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The Oblivion Saga #1
Oblivion Threshold
It isn’t a war—it’s a massacre. Mindless mechanical aliens are destroying everything in their path. And their path is heading straight for Earth…
The Prox don’t even notice us. They are simply devouring and reclaiming every scrap of metal they encounter. They have destroyed several colonies, killing everyone and leaving only wreckage in their wake.
Captain Jeff Bowers is a shell of a man, reduced to solo missions where he can’t piss anybody off. He is spying on the Prox when his ship crashes and he dies…kind of. When he wakes up he discovers he has a new body—and mysterious powers that could save the Earth…or end all life as we know it.
Oblivion Threshold is the first book in the thrilling Oblivion Saga. If you love Star Trek and Starship Troopers, you simply cannot pass up this adventure.
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202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2018
350 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 23, 2018
From the rating, I gave away that I liked it. The universe they created is full of life and humanity in all its variety. The characters are alive, 3 dimensional, have normal human interactions and dialogue.
Kudos to the writers for their recognition of the cultural and genetic diversity that describe the whole of humanity. This is a big deal, given that apparently most American science fiction writers can't write this kind of future. Whether these other writers realize that their all American future is a political statement is a question. That it is a political statement is not a question.
The tech breakthrough is wild and different. The decision making around deploying the techniques when the survival of humanity is at stake against the risk of destroying the universe is scary yet reasonable.
The book is great, the characters and plot are attention grabbing. It's shaping up to be a good series. I'm crossing my fingers.
Kudos to the writers for their recognition of the cultural and genetic diversity that describe the whole of humanity. This is a big deal, given that apparently most American science fiction writers can't write this kind of future. Whether these other writers realize that their all American future is a political statement is a question. That it is a political statement is not a question.
The tech breakthrough is wild and different. The decision making around deploying the techniques when the survival of humanity is at stake against the risk of destroying the universe is scary yet reasonable.
The book is great, the characters and plot are attention grabbing. It's shaping up to be a good series. I'm crossing my fingers.
February 24, 2019
An Average Read.
There were some intriguing concepts that I've seen hints of in other science fiction novels. However, the combat felt a bit rushed, while the talking felt too long-winded. The talking included discussing morality, training, disbelief over the scientific powers, etc. Overall the plot and characters did not feel fully developed.
There are aliens but I felt something was missing. Maybe the aliens were not developed or the plot seemed too magical and mystical.
There were some intriguing concepts that I've seen hints of in other science fiction novels. However, the combat felt a bit rushed, while the talking felt too long-winded. The talking included discussing morality, training, disbelief over the scientific powers, etc. Overall the plot and characters did not feel fully developed.
There are aliens but I felt something was missing. Maybe the aliens were not developed or the plot seemed too magical and mystical.
January 18, 2019
Fighting💥 to Win🏆
Jeff🐺 is a space captain who lost his entire crew, and blames it on himself. He has become a loner and will only accept missions where he can go alone.
It's a good thing, because a terrifying first 👽alien contact is made out in deep space. Seemingly indestructible metal eating 👽aliens have arrived. The creatures ride by the thousands on the outside of the ships🚀! The spider like creatures detach and zoom through space faster than human ships🚀, and land on the vessels🚀, proceeding to dismantle them for the metal. Are they alive or robots? Who or what is piloting their ships?🚀
Jeff🐺 is sent in a recon mission to see the aftermath of the alien👾 destruction of a small planet🌍 populated by humans.
With their backs to the wall, and their very survival at stake, the humans start thinking outside the box and turn again to Jeff.🐺
Something happened to Jeff🐺 out there in space, he's no longer just a puny human.........
ARC Received from Hidden 💎Gems
I also got the book with KU.
This book📕 does end in a cliffhanger, but the second book has been published.
Great but scary sci-fi that made me wonder and think, what if.......
Recommend!
Jeff🐺 is a space captain who lost his entire crew, and blames it on himself. He has become a loner and will only accept missions where he can go alone.
It's a good thing, because a terrifying first 👽alien contact is made out in deep space. Seemingly indestructible metal eating 👽aliens have arrived. The creatures ride by the thousands on the outside of the ships🚀! The spider like creatures detach and zoom through space faster than human ships🚀, and land on the vessels🚀, proceeding to dismantle them for the metal. Are they alive or robots? Who or what is piloting their ships?🚀
Jeff🐺 is sent in a recon mission to see the aftermath of the alien👾 destruction of a small planet🌍 populated by humans.
With their backs to the wall, and their very survival at stake, the humans start thinking outside the box and turn again to Jeff.🐺
Something happened to Jeff🐺 out there in space, he's no longer just a puny human.........
ARC Received from Hidden 💎Gems
I also got the book with KU.
This book📕 does end in a cliffhanger, but the second book has been published.
Great but scary sci-fi that made me wonder and think, what if.......
Recommend!
August 23, 2021
This book had some interesting concepts and some high stakes but, while I enjoyed it for the most part there were a few things that didn’t hold up. The Ulim (however it’s spelled? I read via audio) seemed perfectly happy to stop the main character for what he might do but didn’t even mention the other species that was literally killing thousands.
Plus, I was not a fan of this narrator. I’m an experienced audiobook listener and was able to push past it but he really didn’t do the emotions justice which was very distracting.
Still, I’m a sucker for a military scifi and it was entertaining enough.
‼️Quite a bit of language
—-
This was an audiobook read for me
Plus, I was not a fan of this narrator. I’m an experienced audiobook listener and was able to push past it but he really didn’t do the emotions justice which was very distracting.
Still, I’m a sucker for a military scifi and it was entertaining enough.
‼️Quite a bit of language
—-
This was an audiobook read for me
December 8, 2020
I think the narrator is undermining this book, frankly. The story is quite interesting and the characters are engaging enough, if not particularly compelling yet.
But the narrator is making it a chore. I am going to listen to the next because it's loaded onto my phone, but if I don't adjust to it better than I have so far I probably won't finish this series, at least not in audio.
ETA: This book ends on a cliff-hanger. The second book starts exactly where this one ends.
But the narrator is making it a chore. I am going to listen to the next because it's loaded onto my phone, but if I don't adjust to it better than I have so far I probably won't finish this series, at least not in audio.
ETA: This book ends on a cliff-hanger. The second book starts exactly where this one ends.
November 27, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, the narrative is so gripping and literally I had every singe scene in detail in my mind. I loved the end and I can’t wait to read the next book in the saga!
October 22, 2018
Very interesting and absorbing
There are a few things that I can say about the book, the first of which was how absorbed with the characters I became. The quirky psychologies of the main character, the progression of the story line all worked wonders on my mental imagery. Second, the enemies are chilling, though I think they are more than they seem, just what they are is bad enough. The last but most important is the malevolent aliens who both give and regret giving... on to the next book...
There are a few things that I can say about the book, the first of which was how absorbed with the characters I became. The quirky psychologies of the main character, the progression of the story line all worked wonders on my mental imagery. Second, the enemies are chilling, though I think they are more than they seem, just what they are is bad enough. The last but most important is the malevolent aliens who both give and regret giving... on to the next book...
October 5, 2018
This was a pretty good book. Great descriptions of concepts which are, by their very nature, indescribable. But it had enough bad language that I couldn't recommend it for kids. And without the language, it would have been a good sci-fi book for older kids (8-12).
May 12, 2020
Nice idea....poorly executed.
March 7, 2020
In Oblivion Threshold, J. R. Mabry and B. J. West put a twist on the classic space war for the survival of humanity. Actually, they put two twists on it and both are really good. First, the alien Prox are just weird. They ride on the outside of their spaceships and scavenge solar systems for all of their collectable metals. There are a lot of creepy images associated with this trait, but the best is the sound of alien creatures landing on human spaceships and starting to carve them open so they can harvest their metals. Humans aren’t food here—they’re just in the way.
The second twist is the accidental solution that might let humanity survive these creatures. Captain Jeff Bowers is killed while spying on the Prox but a second group of aliens—a sort of group intelligence who have transcended above physical bodies—intervene and reconstruct him. In doing so, they accidentally show him how to translocate objects across lightyears of space instantaneously. If Bowers can master this power, humanity will be able to bolster its defense against the Prox by fully utilizing all of its military assets while jumping them around space to keep them out of harms way. Problem—the second set of aliens don’t want Jeff using his powers this way. They seem to think that there’s a decent chance he’ll accidentally destroy the universe.
So Oblivion Threshold develops two very different, but totally intertwined, storylines involving two different alien species—and it is fascinating watching the cast try and sort through their problems. I do have a couple of nitpicky complaints, but I want to stress that these didn’t harm my overall enjoyment of the novel. First, and most importantly, the obvious solution to the second alien race’s fear is for them to help humanity defeat the Prox by doing the translocation for them. They might have said no, but they needed to be asked. Second, I found it unlikely that the one military commander whose ship successfully fought and escaped the Prox would have later been risked in an experiment that any captain could have handled. It seems to me that her expertise would have been tapped to prep humanity for its next encounter with the hostile aliens.
Those complaints aside, this is a really fun book that people who love a bit of military space opera are likely to enjoy.
I received this book free from Audio Book Boom in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
The second twist is the accidental solution that might let humanity survive these creatures. Captain Jeff Bowers is killed while spying on the Prox but a second group of aliens—a sort of group intelligence who have transcended above physical bodies—intervene and reconstruct him. In doing so, they accidentally show him how to translocate objects across lightyears of space instantaneously. If Bowers can master this power, humanity will be able to bolster its defense against the Prox by fully utilizing all of its military assets while jumping them around space to keep them out of harms way. Problem—the second set of aliens don’t want Jeff using his powers this way. They seem to think that there’s a decent chance he’ll accidentally destroy the universe.
So Oblivion Threshold develops two very different, but totally intertwined, storylines involving two different alien species—and it is fascinating watching the cast try and sort through their problems. I do have a couple of nitpicky complaints, but I want to stress that these didn’t harm my overall enjoyment of the novel. First, and most importantly, the obvious solution to the second alien race’s fear is for them to help humanity defeat the Prox by doing the translocation for them. They might have said no, but they needed to be asked. Second, I found it unlikely that the one military commander whose ship successfully fought and escaped the Prox would have later been risked in an experiment that any captain could have handled. It seems to me that her expertise would have been tapped to prep humanity for its next encounter with the hostile aliens.
Those complaints aside, this is a really fun book that people who love a bit of military space opera are likely to enjoy.
I received this book free from Audio Book Boom in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
April 26, 2020
Top notch space opera, contact and conflict with more than one alien race and a universe that may be doomed.
Space going Capt Jeff Bowers is a man shattered by his experiences in the conflict against the Prox, an alien race simply expanding through space across the stellar systems, virtually ignoring the human race, but destroying everything in their path, including human colonies. Capt Bowers is despatched on a solo mission to spy on the Prox in an effort to learn more about them when his ship crashes on a distant moon and is destroyed. Somehow, he is saved and reconstructed by another sentient alien race and returned to the earth. Endowed with strange powers now, he has the ability to save the human race in its futile struggle against the Prox, however these same powers may change and destroy the universe and reality as humans know it. Using his powers will also seriously annoy the same mysterious race who has endowed him with these powers.
This is space opera at its best, with descriptions of violent and realistic space battles, but also with some very human themes as well. Despite the military nature of this book, there is an element in it very reminiscent of Arthur C Clarke's 2001, A Space Oddessy as well.
Space going Capt Jeff Bowers is a man shattered by his experiences in the conflict against the Prox, an alien race simply expanding through space across the stellar systems, virtually ignoring the human race, but destroying everything in their path, including human colonies. Capt Bowers is despatched on a solo mission to spy on the Prox in an effort to learn more about them when his ship crashes on a distant moon and is destroyed. Somehow, he is saved and reconstructed by another sentient alien race and returned to the earth. Endowed with strange powers now, he has the ability to save the human race in its futile struggle against the Prox, however these same powers may change and destroy the universe and reality as humans know it. Using his powers will also seriously annoy the same mysterious race who has endowed him with these powers.
This is space opera at its best, with descriptions of violent and realistic space battles, but also with some very human themes as well. Despite the military nature of this book, there is an element in it very reminiscent of Arthur C Clarke's 2001, A Space Oddessy as well.
August 2, 2021
This book is about a worn-out space captain who wants to remain obscure but becomes the sole hope of Earth in their defense against an alien infestation. The alien bugs capture ships and use them to invade other metal-rich planets. These alien bugs currently have their eyes set on Earth’s holdings and colonies. The bugs can fly in space to attack earth ships in flight and tear them apart. They are unstoppable.
Captain Jeff Bowers learns how to move military assets through space by manipulating spacetime. The peaceful aliens who taught him this ability are opposed to him using it as he risks the balance of spacetime by using it. Bowers persisted however and, at the end of this book, transported his ship and crew into a parallel universe. That’s all there is as the remaining ramifications of his actions are in the next book.
The Oblivion Threshold is not a stand-alone book but should be viewed as an introduction to the series. I read it as an audiobook while exercising. The narrator's voice and inflections sound like the narrators heard on old newsreels from the 1940s. These two disappointing issues turned me off to reading other books in this series.
Captain Jeff Bowers learns how to move military assets through space by manipulating spacetime. The peaceful aliens who taught him this ability are opposed to him using it as he risks the balance of spacetime by using it. Bowers persisted however and, at the end of this book, transported his ship and crew into a parallel universe. That’s all there is as the remaining ramifications of his actions are in the next book.
The Oblivion Threshold is not a stand-alone book but should be viewed as an introduction to the series. I read it as an audiobook while exercising. The narrator's voice and inflections sound like the narrators heard on old newsreels from the 1940s. These two disappointing issues turned me off to reading other books in this series.
March 27, 2020
Pleasant read but.
Enjoyed this book for the most part. I always enjoy a female protagonist or 2. But, being retired military, I took exception to some of the theories and practices. Also, when the Ulim appeared and told Jeff they wouldn't allow him to kill beings, why didn't point out that they were allowing the Proxys to wipe out the human race by stopping him? I did enjoy the change from rats or mice being a chronic problem, but again, why fumigate? Evacuate the ship and open it to vacuum. Problem solved.
Again , all in all it was a pleasant read, and I intend to try the second installment
Enjoyed this book for the most part. I always enjoy a female protagonist or 2. But, being retired military, I took exception to some of the theories and practices. Also, when the Ulim appeared and told Jeff they wouldn't allow him to kill beings, why didn't point out that they were allowing the Proxys to wipe out the human race by stopping him? I did enjoy the change from rats or mice being a chronic problem, but again, why fumigate? Evacuate the ship and open it to vacuum. Problem solved.
Again , all in all it was a pleasant read, and I intend to try the second installment
April 14, 2020
Exciting space epic
I'm reviewing the first two books in the saga. The concept of instantaneous space travel is fascinating. But the Ulim warned the human captain that the newfound power he learned from them was incredibly dangerous and he should stop using it. But what do you do when Earth is going to be obliterated by thousands of metal-eating powerful aliens and this may be the only way to stop them? I look forward to reading the third book in this excellent trilogy.
I'm reviewing the first two books in the saga. The concept of instantaneous space travel is fascinating. But the Ulim warned the human captain that the newfound power he learned from them was incredibly dangerous and he should stop using it. But what do you do when Earth is going to be obliterated by thousands of metal-eating powerful aliens and this may be the only way to stop them? I look forward to reading the third book in this excellent trilogy.
April 30, 2020
Destroy humanity while saving it?
Excellent science fiction for fans of Jack Campbell or Dan Weber, etc. Humanity faces in unknown species intent on devouring humans and their spaceships for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But our hero has some experience with aliens, others who gift him with the power to save humanity and destroy it while doing so. A fun and fast-paced read. Heading to book 2 now!
Excellent science fiction for fans of Jack Campbell or Dan Weber, etc. Humanity faces in unknown species intent on devouring humans and their spaceships for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But our hero has some experience with aliens, others who gift him with the power to save humanity and destroy it while doing so. A fun and fast-paced read. Heading to book 2 now!
May 28, 2019
An above average story.
This series has some interesting ideas unfortunately the universe it inhabits is not described as richly as it should be. This results in some plot holes that detract from the stories. For example, why and how is the earth the target of this alien species in a galaxy of a billion stars?
This series has some interesting ideas unfortunately the universe it inhabits is not described as richly as it should be. This results in some plot holes that detract from the stories. For example, why and how is the earth the target of this alien species in a galaxy of a billion stars?
March 28, 2020
You want me where and when?
Alright here we go an honest to goodness story that I find refreshing. Great story line, good characters and a plot line I can live with. I will be starting the second book so let's hope it stays true to the first. Yes, read this book it's well worth it, I will let you know how the next one is.
Alright here we go an honest to goodness story that I find refreshing. Great story line, good characters and a plot line I can live with. I will be starting the second book so let's hope it stays true to the first. Yes, read this book it's well worth it, I will let you know how the next one is.
August 19, 2021
Got about 80 pages in and had to DNF it. Main character and certain events really annoyed me while reading it. Biggest thing was the two female characters though. Too stereotypical and not convincing as high ranking military personnel considering they start getting catty upon first meeting each other.
April 22, 2022
Book 1
Book 1 was an okay read and had errors throughout. The plot and characters developed well and were interesting. The plot is predictable in some ways, but has a nice twist towards the end. The MC is described well and is a loner, but still in the military. It follows an odd accounting of events that lead to a cliff hanger for the next book.
Book 1 was an okay read and had errors throughout. The plot and characters developed well and were interesting. The plot is predictable in some ways, but has a nice twist towards the end. The MC is described well and is a loner, but still in the military. It follows an odd accounting of events that lead to a cliff hanger for the next book.
December 30, 2022
An interesting and compelling story.I was impressed with the plot the author created and having been in the military can relate to the position of Captain Bowers. Even if you die and are recreated, the mental issues remain. But can a solution be found that everyone can live with. Lives are at stake but decisions need to be made. Well worth reading.
December 13, 2018
Great read
Normally I don't like alternate realities or jumping in time , mostly because I can't keep up . But you nailed it in your stories . They are not far fetched or fall into a whole different story . And I kept up .
Normally I don't like alternate realities or jumping in time , mostly because I can't keep up . But you nailed it in your stories . They are not far fetched or fall into a whole different story . And I kept up .
April 1, 2020
Great book
I really liked the story. A little more backstory would have been nice. I’m not sure if there was a prequel that I missed though. I would live to read more about the Ullim.
I really liked the story. A little more backstory would have been nice. I’m not sure if there was a prequel that I missed though. I would live to read more about the Ullim.
February 8, 2021
Sci Fi to think on
It isn’t often that a story causes me to really think about what is behind it. This one did. And does, still. Do yourself a favour and read it yourself. It’s a most interesting experience. Breathtaking.
It isn’t often that a story causes me to really think about what is behind it. This one did. And does, still. Do yourself a favour and read it yourself. It’s a most interesting experience. Breathtaking.
November 7, 2021
Good start
I enjoyed the first book. Easy to read. Concepts not too complicated. The science fiction easy to understand. The cast is not overly complicated. Very enjoyable rainy day reading.
I enjoyed the first book. Easy to read. Concepts not too complicated. The science fiction easy to understand. The cast is not overly complicated. Very enjoyable rainy day reading.
December 1, 2021
Oblivion Threshold
I enjoyed reading this book very much. The synopsis on Amazon didn't grip me that much and I confess that I bought it because it was free. I ended up liking the book and its premise a lot. Just bought the second in the series.
I enjoyed reading this book very much. The synopsis on Amazon didn't grip me that much and I confess that I bought it because it was free. I ended up liking the book and its premise a lot. Just bought the second in the series.
May 24, 2022
.
JAY-ZUS, I FIND THIS BORING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND REPETITIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, WHY would anyone imagine that in the future, ANYone would want/wear “dreadlocks” or “blue hair ??????”
I thought this book stunk.
.
I thought this book was a waste of my very, very, very, very valuable time.
.
JAY-ZUS, I FIND THIS BORING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND REPETITIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, WHY would anyone imagine that in the future, ANYone would want/wear “dreadlocks” or “blue hair ??????”
I thought this book stunk.
.
I thought this book was a waste of my very, very, very, very valuable time.
.
February 11, 2020
A good sci-fi read
This the second book in the series takes off from the last one with the main character going through problems and trying to solve the worlds pending disaster
This the second book in the series takes off from the last one with the main character going through problems and trying to solve the worlds pending disaster
April 5, 2020
3.5
A promising start but feels like it could have been expanded to show more than just tell.
A promising start but feels like it could have been expanded to show more than just tell.
May 16, 2020
This is typically not the genre I like to read. It was a bit vague in some areas and i didn't like how it ended.
July 15, 2020
Terrific read
I found this a terrific read. It kept me riveted from first to last page. I will definitely read it again.
I found this a terrific read. It kept me riveted from first to last page. I will definitely read it again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews