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Ascension Wars #1
First Encounter
The Forerunners set out from Earth to colonize neighboring star systems
And to search for intelligent life...
The United Nations of Earth sent out the Forerunner ships to explore and colonize the four most promising star systems within 50 light-years of Earth.
Forerunner One left Earth under the command of Captain Clayton Cross, heading for Trappist-1. After a ninety year journey to reach it, the crew encountered not only a habitable world, but alien life already inhabiting it, and dark secrets lurking beneath the surface.
The revelation of who these aliens are and what they want proves more terrifying than promising, and Captain Cross is forced to make tough decisions that will affect not only his crew, but the fate of the entire human race.
And to search for intelligent life...
The United Nations of Earth sent out the Forerunner ships to explore and colonize the four most promising star systems within 50 light-years of Earth.
Forerunner One left Earth under the command of Captain Clayton Cross, heading for Trappist-1. After a ninety year journey to reach it, the crew encountered not only a habitable world, but alien life already inhabiting it, and dark secrets lurking beneath the surface.
The revelation of who these aliens are and what they want proves more terrifying than promising, and Captain Cross is forced to make tough decisions that will affect not only his crew, but the fate of the entire human race.
359 pages, Paperback
Published November 30, 2019
3762 people are currently reading
2614 people want to read
About the author
Jasper T. Scott
103 books512 followersJasper Scott is a USA Today bestselling author of more than 20 sci-fi novels. With over a million books sold, Jasper's work has been translated into various languages and published around the world.
Jasper writes fast-paced books with unexpected twists and flawed characters. Join the author's mailing list to get two FREE books: https://files.jaspertscott.com/mailin...
Jasper writes fast-paced books with unexpected twists and flawed characters. Join the author's mailing list to get two FREE books: https://files.jaspertscott.com/mailin...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
March 22, 2020
I cannot finish this book. The Captain, Clayton, is a moron, and the other characters are clichés from every Michael Crichton novel ever.
January 27, 2020
Planning
While interesting characters, and thought provoking science and first contact ideas , my suspension of disbelief was challenged a few too many times in the first 5 chapters.
***spoiler*** "
Having years to plan, and months of approach, wouldn't there be a plan to fully scope a few landing zones. Then, time of observation of those areas? Rather, we have the captain foolishly leading an away team with no reconnaissance at all.
While interesting characters, and thought provoking science and first contact ideas , my suspension of disbelief was challenged a few too many times in the first 5 chapters.
***spoiler*** "
Having years to plan, and months of approach, wouldn't there be a plan to fully scope a few landing zones. Then, time of observation of those areas? Rather, we have the captain foolishly leading an away team with no reconnaissance at all.
March 7, 2020
I would totally avoid that book. Zero research, gross errors to the point you believe it is a joke, no character development. I kept asking why am I reading it - only to finish it as fast as I can and read something which is worth it.
January 8, 2020
Okay, so this is a much better first contact story than the garbage we have to deal with, especially on TV.
Our species is better technologically advanced but does not have stuff like hyperspace or faster than light. The mission is indeed headed by a civilian (technically) and humans do end up finding sentient life on the planet they wish to explore. It wasn’t slimy creature like the ones from aliens. Most of the first contact stories ignore the fact that the extraterrestrial life we encounter might be intelligent. This intelligence does not imply they are hostile or docile.
Usually in such stories we end up prevailing and somehow end up killing/overpowering them at the last moment using a new technology which is unveiled at that very moment. I hate such duex ex machina and Stargate TV show has been especially guilty of this. In this story, they used normal combat techniques and lost personnel at a rate which seems logical.
I will still give it a 4 stars because it still ends up using some cliches and few of them just made my eye roll. I am tired of reading about description of people where they are being called blue eyes, wavy hair and at kind useless descriptors. Leaving out such details provides an opportunity for imagination and big screen adaptations can have a much diverse cast.
Our species is better technologically advanced but does not have stuff like hyperspace or faster than light. The mission is indeed headed by a civilian (technically) and humans do end up finding sentient life on the planet they wish to explore. It wasn’t slimy creature like the ones from aliens. Most of the first contact stories ignore the fact that the extraterrestrial life we encounter might be intelligent. This intelligence does not imply they are hostile or docile.
Usually in such stories we end up prevailing and somehow end up killing/overpowering them at the last moment using a new technology which is unveiled at that very moment. I hate such duex ex machina and Stargate TV show has been especially guilty of this. In this story, they used normal combat techniques and lost personnel at a rate which seems logical.
I will still give it a 4 stars because it still ends up using some cliches and few of them just made my eye roll. I am tired of reading about description of people where they are being called blue eyes, wavy hair and at kind useless descriptors. Leaving out such details provides an opportunity for imagination and big screen adaptations can have a much diverse cast.
December 6, 2019
Authentic and realistic first contact!
This is how I would’ve envisaged any first contact. We would not be anywhere as technologically advanced as other intelligent creatures that would be found on any bit of dirt anywhere in space. We would be naive and foolish to believe that we would be the dominant species. Thus, what author Jasper T Scott has wonderfully provided for our entertainment, rings true. Space exploration and colonisation is not all tea and scones, nor is it meant to be warm and fuzzy. It’s harsh, dangerous and downright deadly.
This is a great start to a fantastic series and I honestly can’t wait to get my teeth into the sequel.
Five chilling ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for realism and authenticity to go with a great fast-paced read that doesn’t disappoint in any respect.
This is how I would’ve envisaged any first contact. We would not be anywhere as technologically advanced as other intelligent creatures that would be found on any bit of dirt anywhere in space. We would be naive and foolish to believe that we would be the dominant species. Thus, what author Jasper T Scott has wonderfully provided for our entertainment, rings true. Space exploration and colonisation is not all tea and scones, nor is it meant to be warm and fuzzy. It’s harsh, dangerous and downright deadly.
This is a great start to a fantastic series and I honestly can’t wait to get my teeth into the sequel.
Five chilling ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for realism and authenticity to go with a great fast-paced read that doesn’t disappoint in any respect.
December 9, 2019
It was okay and the action flowed well, the story was also interesting with first contact not really following the established stereotype and then some tense action and drama around the events on-planet, onboard and the subsequent flight. The mystery of not knowing what was really going on and the misdirection was well done. Is it as simple as it seems, or is there more going on?
The point that was a downer for me was the real lack of emotion and description/details throughout the book. Although a workman-like piece, I found I wasn't connecting to any of the characters as character development and history took a back seat to the action. It even felt a bit to me like a roleplaying session summary - you could almost hear the dice hitting the table - with the text pared back to just the simple events unfolding. I don't think I can recall the main character's religion, their hair colour, their favourite food or really anything personal about them at all. To my mind they and (almost all) of the characters were non-entities.
m. Scott did a good job of fast-paced storytelling, but I think their style just isn't for me. Finding out that basically the entire book is just a prologue to wider storyline and really the events in it are irrelevant was a bit of downer to me as there was no real conclusion, it leads straight into the sequels.
Edit: Clarified some points.
The point that was a downer for me was the real lack of emotion and description/details throughout the book. Although a workman-like piece, I found I wasn't connecting to any of the characters as character development and history took a back seat to the action. It even felt a bit to me like a roleplaying session summary - you could almost hear the dice hitting the table - with the text pared back to just the simple events unfolding. I don't think I can recall the main character's religion, their hair colour, their favourite food or really anything personal about them at all. To my mind they and (almost all) of the characters were non-entities.
m. Scott did a good job of fast-paced storytelling, but I think their style just isn't for me. Finding out that basically the entire book is just a prologue to wider storyline and really the events in it are irrelevant was a bit of downer to me as there was no real conclusion, it leads straight into the sequels.
Edit: Clarified some points.
April 20, 2020
I’m having trouble with the looks of the aliens, I just can’t picture it. Going all the way across the universe and there isn’t a first contact protocol? You are there for hours and then turn around to go 100 years back? That was silly. However...I’m on the second book. I want to see where it goes. I can suspend my disbelief.
March 8, 2020
Actual rating: 2.5 stars.
Short fast read. Some interesting ideas are embedded in this first contact SF story, but there are many unexplained details and concepts, possibly to be fleshed out in future installments. As a stand-alone SF story, it does not approach believability. I had a ton of questions. I'm not willing to stick around to see if the author ever answers them: this is not a series I plan to read more of.
Short fast read. Some interesting ideas are embedded in this first contact SF story, but there are many unexplained details and concepts, possibly to be fleshed out in future installments. As a stand-alone SF story, it does not approach believability. I had a ton of questions. I'm not willing to stick around to see if the author ever answers them: this is not a series I plan to read more of.
March 15, 2020
Absolutely loved it can't wait for the sequel which as luck would have it, is out tomorrow well in about 4 hours! Great writing, fast paced and great storyline.
September 4, 2020
Ok
Ok read but I’m not inspired to read the follow on books. Plot got a bit tangled, too many unexplained choices of action.
Ok read but I’m not inspired to read the follow on books. Plot got a bit tangled, too many unexplained choices of action.
March 19, 2020
This story started out pretty strong with some interesting technology and a fairly straight-forward first contact story. We get some pretty interesting aliens and a few characters that showed early promise of being more than cutouts. Things go south pretty quickly, however, both for the characters and the quality of the story itself. By the mid-way point it felt like a totally different author had taken over, as the plot devolves into a typical alien-horror chase with action scene after action scene. Even that I could have handled if the action had been tense and interesting, but alas, it was not.
By the end, it was clear that this book is really just a setup for a much longer series. I left feeling like I had read a novel-length prologue to a series that doesn't even exist yet. I would have rather seen this as an after-the-fact prequel, or even better ditch the last 2/3 of the plot and return to the beginning which showed so much promise.
I will almost certainly not be returning for whatever conclusion will be coming.
By the end, it was clear that this book is really just a setup for a much longer series. I left feeling like I had read a novel-length prologue to a series that doesn't even exist yet. I would have rather seen this as an after-the-fact prequel, or even better ditch the last 2/3 of the plot and return to the beginning which showed so much promise.
I will almost certainly not be returning for whatever conclusion will be coming.
December 29, 2019
Not to give you a spoiler right off the bat, but I’m not a fan of “monster” or “horror” science fiction. This book kind of fits into those categories, but you may have a different opinion.
The UNES Forerunner One is one of three Earth colony ships to be launched around 2072 for a new system called Trappist-1. It’s now 2150 AD and Forerunner One is approaching its destination. Obviously, the entire crew hasn’t been active the entire trip. No, they were in cryo-sleep for most of the journey. Select members of the crew were on duty for up to two weeks at a time monitoring systems and making sure things were going as planned. Captain Clayton Cross also did his duty shift using going into cryo-sleep for upto six months and then on duty for two-weeks. On the trip out to Trappist-1, it was comfortingly boring.
No one is exactly sure what they will find in the new system. This is a colony ship so they do hope to find and settle on one of the planets in the Trappist system. There are about three such planets in the “Goldilocks” zone, an area around the star capable of sustaining human life. They have chosen to land on Trappist-1E. The Captain and the Executive Officer will be in the initial landing party. This pretty ridiculous, but pretty standard for science fiction books!
Aboard Forerunner One is Richard Morgan, Ambassador for the United Nations of Earth. Technically, he was in charge of this mission although he wasn’t in the military. Captain Clayton didn’t like this arrangement, but as long as the Ambassador stayed out of his way, he could work with it. The Ambassador did insist that he be part of the initial landing party in case they did meet an intelligent species for which the Ambassador was would make first contact.
The landing party landed and started exploring the dense jungle of Trappist-1E. What they find there is not going to go well. It even results in Forerunner One getting chased out of the Trappist-1 system by unknown aliens. So, Earth or humans have had their first contact. Now Captain Clayton has not choice but to return to Earth and warn humanity of what he has found.
He only hopes it’s not too late. It’s possible the aliens might beat him home after-all, they seem to have FTL which would make their journey only months while it will take him another seventy-eight years to get back!
The UNES Forerunner One is one of three Earth colony ships to be launched around 2072 for a new system called Trappist-1. It’s now 2150 AD and Forerunner One is approaching its destination. Obviously, the entire crew hasn’t been active the entire trip. No, they were in cryo-sleep for most of the journey. Select members of the crew were on duty for up to two weeks at a time monitoring systems and making sure things were going as planned. Captain Clayton Cross also did his duty shift using going into cryo-sleep for upto six months and then on duty for two-weeks. On the trip out to Trappist-1, it was comfortingly boring.
No one is exactly sure what they will find in the new system. This is a colony ship so they do hope to find and settle on one of the planets in the Trappist system. There are about three such planets in the “Goldilocks” zone, an area around the star capable of sustaining human life. They have chosen to land on Trappist-1E. The Captain and the Executive Officer will be in the initial landing party. This pretty ridiculous, but pretty standard for science fiction books!
Aboard Forerunner One is Richard Morgan, Ambassador for the United Nations of Earth. Technically, he was in charge of this mission although he wasn’t in the military. Captain Clayton didn’t like this arrangement, but as long as the Ambassador stayed out of his way, he could work with it. The Ambassador did insist that he be part of the initial landing party in case they did meet an intelligent species for which the Ambassador was would make first contact.
The landing party landed and started exploring the dense jungle of Trappist-1E. What they find there is not going to go well. It even results in Forerunner One getting chased out of the Trappist-1 system by unknown aliens. So, Earth or humans have had their first contact. Now Captain Clayton has not choice but to return to Earth and warn humanity of what he has found.
He only hopes it’s not too late. It’s possible the aliens might beat him home after-all, they seem to have FTL which would make their journey only months while it will take him another seventy-eight years to get back!
December 28, 2019
Dumb.
This is a bad Syfy channel movie from about 15% to the end, right down to a full third of the novel occurring in corridors in a spaceship because corridor sets are cheap and reusable. Don't ask me why a novel, built from words, needs that, but it's there.
But the worst thing about this book? Nothing the characters do actually matters. NOTHING. It's a novel of them trying to figure out what to do, talking about it, time passing, talking, a segment of an alien chasing them in the spaceship (corridors) with all the stupid horror elements of a bad Syfy channel movie, and then to top it off, not a single decision they make would change the ending. An ending which I would describe as 'a number of things happen that have little to no relation to each other in order to set up the sequel'. The characters are equally bland, seemingly designed to just do things for the sake of the plot. Even the conflict between characters is forced; none of it feels authentic or beyond surface level.
Give this one a pass.
This is a bad Syfy channel movie from about 15% to the end, right down to a full third of the novel occurring in corridors in a spaceship because corridor sets are cheap and reusable. Don't ask me why a novel, built from words, needs that, but it's there.
But the worst thing about this book? Nothing the characters do actually matters. NOTHING. It's a novel of them trying to figure out what to do, talking about it, time passing, talking, a segment of an alien chasing them in the spaceship (corridors) with all the stupid horror elements of a bad Syfy channel movie, and then to top it off, not a single decision they make would change the ending. An ending which I would describe as 'a number of things happen that have little to no relation to each other in order to set up the sequel'. The characters are equally bland, seemingly designed to just do things for the sake of the plot. Even the conflict between characters is forced; none of it feels authentic or beyond surface level.
Give this one a pass.
January 28, 2020
Flawed
Overall, I really liked the story itself. Yet, once it was written down... Ugh. The authors writing style is fine. Not particularly great, but far better than many 'discount' authors.
I just couldn't see any one of these characters being allowed to be part of the crew; no matter what tests were used, they would have failed. Every single protocol one could imagine would and should be in place for this and that circumstance, was broken. And the described tech, yikes. While an item or two sounded both pretty cool and plausible, most things on the ship seemed to be from the imagination is someone from the 1940's or so. To many times I found myself thinking, 'your ship can't do what?!? My car can do that today!'
Overall, I really liked the story itself. Yet, once it was written down... Ugh. The authors writing style is fine. Not particularly great, but far better than many 'discount' authors.
I just couldn't see any one of these characters being allowed to be part of the crew; no matter what tests were used, they would have failed. Every single protocol one could imagine would and should be in place for this and that circumstance, was broken. And the described tech, yikes. While an item or two sounded both pretty cool and plausible, most things on the ship seemed to be from the imagination is someone from the 1940's or so. To many times I found myself thinking, 'your ship can't do what?!? My car can do that today!'
February 3, 2020
Didn't like it
Several errors in science. No explanation for the human space drive, for example where does reaction mass come from for 300 years of 1 G acceleration, Why doesn't speed increase with constant acceleration, and so on. Author just changed the rules whenever convenient.
Several errors in science. No explanation for the human space drive, for example where does reaction mass come from for 300 years of 1 G acceleration, Why doesn't speed increase with constant acceleration, and so on. Author just changed the rules whenever convenient.
August 4, 2020
The characters were unlikable and whiny, the plot was thin, the plausibility of the science was low, the dialog was boring, and the action scenes so contrived that they bordered on being silly cliches, but other than that, it was OK. Overall, sort of like a bad SF action movie. Not the worse SF book I have ever read, but that is probably the best compliment I can give it.
December 27, 2019
Very superficial
It is a space opera, but very superficial. There is barely a plot and concentrates on a fast pace rather than any depth.
It is a space opera, but very superficial. There is barely a plot and concentrates on a fast pace rather than any depth.
March 29, 2020
My book review Number 190:
This review is on First Encounter (Ascension Wars Book 1) by Jasper T. Scott. This is the fifth book I have read by this author. It is a Sci-Fi First Alien Encounter Space Opera and MSF set in the year 2150 AD.
The story begins with a Prologue introducing Captain Clayton Cross commanding a UNES spaceship on a deep space exploration journey that is tracking blips on radar that may indicate first contact with alien intelligent life.
The crew on the UNES Forerunner volunteered for this journey to a star system called Trappist-1, which is around seventy light years from Earth. It took 78 years to reach the star system travelling just below light speed. The crew spent the time in cryostasis. Two other spaceships with crews were also on separate deep space exploration missions to other star systems.
The crew finally reaches Trappist-1 and identifies a planet than may be suitable for sustaining human life. They travel down to one planet for inspection. The planet has potential, but there are problems to overcome if humans were to try and colonize the planet. Then the crew runs into signs of intelligent life that doesn’t want them there.
For various reasons in the story, the crew decides to return to Earth. The journey is long and dangerous and they don’t know what to expect when they return home. The intelligent life they found on Trappist-1E is far more advanced than humans and very hostile. What they encounter when they reach Earth one hundred years later is even more unsettling.
I give this book Four Stars because the story is suspenseful, fast paced and easy to follow. The main characters are well developed, some with flaws, and face many unforeseen challenges. The plot is well constructed with unpredictable outcomes. The dialogue and writing style are excellent. The hard science is realistic and believable. The story ends with obvious suspense for further development in Book 2. I look forward to finding out what happens next.
Keep reading good science fiction and let me know when you find an interesting novel or author.
This review is on First Encounter (Ascension Wars Book 1) by Jasper T. Scott. This is the fifth book I have read by this author. It is a Sci-Fi First Alien Encounter Space Opera and MSF set in the year 2150 AD.
The story begins with a Prologue introducing Captain Clayton Cross commanding a UNES spaceship on a deep space exploration journey that is tracking blips on radar that may indicate first contact with alien intelligent life.
The crew on the UNES Forerunner volunteered for this journey to a star system called Trappist-1, which is around seventy light years from Earth. It took 78 years to reach the star system travelling just below light speed. The crew spent the time in cryostasis. Two other spaceships with crews were also on separate deep space exploration missions to other star systems.
The crew finally reaches Trappist-1 and identifies a planet than may be suitable for sustaining human life. They travel down to one planet for inspection. The planet has potential, but there are problems to overcome if humans were to try and colonize the planet. Then the crew runs into signs of intelligent life that doesn’t want them there.
For various reasons in the story, the crew decides to return to Earth. The journey is long and dangerous and they don’t know what to expect when they return home. The intelligent life they found on Trappist-1E is far more advanced than humans and very hostile. What they encounter when they reach Earth one hundred years later is even more unsettling.
I give this book Four Stars because the story is suspenseful, fast paced and easy to follow. The main characters are well developed, some with flaws, and face many unforeseen challenges. The plot is well constructed with unpredictable outcomes. The dialogue and writing style are excellent. The hard science is realistic and believable. The story ends with obvious suspense for further development in Book 2. I look forward to finding out what happens next.
Keep reading good science fiction and let me know when you find an interesting novel or author.
November 30, 2019
I've been a fan of Jasper Scott's books and series for many years. This latest book is just another reason he's in my file as "Five Star Author". It's hard for me to comprehend or even imagine how one mind can come up with so many diverse plots and characters while writing in the same genre. I should point out that his stories spread over multiple genres, including Sci-FI, Action-Adventure, Murder Mystery, even some Romance.
One of the things I like best about this author and his stories is that his cutting edge Sci-Fi is just there and not In-your-Face like a bold character the way some other authors do. There used to be a Plaque over the massive Fire Place in the New York Men's Club that read, "The Tale, Not the Teller". To me, this meant that it's the characters, their behaviors, their interplays, and the plot objectives that are most important. These are all the main elements in "First Encounter".
I often say in my reviews that I don't like what I call HS style Book Report reviews that attempt to summarize a book for two main reasons. First, the authors do a much better job of presenting a story summary than any reviewer could. And, second and even more important, I believe the plot details should be revealed at the pace the author intends. That's another thing I really enjoyed about this story, the pace is outstanding. It moves quickly yet doesn't leave you breathless and trying to keep up and understand what's happening. Readers of this book should know that the subject addresses our First Encounter with an alien species. We always are concerned with how a likely more advanced species will treat a less advanced race. A lot of our Exploration activities give us just cause to be concerned. This book addresses that subject.
My only problem with this book is the finish. It ends...and I'm not ready for it to end. I'm hoping this is the start of what looks to be a thrilling First Encounter series.
Review by THE HOLEY ONE
One of the things I like best about this author and his stories is that his cutting edge Sci-Fi is just there and not In-your-Face like a bold character the way some other authors do. There used to be a Plaque over the massive Fire Place in the New York Men's Club that read, "The Tale, Not the Teller". To me, this meant that it's the characters, their behaviors, their interplays, and the plot objectives that are most important. These are all the main elements in "First Encounter".
I often say in my reviews that I don't like what I call HS style Book Report reviews that attempt to summarize a book for two main reasons. First, the authors do a much better job of presenting a story summary than any reviewer could. And, second and even more important, I believe the plot details should be revealed at the pace the author intends. That's another thing I really enjoyed about this story, the pace is outstanding. It moves quickly yet doesn't leave you breathless and trying to keep up and understand what's happening. Readers of this book should know that the subject addresses our First Encounter with an alien species. We always are concerned with how a likely more advanced species will treat a less advanced race. A lot of our Exploration activities give us just cause to be concerned. This book addresses that subject.
My only problem with this book is the finish. It ends...and I'm not ready for it to end. I'm hoping this is the start of what looks to be a thrilling First Encounter series.
Review by THE HOLEY ONE
April 14, 2021
This first contact story starts shortly before one of the four ‘Forerunner’ interstellar exploration ships reaches the Trappist star system after a journey of ninety years. Captain Clayton Cross awakes to the track of a ship, which soon disappears.
A landing party soon encounters what Cross and his crew believe to be the first known complex life away from Earth (although they have no way of knowing what the other Forerunner ships may have encountered). However, all is not what it seems, and one of the crew is lost, forcing a rescue mission back out into the planet’s forests. When they find the missing crewman, who has only been gone for a few hours, they encounter what must be intelligent life, and as he fades into unconsciousness, he utters a worrying warning.
All thoughts of colonisation are forgotten, and Cross makes the decision to return to Earth immediately, a trip which will take another ninety years. However only months into the return journey, strange things happen aboard the ship, and Cross realises the alien species they met is far more advanced than humankind.
This book was a real a book of three acts, and I came very close to quitting in the middle one. The first act I really enjoyed, and the world setting was excellent. I was rather disappointed we spent so little time on the Trappist-1 planet and would love to read more about it. The second act I hated, and I really could not figure out what Scott was planning, and as I mentioned I came very close to stopping reading the book as I disliked it so much. However, the third act did redeem it somewhat, and it sets the scene the scene for the rest of a series of books. I will avoid going into too much detail as I don’t want to spoil things, but suffice to say, if I decide to read the next in the series, I hope it is more akin to acts 1 & 3 than 2 in this book. The three stars are the result of act 1 being great and act 3 being not bad.
A landing party soon encounters what Cross and his crew believe to be the first known complex life away from Earth (although they have no way of knowing what the other Forerunner ships may have encountered). However, all is not what it seems, and one of the crew is lost, forcing a rescue mission back out into the planet’s forests. When they find the missing crewman, who has only been gone for a few hours, they encounter what must be intelligent life, and as he fades into unconsciousness, he utters a worrying warning.
All thoughts of colonisation are forgotten, and Cross makes the decision to return to Earth immediately, a trip which will take another ninety years. However only months into the return journey, strange things happen aboard the ship, and Cross realises the alien species they met is far more advanced than humankind.
This book was a real a book of three acts, and I came very close to quitting in the middle one. The first act I really enjoyed, and the world setting was excellent. I was rather disappointed we spent so little time on the Trappist-1 planet and would love to read more about it. The second act I hated, and I really could not figure out what Scott was planning, and as I mentioned I came very close to stopping reading the book as I disliked it so much. However, the third act did redeem it somewhat, and it sets the scene the scene for the rest of a series of books. I will avoid going into too much detail as I don’t want to spoil things, but suffice to say, if I decide to read the next in the series, I hope it is more akin to acts 1 & 3 than 2 in this book. The three stars are the result of act 1 being great and act 3 being not bad.
February 4, 2020
I wasn't sure I wanted to buy book II but the author promised to give it for free in exchange for a review.
Which is what I did.
The book is fast paced and I was hooked from the very beginning. The style is quite good too, and apart from a couple spelling errors (it's in place of its) there were no distracting elements. That deserves 5 stars.
So why 4 stars?
I found some issues in the story preventing me from really enjoying it.
--> Some spoilers here
The underground facility on Trappist 1 is too sketchy and unconvincing. And seems too convenient for making the story puzzle fit. Like, the author had to find a way of getting the human exploring team caught unprepared. To me that was a big disappointment.
All the stuff around gene manipulation and targeting virus is hard to swallow too. The "us humans are so far behind that we can't begin to understand" explanation is shallow and unconvincing, especially when thinking about the level of knowledge we have reached in reality with biology and gene manipulation. We know better. That part of the story sounds more like magic than advanced alien biology. This is what made me doubt I would buy book II.
--> End spoilers
So it's not because of the extra dollar to pay for book II, it's the thought that I won't enjoy the sequel.
Many also complained that the characters are not developed beyond their basic physical traits. that's true, but for an action packed first volume I find this acceptable.
On the condition that book II makes up for it. And will it? Who knows.
This said, I know of the work that lies behind writing and publishing a book. Managing to write a captivating story is a feat in itself and is something that I can appreciate. If you, the author, can work a bit more at making the story believable (and a bit deeper), then this is definitely a winner.
My two cents worth.
Which is what I did.
The book is fast paced and I was hooked from the very beginning. The style is quite good too, and apart from a couple spelling errors (it's in place of its) there were no distracting elements. That deserves 5 stars.
So why 4 stars?
I found some issues in the story preventing me from really enjoying it.
--> Some spoilers here
The underground facility on Trappist 1 is too sketchy and unconvincing. And seems too convenient for making the story puzzle fit. Like, the author had to find a way of getting the human exploring team caught unprepared. To me that was a big disappointment.
All the stuff around gene manipulation and targeting virus is hard to swallow too. The "us humans are so far behind that we can't begin to understand" explanation is shallow and unconvincing, especially when thinking about the level of knowledge we have reached in reality with biology and gene manipulation. We know better. That part of the story sounds more like magic than advanced alien biology. This is what made me doubt I would buy book II.
--> End spoilers
So it's not because of the extra dollar to pay for book II, it's the thought that I won't enjoy the sequel.
Many also complained that the characters are not developed beyond their basic physical traits. that's true, but for an action packed first volume I find this acceptable.
On the condition that book II makes up for it. And will it? Who knows.
This said, I know of the work that lies behind writing and publishing a book. Managing to write a captivating story is a feat in itself and is something that I can appreciate. If you, the author, can work a bit more at making the story believable (and a bit deeper), then this is definitely a winner.
My two cents worth.
March 16, 2020
It’s easy to see why this novel has been so popular with science fiction fans. In First Encounter, the prequel to a series titled Occupied Earth, author Jasper Scott has done a brilliant job of building suspense in a classic SF setting. While the book won’t win any literary awards (at least not those awarded by critics), it’s a moving tale I found engaging until the very end, where Scott delivers the last in a series of big surprises following a hostile First Contact.
Captain Clayton (Clay) Cross of the starship Forerunner One has come out of cryostasis seventy-eight years after leaving Earth. His is one of three ships sent in search of a suitable site for human colonies on Earth-like planets surrounding nearby stars. It’s 2150, and Forerunner One has arrived at the fifth planet in orbit around the red dwarf star Trappist-1. A thousand colonists remain in stasis while Clay and a handful of others head to the planet’s surface to investigate. Included are both two scientists and the Ambassador from the United Nations of Earth as well as three military officers. What they find on Trappist-1E is a world teeming with life — and a challenge that sends them hurrying back toward Earth after a hostile First Contact with an advanced alien species. They arrive in 2237, with the scene set for the series that follows. After a series of chilling adventures, of course!
About the author
Jasper T. Scott has written more than twenty sci-fi novels and has reportedly sold more than a million copies of them. Biographical details about him are hard to find. According to his two-paragraph bio on Amazon, “He was born and raised in Canada by South African parents [and] he now lives in an exotic locale with his wife, their two kids, and two chihuahuas.”
Captain Clayton (Clay) Cross of the starship Forerunner One has come out of cryostasis seventy-eight years after leaving Earth. His is one of three ships sent in search of a suitable site for human colonies on Earth-like planets surrounding nearby stars. It’s 2150, and Forerunner One has arrived at the fifth planet in orbit around the red dwarf star Trappist-1. A thousand colonists remain in stasis while Clay and a handful of others head to the planet’s surface to investigate. Included are both two scientists and the Ambassador from the United Nations of Earth as well as three military officers. What they find on Trappist-1E is a world teeming with life — and a challenge that sends them hurrying back toward Earth after a hostile First Contact with an advanced alien species. They arrive in 2237, with the scene set for the series that follows. After a series of chilling adventures, of course!
About the author
Jasper T. Scott has written more than twenty sci-fi novels and has reportedly sold more than a million copies of them. Biographical details about him are hard to find. According to his two-paragraph bio on Amazon, “He was born and raised in Canada by South African parents [and] he now lives in an exotic locale with his wife, their two kids, and two chihuahuas.”
January 11, 2020
First contact isn't always a smooth process
The colony ship carried thousands of people in cryo-sleep on its ninety year voyage to the Trappist-1 star system. Aboard Forerunner One they carried everything needed to build a colony on Trappist 1E, the fifth planet and the best within the Goldilocks zone for human habitation. Only one problem, and it's a big one, the planet was occupied by a sentient species, not advanced enough for spaceflight, and a second intelligent species that were.
Dr. Laurisa Reed was one of two First Contact Specialists aboard the Forerunner tasked with analyzing blood and tissue samples and studying the new species. She hid her pregnancy well until her foetus began changing. Growing at a remarkable rate, in just 6 months she delivered an eight pound baby . . . girl? The child appeared to be a hybrid, half human and half alien. Now the fun begins!
The characters are fully fleshed and three dimensional with enough back story to get to know and like the main characters, and to dislike some others. The storyline is imaginative with enough twists and turns to satisfy even the most jaded reader. I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too!
The colony ship carried thousands of people in cryo-sleep on its ninety year voyage to the Trappist-1 star system. Aboard Forerunner One they carried everything needed to build a colony on Trappist 1E, the fifth planet and the best within the Goldilocks zone for human habitation. Only one problem, and it's a big one, the planet was occupied by a sentient species, not advanced enough for spaceflight, and a second intelligent species that were.
Dr. Laurisa Reed was one of two First Contact Specialists aboard the Forerunner tasked with analyzing blood and tissue samples and studying the new species. She hid her pregnancy well until her foetus began changing. Growing at a remarkable rate, in just 6 months she delivered an eight pound baby . . . girl? The child appeared to be a hybrid, half human and half alien. Now the fun begins!
The characters are fully fleshed and three dimensional with enough back story to get to know and like the main characters, and to dislike some others. The storyline is imaginative with enough twists and turns to satisfy even the most jaded reader. I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too!
December 31, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Jasper T Scott constructs some great characters and believable situations.
The book starts as you would imagine a future space expedition might and doesn't progress as you might expect. He lulls you into a comfortable place and then all hell let's loose!
The story gathers momentum reaches a state of desperation where you cannot imagine how our intrepid space explorers at going to survive or what they will find.
Then they reach their final destination and all is not as they expected and the adventure starts anew.
This first book is very exciting full of well crafted landscapes, characters you grow to like, and cheer for and grow to dislike. The story is compelling and ends with land laid for much more story to be told and I cannot wait for the next installment!
Jasper T Scott is a fantastic story teller, and if this is your first taster you have a lot more to choose from while you are waiting for the next book in this story! So go and choose one, if you will not be disappointed!
The book starts as you would imagine a future space expedition might and doesn't progress as you might expect. He lulls you into a comfortable place and then all hell let's loose!
The story gathers momentum reaches a state of desperation where you cannot imagine how our intrepid space explorers at going to survive or what they will find.
Then they reach their final destination and all is not as they expected and the adventure starts anew.
This first book is very exciting full of well crafted landscapes, characters you grow to like, and cheer for and grow to dislike. The story is compelling and ends with land laid for much more story to be told and I cannot wait for the next installment!
Jasper T Scott is a fantastic story teller, and if this is your first taster you have a lot more to choose from while you are waiting for the next book in this story! So go and choose one, if you will not be disappointed!
October 23, 2021
I guess we all see books differently, because I really liked this book. I was never bored for a second and I looked forward to the next page, too. As I'll look forward to the next book. I have over 2000 books in my Amazon library and 1400 in my Audible library and I've NEVER told anyone NOT to read a book, like soooo many other reviewers have. That's just crazy!
I think Clayton Cross was a wonderful Captain and the Avari were great carnivorous Aliens. The first contact with them was exciting and almost cost the away team their lives. The one thing I don't like was how one grows to like some of the other characters and the author decides to kill them off.
This was definitely a cliffhanger. Over 1000 people from the Forerunner were all being led away from Admiral Keera's ship where they would go for Ascension. BUT Captain Cross was having thoughts of something different.
No romance and the F-bomb was used 2 times.
As for that narration: Ben Jaeger-Thomas did a fabulous job with the voices and his emotions were awesome when he read.
I think Clayton Cross was a wonderful Captain and the Avari were great carnivorous Aliens. The first contact with them was exciting and almost cost the away team their lives. The one thing I don't like was how one grows to like some of the other characters and the author decides to kill them off.
This was definitely a cliffhanger. Over 1000 people from the Forerunner were all being led away from Admiral Keera's ship where they would go for Ascension. BUT Captain Cross was having thoughts of something different.
No romance and the F-bomb was used 2 times.
As for that narration: Ben Jaeger-Thomas did a fabulous job with the voices and his emotions were awesome when he read.
January 27, 2020
This book is very straight foward, like a movie screenplay. A good movie. Important things happen fast. No BSting around.
The 1st 1/3 reminded me of Prometheus and Alien Covenant. The crew dynamics were similar too.
A weak captain who makes stupid calls and changes his orders everytime another crew member 'reminds' him of other options.
It isn't hard sci-fi, but the author knows a thing or two about the 'physics of space'.
It's not 100% accurate astrophysics, but it's not a punch in your face.
In fact, it actually kinda of punched biology in the face. But at the end of the day you can always rely on higher technologies to 'explain' stuff.
The last 1/3 reminded me of Star Trek plus a sense of dread all the way through. An aggressive enemy way more technologically advanced.
The same captain who as an amateur at the start ends up to not being a total fracas.
Good ending. I didn't foresee it. I truly recommend this reading! It's fun! Definitely gonna check out other works from this author.
The 1st 1/3 reminded me of Prometheus and Alien Covenant. The crew dynamics were similar too.
A weak captain who makes stupid calls and changes his orders everytime another crew member 'reminds' him of other options.
It isn't hard sci-fi, but the author knows a thing or two about the 'physics of space'.
It's not 100% accurate astrophysics, but it's not a punch in your face.
In fact, it actually kinda of punched biology in the face. But at the end of the day you can always rely on higher technologies to 'explain' stuff.
The last 1/3 reminded me of Star Trek plus a sense of dread all the way through. An aggressive enemy way more technologically advanced.
The same captain who as an amateur at the start ends up to not being a total fracas.
Good ending. I didn't foresee it. I truly recommend this reading! It's fun! Definitely gonna check out other works from this author.
December 15, 2019
Fabulous!
I have been hooked on Jasper Scott’s work since I first ran across his phenomenal million plus selling “Dark Space” series. His work keeps getting better and better! I absolutely do not believe in spoilers so this will be a generalized but accurate accounting.
As with all his books the characters are deep and multi faceted, they are like real people and I might recognize them if they knocked on my door. There are no “red shirts” here! You will commiserate or loath them or both as the case may be.
The locales are vividly described it is very easy to put yourself there. The scientific extrapolations are plausible and interesting.
There’s a lot of action, twists and turns and just a smattering of romance which suites me fine.
I’ve been reading science fiction for over 60 years and I highly recommend this and any of Mr Scott’s work.
I have been hooked on Jasper Scott’s work since I first ran across his phenomenal million plus selling “Dark Space” series. His work keeps getting better and better! I absolutely do not believe in spoilers so this will be a generalized but accurate accounting.
As with all his books the characters are deep and multi faceted, they are like real people and I might recognize them if they knocked on my door. There are no “red shirts” here! You will commiserate or loath them or both as the case may be.
The locales are vividly described it is very easy to put yourself there. The scientific extrapolations are plausible and interesting.
There’s a lot of action, twists and turns and just a smattering of romance which suites me fine.
I’ve been reading science fiction for over 60 years and I highly recommend this and any of Mr Scott’s work.
November 11, 2020
WOMP WOMP. Waste of $10 or whatever this book cost. What a total and utter let down. So unbeleivable in every aspect. This is a Michael Crichton copycat with a terrible story. The author literally stole every book Crichton ever wrote and condensed it to a steaming pile of garbage. The only saving grace is that his writing style is short and to the point, immediately to action without much exposition, again EXACTLY like Crichton. He should give my $10 directly to Crichton as an amends.
The captain runs around like a wild man into danger without ever letting his team do a thing. Lori is a complete idiot. The ambassador is irredeemable. I cant imagine how anyone enjoyed this, let alone how someome paid him 3 advamces to make it into a trilogy. At least Tremors was funny, this is just bad. Worst of 2020 for me.
The captain runs around like a wild man into danger without ever letting his team do a thing. Lori is a complete idiot. The ambassador is irredeemable. I cant imagine how anyone enjoyed this, let alone how someome paid him 3 advamces to make it into a trilogy. At least Tremors was funny, this is just bad. Worst of 2020 for me.
June 27, 2021
Kind of a random reading selection. It just caught my eye and I said why not.
I do like first contact stories, but this was not exactly what I was looking for. The majority of the tale read more like space horror. Yes you are introduced to a brand new alien planet, but there is no world building here. Just "here they are" and wham, they have attacked you. Then it becomes fight to survive. I was looking for a bit more thought provoking plot lines with some action. This book was just setting up for the fight.
The human space tech sticks mostly to hard science. The alien tech is a bit more "magic". Who knows what they will be able to pull out of their hat. The ending is just a launch point for the next book in the series.
I am not sure if I will continue with this series. I need a short break.
Have a GoodReads.
I do like first contact stories, but this was not exactly what I was looking for. The majority of the tale read more like space horror. Yes you are introduced to a brand new alien planet, but there is no world building here. Just "here they are" and wham, they have attacked you. Then it becomes fight to survive. I was looking for a bit more thought provoking plot lines with some action. This book was just setting up for the fight.
The human space tech sticks mostly to hard science. The alien tech is a bit more "magic". Who knows what they will be able to pull out of their hat. The ending is just a launch point for the next book in the series.
I am not sure if I will continue with this series. I need a short break.
Have a GoodReads.
January 27, 2020
Like another reviewer said here, I'm not a huge fan of horror-type, monster alien contact stories. This one cannot be strictly categorized like that, but it has some moments. I will say that it kept me flipping the pages right to the end. It moved along at a good pace. A few of the characters were developed to the point where you began to understand how they will react to emerging situations. Most of the Science is believable, while a bit is typical Sci-fi fantasy. If you are a fan of the genre, it won't bother you, you've seen plenty like it. I don't want to put any spoilers in here, but there were some parts with unanswered questions. There will be a sequel or two, so perhaps these will be explained in later installments. Overall, I found this an enjoyable read for the most part.
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