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Tech Ghost #1
The Ghost Mine
Fatal glitches.
A corporate cover-up.
And something haunting the depths…
Three years ago, a horrific accident closed ACM-1134, the energy mine on Ketarus-4. Now the mine has reopened, and Justin Barclay has joined the first new batch of miners hired to begin harvesting the energy stored below the planet’s surface.
But as he settles into his new job and home, Justin quickly discovers that the mine’s polished exterior is masking a host of hidden dangers—some of them fatal. When the mine’s technology begins malfunctioning, Justin’s coworkers mysteriously disappear, get injured, and some even die. Justin knows something else is going on—and he’s the only one willing to do something to stop it.
With his job and his life on the line, Justin works to uncover the mine’s darkest secrets to save himself and his fellow workers. But the company doesn’t like Justin digging where he shouldn’t be, and they’re determined to put a stop to his inquest once and for all—at any cost.
As Justin begins to unearth the mine’s darkest secrets, he starts to realize that sometimes it’s better to let the past stay buried.
The Ghost Mine is a gripping sci-fi/horror novel sure to thrill you and chill you late into the night. If you’re a fan of Ridley Scott’s Aliens , you’ll love this book.
“A snappy, fun, wild ride from hell! Wolf’s knockout novel brings all the sci-fi intensity of Ridley Scott’s Alien movies together with a Michael Crichton style thriller. When space colonization goes wrong in The Ghost Mine , it means a long, nail-biting night of sheer reading delight! Positively unputdownable!” - Brandon Barr, USA Today Bestseller and author of the Song of the World Series
Buy The Ghost Mine today—and read it with the lights on.
A corporate cover-up.
And something haunting the depths…
Three years ago, a horrific accident closed ACM-1134, the energy mine on Ketarus-4. Now the mine has reopened, and Justin Barclay has joined the first new batch of miners hired to begin harvesting the energy stored below the planet’s surface.
But as he settles into his new job and home, Justin quickly discovers that the mine’s polished exterior is masking a host of hidden dangers—some of them fatal. When the mine’s technology begins malfunctioning, Justin’s coworkers mysteriously disappear, get injured, and some even die. Justin knows something else is going on—and he’s the only one willing to do something to stop it.
With his job and his life on the line, Justin works to uncover the mine’s darkest secrets to save himself and his fellow workers. But the company doesn’t like Justin digging where he shouldn’t be, and they’re determined to put a stop to his inquest once and for all—at any cost.
As Justin begins to unearth the mine’s darkest secrets, he starts to realize that sometimes it’s better to let the past stay buried.
The Ghost Mine is a gripping sci-fi/horror novel sure to thrill you and chill you late into the night. If you’re a fan of Ridley Scott’s Aliens , you’ll love this book.
“A snappy, fun, wild ride from hell! Wolf’s knockout novel brings all the sci-fi intensity of Ridley Scott’s Alien movies together with a Michael Crichton style thriller. When space colonization goes wrong in The Ghost Mine , it means a long, nail-biting night of sheer reading delight! Positively unputdownable!” - Brandon Barr, USA Today Bestseller and author of the Song of the World Series
Buy The Ghost Mine today—and read it with the lights on.
380 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2018
82 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Ben Wolf
99 books120 followersAt the age of nine, Ben Wolf slayed his first dragon.
As the dragon perished, it bequeathed a measure of its power to Ben.
It told him, "You now have the ability to lie more creatively than any other being on this planet--except for politicians. Use this power wisely."
The dragon died with one final puff of smoke from its lungs, but Ben Wolf lived on.
For years, Ben honed his craft. At the age of twelve, he lied to his sister about having thrown darts at a poster of her favorite boy band.
At the age of sixteen, he lied to a policeman who'd pulled him over for speeding, and it got him out of a ticket.
At the age of eighteen, he lied to himself about what a good decision it was to go to Bible college and major in Pastoral Studies (that one has come back to haunt him several times).
Given the unique power he'd inherited from the dying dragon, Ben Wolf had expected his life to look very different from how it did when he turned twenty-three.
Then the dragon's words regarding his power returned to him: "Use this power wisely."
The truth was, Ben hadn't been using the magnificent power wisely. He'd been using it for personal gain, and to dig himself out of bad situations (or, in the case of Bible college, to get himself into them).
So he asked himself, "What would be a wise way to use this power?"
At that very moment, a bus drove past the street in front of him. On its side was emblazoned the phrase, "You should write a novel!"
Having graduated from Bible college a year earlier, Ben took it as a divine message. What's more, he'd already written one novel at that point, and he'd enjoyed it, so he figured he might as well write a few more.
That was 2009. Now, more than ten years later, Ben has written north of ten books, including an award-winning children's book and an award-winning novel.
Awards are great, but what Ben has found even more reassuring is the consistently great feedback he's gotten from readers. They've raved about his work and told him he was the best, most creative liar they'd ever heard of.
So now Ben is on the cusp of making serious headway with his lying skills. His debut fantasy saga, the Blood Mercenaries series of dark/epic/sword & sorcery novels, is raking in tons of stellar reviews from readers everywhere.
And now you can be a part of his creative lying journey. If you've read Ben Wolf's work, love him as a person, or plain old just think he's a handsome guy (he is, and he is now making it known that it wasn't him who wrote this (but it was actually him)), then please review his books here and on Amazon.com.
Ben, who we swear didn't write this, thanks you.
As the dragon perished, it bequeathed a measure of its power to Ben.
It told him, "You now have the ability to lie more creatively than any other being on this planet--except for politicians. Use this power wisely."
The dragon died with one final puff of smoke from its lungs, but Ben Wolf lived on.
For years, Ben honed his craft. At the age of twelve, he lied to his sister about having thrown darts at a poster of her favorite boy band.
At the age of sixteen, he lied to a policeman who'd pulled him over for speeding, and it got him out of a ticket.
At the age of eighteen, he lied to himself about what a good decision it was to go to Bible college and major in Pastoral Studies (that one has come back to haunt him several times).
Given the unique power he'd inherited from the dying dragon, Ben Wolf had expected his life to look very different from how it did when he turned twenty-three.
Then the dragon's words regarding his power returned to him: "Use this power wisely."
The truth was, Ben hadn't been using the magnificent power wisely. He'd been using it for personal gain, and to dig himself out of bad situations (or, in the case of Bible college, to get himself into them).
So he asked himself, "What would be a wise way to use this power?"
At that very moment, a bus drove past the street in front of him. On its side was emblazoned the phrase, "You should write a novel!"
Having graduated from Bible college a year earlier, Ben took it as a divine message. What's more, he'd already written one novel at that point, and he'd enjoyed it, so he figured he might as well write a few more.
That was 2009. Now, more than ten years later, Ben has written north of ten books, including an award-winning children's book and an award-winning novel.
Awards are great, but what Ben has found even more reassuring is the consistently great feedback he's gotten from readers. They've raved about his work and told him he was the best, most creative liar they'd ever heard of.
So now Ben is on the cusp of making serious headway with his lying skills. His debut fantasy saga, the Blood Mercenaries series of dark/epic/sword & sorcery novels, is raking in tons of stellar reviews from readers everywhere.
And now you can be a part of his creative lying journey. If you've read Ben Wolf's work, love him as a person, or plain old just think he's a handsome guy (he is, and he is now making it known that it wasn't him who wrote this (but it was actually him)), then please review his books here and on Amazon.com.
Ben, who we swear didn't write this, thanks you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
July 9, 2018
3.5 stars...
This is one of those times when I really wish we had a 1/2 star rating system because this book does not quite meet my 4 star rating standard but it's better then what I define a 3 star rating as. 3.5 stars fits it literally to the tee in my star system.
The story started out fantastic- it had one hell of an opening but it lost a lot of momentum through the middle and kind of dragged on a bit. Then it picked up again in the last quarter of the book and finished with a bang.
I loved the premise but I think it could have been executed better. I know I would have enjoyed it more if the author kept the action and suspense ratched up in the middle and kept the focus on the "ghost" / horror elements and left out all of the unnecessary romance and petty squabbles amongst the miners. That detracted from the story I thought and took a lot of the scare factor out of it.
Not a bad book though and it's worth giving a try if you like a mix of sci-fi & horror.
This is one of those times when I really wish we had a 1/2 star rating system because this book does not quite meet my 4 star rating standard but it's better then what I define a 3 star rating as. 3.5 stars fits it literally to the tee in my star system.
The story started out fantastic- it had one hell of an opening but it lost a lot of momentum through the middle and kind of dragged on a bit. Then it picked up again in the last quarter of the book and finished with a bang.
I loved the premise but I think it could have been executed better. I know I would have enjoyed it more if the author kept the action and suspense ratched up in the middle and kept the focus on the "ghost" / horror elements and left out all of the unnecessary romance and petty squabbles amongst the miners. That detracted from the story I thought and took a lot of the scare factor out of it.
Not a bad book though and it's worth giving a try if you like a mix of sci-fi & horror.
June 22, 2018
I don't like sci-fi. Oh, but here's five stars. Because this story changed my mind! I liked it. I liked it A LOT!
Full disclosure: I typically do not enjoy reading Sci-fi. My brain just has a really hard time turning all the futuristic science and tech into a picture I can understand. I get frustrated and stop reading when I can't manage to picture it in a way that makes sense to my brain. I almost always have to see the movie version of sci-fi stories to "get it" and enjoy it. I didn't love Aliens or Ender's Game. I did rather enjoy Rambo though. So, what the heck was I thinking when I snagged this book? Well, GHOST MINE-- that's pretty cool. Mines are creepy even when they don't come with a side of paranormal activity. I figured, why not! It's horror-sci-fi... and I LOVE horror. I am so glad I decided to give this book a fair read.
My challenge is to review it in such a way that you know you just HAVE to read it without giving away any of the juicy awesome goodness. ;)
It took me about three pages to let go of my "I'm not going to get this story" fears. By that point, I loved the main character and his best friend enough to keep reading even if I was a bit worried about all the "sci-fi" going on. The story was already setting me up for some must read moments. I am an avid reader and I always prefer a realistic main character with real world, relatable problems. I like a variety of characters with easily distinguishable voices. I like knowing that they are flawed because they act flawed, not just because the writer tells me they have some issue. I like twists. I like turns. I like aha moments. And I love the "didn't see that coming" moments even more. I like it when the story jumps right into the action instead of dragging out the preliminary stuff. I like it when things don't go the way you think they're going to go. I like it when characters turn out to be ... well, never mind. You'll see. ;)
I read. I write. I watch a lot of tv and movies. I can almost always predict a plot twist way before it happens. It's not easy to surprise me. It's not easy to keep me engaged in the world of sci-fi. It's even harder to get me to FINISH a sci-fi book instead of waiting for the movie.
This book surprised me. More than once. It engaged me and kept me entertained on a level usually reserved for King and Koontz. It had me staying up past my bedtime to read just one more chapter... then one more... then one more. I don't miss out on sleep for just any story.
Just when I thought it might be winding down, and I was breathless from all the twists, turns, action, and anticipation, it would take another turn and a new twist and the action would rev back up have me saying, "To heck with sleep!"
Interesting and unique plot. Realistic characters that are very well written. Fascinating situations. Thrills. Chills. Blood. Robots. Explosions. Space madness.
This book had all that and more. Best of all... it was written in such a vivid and CRYSTAL clear manner that I didn't have a single moment of "wait, what's happening?" that took me out of the story. It read more like I was watching a movie. I had no trouble picturing the events, the characters, the robots, the machines... and believe me when I say I know nothing about space colonization, mining protocols, or robotics. So having me read it all the way to the end and understand it along the way... takes talent. Big time. Oh, and in case you're wondering... underneath all the adventure and mayhem... there is a great message. Bonus points!!!
This won't be my last sci-fi read. If Ben Wolf keeps churning them out, I'll keep reading them. He has a fantastic imagination, a true gift for story-telling, and a definite way with words.
I'm not easy to impress. I rarely give 5 stars. I've given less to Stephen King before. This one kept me on the edge of my seat from the very start and it never let up... all the way to the end... which was...
Well, I won't ruin it for you.
I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and I really love that it changed my mind about this genre. I guess I can't keep saying I "don't like sci-fi" anymore. I might even venture to read something else in the genre while I wait on Mr. Wolf's next book.
Grab this. Read it. It's fantastic. =)
Full disclosure: I typically do not enjoy reading Sci-fi. My brain just has a really hard time turning all the futuristic science and tech into a picture I can understand. I get frustrated and stop reading when I can't manage to picture it in a way that makes sense to my brain. I almost always have to see the movie version of sci-fi stories to "get it" and enjoy it. I didn't love Aliens or Ender's Game. I did rather enjoy Rambo though. So, what the heck was I thinking when I snagged this book? Well, GHOST MINE-- that's pretty cool. Mines are creepy even when they don't come with a side of paranormal activity. I figured, why not! It's horror-sci-fi... and I LOVE horror. I am so glad I decided to give this book a fair read.
My challenge is to review it in such a way that you know you just HAVE to read it without giving away any of the juicy awesome goodness. ;)
It took me about three pages to let go of my "I'm not going to get this story" fears. By that point, I loved the main character and his best friend enough to keep reading even if I was a bit worried about all the "sci-fi" going on. The story was already setting me up for some must read moments. I am an avid reader and I always prefer a realistic main character with real world, relatable problems. I like a variety of characters with easily distinguishable voices. I like knowing that they are flawed because they act flawed, not just because the writer tells me they have some issue. I like twists. I like turns. I like aha moments. And I love the "didn't see that coming" moments even more. I like it when the story jumps right into the action instead of dragging out the preliminary stuff. I like it when things don't go the way you think they're going to go. I like it when characters turn out to be ... well, never mind. You'll see. ;)
I read. I write. I watch a lot of tv and movies. I can almost always predict a plot twist way before it happens. It's not easy to surprise me. It's not easy to keep me engaged in the world of sci-fi. It's even harder to get me to FINISH a sci-fi book instead of waiting for the movie.
This book surprised me. More than once. It engaged me and kept me entertained on a level usually reserved for King and Koontz. It had me staying up past my bedtime to read just one more chapter... then one more... then one more. I don't miss out on sleep for just any story.
Just when I thought it might be winding down, and I was breathless from all the twists, turns, action, and anticipation, it would take another turn and a new twist and the action would rev back up have me saying, "To heck with sleep!"
Interesting and unique plot. Realistic characters that are very well written. Fascinating situations. Thrills. Chills. Blood. Robots. Explosions. Space madness.
This book had all that and more. Best of all... it was written in such a vivid and CRYSTAL clear manner that I didn't have a single moment of "wait, what's happening?" that took me out of the story. It read more like I was watching a movie. I had no trouble picturing the events, the characters, the robots, the machines... and believe me when I say I know nothing about space colonization, mining protocols, or robotics. So having me read it all the way to the end and understand it along the way... takes talent. Big time. Oh, and in case you're wondering... underneath all the adventure and mayhem... there is a great message. Bonus points!!!
This won't be my last sci-fi read. If Ben Wolf keeps churning them out, I'll keep reading them. He has a fantastic imagination, a true gift for story-telling, and a definite way with words.
I'm not easy to impress. I rarely give 5 stars. I've given less to Stephen King before. This one kept me on the edge of my seat from the very start and it never let up... all the way to the end... which was...
Well, I won't ruin it for you.
I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and I really love that it changed my mind about this genre. I guess I can't keep saying I "don't like sci-fi" anymore. I might even venture to read something else in the genre while I wait on Mr. Wolf's next book.
Grab this. Read it. It's fantastic. =)
June 20, 2018
Will keep you turning pages late into the night
If you like Sci-Fi, ghost stories, mysteries, gore, intrigue, memorable characters and a fast pace then The Ghost Mine will not disappoint.
A friend highly recommended Ben Wolf and I am happy I listened! I can’t wait to see if he continues the story.
Warning...it may have you checking the dark more carefully especially if you stay up until 3:00 am reading it!
If you like Sci-Fi, ghost stories, mysteries, gore, intrigue, memorable characters and a fast pace then The Ghost Mine will not disappoint.
A friend highly recommended Ben Wolf and I am happy I listened! I can’t wait to see if he continues the story.
Warning...it may have you checking the dark more carefully especially if you stay up until 3:00 am reading it!
June 5, 2018
Awesome blend of sci-fi and horror!
A brilliantly blended story of sci-fi and horror with heart, romance, and drama that'll keep you turning pages until the very end. Memorable characters, even a robot. You might want to keep the lights on when you're reading it!
A brilliantly blended story of sci-fi and horror with heart, romance, and drama that'll keep you turning pages until the very end. Memorable characters, even a robot. You might want to keep the lights on when you're reading it!
June 17, 2018
This book was highly recommended by Robert Liparulo, an author I really enjoy. As I was reading, I was wondering what made Mr. Liparulo so fond of this book. For me, it slogged along, wasn’t sure if it should be sci-fi or horror story, and never found its voice. I could barely turn the page. There were some good spots, and a few interesting twists, but spent too much plot time on things that didn’t really matter. Then I noticed that a star system was named after Mr. Liparulo in the book. Ahhh, I see why it got such a thumbs up. That was the only part that drew true emotion from me.
September 8, 2018
I'm a scifi fan. The Ghost Mine was thoroughly enjoyable, and a bit refreshing. It had plenty of action, the immersion in a futuristic environment with all the dangers of mining on a hostile planet, and other expected scifi elements. But then you also have the element of unsolved mystery, corporate cover up, and the mysteries of the alien environment. The tension holds for quite a while as you follow along with the characters trying to figure out who or what is behind the deaths in the mine. It doesn't help that other, very human, conflicts arise between the main character and his over-muscled, alpha-male co-workers.
It was also refreshing that the main relationship in the story is one of deep friendship between two men with very different personalities and interests. It reminded me of the Kirk/Spock/McCoy friendship, or Han and Chewie in Star Wars. There was also a thread of potential romance between the protagonist and his supervisor, which was realistic and just enough to add some spice to the story.
These are all reasons that I enjoyed The Ghost Mine, but I can't help but agree with the advertising that says this book is like the movie Aliens in tone and intensity. That's what I was looking for, and that's what I got. A guy just trying to do his job who gets sucked into a deadly situation that nobody anticipated. Be prepared for violence, gruesome deaths, and a lot of suspense. I could totally see this as a movie.
It was also refreshing that the main relationship in the story is one of deep friendship between two men with very different personalities and interests. It reminded me of the Kirk/Spock/McCoy friendship, or Han and Chewie in Star Wars. There was also a thread of potential romance between the protagonist and his supervisor, which was realistic and just enough to add some spice to the story.
These are all reasons that I enjoyed The Ghost Mine, but I can't help but agree with the advertising that says this book is like the movie Aliens in tone and intensity. That's what I was looking for, and that's what I got. A guy just trying to do his job who gets sucked into a deadly situation that nobody anticipated. Be prepared for violence, gruesome deaths, and a lot of suspense. I could totally see this as a movie.
May 12, 2018
I was asked to review this soon to be released novel from author Ben Wolf. He stated first up that this was not a Christian novel. Having read one of Wolf's previous novels, I knew I would read a very entertaining story and one that would be well written.
Wolf did not disappoint in this novel. I am glad I read it. This has turned out to be a wise decision on my part. I have been thoroughly entertained. It is one enthralling and edge of your seat ride. You cannot put this novel down. The first half describes the world building which is superb, the characters and their relationships. It does not take long before you discover which characters you like, those you do not like (and there is one that is introduced very early in the opening chapters and becomes a thorn in the main character's side from that point on), those you sympathise with, and those wish justice to be served to.
I found world building to be very convincing and formed a solid foundation for all elements of the story to be well supported and embedded. Wolf has combined the environment of mining with that of science fiction, space travel and electronic high tech weapons. It is a successful marriage.
Wolf did not disappoint in this novel. I am glad I read it. This has turned out to be a wise decision on my part. I have been thoroughly entertained. It is one enthralling and edge of your seat ride. You cannot put this novel down. The first half describes the world building which is superb, the characters and their relationships. It does not take long before you discover which characters you like, those you do not like (and there is one that is introduced very early in the opening chapters and becomes a thorn in the main character's side from that point on), those you sympathise with, and those wish justice to be served to.
I found world building to be very convincing and formed a solid foundation for all elements of the story to be well supported and embedded. Wolf has combined the environment of mining with that of science fiction, space travel and electronic high tech weapons. It is a successful marriage.
May 15, 2018
The Ghost Mine is not my typical fare. A science fiction horror tale where miners in the future run into problems in a mine where a tragedy happened a few years before. Wolf has twists and turns up to the last page.
The story doesn't pull any punches with all of the intensity. I've read the author's previous novel, and it is quite different and much more gritty. Despite the shift of style, there was heart in the midst of the adrenaline.
I would definitely recommend The Ghost Mine for fans of sci-fi/horror or general horror. It's intense.
I was given a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story doesn't pull any punches with all of the intensity. I've read the author's previous novel, and it is quite different and much more gritty. Despite the shift of style, there was heart in the midst of the adrenaline.
I would definitely recommend The Ghost Mine for fans of sci-fi/horror or general horror. It's intense.
I was given a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2018
Horror Sci-fi smashing you wide awake.
Interesting, full of personality characters.
Machine-human hybrids in a deep-space mining operation.
Incredible medical advances.
Sudden twists giving roller coaster effects.
Buckle your seatbelts action.
A mystery to be discovered.
The story starts with a horrific accident, closing ACM-1134. (What a 1st chapter.)
Three years later, the mine reopens and strange things start happening. Workers disappear, get injured and same die.
Justin determines to uncover the mystery.
This is one of those books, you're yelling at the main character to "not go there." Of course, Justin goes there. From chapter one, I knew this was going to be a thrilling, action-packed and breathless story. I wasn't disappointed.
There were so many things I loved about this story. My imagination stretched. My emotions ignited. My curiosity satisfied. (What an ending.)
Interesting, full of personality characters.
Machine-human hybrids in a deep-space mining operation.
Incredible medical advances.
Sudden twists giving roller coaster effects.
Buckle your seatbelts action.
A mystery to be discovered.
The story starts with a horrific accident, closing ACM-1134. (What a 1st chapter.)
Three years later, the mine reopens and strange things start happening. Workers disappear, get injured and same die.
Justin determines to uncover the mystery.
This is one of those books, you're yelling at the main character to "not go there." Of course, Justin goes there. From chapter one, I knew this was going to be a thrilling, action-packed and breathless story. I wasn't disappointed.
There were so many things I loved about this story. My imagination stretched. My emotions ignited. My curiosity satisfied. (What an ending.)
July 14, 2018
This book was a constant roller-coaster of action, horror, and twists! It's very difficult to put down. I have trouble getting lost in Sci-Fi stories, but The Ghost Mine kept me turning the pages. Read at your own risk, because The Ghost Mine is as scary as it is addictive!
August 19, 2018
A thrilling ride through a terrifying world. Great story in the tradition of ALIEN and other great sci-fi horror stories. I liked how there was a big world, with lots of history, waiting to be explored, but it was off in the distance. The focus was squarely on blue collar workers in a futuristic mine. I grew to really understand and sympathize with them, despite knowing that many of them would meet their demise. Death and the afterlife, however, were handled in very interesting ways. As for a technical review: the characters were distinct and vivid, the pacing was steady, and the action was easy to visualize. The dialogue and exposition could have used some polishing. Overall, I really enjoyed The Ghost Mine and look forward to more from this author!
June 9, 2018
What a ride!
The basis of this story is unique & hard-hitting.
Loved the action, suspense, emotions, pretty much everything. Nothing bad to say at all.
If you like Dean Koontz, but cleaner, this is just perfect.
The basis of this story is unique & hard-hitting.
Loved the action, suspense, emotions, pretty much everything. Nothing bad to say at all.
If you like Dean Koontz, but cleaner, this is just perfect.
June 8, 2018
Phenomenal book. Gripping action, great characters. Unlike anything I can remember reading.
August 8, 2018
I'm going to start off by saying this is NOT my typical read. I have always stayed away from science fiction in reading. Why? Well, I think it's just better to watch than to read! Easier to understand too. Haha!! I love this type of science fiction in shows or movies, but it has never been something I chose to read. But, when I came across this I thought "Hey, why not try it?"
That being said, I accepted this book, and I was surprised at how much I liked it. Because I have not read much science fiction, I can't compare this to other stories, but I can say it's definitely worth the read. It was action packed from the beginning. It has twists and turns around every corner. The characters are, and it is full of danger and mystery. It has a great storyline, and it has a scare factor that grabs you and makes you want more. I hated putting this book down.
Honestly, I have nothing bad to say about this book. It was written very well. Its mysterious and scary. It was intriguing and kept me reading. It was all around an excellent book. So, for being one of the only science fiction books I have read, I was greatly impressed. It was a crazy ad wild ride.
I will add that I think this would make an excellent movie!! Haha!
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That being said, I accepted this book, and I was surprised at how much I liked it. Because I have not read much science fiction, I can't compare this to other stories, but I can say it's definitely worth the read. It was action packed from the beginning. It has twists and turns around every corner. The characters are, and it is full of danger and mystery. It has a great storyline, and it has a scare factor that grabs you and makes you want more. I hated putting this book down.
Honestly, I have nothing bad to say about this book. It was written very well. Its mysterious and scary. It was intriguing and kept me reading. It was all around an excellent book. So, for being one of the only science fiction books I have read, I was greatly impressed. It was a crazy ad wild ride.
I will add that I think this would make an excellent movie!! Haha!
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
March 11, 2022
This has to be one of the most loathesome books i have ever read.
Seriously, the main character is the most worthless waste of carbon monoxide ilI have ever read about.
"JB" (which is short for Jackass Bitch) spends his time failing about a mine in space. He basically harasses his foreman by searching every room he enters for any sign of her so he can stare at her long and hard until she glares at him and he acts like a kicked puppy. He continously injects himself into her business despite her showing even more vitriol to him then the standard "big asshole cliche character #19371". And thus she must just be a bitch because he has been "nothing but a nice guy" to her. Then gets even more pissy when she says would only like to be friends, and thinks that by hanging around and being nice she will fall in love with him.
Really? Fucking. Really? Im a guy and this dude sets off all sorts of creeper alarms.
Next we have him wandering in a mine, in space, full of highly unstable and radioactive materials. So late one night at seeing something slightly odd he decides to wander into a mine shaft that was shut down... For having a major collapse that is rumored to have killed hundreds of people. In the middle of the night, when its suppose to be sealed, and he has been told access is restricted, and its guarded by live fire security robots.
But because of some system issue door is unlocked and robots are offline. So he wanders in like a fucking moron and almost gets killed. Which is a shame. Of this shit bag croaked we could have followed someone else.
He gets busted, and his big defense is "well since i was able to get in it must not have been that secure". Which is perfect! It justifies his murder because he wasnt wearing protectove equipment.
Seriously, i want this asshole dead like is is an obnoxious retarded extra on a slasher movie. He is one of the most self-entitled, repugnant, loathesome piles of plagued rat shit ive read. And as main character thr writer just seems to think he is the greatest. Even if this fuck dies at the end of the book, i have no idea as i wont finish it, its not enough to justify having to deal with this worthless fetid trash.
Seriously, the main character is the most worthless waste of carbon monoxide ilI have ever read about.
"JB" (which is short for Jackass Bitch) spends his time failing about a mine in space. He basically harasses his foreman by searching every room he enters for any sign of her so he can stare at her long and hard until she glares at him and he acts like a kicked puppy. He continously injects himself into her business despite her showing even more vitriol to him then the standard "big asshole cliche character #19371". And thus she must just be a bitch because he has been "nothing but a nice guy" to her. Then gets even more pissy when she says would only like to be friends, and thinks that by hanging around and being nice she will fall in love with him.
Really? Fucking. Really? Im a guy and this dude sets off all sorts of creeper alarms.
Next we have him wandering in a mine, in space, full of highly unstable and radioactive materials. So late one night at seeing something slightly odd he decides to wander into a mine shaft that was shut down... For having a major collapse that is rumored to have killed hundreds of people. In the middle of the night, when its suppose to be sealed, and he has been told access is restricted, and its guarded by live fire security robots.
But because of some system issue door is unlocked and robots are offline. So he wanders in like a fucking moron and almost gets killed. Which is a shame. Of this shit bag croaked we could have followed someone else.
He gets busted, and his big defense is "well since i was able to get in it must not have been that secure". Which is perfect! It justifies his murder because he wasnt wearing protectove equipment.
Seriously, i want this asshole dead like is is an obnoxious retarded extra on a slasher movie. He is one of the most self-entitled, repugnant, loathesome piles of plagued rat shit ive read. And as main character thr writer just seems to think he is the greatest. Even if this fuck dies at the end of the book, i have no idea as i wont finish it, its not enough to justify having to deal with this worthless fetid trash.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2018
“The Ghost Mine” by Ben Wolf was a fun read. So fun, it took me a mere four days to read. It’s well written, the characters are believable and sympathetic, and best of all, the action barely stopped. Note that it’s not for the faint of heart. Along with the action is plenty of scary elements, and lots of gore (none gratuitous, though). The ending yielded a few surprises, and left the door open for a sequel.
August 3, 2018
Ghost mine is a fun and entertaining sci-fi disaster thriller. There's a good amount of mystery and a ton of exciting action at the end, where it becomes hard to put the book down. I also appreciated how the "love story" didn't go the cliche route by any means, and ended in the right way.
On the downside, some of the side characters, like the bully and the best friend, hit cliche levels pretty hard. Still, the best friend was likable enough to keep reading. The story isn't terribly ambitious, and one of the twists is a little weak.
Despite that, The Ghost Mine remains an entertaining story. A little slow at first and weak in pockets, but mostly full of energy, especially as the book picks up steam at the end. Definitely worth your time.
On the downside, some of the side characters, like the bully and the best friend, hit cliche levels pretty hard. Still, the best friend was likable enough to keep reading. The story isn't terribly ambitious, and one of the twists is a little weak.
Despite that, The Ghost Mine remains an entertaining story. A little slow at first and weak in pockets, but mostly full of energy, especially as the book picks up steam at the end. Definitely worth your time.
September 19, 2018
This was a pretty good sci-fi thriller. It did remind me a little bit of Aliens, but not overly much. I would say that Ben Wolf is a lot better than Stephen King in bringing about twists, supernatural style elements, and character arcs.
This is the kind of science fiction that I remember. The main character isn't the gung-ho hero, but he, as the priest says in the book, took courage to do what was needed. Even though, slight spoiler alert here, there were some things he did that brought about the demise of others, his emotions and behavior were authentic. The story portrayed the gentle story arc that makes a good novel into a great novel.
Flawed characters are the best characters, and Justin Barclay is the epitome of flawed.
While I really enjoyed the book I did not like the vulgarity within it. Small words or slight profanity here and there could have been overlooked, but all that was in the book was not necessary. The story would have been much stronger without all that. It didn't make the characters or the situation more realistic; it added a crassness that diminished the impact the story could have made.
And that brings me to another confusing part of the book. The author professes his belief in Christ and the first acknowledgement is to the Lord Jesus Christ, so the vulgarity in the book is in odds with what he professes. I can't reconcile those two things.
Overall, a really good science fiction story that exceeded my expectations.
This is the kind of science fiction that I remember. The main character isn't the gung-ho hero, but he, as the priest says in the book, took courage to do what was needed. Even though, slight spoiler alert here, there were some things he did that brought about the demise of others, his emotions and behavior were authentic. The story portrayed the gentle story arc that makes a good novel into a great novel.
Flawed characters are the best characters, and Justin Barclay is the epitome of flawed.
While I really enjoyed the book I did not like the vulgarity within it. Small words or slight profanity here and there could have been overlooked, but all that was in the book was not necessary. The story would have been much stronger without all that. It didn't make the characters or the situation more realistic; it added a crassness that diminished the impact the story could have made.
And that brings me to another confusing part of the book. The author professes his belief in Christ and the first acknowledgement is to the Lord Jesus Christ, so the vulgarity in the book is in odds with what he professes. I can't reconcile those two things.
Overall, a really good science fiction story that exceeded my expectations.
July 30, 2018
It’s been a long time since I read a horror book. I’m glad I picked this one to start again in this genre. It’s an action packed blend of sci fi and horror that’s a flat out winner in both genres. The sci fi aspect was imaginative, written in a way that made you feel like you were part of this future. The horror slowly built up in a way that kept me glued to the book (I mean literally glued, a black thick syrupy stuff oozed out of the book. It made it stick to my hands. At least that’s the way I imagined it). It was so well written that it created a visceral reaction in me that wasn’t fear but a relief that it was only a story. Oscar Wilde said, “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use reading it at all.” This is one of those rare books I will read over and over.
August 2, 2018
Awesome Story!
Alien meets The Haunting of Hill House? Or something like that! Fast-paced sci-fi horror. Great thrill ride, very entertaining! One of my new favorites!
Alien meets The Haunting of Hill House? Or something like that! Fast-paced sci-fi horror. Great thrill ride, very entertaining! One of my new favorites!
February 21, 2019
The writing was good and kept me interested, but I'm not a big fan of horror, so I felt like too many characters died, and the ending wasn't that happy. If you're a reader of horror, you'll probably like this book. It's a good book, it just wasn't for me.
Read
July 2, 2018Loved it. Very interesting.
Not one to read at night. :)
Recommend it to all that love scary, suspenseful, futuristic, kind of books.
Can I get the alt ending please?
Not one to read at night. :)
Recommend it to all that love scary, suspenseful, futuristic, kind of books.
Can I get the alt ending please?
March 14, 2021
If you like hardcore scifi/horror/action, this book is for you.
It’s just super well-written. The voice and tone is distinct and really draws you in, and it all feels very grounded. The development of the scifi concepts feels grounded in a scifi sort of reality and the setting of a rough mine full of…well, rough miners really feels like you’re looking in at something real. The characters are all unique and vivid (especially Kenotae. He’s awesome. He’s just awesome. I can just hear his voice). Justin is a heck of a main character—irreverent, impulsive, determined.
The first half of the story is delightfully creepy. To go into any more detail about that would be risking spoilers, but the setup and the tone just gives it an atmospherically creepy feel that I thoroughly enjoyed. If I’m going to read horror, that’s what I want out of it. An overall atmosphere and creepy lights and unexplained incidents and the sense that something’s lurking in the dark. I loved the first half.
And then the Big Thing happens and it turns into a bloodbath.
Now, the action in the section half is very well-written and well-structured, and people who like action-y, gory type horror would probably enjoy it. But it seemed like the whole atmosphere broke and it turned into a nonstop action book, and honestly I liked the atmospheric creepy weirdness of the first half better than the gore-filled action of the second half.
The “romance” element, too, I found somewhat underdeveloped. Justin’s main connection to Shannon is that he thinks she’s hot. That’s…pretty much it. I kept waiting for the relationship to deepen beyond that, but it just kind of stayed at the “guy has a thing for his attractive supervisor” level for the entire story. It honestly started to bug me after a little while. I felt there was entirely too much focus on how attractive she was and not enough about…anything else he admired about her.
This book is not what could be considered “clean” at all. Cursing is prevalent and there’s more than a few sexual innuendos (although no explicit content). It didn’t bother me that much, and I felt it added to the grounded feel of the story, but if those things bother you…they’re there. They’re very much there.
All that being said, I would still recommend this book to anyone who likes action-y scifi horror. Overall I think it’s a really well-written, well-developed story, just aimed at an audience that isn’t exactly me.
It’s just super well-written. The voice and tone is distinct and really draws you in, and it all feels very grounded. The development of the scifi concepts feels grounded in a scifi sort of reality and the setting of a rough mine full of…well, rough miners really feels like you’re looking in at something real. The characters are all unique and vivid (especially Kenotae. He’s awesome. He’s just awesome. I can just hear his voice). Justin is a heck of a main character—irreverent, impulsive, determined.
The first half of the story is delightfully creepy. To go into any more detail about that would be risking spoilers, but the setup and the tone just gives it an atmospherically creepy feel that I thoroughly enjoyed. If I’m going to read horror, that’s what I want out of it. An overall atmosphere and creepy lights and unexplained incidents and the sense that something’s lurking in the dark. I loved the first half.
And then the Big Thing happens and it turns into a bloodbath.
Now, the action in the section half is very well-written and well-structured, and people who like action-y, gory type horror would probably enjoy it. But it seemed like the whole atmosphere broke and it turned into a nonstop action book, and honestly I liked the atmospheric creepy weirdness of the first half better than the gore-filled action of the second half.
The “romance” element, too, I found somewhat underdeveloped. Justin’s main connection to Shannon is that he thinks she’s hot. That’s…pretty much it. I kept waiting for the relationship to deepen beyond that, but it just kind of stayed at the “guy has a thing for his attractive supervisor” level for the entire story. It honestly started to bug me after a little while. I felt there was entirely too much focus on how attractive she was and not enough about…anything else he admired about her.
This book is not what could be considered “clean” at all. Cursing is prevalent and there’s more than a few sexual innuendos (although no explicit content). It didn’t bother me that much, and I felt it added to the grounded feel of the story, but if those things bother you…they’re there. They’re very much there.
All that being said, I would still recommend this book to anyone who likes action-y scifi horror. Overall I think it’s a really well-written, well-developed story, just aimed at an audience that isn’t exactly me.
May 8, 2021
Actual rating 2 1/2 stars.
Ben Wolf's "The Ghost Mine" is a moderately serviceable if decidedly unspectacular book. It is what I would consider a semi-standard cookie cutter scifi read. However, unlike many others in this genre I have labelled as such, it sadly provides zero background into this universe (is it unique or special in any way?). Wolf instead relies far too much on tired tropes - particularly the oft-repeated theme of a limited number of evil corporations ruling the galaxy - to provide what background there is to speak of. The fact that it contains no true horror AT ALL only further disappointed me. To be clear, it resembles none of the books or movie standards mentioned in the promo blurbs, particularly not "Alien", turning out instead to resemble more of a failed zombie franchise than anything else.
I will say that Wolf's writing is not bad (noting the editing is VERY professional which seems to be a rare event these days) if not choppy, with single sentence paragraphs being the norm. Still, I found the plot to be desperately bland and far too often lethargic and predictable in its execution. His characterizations (who have been given some of the worst names I've seen collected in one book) rely far too much on clichés aimed mostly at merely setting up group dynamics and standard examples of conflict. Justin, his main character, is overall a bit of a sad, wet noodle imho - although the author did put he and many of the other players into varied situations that at least managed to squeeze what meager potential existed out of their limited roles. But like workers in a mine, we truly didn't get much of a chance to move around and explore at all. At the end, things ended with a predictable whimper and not any kind of explosive bang that would have left me wanting more.
Bottom-line is I tried it at the affordably offered price and it was readable. However, again, I felt no connection to any of the characters or in fact this universe and really have no interest in continuing with their adventures along any similar vein. But if standard scifi with little to no horror included is your thing, then by all means, enjoy.
Ben Wolf's "The Ghost Mine" is a moderately serviceable if decidedly unspectacular book. It is what I would consider a semi-standard cookie cutter scifi read. However, unlike many others in this genre I have labelled as such, it sadly provides zero background into this universe (is it unique or special in any way?). Wolf instead relies far too much on tired tropes - particularly the oft-repeated theme of a limited number of evil corporations ruling the galaxy - to provide what background there is to speak of. The fact that it contains no true horror AT ALL only further disappointed me. To be clear, it resembles none of the books or movie standards mentioned in the promo blurbs, particularly not "Alien", turning out instead to resemble more of a failed zombie franchise than anything else.
I will say that Wolf's writing is not bad (noting the editing is VERY professional which seems to be a rare event these days) if not choppy, with single sentence paragraphs being the norm. Still, I found the plot to be desperately bland and far too often lethargic and predictable in its execution. His characterizations (who have been given some of the worst names I've seen collected in one book) rely far too much on clichés aimed mostly at merely setting up group dynamics and standard examples of conflict. Justin, his main character, is overall a bit of a sad, wet noodle imho - although the author did put he and many of the other players into varied situations that at least managed to squeeze what meager potential existed out of their limited roles. But like workers in a mine, we truly didn't get much of a chance to move around and explore at all. At the end, things ended with a predictable whimper and not any kind of explosive bang that would have left me wanting more.
Bottom-line is I tried it at the affordably offered price and it was readable. However, again, I felt no connection to any of the characters or in fact this universe and really have no interest in continuing with their adventures along any similar vein. But if standard scifi with little to no horror included is your thing, then by all means, enjoy.
August 13, 2025
Liking the story so far. Justin... Barclay...Broccoli (Star Trek if you get it). Maybe he is just young and naive. Maybe he is just a dumb ass. Can't decide yet.
56% in and still good!! Broccoli is growing on me. He was pretty heroic in the last major disaster.
Broccolis obsession with Shannon is getting creepy. I mean it was always kinda creepy but even more so. He has got to let it go. No means No Bro.
Oh man, I meant to finish this review the other day and I got side tracked. You can't trust anyone can you. I did end up enjoying the book. Just when Broccoli would start to grow on me, he would start on his creepy Shannon obsession again. Damn, we lost some good people in this one.
To continue or not to continue the series... I will continue but there are other books I will pick up first.
56% in and still good!! Broccoli is growing on me. He was pretty heroic in the last major disaster.
Broccolis obsession with Shannon is getting creepy. I mean it was always kinda creepy but even more so. He has got to let it go. No means No Bro.
Oh man, I meant to finish this review the other day and I got side tracked. You can't trust anyone can you. I did end up enjoying the book. Just when Broccoli would start to grow on me, he would start on his creepy Shannon obsession again. Damn, we lost some good people in this one.
To continue or not to continue the series... I will continue but there are other books I will pick up first.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2022
People keep dying at the mine but no one knows why and when Justin almost become one of the dead he can't stop trying to find out about or find the ghost that saved him, even when the company threatens to fire him. But soon he figures out it is way bigger than him, and the ghost is after something more , something much bloodier.
This is a really cool book, great characters, great setting, great action, great suspense, and twist and turn that will knock you off of your seat if your not careful. The audio performed by Joe Hempel Just gives it a bit more flare than you would get with the print version, he voice has you losing yourself in the story like you are there in the middle of the mine. I really liked this audiobook and hope you do too.
This is a really cool book, great characters, great setting, great action, great suspense, and twist and turn that will knock you off of your seat if your not careful. The audio performed by Joe Hempel Just gives it a bit more flare than you would get with the print version, he voice has you losing yourself in the story like you are there in the middle of the mine. I really liked this audiobook and hope you do too.
January 20, 2020
I am not a usual sci-fi horror person when it comes to getting books but this book was awesome. I was at the edge of my seat while reading this to the point where I was reading almost 100 pages at the time. It was so exciting and the most amazing book I have read is fiction yet. This is one of my top favorite books and I didn't realize it existed until a craft show because he is a local author for me! I look forward to reading more of your books! If you aren't usually a fan of books like this and you want to try this genre, I highly recommend this book completely. Just don't read it in the dark and it will freak you out in the dark.
January 12, 2025
The book started off really well with a lot of mystery, fighting, and great character development. I was really enjoying it until the later half the book, and then I was very shocked and surprised with the ending which made me want to read the 2nd one in the series. What I did not like personally was there was about 80 pages of filler that probably could've been condensed or removed. There were quite a few characters we didn't need to pay much attention to and could have been removed, but overall it was still a good story.
October 5, 2018
Mining his hazardous to your health
This book is brilliant. An excellent story of what happens when corporate greed meets family angst. The story follows Justin as he gets a job at a mine on a unstable planet, he finds things are not as they seem and tries to keep away from the bad things that happen but is drawn further into the problems which result in him and several others fighting to escape.
A good book for anyone wanting a Sci-Fi read
This book is brilliant. An excellent story of what happens when corporate greed meets family angst. The story follows Justin as he gets a job at a mine on a unstable planet, he finds things are not as they seem and tries to keep away from the bad things that happen but is drawn further into the problems which result in him and several others fighting to escape.
A good book for anyone wanting a Sci-Fi read
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