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Survival Aptitude Test: Rise
The epic odyssey picks up where Book 2 left off…
After countless perils and heart-wrenching losses, Daoren and Heqet can finally look to a brighter future. They’re expecting the birth of their first child. Daoren’s edicts have outlawed the S.A.T. and restored the rights of the oppressed undercastes. A new food source has eliminated the need for grooll, spawning renewed hope throughout the city-state. Life on the sterile Earth has never been better.
But life 701 years After the Cycle of Extinctions is unpredictable. When the former Unum’s niece invades Daqin Guojin at the head of a mongrel army and a treacherous Asianoid sparks a bloody uprising to restore the S.A.T., Daoren and Heqet find themselves trapped between two unstoppable forces. Can they survive the latest threat to humanity’s future—or will the Cycle of Extinctions finally reach its cruel conclusion?
Survival Aptitude Test: Rise is the third book in Mike Sheriff’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi series, The Extinction Odyssey. Fans of dystopian tales like Soylent Green, Logan’s Run, and The Hunger Games will enjoy this chilling take on humanity’s last gasp.
Grab Survival Aptitude Test: Rise today and continue your odyssey!
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2017
57 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Mike Sheriff
15 books17 followersMike Sheriff writes accessible science fiction for readers with curious minds and a taste for tension. Besides The Extinction Odyssey series, he also publishes short and snappy sci-fi stories under the LIGHTBURST imprint.
When he’s not writing, you’ll find him mangling Rory Gallagher riffs on his Fender Strat or fending off high cholesterol through (yawn) diet and exercise. He lives in London, Ontario.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 4, 2017
Like the other books in this series, this book picks up with the cliffhanger of the previous volume, quickly resolves it and moves through a series of forebodings and contrivances. Just when humans seem to have reacquired the means for self-preservation, the author raises up the ancient standards of greed and corruption to bring the race to its knees - just in time for the next cliffhanger.
The series is reasonably well-written but what should have been a complete -and satisfying- novel sold in three parts turns into one of those never-ending Game of Thrones sagas.
The series is reasonably well-written but what should have been a complete -and satisfying- novel sold in three parts turns into one of those never-ending Game of Thrones sagas.
February 18, 2020
Wow!
This was my favourite of this series so far. Incredibly fast paced and full of twists and turns. Such a shocking end which has made me late for work as I was unable to stop reading! Simply breath culling.
Sadly the proof reading is getting increasingly lax and it really does mar the experience for me so 4 rather than the 10 stars this deserves.
This was my favourite of this series so far. Incredibly fast paced and full of twists and turns. Such a shocking end which has made me late for work as I was unable to stop reading! Simply breath culling.
Sadly the proof reading is getting increasingly lax and it really does mar the experience for me so 4 rather than the 10 stars this deserves.
August 31, 2018
I am enjoying reading this series
I am enjoying reading this series , what a dark future that just keeps getting worse. Diminishing returns harvesting ones future for ones food
I am enjoying reading this series , what a dark future that just keeps getting worse. Diminishing returns harvesting ones future for ones food
July 8, 2019
Very very interesting series. I am devouring the books! Concisive writing and great editing. Great storyline..into next book in series!!
February 9, 2018
Daoren has now been named Unum and he has been joined in union with Heqet, who is now with baby. Daoren has set many new regulations, cancelled the SAT test and the harvesting of unlucky candidates, found a new food source on his exploration trip and tried to make life equal for all denizens.
This has caused some to side against him – especially those of the higher populous, who could barter their stockpiles of grooll for anything they wanted or needed. Something odd is happening. Heqet notices that here are no Asianoids helping out with the crop circles. Every other Cheng is represented and at work helping tend the crops.
News of an invasion force approaching the wall, so Daoren calls for evacuation of all the denizens outside the wall working on the crops and for Heqet to be taken to the Librarium. They think they are facing just one massive force from outside the wall, but there are more sinister foes on the inside, enemies acting in sheep’s clothing!
There are a few big battle scenes with lots more fighting and action taking place. This book in the series has something happening, often unexpectedly, that makes you wonder how they can possibly survive. Can good people allow evil to triumph, will there be enough allies to help Daoren and co to come out on top? We also see what is happening with Cordelia, Daorens mother and Commanders Hyro and Cang, amongst others.
One good thing that the author does for the reader, is to add the first chapter of the next book, at the end of the current one, so the cliff hanger ending always has a solution without you waiting for the next book to be published. Many thanks to the author for that! Saves us a few grey hairs.
I received a copy of this book from the author and have loved reading it. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above. I have book 4 already lined up to read and would recommend this whole series to all. Lots happening, well developed characters and the fight between good and evil, greed against equality. Definitely good reads.
This has caused some to side against him – especially those of the higher populous, who could barter their stockpiles of grooll for anything they wanted or needed. Something odd is happening. Heqet notices that here are no Asianoids helping out with the crop circles. Every other Cheng is represented and at work helping tend the crops.
News of an invasion force approaching the wall, so Daoren calls for evacuation of all the denizens outside the wall working on the crops and for Heqet to be taken to the Librarium. They think they are facing just one massive force from outside the wall, but there are more sinister foes on the inside, enemies acting in sheep’s clothing!
There are a few big battle scenes with lots more fighting and action taking place. This book in the series has something happening, often unexpectedly, that makes you wonder how they can possibly survive. Can good people allow evil to triumph, will there be enough allies to help Daoren and co to come out on top? We also see what is happening with Cordelia, Daorens mother and Commanders Hyro and Cang, amongst others.
One good thing that the author does for the reader, is to add the first chapter of the next book, at the end of the current one, so the cliff hanger ending always has a solution without you waiting for the next book to be published. Many thanks to the author for that! Saves us a few grey hairs.
I received a copy of this book from the author and have loved reading it. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above. I have book 4 already lined up to read and would recommend this whole series to all. Lots happening, well developed characters and the fight between good and evil, greed against equality. Definitely good reads.
April 22, 2017
"The enemy of our enemy ..."
The old order is overthrown, a new Unum installed. The SATs are outlawed and the grooll mills demolished new, unusual foodstuffs are being grown. Daoren's baby will soon be born. But not everyone is happy with this new life: many lost fortunes when grooll ceased to exist currency and they want to get back to how life used to be. Outside the city, Julinian has prevailed on a vast army of the mongrels to attack and inside there is a traitor ...
So continues this inovative story. There are certain aspects that don't sit comfortably with this reader (not least the continuing use of some of the language - chucklebucked, rapslaughter and cacklebracked, for example), but the fights are fast, furious and fun; and who will win the ultimate victories?
I'm looking forward to the next installment.
The old order is overthrown, a new Unum installed. The SATs are outlawed and the grooll mills demolished new, unusual foodstuffs are being grown. Daoren's baby will soon be born. But not everyone is happy with this new life: many lost fortunes when grooll ceased to exist currency and they want to get back to how life used to be. Outside the city, Julinian has prevailed on a vast army of the mongrels to attack and inside there is a traitor ...
So continues this inovative story. There are certain aspects that don't sit comfortably with this reader (not least the continuing use of some of the language - chucklebucked, rapslaughter and cacklebracked, for example), but the fights are fast, furious and fun; and who will win the ultimate victories?
I'm looking forward to the next installment.
April 24, 2017
This series just keeps getting better and better. I thought there would not be too much left to the story once the grool mill was dismantled but I was seriously wrong about that! I would have to say that this (of the three) has a better flow to it but then that usually happens with a series. Unlike some other reviewers, I enjoy the strange language twists ie "chucklebucked" and do not have problems with the definite Asian feel to the story. It is just plain good.
August 13, 2017
Part three of the Extinction Odyssey is a lot more militaristic than the two previous parts. With some of the old characters dead, I found myself caring a lot less for the ones who replaced them. Moreover, and I realise this is a personal peeve, I dislike the use of pregnancy and childbirth to add drama and concern.
Mind you, I still enjoyed reading the book, I'm just not sure if I'll enjoy it for another two by now.
Mind you, I still enjoyed reading the book, I'm just not sure if I'll enjoy it for another two by now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2018
This third installment is right in line with the others. The story is interesting enough for me to want to finish it, but not compelling enough for me to want to know wha happens in the next book. The authors writing style is not what I enjoy, but is improving with each novel. In the end I give this book 2 stars because I know there’s a sequel and it left me unwilling to make the effort to read any more.
October 16, 2017
Loved it! Thought everything was turning out good, with new food sources (seeds) having been found, but Julinian and the asianoids threw a wrench into the works.
How are Daoren and Heqet going to survive this rebellion and reintegrate their society (including the "mongrels").
I can't wait to see how things are going to turn out!
How are Daoren and Heqet going to survive this rebellion and reintegrate their society (including the "mongrels").
I can't wait to see how things are going to turn out!
April 3, 2019
A very good read with a Zombie-like ending. I am sure you will enjoy it. Mike Sheriff makes this a very interesting book and I thoughly enjoyed it. Give it a try and you will be surprised.
April 23, 2017
This is the first book of Mike Sheriff’s that I have read and the third in “The Extinction Odyssey” series. Mr. Sheriff, as few other authors (Dean Koontz in “Odd Thomas” and AJ Scudiere in “The NightShade Forensic Files” and “The Vendetta Trifecta” to name two) have been able to successfully do, make a book read as a stand-alone novel, even though it is part of a continuing series.
I don’t feel it is the duty of a reviewer to discuss the intricacies of the plot and provide a detailed description of the storyline and I hate those that riddle their review with spoilers, so I won’t do that. Mike’s writing is concise and well worded. In an arena where self-publishing has exploded and many authors think an editor can be replaced with MS Word’s Spelling and Grammar Checker, there is evidence of a strong editing and proofing process throughout. The story flows well, with a steady pace. There is enough action and suspense to hold the reader’s interest. The characters are complex, well-developed, and believable. The dialogue is robust and realistic. For a dystopian Earth, hundreds of years from now, technology is a mix of the past (think steampunk, minus the Victorians) and the future. that has been devastated and is only a percent or two of our current population, Mike has shown that people at their core, both good and bad, will never change. This is a solid science fiction story in a genre that is overflowing with mediocrity.
I enjoyed reading the book, for the most part, the only thing I do not like is the affectation of weird titles, spellings, and names. I know authors have their reasons for the practice, it just makes it hard for me as a speed reader to have to stop and mentally transcribe and translate throughout the book. Anyone who has tried to translate a foreign language text with a preponderance of the words unknown understands the feeling. This small negative in no way prevents me from giving high accolades for this book and it will not keep me from starting the series at the beginning with “The Extinction Odyssey – Book One1 Survival Aptitude Test: SOUND.”
I don’t feel it is the duty of a reviewer to discuss the intricacies of the plot and provide a detailed description of the storyline and I hate those that riddle their review with spoilers, so I won’t do that. Mike’s writing is concise and well worded. In an arena where self-publishing has exploded and many authors think an editor can be replaced with MS Word’s Spelling and Grammar Checker, there is evidence of a strong editing and proofing process throughout. The story flows well, with a steady pace. There is enough action and suspense to hold the reader’s interest. The characters are complex, well-developed, and believable. The dialogue is robust and realistic. For a dystopian Earth, hundreds of years from now, technology is a mix of the past (think steampunk, minus the Victorians) and the future. that has been devastated and is only a percent or two of our current population, Mike has shown that people at their core, both good and bad, will never change. This is a solid science fiction story in a genre that is overflowing with mediocrity.
I enjoyed reading the book, for the most part, the only thing I do not like is the affectation of weird titles, spellings, and names. I know authors have their reasons for the practice, it just makes it hard for me as a speed reader to have to stop and mentally transcribe and translate throughout the book. Anyone who has tried to translate a foreign language text with a preponderance of the words unknown understands the feeling. This small negative in no way prevents me from giving high accolades for this book and it will not keep me from starting the series at the beginning with “The Extinction Odyssey – Book One1 Survival Aptitude Test: SOUND.”
April 24, 2017
No peace.
Peace will never last in this dystopian landscape and it always seems to be the good that suffer most.
Another installment that I couldn't wait to read, the author didn't disappoint with his intense twist on the after times.
Peace will never last in this dystopian landscape and it always seems to be the good that suffer most.
Another installment that I couldn't wait to read, the author didn't disappoint with his intense twist on the after times.
April 30, 2017
Neeexxxt!
I can't wait until the next book in this series! You know how in some movie sequels the quality goes down? Some book series also sadly do that, -BUT- not this series to date!
It seems like Sheriff wrote a single novel and broke it into what will be (6?) books? The flow is smooth and seamless as can be! So far I've read each installment in 1 to 2 sittings with total pleasure and enjoyment.
As per my title of "Neeexxxt!", I can't wait till the next book. Keep up the great work!!!! :)
I can't wait until the next book in this series! You know how in some movie sequels the quality goes down? Some book series also sadly do that, -BUT- not this series to date!
It seems like Sheriff wrote a single novel and broke it into what will be (6?) books? The flow is smooth and seamless as can be! So far I've read each installment in 1 to 2 sittings with total pleasure and enjoyment.
As per my title of "Neeexxxt!", I can't wait till the next book. Keep up the great work!!!! :)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews