What do you think?
Rate this book
Redemption
Twenty young people wake aboard the spaceship Redemption with no memory how they got there.
Asher Maddox went to sleep a college dropout with clinical depression and anxiety. He wakes one hundred sixty years in the future to assume the role as captain aboard a spaceship he knows nothing about, with a crew as in the dark as he is.
Yanked from their everyday lives, the crew learns that Earth has been ravaged by the Spades virus – a deadly disease planted by aliens. They are tasked with obtaining the vaccine that will save humanity, while forced to hide from an unidentified, but highly advanced enemy.
Half a galaxy away from Earth, the crew sets out to complete the quest against impossible odds. As the enemy draws closer, they learn to run the ship despite their own flaws and rivalries. But they have another enemy . . . time. And it’s running out.
Asher Maddox went to sleep a college dropout with clinical depression and anxiety. He wakes one hundred sixty years in the future to assume the role as captain aboard a spaceship he knows nothing about, with a crew as in the dark as he is.
Yanked from their everyday lives, the crew learns that Earth has been ravaged by the Spades virus – a deadly disease planted by aliens. They are tasked with obtaining the vaccine that will save humanity, while forced to hide from an unidentified, but highly advanced enemy.
Half a galaxy away from Earth, the crew sets out to complete the quest against impossible odds. As the enemy draws closer, they learn to run the ship despite their own flaws and rivalries. But they have another enemy . . . time. And it’s running out.
316 pages, Paperback
Published May 24, 2018
4 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Mike Schlossberg
3 books17 followersAlright, I gotta be honest here. This is supposed to be done in third person. Except…I’m the guy updating this page. Me. Mike. Not a consultant. Just me at my laptop. I can’t write about myself in third person. It feels stupid.
SO: Hiya! I’m Mike. I’ve been a writer since I wrote my first short story in eighth grade, a Star Wars fanfiction. It was terrible. However, that creative creative passion followed me into adulthood.
My full time job is the greatest job in the world: I represent the people of the 132nd Legislative District as a State Representative. I also serve my colleges in the House Democratic Caucus as the Majority Whip. Serving as a State Representative has given me a chance to make a district.
The problem closest to my heart is mental health, where I work to enact policies that will give people the chance to recover from their mental illness the way I have. The issue is personal: I’ve been treated for depression and anxiety related disorders since I was 18.
It was this desire to help which drove me to write Redemption, my first novel, but not my first book. That honor goes to Tweets and Consequences, an anthology about the varied ways elected officials have destroyed their careers via social media.
When not writing, I play video games (both modern and old school), watch anything related to the Muppets (specifically Fraggle Rock!), read, attempt to get to the gym, and call my constituents on their birthdays.
I live in South Whitehall, Pennsylvania, with his wife Brenna and his two wonderful children: Auron, born in 2011, and Ayla, born in 2012. Bonus points if you get the source of my kids names.
SO: Hiya! I’m Mike. I’ve been a writer since I wrote my first short story in eighth grade, a Star Wars fanfiction. It was terrible. However, that creative creative passion followed me into adulthood.
My full time job is the greatest job in the world: I represent the people of the 132nd Legislative District as a State Representative. I also serve my colleges in the House Democratic Caucus as the Majority Whip. Serving as a State Representative has given me a chance to make a district.
The problem closest to my heart is mental health, where I work to enact policies that will give people the chance to recover from their mental illness the way I have. The issue is personal: I’ve been treated for depression and anxiety related disorders since I was 18.
It was this desire to help which drove me to write Redemption, my first novel, but not my first book. That honor goes to Tweets and Consequences, an anthology about the varied ways elected officials have destroyed their careers via social media.
When not writing, I play video games (both modern and old school), watch anything related to the Muppets (specifically Fraggle Rock!), read, attempt to get to the gym, and call my constituents on their birthdays.
I live in South Whitehall, Pennsylvania, with his wife Brenna and his two wonderful children: Auron, born in 2011, and Ayla, born in 2012. Bonus points if you get the source of my kids names.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 18, 2019
As I began reading this novel, it felt slightly familiar, like the lingering residue of sugar in my mouth. And I realized, this novel is basically Lord of the Flies X Star Trek! We’ve got a bunch of kids (albeit older than those in Lord of the Flies), with no supervision whatsoever (disregarding the very brief supervision given by Valiant and his crew aboard the Remedy), and who have never met prior to this strange experience. The kids are trapped in an unfamiliar setting, far away from home, and are left up to their own devices to decide what to do next. Ash is strangely reminiscent of Ralph (leadership and civilization), and Anton definitely plays the part of Jack (unbridled fear/savagery and desire for power) each from the very beginning of the novel. Perhaps Jameson is Piggy (symbolizing the intellectual and scientific aspects of civilization)? The kids have to fight an internal war on the ship, figuring out whether they should sacrifice their own lives to help the strangers on Earth or save their own skins.
As for the Star Trek similarity, besides from the obvious space ships and saving the world gambit, the way the Redemption is run on the bridge is almost like something straight out of one of the movies/TV shows. Each crew member is vital, with their own specific station that they are uniquely attuned to running adeptly (with the exception of also having a backup crew member for each station–AKA the Back Brigade).
With this idea of Lord of the Flies X Star Trek, I actually began to analyze the novel deeper. It isn’t just for entertainment purposes, though it does do an amazing job keeping me on the edge of my seat! But, it also has something larger to say, to point out to the world. I loved how blunt Schlossberg was in describing depression, anxiety, and coping with traumatic situations. Notice how each of the crew members are dealing with their own inner demons, highlighted by their commander Ash. Throughout the book, he battles depression and anxiety while simultaneously attempting to be the leader his crew needs him to be. Michael Schlossberg does a phenomenal job exploring the effects of flagging mental health on teenagers, and how those people deal in crisis… And then how to overcome such disadvantageous, at least temporarily. There is no quick, easy answer to fix mental health, and I love how this is shown in the book. Each character must develop and grow with their mental issues right there next to them. Their mental health is a part of who they are, but it does not need to define them.
Okay, so enough about my deep analyses of the book! On to the more superficial entertainment part. In the beginning, there are a lot of names and descriptions, and it is very difficult (at least for me) to keep up. It took me until about halfway through the novel before I really understood who was on who’s side, Ash’s or Anton’s. That is where the main struggle lies internally. As if trying to save the world from a deadly virus in only a few weeks while invisible aliens could shoot them out of space at any moment was not enough!
It was also interesting that Schlossberg included climate change politics within the story, citing our ignorance and denial of climate change in our present time of 2018 to be the ultimate downfall of humanity. Whether or not you agree that climate change is indeed happening or important, there is enough fiction and sci-fi in the novel to keep you entertained and removed from the real-world political implications. Anything could be a conspiracy theory!
As I neared the end of the novel, I actually forgot that it was part of a trilogy. As such, I was shocked by the ending! Not only was there a possible twist, but I was left wanting for more! I cannot wait until the next book comes out, because I know that I am going to be following this trilogy until the end. And I’m not even a huge sci-fi nerd… Fantasy is where my heart lies. So this is worth mentioning!
As for the Star Trek similarity, besides from the obvious space ships and saving the world gambit, the way the Redemption is run on the bridge is almost like something straight out of one of the movies/TV shows. Each crew member is vital, with their own specific station that they are uniquely attuned to running adeptly (with the exception of also having a backup crew member for each station–AKA the Back Brigade).
With this idea of Lord of the Flies X Star Trek, I actually began to analyze the novel deeper. It isn’t just for entertainment purposes, though it does do an amazing job keeping me on the edge of my seat! But, it also has something larger to say, to point out to the world. I loved how blunt Schlossberg was in describing depression, anxiety, and coping with traumatic situations. Notice how each of the crew members are dealing with their own inner demons, highlighted by their commander Ash. Throughout the book, he battles depression and anxiety while simultaneously attempting to be the leader his crew needs him to be. Michael Schlossberg does a phenomenal job exploring the effects of flagging mental health on teenagers, and how those people deal in crisis… And then how to overcome such disadvantageous, at least temporarily. There is no quick, easy answer to fix mental health, and I love how this is shown in the book. Each character must develop and grow with their mental issues right there next to them. Their mental health is a part of who they are, but it does not need to define them.
Okay, so enough about my deep analyses of the book! On to the more superficial entertainment part. In the beginning, there are a lot of names and descriptions, and it is very difficult (at least for me) to keep up. It took me until about halfway through the novel before I really understood who was on who’s side, Ash’s or Anton’s. That is where the main struggle lies internally. As if trying to save the world from a deadly virus in only a few weeks while invisible aliens could shoot them out of space at any moment was not enough!
It was also interesting that Schlossberg included climate change politics within the story, citing our ignorance and denial of climate change in our present time of 2018 to be the ultimate downfall of humanity. Whether or not you agree that climate change is indeed happening or important, there is enough fiction and sci-fi in the novel to keep you entertained and removed from the real-world political implications. Anything could be a conspiracy theory!
As I neared the end of the novel, I actually forgot that it was part of a trilogy. As such, I was shocked by the ending! Not only was there a possible twist, but I was left wanting for more! I cannot wait until the next book comes out, because I know that I am going to be following this trilogy until the end. And I’m not even a huge sci-fi nerd… Fantasy is where my heart lies. So this is worth mentioning!
January 7, 2021
Note: If you dont want a negative review stop reading ;-)
At the outset the story have a lot of potential. But it quickly goes into a typical North-American interaction between teenagers drama. College kids with hormones. And yes, added anxiety. Still, this could have been better if not for sentences like: "He stirred, but didn't move". And to inconsequences like: The bright red signified the most danger. Followed a bit later by: Stay out of the dark red. Not sure who to "blame" – the author or the editor. The story feels at times like watching a video-game. I am currently at chapter 12 and considering giving up.
PS
I am clearly not in the target audience.
(Listening to audiobook)
At the outset the story have a lot of potential. But it quickly goes into a typical North-American interaction between teenagers drama. College kids with hormones. And yes, added anxiety. Still, this could have been better if not for sentences like: "He stirred, but didn't move". And to inconsequences like: The bright red signified the most danger. Followed a bit later by: Stay out of the dark red. Not sure who to "blame" – the author or the editor. The story feels at times like watching a video-game. I am currently at chapter 12 and considering giving up.
PS
I am clearly not in the target audience.
(Listening to audiobook)
June 24, 2018
Can't wait for book 2!!
Whenever I really like a book it's almost always because of great character development. Add to that a great plot and you've got redemption. I was a little worried at the beginning because there were so many characters that I was having trouble keeping them straight but the key characters were well developed . There was a point in the story where I could absolutely NOT put it down and it seemed I arrived at that point much sooner than I did in other books I love. This is definitely a page turner. Great job Mike!
Whenever I really like a book it's almost always because of great character development. Add to that a great plot and you've got redemption. I was a little worried at the beginning because there were so many characters that I was having trouble keeping them straight but the key characters were well developed . There was a point in the story where I could absolutely NOT put it down and it seemed I arrived at that point much sooner than I did in other books I love. This is definitely a page turner. Great job Mike!
June 19, 2018
A thrilling combination of sci-fi and social justice. If you are looking for a book that doesn't hide the reality of life with a mental illness this is it.
December 20, 2018
Think "The Maze Runner" meets "The Orville". Schlossberg's book is super fun with lots of action while still managing to tactfully handle subjects of mental health and alienation.
March 8, 2019
I want to begin by stating that although Firefly is one of my absolute favorite shows (if you haven't seen it, go watch it NOW. You can read this review later...), I don't usually read science fiction that is written as Schlossberg chose to write Redemption. There may be a few things in my review that don't apply to reviewers who more typically choose this genre.
Things I Loved
I loved the characters. They were the perfect mishmash of teenage insanity, rage, and romance. Wonderfully done! Asher was definitely my favorite character. He felt absolutely real. I have my own arguments with anxiety and could see and feel each moment that Asher argued with his. My favorite thing about him was definitely how stupid he could be. After all, he is a teenage boy! He shouldn't be written as a perfectly logical individual in total control of his emotions. I loved that he was so realistic! And, he was able to grow as an individual. Did he start out by getting in his own way and hiding from his problems? Yup. But, by the end of the novel he was taking charge and dealing with his anxiety after the crisis was over. What a wonderful way to demonstrate anxiety and growth!
The romance between Alexis and Ash was very well done. I didn't feel like it was forced at all. Better yet, I loved that Alexis wasn't going to let Ash sit and wallow in his own problems. We all need that person who will pull our heads out of our butts from time to time. Alexis was perfectly matched for Ash. They worked as a wonderful team.
Things I Didn't Love
I felt like this piece was very hard to follow. There were terms that I didn't understand and no glossary to help me out. There were times when previous events were alluded to and I had no memory of them ever happening. I felt like these parts needed to be cleaned up a bit so that the audience could focus on the massive story that Schlossberg works to unfold.
When I wasn't getting lost in the story line, I was predicting it. I don't want to go into my predictions because I do want to save you from the spoilers. However, I will tell you that EVERY PREDICTION WAS TRUE. C'mon, surprise me a bit!
Overall, I think that this could be a really well-written piece if it was cleaned up just a bit and the reader had more help understanding it. Schlossberg is definitely onto a wonderful story here, so I am excited to see what the next book holds.
Things I Loved
I loved the characters. They were the perfect mishmash of teenage insanity, rage, and romance. Wonderfully done! Asher was definitely my favorite character. He felt absolutely real. I have my own arguments with anxiety and could see and feel each moment that Asher argued with his. My favorite thing about him was definitely how stupid he could be. After all, he is a teenage boy! He shouldn't be written as a perfectly logical individual in total control of his emotions. I loved that he was so realistic! And, he was able to grow as an individual. Did he start out by getting in his own way and hiding from his problems? Yup. But, by the end of the novel he was taking charge and dealing with his anxiety after the crisis was over. What a wonderful way to demonstrate anxiety and growth!
The romance between Alexis and Ash was very well done. I didn't feel like it was forced at all. Better yet, I loved that Alexis wasn't going to let Ash sit and wallow in his own problems. We all need that person who will pull our heads out of our butts from time to time. Alexis was perfectly matched for Ash. They worked as a wonderful team.
Things I Didn't Love
I felt like this piece was very hard to follow. There were terms that I didn't understand and no glossary to help me out. There were times when previous events were alluded to and I had no memory of them ever happening. I felt like these parts needed to be cleaned up a bit so that the audience could focus on the massive story that Schlossberg works to unfold.
When I wasn't getting lost in the story line, I was predicting it. I don't want to go into my predictions because I do want to save you from the spoilers. However, I will tell you that EVERY PREDICTION WAS TRUE. C'mon, surprise me a bit!
Overall, I think that this could be a really well-written piece if it was cleaned up just a bit and the reader had more help understanding it. Schlossberg is definitely onto a wonderful story here, so I am excited to see what the next book holds.
December 9, 2018
So far, I’ve read two books by Mr. Schlossberg. This one’s genre is a favorite of mine, teen and young adult mental health issues. Though I’m not usually a fan of science fiction, I was surprised to find myself drawn into the story so rapidly. Ash, the main character battles depression, which is a hard challenge in itself, but then he finds himself facing the tasks of making decisions as a leader. It’s a struggle to find solid ground in his own mind with all the shifting thoughts, then add to that the dread of uncertainties. The leadership issues only intensify the severity of his depression.
As we learn about the inner conflict and sense of inadequacy Ash has to confront, we gain insight into what it’s like for him to deal with panic attacks and depression. It would have been so much easier for Ash to just close off and block everyone around him. The survival of Ash and many other persons depends on his willingness to face down his fears and find the courage and leadership abilities within himself. I think readers of all ages would benefit from the message being conveyed. I look forward to the other books in this series.
As we learn about the inner conflict and sense of inadequacy Ash has to confront, we gain insight into what it’s like for him to deal with panic attacks and depression. It would have been so much easier for Ash to just close off and block everyone around him. The survival of Ash and many other persons depends on his willingness to face down his fears and find the courage and leadership abilities within himself. I think readers of all ages would benefit from the message being conveyed. I look forward to the other books in this series.
December 28, 2018
Time travel, a mission to save the earth, and internal personal struggles: what else could you ask for?
A wild ride through space to come up with a way to save the earth.
Treachery, deception, redemption.
Worth the read, even though I got confused because of the very large cast of characters. Maybe intentional, as the time travelers were confused by the unexpected time traveling to get to when and where they were, with no prior explanation.
A wild ride through space to come up with a way to save the earth.
Treachery, deception, redemption.
Worth the read, even though I got confused because of the very large cast of characters. Maybe intentional, as the time travelers were confused by the unexpected time traveling to get to when and where they were, with no prior explanation.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews