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Alien Safari #2
Alien Safari: White Water
It's the newest, most thrilling sightseeing cruise in the Alien Safari brochure.
For ranger Jan Corbija, ferrying rich tourists around the aquatic wonders of Hesperidia's islands helps to fund her important scientific research. But her final 'White Water' tour of the season might just be one sail too many when passengers steal her equipment for a dive into uncharted depths, triggering a tragic series of events.
A leisurely cruise becomes a race against time when a young girl is swept overboard during a storm, and Jan's beloved dog, Stopper, jumps in to rescue her. Jan will stop at nothing to find them, even if it means risking the safety of everyone on board. As the deep-sea salvage operation grows into an invasion force, she must contend with hostile humans and alien creatures alike in her quest to retrieve her brave canine companion and the girl in his charge.
Help arrives in the shape of her famous detective boyfriend, Ferrix Vaughn, who's left a crucial bombing investigation to come to her aid. But he soon realizes something unprecedented has been lost on Hesperidia. A secret from long ago. A secret that could change the course of human history.
It's past the point of no return for adventure and excitement in this white-knuckle sequel to the acclaimed Alien Safari.
For ranger Jan Corbija, ferrying rich tourists around the aquatic wonders of Hesperidia's islands helps to fund her important scientific research. But her final 'White Water' tour of the season might just be one sail too many when passengers steal her equipment for a dive into uncharted depths, triggering a tragic series of events.
A leisurely cruise becomes a race against time when a young girl is swept overboard during a storm, and Jan's beloved dog, Stopper, jumps in to rescue her. Jan will stop at nothing to find them, even if it means risking the safety of everyone on board. As the deep-sea salvage operation grows into an invasion force, she must contend with hostile humans and alien creatures alike in her quest to retrieve her brave canine companion and the girl in his charge.
Help arrives in the shape of her famous detective boyfriend, Ferrix Vaughn, who's left a crucial bombing investigation to come to her aid. But he soon realizes something unprecedented has been lost on Hesperidia. A secret from long ago. A secret that could change the course of human history.
It's past the point of no return for adventure and excitement in this white-knuckle sequel to the acclaimed Alien Safari.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2019
69 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Robert Appleton
63 books70 followersRobert Appleton is a British science fiction and adventure author partial to tales of survival in far-flung locations. Many of his sci-fi books share the same universe as his popular Alien Safari series, though tend to feature standalone storylines. His rebellious characters range from an orphaned grifter on Mars to a lone woman gate-crashing the war in her biotech suit. His sci-fi readers regularly earn enough frequent flyer miles to qualify for a cross-galaxy voyage of their choosing. His publishers include Harlequin Carina Press, and he also ghost-writes novels in other genres. In his free time he hikes, plays soccer, and kayaks whenever he can. The night sky is his inspiration.
His work has been nominated for several awards, and in 2011 he won the EPIC Award for Best Historical Fiction.
Be sure to follow Robert on BookBub for the latest on sales: https://bit.ly/3qLWVHu
His work has been nominated for several awards, and in 2011 he won the EPIC Award for Best Historical Fiction.
Be sure to follow Robert on BookBub for the latest on sales: https://bit.ly/3qLWVHu
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 12, 2023
Jan is shepherding tourists on a sea tour when some of the mutiny and go diving for some unspecified item, awakening creatures from the deep. As the creatures attack the boat and a storm rages a child goes overboard and Stopper, Jan’s dog companion, leaps over the side to rescue her. As the search goes on it becomes apparent that there are forces at work that Jan may block her from finding the dog and child before the child dies. Meanwhile Vaughn is on the verge of capturing a bomber who disappears, literally, just as he and his fellow law enforcement officer close in on him. Leaving that investigation when he is informed that Stopper is missing and Jan is in trouble Vaughn arrives on Hesperidia just in time to pull Jan out of trouble between two opposing factions searching for something they are willing to kill for. As the search for Stopper and the child goes on it seems that there may be links between the bomber and what is happening on Hesperidia.
The actions is pretty much non-stop from page one. As if the planet and its inhabitants are not hostile enough to humans we have two sisters leading opposing factions searching for a missing artifact that their great-great-grandfather had developed. Probably the first half of the books alternates between Jan and Vaughn’s search for Stopper and Stopper’s trek to bring the girl to safety. Things take an interesting turn when they find Stopper and the girl but too much detail here will spoil the suspense for the reader. These are quick reads with interesting characters and intriguing world building. I look forward to the next two books to see what more we learn of our characters and the war that looms over their lives.
Recommended
The actions is pretty much non-stop from page one. As if the planet and its inhabitants are not hostile enough to humans we have two sisters leading opposing factions searching for a missing artifact that their great-great-grandfather had developed. Probably the first half of the books alternates between Jan and Vaughn’s search for Stopper and Stopper’s trek to bring the girl to safety. Things take an interesting turn when they find Stopper and the girl but too much detail here will spoil the suspense for the reader. These are quick reads with interesting characters and intriguing world building. I look forward to the next two books to see what more we learn of our characters and the war that looms over their lives.
Recommended
July 16, 2024
I would give this a 4.5 for pure, joyous, action-adventure on a couple of very hostile planets that offer non-stop challenge to continued existence. Favorite characters from the first of this series are back, having settled into a relatively pleasing routine of life on Hespiridia for Jan and assignments off planet for Omicron lawman, Vaughn. Jan is required to captain a tour boat during peak tourist season to fund her scientific research. Even Stopper's presence cannot make this job tolerable, but on the latest cruise, her "guests" disobey the rules to jump into the water (stupid, considering what lives there) in search of some valuable artifact. Delaying the cruise, a storm hits and a young girl is washed overboard. Stopper does not hesitate and goes into the sea after her, and Jan mounts a desperate search for the two of them. Don't worry: Stopper is resourceful, intelligent and strong. So is the little girl, as it turns out. Vaughn is called in to help the search and as usual, he stumbles into vying political forces after some valuable relic that will stop at nothing to obtain in. More exciting travel, alien artifact weirdness and danger. The characters continue to enchant, Stopper is awesome, the monsters are scary and the action is excellent. One of the most enjoyable series I have found! These would make wonderful movies!
July 15, 2022
Good in spots
I loved the first book and was eager to read more adventures with Vaughn, Jan and Stopper.
I liked the scenes written from Stopper’s point of view. They were well done and I liked seeing more of the planet and it’s wildlife.
The plot is quite strange in this book. There are two distinct threads, one for the first half of the book and another for the second, but they don’t come together well.
One of the things I loved about the first book was the characters, but I didn’t get a feel for them at all in this book until the end.
Lots of things happened in this book that felt like a plot contrivance rather than natural story progression. It’s a shame because there is an interesting story here. I was most invested in Stopper’s journey, but I struggled to get into the other parts of the book.
I loved the first book and was eager to read more adventures with Vaughn, Jan and Stopper.
I liked the scenes written from Stopper’s point of view. They were well done and I liked seeing more of the planet and it’s wildlife.
The plot is quite strange in this book. There are two distinct threads, one for the first half of the book and another for the second, but they don’t come together well.
One of the things I loved about the first book was the characters, but I didn’t get a feel for them at all in this book until the end.
Lots of things happened in this book that felt like a plot contrivance rather than natural story progression. It’s a shame because there is an interesting story here. I was most invested in Stopper’s journey, but I struggled to get into the other parts of the book.
March 12, 2025
An enjoyable continuation of events from book one, though at a stretch these could be read as stand alone books in which case the reader is educated in the key details of what happened previously as needed.
My comments about over complicated vocabulary in the first couple of chapters in book one is not repeated in book two.
The description of alien worlds, plant life and life forms is well done, perhaps the most appealing aspect of these books. The characters are portrayed well with mannerisms and personalities remaining consistent. As expected the main characters seem to cope with incident and injury far more favourably than sub characters but that's not unique to this book or its author.
Overall it's a well paced and entertaining read. Several interesting side twists and a well positioned enending. 4 stars from me.
My comments about over complicated vocabulary in the first couple of chapters in book one is not repeated in book two.
The description of alien worlds, plant life and life forms is well done, perhaps the most appealing aspect of these books. The characters are portrayed well with mannerisms and personalities remaining consistent. As expected the main characters seem to cope with incident and injury far more favourably than sub characters but that's not unique to this book or its author.
Overall it's a well paced and entertaining read. Several interesting side twists and a well positioned enending. 4 stars from me.
April 16, 2024
Volume 2 is just as exciting as volume 1. I'm very pleased. New tech creates a real problem for our hero(s). I did not like where things were going. How in the multi worlds could this be resolved. I was afraid that this would ruin the story for the following 3 volumes. But our author found a way to fix things to my satisfaction. Robert Appleton is turning out to be a darn good author, in my opinion.
Now, on to volume 3. This really is entertaining.
Now, on to volume 3. This really is entertaining.
January 27, 2025
Not as good as the first book. I liked the setting and the basics of the plot. That said, once the setting changed drastically about 2/3 of the way through, the plot went off the rails and I had a lot of trouble following it. The ending was a nice twist, but the general sense of the book left me confused.
July 20, 2020
Good
Interesting and well written. Lots of action and an interesting view of SF. My problem i s with the review process. Why can't you accept my rating of good without a long written response. I find
Interesting and well written. Lots of action and an interesting view of SF. My problem i s with the review process. Why can't you accept my rating of good without a long written response. I find
July 22, 2020
Good story, interesting technology
Another good story in the Alien Safari series. The two main characters had interesting adventures. The fantastic technology near the end of the book was interesting but detracted from the story
Another good story in the Alien Safari series. The two main characters had interesting adventures. The fantastic technology near the end of the book was interesting but detracted from the story
February 13, 2021
Enjoyed reading this book.
It's been a while since I read the first book in the series but I enjoyed this one just as much as the first one. It's the characters that bring it to life more so than the SF aspects of the story
It's been a while since I read the first book in the series but I enjoyed this one just as much as the first one. It's the characters that bring it to life more so than the SF aspects of the story
July 7, 2020
I’ve read both books in the Alien Safari series and thoroughly enjoyed both books.
March 6, 2022
Average
To much unwanted background information about the players personal persuasion . With the action mainly three quarters through the story.
To much unwanted background information about the players personal persuasion . With the action mainly three quarters through the story.
March 23, 2022
Outstanding
Amazing adventures, time travel, alien creatures and mercenaries together make fantastic, can't put it down reading. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Amazing adventures, time travel, alien creatures and mercenaries together make fantastic, can't put it down reading. Can't wait to see what happens next.
July 21, 2025
great sequel. enjoyed it now to read the next
August 12, 2025
The “Alien Safari” thing struck me as a restrictive premise at the outset, but I decided to give it a try. Turns out I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the first two books.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews