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The Shadow Order #3.5
120 Seconds
Although a fully-qualified Space Marine, Reyes is still just a rookie. A hindrance, a nuisance, a grunt. But when the shuttle she's on crashes on a hostile planet full of murderous beasts, maybe she’ll be given her chance to shine …
It started as a simple journey. A shuttle ride to get a group of twenty-one space marines to their mother ship. Until the power in their shuttle failed …
The Marines crash down on a scorched planet filled with vicious beasts. Beasts they have no chance of defeating with guns and grenades. Beasts that stand between them and a safe evacuation to their mothership.
Reyes might only be a rookie, but with their ideas running out quicker than their dwindling water supply, maybe the rookie’s worth listening to. Maybe the rookie sees a weakness they can exploit. All they need to give her is 120-Seconds ...
120-Seconds is a standalone novella set in The Shadow Order universe. If you like bold characters, planet-hopping, and edge-of-your-seat action, then you’ll love Michael Robertson’s thrilling series.
Download 120-Seconds today to dive into a series that sometimes has no other choice than to trust the rookie!
It started as a simple journey. A shuttle ride to get a group of twenty-one space marines to their mother ship. Until the power in their shuttle failed …
The Marines crash down on a scorched planet filled with vicious beasts. Beasts they have no chance of defeating with guns and grenades. Beasts that stand between them and a safe evacuation to their mothership.
Reyes might only be a rookie, but with their ideas running out quicker than their dwindling water supply, maybe the rookie’s worth listening to. Maybe the rookie sees a weakness they can exploit. All they need to give her is 120-Seconds ...
120-Seconds is a standalone novella set in The Shadow Order universe. If you like bold characters, planet-hopping, and edge-of-your-seat action, then you’ll love Michael Robertson’s thrilling series.
Download 120-Seconds today to dive into a series that sometimes has no other choice than to trust the rookie!
118 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
53 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Michael Robertson
98 books207 followersMichael Robertson is an author and blogger. He has had several short stories published, including one with HarperCollins. He is the author of Crash - http://michaelrobertson.co.uk/crash--...
You can connect with Michael on Twitter at @MicRobertson, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRober... and you can also contact him through his website at www.michaelrobertson.co.uk
You can connect with Michael on Twitter at @MicRobertson, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRober... and you can also contact him through his website at www.michaelrobertson.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 21, 2019
“If we don’t try something, we’re already dead.”
I think these have been the most exciting and nerve wrecking two minutes I’ve ever experienced in a story! The outcome for survival is extremely dangerous and terrifying. Reyes is an excellent rookie, her courage a fine example. I liked the flashbacks the author used here to have a knowledge of past hours, it made it even more sinister and heart pounding. This short story is an amazing and excellent reflection of The Shadow Order series, a stand-alone Novella, which has prompted me to bring forward the series in my to be read list. A fantastic push, I have to say!
I think these have been the most exciting and nerve wrecking two minutes I’ve ever experienced in a story! The outcome for survival is extremely dangerous and terrifying. Reyes is an excellent rookie, her courage a fine example. I liked the flashbacks the author used here to have a knowledge of past hours, it made it even more sinister and heart pounding. This short story is an amazing and excellent reflection of The Shadow Order series, a stand-alone Novella, which has prompted me to bring forward the series in my to be read list. A fantastic push, I have to say!
May 26, 2025
I found this book on bookfunnel so I wasn't aware that it was part of a larger series, but it works as a stand-alone quite well. The last part reminds me of the movie Pitch Black.
July 17, 2017
The crew of a Marine Assault Shuttle are forced to crash land on an alien planet, one with horrendous conditions.
On landing, they find that the temperature is plus 45deg Celsius every day, there is no water, their medic was killed in the crash and they are not alone.
Within a very short time frame, the Marine unit is attacked by an unknown alien force that is almost undefeatable with their current weapons, and they are forced to hide inside the shuttle in the killer heat.
With no chance of the ship in orbit able to rescue them until they reach a rendezvous point, the crew will have to leave the safety of the shuttle. The only question is how do they make it past these terrifying creatures?
And this is the story, you live with the Marines in their crashed shuttle, boiling away, trying to work out how to escape. Why 120 seconds? Without giving too much away, one of the Marines discovers that the aliens have a weakness, one that might just give the Marines 120 seconds to reach the LZ, 120 for what is left of the dehydrated, wounded, run-down exhausted Marines to run the 5 minutes distance to the LZ, in the 120 seconds that the Rookie has discovered…
This is reminiscent in parts of Pitch Black, only with trained Marines, and to be honest, the aliens are a little more daunting. This is a Sci-Fi story, full of action, but with a full on thriller entwined through it, just to make sure that you are fully engrossed and totally captivated by the story. Make sure that when you pick this up, you have enough time to read it in a single sitting, because you won’t want to put it down.
120 Seconds is a masterful piece of breathtaking writing, with exceptional Characters that really bring this story to life and gives it its true potential. There are scenes that are totally breathtaking, and others that are just pure genius in this short story.
Overall this is one of the best examples I have read of this type of short story – exciting, fast moving, intelligent, good Sci-Fi, exceptional characters, some awesome aliens, this is Mil Sci-Fi at its best, and is just too good to be missed. Best of all, it is totally standalone, you don’t need to have read anything to enjoy it.
On landing, they find that the temperature is plus 45deg Celsius every day, there is no water, their medic was killed in the crash and they are not alone.
Within a very short time frame, the Marine unit is attacked by an unknown alien force that is almost undefeatable with their current weapons, and they are forced to hide inside the shuttle in the killer heat.
With no chance of the ship in orbit able to rescue them until they reach a rendezvous point, the crew will have to leave the safety of the shuttle. The only question is how do they make it past these terrifying creatures?
And this is the story, you live with the Marines in their crashed shuttle, boiling away, trying to work out how to escape. Why 120 seconds? Without giving too much away, one of the Marines discovers that the aliens have a weakness, one that might just give the Marines 120 seconds to reach the LZ, 120 for what is left of the dehydrated, wounded, run-down exhausted Marines to run the 5 minutes distance to the LZ, in the 120 seconds that the Rookie has discovered…
This is reminiscent in parts of Pitch Black, only with trained Marines, and to be honest, the aliens are a little more daunting. This is a Sci-Fi story, full of action, but with a full on thriller entwined through it, just to make sure that you are fully engrossed and totally captivated by the story. Make sure that when you pick this up, you have enough time to read it in a single sitting, because you won’t want to put it down.
120 Seconds is a masterful piece of breathtaking writing, with exceptional Characters that really bring this story to life and gives it its true potential. There are scenes that are totally breathtaking, and others that are just pure genius in this short story.
Overall this is one of the best examples I have read of this type of short story – exciting, fast moving, intelligent, good Sci-Fi, exceptional characters, some awesome aliens, this is Mil Sci-Fi at its best, and is just too good to be missed. Best of all, it is totally standalone, you don’t need to have read anything to enjoy it.
November 15, 2018
I liked the story. It is a quick read and kept my interest to the end. The tension builds though the story but it really gets tense at the end.
The story starts near the end but not at the end. Getting to the end, between the maneuvers and tactics they try so they can get to the rendezvous site, we review Reyes’ thoughts of what had happened, what she observes, what would be needed to get to the end. They could get to the rendezvous site except for the needle-like rocks.
Reyes and the rest of the team are on a shuttle making a routine trip to the Crimson Destroyer when there is trouble with the shuttle. The WO (Warrant Office) treated Keyes like any officer you have seen in a movie verbally jumping on a recruit or rookie. The rest of the team is not supportive or friendly so she says little.
As the story progresses Reyes watches and learns two very important and lifesaving things.
Right or wrong, the WO felt he had to “go hard on” Reyes. Why?
The story starts near the end but not at the end. Getting to the end, between the maneuvers and tactics they try so they can get to the rendezvous site, we review Reyes’ thoughts of what had happened, what she observes, what would be needed to get to the end. They could get to the rendezvous site except for the needle-like rocks.
Reyes and the rest of the team are on a shuttle making a routine trip to the Crimson Destroyer when there is trouble with the shuttle. The WO (Warrant Office) treated Keyes like any officer you have seen in a movie verbally jumping on a recruit or rookie. The rest of the team is not supportive or friendly so she says little.
As the story progresses Reyes watches and learns two very important and lifesaving things.
Right or wrong, the WO felt he had to “go hard on” Reyes. Why?
November 18, 2017
Tedious Novella, Laden With Flashbacks and Inane Author Contrivances
“120 Seconds: A Shadow Order Story (The Shadow Order),” authored by Mr. Michael Robertson, is a tedious novella [seems like an oxymoron at only one-hundred, three (103) pages in length, but it was so very plodding], laden with alternating flashback chapters throughout, and numerous, disingenuous author contrivances, in order to progress plot lines. It is also laden with very British idiom, slowing the plodding story even further.
A space shuttle with a platoon of “Commando Marines,” crashes on a sun scorched, desert planet. The band of disagreeable marines [no one appears to find their comrades bearable] find themselves besieged by sentient, alien rock creatures [sic]. A female, rookie marine, becomes the catalyst of a plan, to escape the downed shuttle, force their way through the ever-increasing number of aliens, and make their way to an extraction LZ with the decreasing number of survivors.
The writing execution-sentences, tenses, etc.-is competent, though non-British readers may be put off by the heavy idiom. A “torch,” is not a cutting or welding instrument, but a flashlight. “Yeah,” appears chronically the way too many on this side of the pond use “you know.” The use of flashback chapters, as every other chapter is leaden. It amazingly makes a short novella drag, an annoying achievement by the author.
The final and fatal flaw of the story for this reader, are the multiple, disingenuous contrivances utilized by the author as plot devices. [Spoilers Alert!] “Torches (flashlights)” are used to deter aliens, indigenous natives of a sun scorched planet; high noon puts the aliens in a strict two (2) minute long, inert status; and a “deus ex machina,” event at the conclusion, saves the surviving marines. [Other readers may be more accepting of the plot devices, so not all examples have been listed. End of Spoilers Alert] The choices made by Mr. Robertson, are unfair to any honest reader. To spring unsupportable writer’s “tricks” in the storyline, is a ruse on readers. Having not read any of the author’s many other works, this reader does not know whether “120 Seconds...,” is a one-off, or indicative of a pattern. The likelihood of this reader investing time in reading any of the author’s other works is unlikely, “...yeah?”
“120 Seconds: A Shadow Order Story...,” is not recommended.
The novella was fully read via Kindle Unlimited.
“120 Seconds: A Shadow Order Story (The Shadow Order),” authored by Mr. Michael Robertson, is a tedious novella [seems like an oxymoron at only one-hundred, three (103) pages in length, but it was so very plodding], laden with alternating flashback chapters throughout, and numerous, disingenuous author contrivances, in order to progress plot lines. It is also laden with very British idiom, slowing the plodding story even further.
A space shuttle with a platoon of “Commando Marines,” crashes on a sun scorched, desert planet. The band of disagreeable marines [no one appears to find their comrades bearable] find themselves besieged by sentient, alien rock creatures [sic]. A female, rookie marine, becomes the catalyst of a plan, to escape the downed shuttle, force their way through the ever-increasing number of aliens, and make their way to an extraction LZ with the decreasing number of survivors.
The writing execution-sentences, tenses, etc.-is competent, though non-British readers may be put off by the heavy idiom. A “torch,” is not a cutting or welding instrument, but a flashlight. “Yeah,” appears chronically the way too many on this side of the pond use “you know.” The use of flashback chapters, as every other chapter is leaden. It amazingly makes a short novella drag, an annoying achievement by the author.
The final and fatal flaw of the story for this reader, are the multiple, disingenuous contrivances utilized by the author as plot devices. [Spoilers Alert!] “Torches (flashlights)” are used to deter aliens, indigenous natives of a sun scorched planet; high noon puts the aliens in a strict two (2) minute long, inert status; and a “deus ex machina,” event at the conclusion, saves the surviving marines. [Other readers may be more accepting of the plot devices, so not all examples have been listed. End of Spoilers Alert] The choices made by Mr. Robertson, are unfair to any honest reader. To spring unsupportable writer’s “tricks” in the storyline, is a ruse on readers. Having not read any of the author’s many other works, this reader does not know whether “120 Seconds...,” is a one-off, or indicative of a pattern. The likelihood of this reader investing time in reading any of the author’s other works is unlikely, “...yeah?”
“120 Seconds: A Shadow Order Story...,” is not recommended.
The novella was fully read via Kindle Unlimited.
October 3, 2018
Absolutely cram-packed with tension, terror and trouble. I read this short in one gulp not even pausing to greet my family as they woke and wandered through. They knew I just had to finish it. And what a finish it is! I was sucked into the world on the first page and was amazed, shocked even, that I cried at the end. Michael Robertson has a tremendous talent and ability and he poured it all into this incredible story. I cannot recommend this enough. If you like space opera or just great wordsmithing you have got to read this one.
Disclaimer: I am very fortunate to have been sent a copy of this illustrated ebook by the author. I felt compelled to write this honest review so that it could be shared by as many readers as possible. It does have cursing and violence for those that prefer to avoid such.
Disclaimer: I am very fortunate to have been sent a copy of this illustrated ebook by the author. I felt compelled to write this honest review so that it could be shared by as many readers as possible. It does have cursing and violence for those that prefer to avoid such.
May 8, 2017
ANOTHER AMAZING STORY BY MICHAEL ROBERTSON!!!
Reyes, a rookie and the group of Space Marines she's with crash land on a planet, more inhospitable than they know. With Monsters made from rocks and almost no way to defeat them, this may be her first and last flight as a Space Marine. Michael Robertson has done an amazing job with this Novella and I loved ever minute of it. The ending was just great and truly brought a tear to my eye. This is one book I definitely recommend to all readers, ones who love his stories now and new ones that may be interested in checking something out by a great Author.
Reyes, a rookie and the group of Space Marines she's with crash land on a planet, more inhospitable than they know. With Monsters made from rocks and almost no way to defeat them, this may be her first and last flight as a Space Marine. Michael Robertson has done an amazing job with this Novella and I loved ever minute of it. The ending was just great and truly brought a tear to my eye. This is one book I definitely recommend to all readers, ones who love his stories now and new ones that may be interested in checking something out by a great Author.
September 26, 2019
While the underlying story is very good, the illustrations are a bit childish and take away from the story. Without the illustrations, I would give this book 4 stars. This is a short look into a single mission for the Commandos, while it is short it does create a good impression of the rest of The Shadow Order Series. I do recommend reading this book if you want to get a feel for the rest of the series.
September 18, 2021
A truly exciting short sci-fi action thriller. Though it's a short story I felt the author did a good job developing the characters and action within the shorter length. The story is presented in flashback form and personally I dislike when authors use flashbacks extensively to keep the plot moving. But, that's my own preference and I got past it to thoroughly enjoy this book. I will most likely go on to read the rest of the series.
September 15, 2022
A marine unit crash lands on a barren planet. Although it appears desolute, that is deceiving and creatures come out . The marines are stranded in crashed shuttle with little water and time running down.It appears that the creatures are indestructable .Finally a rookie finds a pattern that might save their lives but will anyone listen. The reader is so vivid in his writing that I had to constantly drink water thinking I might die from thirst. A very good short story
September 3, 2020
I'm going to start this off by saying that apart from star wars and Stargate I cannot really stand space stuff. The word space marine just grates on me for some reason.
That being said! I loved every second of this, it was short, sharp dangerous and had some brilliant characters and a to the point story.
I will definitely be picking up the Shadow order series!
That being said! I loved every second of this, it was short, sharp dangerous and had some brilliant characters and a to the point story.
I will definitely be picking up the Shadow order series!
August 25, 2022
Brilliantly written.
I got a free ebook version of this via Bookfunnel.
A tense story where the author has started in the middle of the action and employed flashbacks to great effect, building up the tension to nerve screaming pitch.
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1...
I got a free ebook version of this via Bookfunnel.
A tense story where the author has started in the middle of the action and employed flashbacks to great effect, building up the tension to nerve screaming pitch.
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1...
October 3, 2022
"Meh - easy to read - but not my style' From my own review. It was easy to read, made sense and was a reasonable quick read.
Not sure I would follow up on any more books in this series.
The author Michael Robertson is a great writer and I've read many of his books. just this one didn't tickle my fancy for some reason
Not sure I would follow up on any more books in this series.
The author Michael Robertson is a great writer and I've read many of his books. just this one didn't tickle my fancy for some reason
October 1, 2024
( Format : ebook )
"After you, rookie."
After their space shuttle crashes, the survivors need to reach the Crimson Destroyer for rescue. It's only a five minute walk away but it is very hot, they are out of water - and between them and safety are huge monsters of stone.
A quick and easy to read, exciting novella set in the Shadow Order universe.
Recommended.
"After you, rookie."
After their space shuttle crashes, the survivors need to reach the Crimson Destroyer for rescue. It's only a five minute walk away but it is very hot, they are out of water - and between them and safety are huge monsters of stone.
A quick and easy to read, exciting novella set in the Shadow Order universe.
Recommended.
Read
February 19, 2018EXCELLENT novella, one of the best sci-fi reads I've run across in years; it makes me want to head right for the rest of the series. GREAT twist at the end, it was just all around a great read. SERIOUSLY well written.
May 7, 2019
Entertaining short read about space marines and their challenge of overcoming desperate circumstances. The conflict between Reyes, the Rookie, and the Warrant officer sets the stage for the Rookie challenging the status quo in her quest to save the marines.
January 4, 2021
Certainly filled with action, this novella focuses on Reyes, the rookie, that I've already met in The Shadow Order series. It's well-written and gives further insight into this character as well as into the series as a whole - great sentiments.
Recommended.
Recommended.
July 30, 2024
No one trusts the rookie...ever. Sometimes though it is the rookie who pulls through for everyone. A crash on a very hostile planet and it's time for everyone to shine or die. Use your brain or it's your demise. A thoroughly intriguing short read. Loved it!
July 9, 2017
120 Seconds is daring and exciting, filled with dangerous other-worldly creatures and unlikely heroes.
October 19, 2017
A very good short story. Have just picked up the series of books and looking forward to getting into them at the earliest opportunity. Great work!
March 4, 2018
Action packed and a good read hard to put down.
November 14, 2018
Excellent
I normally am not a big fan of Military Science Fiction but this book grabbed a hold of the reader and didn't let go until the end.
I normally am not a big fan of Military Science Fiction but this book grabbed a hold of the reader and didn't let go until the end.
December 13, 2018
Good story
Good story. Intense visuals. Just a little too much more Pitch Black for it too be an original story. Still worth the read,though.
Good story. Intense visuals. Just a little too much more Pitch Black for it too be an original story. Still worth the read,though.
December 4, 2020
Too short. Just about the time I get interested it's over.
May 7, 2021
Space marines led by a rookie must survive against hundreds of almost invincible creatures
October 7, 2022
Loved this short story revealing some of Reyes backstory
November 4, 2022
A short, but very gripping and tense, story, with a lovely twist in the tail. Recommended reading for Sci-fi fans.
November 12, 2023
Navy ship drivers crash shuttle of Marines on unknown surface with aliens . goes to poop. Oorah.......just read this guy.
July 19, 2024
Adorei. Fiquei a pensar no ferimento na perna do WO e como de repente ele na nave se poderia começar a transformar em pedra.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2017
Good short story. Liked the aliens and the little twist at the end. Just a little too close to "Pitch Black" for me though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews