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The Arkship Saga #0.5
Arkship Countdown
The backstory on Arkship Obsidian.
Earth has been destroyed, the entire solar system turned to dust by a cataclysmic event known as the Fracture. Now, the last survivors of humanity live on vast arkships drifting through the Cluster, doing what they can to survive in a hostile ever-changing environment.
Life on board the Ark Royal Obsidian is a quiet routine for Chief of the engine deck, Bran Colmen. That is until his family is kidnapped and he is forced to steal secrets about the vast arkship's engines by a covert intruder. As time runs out, Colmen finds himself trapped between saving his family and averting a war that could kill thousands.
Earth has been destroyed, the entire solar system turned to dust by a cataclysmic event known as the Fracture. Now, the last survivors of humanity live on vast arkships drifting through the Cluster, doing what they can to survive in a hostile ever-changing environment.
Life on board the Ark Royal Obsidian is a quiet routine for Chief of the engine deck, Bran Colmen. That is until his family is kidnapped and he is forced to steal secrets about the vast arkship's engines by a covert intruder. As time runs out, Colmen finds himself trapped between saving his family and averting a war that could kill thousands.
- GenresScience FictionEbooks
33 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2017
1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Niel Bushnell
25 books36 followersNiel Bushnell is an award-winning science-fiction and fantasy author based in the north-east of England.
An accomplished artist and animator, Niel has worked in the creative sector for over twenty years, across film, TV, online, games, advertising and publishing.
He is the author of the Arkship Saga, a science-fiction series set in the distant future after the Earth has been destroyed along with the rest of the solar system in a cataclysmic event known as the Fracture. He is also the author of two time-travel children's books called Sorrowline and Timesmith, and a Young-Adult novel called Altitude.
An accomplished artist and animator, Niel has worked in the creative sector for over twenty years, across film, TV, online, games, advertising and publishing.
He is the author of the Arkship Saga, a science-fiction series set in the distant future after the Earth has been destroyed along with the rest of the solar system in a cataclysmic event known as the Fracture. He is also the author of two time-travel children's books called Sorrowline and Timesmith, and a Young-Adult novel called Altitude.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 21, 2017
Arkship Countdown runs a little bit like an extended movie trailer. It’s a half-novella length piece designed to introduce the reader to a concept portrayed in much greater proportions elsewhere, i.e. a dramatic intro in functional style to draw you into exploring a full series with lots more detail and presumably dipping into more of these sub-plots and intrigues.
The multiple Arkships are city-scale habitats in outer space which are controlled by hereditary family clans, which have to be large enough (several vessels) to deter takeover from rival clans. It seems that these habitats and characters inhabit something of a wild frontier where anything goes, commercially and socially, the winning family business takes all and there is no aegis or deference to third party law common across all of them. You can, for example, deal a drug called gravel without penalty – so options like that can be used to weaken competitors.
I think there’s a lot of mileage in the idea but, just as if you watched only one episode of a TV show without the context of the series and cultural history, it’s hard to predict how good it gets or whether you should invest time in the grander scheme. This story was alright and the characters were differentiated and, again, alright but I have to award a rating here for this short piece of fiction as a stand-alone object, which is like judging Vanity Fair when you’ve only read the prologue. Therefore, this review and rating is on this brief piece. I will read and review more of the Arkship series separately and see how the paper flower expands. For the moment, it’s too early to say.
The multiple Arkships are city-scale habitats in outer space which are controlled by hereditary family clans, which have to be large enough (several vessels) to deter takeover from rival clans. It seems that these habitats and characters inhabit something of a wild frontier where anything goes, commercially and socially, the winning family business takes all and there is no aegis or deference to third party law common across all of them. You can, for example, deal a drug called gravel without penalty – so options like that can be used to weaken competitors.
I think there’s a lot of mileage in the idea but, just as if you watched only one episode of a TV show without the context of the series and cultural history, it’s hard to predict how good it gets or whether you should invest time in the grander scheme. This story was alright and the characters were differentiated and, again, alright but I have to award a rating here for this short piece of fiction as a stand-alone object, which is like judging Vanity Fair when you’ve only read the prologue. Therefore, this review and rating is on this brief piece. I will read and review more of the Arkship series separately and see how the paper flower expands. For the moment, it’s too early to say.
October 9, 2017
The backstory on Arkship Obsidian
The great Arkships have carried the various Families for years through the trackless reaches of the cataclysmically disrupted solar system. But trouble is fomenting in the form of interfamily squabbles, petty jealousies, and power hungry tyrants who would like nothing more than to expand their dominion over others. Secret agents, compromised crewmembers, hidden computer codes, treacherous royalty, all come together to make this prequel to Arkship Obsidian a good first read to the Arkship series.
The great Arkships have carried the various Families for years through the trackless reaches of the cataclysmically disrupted solar system. But trouble is fomenting in the form of interfamily squabbles, petty jealousies, and power hungry tyrants who would like nothing more than to expand their dominion over others. Secret agents, compromised crewmembers, hidden computer codes, treacherous royalty, all come together to make this prequel to Arkship Obsidian a good first read to the Arkship series.
October 19, 2017
Excellent prequel to what appears to be a glorious space-opera filled with intrigue and excitement. This little book did exactly what it was supposed to do-it grabbed me and pulled me through the action in a world that felt real from the very beginning. Then it held me rapt until the last page and insisted that I find out WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! So, of course, I went to Amazon to buy book 1 and I am very happy that it is available on Kindle Unlimited, HURRAH!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and definitely wanted to post a review so that others can enjoy it as much as I did.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and definitely wanted to post a review so that others can enjoy it as much as I did.
May 10, 2019
This story is too short and should have been longer but still awesome regardless with intense adventure.
August 30, 2019
I little bit of tease to get you started in the Arkship Saga.
June 14, 2018
I have one question for you before you read this book - yes just one.
What would you be willing to sacrifice in order to save humanity? Yes, that was the question. You must consider this question as introspectly as possible and answer yourself honestly.
Most brave souls would risk their lives to save another human being but would they allow their child, wife, or parent to die to save others? You should think about this. Is there truly a greater good?
Ok, that's enough. Go read the book. Enjoy it - it really is quite good. Really.
But what was your answer? It is not a simple question...
What would you be willing to sacrifice in order to save humanity? Yes, that was the question. You must consider this question as introspectly as possible and answer yourself honestly.
Most brave souls would risk their lives to save another human being but would they allow their child, wife, or parent to die to save others? You should think about this. Is there truly a greater good?
Ok, that's enough. Go read the book. Enjoy it - it really is quite good. Really.
But what was your answer? It is not a simple question...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews