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Terradox #1
Terradox
They were heading for Venus. Somewhere else found them first...
When a sudden impact sends a spacecraft bound for a distant research station hurtling towards a previously unseen and inexplicable planet, responsibility for the safety of its passengers immediately falls on Ivy 'Holly' Wood, a former poster-child of the public space program now fleeing Earth's tyrannical leadership.
The mysterious planet's startlingly Earth-like atmosphere initially breeds optimism among Holly's group of stranded survivors, but before long it becomes clear that Earth's rules don't apply and that nothing can be taken for granted.
With all hopes of escape dependent on discovering the true nature of this increasingly hostile planet, Holly and the rest of the desperate survivors know only one thing for their newly discovered world will not give up its secrets without a fight.
Terradox is a sci-fi thriller/adventure novel from the author of the breakout bestseller Not Alone , an Audible.com 'Best of 2016' finalist.
When a sudden impact sends a spacecraft bound for a distant research station hurtling towards a previously unseen and inexplicable planet, responsibility for the safety of its passengers immediately falls on Ivy 'Holly' Wood, a former poster-child of the public space program now fleeing Earth's tyrannical leadership.
The mysterious planet's startlingly Earth-like atmosphere initially breeds optimism among Holly's group of stranded survivors, but before long it becomes clear that Earth's rules don't apply and that nothing can be taken for granted.
With all hopes of escape dependent on discovering the true nature of this increasingly hostile planet, Holly and the rest of the desperate survivors know only one thing for their newly discovered world will not give up its secrets without a fight.
Terradox is a sci-fi thriller/adventure novel from the author of the breakout bestseller Not Alone , an Audible.com 'Best of 2016' finalist.
MP3 CD
First published March 21, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
June 23, 2017
?….well, it was $ 0.99, I was wanting to try some modern Sci-Fi, all I had to do was push a button on my Kindle.
You get to imagine a neat planet, a neat spaceship, and a neat other spaceship that orbits Venus. You also get to imagine some neat alien plants and some really neat technology. But don’t think about the technology too much, b/c then it might get unrealistic and you will become cynical about the story.
I didn't hate it. I didn’t feel like it was a waste of time or money. It wasn’t an awful book by any means. It’s just not something you will probably be discussing with others who have read it. You’ll say: “ Hey I just read Terradox.” And you friend will say, “Oh yeah, I read that too”. And that’ll be it…….
You get to imagine a neat planet, a neat spaceship, and a neat other spaceship that orbits Venus. You also get to imagine some neat alien plants and some really neat technology. But don’t think about the technology too much, b/c then it might get unrealistic and you will become cynical about the story.
I didn't hate it. I didn’t feel like it was a waste of time or money. It wasn’t an awful book by any means. It’s just not something you will probably be discussing with others who have read it. You’ll say: “ Hey I just read Terradox.” And you friend will say, “Oh yeah, I read that too”. And that’ll be it…….
July 31, 2017
Overall it's a good well-written story...but i feel the brilliant premise of Terradox aka Romosphere was squandered by unnecessary exposition about politics and i could only agonize at the possibilities this story could've explored.
Even though the characters were stranded, the threat to their lives didn't come across as strongly as it could've been particularly since they were stuck at a completely unknown place in the universe. And the ending came far too easily. I kept on waiting for a final twist, a final stroke of genius from the villain but that never came.
Even though the characters were stranded, the threat to their lives didn't come across as strongly as it could've been particularly since they were stuck at a completely unknown place in the universe. And the ending came far too easily. I kept on waiting for a final twist, a final stroke of genius from the villain but that never came.
Read
March 26, 2026Rating: minus 15 on a a scale of minus 15 to plus 5.
This made possible by YouTube - Doctor Who\Without Reward, Welcome to Ukraine, Ode to Joy Flashmob, Lisa Watson, Quinn's Ideas, IWriterly, TheJuiceMedia, The Escapist, Bernadette Banner, Verilybitchie, The How and Why of Mathematics, Sabine Hossenfelder, Tod Maffin, New Enlightenment with Ashley,
Ms Modeller, The Scale Modeller, Queen City Minis, Global Updates with Sosan,
National Centre for Military Intelligence, Tina Friml, Carissa Hendrix, Naughty Nana DUZ, Leah Passaniti, Ben G Thomas, Truth to Power, Lily Alexandre, Lore Reloaded, Kazachka, ThePrimeChronus, Mia Mulder, Sailing Melody, Ship Happens,
History with Kayleigh, Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, Snappy Dragon, Alt Shift X, Sheer Stitchery, Cecilia Blomdahl, Two Bit DaVinci, Potential History, Cambrian Chronicles, Kyiv Post, V4mpire Doll, Kelsey Cook, Leftist Cooks, Turn Left, Philosophy Tube, Dr Fatima, Reads with Rachel, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Hat Historian,
Savy Writes Books, Petticoats and Prose, Miranda Mills, Blooms and Greens by Chloe,
AllShorts, Riverboat Jack, Kozak Siromaha, France 24, ATP Geopolitics, Whitenoiz CA, Cindy Pinchart, Boardgame Sanctuary, KamSandwich, Zilla Blitz, Jessica Kellgren Fozard, DamiLee, Answer in Progress, Charlie Angus, LetterKenny, ScaredKetchup,
Graham Norton Show, Keffals, TallGirl6234, Anka Daily News, Reese Waters, The Gaze, RevolutionarythOt, Terrible Writing Advice, Anthony Gramuglia, Mr Zod, Squire, Viva La Dirt League, Solo Second Half, Hawk's Podcasts, Anton Petrov, Petrik Leo, Harry Sahota, Real Vintage Dolls House, Honest2Betsy, According to Alina, Janta Ka Reporter.
I saw a nasty troll, who in the midst of insulting an essayist, complain to her that I list other trans creators. The behaviour of Snowflakes (barely literate, arrogant, vicious, US tittie-baby) no longer surprises. A trigger warning then.
The channels which I list include the marine biologist, lesbian, Indian, redhaired, sewist, botanist, culture critic, boat restorer, intersex, fashion historian, singer, lumber yard worker, military boardgamer, miniatures painter, queer, architect, Iranian, aviation modeller, chemist, language teacher, trans, pensioner, WOC, astrophysicist, chess master, miniatures wargamer, military historian, cis, Canadian, married, painter, communist, sociologist, physically challenged, asexual, farmer, comedienne, tall, news presenter, Ukrainian, bi, anarchist, university professor, musician, neurodivergent, het, mediaevalist, agricultural economist and other creators known as Women.
Almost as threatening to the limited reference group are the mathematician, other LGBTQIA, Kenyan, tailor, wood worker, socialist, other fashion historian, game historian, language historian, paleontologist, engineer, other neurodivergent, Irish, philosopher, botanical archaeologist, ginger, other BIPOC, zoologist, military modeller, anthropologist, other chemist, science communicator, mechanic, English. other singer, miniatures terrain builder, city planner, van lifer, Ugandan, political commentator and
others known (outside the US) as Human Beings.
Should the voices persist, seek emergency pastoral and and\or develop a new skill, reading perhaps and\or seek out the nearest Taoist monastery.
Recalling my various incel commenters is at times draining. At those moments I recall the valiant polar bear defence lines which stopped the American advance off the beaches, the brilliant walrus amphibious counterattacks against the beachhead and the assault of the Penguin 1st Parachute Division on the US Corps assets. Long Live the Greenland Defence Force. Long Live the heroes. Greenland is Denmark.
Unto the book, dear friends. Once more. As usual with low end Unlimited fare, the worldbuilding is ridiculous in its plausibility, consistency, depth or logic. It presents a childlike misunderstanding of state power.
A nameless UN bureaucrat propelled by his minor agency, ascends to absolute power over the globe. His agency creates an ICE-like force, which is funded by all UN governments with apparently no oversight.
No nation objects to this mob lacking any authority, violating their sovereignty and the coercion of citizenry into adherence to some nebulous green planet cult. No national military intervenes to detain or kill these eco-terrorists. No national media questions the authority of the Nameless one. No citizens protest.
The new global leader (sans army, bureaucracy, legal authority or other power) is vulnerable only to a scandal. No authoritarian have ever been overthrown by press which they control. Nor have they been shy of murder.
From my exposure to YouTubers exploring the ignorance, stupidity, self-involvement, apathy, herd mentality of US citizenry and a scan of reviews, I expect that a fair number of readers found the absurdity above plausible.
No further exploration of the book is justified but the writer needs examining. The politics are that of Ronald Reagan, Nigel Farage and every "Libertarian" or Euroskeptic.
Never is the enemy other than the liberal democratic state enforcing silly regulation.
The State supported silliness include Mitigation of Climate Change, Extreme Concentration of Wealth without state controls destroys the beloved capitalism, Poisoning air, water and soil with industrial and other waste which kills all living things including citizens is not sustainable, Corporations need be taxed to at least offset their drain on society's resources, State sanctioned violence must be seen to have justification, Employees must be allowed some protections against employers, without which violent revolt is inevitable and other bizarre notions.
This book is quite serviceable propaganda for the critical thinking impaired.
Another YouTube stepaway earned. This next made possible by Owen James -When I Stand, Stephen Woodford, Ember Green, Kady2.0, Matriarchetype, Dark Brandon, V Birchwood, Bitchuation Room, Raw News and Politics, I've Had It, The Enemy from Within, Clouds and Sky, Ben and Emily, Munecat, Mrs Betty Bowers, Jean's Thoughts,
Barry's Economics, The Welsh Viking, tale Foundry, Candlelit Tales, Words in Time, Dominic Noble, JimmyTheGiant, The Great War, Canadian WW2 Tales, Battlefield Ambience, Irish Pagan School, History with Kayleigh, Octopus Lady, Chem Thug, External ExtinctZoo, Science Fiction with Damien Walter, Feral Historian,
The Resistance, Owen Jones, Novara Media,v Democratic Penguins Republic, Baltic Defence Review, The Caspian Report, Kyiv Independent, Ukraine Calling, Queen Penguin, Underthedesknews, Valhalla Drums, War and Politics 24, Kozak Muzon, The Kavernacle, No Justice, Raw America, The Dangerous Ones, Tom Nicholas,
Verilybitchie, Dungeons and Discourse, Deerstalker Pictures, Players Aid, Grungeon Master, David Reddish Show, Bryn's Bookshelf Jen the Librarian, Council of Geeks, Willow Talks Books, Graham Norton Show, StanziPotenza, The Discriminating Gamer, Canadian WW2 Tales, MiniAtures Wars, Mediaeval Wargamer, Kath Clarke.
I started visiting YouTube for science fiction recommendations about three years or so past. I found those and all manner of interest area channels. I on accident discovered Lindsay Ellis 😍, then the BooKTube. 😍 These channels host varied reader communities who enjoy all aspects of the bookish world. I promise that these are environments different to that of Goodreads.
Consider treating this as a hostile site. 🤔
Goodreads discourse does not exist. As example, three years or so past, I wrote a short negative review of Powers of the Earth originally blurbed as similar to a Heinlein classic. It is instead, a poorly written rehash of "Atlas Shrugged" set on the Moon by Travis Corcoran.
Travis self-described as Libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without millions), employee of an unnamed US agency,
vocal advocate for a return of chattel slavery (popular US position with new forced labour prisons for the now criminalised unhoused, poor van, those living in autos and their families. With no pathway to release from these privately owned prisons and given US history, generational enslavement is definitely on the cards.
With the disturbing line item of industrial furnaces to dispose of biologicals, Nazi population reduction processes seem indicated. There have been no concern shown by either Party, Lefties or media. Starmer may even adopt the US model in his worship of all things American.)
US veteran, admirer of Putin's Russia (unsurprising popular stance embraced by a compromised Head of State, a Russian asset as Intelligence Chief, tens of million US citizens entranced by that culture's effortless cruelty and barbarity with hopes of restoring US historical superiority in that area.)
The story i s that of the heroic struggle of a rich twat enlisting the military in overthrow of a US government in order that he not pay taxes.
A communist found that book and the many similar to carried in the Unlimited library to be unhealthy, dangerous and now prophetic.
Travis and six fellow patriots were outraged by my seeming defence of their democratic capitalist system. There followed a year long stream demanding my response to unhinged comments.
No mention of the book was made, though I was gifted analysis of my various personal flaws, from narcissism evidenced by failure to engage to deficiency of intelligence as well as tutelage in correct historical understanding, western philosophy, literary criticism and other.
Humbled by such generosity, I greedily hoped for clarification of the Many Worlds interpretation of Quantum Physics. It was not forthcoming but I was left comforting layers of irony.
Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr delivered the final comment. After referencing the contents of my last message exchange with a Goodreads friend, he declared that They had "won" (?).
I discovered that They and many allies had launched a year-long campaign of racist, ableist, anti-LGBTQ and similar comments to apparently every channel which I listed and it continues still.
They failed to impress the midteen boater and her mother, astrophysicist, botanist, culture critic or many other female creators.
Despite that failure, They did deliver a wonderful, self-portrait of the Snowflake (poorly educated, desperate, attention seeking American tittie-baby) to a multinational audience and increased the global overabundance of unpleasantness.
On balance quite the Victory. Should the above cause the least discomfort, there are BookTubers to recommend saner, safer, true reader forums. Please do not use my thoughts as a Marxist primer.
This last courtesy of YouTube - Doctor Who\Never Never Cruel or Cowardly, Peter Stefanovic, Brittany Page, Claus Kellerman POV, Second Thought, Sarah Millican, Philosophy Tube, Vlad Vexler, Owen Jones, Some More News, Verilybitchie, Rina Sawayama, Fabienne, Linguoer Mechanic, Anne Applebaum, Renegade Cut, Kazachka,
TheFerkala -Dybbol, Fiona Hill, Think Ukraine, Cover in French, Joe Blogs, Dr Steve Keen, Ukraine Today, Silicon Curtain, Tanya Fiona, Kopke613, Charge of the Australian Light Horse, Heather Cox Richardson, PsPunks, Middle East Eye, Interesting Times, Leena Norms, Very Casual Librarian, Gamer's Nexus, Table Top Times,
Mediaeval Wargamer, Captured in Words, Door Monster, Emilie's Literary Corner,
Book Nook Corner, Candlelit Tales, CriminOlly, Tom Ayling, Kat Abughazaleh, Some More News, YuGopnik, The Untold Past, Central Crossing, Solo Second Half, Clouds and Sky, Megalithhunter, Gutsick Gibbon, Mrs Betty Bowers, Atun Shei Films,
Luke Sherlock, Warship Designs, Kathy's Flog from France, Caelan Conrad, Munecat, Amanda and Shaye, Pinsent Tailoring, Maksy Abugu, Parkrose Permaculture, Global Views with Josh, Guard the Leaf, The Resistance, North of MAGA, Loren Piretra Show, Bitchuation Room, War and Politics 24, White Stork, Tank Museum, Rev Karla,
Unlearning Economics, Jake Broe, Professor Gerdes Explains, Institute of Art and Ideas, KernowDamo, Benn Jordan, Benjamin Laird, Large Man Abroad, Gary's Economics, France 24, Danish News English, Refashioned Hippie, Dark Side of Russia, Dark Brandon, Lena Down Under, Honest Government Ads, Mr Newberger's AI Funnies.
Ominous music begins. 🙂 The comment gang is built into Goodreads not an aberration. Their activities include the stalking, doxxing, hacking, threats and other. Amazon do not discipline deranged members, punish writers who encourage Them or dismiss employees who enable Them.
My limited message history was given over to these thugs. It allowed a request of Australian Security by Pine Gap Centre to interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. The attempt at my personal information failed.
Amazon only became concerned after we shared our experience widely. No apology or other, just my page format and options returned to normal, all Lurkers whom I'd not been Allowed to remove were disappeared, periodic bricking of my Kindle ended and the rest.
A BookTuber had a review addressing problematic portrayals labelled "Hate Speech" and removed. She also after received her first Goodreads comment that she "should die".
Another had access to her cloud library blocked and Kindle internet connectivity blocked for her temerity in challenging an obvious Amazon double billing.
A seventh ex-employee, who had been the Chief of Global Security or some such was sentenced for harassment of a couple whose small ecommerce site had been deemed unkind to EBay. They were awarded millions by a British court. At present a US court ruling might have been different.
I suggest precautions. Remove all personal information and avoid the messaging. Remove lurkers, those who never post. They are likely monitors for gangs or employee dummies.
With Amazon's penchant for Alteration of customer pages, the screenshot of the odd, ugly and threatening are invaluable. For Goodreads these may suffice.
Kindle are a different matter. Do Not Use Kindle Files, Contacts, Email or Calendar. Amazon Sign Into customer emails without notice or permission. Make of that what you will.
Do Not "purchase" Amazon ebooks. You own only your device and if Kindle, that is conditional. If purchased, download all titles immediately. There are BookTubers to direct a reader to other ebook and tablet vendors or alternatives to ebooks altogether.
Silk searches should be innocuous and non-critical.
The above cost nothing to implement, to not may do. It might be prudent to remember that these animals (members and employees alike) are devoid of morality, have never discovered introspection but are proud US patriots and all that implies. Ominous music ends. 🙂
Be safe and may we all enjoy Good Reading! 🤗
Some of my favourite YouTube channels.
Bobbing Along. Betty on a Boat, Narrowboat Pirate, Lily Simpson, Tulia, Karolina Zebrowska, Eleanor Morton, The Mindful Narrowboat, Natalia Tsarikova, The Onion, SNL UK, Cappy Army, Wes O'Donnell, Jack Edwards,
TimeGhost Army, Joe Blogs, Lady of the Library, Enby Reads, Books and Lala, Bobbing Along, Sort of Interesting, Invicta, Second Thought, The Juice Media, Kings and Generals, Engineering with Rosie, Cruising the Cut, The Great War, Prime of Midlife, World War Two, Renegade Cut, Cruising Crafts, SciFi Odyssey,
Honest Ads, The Paranormal Scholar, Ask a Mortician, The Irish Reader, Vlad Vexler, Brittany the Bibliophile, Neringa Rekaslute, Maiorianus, Double Down News, What Vivi did next, France 24, Alice Cappelle, Alizee, Fundie Fridays, Dreamloop Cinema, Mark R Largent, AuroraTrek, Kat Blacque, Cosy Creative, Dust, Omeleto,
Jessica Gagnon, The Welsh Viking, Lady knight the Brave, Sarah Z, Books with Chloe, Patrick is a Navajo, Three Arrows, Violet Orlandi, Between the Lines, Cover in French, We're in Hell, Make Better Media, Perun, The Templin Institute, Space 1899,
Lilly's life, I'm Rosa, Lily Alexandre, Jake Broe, Dead Good Books, Maggie Mae.Fish,
Adult Wednesday Addams - 2 seasons, Boat Time, Camper Vibe, Travelling K, The Snake Charmer, Chloe Stafler, Abbie Emmons, Noelle Gallagher, It's Black Friday, Three Arrows, Daily Soak, Forgotten Fleet, Offizier Amira, Hello Future Me,
Casual Navigation, With Olivia, The Stitchery, Historical Fashion, The European, A Cup of Nicole, Swell Entertainment, Knowing Better, Jessie Gender, Eleanor Morton, A Life of Lit, Morgan Donner,, Diane Callahan Quotidian Writer, No Justice, AllShorts, The Historian's Craft, The Library Ladder, The Leftist Cooks.
I wish you a gentle morning, a lazy afternoon, an evening with friends, a splendid night and may we all continue learning.
Courage Need only two supports, Hope and Will.
Principles, Dark Sisters
This made possible by YouTube - Doctor Who\Without Reward, Welcome to Ukraine, Ode to Joy Flashmob, Lisa Watson, Quinn's Ideas, IWriterly, TheJuiceMedia, The Escapist, Bernadette Banner, Verilybitchie, The How and Why of Mathematics, Sabine Hossenfelder, Tod Maffin, New Enlightenment with Ashley,
Ms Modeller, The Scale Modeller, Queen City Minis, Global Updates with Sosan,
National Centre for Military Intelligence, Tina Friml, Carissa Hendrix, Naughty Nana DUZ, Leah Passaniti, Ben G Thomas, Truth to Power, Lily Alexandre, Lore Reloaded, Kazachka, ThePrimeChronus, Mia Mulder, Sailing Melody, Ship Happens,
History with Kayleigh, Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, Snappy Dragon, Alt Shift X, Sheer Stitchery, Cecilia Blomdahl, Two Bit DaVinci, Potential History, Cambrian Chronicles, Kyiv Post, V4mpire Doll, Kelsey Cook, Leftist Cooks, Turn Left, Philosophy Tube, Dr Fatima, Reads with Rachel, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Hat Historian,
Savy Writes Books, Petticoats and Prose, Miranda Mills, Blooms and Greens by Chloe,
AllShorts, Riverboat Jack, Kozak Siromaha, France 24, ATP Geopolitics, Whitenoiz CA, Cindy Pinchart, Boardgame Sanctuary, KamSandwich, Zilla Blitz, Jessica Kellgren Fozard, DamiLee, Answer in Progress, Charlie Angus, LetterKenny, ScaredKetchup,
Graham Norton Show, Keffals, TallGirl6234, Anka Daily News, Reese Waters, The Gaze, RevolutionarythOt, Terrible Writing Advice, Anthony Gramuglia, Mr Zod, Squire, Viva La Dirt League, Solo Second Half, Hawk's Podcasts, Anton Petrov, Petrik Leo, Harry Sahota, Real Vintage Dolls House, Honest2Betsy, According to Alina, Janta Ka Reporter.
I saw a nasty troll, who in the midst of insulting an essayist, complain to her that I list other trans creators. The behaviour of Snowflakes (barely literate, arrogant, vicious, US tittie-baby) no longer surprises. A trigger warning then.
The channels which I list include the marine biologist, lesbian, Indian, redhaired, sewist, botanist, culture critic, boat restorer, intersex, fashion historian, singer, lumber yard worker, military boardgamer, miniatures painter, queer, architect, Iranian, aviation modeller, chemist, language teacher, trans, pensioner, WOC, astrophysicist, chess master, miniatures wargamer, military historian, cis, Canadian, married, painter, communist, sociologist, physically challenged, asexual, farmer, comedienne, tall, news presenter, Ukrainian, bi, anarchist, university professor, musician, neurodivergent, het, mediaevalist, agricultural economist and other creators known as Women.
Almost as threatening to the limited reference group are the mathematician, other LGBTQIA, Kenyan, tailor, wood worker, socialist, other fashion historian, game historian, language historian, paleontologist, engineer, other neurodivergent, Irish, philosopher, botanical archaeologist, ginger, other BIPOC, zoologist, military modeller, anthropologist, other chemist, science communicator, mechanic, English. other singer, miniatures terrain builder, city planner, van lifer, Ugandan, political commentator and
others known (outside the US) as Human Beings.
Should the voices persist, seek emergency pastoral and and\or develop a new skill, reading perhaps and\or seek out the nearest Taoist monastery.
Recalling my various incel commenters is at times draining. At those moments I recall the valiant polar bear defence lines which stopped the American advance off the beaches, the brilliant walrus amphibious counterattacks against the beachhead and the assault of the Penguin 1st Parachute Division on the US Corps assets. Long Live the Greenland Defence Force. Long Live the heroes. Greenland is Denmark.
Unto the book, dear friends. Once more. As usual with low end Unlimited fare, the worldbuilding is ridiculous in its plausibility, consistency, depth or logic. It presents a childlike misunderstanding of state power.
A nameless UN bureaucrat propelled by his minor agency, ascends to absolute power over the globe. His agency creates an ICE-like force, which is funded by all UN governments with apparently no oversight.
No nation objects to this mob lacking any authority, violating their sovereignty and the coercion of citizenry into adherence to some nebulous green planet cult. No national military intervenes to detain or kill these eco-terrorists. No national media questions the authority of the Nameless one. No citizens protest.
The new global leader (sans army, bureaucracy, legal authority or other power) is vulnerable only to a scandal. No authoritarian have ever been overthrown by press which they control. Nor have they been shy of murder.
From my exposure to YouTubers exploring the ignorance, stupidity, self-involvement, apathy, herd mentality of US citizenry and a scan of reviews, I expect that a fair number of readers found the absurdity above plausible.
No further exploration of the book is justified but the writer needs examining. The politics are that of Ronald Reagan, Nigel Farage and every "Libertarian" or Euroskeptic.
Never is the enemy other than the liberal democratic state enforcing silly regulation.
The State supported silliness include Mitigation of Climate Change, Extreme Concentration of Wealth without state controls destroys the beloved capitalism, Poisoning air, water and soil with industrial and other waste which kills all living things including citizens is not sustainable, Corporations need be taxed to at least offset their drain on society's resources, State sanctioned violence must be seen to have justification, Employees must be allowed some protections against employers, without which violent revolt is inevitable and other bizarre notions.
This book is quite serviceable propaganda for the critical thinking impaired.
Another YouTube stepaway earned. This next made possible by Owen James -When I Stand, Stephen Woodford, Ember Green, Kady2.0, Matriarchetype, Dark Brandon, V Birchwood, Bitchuation Room, Raw News and Politics, I've Had It, The Enemy from Within, Clouds and Sky, Ben and Emily, Munecat, Mrs Betty Bowers, Jean's Thoughts,
Barry's Economics, The Welsh Viking, tale Foundry, Candlelit Tales, Words in Time, Dominic Noble, JimmyTheGiant, The Great War, Canadian WW2 Tales, Battlefield Ambience, Irish Pagan School, History with Kayleigh, Octopus Lady, Chem Thug, External ExtinctZoo, Science Fiction with Damien Walter, Feral Historian,
The Resistance, Owen Jones, Novara Media,v Democratic Penguins Republic, Baltic Defence Review, The Caspian Report, Kyiv Independent, Ukraine Calling, Queen Penguin, Underthedesknews, Valhalla Drums, War and Politics 24, Kozak Muzon, The Kavernacle, No Justice, Raw America, The Dangerous Ones, Tom Nicholas,
Verilybitchie, Dungeons and Discourse, Deerstalker Pictures, Players Aid, Grungeon Master, David Reddish Show, Bryn's Bookshelf Jen the Librarian, Council of Geeks, Willow Talks Books, Graham Norton Show, StanziPotenza, The Discriminating Gamer, Canadian WW2 Tales, MiniAtures Wars, Mediaeval Wargamer, Kath Clarke.
I started visiting YouTube for science fiction recommendations about three years or so past. I found those and all manner of interest area channels. I on accident discovered Lindsay Ellis 😍, then the BooKTube. 😍 These channels host varied reader communities who enjoy all aspects of the bookish world. I promise that these are environments different to that of Goodreads.
Consider treating this as a hostile site. 🤔
Goodreads discourse does not exist. As example, three years or so past, I wrote a short negative review of Powers of the Earth originally blurbed as similar to a Heinlein classic. It is instead, a poorly written rehash of "Atlas Shrugged" set on the Moon by Travis Corcoran.
Travis self-described as Libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without millions), employee of an unnamed US agency,
vocal advocate for a return of chattel slavery (popular US position with new forced labour prisons for the now criminalised unhoused, poor van, those living in autos and their families. With no pathway to release from these privately owned prisons and given US history, generational enslavement is definitely on the cards.
With the disturbing line item of industrial furnaces to dispose of biologicals, Nazi population reduction processes seem indicated. There have been no concern shown by either Party, Lefties or media. Starmer may even adopt the US model in his worship of all things American.)
US veteran, admirer of Putin's Russia (unsurprising popular stance embraced by a compromised Head of State, a Russian asset as Intelligence Chief, tens of million US citizens entranced by that culture's effortless cruelty and barbarity with hopes of restoring US historical superiority in that area.)
The story i s that of the heroic struggle of a rich twat enlisting the military in overthrow of a US government in order that he not pay taxes.
A communist found that book and the many similar to carried in the Unlimited library to be unhealthy, dangerous and now prophetic.
Travis and six fellow patriots were outraged by my seeming defence of their democratic capitalist system. There followed a year long stream demanding my response to unhinged comments.
No mention of the book was made, though I was gifted analysis of my various personal flaws, from narcissism evidenced by failure to engage to deficiency of intelligence as well as tutelage in correct historical understanding, western philosophy, literary criticism and other.
Humbled by such generosity, I greedily hoped for clarification of the Many Worlds interpretation of Quantum Physics. It was not forthcoming but I was left comforting layers of irony.
Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr delivered the final comment. After referencing the contents of my last message exchange with a Goodreads friend, he declared that They had "won" (?).
I discovered that They and many allies had launched a year-long campaign of racist, ableist, anti-LGBTQ and similar comments to apparently every channel which I listed and it continues still.
They failed to impress the midteen boater and her mother, astrophysicist, botanist, culture critic or many other female creators.
Despite that failure, They did deliver a wonderful, self-portrait of the Snowflake (poorly educated, desperate, attention seeking American tittie-baby) to a multinational audience and increased the global overabundance of unpleasantness.
On balance quite the Victory. Should the above cause the least discomfort, there are BookTubers to recommend saner, safer, true reader forums. Please do not use my thoughts as a Marxist primer.
This last courtesy of YouTube - Doctor Who\Never Never Cruel or Cowardly, Peter Stefanovic, Brittany Page, Claus Kellerman POV, Second Thought, Sarah Millican, Philosophy Tube, Vlad Vexler, Owen Jones, Some More News, Verilybitchie, Rina Sawayama, Fabienne, Linguoer Mechanic, Anne Applebaum, Renegade Cut, Kazachka,
TheFerkala -Dybbol, Fiona Hill, Think Ukraine, Cover in French, Joe Blogs, Dr Steve Keen, Ukraine Today, Silicon Curtain, Tanya Fiona, Kopke613, Charge of the Australian Light Horse, Heather Cox Richardson, PsPunks, Middle East Eye, Interesting Times, Leena Norms, Very Casual Librarian, Gamer's Nexus, Table Top Times,
Mediaeval Wargamer, Captured in Words, Door Monster, Emilie's Literary Corner,
Book Nook Corner, Candlelit Tales, CriminOlly, Tom Ayling, Kat Abughazaleh, Some More News, YuGopnik, The Untold Past, Central Crossing, Solo Second Half, Clouds and Sky, Megalithhunter, Gutsick Gibbon, Mrs Betty Bowers, Atun Shei Films,
Luke Sherlock, Warship Designs, Kathy's Flog from France, Caelan Conrad, Munecat, Amanda and Shaye, Pinsent Tailoring, Maksy Abugu, Parkrose Permaculture, Global Views with Josh, Guard the Leaf, The Resistance, North of MAGA, Loren Piretra Show, Bitchuation Room, War and Politics 24, White Stork, Tank Museum, Rev Karla,
Unlearning Economics, Jake Broe, Professor Gerdes Explains, Institute of Art and Ideas, KernowDamo, Benn Jordan, Benjamin Laird, Large Man Abroad, Gary's Economics, France 24, Danish News English, Refashioned Hippie, Dark Side of Russia, Dark Brandon, Lena Down Under, Honest Government Ads, Mr Newberger's AI Funnies.
Ominous music begins. 🙂 The comment gang is built into Goodreads not an aberration. Their activities include the stalking, doxxing, hacking, threats and other. Amazon do not discipline deranged members, punish writers who encourage Them or dismiss employees who enable Them.
My limited message history was given over to these thugs. It allowed a request of Australian Security by Pine Gap Centre to interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. The attempt at my personal information failed.
Amazon only became concerned after we shared our experience widely. No apology or other, just my page format and options returned to normal, all Lurkers whom I'd not been Allowed to remove were disappeared, periodic bricking of my Kindle ended and the rest.
A BookTuber had a review addressing problematic portrayals labelled "Hate Speech" and removed. She also after received her first Goodreads comment that she "should die".
Another had access to her cloud library blocked and Kindle internet connectivity blocked for her temerity in challenging an obvious Amazon double billing.
A seventh ex-employee, who had been the Chief of Global Security or some such was sentenced for harassment of a couple whose small ecommerce site had been deemed unkind to EBay. They were awarded millions by a British court. At present a US court ruling might have been different.
I suggest precautions. Remove all personal information and avoid the messaging. Remove lurkers, those who never post. They are likely monitors for gangs or employee dummies.
With Amazon's penchant for Alteration of customer pages, the screenshot of the odd, ugly and threatening are invaluable. For Goodreads these may suffice.
Kindle are a different matter. Do Not Use Kindle Files, Contacts, Email or Calendar. Amazon Sign Into customer emails without notice or permission. Make of that what you will.
Do Not "purchase" Amazon ebooks. You own only your device and if Kindle, that is conditional. If purchased, download all titles immediately. There are BookTubers to direct a reader to other ebook and tablet vendors or alternatives to ebooks altogether.
Silk searches should be innocuous and non-critical.
The above cost nothing to implement, to not may do. It might be prudent to remember that these animals (members and employees alike) are devoid of morality, have never discovered introspection but are proud US patriots and all that implies. Ominous music ends. 🙂
Be safe and may we all enjoy Good Reading! 🤗
Some of my favourite YouTube channels.
Bobbing Along. Betty on a Boat, Narrowboat Pirate, Lily Simpson, Tulia, Karolina Zebrowska, Eleanor Morton, The Mindful Narrowboat, Natalia Tsarikova, The Onion, SNL UK, Cappy Army, Wes O'Donnell, Jack Edwards,
TimeGhost Army, Joe Blogs, Lady of the Library, Enby Reads, Books and Lala, Bobbing Along, Sort of Interesting, Invicta, Second Thought, The Juice Media, Kings and Generals, Engineering with Rosie, Cruising the Cut, The Great War, Prime of Midlife, World War Two, Renegade Cut, Cruising Crafts, SciFi Odyssey,
Honest Ads, The Paranormal Scholar, Ask a Mortician, The Irish Reader, Vlad Vexler, Brittany the Bibliophile, Neringa Rekaslute, Maiorianus, Double Down News, What Vivi did next, France 24, Alice Cappelle, Alizee, Fundie Fridays, Dreamloop Cinema, Mark R Largent, AuroraTrek, Kat Blacque, Cosy Creative, Dust, Omeleto,
Jessica Gagnon, The Welsh Viking, Lady knight the Brave, Sarah Z, Books with Chloe, Patrick is a Navajo, Three Arrows, Violet Orlandi, Between the Lines, Cover in French, We're in Hell, Make Better Media, Perun, The Templin Institute, Space 1899,
Lilly's life, I'm Rosa, Lily Alexandre, Jake Broe, Dead Good Books, Maggie Mae.Fish,
Adult Wednesday Addams - 2 seasons, Boat Time, Camper Vibe, Travelling K, The Snake Charmer, Chloe Stafler, Abbie Emmons, Noelle Gallagher, It's Black Friday, Three Arrows, Daily Soak, Forgotten Fleet, Offizier Amira, Hello Future Me,
Casual Navigation, With Olivia, The Stitchery, Historical Fashion, The European, A Cup of Nicole, Swell Entertainment, Knowing Better, Jessie Gender, Eleanor Morton, A Life of Lit, Morgan Donner,, Diane Callahan Quotidian Writer, No Justice, AllShorts, The Historian's Craft, The Library Ladder, The Leftist Cooks.
I wish you a gentle morning, a lazy afternoon, an evening with friends, a splendid night and may we all continue learning.
Courage Need only two supports, Hope and Will.
Principles, Dark Sisters
June 16, 2017
I wound up reading this in one day. It is a unique story with a well-crafted plot and sub-plots. The character arcs are compelling without being wasteful. The technology was enough to satisfy my inner geek without overshadowing the story. I was also happy this didn't devolve into a military story, which so many do. I learned just enough about the characters to develop empathy for them.
This was an excellent read, and the second book by this author that I have read. I have no hesitation recommending it.
This was an excellent read, and the second book by this author that I have read. I have no hesitation recommending it.
Read
September 12, 2022Could Not Finish. Rating: minus 5
I wanted to refer you to another reviewer but as usual, my ability to see them is blocked. This has happened to more than half of my rated science fiction books. All my commenters on reviews have their id's masked, except for that of Powers after I began adding that fact to my reviews.
It seems that writing a negative review of a "sorry libertarian rant" bothers Amazon/Goodreads but pro slavery comments do not. Goodreads is an odd site. I start to believe that being a communist might be frowned upon. It's just a thought.
Before going further, please read my reviews of either "Dark Horse", a good story by Diener or Powers of the Earth (a sorry libertarian rant) and the comments of a Claes Rees, Jr/cgr710 (a self-identified NeoNazi).
Claes Rees, Jr/cgr710
Don't be a numpty, be a smarty. Come and join the Communist Party.
GLORY TO UKRAINE. !!!!
The details are as follows. A planet lies between the orbits of Earth and Venus undetected and with no perturbation to that of either planet. No gravitational anomalies or influence is detected by a legion of astrophysicists?
A shell of sorts covers an interior that includes fresh water, energy source unknown. The shell is so fragile that a careless footfall causes sections to collapse? The field around this planet deflects light but vegetation can use photosynthesis and an oxygen almosphere exists? Instead of total darkness, the visitors experience night and day cycles? The fauna necessary to support plant life exists how????, where?????
The understandings of state power and economic power are also misunderstood. An evil genius has as his sole aim to destroy humanity for Reasons. He may be an eco-nut but who knows. He can assume power through a ridiculous and obscure UN? agency.
This villain is worried that a scientist will expose his scheme to whom? What news agency has the freedom to distribute this damning evidence? Nation states have all bent to the will of this nutter whose vigilantes (?) exert control over the entire population? He is the dictator of the world, not an elected head of state.
Why not just kill all potential whistleblowers, instead of his brilliant plan to send several thousands of them to a luxury, self-sufficient space station in Venusian orbit? Lastly what power could this scandal have? The people of earth will vote him out of office? The militaries of earth will suddenly remove him on orders of the essentially defunct national governments?
This book doesn't require or merit any literary analysis because the world building is a silly construction of plot hole, contrivance and contradiction. Against that setting can any meaningful interactions really exist? This is Low Effort, low end science fiction common to US fiction at its best.
I am not sure if he wrote this as a silly children's adventure or as profitable mockery of a thoughtless, audience deficient in critical thinking as applied to their society, its structures, power centers and lacking familiarity with the basics of physics and the other sciences. I had to put this book aside very early in.
Between books like these and my personal experience of Amazon/Goodreads,, I have over the last two years begun watching my science fiction rather than reading it. Netflix isn't the only service with science fiction but it has the largest collection and it is multinational for the more cosmopolitan fan of the genre. The quality of storytelling is generally much better than the Low Effort print product.
I stumbled onto Curiosity Stream/Nebula though YouTube educational content creators. At a cost of $15 USD for a yearly subscription, it feels a great bargain to me. YouTube carries science fiction shorts, book tubes, music and my current and newly discovered interests. It has been wonderful to discover a community of serious readers who are excited by the bibliophilic atmosphere. I recommend a look at book channels (some of which I've listed below), if Goodreads seems skeevy to you. Some of my favorite channels are.
Chugging Along, Ozillo News, Some More News, Tara Mooknee, Munecat, Novara Media, Tom Nicholas, Cover in French, Prime of Midlife, Beautifully Bookish Bethany, Tulia, Then and Now, The Shades of Orange, Philosophy Tube, Eleanor Morton, Sarah Z, Jessie Gender, The Juice Media, Richard Wolff, Spacedock, With Olivia, Swell Entertainment, Sabine Hossenfelder, Yanis Varoufakis, France 24, Alice Cappelle, Alize, Jessica Gagnon, Double Down News, The Armchair Historian, The Narrowboat Pirate, Patrick is a Navajo, Cruising Alba, Caucasian Sword Dance, Lilly's expat life, Steampunk, Ancient Americas, Hello Future Me, Cruising Crafts, Lady of the Library, Holly the Cafe Boat, Tech Space, Books and Lala, Camper Vibe, Enby Reads, Austin McConnell, Digital Engine, Kelly loves Physics and History, Rowan J Coleman, Noah Sampson, Real Engineering, Euronews, Big Joel, Beau of the Fifth Column, Tibees, Book Odyssey, MWG Studios, DUST, The Templin Institute, Make Better Media, Dr Becky, Books with Emily Fox, History Line, Three Arrows, Between the Wars, Karolina Zebrowska, The Great War, Lady knight the Brave, Jill Bearup, Noelle Gallagher, Abbie Emmons, Celtica, The Irish Reader, A Clockwork Reader, Kings and Generals, The History of the Universe, Adult Wednesday Addams, Olly Richards, The Infographics Show, Ana Psychology, A Life of Lit, Emmie, Prime of Midlife, Renegade Cut, Cruising the Cut, Camper Vibe, What Vivi did next, Maximillien Robespierre, We're in Hell, World of Antiquity, World War Two, Neringa Rekaslute, The Gravel Institute, Crux, Physics Girl, Odyssey, 2 Steps from Hell, History Scope, The Perimeter Institute, UA Courage, Armored Archives, Venom Geek Media, Ben and Emily, Overly Sarcastic Productions, May Moon Narrowboat, Boat Time, Kathy's Flog in France, Art by Annamarie, May Moon Narrowboat, DUST.
I wish you a sunny morning, a breezy afternoon, a cozy evening and a wonderful night.
Hope is a great equalizer.
Mannerheim, The Winter War
I wanted to refer you to another reviewer but as usual, my ability to see them is blocked. This has happened to more than half of my rated science fiction books. All my commenters on reviews have their id's masked, except for that of Powers after I began adding that fact to my reviews.
It seems that writing a negative review of a "sorry libertarian rant" bothers Amazon/Goodreads but pro slavery comments do not. Goodreads is an odd site. I start to believe that being a communist might be frowned upon. It's just a thought.
Before going further, please read my reviews of either "Dark Horse", a good story by Diener or Powers of the Earth (a sorry libertarian rant) and the comments of a Claes Rees, Jr/cgr710 (a self-identified NeoNazi).
Claes Rees, Jr/cgr710
Don't be a numpty, be a smarty. Come and join the Communist Party.
GLORY TO UKRAINE. !!!!
The details are as follows. A planet lies between the orbits of Earth and Venus undetected and with no perturbation to that of either planet. No gravitational anomalies or influence is detected by a legion of astrophysicists?
A shell of sorts covers an interior that includes fresh water, energy source unknown. The shell is so fragile that a careless footfall causes sections to collapse? The field around this planet deflects light but vegetation can use photosynthesis and an oxygen almosphere exists? Instead of total darkness, the visitors experience night and day cycles? The fauna necessary to support plant life exists how????, where?????
The understandings of state power and economic power are also misunderstood. An evil genius has as his sole aim to destroy humanity for Reasons. He may be an eco-nut but who knows. He can assume power through a ridiculous and obscure UN? agency.
This villain is worried that a scientist will expose his scheme to whom? What news agency has the freedom to distribute this damning evidence? Nation states have all bent to the will of this nutter whose vigilantes (?) exert control over the entire population? He is the dictator of the world, not an elected head of state.
Why not just kill all potential whistleblowers, instead of his brilliant plan to send several thousands of them to a luxury, self-sufficient space station in Venusian orbit? Lastly what power could this scandal have? The people of earth will vote him out of office? The militaries of earth will suddenly remove him on orders of the essentially defunct national governments?
This book doesn't require or merit any literary analysis because the world building is a silly construction of plot hole, contrivance and contradiction. Against that setting can any meaningful interactions really exist? This is Low Effort, low end science fiction common to US fiction at its best.
I am not sure if he wrote this as a silly children's adventure or as profitable mockery of a thoughtless, audience deficient in critical thinking as applied to their society, its structures, power centers and lacking familiarity with the basics of physics and the other sciences. I had to put this book aside very early in.
Between books like these and my personal experience of Amazon/Goodreads,, I have over the last two years begun watching my science fiction rather than reading it. Netflix isn't the only service with science fiction but it has the largest collection and it is multinational for the more cosmopolitan fan of the genre. The quality of storytelling is generally much better than the Low Effort print product.
I stumbled onto Curiosity Stream/Nebula though YouTube educational content creators. At a cost of $15 USD for a yearly subscription, it feels a great bargain to me. YouTube carries science fiction shorts, book tubes, music and my current and newly discovered interests. It has been wonderful to discover a community of serious readers who are excited by the bibliophilic atmosphere. I recommend a look at book channels (some of which I've listed below), if Goodreads seems skeevy to you. Some of my favorite channels are.
Chugging Along, Ozillo News, Some More News, Tara Mooknee, Munecat, Novara Media, Tom Nicholas, Cover in French, Prime of Midlife, Beautifully Bookish Bethany, Tulia, Then and Now, The Shades of Orange, Philosophy Tube, Eleanor Morton, Sarah Z, Jessie Gender, The Juice Media, Richard Wolff, Spacedock, With Olivia, Swell Entertainment, Sabine Hossenfelder, Yanis Varoufakis, France 24, Alice Cappelle, Alize, Jessica Gagnon, Double Down News, The Armchair Historian, The Narrowboat Pirate, Patrick is a Navajo, Cruising Alba, Caucasian Sword Dance, Lilly's expat life, Steampunk, Ancient Americas, Hello Future Me, Cruising Crafts, Lady of the Library, Holly the Cafe Boat, Tech Space, Books and Lala, Camper Vibe, Enby Reads, Austin McConnell, Digital Engine, Kelly loves Physics and History, Rowan J Coleman, Noah Sampson, Real Engineering, Euronews, Big Joel, Beau of the Fifth Column, Tibees, Book Odyssey, MWG Studios, DUST, The Templin Institute, Make Better Media, Dr Becky, Books with Emily Fox, History Line, Three Arrows, Between the Wars, Karolina Zebrowska, The Great War, Lady knight the Brave, Jill Bearup, Noelle Gallagher, Abbie Emmons, Celtica, The Irish Reader, A Clockwork Reader, Kings and Generals, The History of the Universe, Adult Wednesday Addams, Olly Richards, The Infographics Show, Ana Psychology, A Life of Lit, Emmie, Prime of Midlife, Renegade Cut, Cruising the Cut, Camper Vibe, What Vivi did next, Maximillien Robespierre, We're in Hell, World of Antiquity, World War Two, Neringa Rekaslute, The Gravel Institute, Crux, Physics Girl, Odyssey, 2 Steps from Hell, History Scope, The Perimeter Institute, UA Courage, Armored Archives, Venom Geek Media, Ben and Emily, Overly Sarcastic Productions, May Moon Narrowboat, Boat Time, Kathy's Flog in France, Art by Annamarie, May Moon Narrowboat, DUST.
I wish you a sunny morning, a breezy afternoon, a cozy evening and a wonderful night.
Hope is a great equalizer.
Mannerheim, The Winter War
December 17, 2022
After an evening of reading and not enjoying it, I checked Goodreads to see if I should DNF it. The plot seemed like it very much should have work for me (spaceship crashes on an empty planet, the five people need to somehow survive), so I stuck with it to nearly the halfway point. The author endlessly info dumped (I skipped So Many Pages of information about this or that) and instead of being a story about surviving on the planet, it was building up all sorts of political mysteries I couldn't care less about. Wish I had DNFed it after that first night of reading.
September 6, 2017
This is the story of Ivy ‘Holly’ Wood, a woman who acts as a sort of servant on board ‘Karriers’. Karriers are these massive ships that move between the different planets moving people and cargo about. The people stay in these little pods called Landers that are attached to the Karriers, each Lander is basically like a luxury hotel room.
Holly is actually a bit of a legend in the space world, having been one of the first to travel, and now, having the most amount of distance ever travelled her belt, tied of course with her one of her best friends and companion Grav, who has been around just as long she has. There is also another onboard helper called Dante.
In one of the Landers are some fairly famous people who are known for their work on the ships and engineering etc, and well known to the crew, Rusev and Yury who is a legend and is also known as the ‘Spaceman’ he is such a hero. In one of the other Landers is Holly’s Passengers, a family.
Part way through what is meant to be a standard mission, everything is going along fine apart from Holly having some suspicions about the family she is looking after, when suddenly, the ship is forced to make a crash landing on a planet that mysteriously appears between Earth and Venus.
The story is set in the somewhere future, things have not gone well for most of humanity, lack of everything, and the Earth is basically being monopolised by a man called Roger Morrison, who on the surface, appears to be trying to help humanity, by doing everything right, setting things up to help change the course for a better future.
This is a story with just so many twists and turns, so many subplots, and so many intrigues, that it is just an amazing read. Each of the characters is exceptionally well written, Falconer does a beautiful job of creating these wonderfully in-depth characters that are fascinating as they unfold, bringing us more detail of both themselves and the main story, creating this exhilarating tale that is just exceptional.
There are an incredible amount of plots twists to be revealed in Terradox, the story is not just an exciting Sci-Fi story, but a masterful thriller that will have you wondering right up until the very end.
There are multiple stories running through this book, the tale of Roger Morrison and his plans for the Earth. Each member of the crew has their own story, Rusev, Yury, the crew, Holly, Grav, Holly friend Dante, Holly’s Passengers, who are the only survivors of the crash of the Karrier on the mysterious planet. The amazing thing about this book is that each of these tales is all intertwined, even though they don’t realise it at the time, and tied to that of Morrison himself.
This is such a fascinating story of betrayal, friendship, love, trust, honour, courage, bravery and overall, human spirit. Falconer writes such incredible stories and you just have to read this to understand how wonderful, and how powerful this story is.
This is what I would call ‘Intelligent Sci-Fi’, there are no major battles, wars, aliens or marines laying waste, but it is a truly intelligent and remarkably well written story. Don’t miss this.
Holly is actually a bit of a legend in the space world, having been one of the first to travel, and now, having the most amount of distance ever travelled her belt, tied of course with her one of her best friends and companion Grav, who has been around just as long she has. There is also another onboard helper called Dante.
In one of the Landers are some fairly famous people who are known for their work on the ships and engineering etc, and well known to the crew, Rusev and Yury who is a legend and is also known as the ‘Spaceman’ he is such a hero. In one of the other Landers is Holly’s Passengers, a family.
Part way through what is meant to be a standard mission, everything is going along fine apart from Holly having some suspicions about the family she is looking after, when suddenly, the ship is forced to make a crash landing on a planet that mysteriously appears between Earth and Venus.
The story is set in the somewhere future, things have not gone well for most of humanity, lack of everything, and the Earth is basically being monopolised by a man called Roger Morrison, who on the surface, appears to be trying to help humanity, by doing everything right, setting things up to help change the course for a better future.
This is a story with just so many twists and turns, so many subplots, and so many intrigues, that it is just an amazing read. Each of the characters is exceptionally well written, Falconer does a beautiful job of creating these wonderfully in-depth characters that are fascinating as they unfold, bringing us more detail of both themselves and the main story, creating this exhilarating tale that is just exceptional.
There are an incredible amount of plots twists to be revealed in Terradox, the story is not just an exciting Sci-Fi story, but a masterful thriller that will have you wondering right up until the very end.
There are multiple stories running through this book, the tale of Roger Morrison and his plans for the Earth. Each member of the crew has their own story, Rusev, Yury, the crew, Holly, Grav, Holly friend Dante, Holly’s Passengers, who are the only survivors of the crash of the Karrier on the mysterious planet. The amazing thing about this book is that each of these tales is all intertwined, even though they don’t realise it at the time, and tied to that of Morrison himself.
This is such a fascinating story of betrayal, friendship, love, trust, honour, courage, bravery and overall, human spirit. Falconer writes such incredible stories and you just have to read this to understand how wonderful, and how powerful this story is.
This is what I would call ‘Intelligent Sci-Fi’, there are no major battles, wars, aliens or marines laying waste, but it is a truly intelligent and remarkably well written story. Don’t miss this.
June 20, 2018
Flawless -- SciFi as it should be
Truly flawless, this is tightly written, every base covered, thrilling, suspenseful, brilliant SciFi. Even at over 500 pages, this book left me dismayed that it was ending, because the characters become so alive you feel like you're losing touch with a group of people that are dear and vital to you. Falconer manages to totally immerse you in the action of the story, makes you feel that you are actually a member of this group of people and are part of the experience. The tech is spot on, the interweaving of character history and development is fluid, the dialogue is perfectly on cue and in character, and the action is continuous, fast, and targeted.
A transport to a station outside of Venus is making its last trip from earth with only 8 people aboard. One of them is the hugely wealthy and philanthropic owner of the whole station and the two transports attached to its service. She is brilliant woman, an innovator and inventor, who also happens to be the arch enemy of the global dictator of a starving and devastated Earth. Disasters, famine and terrorists have crippled all national governments, and Earth is now controlled by the dictator at the head of the Global Union. The transport is three days from Venus when it violently collides with an unseen object, as simultaneously a planet appears from nowhere. The transport crashes into this impossible planet.
Who survives? How? What can be salvaged? What is the connection between the 8 passengers? What is this impossible place? Flora or fauna available? Water? Can resources be found or salvaged? What do they do And how? And most crucial, does anyone leave alive? The answers to those questions and more are delivered to your utmost satisfaction by Mr. Falconer.
This book is fantastic and I can not recommend it highly enough. Action, adventure, space, suspense, edge of your seat writing, incredible characters. Get this book and read it right now. It is that good.
One side note ... the author is from Scotland. There is a funny Scotland-related joke in this book. See if you can catch it!
Truly flawless, this is tightly written, every base covered, thrilling, suspenseful, brilliant SciFi. Even at over 500 pages, this book left me dismayed that it was ending, because the characters become so alive you feel like you're losing touch with a group of people that are dear and vital to you. Falconer manages to totally immerse you in the action of the story, makes you feel that you are actually a member of this group of people and are part of the experience. The tech is spot on, the interweaving of character history and development is fluid, the dialogue is perfectly on cue and in character, and the action is continuous, fast, and targeted.
A transport to a station outside of Venus is making its last trip from earth with only 8 people aboard. One of them is the hugely wealthy and philanthropic owner of the whole station and the two transports attached to its service. She is brilliant woman, an innovator and inventor, who also happens to be the arch enemy of the global dictator of a starving and devastated Earth. Disasters, famine and terrorists have crippled all national governments, and Earth is now controlled by the dictator at the head of the Global Union. The transport is three days from Venus when it violently collides with an unseen object, as simultaneously a planet appears from nowhere. The transport crashes into this impossible planet.
Who survives? How? What can be salvaged? What is the connection between the 8 passengers? What is this impossible place? Flora or fauna available? Water? Can resources be found or salvaged? What do they do And how? And most crucial, does anyone leave alive? The answers to those questions and more are delivered to your utmost satisfaction by Mr. Falconer.
This book is fantastic and I can not recommend it highly enough. Action, adventure, space, suspense, edge of your seat writing, incredible characters. Get this book and read it right now. It is that good.
One side note ... the author is from Scotland. There is a funny Scotland-related joke in this book. See if you can catch it!
August 14, 2017
I really dug this book! It has a "Jurassic Park" meets "Rendezvous with Rama" kind of vibe to it (without quite reaching the heights of either of those books). Craig A. Falconer has a knack for writing a good mystery with decent character development and very few plot holes. There's nothing terribly fancy about his prose, but it doesn't talk down to you either. Just solid writing that constantly move the plot forward.
I would have liked a little more background on the technology employed, though. The author does briefly cover the major pieces of tech, but he doesn't delve into the breakthroughs necessary to make them possible. You just have to accept that some new ground-breaking thing is available and has been used to its fullest extent to create the present situation. It's the omission of this deeper understanding that keeps me from putting this book on my "favorites" list. I have a feeling that I'll forget all about this book a few weeks from now. I liked it while it lasted, but there's nothing "sticky" about it.
Overall this is a very good book that I'd recommend to any sci-fi nerd. I can't wait for Mr. Falconer to write more books! After I finish the "Sycamore" short stories, I think I'll have read everything he has out now.
I would have liked a little more background on the technology employed, though. The author does briefly cover the major pieces of tech, but he doesn't delve into the breakthroughs necessary to make them possible. You just have to accept that some new ground-breaking thing is available and has been used to its fullest extent to create the present situation. It's the omission of this deeper understanding that keeps me from putting this book on my "favorites" list. I have a feeling that I'll forget all about this book a few weeks from now. I liked it while it lasted, but there's nothing "sticky" about it.
Overall this is a very good book that I'd recommend to any sci-fi nerd. I can't wait for Mr. Falconer to write more books! After I finish the "Sycamore" short stories, I think I'll have read everything he has out now.
May 19, 2022
( Format : Audiobook )
"Two hundred choices and they're all algae."
An interesting S.F.adventure story, cleanly written which, though dependent on technological achievements, does not try to blind the reader with science, explaining enough without interfering with the story. Character development is sufficient if a bit fluffy and there is enough that is unexpected to lure on the reader. Some aspects felt annoyingly absent, however, like the actual how of the planet and the background situation which had put it into being, but perhaps more of this will emerge in future volumes. Meanwhile, the story remains as an enjoyable non military young person's adventure story.
Read by Dina Pearlman, this Audiobook could have been better with a different narrator. Although her pacing is good and her modulation carries vocal interest, her voice is somewhat nasal and abrasive and her character voice differentiation poor, most ending up sounding much like the main protagonist, Holly, who in turn sounds like the text itself. There are occasional exceptions, as with the young boy, Beau, but given that there is a fair amount of dialogue, this does cast a bit of a shadow over the book as a whole.
Altogether, an easy read, imaginative tale for younger audiences.
"Two hundred choices and they're all algae."
An interesting S.F.adventure story, cleanly written which, though dependent on technological achievements, does not try to blind the reader with science, explaining enough without interfering with the story. Character development is sufficient if a bit fluffy and there is enough that is unexpected to lure on the reader. Some aspects felt annoyingly absent, however, like the actual how of the planet and the background situation which had put it into being, but perhaps more of this will emerge in future volumes. Meanwhile, the story remains as an enjoyable non military young person's adventure story.
Read by Dina Pearlman, this Audiobook could have been better with a different narrator. Although her pacing is good and her modulation carries vocal interest, her voice is somewhat nasal and abrasive and her character voice differentiation poor, most ending up sounding much like the main protagonist, Holly, who in turn sounds like the text itself. There are occasional exceptions, as with the young boy, Beau, but given that there is a fair amount of dialogue, this does cast a bit of a shadow over the book as a whole.
Altogether, an easy read, imaginative tale for younger audiences.
July 28, 2017
This review applies to the Audible audiobook.
Meh. That pretty much sums it up for me.
I have rarely written a review but this book made me want to write one. I'll start off by saying that I liked Not Alone. I never got into this book though. The author constantly used compound complex sentences and after a while I found it exhausting to listen to. I felt like every other sentence had details that weren't necessary to tell the story. The narrator was OK but she didn't seem to put much inflection into the reading. Finally there was a constant echo in the file.
It wasn't a terrible story, but it wasn't great either. It was one of the few books where by the end I felt like I just needed to get through it.
Meh. That pretty much sums it up for me.
I have rarely written a review but this book made me want to write one. I'll start off by saying that I liked Not Alone. I never got into this book though. The author constantly used compound complex sentences and after a while I found it exhausting to listen to. I felt like every other sentence had details that weren't necessary to tell the story. The narrator was OK but she didn't seem to put much inflection into the reading. Finally there was a constant echo in the file.
It wasn't a terrible story, but it wasn't great either. It was one of the few books where by the end I felt like I just needed to get through it.
December 7, 2018
This story had a somewhat unique premise and it did well explaining it. I enjoyed finding out more about the planet they landed on and why it was there. The main characters were fairly well developed (Holly, Viola, and Grav), and there were a few minor twists I didn't initially see coming. For the most part, the story was intriguing and made me want to keep listening. The main villain of the story is completely one dimensional though and the back story and world building are a bit weak. The narration wasn't very good (she had very strange inflection for a lot of the words). Overall I am glad I listened to it and look forward to checking out the rest of the series.
NOTE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
NOTE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2017
Enough has been said about the story and the characters, so I won't take up your time with all that. I found this book an "onion." That means you have to peel away the story layer by layer and the next one doesn't always take you where you thought it would. There always seems to be something new to be discovered, both in the locations, the technology, and the characters.
I've already cast the main characters (Sigourney Weaver as Holly, for example) so when the movie is made, and I surely hope it will be, the producers just have to contact me.
Some have commented that this should be a YA story, but at 83 I guess I'm just young at heart. I loved the story and I hope you will, too.
I've already cast the main characters (Sigourney Weaver as Holly, for example) so when the movie is made, and I surely hope it will be, the producers just have to contact me.
Some have commented that this should be a YA story, but at 83 I guess I'm just young at heart. I loved the story and I hope you will, too.
February 16, 2023
Excellent
Did I read this book twice? When I attempt to buy a book that I purchased in the past, Amazon tells me. So far I have nearly 600 sci-fi books in my kindle and when I bought this one Amazon didn't say anything. But as I got about half way through it I began having the dejavue experience. Now, I'm the kind of person that can watch a movie more than once and enjoy it like it's the first time. I haven't looked through my history yet to see if I've bought this book twice but the good news is that I enjoyed it thouroly. He's a great author so I know I'll be reading more of his books!
Did I read this book twice? When I attempt to buy a book that I purchased in the past, Amazon tells me. So far I have nearly 600 sci-fi books in my kindle and when I bought this one Amazon didn't say anything. But as I got about half way through it I began having the dejavue experience. Now, I'm the kind of person that can watch a movie more than once and enjoy it like it's the first time. I haven't looked through my history yet to see if I've bought this book twice but the good news is that I enjoyed it thouroly. He's a great author so I know I'll be reading more of his books!
June 18, 2017
Cute space story with happy ending
Huge troubles on earth, created just to create a one world govt, with its own backup plan. But the crash landed heros saved the day! And Earth. As Venus Station. And themselves! Only the bad guys got it, in the end. All in a few days of well planned news releases. Would that life were so easy! BUT for being a bit longish, this 'chapter book' would be terrific for young teens or older children to read together, with plenty of open discussion. It's a good cautionary tale.
Huge troubles on earth, created just to create a one world govt, with its own backup plan. But the crash landed heros saved the day! And Earth. As Venus Station. And themselves! Only the bad guys got it, in the end. All in a few days of well planned news releases. Would that life were so easy! BUT for being a bit longish, this 'chapter book' would be terrific for young teens or older children to read together, with plenty of open discussion. It's a good cautionary tale.
January 1, 2018
loved it as much the second read through
I snatched up the sequel as soon as it was available, but decided to refresh my mind by skimming thorough this one first. Instead of a skim, I re-read it. The plot is interesting, sadly conceivable, and it unfolds at a steady pace. The environment he created is fascinating, the characters fleshed and unique, and the ending so satisfying, I can't wait to start The Fall of Terradox. If you haven't yet read Not Alone, you are in for a treat.I'm very happy Falconer has a sequel in the works.
I snatched up the sequel as soon as it was available, but decided to refresh my mind by skimming thorough this one first. Instead of a skim, I re-read it. The plot is interesting, sadly conceivable, and it unfolds at a steady pace. The environment he created is fascinating, the characters fleshed and unique, and the ending so satisfying, I can't wait to start The Fall of Terradox. If you haven't yet read Not Alone, you are in for a treat.I'm very happy Falconer has a sequel in the works.
April 12, 2018
Its an odd little adventure book this which reads like YA, but is about a 40 year old astronaut so probably isn't. Perhaps it is more akin to Jules Verne, wherein something impossible happens (spacecraft lands on a hidden planet between Earth and Venus) and then they proceed to treat the situation with all the scientific gravity they should whilst missing out the core science that would identify the impossibility of their situation. A little bit of conspiracy theory and handwavium goes a long long way.
September 25, 2018
A good story that turns bland over time (especially in the last half end).
Found the initial start and plot of the book to be both original and interesting. It looked like it was going in a good direction, but things just fizzled out by the end.
Characters got old and the plot got more and more mundane. If there was more of a focus on Terradox itself, things could have been a whole lot better. As opposed to the story solely revolving around the characters and the weird character/political plots that evolved.
Found the initial start and plot of the book to be both original and interesting. It looked like it was going in a good direction, but things just fizzled out by the end.
Characters got old and the plot got more and more mundane. If there was more of a focus on Terradox itself, things could have been a whole lot better. As opposed to the story solely revolving around the characters and the weird character/political plots that evolved.
October 19, 2018
Good old fashioned sci-fi!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it reminded me of the sci-fi books I read in my teens 40 yrs ago!
It is an exciting story with all the elements needed to make it a good story. Holly is escorting passengers to the Venus station when their spacecraft, which is also carrying essential supplies, crashes onto a planet that shouldn't be there.
She soon realises that there is a traitor on board & that the crash is no accident. She has to protect her passengers, work with the others to try to find a way off & find out who the traitor is.
Just a fab read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it reminded me of the sci-fi books I read in my teens 40 yrs ago!
It is an exciting story with all the elements needed to make it a good story. Holly is escorting passengers to the Venus station when their spacecraft, which is also carrying essential supplies, crashes onto a planet that shouldn't be there.
She soon realises that there is a traitor on board & that the crash is no accident. She has to protect her passengers, work with the others to try to find a way off & find out who the traitor is.
Just a fab read.
May 6, 2017
Reminiscent of Heinlein
This book may have borrowed heavily from other sci-fi and post-apocalyptic/dystopian ideas, but it was far from stale. The prose is solid, the characters well developed and multi-dimensional. It has a mystery element to it but fortunately the mystery wasn't central to the novel since most true sci-fi fans will have it fleshed out very early on.
I've enjoyed Falconer's other works as well, but this one was probably my favorite to date.
This book may have borrowed heavily from other sci-fi and post-apocalyptic/dystopian ideas, but it was far from stale. The prose is solid, the characters well developed and multi-dimensional. It has a mystery element to it but fortunately the mystery wasn't central to the novel since most true sci-fi fans will have it fleshed out very early on.
I've enjoyed Falconer's other works as well, but this one was probably my favorite to date.
May 11, 2017
Unexpected and thrilling
Picked this up to kill a few hours, and I ended up reading the whole thing in a day. I read 'Not Alone' a few weeks before and really enjoyed it, but I think Terradox is a superior novel. The characters are lovable and the story moves quickly. I really recommend picking this up, great story by a talented author. I hope to see more from Falconer in the future.
Picked this up to kill a few hours, and I ended up reading the whole thing in a day. I read 'Not Alone' a few weeks before and really enjoyed it, but I think Terradox is a superior novel. The characters are lovable and the story moves quickly. I really recommend picking this up, great story by a talented author. I hope to see more from Falconer in the future.
June 6, 2017
Good Read
Entertaining story. Different from what I usually read, but I enjoyed it. On a trip to a space station orbiting Venus the three crew members and five passengers crash on a planet between earth and Venus. They discover a plan to do a reset on earth, to destroy every living human, then repopulate it with the select, chosen ones that wait out the destruction on a planet that can't possibly be there.
Entertaining story. Different from what I usually read, but I enjoyed it. On a trip to a space station orbiting Venus the three crew members and five passengers crash on a planet between earth and Venus. They discover a plan to do a reset on earth, to destroy every living human, then repopulate it with the select, chosen ones that wait out the destruction on a planet that can't possibly be there.
June 9, 2017
This was an enjoyable read. I had a tough time putting it down as I kept wondering what the enigma was about the strange planet they had crashed on. Well written with good character development. Interesting concept of the "hidden" villain. I read a lot of Sci Fi and when first delving into this book I thought there was going to be a whole different story line. I also wondered if Holly's plant was going to come into play. Regardless, the story line kept me turning the pages. Good job!!
August 19, 2020
Couple of plot holes I thought but entertaining
Had this in my que for a long time and finally got around to reading it. Falconer has a smooth and easy writing style and kept things interesting with some twists and suspense. Primary issue is I thought there were some plot holes around a destruct method and the fact they had access to Landers sealed to space. Also thought a certain traitor telegraphed who they were a little to clearly to not have been noticed.
Had this in my que for a long time and finally got around to reading it. Falconer has a smooth and easy writing style and kept things interesting with some twists and suspense. Primary issue is I thought there were some plot holes around a destruct method and the fact they had access to Landers sealed to space. Also thought a certain traitor telegraphed who they were a little to clearly to not have been noticed.
October 20, 2020
A peek into our future?
There are so many instances in this book where you can actually see the beginnings in reality today that would/could become our future reality as described here.
We do have meglomaniacs alive today that talk of a One World Order. I can definitely see them scheming for an outcome that so closely comes to be in this thoughtful book.
This book will have you pausing, as I am doing, and paying more attention.
There are so many instances in this book where you can actually see the beginnings in reality today that would/could become our future reality as described here.
We do have meglomaniacs alive today that talk of a One World Order. I can definitely see them scheming for an outcome that so closely comes to be in this thoughtful book.
This book will have you pausing, as I am doing, and paying more attention.
May 22, 2017
While not a fast action book, the story is a good one and the characters well developed and interesting. The author is a master wordcrafter with a vivid imagination. The addition of the children into the mix of strong adults is a good touch.
I enjoyed this book and recommend it to all readers.
I enjoyed this book and recommend it to all readers.
May 31, 2017
Terradox delivers a fun, engaging space adventure
I enjoyed the book, particularly the early preparation, travel and exploration. I thought it bogged down when it went into philosophical areas, especially near the end. It closed with too much exposition and not enough action, leaving me with a vague sense of being let down. Still, I'll look for more by Mr. Falconer.
I enjoyed the book, particularly the early preparation, travel and exploration. I thought it bogged down when it went into philosophical areas, especially near the end. It closed with too much exposition and not enough action, leaving me with a vague sense of being let down. Still, I'll look for more by Mr. Falconer.
July 10, 2017
The story has a good premise, however I think this book should be listed as an young adult novel. I stuck with it, but won't be continuing on with the series.
There seems to be some kind of effect on the narrator's voice and it is fairly grating, not something you get used too. Noticed it throughout the entire book.
There seems to be some kind of effect on the narrator's voice and it is fairly grating, not something you get used too. Noticed it throughout the entire book.
July 19, 2017
Truly Creative and a really great book!
I do not recommend many books but this one is fabulous, if you like sci fi thrillers. It has everything from soup to nuts..truly. Good guys come thru eventually but what happens between is a fast moving thrill! I loved the book, the characters and the concepts!
I do not recommend many books but this one is fabulous, if you like sci fi thrillers. It has everything from soup to nuts..truly. Good guys come thru eventually but what happens between is a fast moving thrill! I loved the book, the characters and the concepts!
October 11, 2017
Decent hard scifi adventure with plenty of characters, plot twists and political machinations. Well written as well though the setting is unlike anything many readers will have encountered before. I think a bit more exposition like that in Ringworld, an exhaustive description of the environment, would enhance this story greatly.
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