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Derelict Saga #2
Derelict: Tomb
Their mission was to recover an ancient derelict from the farthest edge of the Sol system. What they’ve found could spell the end of humanity.
Trapped on the Mira, Corporal Kalimura must lead her squad of injured marines to safety. But, aboard the derelict, every shadow is a possible threat, and around every corner lurks another hazard. Without life support or gravity, and only their suit lights to see by, they must explore the ancient wreck to find a way to communicate with their ship and escape their hellish prison.
The remaining crew aboard S&R Black struggle to tow Mira out of the path of an incoming Kuiper Belt Object only to realize that the non-sentient hazard is the least of their worries.
Derelict: Tomb, book 2 of the Derelict Saga, is an action-packed mashup of suspense, military sci-fi, and space opera horror that will keep you guessing every turn of the page.
Trapped on the Mira, Corporal Kalimura must lead her squad of injured marines to safety. But, aboard the derelict, every shadow is a possible threat, and around every corner lurks another hazard. Without life support or gravity, and only their suit lights to see by, they must explore the ancient wreck to find a way to communicate with their ship and escape their hellish prison.
The remaining crew aboard S&R Black struggle to tow Mira out of the path of an incoming Kuiper Belt Object only to realize that the non-sentient hazard is the least of their worries.
Derelict: Tomb, book 2 of the Derelict Saga, is an action-packed mashup of suspense, military sci-fi, and space opera horror that will keep you guessing every turn of the page.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2017
91 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Paul Elard Cooley
34 books249 followersPaul E Cooley is a full-time writer and Parsec Award Winning podcaster from Houston, Texas. In 2009, he began producing free psychological thriller and horror podcasts, essays, and reviews available from Shadowpublications.com and iTunes.
His stories have been listened to by thousands and he has been a guest on such notable podcasts as Podioracket, John Mierau‘s “Podcast Teardown,” Geek Out with Mainframe, Shadowcast Audio, and Vertigo Radio Live. In 2010, his short story Canvas and novella Tattoo were nominated for Parsec Awards. Tattoo became a Parsec Award finalist. He has collaborated with New York Times Bestselling author Scott Sigler on the series “The Crypt” and co-wrote the novella “The Rider” (projected to release in 2014). In addition to his writing, Paul has contributed his voice talents to a number of podiofiction productions.
He has two Amazon best-selling series: The Black and The Derelict Saga.
He is also a co-host on the renown Dead Robots’ Society writing podcast.
His stories have been listened to by thousands and he has been a guest on such notable podcasts as Podioracket, John Mierau‘s “Podcast Teardown,” Geek Out with Mainframe, Shadowcast Audio, and Vertigo Radio Live. In 2010, his short story Canvas and novella Tattoo were nominated for Parsec Awards. Tattoo became a Parsec Award finalist. He has collaborated with New York Times Bestselling author Scott Sigler on the series “The Crypt” and co-wrote the novella “The Rider” (projected to release in 2014). In addition to his writing, Paul has contributed his voice talents to a number of podiofiction productions.
He has two Amazon best-selling series: The Black and The Derelict Saga.
He is also a co-host on the renown Dead Robots’ Society writing podcast.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 29, 2023
Book two of the series is not a letdown in the least. The characters have become more developed and the AI technology that Is frustrating the characters is also frustrating the readers (which is how the plot goes). Very much looking forward to book three.
August 2, 2017
I am enjoying the Derelict Saga very much, and not just because there is a character named after me. :)
The only thing I don't like about this series is the "hard" cliff-hangers at the end of each book. The books in Cooley's Black series were self-contained; you didn't necessarily need to read all the books in the series (although I highly recommend that you do). With the Derelict Saga, however, it seems like he wrote one really long book that he just randomly split into three parts. I especially found the end of Tomb to be very abrupt. I thought the Audible audio I was listening to was missing parts!
Regardless, I'm in it for the long haul. If nothing else, I have to find out if Carb and the rest of the marines make it out of Mira alive!
The only thing I don't like about this series is the "hard" cliff-hangers at the end of each book. The books in Cooley's Black series were self-contained; you didn't necessarily need to read all the books in the series (although I highly recommend that you do). With the Derelict Saga, however, it seems like he wrote one really long book that he just randomly split into three parts. I especially found the end of Tomb to be very abrupt. I thought the Audible audio I was listening to was missing parts!
Regardless, I'm in it for the long haul. If nothing else, I have to find out if Carb and the rest of the marines make it out of Mira alive!
March 4, 2024
Ok the series is starting to pick up in this one. I really wish this and the first book had been combined. It would've eliminated a lot of the complaints I saw in the negative reviews on the first one.
January 12, 2018
Count me in as a Paul Elard Cooley fan. This makes book #5 of his I've read that I can't say enough good things about. Which goes to show, since I only read him to begin with because I thought the description to his first book was so hokey. I am mystified to why he is not more of a thing--his Cthulu-Oil-Goo books (The Black being the first one) I found riveting and if I was a big shot Hollywood mogul, in the vein of Lucy & Carole Burnett skit, I'd be churning his books out as horror movies. So much to recommend! Much of the action takes place in dark corridors, with the monster mostly off screen lurking in the shadows; all of his protagonists are smart--like in The Black books, here in these Derelict books, everyone is on the top of their game and totally focused; smart female characters, who surprisingly while in the midst of nonstop creepy action are more concerned about staying alive than the chiseled hot shot pilot; zero plot holes or me scoffing that I'd do the opposite of the characters. Anyway, I digress, but speaking of movies, these books in some sense are basically:
Yes, the other great Sam Neill horror movie Event Horizon, even more obvious than the first book, which was mostly getting the cargo together and heading over to Pluto. With the earth shot to hell, all resources depleted, whales & elephants extinct, humankind pitches together and pours everything into the Mira, a colony ship sent off to find a new habitable planet/resources for mankind. It disappears 40 years later, last heard somewhere by Pluto, and then it comes back. I had a good chuckle that the Search & Rescue ship sent to check it out is called Black (since name of his last series)--but when Black come across the the ruined Mira, riddled with "pinecones," a mysterious silver goo that basically dissolves anyone that falls into it, everyone in the ship gruesomely dead with bloody warnings across the wall, and the AI being all Clifton Webbish.
So Event Horizon. The end of the last book was a single claw clicking across the hull. And we do finally get to see the creature that the claw is connected to, along with all sorts of new unpleasant information in this book, which again ends on a cliffhanger (which I expected and am okay with, at 270 or so pages, these are quick reads and meant to be trilogies I think). If you are reading these though for huge body count or giant action scenes, you might be disappointed. There are several good confrontations against the creature, but again, everyone is refreshingly smart. In a way, this falls under Suspense since goddamn stressful for most of this book--running out of oxygen, one person missing a limb and in shock, radiation leaks, creatures and corpses everywhere--but I can't wait to see how this all ends up. The recovered pods, the beacons, getting the stranded Marines back onto The Black, whatever is going on with the AI, there is a lot of material still for the final chapter.
Yes, the other great Sam Neill horror movie Event Horizon, even more obvious than the first book, which was mostly getting the cargo together and heading over to Pluto. With the earth shot to hell, all resources depleted, whales & elephants extinct, humankind pitches together and pours everything into the Mira, a colony ship sent off to find a new habitable planet/resources for mankind. It disappears 40 years later, last heard somewhere by Pluto, and then it comes back. I had a good chuckle that the Search & Rescue ship sent to check it out is called Black (since name of his last series)--but when Black come across the the ruined Mira, riddled with "pinecones," a mysterious silver goo that basically dissolves anyone that falls into it, everyone in the ship gruesomely dead with bloody warnings across the wall, and the AI being all Clifton Webbish.
So Event Horizon. The end of the last book was a single claw clicking across the hull. And we do finally get to see the creature that the claw is connected to, along with all sorts of new unpleasant information in this book, which again ends on a cliffhanger (which I expected and am okay with, at 270 or so pages, these are quick reads and meant to be trilogies I think). If you are reading these though for huge body count or giant action scenes, you might be disappointed. There are several good confrontations against the creature, but again, everyone is refreshingly smart. In a way, this falls under Suspense since goddamn stressful for most of this book--running out of oxygen, one person missing a limb and in shock, radiation leaks, creatures and corpses everywhere--but I can't wait to see how this all ends up. The recovered pods, the beacons, getting the stranded Marines back onto The Black, whatever is going on with the AI, there is a lot of material still for the final chapter.
July 12, 2017
Too long, too much psychological thriller, not enough action.
I enjoyed the character development, very interesting characters but I thought they were a little slow in responding to the fact that the a, I, we're not telling them the truth. I thought the book was a little too long, not enough action, there was too much psychological drama instead of action and adventure which you would expect in reading a book about Marines. I do not like the format of leaving you in a cliffhanger so you have to purchase the next book, I think it's a gimmick to keep you reading, I think the story should be self-contained. I do not know if I will read the next book, I will have to give it some thought. I think the main Character or should I say the captain is a little bit on the slow side. It's not a bad book if you like slow psychological drama with a little bit of action, you will probably enjoy this book. Unfortunately for my case I believe that a book taking place on a ship is somewhat claustrophobic but try the first book and see what you think of it.
I enjoyed the character development, very interesting characters but I thought they were a little slow in responding to the fact that the a, I, we're not telling them the truth. I thought the book was a little too long, not enough action, there was too much psychological drama instead of action and adventure which you would expect in reading a book about Marines. I do not like the format of leaving you in a cliffhanger so you have to purchase the next book, I think it's a gimmick to keep you reading, I think the story should be self-contained. I do not know if I will read the next book, I will have to give it some thought. I think the main Character or should I say the captain is a little bit on the slow side. It's not a bad book if you like slow psychological drama with a little bit of action, you will probably enjoy this book. Unfortunately for my case I believe that a book taking place on a ship is somewhat claustrophobic but try the first book and see what you think of it.
July 14, 2017
Ugh! So good and over too soon!
As I read Derelict: Tomb at a frantic pace, I glanced down at my reading progress percentage and saw 95%, then groaned. Once again, the book was almost over and I wanted to throw my Kindle at a wall because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next! The pace is perfect, the story is riveting and the writing is just so good! Paul, you're killing me, get the next book written, STAT! (Mags)
As I read Derelict: Tomb at a frantic pace, I glanced down at my reading progress percentage and saw 95%, then groaned. Once again, the book was almost over and I wanted to throw my Kindle at a wall because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next! The pace is perfect, the story is riveting and the writing is just so good! Paul, you're killing me, get the next book written, STAT! (Mags)
December 15, 2017
Much better then the first book. A lot more going on and a lot more left undone for the next book. Looking forward to it.
February 26, 2018
Great read
I like this series, well written action never stops, conspiracy, untrustworthy ai's, aliens, creepy abandoned spaceships, all set on the fringe of our system
I like this series, well written action never stops, conspiracy, untrustworthy ai's, aliens, creepy abandoned spaceships, all set on the fringe of our system
March 26, 2018
Brilliant second book in the series. And a serious cliffhanger at the end. Now, onto number 3.
October 23, 2022
could not finish
May 23, 2025
Better than book 1 but still needs work
The author did a better job this time making it clear who the main charavter was for each chapter. Granted it would be much easier to just put their name under the chapter number but I guess he hasn't realized that yet. There's more action in this book, but it does take quite a bit of time to get to it. There's finally some answers as to what happened to the Mira and what the pinecones really are. But then there's more questions about what the AIs are up to, why the government lied about Mira's mission, and what the aliens plans are. After finishing this book I've realized the author just wrote one really really really long novel and decided to split it up into 4 books with no real endings for them. The book just ends abruptly like the 1st, which is dumb and lazy. The author needs to get better at endings before the end of the series. Hopefully book 3 is better.
The author did a better job this time making it clear who the main charavter was for each chapter. Granted it would be much easier to just put their name under the chapter number but I guess he hasn't realized that yet. There's more action in this book, but it does take quite a bit of time to get to it. There's finally some answers as to what happened to the Mira and what the pinecones really are. But then there's more questions about what the AIs are up to, why the government lied about Mira's mission, and what the aliens plans are. After finishing this book I've realized the author just wrote one really really really long novel and decided to split it up into 4 books with no real endings for them. The book just ends abruptly like the 1st, which is dumb and lazy. The author needs to get better at endings before the end of the series. Hopefully book 3 is better.
November 30, 2020
Hmmm.. ik heb ze in de juiste volgorde gelezen maar ik de verkeerde volgorde gerecenseerd. Zegt dat genoeg? Misschien wel. Dit is dus de recensie van Derelict: destruction, en die andere gaat over Tomb.
Wat valt er verder over te zeggen? Het is een escalatie van het vorige boek. Het artifact brengt nog meer gevaarlijke levensvormen op onze dappere mariniers af en de boordcomputer wil dat dat ding naar Pluto gebracht wordt. Er is veel actie en opvallend weinig plot of karakterontwikkeling. Het is wel vermakelijk geschreven dus als dat je wat lijkt zou ik zeggen: 'ga los!'
Een beetje een frustrerend stokpaardje kwam ik ook weer tegen: er wordt een half boek aan plot in de schoot van de lezer gedumpt in het laatste hoofdstuk, waardoor dat totaal uit de toon valt met de rest van het boek (en ineens wat meer interesse bij me wekt).
Wat valt er verder over te zeggen? Het is een escalatie van het vorige boek. Het artifact brengt nog meer gevaarlijke levensvormen op onze dappere mariniers af en de boordcomputer wil dat dat ding naar Pluto gebracht wordt. Er is veel actie en opvallend weinig plot of karakterontwikkeling. Het is wel vermakelijk geschreven dus als dat je wat lijkt zou ik zeggen: 'ga los!'
Een beetje een frustrerend stokpaardje kwam ik ook weer tegen: er wordt een half boek aan plot in de schoot van de lezer gedumpt in het laatste hoofdstuk, waardoor dat totaal uit de toon valt met de rest van het boek (en ineens wat meer interesse bij me wekt).
July 27, 2019
Definitely liked this one, thoughagain it finishes on a major cliffhanger. In a lot of ways you could describe this book series as being like a three part TV show that keepss you wanting to come back for the next episode and with the shorter first book being a mixture of opening scenes and pilot.
I did notice a slight discrepanc with "New Paris" being called "New Parris" at least once and I have a nasty feeling the author changed one of the cold gas propulsion systems from CO2 to Nitrogen between books one and two but that last part could be just something I missed.
All told, it's a good suspense story that has the potential to have you on the edge of your seat.
June 4, 2018
3 1/2 stars--a big improvement over the first installment! I know it sounds strange for a sequel to be so much better than the predecessor, but Derelict Tomb has much more action, plot progression, and overall intrigue than the first Derelict. First of all, things get nice and gory pretty quickly. The other members of the Marines are fleshed out a little better in terms of personality. Cooley also navigates away from the trope of having the two females vying for the interest of one male (thank goodness). I am excited for the next book in the series.
January 29, 2023
Better than Book 1
In book 1, they finally made contact with Mira about 80% of the way through the book. Book #2 picks up where book 1 left off. In fact, if you are planning to read book 2 and haven't read book 1, there is no catching up on past activities in this book.
The summary of the book says it all. The crew of the S&R Black remains split into two forces, one on the ship and the other trying to prepare to tow the ship. But we also discover that there are some creatures that wreak havoc on the 4 people who are trapped on the Mira (from the last book). The teams that are trying to rig the ship for towing are not fairing too much better. The creatures appear to be life forms, but not as any humanity has seen before - and they can operate just fine in the vacuum of space.
As for the AIs that appeared to be up to something ... they are. Although it appears they are trying to help.
This book again ends with a cliffhanger. I am invested now and will be reading book 3.
In book 1, they finally made contact with Mira about 80% of the way through the book. Book #2 picks up where book 1 left off. In fact, if you are planning to read book 2 and haven't read book 1, there is no catching up on past activities in this book.
The summary of the book says it all. The crew of the S&R Black remains split into two forces, one on the ship and the other trying to prepare to tow the ship. But we also discover that there are some creatures that wreak havoc on the 4 people who are trapped on the Mira (from the last book). The teams that are trying to rig the ship for towing are not fairing too much better. The creatures appear to be life forms, but not as any humanity has seen before - and they can operate just fine in the vacuum of space.
As for the AIs that appeared to be up to something ... they are. Although it appears they are trying to help.
This book again ends with a cliffhanger. I am invested now and will be reading book 3.
January 12, 2025
Ciencia ficcion : 4/5; Me gusta como ha continuado la historia.
Terror : Aunque originalmente comence a leer la saga en espera de contenido terrorifico, definitivamente no es una novela de terror con ciencia ficcion. Pero la trama bien construida ha permitido que mantenga el interes en la lectura.
Suspenso : 4/5
Trama : 5/5
Recomiendo su lectura : Si
Afortunadamente estoy leyendo la saga cuando ya esta terminada ( #1, #2, #3, #4).
Comenzare en breve la lectura de la 3era parte.
Terror : Aunque originalmente comence a leer la saga en espera de contenido terrorifico, definitivamente no es una novela de terror con ciencia ficcion. Pero la trama bien construida ha permitido que mantenga el interes en la lectura.
Suspenso : 4/5
Trama : 5/5
Recomiendo su lectura : Si
Afortunadamente estoy leyendo la saga cuando ya esta terminada ( #1, #2, #3, #4).
Comenzare en breve la lectura de la 3era parte.
June 6, 2017
Part Two of the Derelict Saga. Fast paced and nothing but trouble, success, more trouble, repeat! Crew of S&R Black fight the unknown, the derelict ship Mira, and even their own A.I. to an extent. There are still secrets to uncover as they work toward towing Mira out of harm's way. Will the Marines succeed or is all for naught? Were they set up? By whom, or, by what?
Please note, my review is based on the Kindle Unlimited copy.
Please note, my review is based on the Kindle Unlimited copy.
June 16, 2018
I definitely enjoyed tomb more than marines. I think while marines was more character driven, and did a really good job giving us a few pieces of the puzzle this second book really fleshed out the world and the issues while really pushing the characters in a plot driven nature. I didn't expect or guess anything that was coming and cannot wait for destruction to get into the podcast feed. I may have to pick up a copy sooner!! a great read!
January 24, 2018
A SPINE TINGLING TALE OF TERROR IT IS...
Hello, this story was just plain great. It added so much detail and depth to the first book. Now I understand why the first story seemed long winded. Mr. Cooley was just building up the suspense for the rest of the story. Great job. Thanks.
Hello, this story was just plain great. It added so much detail and depth to the first book. Now I understand why the first story seemed long winded. Mr. Cooley was just building up the suspense for the rest of the story. Great job. Thanks.
March 14, 2019
Was happy to get back into this series!
Solid SF action, with well-described tech and some nice bursts of action/ horror. Kalimura is my favorite character.
Just wish it didn’t end so abruptly/ end on such a cliffhanger. Each book should be relatively contained but this feels as though it ends almost mid-sentence.
Solid SF action, with well-described tech and some nice bursts of action/ horror. Kalimura is my favorite character.
Just wish it didn’t end so abruptly/ end on such a cliffhanger. Each book should be relatively contained but this feels as though it ends almost mid-sentence.
April 10, 2025
Derelict: Tomb has more action. I did get confused on the first few paragraphs of each chapter until the characters’ name appeared so I wish the chapters were labeled by characters since the focus is on them. There is a better understanding as to what happened on the Mira. I can see where inspiration was pulled from, but I think Paul E. Cooley did a good job with a fresh spin.
May 30, 2017
Incredible read
So enjoyable. Cannot put this down, had to read, read read. The characters and what is going on just grabs you and you have to know more. Please hurry with the next book. Already need to read it NOW! LOL.
So enjoyable. Cannot put this down, had to read, read read. The characters and what is going on just grabs you and you have to know more. Please hurry with the next book. Already need to read it NOW! LOL.
June 17, 2017
2nd thrilling episode in this series which (spoiler) will certainly be at least one more book (unless Mr. Cooley is even more sadistic than his books portray him as and his plan is to "full stop" after two . . . .)
More space marine fun. Great stuff.
More space marine fun. Great stuff.
June 21, 2017
Way too good to finish there!
Man the author is getting better, only thing i hate is the fact that the book ends in such a cliff hanger, now i have to wait until the next one comes over and it is going to feel long as Kalimura's trip through Mira...
Man the author is getting better, only thing i hate is the fact that the book ends in such a cliff hanger, now i have to wait until the next one comes over and it is going to feel long as Kalimura's trip through Mira...
June 28, 2017
horrifically good.
A read you cannot put down. action all the way . out of control A.I,s , aliens . Space marines treated like mushrooms. kept in the dark and fed bulls##t. as always marines adapt and overcome....
A read you cannot put down. action all the way . out of control A.I,s , aliens . Space marines treated like mushrooms. kept in the dark and fed bulls##t. as always marines adapt and overcome....
August 1, 2017
I liked it! Made up for what was lacking in the first one. I found I actually cared about the characters living or dying. Waiting for part 3....
These are not stand alone books and I would have rather waited for them all to release in one volume
These are not stand alone books and I would have rather waited for them all to release in one volume
April 11, 2019
A more confident outing than the first part of the story (and this is very much a part of the larger story rather than a tale in itself). This review is largely irrelevant, in truth, as if you finished the first you will read this.
June 15, 2020
Aliens with more alien aliens!
Nicely written with characters you begin to care about believable science part of the sci fi.
Suspense and reveal builds and the sense of fat from home and help does also.
Damn ai......
Nicely written with characters you begin to care about believable science part of the sci fi.
Suspense and reveal builds and the sense of fat from home and help does also.
Damn ai......
November 1, 2022
Monsters in space
Book two, also ends in a cliffhanger so gets four stars instead of five. Still, I am enjoying the series. It is suspenseful and easy to follow. Each monster is better than the last. On to book three!
Book two, also ends in a cliffhanger so gets four stars instead of five. Still, I am enjoying the series. It is suspenseful and easy to follow. Each monster is better than the last. On to book three!
June 20, 2017
This is the book where the creepy and scary bits show up - the first book felt like a slow burn but it's worth it to get to this one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews