hated America or not. The closest he'd come was a vague sense that maybe America wasn't all bad but that was no more than instinctive contrarianism BECAUSE EVERYONE HE KNEW IN ACADEMIA DID HATE AMERICA."
Yuck!
July 14, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this classic "first noticing of an alien craft" story except that it ended practically mid sentence with the story to be continued in the next book. Otherwise, the characters were interesting and quirky. I give Freefall four stars.
October 26, 2018
This was a great space race saga! I love the science behind the new rocket and all the politics happening behind the scenes. I want a space broom as well so I can zip around in space. I am looking forward to reading the second in the series.
June 28, 2019
Enjoyed this. More a spy/intrigue type story than Sci-Fi.
An alien ship is spotted at Europa and a mission is created to go to it. The book covers the plotting and intrigues the various governments us to manipulate the mission.
An alien ship is spotted at Europa and a mission is created to go to it. The book covers the plotting and intrigues the various governments us to manipulate the mission.
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