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The Space Engineer: Book 1
When civilization has expanded beyond Earth, new types of jobs are needed in the most remote corners of the solar system. Of these jobs, one is the Space Engineer. They have the important task of keeping ships up and running along with a myriad of other responsibilities. They are well-trained in their jobs, but what would happen if they get marooned in the middle of nowhere? Abandoned in the middle of the asteroid belt, can he survive in this age of pirates, inter-planetary war and unstoppable corporate power?
50 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2020
2 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 11, 2024
The Space Engineer is a masterclass in how not to edit a novel. If zero stars were an option, this book would demand it—not because of its plot (which is already hanging on by a thread) or its characters (who might as well be cardboard cutouts), but because the editing is so appallingly bad that it renders the entire experience unreadable. This isn’t just a poorly written book; it’s a slap in the face to anyone who values coherent storytelling.
To begin with, the grammar and syntax are a mess. Sentence structures are clunky, riddled with typos, and often outright nonsensical. It’s as if the manuscript skipped the editing process entirely and was slapped onto the page as-is. Paragraphs drag on endlessly, filled with redundant descriptions and awkward phrasing that would make even the most patient reader question their life choices. Wise doesn’t just fail to polish the prose—she seems actively opposed to it.
Continuity errors abound, making the story feel like it was pieced together from mismatched drafts. Characters’ names change mid-scene, timelines are inconsistent, and key events are referenced before they’ve even happened. It’s impossible to stay immersed in the narrative when every other page pulls you out with glaring mistakes that scream, “No one cared enough to fix this.”
The pacing is another casualty of Wise’s complete disregard for editing. Scenes drag on forever with unnecessary details, only to have major events crammed into a few rushed paragraphs. Transitions between chapters are jarring, leaving the reader wondering if they accidentally skipped a page—or an entire chapter. The book feels less like a cohesive story and more like a chaotic stream of consciousness, haphazardly thrown together without rhyme or reason.
And then there’s the dialogue—if you can even call it that. Characters speak in stilted, robotic sentences that sound like they were lifted from a bad first draft. Conversations are either painfully on-the-nose or so vague they’re incomprehensible. The lack of editing here is painfully obvious, as if Wise simply typed out whatever came to mind and called it a day.
Even the formatting is a disaster. Paragraphs are misaligned, dialogue tags are inconsistent, and random chunks of text appear in places where they clearly don’t belong. It’s not just distracting—it’s downright disrespectful to the reader. How this book made it to publication in this state is a mystery that rivals anything Wise could have hoped to achieve in her plot.
At its core, The Space Engineer is a failure of effort, care, and respect for the craft of writing. Whatever potential the story might have had is buried under layers of atrocious editing—or lack thereof. It’s an insult to readers and a testament to what happens when a writer prioritizes quantity over quality. If you value your sanity, steer clear of this catastrophe. Zero stars, and a plea for Wise to hire a real editor if she insists on subjecting the world to more of her work.
To begin with, the grammar and syntax are a mess. Sentence structures are clunky, riddled with typos, and often outright nonsensical. It’s as if the manuscript skipped the editing process entirely and was slapped onto the page as-is. Paragraphs drag on endlessly, filled with redundant descriptions and awkward phrasing that would make even the most patient reader question their life choices. Wise doesn’t just fail to polish the prose—she seems actively opposed to it.
Continuity errors abound, making the story feel like it was pieced together from mismatched drafts. Characters’ names change mid-scene, timelines are inconsistent, and key events are referenced before they’ve even happened. It’s impossible to stay immersed in the narrative when every other page pulls you out with glaring mistakes that scream, “No one cared enough to fix this.”
The pacing is another casualty of Wise’s complete disregard for editing. Scenes drag on forever with unnecessary details, only to have major events crammed into a few rushed paragraphs. Transitions between chapters are jarring, leaving the reader wondering if they accidentally skipped a page—or an entire chapter. The book feels less like a cohesive story and more like a chaotic stream of consciousness, haphazardly thrown together without rhyme or reason.
And then there’s the dialogue—if you can even call it that. Characters speak in stilted, robotic sentences that sound like they were lifted from a bad first draft. Conversations are either painfully on-the-nose or so vague they’re incomprehensible. The lack of editing here is painfully obvious, as if Wise simply typed out whatever came to mind and called it a day.
Even the formatting is a disaster. Paragraphs are misaligned, dialogue tags are inconsistent, and random chunks of text appear in places where they clearly don’t belong. It’s not just distracting—it’s downright disrespectful to the reader. How this book made it to publication in this state is a mystery that rivals anything Wise could have hoped to achieve in her plot.
At its core, The Space Engineer is a failure of effort, care, and respect for the craft of writing. Whatever potential the story might have had is buried under layers of atrocious editing—or lack thereof. It’s an insult to readers and a testament to what happens when a writer prioritizes quantity over quality. If you value your sanity, steer clear of this catastrophe. Zero stars, and a plea for Wise to hire a real editor if she insists on subjecting the world to more of her work.
March 9, 2025
Hey everyone. Dan Bandor, the author, here. The Lauren Wise you all seem to reference is not the same Lauren Wise-Wait who did the editing. The Lauren who did the editing founded Midnight Publishing, and as far as I know, has never made any disparaging comments about anyone. It discourages me that so many people are willing to post terrible reviews based upon the actions of a person who had nothing to do with this book.
This is a short book. Maybe a 15 minute read if you're a fast reader. It's about an Engineer who gets marooned in the Asteroid belt during a commute from one asteroid station to another. He must use all of his knowledge as a Space Engineer to survive. I encourage everyone to actually give the book a chance.
Thanks.
This is a short book. Maybe a 15 minute read if you're a fast reader. It's about an Engineer who gets marooned in the Asteroid belt during a commute from one asteroid station to another. He must use all of his knowledge as a Space Engineer to survive. I encourage everyone to actually give the book a chance.
Thanks.
July 6, 2025
This a great and entertaining story. If you like The Martian or any space science fiction, you'll like this book too.
It is a short book, but there's a few you can read that keep the story going. I have very much enjoyed reading it.
It is a short book, but there's a few you can read that keep the story going. I have very much enjoyed reading it.
December 12, 2024
If someone said you have to read this book or play Russian roulette with two bullets in the gun, I would choose the gun everytime . Book 1? You’re having a maugh. Have we not suffered enough.
May 19, 2025
Have nothing to do with actual science
December 28, 2025
Lauren Wise is a violent Zionist pig.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews