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Legends of the Sentience Wars #1
The Proteus Bridge
Take a step back, long before Andy arrived on Cruithne, and find out how Fugia Wong and Ngoba Starl got their start.
- GenresScience Fiction
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2018
148 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
James S. Aaron
38 books29 followersJames S. Aaron is the author of nine novels and many short stories. His most recent series is the Sentience Wars: Solar War 1, written with M.D. Cooper in his Aeon 14 Universe.
He is a twelve year U.S. Army veteran, serving as a medic and later platoon leader and company commander. His novels draw heavily on his military experience, including the people, the deployments, the technology and the locales.
James lives in Oregon with his family, where he enjoys camping, hacking electronics, amateur carpentry and All Things Science Fiction. He's a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America and volunteers with his local animal shelter.
You can find out more about his books and upcoming releases at https://jamesaaron.net or listen to his weekly author's diary podcast at https://speculative.work
He is a twelve year U.S. Army veteran, serving as a medic and later platoon leader and company commander. His novels draw heavily on his military experience, including the people, the deployments, the technology and the locales.
James lives in Oregon with his family, where he enjoys camping, hacking electronics, amateur carpentry and All Things Science Fiction. He's a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America and volunteers with his local animal shelter.
You can find out more about his books and upcoming releases at https://jamesaaron.net or listen to his weekly author's diary podcast at https://speculative.work
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 7, 2019
Strong set of interconnected stories giving us a history of Crash, Ngoba and Fugia, as well as a number of other characters seen in the Lyssa series. A bit lighter in tone for the most part, though after reading the other series, does have a bit of a sadder undercurrent to it. It is good seeing more of the 3 main characters in this book, as all quite interesting characters in their own right, so more time with them is always good. Overall, good strong read.
August 9, 2018
This complex and fascinating tale reveals the origins of multiple characters in the Aeon 14 universe. It is a masterful weaving of stories within stories and whets your appetite for many more to come!
August 16, 2018
Might work for some
The part of this story that I liked the best is the Parrot but the explanation for the birds totally lost me. I know some birds live long but longevity and bird communication and AI shards and more are feeling like a mashup not a background.
This did give some background on characters in the Lyssa series but I would have liked the story of the characters instead of a backstory of the Lyssa characters.
The AI's are still interesting to me but there are what seem to be weird holes in the story. Parrots have AI's but the birds have generations and the AI jumps from eggs to birds or vice versa? It's either just confusing and I missed the explanation or weirdly implausible science.
The Anderson Collective confused me. The collective must use NSAI's to monitor the black hole but seem to not use them for anything else. A terraforming project that has totally controlled energy and a gravity source with no problem from Solar Winds takes how many centuries to create a biosphere on a smallish rock. The terraforming is being performed by hand by convicts? AI's survive without detection on or do they escape somehow from the controllers in this weird little society. Ceres is dysfunctional and the fascistic overlay is both too much and too little to disguise that society's contradictions.
Intruders on a space ship blow a hole through a bridge bulkhead and explosive decompression doesn't eject the crew into space. The crew can breath vacuum? The ship doesn't initiate decompression protocols, bulkhead don't seal, etc.
Back to what's up with the AI's and birds. Birds communicate deep thoughts without an AI. The idea of the AI is really attention grabbing but there are a lot of aspects of their creation, inner lives and interactions that I either don't understand (I assume that's the problem) or was not sufficiently developed in the stories.
I recommend Elizabeth Moon, Cherryh, Kage Baker, Octavia Butler, Richard Parry or Zen DiPietro if you are having trouble with what seems like a Solar System population that consists of a subset of European descended (English named only survive into the 28th century) U.S. characters.
The backstory that explains the last, while necessarily horrible would be a must read for so many reasons.
The part of this story that I liked the best is the Parrot but the explanation for the birds totally lost me. I know some birds live long but longevity and bird communication and AI shards and more are feeling like a mashup not a background.
This did give some background on characters in the Lyssa series but I would have liked the story of the characters instead of a backstory of the Lyssa characters.
The AI's are still interesting to me but there are what seem to be weird holes in the story. Parrots have AI's but the birds have generations and the AI jumps from eggs to birds or vice versa? It's either just confusing and I missed the explanation or weirdly implausible science.
The Anderson Collective confused me. The collective must use NSAI's to monitor the black hole but seem to not use them for anything else. A terraforming project that has totally controlled energy and a gravity source with no problem from Solar Winds takes how many centuries to create a biosphere on a smallish rock. The terraforming is being performed by hand by convicts? AI's survive without detection on or do they escape somehow from the controllers in this weird little society. Ceres is dysfunctional and the fascistic overlay is both too much and too little to disguise that society's contradictions.
Intruders on a space ship blow a hole through a bridge bulkhead and explosive decompression doesn't eject the crew into space. The crew can breath vacuum? The ship doesn't initiate decompression protocols, bulkhead don't seal, etc.
Back to what's up with the AI's and birds. Birds communicate deep thoughts without an AI. The idea of the AI is really attention grabbing but there are a lot of aspects of their creation, inner lives and interactions that I either don't understand (I assume that's the problem) or was not sufficiently developed in the stories.
I recommend Elizabeth Moon, Cherryh, Kage Baker, Octavia Butler, Richard Parry or Zen DiPietro if you are having trouble with what seems like a Solar System population that consists of a subset of European descended (English named only survive into the 28th century) U.S. characters.
The backstory that explains the last, while necessarily horrible would be a must read for so many reasons.
June 24, 2019
Strangely, this is the last book I’ve read of the entire Aeon 14 universe (released to date), and it’s actually the earliest book chronologically in the entire series. Only that snippet with Finnaeus and Lisa starting the FGT takes place earlier, as far as I can tell. This book was a little messy, some things didn’t always add up and there were discrepancies - like there are in every book, which I’m starting to think is intentional. But I still really loved it. I love Ngoba Starl, he’s one of my favourite characters now. Love Fugia, and of course Crash. Uplifted space pets and animal friends are seriously my jam. The whole Solar Wars run has been really sad for me, probably the saddest in the entire series, but this one was pretty sweet too, and lots of fun Ngoba time, I’m kinda glad I read it last.
August 12, 2018
Quirky tales from from before the Origins
This is a must have for the fans as we see some of the James Arron tales come together with even more of a history to tie it all together. With many a guest star from the Origins and Sentience wars you may have come across, this book primarily based out of Cruithne station ties in a lot of loose threads while giving a great back story and surprising depth to a new major player Crash the parrot who just i think steals the show for best performance lol. Cant give enough reccomendations for this one as it very clever and you feel for the characters.
This is a must have for the fans as we see some of the James Arron tales come together with even more of a history to tie it all together. With many a guest star from the Origins and Sentience wars you may have come across, this book primarily based out of Cruithne station ties in a lot of loose threads while giving a great back story and surprising depth to a new major player Crash the parrot who just i think steals the show for best performance lol. Cant give enough reccomendations for this one as it very clever and you feel for the characters.
December 30, 2018
A Terrific Read
I simply loved this book! I found all the Lyssa books first, read them and loved all of them. Then followed Tanis and her adventures. Finally I came to these. What a fun time I had reading about Crash and Ndiggo and Fugio and how Lyssa came into being. I'm not really great on long involved space battles and tactics, but good character development really involves me. This book is full of that, plus lots of humor. I could hardly bear to put this one down, can't wait to get to the next one. Read it, you'll love it.
I simply loved this book! I found all the Lyssa books first, read them and loved all of them. Then followed Tanis and her adventures. Finally I came to these. What a fun time I had reading about Crash and Ndiggo and Fugio and how Lyssa came into being. I'm not really great on long involved space battles and tactics, but good character development really involves me. This book is full of that, plus lots of humor. I could hardly bear to put this one down, can't wait to get to the next one. Read it, you'll love it.
October 17, 2018
Need more Crash!
I previously read part of this book in anthologies, though putting the stories together and adding to them has made it so much more. Ngoba Starl is a wonderful character and it felt quite special to see him grow into the man that is in the Lyssa series. Crash is out of this world, an exceptional bird and I hope that we get to read more of him in the future, he deserves it.
I previously read part of this book in anthologies, though putting the stories together and adding to them has made it so much more. Ngoba Starl is a wonderful character and it felt quite special to see him grow into the man that is in the Lyssa series. Crash is out of this world, an exceptional bird and I hope that we get to read more of him in the future, he deserves it.
December 30, 2018
I think this might be my favorite if the aeon 14 books! Developed the fugia ngoba characters and their relationship was great and cleverly reflected real life!!! I would also strongly recommend reading after lyssa’s dream (regardless of book chronology), which drives the characters depth!
MORE CRASH
MORE CRASH
August 3, 2022
Now I decided to start reading the Aeon16 series from the beginning after finishing Rika Unleashed. So it was a tad bit of adjustment, going from Rika the mech, to Crash the parrot. But once I got used to the pace it was a fun and interesting read and I'd recommend it. Well its now onto Lyssa's dream.
November 21, 2018
Good fun.
Nice to meet crash and finally see the story of the great characters we all met during lyssa story. I would like to hear more about this period in this universe so I'm onboard!
Nice to meet crash and finally see the story of the great characters we all met during lyssa story. I would like to hear more about this period in this universe so I'm onboard!
May 21, 2019
Great back story
Love to find out how characters came to be who they are and especially wan more about Crash, Ngoba, Fugia and Karcher. Not disappointed with any of these stories and keep looking for more.
Love to find out how characters came to be who they are and especially wan more about Crash, Ngoba, Fugia and Karcher. Not disappointed with any of these stories and keep looking for more.
September 4, 2021
A great beginning to a wonderful universe
This book is beginning to a massive world and it really sets the bar going forwards. I came back after reading some of the later books so I can definitely say this is a great start and is a good place to start the journey
This book is beginning to a massive world and it really sets the bar going forwards. I came back after reading some of the later books so I can definitely say this is a great start and is a good place to start the journey
July 26, 2025
The Proteus Bridge was my first taste of the Aeon 14 world, and it did enough to make me want to read more.
The tech was more sci-fi, rather than sci-fantasy. It's easy believe the universe of Aeon 14 could exist one day in the future.
The tech was more sci-fi, rather than sci-fantasy. It's easy believe the universe of Aeon 14 could exist one day in the future.
August 22, 2018
Great story!
A fun read. Interesting new characters and flashback to the lives of other characters in the Lyssa series. Looking forward to the Sentience Wars series!
A fun read. Interesting new characters and flashback to the lives of other characters in the Lyssa series. Looking forward to the Sentience Wars series!
January 17, 2019
Especially enjoyable if you are already into the Aeon 14 universe.
March 29, 2019
Loved it
Love Crash!! Love Crash’s friends. N and Fug grow up together along with Riggs. They kinda work together. Read to see what happens.
Love Crash!! Love Crash’s friends. N and Fug grow up together along with Riggs. They kinda work together. Read to see what happens.
April 11, 2019
Crash!!!!
Crash is the best. You will fall in love with this African Grey sounding bird. The whole story is down right amazing.
Crash is the best. You will fall in love with this African Grey sounding bird. The whole story is down right amazing.
November 12, 2019
Loved Crash! I want more!
January 19, 2020
Crash is part parrot part Dali llama
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action and adventure.
Loved this book and I can't wait for more from crash.😀
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action and adventure.
Loved this book and I can't wait for more from crash.😀
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews