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Delphi in Space #2
Delphi City
Hopefully you’ve read Starship Sakira, but you can start Delphi City, the second book in the exciting new adventure series Delphi in Space. The McCormacks have a starship, now they need a safe place to start harvesting the technology. They’re starting with a place in the Cook Islands, but to succeed they have to avoid spies, figure out how to manufacture the new technology using Earth-based tools, and then introduce it without getting into too much trouble with the governments and big corporations of Earth.
Come read along as they build their team from the initial five to enough to run and protect a city. They’re preparing to take the human race into space, but will they succeed before someone manages to take over their spaceship and technology? And can they finish before the Paraxeans come looking for their spaceship?
Come read along as they build their team from the initial five to enough to run and protect a city. They’re preparing to take the human race into space, but will they succeed before someone manages to take over their spaceship and technology? And can they finish before the Paraxeans come looking for their spaceship?
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 5, 2019
1184 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Bob Blanton
54 books318 followersBob Blanton has been an avid reader ever since his mother first took him to a library at age five. He has toyed with writing for years since college but was always too busy to start a novel. The "stone series" developed almost by itself as he was trying to sleep on long flights to Asia and Europe. He managed to write it and two follow-on novels while he was working, but never had the time to polish them. After he retired to the beach in Mexico, the only thing that competes with writing is the sound of the ocean and sunsets over the water. Now that he has published his series, he hopes you enjoy reading them as much as he has had writing them. Check back for other books as he continues to ply his new trade.
Now that he has published his series, he hopes you enjoy reading about Matthew and his developing powers as much as he has enjoyed writing about them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
April 27, 2022
A very enjoyable read, I read it in one long session. Then started the next book!
October 28, 2023
So many board meetings.
Why are they letting Catie drink and play poker with construction workers who party all the time. I get that she's a genius but she's 13. Awesome parenting, really awesome. For so much talk about having her socialize with kids the adults don't follow thru. Ok enough mom ranting.
All of the actual plot about aliens and space ships and foreign espionage was joked over in favor of paintball games and boring board meetings.
Why are they letting Catie drink and play poker with construction workers who party all the time. I get that she's a genius but she's 13. Awesome parenting, really awesome. For so much talk about having her socialize with kids the adults don't follow thru. Ok enough mom ranting.
All of the actual plot about aliens and space ships and foreign espionage was joked over in favor of paintball games and boring board meetings.
July 5, 2021
13-year-old shooting down Chinese fighter planes ... I am sorry but there is the point where I draw the line and that is child soldiers.
January 5, 2020
Nicely paced book
Sometimes when a scifi author wrote of a new technology, they forgot that the logistics of that creation is quite long and convoluted. This book addressed those details nicely, enough replicable details with current tech and financial and legal system, but not too much to bore the readers
Sometimes when a scifi author wrote of a new technology, they forgot that the logistics of that creation is quite long and convoluted. This book addressed those details nicely, enough replicable details with current tech and financial and legal system, but not too much to bore the readers
March 7, 2021
I just blew through all the books in this series (1-9 as I’m certain more are coming). As a result I am doing one review for all the books. The top item is: these books are significantly better than 95% of self-published books. Book one is by far the worst of the series and it is still okay. Book one’s main problem is that it lacks story resolution, something I hate and generally do not forgive. Here, however, the author tells a more character driven story which reduces the need for a firm resolution. In fact another review for book 9 caught my eye and it was complaining about a lack action, something I would typically complain about as well but did not even consider as the development of the characters was fascinating.
After book one the author uses a recipe: resolve main story but end on a teaser for the next book. Personally I find using teasers a bad idea as it distracts from the story just told. It also seems to me that a truly competent author would not require teasers as readers would come back for more without them. Oddly enough I am reminded of Lilian Jackson Braun’s “Cat Who” series. It was also character driven and yet she never felt the need to end one of her books with a teaser for the next book (and I read this entire series even though I am not a mystery reader).
Bottom line: good, enjoyable books.
After book one the author uses a recipe: resolve main story but end on a teaser for the next book. Personally I find using teasers a bad idea as it distracts from the story just told. It also seems to me that a truly competent author would not require teasers as readers would come back for more without them. Oddly enough I am reminded of Lilian Jackson Braun’s “Cat Who” series. It was also character driven and yet she never felt the need to end one of her books with a teaser for the next book (and I read this entire series even though I am not a mystery reader).
Bottom line: good, enjoyable books.
March 22, 2020
I enjoyed the first book, but I didn't think that this one really took the story much further. It was quite disjointed with quite a lot of filler, not that some of the little incidents weren't entertaining, but they didn't really go anywhere. There were also a few annoying things e.g.
Having said all that, it was still a decent read and worth three stars.
Having said all that, it was still a decent read and worth three stars.
August 13, 2021
With a core group knowing about the alien tech, rate of growth expands.
From miracle disease cures to new energy and environmental advances appear as our team introduces their alien technology but new concerns keep popping up. More to come.
From miracle disease cures to new energy and environmental advances appear as our team introduces their alien technology but new concerns keep popping up. More to come.
February 5, 2020
This book didn't move the story along very much, but it did spend a lot of time clearing the way for some fantastic sounding adventures in the next book. It appeared to be mainly a world building book, but it still had enough of an interesting story to keep it moving alone, and drawing the reader deeper into the plot. There are some interesting things afoot no doubt, and I plan to read the next one to see where they go.
September 3, 2025
Another most excellent read!
I am enjoying this series very much. I had just had one realization partway through this book: no ever mentions animals! No pets, no wild animals; while at sea, there’s no mention of sharks, whales or any other sea creatures. Not a major issue, but now that I’ve noticed the fact it keeps popping up now and again as I read.
[So, today (2020.06.22), I purchased the Audible version of this book and — low and behold — it's not already in the Goodreads db. I have long since given up trying to add books since it *always* creates a 'coverless' book.]
I am enjoying this series very much. I had just had one realization partway through this book: no ever mentions animals! No pets, no wild animals; while at sea, there’s no mention of sharks, whales or any other sea creatures. Not a major issue, but now that I’ve noticed the fact it keeps popping up now and again as I read.
[So, today (2020.06.22), I purchased the Audible version of this book and — low and behold — it's not already in the Goodreads db. I have long since given up trying to add books since it *always* creates a 'coverless' book.]
October 31, 2020
Done with this series. The author doesn't show the tech and development, just talks about it in a board meeting, and then by the next board meeting it is all there are working. A 13 year old kid with less than a years experience in a flight simulator can now fly an alien space craft at mach 5 and shoot down jets. What a joke!
August 11, 2024
After the second book, I unfortunately have choice but to write this inevitable conclusion.
Firstly, the main characters all have mundane, uninteresting non-reactive personalities regardless of any established accolades. While there are individual factors which point to the idea of a distinct personality, most conversations feel like they are written by an undeveloped version of ChatGPT. The few bits of relevant personality that comes out feels forced and largely serves to make one of the adults look incompetent, usually to artificially inflate the worth of the child protagonist as a counterpoint. Furthermore, Incompetence is used to create a poorly thought out line of drama, many times resulting from a rather unbelievable level of ineptitude and oversight. The characters simply do not impress nor draw you in.
Secondly, The author almost never writes about the substantive part of the story. Almost everything of Import is discussed in board meetings and nigh never written about directly.
Lastly, The author has a terrible understanding of science and technology and demonstrates it in many capacities. For instance, Modern military lasers have out ranged the supposedly advanced technology of this starship for 15 years and do so from 60% to well over 1000%. Also, He promotes a backwards idea of space manufacturing. Literally 180 degrees wrong given that gravities effect on the very small is negligible, meaning that very small things do not interact much with gravity, making it less of a consideration on the planet. Manufacturing in microgravity is best suited toward upscaling things that we can already do on a small scale but can't upscale under gravity. This takes place as small things become larger and start interacting with gravity in a far more profound way. (e.g., carbon nanotubes.) Unfortunately, It is not even an opinion, that these books will actually diminish a reader's understanding of science and technology. I can not recommend this.
Firstly, the main characters all have mundane, uninteresting non-reactive personalities regardless of any established accolades. While there are individual factors which point to the idea of a distinct personality, most conversations feel like they are written by an undeveloped version of ChatGPT. The few bits of relevant personality that comes out feels forced and largely serves to make one of the adults look incompetent, usually to artificially inflate the worth of the child protagonist as a counterpoint. Furthermore, Incompetence is used to create a poorly thought out line of drama, many times resulting from a rather unbelievable level of ineptitude and oversight. The characters simply do not impress nor draw you in.
Secondly, The author almost never writes about the substantive part of the story. Almost everything of Import is discussed in board meetings and nigh never written about directly.
Lastly, The author has a terrible understanding of science and technology and demonstrates it in many capacities. For instance, Modern military lasers have out ranged the supposedly advanced technology of this starship for 15 years and do so from 60% to well over 1000%. Also, He promotes a backwards idea of space manufacturing. Literally 180 degrees wrong given that gravities effect on the very small is negligible, meaning that very small things do not interact much with gravity, making it less of a consideration on the planet. Manufacturing in microgravity is best suited toward upscaling things that we can already do on a small scale but can't upscale under gravity. This takes place as small things become larger and start interacting with gravity in a far more profound way. (e.g., carbon nanotubes.) Unfortunately, It is not even an opinion, that these books will actually diminish a reader's understanding of science and technology. I can not recommend this.
March 16, 2022
Amazing that this Author wrote about Ukraine and Russia before the event of the War. How a Author can take Current events and Basically predict the Actions of Russia and the Actions of our Incompetent President Biden. Changing the Gender does not take away from the basic Reality of Cowards. They come in all sorts of Personae. But I do fear for Germany as the basic ideals of some of the East Germans are Russian. As Putin invaded Ukraine, what would it take to invade Germany. This Putin is a Student of Stalin. The one thing that Stalin hated was having to give up half of Germany to The Allies. He wanted Europe as any Megalomaniac who wanted to Rule the World. Just like Putin. I lived in Germany and Many Germans feared the Consolidation of Germany and the Potential influence of Russia. I visited East Germany before the Wall fell and the Bleakness was obvious to the Empty streets and Soldiers walking around in their Russian Uniforms with SubMachine guns. How easy is it for Putin to think it is easier to Control a Country by Annexing it to Control the Fuel distribution? Stalin's Greatest endeavour was to starve the People he hated, which he did. What is Putin's? This Author is Fantastic and Capturing the Fundamentals of Man's inhumanity is astonishing. It is Disheartening when our Leaders sell us out to Dictators like Putin and Xi. Wish we had a Delphi.
May 15, 2020
Awesome book! Very interesting story line and characters.
I really enjoyed this book. It was great to see the continued development of Catie, the main female in the book. as well as the continued development of all the other characters.
The continuing development of high tech for the earth, based on alien tech was also quite interesting. Especially given that the Delphi team had to make it appear to have been organically developed by their earth scientists and engineers.
I also really enjoyed the emphasis on hiring wounded vets to be medically rehabilitated, with alien technology, e.g., new eyes, replacing missing limbs, etc.
Finally, I loved how team Delphi looked very hard for ways to introduce the earth version of as much new technology in underdeveloped countries as possible to “spread the wealth” rather than just building everything in the U.S.
Really looking forward to book 3 in this wonderful series. Read them all, you’ll be very glad you did!
Keep up the great work Bob!
I really enjoyed this book. It was great to see the continued development of Catie, the main female in the book. as well as the continued development of all the other characters.
The continuing development of high tech for the earth, based on alien tech was also quite interesting. Especially given that the Delphi team had to make it appear to have been organically developed by their earth scientists and engineers.
I also really enjoyed the emphasis on hiring wounded vets to be medically rehabilitated, with alien technology, e.g., new eyes, replacing missing limbs, etc.
Finally, I loved how team Delphi looked very hard for ways to introduce the earth version of as much new technology in underdeveloped countries as possible to “spread the wealth” rather than just building everything in the U.S.
Really looking forward to book 3 in this wonderful series. Read them all, you’ll be very glad you did!
Keep up the great work Bob!
March 21, 2021
Blanton, Bob. Delphi City. Delphi in Space No. 2. Kindle, 2019.
Starship Sakira, the first book in the Delphi in Space series, owed a lot to Clive Cussler, but later books in the series owe more to early Heinlein, especially his juveniles. Given the desire to fix the ecology and get humanity off planet as quickly as possible, what could an entrepreneur engineer, his war hero brother, and his genius 13-year-old daughter do if they had a couple of billion dollars, a working starship, its shuttle crafts, alien medical tech, and a strong AI? How about buying an island in the South Pacific and building a high-tech city to begin introducing alien tech into the world economy? Blanton enjoys the logistics of building gee-whiz tech. He takes a little time out for plot developments, but his real interest seems to be in what one could do with a little software and some unobtanium. The style at best is nothing special, but I was entertained. 3.5 stars.
Starship Sakira, the first book in the Delphi in Space series, owed a lot to Clive Cussler, but later books in the series owe more to early Heinlein, especially his juveniles. Given the desire to fix the ecology and get humanity off planet as quickly as possible, what could an entrepreneur engineer, his war hero brother, and his genius 13-year-old daughter do if they had a couple of billion dollars, a working starship, its shuttle crafts, alien medical tech, and a strong AI? How about buying an island in the South Pacific and building a high-tech city to begin introducing alien tech into the world economy? Blanton enjoys the logistics of building gee-whiz tech. He takes a little time out for plot developments, but his real interest seems to be in what one could do with a little software and some unobtanium. The style at best is nothing special, but I was entertained. 3.5 stars.
September 28, 2022
Sllllooooowwwww moving Nancy Drew-ish
I found the first book in this series to be entertaining for a quick distraction. The second (Delphi City) was a slow moving struggle for me with a LOT of extraneous scenes and conversations that were frustrating and distracting. The premise is great... One of my favorites. And, since finding and devouring the RAMA series by Arthur C Clarke which incorporates a broadly similar, abandoned alien ship theme, I have been looking for another book or series that came close to the same level of creativity and excitement. With all due respect to Mr Blanton, this is not it. Not close. The concept of a 12-year old girl drinking scotch and champagne with the gang? Even with dad's head nodding 'okay'? Even though she's a genius? Sorry, but that's just one of many storylines that is just NOT acceptable to this old prude.
I found the first book in this series to be entertaining for a quick distraction. The second (Delphi City) was a slow moving struggle for me with a LOT of extraneous scenes and conversations that were frustrating and distracting. The premise is great... One of my favorites. And, since finding and devouring the RAMA series by Arthur C Clarke which incorporates a broadly similar, abandoned alien ship theme, I have been looking for another book or series that came close to the same level of creativity and excitement. With all due respect to Mr Blanton, this is not it. Not close. The concept of a 12-year old girl drinking scotch and champagne with the gang? Even with dad's head nodding 'okay'? Even though she's a genius? Sorry, but that's just one of many storylines that is just NOT acceptable to this old prude.
January 9, 2021
Second instalment fails to disappoint!
I have to say that I'm very impressed so far. This second book felt a little shorter than the first but didn't lose any of the quality of writing from the first. I remain impressed by the characters found here, and there are lots of little details dropped in here and then that tend to stand out.
That said, some of the dialogue could be improved, especially in the aviation bits. I'm not an expert, but grammatically speaking it was unclear who was speaking with each call (the order of words used). It is a little picky of me BUT given the attention to detail elsewhere it stood out.
Looking forward to the next book.
I have to say that I'm very impressed so far. This second book felt a little shorter than the first but didn't lose any of the quality of writing from the first. I remain impressed by the characters found here, and there are lots of little details dropped in here and then that tend to stand out.
That said, some of the dialogue could be improved, especially in the aviation bits. I'm not an expert, but grammatically speaking it was unclear who was speaking with each call (the order of words used). It is a little picky of me BUT given the attention to detail elsewhere it stood out.
Looking forward to the next book.
September 20, 2024
This book was dominated by the main characters having project planning meetings, discussing the next steps in building their business empire. Seriously, that's it. In the middle they played paintball to make it interesting--but it was against their own staff and they never lost a single person on their team, so the stakes were low and the tension lower. (And the girl genius continued to be even more unrealistic in her reactions and abilities.) The drama at the end was not enough to make this an interesting read. It turned into a pretty boring experience.
February 10, 2020
Building A City
Marc leads Mackenzie Discoveries in expanding, acquiring more people and introducing advanced technology to the world. They are effective in protecting their secrets and avoid allowing it to fall into the wrong hands. His 13 year old precocious daughter is again the co-star. I like the action, humor, building, and bit of romance. I look forward to the next book.
Marc leads Mackenzie Discoveries in expanding, acquiring more people and introducing advanced technology to the world. They are effective in protecting their secrets and avoid allowing it to fall into the wrong hands. His 13 year old precocious daughter is again the co-star. I like the action, humor, building, and bit of romance. I look forward to the next book.
April 30, 2020
Good read
While the story was interesting from the first page, it took me a while to understand the rhythm of the nearly journalistic style.
Characterization is minimalist but builds nicely. If one is unfamiliar with military thinking, I believe it would be difficult to understand some of the relationships.
This is an ambitious project and I plan to enjoy watching a handful of humans and one smart spaceship turn the world into an interstellar power.
While the story was interesting from the first page, it took me a while to understand the rhythm of the nearly journalistic style.
Characterization is minimalist but builds nicely. If one is unfamiliar with military thinking, I believe it would be difficult to understand some of the relationships.
This is an ambitious project and I plan to enjoy watching a handful of humans and one smart spaceship turn the world into an interstellar power.
June 24, 2020
A decent carry on from the prior volume, the author does a decent introduction but would advise reading book one of series first. Again this more an adventure tale with sci fi aspects but this is not a critique of the book in fact the sci fi content is higher than it's predecessor a trend I suspect will continue through the series. Now on third part so it still held my attention enough to want to continue.
May 1, 2020
It's good
But it could use more action, suspense. Maybe a couple subplots. It is fun and I do like the characters. Personally I like more description of physical surroundings. The water, how warm, what are nights like. Trees birds plants wind. Where are they, what does it look feel and sound like. The picture in my head is pretty brown and vague. Not much color.
But it could use more action, suspense. Maybe a couple subplots. It is fun and I do like the characters. Personally I like more description of physical surroundings. The water, how warm, what are nights like. Trees birds plants wind. Where are they, what does it look feel and sound like. The picture in my head is pretty brown and vague. Not much color.
June 1, 2020
This was a different kind of story. It has a good story and characters. The story has slow parts that can put you to sleep before picking up again. The author's over describing is the only obstacle which you really have to over come in reading this story. The story is Good and this was better than the first book. Good Reading Everyone!
June 3, 2020
A Fun Read
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Delphi City. The characters are realistic and fairly well developed. Good plotting and decent action. There were a few occasions where I felt the author played a little fast and loose with logic and left me wondering how we got where we are but it was fun reading the adventures of the McCormack clan. I liked it.
You'll like it too.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Delphi City. The characters are realistic and fairly well developed. Good plotting and decent action. There were a few occasions where I felt the author played a little fast and loose with logic and left me wondering how we got where we are but it was fun reading the adventures of the McCormack clan. I liked it.
You'll like it too.
June 20, 2020
Still Fun
The storyline morphs from soft sci-fi in book 1 to classic YA style literature in book 2. With a strong teenage female heroine, the story is a modern addition to the Nancy Drew genre, using the science effects from The Hardy Boys. Overall, still enjoyable as long as you keep your expectations in line.
The storyline morphs from soft sci-fi in book 1 to classic YA style literature in book 2. With a strong teenage female heroine, the story is a modern addition to the Nancy Drew genre, using the science effects from The Hardy Boys. Overall, still enjoyable as long as you keep your expectations in line.
June 29, 2020
Book no. 2 is a thriller
When you just get over the sleepless nights from reading book 1, up pops book 2 and some more sleepless yawns. Loved the city development, thanks Bob for taking the time to explain things happening instead of glossing over them and then the suspense of the crew awakening, kept me wondering, just what comes next? Enjoy this book everyone.
When you just get over the sleepless nights from reading book 1, up pops book 2 and some more sleepless yawns. Loved the city development, thanks Bob for taking the time to explain things happening instead of glossing over them and then the suspense of the crew awakening, kept me wondering, just what comes next? Enjoy this book everyone.
September 21, 2020
Reasonably well written, with an interesting bait, but a very slow execution.
Basically, this is a novel by the numbers. The characters remain relatively static, magical alien techs is introduced at various times, and that's pretty much it. The expected crisis occurs suddenly, late, and is resolved very quickly, making this a second installment that feels like filler more than anything else.
Basically, this is a novel by the numbers. The characters remain relatively static, magical alien techs is introduced at various times, and that's pretty much it. The expected crisis occurs suddenly, late, and is resolved very quickly, making this a second installment that feels like filler more than anything else.
November 20, 2020
Pleasant Reading
I really enjoyed the second book of this series. The maturation of the leading characters and their comradeship and the glimpses at family life shows the good side of humankind. The main plot of the story continues on track drawing your interest in continuing the series
I really enjoyed the second book of this series. The maturation of the leading characters and their comradeship and the glimpses at family life shows the good side of humankind. The main plot of the story continues on track drawing your interest in continuing the series
August 1, 2021
A leap or two forward or two
A terrific second book once it gets into third and fourth gear. It starts slow but stick with it cause it is worth it. I’m hooked now and I look forward to book three etc! Great characters, a mysterious plot and a fun dialogue. Join the Mackenzie group and buckle up for the flights - it’s gonna get bumpy……
A terrific second book once it gets into third and fourth gear. It starts slow but stick with it cause it is worth it. I’m hooked now and I look forward to book three etc! Great characters, a mysterious plot and a fun dialogue. Join the Mackenzie group and buckle up for the flights - it’s gonna get bumpy……
February 22, 2022
This book is very slow. But that is understandable because it is just the second in a series of 13 books. So the story cannot go too fast. The filler is paint ball games, card games and dives and well as a few parties. Still, its a good story, easy read. And I will keep on going with the series.
March 9, 2022
I just can't stand it.... It feels written by a 10 yo... There's no depth... Some interesting ideas to explore but the delivery is sooooo lame that is incredible I read up to the 3rd...if this was a movie it'll be in the late morning of Saturday..... Everything is so staged and leaning towards the main characters....
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews