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The Dragon Mage #1
Bad Luck Charlie
Charlie Gault had all the luck. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the good kind.
It was looking like Lady Luck had quite a grudge against him. In fact, at this point merely crashing the multi-billion-dollar ship he had helped design would have felt like winning the lottery compared to his current dilemma. If only he were so lucky.
Things had started off all right––that is, until a freak wormhole unexpectedly swallowed his ship, leaving him stranded on an unknown planet far, far from home. With the crew’s lives at stake, Charlie had no choice but to stop his whining, put on his big boy pants, and step up to save them all, and much to his surprise, it actually looked like he might succeed. Of course, that was when things really went sideways in ways that made merely crashing on an uncharted planet seem like a walk in the park.
Suddenly faced with alien space pirates, talking dragons, and something that seemed very much like magic, Charlie found himself adrift, feeling like a space age Robinson Crusoe––only his man Friday was a blue-skinned alien, and this wasn't just a desert island. It was a whole new galaxy.
It was looking like Lady Luck had quite a grudge against him. In fact, at this point merely crashing the multi-billion-dollar ship he had helped design would have felt like winning the lottery compared to his current dilemma. If only he were so lucky.
Things had started off all right––that is, until a freak wormhole unexpectedly swallowed his ship, leaving him stranded on an unknown planet far, far from home. With the crew’s lives at stake, Charlie had no choice but to stop his whining, put on his big boy pants, and step up to save them all, and much to his surprise, it actually looked like he might succeed. Of course, that was when things really went sideways in ways that made merely crashing on an uncharted planet seem like a walk in the park.
Suddenly faced with alien space pirates, talking dragons, and something that seemed very much like magic, Charlie found himself adrift, feeling like a space age Robinson Crusoe––only his man Friday was a blue-skinned alien, and this wasn't just a desert island. It was a whole new galaxy.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2019
968 people are currently reading
1125 people want to read
About the author
Scott Baron
55 books291 followersScott Baron is an American author with a penchant for oddball stories with O. Henry-esque twists.
Born in Hollywood, Baron credits growing up in Los Angeles with skewing his humor towards the offbeat and absurd. He studied abroad in Italy during his college years, returning to Los Angeles to work in the film industry as an on-set medic. In addition to writing shorts and novels, Baron is also a screenwriter of both feature and television scripts.
Born in Hollywood, Baron credits growing up in Los Angeles with skewing his humor towards the offbeat and absurd. He studied abroad in Italy during his college years, returning to Los Angeles to work in the film industry as an on-set medic. In addition to writing shorts and novels, Baron is also a screenwriter of both feature and television scripts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
October 23, 2019
It feels like the author had three different stories he wanted to tell and couldn't decide which one to start with. This book starts off as a sci-fi survival story like The Martian, then it turns into a story about a slave on the run and space pirates, and finally, you get martial art, gladiator training with heavy Asian inspiration. There is no plot that ties the three parts together and no complete story arc within each of the parts either. The pacing and structure are just bad. It feels like a stream of consciousness writing with no plan beforehand and no editing afterward. I found the first part interesting and wanted more of that. I spent the second part waiting for the story to get back on track. During the last part, I had given up all hope and felt very disappointed after a promising beginning. This led me to DNF it with only 30min left.
December 24, 2020
Bad Luck Charlie
The Dragon Mage, Book 1
By: Scott Baron
Narrated by: Gary Bennett
I loved the Daisy series so much but this one was not anywhere close to being as good. No humor, boring in places, ugh! Lots of action but not fun or exciting action!
Narration was fair.
The Dragon Mage, Book 1
By: Scott Baron
Narrated by: Gary Bennett
I loved the Daisy series so much but this one was not anywhere close to being as good. No humor, boring in places, ugh! Lots of action but not fun or exciting action!
Narration was fair.
June 13, 2023
A very enjoyable adventure. The author has a great imagination. Poor Charlie just goes from one trial to another. But he seems to have great fortitude and always make the best of things. I am looking forward to seeing where the next books take Charlie.
June 7, 2019
WELL THAT WAS FUN
It was a wild ride. Like, non-stop insane. Like you'd never be able to guess what would happen next kind of insane. And then the minute something happens, something else happens that you didn't expect.
When I say non-stop, I mean non-stop.
Maybe too non-stop? There were some parts I was kinda like "wow, wait what slow down", but those times passed quite quickly when I started enjoying the next scene.
I really really liked Charlie. He was a fun character, with absolutely horrible luck. I feel like his story is far from over, and there's more horrible luck on the horizon.
I feel like Rika, while her treatment was kinda refreshing as she had 0 plot armour, was treated poorly and I feel bad for her. I think she totally could've had a bigger part of the story, rather than just being at the beginning. But that's just a small little nitpick, and there's a part of me that wonders if she won't show up in coming novels...
Overall, I really really bloody enjoyed it. And I think you'll enjoy it. So read it. :P
OH WAIT I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION
The combination of Sci-fi and Magic was so well done!! Having magic be this normal thing for the aliens, something that controls their society and everything they do... It's brilliant. And it's done in a way that works, and melds the two together in a great way.
It was a wild ride. Like, non-stop insane. Like you'd never be able to guess what would happen next kind of insane. And then the minute something happens, something else happens that you didn't expect.
When I say non-stop, I mean non-stop.
Maybe too non-stop? There were some parts I was kinda like "wow, wait what slow down", but those times passed quite quickly when I started enjoying the next scene.
I really really liked Charlie. He was a fun character, with absolutely horrible luck. I feel like his story is far from over, and there's more horrible luck on the horizon.
I feel like Rika, while her treatment was kinda refreshing as she had 0 plot armour, was treated poorly and I feel bad for her. I think she totally could've had a bigger part of the story, rather than just being at the beginning. But that's just a small little nitpick, and there's a part of me that wonders if she won't show up in coming novels...
Overall, I really really bloody enjoyed it. And I think you'll enjoy it. So read it. :P
OH WAIT I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION
The combination of Sci-fi and Magic was so well done!! Having magic be this normal thing for the aliens, something that controls their society and everything they do... It's brilliant. And it's done in a way that works, and melds the two together in a great way.
July 26, 2019
Unlike Anything I’ve Read Before
I really went into Bad Luck Charlie blind. I didn’t know much about it. It’s the first book in a series and the first book by Scott Baron I’ve ever read. The cover gives you some idea (much more once you’ve read the story and understand all of the things on it). But to describe the story – it’s about a lost man, Charlie, who isn’t really trying to find his way home as much as he’s trying to figure out how to survive. Also, he has bad luck… shocker! The beginning was basically a normal every day science fiction story. And by the end, it’s this bizarre fantasy/sci-fi mash-up with a bunch of other things thrown in for good measure.
This one was a weird but intriguing story. Every time I thought I had it figured out it would change a bit more. I’ve been trying to figure out how to describe it (without spoiling anything) and I really can’t. It’s bizarre in a good way and definitely unlike anything I’ve ever read before.
I found myself getting more and more into the story as it progressed and there was only one minor thing that slightly irked me. More than a few times at the end of a chapter Baron would say something like “Charlie got so lucky.” And then the opening of the next chapter was “Charlie wasn’t lucky at all.” It’s interesting and definitely done to try and throw the reader off – but it was done so many times that it started to bother me more than make me unsure of what was to come.
I need to point out that this was the first book I listened to that Gary Bennett narrated and I thought he did a great job. He was able to take on the roles that were given to him and the different species but did it in a way that was pleasing to the ear instead of annoying. Kudos to him for that.
So, overall, I really enjoyed this book and I definitely want to continue the series. Baron did a good job of showing a little of what’s to come from the series without giving it completely away. I hope that Baron and Bennett work together more in the future (especially on this series).
I really went into Bad Luck Charlie blind. I didn’t know much about it. It’s the first book in a series and the first book by Scott Baron I’ve ever read. The cover gives you some idea (much more once you’ve read the story and understand all of the things on it). But to describe the story – it’s about a lost man, Charlie, who isn’t really trying to find his way home as much as he’s trying to figure out how to survive. Also, he has bad luck… shocker! The beginning was basically a normal every day science fiction story. And by the end, it’s this bizarre fantasy/sci-fi mash-up with a bunch of other things thrown in for good measure.
This one was a weird but intriguing story. Every time I thought I had it figured out it would change a bit more. I’ve been trying to figure out how to describe it (without spoiling anything) and I really can’t. It’s bizarre in a good way and definitely unlike anything I’ve ever read before.
I found myself getting more and more into the story as it progressed and there was only one minor thing that slightly irked me. More than a few times at the end of a chapter Baron would say something like “Charlie got so lucky.” And then the opening of the next chapter was “Charlie wasn’t lucky at all.” It’s interesting and definitely done to try and throw the reader off – but it was done so many times that it started to bother me more than make me unsure of what was to come.
I need to point out that this was the first book I listened to that Gary Bennett narrated and I thought he did a great job. He was able to take on the roles that were given to him and the different species but did it in a way that was pleasing to the ear instead of annoying. Kudos to him for that.
So, overall, I really enjoyed this book and I definitely want to continue the series. Baron did a good job of showing a little of what’s to come from the series without giving it completely away. I hope that Baron and Bennett work together more in the future (especially on this series).
March 2, 2019
It's like Christmas, but in space. And with blood and pirates, and aliens.
You know that old commercial about the peanut butter cups with the two people going along and run into each other- hey! You got your chocolate in my peanut butter!
Then it turns out that the best combination ever?!
This is the same thing. The perfect marriage between space fiction and magic. And just like peanut butter cups it's the best thing ever!
Charlie is the quintessential intergalactic boy scout - who's a little hard up on luck. The good kind of luck- because he's got an abundance of the bad kind.
Charlie gets roped into a training run that takes an unexpected turn when the ship and crew get sucked into Einstein-Rosen bridge. It doesn't end we'll for poor Charlie
He's going to need some big konus to get out of this mess.
"He was still a captive and in a world of shit. Only this time, it was literal."
For me personally- this book should be ranked- shut up and take my money! I loved the story so much ( I was even skeptical about the magic element, and it's brilliant). My favorite character shows up in chapter 30. Anytime a writer adds one of those, I'm there ( wampeh needs it's own genre is all I'm saying!)
And it's funny- there are parts I highlighted- and just reading part of the sentence is enough to crack me up all over again.
Everybody needs this sort of escape in their life.
You know that old commercial about the peanut butter cups with the two people going along and run into each other- hey! You got your chocolate in my peanut butter!
Then it turns out that the best combination ever?!
This is the same thing. The perfect marriage between space fiction and magic. And just like peanut butter cups it's the best thing ever!
Charlie is the quintessential intergalactic boy scout - who's a little hard up on luck. The good kind of luck- because he's got an abundance of the bad kind.
Charlie gets roped into a training run that takes an unexpected turn when the ship and crew get sucked into Einstein-Rosen bridge. It doesn't end we'll for poor Charlie
He's going to need some big konus to get out of this mess.
"He was still a captive and in a world of shit. Only this time, it was literal."
For me personally- this book should be ranked- shut up and take my money! I loved the story so much ( I was even skeptical about the magic element, and it's brilliant). My favorite character shows up in chapter 30. Anytime a writer adds one of those, I'm there ( wampeh needs it's own genre is all I'm saying!)
And it's funny- there are parts I highlighted- and just reading part of the sentence is enough to crack me up all over again.
Everybody needs this sort of escape in their life.
July 7, 2019
I didn't want it to end!!!
I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this book but I loved it. It was like that ride you get on that's over too soon and you just don't want to get off. Charlie is such a likable character, he's just got the most horrible luck imaginable. The title is perfect and describes the story perfectly. You really won't be able to predict the story. It reminded me a bit of a funhouse ride where you really have to pay close attention to everything. It would make a perfect movie.
Scott Baron manages to blend everything together in a way you wouldn't expect but it works so well. There's sci-fi, magic, aliens, pirates and adventure, not to mention just how fun the whole thing is.
I'm interested to see where the next book takes us and which characters return.
I received a free copy of this book through BookSirens and am leaving a voluntary and honest review.
I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this book but I loved it. It was like that ride you get on that's over too soon and you just don't want to get off. Charlie is such a likable character, he's just got the most horrible luck imaginable. The title is perfect and describes the story perfectly. You really won't be able to predict the story. It reminded me a bit of a funhouse ride where you really have to pay close attention to everything. It would make a perfect movie.
Scott Baron manages to blend everything together in a way you wouldn't expect but it works so well. There's sci-fi, magic, aliens, pirates and adventure, not to mention just how fun the whole thing is.
I'm interested to see where the next book takes us and which characters return.
I received a free copy of this book through BookSirens and am leaving a voluntary and honest review.
June 11, 2019
This was an interesting sci-fi+fantasy stew. It reminded me a lot of Avatar, Sleeping Giants, Star Trek, Eragon, Harry Potter, adn a few more.
The book read like a film. It was good, but nothing outstanding.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The book read like a film. It was good, but nothing outstanding.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
July 16, 2019
Ok
decent but the main character is pretty dumb, actually the first quarter of the book he is normal maybe a little clever and progressively gets less intelligent the further into the story you get.
decent but the main character is pretty dumb, actually the first quarter of the book he is normal maybe a little clever and progressively gets less intelligent the further into the story you get.
August 8, 2020
Notes:
Mediocre narration for an uninspiring story. Cool concepts, 90% lack of delivery of said concepts. I did try reading the KU version and it did not keep my attention when I tried.
Mediocre narration for an uninspiring story. Cool concepts, 90% lack of delivery of said concepts. I did try reading the KU version and it did not keep my attention when I tried.
March 13, 2020
It you can get past the slow beginning, it becomes a fun read! A universe with magic, pirates, dragons and gladiators! I don't think Charlie had bad luck or good luck, just dumb luck!
September 25, 2020
Well, this was different -- and a very pleasant surprise. First of all, I want to thank whoever in the Space Opera Fans group nominated this book, because I would never have read it otherwise. Really, the description makes it sound rather moronic and not the roller coaster funfest I got!
Really, this book promised crashed spacecraft, pirates, dragons, etc. Sounded like a mishmash to me. I usually like science fiction and fantasy separate. But this was like that old TV ad advertising Reese's Peanut Butter cups, "two things better together".
Also, the adventure part of this book is wonderful. The action never lets up. Our hero is trying so hard not only to survive and escape, but also to understand. The world building is excellent, but honestly the adventure and cliffhangers are the best part!
Really, this book promised crashed spacecraft, pirates, dragons, etc. Sounded like a mishmash to me. I usually like science fiction and fantasy separate. But this was like that old TV ad advertising Reese's Peanut Butter cups, "two things better together".
Also, the adventure part of this book is wonderful. The action never lets up. Our hero is trying so hard not only to survive and escape, but also to understand. The world building is excellent, but honestly the adventure and cliffhangers are the best part!
February 16, 2019
At first I thought, "oh no... space again..." But then, it all changed! Poor Charlie. He tries to do the right thing, but somehow he just manages to mess up. Every time he thinks he is doing the right thing, it all just fails miserably. He escapes, gets captured by another. He meets some interesting characters along the way though. Tuktuk is such a fun character.
The story flowed nicely, leading the reader on a wonderful journey. It takes Charlie quite some time to finally accept magic. But... What about the Wampeh that Charlie "helps"? And Rika? What happened to her? And the dragon? So many questions!! I'm sure they will be answered in the next book. I can't wait!
The story flowed nicely, leading the reader on a wonderful journey. It takes Charlie quite some time to finally accept magic. But... What about the Wampeh that Charlie "helps"? And Rika? What happened to her? And the dragon? So many questions!! I'm sure they will be answered in the next book. I can't wait!
July 31, 2019
What might you expect from a story about an engineer who is afraid of space travel assigned to a maiden voyage of a starship and some new technology? Well, let me say, this is only the first of many things that can and does go wrong for Charlie as his luck goes from bad to worse. “Bad Luck Charlie” is the first book in “The Dragon Maze” series and appears to be the premiere work published on Audible by author Scott Baron. The audiobook edition is delightfully narrated by Gary Bennett. Even though the audiobook has a slower and bumpy start getting going, it does not take much time to wonderfully blossoms in to a very deep and compelling science fiction adventure. The listener is taken from one wonderfully awful place to the next, but each experience is like a gem for the listener. If you are a person who likes exploration, adventure, life and humor, let me say that this first in a series has started off very well and I look forward to the future audiobooks to come.
Although the story is action packed from the start to the finish. In some ways it was like a pressure cooker that takes a little while to reach its full potential. Once the momentum is achieved, the audiobook is like a rollercoaster cresting its first drop, and what a fun and exciting trip it takes the listener on when it happens. In many ways the story feels like a tragic survival tale, but the many twists and turns have you always wondering what comes next. How much bad luck can Charlie have? A lot. Don’t get me wrong, at first, I thought the book was going to be more slap-stick or satirical, but the author weaves a tale including emotions of love, loss, and life while keeping it light-hearted and fun along the way. The main character felt complex, likeable, and you begin to truly care for his well-being and next steps. At times you want to reach out and just give him a hug; he needs them. The use of flashbacks and other backstory details helped fill in Charlie’s life and how he became a great engineer who really does not enjoy what he does, yet he uses all his experiences to keep himself alive.
I very much enjoyed that we are able to observe and follow Charlie as he experiences and discovers the many different and unique things during his adventures. The various lands, people, relationships, etc. Much like with a role-playing game (RPG), the listener is able to see the main character grow and increase from his experiences. Later, he would use these new lessons to his own advantage, or to the benefit of his close friends. The worlds Charlie experiences felt vastly different and unique from our own. There is a blending of both technology and “magic” making things operate in these strange places. At times it had a feeling of Steampunk, Underworld and Starship Troopers blended with bits of humor to lighten the tension. The author did a wonderful job of showing us the tight bonds and friendship he makes along the way. Often these overshadow all his bad luck because apart from his situations, he always has his friends at his side.
All of this is made even better with the mystery, suspense, and adventure Charlie faces along his journey. Much like the famous trek to the land of Mordor to dispatch the magical ring, Charlie as well has a journey that is fraught with pain and loss along the way. He learns, grows, and experiences life in what many would consider the worst of the worst conditions. Yes, his luck was bad, but his pain is what made him grow into the loving and carrying person he becomes. I do like that the author as well admits to his love of off-kilter humor as the book has many one liners and snarky comments that had me laughing out loud a few times. One character stated that both bravery and stupidity are the same thing, it only depends on the outcome and one’s perspective; insightful. We also see that this man is not afraid of failure as this is what he uses to grow and mature into who he becomes.
At the end of the story, I did not feel cheated, but I can say that I wanted more. I want to know about this magic, some of the alien weapons, the various people (alien) groups, etc. I want to see Charlie grow and experience more. This is a sign of a well-written and narrated audiobook. In some ways the story reminded me of the movie “The Truman” show where we are given a front row seat to observe the many thoughts, deeds and actions of Charlie. I enjoyed it very much and the audiobook really was more than I first thought it would be. The chapters are short and easily consumable, but the writing is descriptive and easy to picture.
The audiobook’s narrator did a wonderful job of setting the tone and pace of the story. There was an overarching sense of dread or weightiness which the narrator was able to maintain throughout the book. But, also a true sense of relief when the author uses humor, we can hear it in the narration. The narrator did a good job of expressing and brings the main character, and all the others, to life for the listener. For a relative newcomer to the Audible narration scene, with seventeen total books at the time of this review, the audio was clean, crisp, and free of any noticeable audio artifacts.
For parents and younger readers, be aware that the author uses vulgar language which seems to become more frequent as the book progresses or in times of heated action. There is some use of mature content involving innuendoes along with references to specific body parts. There are also some light aspects of anti-religious overtones by the main character, but these are rarely portrayed. Because of the nature of the more mature material covered in the book along with some violence, I would not recommend the book to younger readers.
In summary, the book has a veneer of being only a humorous tale of Charlie and his many episodes of bad luck. It is much more than that and well worth a credit for the listen. The author gives us a glimpse into what may be future elements to come, but we are also left waiting for the next in the series to be released. Charlie, we are sorry that you had to experience all the bad luck you did, but we are glad you brought us along for the ride.
Although the story is action packed from the start to the finish. In some ways it was like a pressure cooker that takes a little while to reach its full potential. Once the momentum is achieved, the audiobook is like a rollercoaster cresting its first drop, and what a fun and exciting trip it takes the listener on when it happens. In many ways the story feels like a tragic survival tale, but the many twists and turns have you always wondering what comes next. How much bad luck can Charlie have? A lot. Don’t get me wrong, at first, I thought the book was going to be more slap-stick or satirical, but the author weaves a tale including emotions of love, loss, and life while keeping it light-hearted and fun along the way. The main character felt complex, likeable, and you begin to truly care for his well-being and next steps. At times you want to reach out and just give him a hug; he needs them. The use of flashbacks and other backstory details helped fill in Charlie’s life and how he became a great engineer who really does not enjoy what he does, yet he uses all his experiences to keep himself alive.
I very much enjoyed that we are able to observe and follow Charlie as he experiences and discovers the many different and unique things during his adventures. The various lands, people, relationships, etc. Much like with a role-playing game (RPG), the listener is able to see the main character grow and increase from his experiences. Later, he would use these new lessons to his own advantage, or to the benefit of his close friends. The worlds Charlie experiences felt vastly different and unique from our own. There is a blending of both technology and “magic” making things operate in these strange places. At times it had a feeling of Steampunk, Underworld and Starship Troopers blended with bits of humor to lighten the tension. The author did a wonderful job of showing us the tight bonds and friendship he makes along the way. Often these overshadow all his bad luck because apart from his situations, he always has his friends at his side.
All of this is made even better with the mystery, suspense, and adventure Charlie faces along his journey. Much like the famous trek to the land of Mordor to dispatch the magical ring, Charlie as well has a journey that is fraught with pain and loss along the way. He learns, grows, and experiences life in what many would consider the worst of the worst conditions. Yes, his luck was bad, but his pain is what made him grow into the loving and carrying person he becomes. I do like that the author as well admits to his love of off-kilter humor as the book has many one liners and snarky comments that had me laughing out loud a few times. One character stated that both bravery and stupidity are the same thing, it only depends on the outcome and one’s perspective; insightful. We also see that this man is not afraid of failure as this is what he uses to grow and mature into who he becomes.
At the end of the story, I did not feel cheated, but I can say that I wanted more. I want to know about this magic, some of the alien weapons, the various people (alien) groups, etc. I want to see Charlie grow and experience more. This is a sign of a well-written and narrated audiobook. In some ways the story reminded me of the movie “The Truman” show where we are given a front row seat to observe the many thoughts, deeds and actions of Charlie. I enjoyed it very much and the audiobook really was more than I first thought it would be. The chapters are short and easily consumable, but the writing is descriptive and easy to picture.
The audiobook’s narrator did a wonderful job of setting the tone and pace of the story. There was an overarching sense of dread or weightiness which the narrator was able to maintain throughout the book. But, also a true sense of relief when the author uses humor, we can hear it in the narration. The narrator did a good job of expressing and brings the main character, and all the others, to life for the listener. For a relative newcomer to the Audible narration scene, with seventeen total books at the time of this review, the audio was clean, crisp, and free of any noticeable audio artifacts.
For parents and younger readers, be aware that the author uses vulgar language which seems to become more frequent as the book progresses or in times of heated action. There is some use of mature content involving innuendoes along with references to specific body parts. There are also some light aspects of anti-religious overtones by the main character, but these are rarely portrayed. Because of the nature of the more mature material covered in the book along with some violence, I would not recommend the book to younger readers.
In summary, the book has a veneer of being only a humorous tale of Charlie and his many episodes of bad luck. It is much more than that and well worth a credit for the listen. The author gives us a glimpse into what may be future elements to come, but we are also left waiting for the next in the series to be released. Charlie, we are sorry that you had to experience all the bad luck you did, but we are glad you brought us along for the ride.
June 28, 2020
Bad Luck Charlie is a highly rated indie speculative fiction novel which is under-rated. This is the first episode in The Dragon Mage series. In this installment Charles Gault is an engineer who has the unfortunate luck of being on a test run of a aircraft designed to travel to outer space. Due to human error, a wormhole is created and the entire crew finds themselves in the unknown.
This book had many intriguing aspects but also some limitations that will determine your level of enjoyment. Most speculative fiction stick to one pre-dominant sub-genre. In this book, the author mixes space opera with first contact with adventure and then straight up fantasy. This works because theoretical science can be often viewed as magical. Ah, the beauty of science fiction to push boundaries.Whilst the book doesn't break any mold, it showcases the writing style of the author with his irreverent humor and mature thinking. Thus the characters are nuanced to some aspect. Sadly, I wished that the author made his aliens more otherwordly. But the attention to details about language barriers was much appreciated.
Hopefully this series improves with each book. Be aware that the beginning is clunky and slow to develop with the flashbacks but it does get better. It has some swearing but I am undecided on the role of women as they have no played a major role per se.
This book had many intriguing aspects but also some limitations that will determine your level of enjoyment. Most speculative fiction stick to one pre-dominant sub-genre. In this book, the author mixes space opera with first contact with adventure and then straight up fantasy. This works because theoretical science can be often viewed as magical. Ah, the beauty of science fiction to push boundaries.Whilst the book doesn't break any mold, it showcases the writing style of the author with his irreverent humor and mature thinking. Thus the characters are nuanced to some aspect. Sadly, I wished that the author made his aliens more otherwordly. But the attention to details about language barriers was much appreciated.
Hopefully this series improves with each book. Be aware that the beginning is clunky and slow to develop with the flashbacks but it does get better. It has some swearing but I am undecided on the role of women as they have no played a major role per se.
December 27, 2020
A Wild Ride
The story starts as the typical sci-fi novel, with technology driving the protagonists. Within a few chapters, the storyline rapidly morphs into mysticism and majik, with a touch of Imperial Roman hierarchy. A highly unusual and unique experience, one made positive with solid character development and some unexpected supporting cast. Book 1 ends on a positive note, with a very short epilogue providing a glimpse into book 2.
The story starts as the typical sci-fi novel, with technology driving the protagonists. Within a few chapters, the storyline rapidly morphs into mysticism and majik, with a touch of Imperial Roman hierarchy. A highly unusual and unique experience, one made positive with solid character development and some unexpected supporting cast. Book 1 ends on a positive note, with a very short epilogue providing a glimpse into book 2.
January 14, 2020
Really a fun read. Great reader and interesting story.
June 10, 2021
A bit Larry Stu, but the developments in the last chapter or two will lead me to read book 2 if it's on K.U.
March 17, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Charlie Gault must be one of THE most unluckiest characters I have ever come across.
The story begins with a terrible crash on an unknown planet. You would think that would be the worst thing that could happen to someone, wouldn't you? Think again, folks.
The reader really gets to grips with Charlie's character and his personality. He's a good-hearted soul and always thinks of others. But although he does some (what he sees as) positive things, the majority of the time the consequences don't always work out the way he wants them to. The other characters in the story are full and realistic, absolutely realistic for this planet and galaxy. I didn't much like Tuktuk to begin with, but he grew on me.
This is a fabulous adventure that completely sucks you in and refuses to let you go. Just when you think the story has settled down... it then doesn't. It is well-written, well thought-out and put together, so funny, addictive, with a heady mix of all possible magical genres. You'll want to get book two as soon as you can. I can't wait! (Come on, Mr Baron, write quicker!)
Highly recommended for pure entertainment value, while you lose a whole day.
The story begins with a terrible crash on an unknown planet. You would think that would be the worst thing that could happen to someone, wouldn't you? Think again, folks.
The reader really gets to grips with Charlie's character and his personality. He's a good-hearted soul and always thinks of others. But although he does some (what he sees as) positive things, the majority of the time the consequences don't always work out the way he wants them to. The other characters in the story are full and realistic, absolutely realistic for this planet and galaxy. I didn't much like Tuktuk to begin with, but he grew on me.
This is a fabulous adventure that completely sucks you in and refuses to let you go. Just when you think the story has settled down... it then doesn't. It is well-written, well thought-out and put together, so funny, addictive, with a heady mix of all possible magical genres. You'll want to get book two as soon as you can. I can't wait! (Come on, Mr Baron, write quicker!)
Highly recommended for pure entertainment value, while you lose a whole day.
April 21, 2019
This is one of the best books I have come across in a long time. Charlies luck just keeps getting worse and worse. Just when he thinks things are going to get better they don't. Dropped into a world that is very different than that which he is from and knows he must find a way to survive. Will anything ever go his way again? Will he ever be free again? Will he live to fight another day? Full of adventure and spikes of humor that will keep you hanging on to the very end and make you want to know more of the story.
March 14, 2019
This is an awesome Sci-fi/fantasy that is full of action, with wonderful characters and a great story that just keeps you reading on and on. The ending was thrilling but leaves you wanting to know more. So then there's more. Awesome.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 31, 2019
It seems all the luck he has it the bad kind. It is going to get worse when the space ship he destined crash lands on a strange planet. It is about to get worse. Just how worse can it get. See just how bad
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 8, 2019
Loved it
At first I didn't think I was going to like it, even wondered if I'd finish it. I'm glad I stuck with it. About a third of the way in this book gets better and better. Eventually it was hard to put down. I loved it!
At first I didn't think I was going to like it, even wondered if I'd finish it. I'm glad I stuck with it. About a third of the way in this book gets better and better. Eventually it was hard to put down. I loved it!
August 5, 2019
Interesting
A slow starter, but things get more and more interesting as time goes on. Definitely hitting the next book. Recommended.
A slow starter, but things get more and more interesting as time goes on. Definitely hitting the next book. Recommended.
August 24, 2019
This book reminds me a bit of Farscape. An enjoyable read.
July 25, 2024
A really fast-paced, fun blend of sci-fi in addition to sword and sorcery fantasy. Our protagonist Charlie is living in corporate hell, blackmailed into being part of a test flight otherwise he would be unemployable for the rest of his life. Someone made a bit of a blunder, and due to this the einstein-rosen stabiliser (wormhole stabiliser) doesn't work as planned. This leads to Charlie being sucked through a wormhole into an entirely foreign galaxy.
What seems to be a recurring motif of the story is that Charlie keeps falling downwards. Things go from bad and dire, to worse. Just as Charlie gets used to the current predicament, everything changes. So.. if you're planning on reading this (and i'd suggest giving it a go), be ready for a few scenery changes.
I wasn't a fan of the corporate part (I actually had the same complaint with Bedlam) - i'd prefer if books skipped it and jumped straight into the sci-fi/fantasy elements but hey ho. I enjoyed the repercussions of their going through a wormhole, this segment of the book felt kinda like No Man's Sky and teased some of the magic elements. I didn't enjoy every story arc within this book - some of them were quite boring so docking a star feels fair. However, the arcs in the "shitty ship", "training for life and death situation", and then "facing life and death situation" (air quotes to not spoil whats happening) were really good and I had a good time with them.
This is a pretty lengthy series with 12 books. Kinda flabberghasted at how Scott Baron published 12 books in 4 years tbh. I'll give the next book or two a shot before I decide whether I realy want to commit to the series. Looking good so far.
4/5
What seems to be a recurring motif of the story is that Charlie keeps falling downwards. Things go from bad and dire, to worse. Just as Charlie gets used to the current predicament, everything changes. So.. if you're planning on reading this (and i'd suggest giving it a go), be ready for a few scenery changes.
I wasn't a fan of the corporate part (I actually had the same complaint with Bedlam) - i'd prefer if books skipped it and jumped straight into the sci-fi/fantasy elements but hey ho. I enjoyed the repercussions of their going through a wormhole, this segment of the book felt kinda like No Man's Sky and teased some of the magic elements. I didn't enjoy every story arc within this book - some of them were quite boring so docking a star feels fair. However, the arcs in the "shitty ship", "training for life and death situation", and then "facing life and death situation" (air quotes to not spoil whats happening) were really good and I had a good time with them.
This is a pretty lengthy series with 12 books. Kinda flabberghasted at how Scott Baron published 12 books in 4 years tbh. I'll give the next book or two a shot before I decide whether I realy want to commit to the series. Looking good so far.
4/5
March 15, 2020
Not wanting to drag myself into reading all night I got as far as chapter 10 feeling like I was reading old time sci-fi with the level of technology and happenstances involved in setting up the story of Charlie ending up in another universe. At chapter 25, the planet landing and survival wasn't pulling me in that much and I easily put it down to sleep last night.
Then today all the alien worlds and Charlie trying to interpret what he was being dragged through and frame it all based on being a human from Earth, while providing only glimpses into places and characters, actually felt real. I imagine being a slave, corralled in the bowls of a ship, brought out only to act as a beast of burden, with no understanding of the culture, civilization, and languages around you, the experience would be similar to what was presented. Then there were pirates and dragons, ....
And I finished it at midnight. For me it was highly entertaining, funny, some very serious truths about life, and completely understandable in how Charlie's world view had to change completely to accept software and word commands were not the essence of magic.
I recognize this kind of story is not for everyone. It is not heavy reading. There are no long descriptions of space battles, complex plots, or presentation of scientific explanations of how it could all be real. My brain actually appreciated the respite from all of that in science fiction, as it could just sit back and enjoy the adventure.
Then today all the alien worlds and Charlie trying to interpret what he was being dragged through and frame it all based on being a human from Earth, while providing only glimpses into places and characters, actually felt real. I imagine being a slave, corralled in the bowls of a ship, brought out only to act as a beast of burden, with no understanding of the culture, civilization, and languages around you, the experience would be similar to what was presented. Then there were pirates and dragons, ....
And I finished it at midnight. For me it was highly entertaining, funny, some very serious truths about life, and completely understandable in how Charlie's world view had to change completely to accept software and word commands were not the essence of magic.
I recognize this kind of story is not for everyone. It is not heavy reading. There are no long descriptions of space battles, complex plots, or presentation of scientific explanations of how it could all be real. My brain actually appreciated the respite from all of that in science fiction, as it could just sit back and enjoy the adventure.
April 24, 2020
Bad Luck Charlie
R2R, ARC
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow, what a ride. So much happens to Charlie, a little on the reserved side that transforms into a force to be reckoned with. There was so much I liked about this book. The one thing that started to get to me though was his refusal of magic. I get it he has a very scientific mind, yet he is thrown into a universe completely different from ours. Magic is what this new universe revolves around.
So you have an eccentric billionaire that has a group of scientists that make whatever he thinks of. The biggest project is a spacecraft that will "jump" to Mars. During a testing phase they accidentally open a worm hole that takes them to who knows where and they crash on a deserted planet. Things just get worse from there. This book focused on Charlie and boy does he have some bad luck. Though I will say he has some good luck thrown in too.
It is one wild ride. I thoroughly enjoyed it. In still have some questions that I hope are answered in the next book. Which I will be reading! If you like books about space travel, lots of aliens and different planets. Space pirates, gladiators, and dragons, with magic in them give this book a try.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
R2R, ARC
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow, what a ride. So much happens to Charlie, a little on the reserved side that transforms into a force to be reckoned with. There was so much I liked about this book. The one thing that started to get to me though was his refusal of magic. I get it he has a very scientific mind, yet he is thrown into a universe completely different from ours. Magic is what this new universe revolves around.
So you have an eccentric billionaire that has a group of scientists that make whatever he thinks of. The biggest project is a spacecraft that will "jump" to Mars. During a testing phase they accidentally open a worm hole that takes them to who knows where and they crash on a deserted planet. Things just get worse from there. This book focused on Charlie and boy does he have some bad luck. Though I will say he has some good luck thrown in too.
It is one wild ride. I thoroughly enjoyed it. In still have some questions that I hope are answered in the next book. Which I will be reading! If you like books about space travel, lots of aliens and different planets. Space pirates, gladiators, and dragons, with magic in them give this book a try.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 24, 2022
It has been some time since I have read a book I well and truly enjoyed. I love sci-fi, I love fantasy, and this is the definition of both.
It has space people, Magic, dragons, and even some "technical" engineering stuff.
Now, there is no doubt in my mind it could be better, here are some notes:
- There have been times when the POV switches from one character to another in the middle of a page.
- The author re-introduces many know facts that you read a couple chapters ago, which is annoying since you are reading a copy-paste from another part of the book. This may be a good thing for some, but not me.
- This is a 6 hour book for me, and I was excited for the character to meet a Dragon, but to my dismay the first Dragon was introduced 20 minutes until the end of the book.
- Had a slow start. The first 2 hours were nothing but gathering supplies and building character, which was very needed and something not many books have, but I found myself blanking some pages and having to go back. I am here to tell you to push on and read the rest of the book.
I rated 5 out of 5 because I just plain enjoyed it. Sure there were some points when I got confused by the writing, but that was definitely the minority.
It has space people, Magic, dragons, and even some "technical" engineering stuff.
Now, there is no doubt in my mind it could be better, here are some notes:
- There have been times when the POV switches from one character to another in the middle of a page.
- The author re-introduces many know facts that you read a couple chapters ago, which is annoying since you are reading a copy-paste from another part of the book. This may be a good thing for some, but not me.
- This is a 6 hour book for me, and I was excited for the character to meet a Dragon, but to my dismay the first Dragon was introduced 20 minutes until the end of the book.
- Had a slow start. The first 2 hours were nothing but gathering supplies and building character, which was very needed and something not many books have, but I found myself blanking some pages and having to go back. I am here to tell you to push on and read the rest of the book.
I rated 5 out of 5 because I just plain enjoyed it. Sure there were some points when I got confused by the writing, but that was definitely the minority.
October 19, 2024
3.5 stars
I discovered this series because another series by the author, The Book Of Bawb, was one that I loved, and while the last book wrapped up satisfyingly, it ended with Bawb running into Charlie which made me think I would be able to see more of Bawb, so I was excited to see this book on Booksirens. However, to be clear, Bawb does not show up in this book except in passing, and had I not also gotten the audiobook as a 3-book bundle, I would have been kind of disappointed and may not have continued.
I was not thrilled by Rika suddenly disappearing as I thought she would become a strong character that would be a nice contrast to Charlie's personality. Yet, knowing this author and what he did with Bawb's series, as well as Hozark's series, she would probably show up later.
In any case, this was a decent introduction to this universe, but if you weren't thrilled by this first book, I would suggest continuing as I enjoyed the next book much more! But I'm a sucker for dragons, especially dragons who are connected to a person.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Booksirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I discovered this series because another series by the author, The Book Of Bawb, was one that I loved, and while the last book wrapped up satisfyingly, it ended with Bawb running into Charlie which made me think I would be able to see more of Bawb, so I was excited to see this book on Booksirens. However, to be clear, Bawb does not show up in this book except in passing, and had I not also gotten the audiobook as a 3-book bundle, I would have been kind of disappointed and may not have continued.
I was not thrilled by Rika suddenly disappearing as I thought she would become a strong character that would be a nice contrast to Charlie's personality. Yet, knowing this author and what he did with Bawb's series, as well as Hozark's series, she would probably show up later.
In any case, this was a decent introduction to this universe, but if you weren't thrilled by this first book, I would suggest continuing as I enjoyed the next book much more! But I'm a sucker for dragons, especially dragons who are connected to a person.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Booksirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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