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The Collector
They were kidnapped.
Nobody knows where they are.
They all receive instructions to follow the path through the forest.
What they discover will come as a true shock.
The truth is hidden under a veil of secrets.
[image]
Nobody knows where they are.
They all receive instructions to follow the path through the forest.
What they discover will come as a true shock.
The truth is hidden under a veil of secrets.
[image]
- GenresScience Fiction
71 pages, Paperback
Published February 27, 2019
About the author
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets
15 books527 followersShort biography:
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets is a versatile and deeply philosophical international author with a rich literary catalog spanning multiple genres. Born in Split, Croatia, his unique voice bridges the gap between different worlds—moving effortlessly from the expansive, cosmic depths of space opera and dystopian sci-fi to the lyrical beauty of contemporary poetry, and the timeless, metaphorical wisdom of children's fables and fairy tales.
With over a dozen published works to his name, Stjepan is best known in the sci-fi community for his captivating, multi-volume saga, the Godeena Codex (which includes the powerful novels Godeena and Kirs Fury), alongside his immersive standalone fiction like The Dream of the Forest. His shorter fiction, including acclaimed novellas like The Collector, Black Seeds, and 2025, consistently earns high praise from readers for its tense atmosphere and psychological depth.
Beyond his dark, futuristic worlds, Stjepan is an accomplished poet with five published collections of poetry that explore the lyrical, emotional landscape of the human soul: The Child of Happiness, The Flaming Horses, When the Moon Takes Over the Dream: Love Poetry, Twitter of Night Nightingale, and Golden Threads. His creative breath also extends to younger audiences through his beautifully crafted children's books and fables, including Magic Clogs and the heartwarming Joseph, The Good Giant: Children's Fairy Tale About Kindness.
As a writer, Stjepan does not just build intricate galactic empires and high-stakes military operations; he uses his background in poetry and fables to infuse his science fiction with profound metaphysical questions, rich metaphors, and a soulful search for true purpose. His stories are complex tapestries where tightly guarded political conspiracies and cosmic portals meet the enduring power of the heart.
When he is not charting forbidden planets or weaving evocative verses, Stjepan continues to expand his literary universe from his home on the beautiful Adriatic coast, preparing new journeys for readers who crave stories with both thrilling action and philosophical depth
Booklinker: https://mybook.to/M3XtKm
Contact: cobetet@gmail.com (I don’t reply to frivolous messages)
My book review ratings:
5 Stars: Above Average and Great Book (I really, really liked the book)
4 Stars: Great Book (I really liked the book, but missing something special that is for grade 5)
3 Stars: Good book (An average book that drowns in a sea of better books)
2 Stars: Below average book (I was not fond of it at all, I write the reasons in a review. But that doesn’t mean the book didn’t appeal to other readers.)
1 Star: I don’t give that rating to anyone (The writer struggled to write the book and did not deserve this rating whether I liked the book or not.)
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets is a versatile and deeply philosophical international author with a rich literary catalog spanning multiple genres. Born in Split, Croatia, his unique voice bridges the gap between different worlds—moving effortlessly from the expansive, cosmic depths of space opera and dystopian sci-fi to the lyrical beauty of contemporary poetry, and the timeless, metaphorical wisdom of children's fables and fairy tales.
With over a dozen published works to his name, Stjepan is best known in the sci-fi community for his captivating, multi-volume saga, the Godeena Codex (which includes the powerful novels Godeena and Kirs Fury), alongside his immersive standalone fiction like The Dream of the Forest. His shorter fiction, including acclaimed novellas like The Collector, Black Seeds, and 2025, consistently earns high praise from readers for its tense atmosphere and psychological depth.
Beyond his dark, futuristic worlds, Stjepan is an accomplished poet with five published collections of poetry that explore the lyrical, emotional landscape of the human soul: The Child of Happiness, The Flaming Horses, When the Moon Takes Over the Dream: Love Poetry, Twitter of Night Nightingale, and Golden Threads. His creative breath also extends to younger audiences through his beautifully crafted children's books and fables, including Magic Clogs and the heartwarming Joseph, The Good Giant: Children's Fairy Tale About Kindness.
As a writer, Stjepan does not just build intricate galactic empires and high-stakes military operations; he uses his background in poetry and fables to infuse his science fiction with profound metaphysical questions, rich metaphors, and a soulful search for true purpose. His stories are complex tapestries where tightly guarded political conspiracies and cosmic portals meet the enduring power of the heart.
When he is not charting forbidden planets or weaving evocative verses, Stjepan continues to expand his literary universe from his home on the beautiful Adriatic coast, preparing new journeys for readers who crave stories with both thrilling action and philosophical depth
Booklinker: https://mybook.to/M3XtKm
Contact: cobetet@gmail.com (I don’t reply to frivolous messages)
My book review ratings:
5 Stars: Above Average and Great Book (I really, really liked the book)
4 Stars: Great Book (I really liked the book, but missing something special that is for grade 5)
3 Stars: Good book (An average book that drowns in a sea of better books)
2 Stars: Below average book (I was not fond of it at all, I write the reasons in a review. But that doesn’t mean the book didn’t appeal to other readers.)
1 Star: I don’t give that rating to anyone (The writer struggled to write the book and did not deserve this rating whether I liked the book or not.)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 13, 2020
THE COLLECTOR by Stjepan Cobets earned 4.5 relevant and imaginative stars from me!
My Tease…
Victoria doesn’t consider herself much of a leader, except when she’s leading patrons like George out of her Berlin bar at closing. So when she wakes up on a foreign planet and reunites with George, forced to follow a path in a forest leading to a massive and mysterious dome, she feels more like a confused prisoner than one chosen for a special purpose.
Bewilderment turns to utter disbelief. Victoria learns The Collector has intentionally selected her, as well as all the Earthlings teleported to the planet. More mind boggling, as a human slated for top leadership, Victoria learns the unabridged answers to her many questions.
Some answers, she didn’t want to know.
Thoughts…
MESSAGE:
My favorite aspect of the two highly imaginative sci-fi & fantasy novellas I’ve read by this author (Black Seeds and The Collector) is how he weaves into them important societal messages. His themes truly resonate with me. This book, for example, warns us of the destructive nature of greedy governments and scientists who disregard consequences on civilization in pursuit of global power.
In my opinion, his themes are timeless and relevant.
WRITING:
Although The Collector has a less distinctive cadence when compared to Black Seeds, this novella puts forth high-quality splashes of vividness.
“They were suddenly standing on the edge of a lake. And now they could see dozens of waterfalls that overflowed into the lake from many high cascades. The waterfalls created a haze on the lake’s surface, out of millions of little droplets. Countless rainbows flickered, transforming into a magical sight under the rays of the two suns.”
and…
“The figure in a vibrant grey robe spread his hands, and the podium melted beneath his feet, disappearing like ice in the sun. He was hovering a few centimeters above the ground and pointed right towards Victoria. The wide robe fluttered in the breeze around his ascetic body.”
Awesome descriptions :)
TENSION:
This was the one area that resulted in the drop from a perfect 5-star rating, though I gladly rounded up for the outstanding way this author weaves in his themes.
Here’s where I felt a teeny-tiny tad of disappointment: Reading about two characters in a dense forest—not knowing precisely where they were, how they had gotten to this foreign planet, and what their destinies would be—made me want to feel afraid. However, the banter between characters, especially between Victoria and George, was more sarcastic and flirtier than fearful. If the characters aren’t afraid, I’m not afraid.
Overall…
This author has important things to say (from my perspective) and I thoroughly enjoy reading his points of view within his tremendously creative stories and settings. THE COLLECTOR is a quick, thematically deep, and totally worthwhile read.
My Tease…
Victoria doesn’t consider herself much of a leader, except when she’s leading patrons like George out of her Berlin bar at closing. So when she wakes up on a foreign planet and reunites with George, forced to follow a path in a forest leading to a massive and mysterious dome, she feels more like a confused prisoner than one chosen for a special purpose.
Bewilderment turns to utter disbelief. Victoria learns The Collector has intentionally selected her, as well as all the Earthlings teleported to the planet. More mind boggling, as a human slated for top leadership, Victoria learns the unabridged answers to her many questions.
Some answers, she didn’t want to know.
Thoughts…
MESSAGE:
My favorite aspect of the two highly imaginative sci-fi & fantasy novellas I’ve read by this author (Black Seeds and The Collector) is how he weaves into them important societal messages. His themes truly resonate with me. This book, for example, warns us of the destructive nature of greedy governments and scientists who disregard consequences on civilization in pursuit of global power.
In my opinion, his themes are timeless and relevant.
WRITING:
Although The Collector has a less distinctive cadence when compared to Black Seeds, this novella puts forth high-quality splashes of vividness.
“They were suddenly standing on the edge of a lake. And now they could see dozens of waterfalls that overflowed into the lake from many high cascades. The waterfalls created a haze on the lake’s surface, out of millions of little droplets. Countless rainbows flickered, transforming into a magical sight under the rays of the two suns.”
and…
“The figure in a vibrant grey robe spread his hands, and the podium melted beneath his feet, disappearing like ice in the sun. He was hovering a few centimeters above the ground and pointed right towards Victoria. The wide robe fluttered in the breeze around his ascetic body.”
Awesome descriptions :)
TENSION:
This was the one area that resulted in the drop from a perfect 5-star rating, though I gladly rounded up for the outstanding way this author weaves in his themes.
Here’s where I felt a teeny-tiny tad of disappointment: Reading about two characters in a dense forest—not knowing precisely where they were, how they had gotten to this foreign planet, and what their destinies would be—made me want to feel afraid. However, the banter between characters, especially between Victoria and George, was more sarcastic and flirtier than fearful. If the characters aren’t afraid, I’m not afraid.
Overall…
This author has important things to say (from my perspective) and I thoroughly enjoy reading his points of view within his tremendously creative stories and settings. THE COLLECTOR is a quick, thematically deep, and totally worthwhile read.
April 24, 2019
A fun shortish story
Ok, firstly, just a big thank you to Stjepan for giving me the chance to read this story, thanks !!
I have read 2 previous books written by Stjepan, both enjoyable, and this short story was similarly an interesting idea well written. This short story is written in the same style, that is to say it is very dialogue driven. It is an interesting premise, and Stjepan has followed the idea to a great conclusion. The story centres around a group of people who are suddenly whisked away from their lives to a strange planet, and their reactions to what they find there and how their future looks.
As ever there are a few grammatical errors, but either Stjepan's English is getting better or I'm not seeing his small mistakes anymore. (Hopefully its the former).
Anyway, it was a fun story and an idea, I think could as with all Stjepan's stories, be developed further, what happened next ??
Ok, firstly, just a big thank you to Stjepan for giving me the chance to read this story, thanks !!
I have read 2 previous books written by Stjepan, both enjoyable, and this short story was similarly an interesting idea well written. This short story is written in the same style, that is to say it is very dialogue driven. It is an interesting premise, and Stjepan has followed the idea to a great conclusion. The story centres around a group of people who are suddenly whisked away from their lives to a strange planet, and their reactions to what they find there and how their future looks.
As ever there are a few grammatical errors, but either Stjepan's English is getting better or I'm not seeing his small mistakes anymore. (Hopefully its the former).
Anyway, it was a fun story and an idea, I think could as with all Stjepan's stories, be developed further, what happened next ??
Read
March 1, 2019My new science fiction novella, I would like to hear the reader's opinion and I would be grateful for every review of the book.
With respect,
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets
With respect,
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets
January 15, 2020
This slim novelette is a quick read and very engaging. It starts off quite mysterious, and I don't want to spoil too much, but basically it opens with a man exploring his surroundings and slowly learning about the strange setting he has found himself in while meeting other people along the way...
The ending is ambitious and more than a bit mind-blowing. Author Stjepan Varasevac Cobets utilizes these words economically to describe an atmosphere, as a good short story should. In a sense, it's a too long for a short but too short for a novel. I might have liked to see more challenges happen to the characters if this was to be a full novel, but overall it works at the length it was written.
As such, I wouldn't mind reading other works of science fiction from Cobets. The Collector is a nice introduction and exploration of these concepts, and readers will be intrigued enough to want more.
The ending is ambitious and more than a bit mind-blowing. Author Stjepan Varasevac Cobets utilizes these words economically to describe an atmosphere, as a good short story should. In a sense, it's a too long for a short but too short for a novel. I might have liked to see more challenges happen to the characters if this was to be a full novel, but overall it works at the length it was written.
As such, I wouldn't mind reading other works of science fiction from Cobets. The Collector is a nice introduction and exploration of these concepts, and readers will be intrigued enough to want more.
January 19, 2020
Another treat from Mr. Cobets' vivid imagination
Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: February 27, 2019
Publisher: Amazon
Language: English
ASIN: B07PB9ZMNB
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 2033460
74 pages
Sort of utopian sci-fi. Humanity as a species is saved by the Collector. Well written but just a few odd word choices remind that despite his excellent English, it is not Mr. Cobets' first language. This does not really distract from the story.
I downloaded this story via Kindle Unlimited.
Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: February 27, 2019
Publisher: Amazon
Language: English
ASIN: B07PB9ZMNB
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 2033460
74 pages
Sort of utopian sci-fi. Humanity as a species is saved by the Collector. Well written but just a few odd word choices remind that despite his excellent English, it is not Mr. Cobets' first language. This does not really distract from the story.
I downloaded this story via Kindle Unlimited.
February 9, 2020
Each of us have wondered, at least once in our lives, who put us on this planet. Every human being craves for a life with purpose. But are we really that big and important? Or are we just a tiny dot in endless universe? Is there a future for human race or we’ll be the end of ourselves? Stjepan Varesevac Cobets wrote an interesting story with a unique point of view on this subject. Even though si-fi in not my cup of tea, I have to say that this novella cought my attention. And I would recommend it with all my heart!
July 19, 2019
This short story reminded me of one of my favourite TV series:
The Twilight Zone
.
It starts of on the same intriguing note and keeps bringing in twists and turns up to the very end, when you get the real finale and you just have to say: Oh, boy! I did NOT see that coming!
There was a mention of grammatical errors on other reviews, but the author must have corrected those in between, because the story I read was clean. No awkward phrasing and no errors and it read like a charm.
The story itself opens with an intriguing mystery as we get to see George, a normal human man, waking up in a strange room with all sorts of tubes connected to his body. With no recollection whatsoever of how he got there, George has to keep clear head and submit to an unknown presence that is compelling him to head out and follow the path.
As he advances on the path, George gets to meet other humans, starting with Victoria, the waitress who served him drinks at the bar he had been crashing the night before. And from here onward, the POV unexpectedly starts to shift from George to Victoria and back again, until we get the story fully from from Victoria's POV in the end. The shift came naturally and was also in theme with the general surprise element the story delivers every few pages. And that's what I loved most about The Collector! It kept me on my toes and kept delivering unexpected twists and turns till the very end.
As it turns out, Victoria and George are not the only ones who woke up that day in the room with the tubes. Other people from all over Earth, as well as children of all ages, found themselves in the same predicament. And they all realise they had been brought there for a purpose. What that purpose is? You're going to have to read this to find out! :D I will only tell you this: it's not going to be something you see coming!
There is no romance here, so don't expect it :D. But we do get emotion and feeling. This is a beautiful story of survival and KUDOS to the author for writing up something that could easily be a hit on The Twilight Zone .
Great imagination that will hook you up and entertain till the very end!
I highly recommend it to all Sci-Fi fans in search of a short and intriguing read!
Happy reading. :)
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
It starts of on the same intriguing note and keeps bringing in twists and turns up to the very end, when you get the real finale and you just have to say: Oh, boy! I did NOT see that coming!
There was a mention of grammatical errors on other reviews, but the author must have corrected those in between, because the story I read was clean. No awkward phrasing and no errors and it read like a charm.
The story itself opens with an intriguing mystery as we get to see George, a normal human man, waking up in a strange room with all sorts of tubes connected to his body. With no recollection whatsoever of how he got there, George has to keep clear head and submit to an unknown presence that is compelling him to head out and follow the path.
As he advances on the path, George gets to meet other humans, starting with Victoria, the waitress who served him drinks at the bar he had been crashing the night before. And from here onward, the POV unexpectedly starts to shift from George to Victoria and back again, until we get the story fully from from Victoria's POV in the end. The shift came naturally and was also in theme with the general surprise element the story delivers every few pages. And that's what I loved most about The Collector! It kept me on my toes and kept delivering unexpected twists and turns till the very end.
As it turns out, Victoria and George are not the only ones who woke up that day in the room with the tubes. Other people from all over Earth, as well as children of all ages, found themselves in the same predicament. And they all realise they had been brought there for a purpose. What that purpose is? You're going to have to read this to find out! :D I will only tell you this: it's not going to be something you see coming!
There is no romance here, so don't expect it :D. But we do get emotion and feeling. This is a beautiful story of survival and KUDOS to the author for writing up something that could easily be a hit on The Twilight Zone .
Great imagination that will hook you up and entertain till the very end!
I highly recommend it to all Sci-Fi fans in search of a short and intriguing read!
Happy reading. :)
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
March 17, 2019
An unusual sci-fi story. Earthlings have been abducted from Earth and awake in an unknown place, each given a set of instructions and if they don't comply, they are promptly punished. They are each provided with some basic essentials and told to follow a path until they reach a destination, though none of them knows what awaits them there. Enroute, they slowly meet more ex-Earth citizens, and find that each of their experiences have been the same. When they finally arrive, they find a giant city under a dome and learn that they have all been selected by "The Collector" to be its new inhabitants, each given a predetermined role. The twist is that the reader discovers that all the universes, and all that exists within are child's toys to larger beings. Surprise ending. I enjoyed this short story and my thanks to the author for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2020
4.5 I enjoyed reading this book. Unputdownable.
March 21, 2019
A story that starts with abduction of one, two, and then more and more grownups and children by alien abductors takes an unexpected and different turn from a science fiction horror story. The world under the dome is not a hostile planet where other intelligent creatures collect humans to torture them and experiment on them but a beautiful place where revelation and realization come to peace with acceptance that we, humans, with our greed and need to dominate every realm are a destructive force which will bring our world to its end. Aliens are miraculously and thankfully for a change portrayed as kind, intelligent beings who want to save the last human remains of our civilization.
The Collector is a short story of love and hope that there is someone out there, outside the borders of our self-imposed destruction, watching over us. Not with malice and hostile intentions but with the innocence of a child who cherishes and cares about his beloved pets.
The Collector is a short story of love and hope that there is someone out there, outside the borders of our self-imposed destruction, watching over us. Not with malice and hostile intentions but with the innocence of a child who cherishes and cares about his beloved pets.
January 2, 2020
Got the book from the author himself.
Love the idea, really interesting and should be explored a bit more. The characters are also intriguing although not too deep. The only downside is the translation itself. With every new publication it's getting better and better but there are still ways to go.
Still it's not a long piece and the idea is interesting and a nice set up for a much bigger universe so in that regard it gets a recommendation for a read.
Love the idea, really interesting and should be explored a bit more. The characters are also intriguing although not too deep. The only downside is the translation itself. With every new publication it's getting better and better but there are still ways to go.
Still it's not a long piece and the idea is interesting and a nice set up for a much bigger universe so in that regard it gets a recommendation for a read.
August 31, 2019
George wakes up in an empty room and doesn't remember how he got there, he only got instructions to listen to.On his way, he meets people who, like him, have been abducted from the earth.How? Why? only the collector knows the answer
An interesting, tense well-written short sf story.I like the dialogue between the characters which is charming and fun.
Thank You Mr. Cobets for this wonderful short story
An interesting, tense well-written short sf story.I like the dialogue between the characters which is charming and fun.
Thank You Mr. Cobets for this wonderful short story
November 13, 2019
Similar to The Day the Earth Stood Still (a warning, education, alien benevolence) but more imaginative. Several characters have English as a second language, so the dialogue matches that occasionally.
March 3, 2019
The Collector must be the author's work that I liked best. It had an interesting world-building and better characters compared to his previous ones.
There's one thing that I really think should be improved: the Romance. Insta-love is never my cup of tea, and it's the most unnecessary thing in this book. I know that it's a novella, but I believe that any relationship could still be developed neatly no matter how short a piece of fiction may be. This book could and will survive without romance in it.
There's one thing that I really think should be improved: the Romance. Insta-love is never my cup of tea, and it's the most unnecessary thing in this book. I know that it's a novella, but I believe that any relationship could still be developed neatly no matter how short a piece of fiction may be. This book could and will survive without romance in it.
May 13, 2019
Being abducted can be a terrifying experience. Stjepan Varesevac Cobets explores this in The Collector, but it’s not what you think. After going to a bar, George awakens in a mysterious forest with several others, told to follow a path. This novel is a great mystery with good character development and interesting twists. I especially like how Cobets subverts expectations. The Collector is not what you think and is certainly worth your time, especially if you love science fiction and mysteries!
October 1, 2019
Thank you Stjepan Cobets for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
What a brilliant short story. This story is a great mystery with great character development and interesting surprises. The Collector is not what you expect and is absolutely worth your time, especially if you like science fiction and mysteries.
What a brilliant short story. This story is a great mystery with great character development and interesting surprises. The Collector is not what you expect and is absolutely worth your time, especially if you like science fiction and mysteries.
March 12, 2019
I really enjoyed this short sci-fi novella by Stjepan Varesevac. It is like reading a grave warning of our past, present, and future and why we are never destined to learn from our history or mistakes. What a great sci-fi imagination the author has. I really liked the setting and beautiful world building descriptions of the new world. The pacing of the story was good too and kept you hooked to the end to find out the mystery of the strange world and the collectors motives from bringing these selected people together. I also didn't mind the love story element at all and found it quite endearing if I'm honest. I'm not sure why some people have a problem with instant love these days, it does happen still lol. Maybe it's just a sign of the ever-growing cynical world that we live in. All in all, this is the most enjoyable and well-written book I've read from Stjepan. You can really tell he has a great passion for science fiction storytelling and I hope he continues to write many more tales in this genre.
March 7, 2019
What a brilliant short story. I was already a fan of Stjepan Cobets from reading his other books, and this one was thoroughly enjoyable as well. One of the standouts is not really knowing what’s going to happen to the characters, which is someone I always enjoy. Great entertainment.
It’s quite a shock for George to find himself pulled away from his life into a whole different place. Even though he has no idea where he is, it doesn’t take him long to come across Victoria, another person who is just as confused as he is about their current location. One thing is for certain, they will certainly be in for a surprise. Whether that will be a good surprise is yet to be decided. I also love that this is a thought-provoking story. I found myself daydreaming a couple of times about what could be. An excellent read, and well worth the 5/5 Star Rating.
Verified Purchase Amazon Australia
It’s quite a shock for George to find himself pulled away from his life into a whole different place. Even though he has no idea where he is, it doesn’t take him long to come across Victoria, another person who is just as confused as he is about their current location. One thing is for certain, they will certainly be in for a surprise. Whether that will be a good surprise is yet to be decided. I also love that this is a thought-provoking story. I found myself daydreaming a couple of times about what could be. An excellent read, and well worth the 5/5 Star Rating.
Verified Purchase Amazon Australia
April 5, 2021
This is an extremely compelling short story. Right from the start, questions are raised and I just had to know what was going to happen. It kept me turning the pages because I needed answers. Where, exactly, were these characters? Why had they awoken in this strange world? What would become of them? Why weren't they more shocked and freaked out by the fact they'd been torn from their homes, families, friends, and loved ones? How could they remain so calm and curious? If it were me, I would be trying to figure out how to get back home.
Several characters were quite distinct. The sci-fi world had some interesting elements that I haven't seen before. It was a hard premise to deliver a satisfying wrap up, especially when it was propelling forward at such a strong pace.
While the story and writing are strong, it does suffer from quite extensive grammar and spelling issues.
Several characters were quite distinct. The sci-fi world had some interesting elements that I haven't seen before. It was a hard premise to deliver a satisfying wrap up, especially when it was propelling forward at such a strong pace.
While the story and writing are strong, it does suffer from quite extensive grammar and spelling issues.
February 17, 2021
**Actual Rating 3.5**
Overall
I had a hard time getting into the novella. I stumbled through the first half of the book; stilted sentences, poor editing, and constant head hopping all made for a confusing read. Thankfully the second half of the story was so fascinating that the earlier issues were forgotten as Victoria learns the truth. I also enjoyed the interesting twist at the end and imagination the author displayed. This is a very plot heavy story and except for Victoria, very few of the other characters are developed. So if you are looking for characters that feel real, go somewhere else, this book’s entire strength is in its plot. It’s starts off jarring, but ends leaving the reader wanting to know what adventures lie ahead for Victoria and George.
Rating
3.5 stars (rounded down)
An imaginative sci-fi that needs more character development and another round of editing, but has the potential to really shine.
Where did I get a copy?
Kindle Unlimited.
Overall
I had a hard time getting into the novella. I stumbled through the first half of the book; stilted sentences, poor editing, and constant head hopping all made for a confusing read. Thankfully the second half of the story was so fascinating that the earlier issues were forgotten as Victoria learns the truth. I also enjoyed the interesting twist at the end and imagination the author displayed. This is a very plot heavy story and except for Victoria, very few of the other characters are developed. So if you are looking for characters that feel real, go somewhere else, this book’s entire strength is in its plot. It’s starts off jarring, but ends leaving the reader wanting to know what adventures lie ahead for Victoria and George.
Rating
3.5 stars (rounded down)
An imaginative sci-fi that needs more character development and another round of editing, but has the potential to really shine.
Where did I get a copy?
Kindle Unlimited.
March 21, 2021
Awesome world-building. Action-packed and reminiscent of Star Trek and other classic sci-fi.
The two main characters are taken to an alien world and forced to follow the path laid out by the mysterious ‘Collector’.
The detailed descriptions of the technology and the characters’ distinct humanity lend the story authenticity. I often find myself bored and disappointed when writers fail to explain how futuristic technology actually works, or why it’s needed, but this doesn’t happen here. It’s really well thought out.
I can’t say any more without giving away the story, so I’ll stop here.
As a sci-fi fan, I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one.
The two main characters are taken to an alien world and forced to follow the path laid out by the mysterious ‘Collector’.
The detailed descriptions of the technology and the characters’ distinct humanity lend the story authenticity. I often find myself bored and disappointed when writers fail to explain how futuristic technology actually works, or why it’s needed, but this doesn’t happen here. It’s really well thought out.
I can’t say any more without giving away the story, so I’ll stop here.
As a sci-fi fan, I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one.
February 5, 2020
The story is bustling with ideas, the premise is interesting and can provide scope for many more stories. The author has plenty of imagination and will likely provide readers with plenty of thoughts to chew on and a bank of characters to get invested in, if their quirks can be worked out a little.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem we have is the language of the book. The story needs an editor / translator who has a native / fluent grasp of English. A different editor should be able to take problematic sentences and ideas and make them stand out in the best possible way.
As things stand, the dialogue comes across wooden, too formal and at times strange, like it has been put through an internet translator. There are odd phrases scattered throughout and while you always know what is trying to be said, you have to do a bit of internal editing yourself to complete or smooth out a sentence. That really shouldn't be the job of the reader. Yes, in poetry and more esoteric works the reader may be asked to do a little work but that's sometimes part of the 'agreement' with readers. In this case, I assume it's more to do with the handling of the translation. What sounds right in one language will not carry across into another, though as said before you can get an approximate version.
I also had some issues with the behaviour of some characters and how they interacted but that is relatively minor compared to the language employed in the story.
So, to summarise I can recommend the premise and imagination of the story but I can't recommend it more strongly until the text is cleaned up and given a more refined interpretation. When this is done I think many Sci-Fi fans will enjoy the story.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem we have is the language of the book. The story needs an editor / translator who has a native / fluent grasp of English. A different editor should be able to take problematic sentences and ideas and make them stand out in the best possible way.
As things stand, the dialogue comes across wooden, too formal and at times strange, like it has been put through an internet translator. There are odd phrases scattered throughout and while you always know what is trying to be said, you have to do a bit of internal editing yourself to complete or smooth out a sentence. That really shouldn't be the job of the reader. Yes, in poetry and more esoteric works the reader may be asked to do a little work but that's sometimes part of the 'agreement' with readers. In this case, I assume it's more to do with the handling of the translation. What sounds right in one language will not carry across into another, though as said before you can get an approximate version.
I also had some issues with the behaviour of some characters and how they interacted but that is relatively minor compared to the language employed in the story.
So, to summarise I can recommend the premise and imagination of the story but I can't recommend it more strongly until the text is cleaned up and given a more refined interpretation. When this is done I think many Sci-Fi fans will enjoy the story.
January 22, 2020
Read through KindleUnlimited.
*May contain spoilers.
George S Braham, a soldier, while enjoying his last day in Berlin before going to Afghanistan, wakes up in a white cube with a bad headache. While there, he finds that someone/thing has accessed his thoughts, and directs him (through pain) to do as they ask. He finds himself in a jungle with Victoria (the bar girl he met last night.) Before long they are joined by others, all wandering around, and although they speak different languages, they all understand each other.
They finally find themselves at a city (under a dome) and are told that they have been chosen by 'The Collector' to be part of the New Earth City on the Planet Rasdian.
The theme of the book is a popular one (especially at the moment): humans killing earth due to their actions and greed; mad scientist inventing bombs or infectious pathogens to destroy the earth and mankind; aliens; other 'beings' starting up new ones; we all have to love each other to carry on, etc, so anyone familiar with sci-fi will be comfortable with the plot line.
For a quick read, it was entertaining--although the flow was clunky at time--and if you begin to question, you might find you come up short: why were the main characters chosen, why did 'they' use force when the whole idea is peace, why didn't the main characters react more when they found earth was obliterated by a core-bomb; who is The Great Eater introduced in the last chapter?
Unless, of course, this was the author's intention as another book is to follow and the hanging questions will be answered...
*May contain spoilers.
George S Braham, a soldier, while enjoying his last day in Berlin before going to Afghanistan, wakes up in a white cube with a bad headache. While there, he finds that someone/thing has accessed his thoughts, and directs him (through pain) to do as they ask. He finds himself in a jungle with Victoria (the bar girl he met last night.) Before long they are joined by others, all wandering around, and although they speak different languages, they all understand each other.
They finally find themselves at a city (under a dome) and are told that they have been chosen by 'The Collector' to be part of the New Earth City on the Planet Rasdian.
The theme of the book is a popular one (especially at the moment): humans killing earth due to their actions and greed; mad scientist inventing bombs or infectious pathogens to destroy the earth and mankind; aliens; other 'beings' starting up new ones; we all have to love each other to carry on, etc, so anyone familiar with sci-fi will be comfortable with the plot line.
For a quick read, it was entertaining--although the flow was clunky at time--and if you begin to question, you might find you come up short: why were the main characters chosen, why did 'they' use force when the whole idea is peace, why didn't the main characters react more when they found earth was obliterated by a core-bomb; who is The Great Eater introduced in the last chapter?
Unless, of course, this was the author's intention as another book is to follow and the hanging questions will be answered...
September 9, 2019
The Collector is an absolutely enjoyable read. It's an intelligent and engaging sci-fi short story. The characters are engaging and interesting. The concepts and interactions with aliens are intriguing and don't follow the stereotypical path. Don't want to spoil but there are very well done and touching scenes between the very powerful alien and the human character, especially towards the end.
The only tiny flaw would be some of the dialogue comes of a tad clunky at times but English is not Stjepan's native language. The overall characterizations are well done. Overall, this was a thoroughly fun and pleasant read.
The only tiny flaw would be some of the dialogue comes of a tad clunky at times but English is not Stjepan's native language. The overall characterizations are well done. Overall, this was a thoroughly fun and pleasant read.
January 19, 2020
A short but exciting ride across space and time. The Collector moves at a fast pace and doesn't let you get too comfortable in one location before jettisoning you off to the next. Each plot development is grander and more outrageous than the last, right up until the final, truly alien pages.
I didn't think much about it while reading, but now that I'm finished, I look back at the early plot developments and I have a lot of questions. See, once the group congregates, and especially after it's revealed why all these people are there, one can't help but wonder why the titular Collector decided to have each person kick off their journey the way they did. And the book never addresses this; never addresses why the characters wake up naked in white rooms and have to dress (under threat of torture) before hiking to an unknown location.
The dialogue is okay for the most part but is occasionally so wooden and, dare I say it, bipolar, that parts of it read like the transcript of a Tommy Wiseau film; within a single quote, a character might indicate that they are scared, then cry out in anger, and then smile and say something pleasant. It gets better over time. Further, there are various spelling and grammatical errors that could be helped with another pass. Overall, though, a good read.
I didn't think much about it while reading, but now that I'm finished, I look back at the early plot developments and I have a lot of questions. See, once the group congregates, and especially after it's revealed why all these people are there, one can't help but wonder why the titular Collector decided to have each person kick off their journey the way they did. And the book never addresses this; never addresses why the characters wake up naked in white rooms and have to dress (under threat of torture) before hiking to an unknown location.
The dialogue is okay for the most part but is occasionally so wooden and, dare I say it, bipolar, that parts of it read like the transcript of a Tommy Wiseau film; within a single quote, a character might indicate that they are scared, then cry out in anger, and then smile and say something pleasant. It gets better over time. Further, there are various spelling and grammatical errors that could be helped with another pass. Overall, though, a good read.
October 6, 2019
This reminded me of a Twilight Zone or Outer Limits from the 1960's (in the best ways). And most refreshingly, there were no rogue spaceship captains, no viewscreens, no tapping on computer keyboards or losing the shields...in short, this story struck me as both fresh and puzzling. I didn't know where it was going, and combined with the cliche'-free dialogue (no instances of 'We can do this!' or 'Lock and load, people!') that's worth 4 stars right there. Then the ending hit quick and I never saw it coming, so that's 5 stars and a "Bravo!" for an enjoyable evening's read. Well done!
August 31, 2019
The Collector is an excellent sci-fi tale that has great world-building and something to say about human civilizations. A must-read for sci-fi fans and for those looking for intelligent fiction. It took me a while to get into it and the last third was definitely the strongest part of the story, but this was also because life kept interrupting me when I first picked it up to read so it took me a while longer to get immersed.
As I said it has excellent world-building. We open with a character, George, who has been abducted and taken to a mysterious place. He eventually meets the other main character Victoria, who has also been abducted, and they journey across this strange place they've been taken to together, meeting more and more abductees. As they travel we start to see more and more signs that they are on a different planet and the world-building takes shape slowly and smoothly.
I won't say any more so as not to spoil the fun, but I will say that it all got extremely interesting once we started to learn about The Collector who abducted them and moved them to this planet and his motivations for doing so. For me that was the best part of the story. It had a lot to say about humans and civilizations and the dangers we create for our own planet and showed an interesting "history" of planet Earth which I found absolutely fascinating.
The only issues I had with it was that a lot of time was spent on the banter between the two main characters and on a scene where they drink to de-stress from what happened to them, but what follows this slightly slow middle section was definitely worth it.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this novella and I have to say I'm becoming a fan of the author the more of his works I read. Check out my review of his novel Godeena here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
As I said it has excellent world-building. We open with a character, George, who has been abducted and taken to a mysterious place. He eventually meets the other main character Victoria, who has also been abducted, and they journey across this strange place they've been taken to together, meeting more and more abductees. As they travel we start to see more and more signs that they are on a different planet and the world-building takes shape slowly and smoothly.
I won't say any more so as not to spoil the fun, but I will say that it all got extremely interesting once we started to learn about The Collector who abducted them and moved them to this planet and his motivations for doing so. For me that was the best part of the story. It had a lot to say about humans and civilizations and the dangers we create for our own planet and showed an interesting "history" of planet Earth which I found absolutely fascinating.
The only issues I had with it was that a lot of time was spent on the banter between the two main characters and on a scene where they drink to de-stress from what happened to them, but what follows this slightly slow middle section was definitely worth it.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this novella and I have to say I'm becoming a fan of the author the more of his works I read. Check out my review of his novel Godeena here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
March 28, 2021
Victoria wakes up not knowing where she is, naked and confused. She finds instructions that tell her to dress and await further instructions. It’s a good opener, but from there the story deteriorates. She follows a path as she is told and is not particularly surprised or confused when she encounters George (or Georg as the text also calls him) – to the point that she forgets the danger of her situation and starts to think about what his kisses would be like. We are led away from her character by reference to her long neck (?) and long black hair, and that, for me, is where the book loses its power to engage.
Victoria and George then go on to meet the people of the strange place that they have found themselves in (New Earth) and she finally confronts The Collector himself. Everything seems to happen very quickly, but then again this is a very short book. A lot of development of character and plot could have been undertaken to give the novel more substance, but as it stands it feels shallow and rushed.
Aside from the focus of the story, the book is unedited, with typos and poor grammar throughout, which also detracted from the content. Editing and a rework could improve this novel, it has the bones of a satisfactory fantasy sci-fi story, but it’s not there yet.
Victoria and George then go on to meet the people of the strange place that they have found themselves in (New Earth) and she finally confronts The Collector himself. Everything seems to happen very quickly, but then again this is a very short book. A lot of development of character and plot could have been undertaken to give the novel more substance, but as it stands it feels shallow and rushed.
Aside from the focus of the story, the book is unedited, with typos and poor grammar throughout, which also detracted from the content. Editing and a rework could improve this novel, it has the bones of a satisfactory fantasy sci-fi story, but it’s not there yet.
February 8, 2021
(This is a review of the second edition of the book.)
Victoria wakes up in a strange place, with no knowledge of how she came there or even where *there* is. She’s alone, with only instructions that send her out to follow a path through a forest into an even deeper mystery.
I found this short, fast read very entertaining, with an underlying, relevant message. The world-building is interesting and the future tech is well detailed without being overwhelming. The intriguing premise is what drew me to read the story.
A few things did bother me in my reading: words that needed to be plural, jumps between past and present tense (sometimes from one sentence to the next), and what looked like word-choice errors. An example of the latter is a “pillar over twenty centimeters in diameter” that is “huge” and dominates the center of a room. The size seems off for the descriptions. A little extra polishing would nicely fix these distracting problems.
In spite of these issues, the story is an enjoyable read. And I loved the nice little twist at the end!
Victoria wakes up in a strange place, with no knowledge of how she came there or even where *there* is. She’s alone, with only instructions that send her out to follow a path through a forest into an even deeper mystery.
I found this short, fast read very entertaining, with an underlying, relevant message. The world-building is interesting and the future tech is well detailed without being overwhelming. The intriguing premise is what drew me to read the story.
A few things did bother me in my reading: words that needed to be plural, jumps between past and present tense (sometimes from one sentence to the next), and what looked like word-choice errors. An example of the latter is a “pillar over twenty centimeters in diameter” that is “huge” and dominates the center of a room. The size seems off for the descriptions. A little extra polishing would nicely fix these distracting problems.
In spite of these issues, the story is an enjoyable read. And I loved the nice little twist at the end!
September 5, 2019
Victoria and George suddenly find themselves plucked out of their ordinary lives and dropped in a strange wilderness, on another planet. And they aren’t the only ones trekking toward a giant dome. They were chosen by the Collector to fulfill certain roles. Victoria, who worked in a bar, was selected to be the governor. Why? Uncovering the answer to that question becomes the mystery of this sci-fi novella with a twist.
The story includes some interesting takes on history, particularly around the human tendency to destroy itself. Though the story starts with George, Victoria quickly takes over as the main character, and George fades from the story by the end. I liked the multi-layered conclusion. It’s sweet and scary, a fresh take on populating the universe.
The story includes some interesting takes on history, particularly around the human tendency to destroy itself. Though the story starts with George, Victoria quickly takes over as the main character, and George fades from the story by the end. I liked the multi-layered conclusion. It’s sweet and scary, a fresh take on populating the universe.
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