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Émigré
When Fabien Loche arrives in the Confederation as SolSystem's newest Liaison, his government believes he's a broken man sent into exile. But the new job, and the new culture, are far more strange and welcoming than either had anticipated. With the help of the local Chief Inspector, and his headstrong niece Molly, Loche plunges headlong into exploring and learning everything on the station above and world below.
More is riding on his assimilation than his future. He's also the vanguard of the spaceborne Houses of SolSystem, who are preparing to flee the reach of an increasingly unstable and aggressive Earth. But the Confederation is far more fragmented and factioned than he expected. The scramble to control the highly advanced technology that the Houses will bring, and the fear of losing it, may be the wedge that drives Confederation and Sol System alike into war...
"Reminds me a bit of David Weber, but the action is busily happening without the endless exposition. I look forward to more." -- Lane D.
"Once again I am very well impressed with Mike Watson and his storytelling ability. His unique approach and story line provide a wonderful look into another time and society and I quickly became immersed in the story without being burdened by unnecessary asides or details not pertinent to the journey.I highly recommend this book and this author to one and all." -- DanT
More is riding on his assimilation than his future. He's also the vanguard of the spaceborne Houses of SolSystem, who are preparing to flee the reach of an increasingly unstable and aggressive Earth. But the Confederation is far more fragmented and factioned than he expected. The scramble to control the highly advanced technology that the Houses will bring, and the fear of losing it, may be the wedge that drives Confederation and Sol System alike into war...
"Reminds me a bit of David Weber, but the action is busily happening without the endless exposition. I look forward to more." -- Lane D.
"Once again I am very well impressed with Mike Watson and his storytelling ability. His unique approach and story line provide a wonderful look into another time and society and I quickly became immersed in the story without being burdened by unnecessary asides or details not pertinent to the journey.I highly recommend this book and this author to one and all." -- DanT
409 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 10, 2020
46 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Mike Watson
5 books5 followersI've been an avid reader since I was in elementary school. Our school had a small library and I was allowed to check out books starting in the third grade. My mother was the school's Principal and she insisted that I read a book every two weeks. By the end of the year, I'd read everything in that small school library. My eighth birthday gift was a library card.
I've always written fiction but didn't have an opportunity to devote time to it until just a few years ago. I had twenty years experience writing technical documents, but, I soon discovered that writing fiction is vastly different from writing nonfiction.
The Beacon at Barrington Light was my first indie release. All my previous sales had been through traditional channels. My novel, Emigre, was released on April 10, 2020. on Amazon.
Subsequent to Émigré, I'll be releasing a collection of short stories with a novella,Dundee Orbital, based in the same Tri Cluster Confederacy universe. It was released on July 31, 2020.
My current WIP is The Prodigals, a sequel to Emigre. It should be released in 1Q2021.
I've always written fiction but didn't have an opportunity to devote time to it until just a few years ago. I had twenty years experience writing technical documents, but, I soon discovered that writing fiction is vastly different from writing nonfiction.
The Beacon at Barrington Light was my first indie release. All my previous sales had been through traditional channels. My novel, Emigre, was released on April 10, 2020. on Amazon.
Subsequent to Émigré, I'll be releasing a collection of short stories with a novella,Dundee Orbital, based in the same Tri Cluster Confederacy universe. It was released on July 31, 2020.
My current WIP is The Prodigals, a sequel to Emigre. It should be released in 1Q2021.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 24, 2021
Excellent...........
What contemporary authors and booksellers identify as “SciFi” is a vast wasteland of protoliterate, juvenile rubbish of vampires, werewolves, and zero proofreading.
The Sci part is either technobabble, videogaming, or just ignored. The Fi part is poor writing, lousy use of the English language, and clearly not reviewed or critiqued by anyone prior to tossing it over the wall.
That makes this book so much above average. Clear and simple writing — a major artform. Interesting characters and believable situations.
The plot wanders a bit; it could have been a shorter, tighter book, or, two books.
Look forward to future volumes.
What contemporary authors and booksellers identify as “SciFi” is a vast wasteland of protoliterate, juvenile rubbish of vampires, werewolves, and zero proofreading.
The Sci part is either technobabble, videogaming, or just ignored. The Fi part is poor writing, lousy use of the English language, and clearly not reviewed or critiqued by anyone prior to tossing it over the wall.
That makes this book so much above average. Clear and simple writing — a major artform. Interesting characters and believable situations.
The plot wanders a bit; it could have been a shorter, tighter book, or, two books.
Look forward to future volumes.
July 16, 2023
Got about a third of the way through
There are some nice HardSF style details about the equipment and the station, but the protagonist has no personality, just trauma from his past. And one of those gets cured early on. Despite there being a shootout and the outbreak of a war I just couldn't bring myself to care what happened to these characters. I think the worst bit was when we were told that the protagonist and another character got along well because of the way they traded quips and I was honestly surprised the protagonist was capable of quips; it's not something that ever appears in the dialogue.
There are some nice HardSF style details about the equipment and the station, but the protagonist has no personality, just trauma from his past. And one of those gets cured early on. Despite there being a shootout and the outbreak of a war I just couldn't bring myself to care what happened to these characters. I think the worst bit was when we were told that the protagonist and another character got along well because of the way they traded quips and I was honestly surprised the protagonist was capable of quips; it's not something that ever appears in the dialogue.
April 28, 2023
Excellent sci fi
Emigre went in a totally unexpected direction. I would have been happy is Fabien had stayed on the station as a customs inspector. I would have been happier if interactions with the aliens had been involved. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this engrossing story (even with a second reading), the high body count was depressing. The main characters were interesting and, at times, hilarious. The word "assimilating" will always make me laugh. I read Emigre in KU but will buy a copy to reread.
Emigre went in a totally unexpected direction. I would have been happy is Fabien had stayed on the station as a customs inspector. I would have been happier if interactions with the aliens had been involved. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this engrossing story (even with a second reading), the high body count was depressing. The main characters were interesting and, at times, hilarious. The word "assimilating" will always make me laugh. I read Emigre in KU but will buy a copy to reread.
May 16, 2021
Worth Reading, Mostly
This storyline moves ponderously with multiple layers of detail and yet manages to obfuscate as often as clarify. Sometimes more is less. I found the storyline and characters interesting and struggled to maintain that interest at times. Suffice it to say this book is easy to read but difficult to comprehend. This book ends on a promising note with hope for the future. I’m just not sure I will continue with the series.
This storyline moves ponderously with multiple layers of detail and yet manages to obfuscate as often as clarify. Sometimes more is less. I found the storyline and characters interesting and struggled to maintain that interest at times. Suffice it to say this book is easy to read but difficult to comprehend. This book ends on a promising note with hope for the future. I’m just not sure I will continue with the series.
March 21, 2023
Good book!
Great world building. I really liked how they managed to outsmart the "Essies" and the Lurcats were a neat twist. I hope we see more of the lurcats in future books. Merging two different cultures is tricky and full of potential misunderstandings and the author did a good job with the integration. There was also a good bit of military action and the occasional assassination attempt. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Great world building. I really liked how they managed to outsmart the "Essies" and the Lurcats were a neat twist. I hope we see more of the lurcats in future books. Merging two different cultures is tricky and full of potential misunderstandings and the author did a good job with the integration. There was also a good bit of military action and the occasional assassination attempt. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
January 16, 2021
Decent
First understand there are very few 5 star novels.
To be 5 stars it has to be genre defining or just that well written.
This novel is good and worth reading. The author however messed up his time line with what till now is his best story imo Homecoming to Hollowell from Dundee Station which that story of itself is a solid 4. Next up for me the Lighthouse.
First understand there are very few 5 star novels.
To be 5 stars it has to be genre defining or just that well written.
This novel is good and worth reading. The author however messed up his time line with what till now is his best story imo Homecoming to Hollowell from Dundee Station which that story of itself is a solid 4. Next up for me the Lighthouse.
February 18, 2021
More Please
I haven't given a 5 star review in quite a while because honestly very few rate one. This is a 10, great characters and deep story line. We need a sequel if you find it in your heart.
I haven't given a 5 star review in quite a while because honestly very few rate one. This is a 10, great characters and deep story line. We need a sequel if you find it in your heart.
July 3, 2021
Enjoyable
I really enjoyed this. So hard to pin it to any genre. Yes sci-fi because it was in space, but there were clans, houses, lurcats, assasins, duels, custom agents, assimilation, families, and betrayals. It all mixed together for a wonderful read.
I really enjoyed this. So hard to pin it to any genre. Yes sci-fi because it was in space, but there were clans, houses, lurcats, assasins, duels, custom agents, assimilation, families, and betrayals. It all mixed together for a wonderful read.
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September 28, 2023story time
Great new epic story telling reminds me of Vern, Andre Norton and C J Cherryh. Very nice to see someone telling an original story these days. So many new writers are to busy trying to write tv trash with no thought to physics, time and distance.
Great new epic story telling reminds me of Vern, Andre Norton and C J Cherryh. Very nice to see someone telling an original story these days. So many new writers are to busy trying to write tv trash with no thought to physics, time and distance.
November 28, 2020
Same Old Same
I enjoyed this story very much. Emigre hit many of the classic story lines. Boy meets girl. Rags to Riches. Small beats Large. I look forward to reading more of these.
I enjoyed this story very much. Emigre hit many of the classic story lines. Boy meets girl. Rags to Riches. Small beats Large. I look forward to reading more of these.
April 16, 2022
On the positive side, the author does a very complete world building and the plot has a reasonable number of twists that keep the action interesting. On the negative side, the prose is extremely focused on description (the dark side of world building, I guess), to the point where it seemed stilted.
Overall, I enjoyed the three books I read in the series, but hope the author develops a writing style in which characters do more and there is less describing their actions, their clothes, their weapons, their rooms, their current environment, ...
Overall, I enjoyed the three books I read in the series, but hope the author develops a writing style in which characters do more and there is less describing their actions, their clothes, their weapons, their rooms, their current environment, ...
December 15, 2023
Well written
Believable characters. I can't believe I need MORE words! Not an incentive to leave a review. One. Two. Three. Four
Believable characters. I can't believe I need MORE words! Not an incentive to leave a review. One. Two. Three. Four
August 20, 2023
First in a series. The main character and supporting characters are well developed and the story line draws you along. It was fun to read and I have already purchased the sequel.
June 4, 2020
An exile looking for a new life.
An adventure that includes culture shock, space stations, gunfights, assassination attempts, civil war and an invasion fleet. Nice space opera.
An adventure that includes culture shock, space stations, gunfights, assassination attempts, civil war and an invasion fleet. Nice space opera.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews