A Change of Plans

by Dennis E. Taylor, Neil Hellegers (Narrator)

Earth is dying, and humanity is scrambling to set up colonies in other star systems. But the search process for habitable planets is not perfect, as the crew of the Ouroboros discover on arrival at their new home.

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, Short Stories, Fiction, Space Opera, Dystopia, Fantasy

Audible Audio

First published October 22, 2019

About the author

I am a retired computer programmer, an enthusiastic snowboarder, and an inveterate science fiction reader.

And, apparently, an author now. Did not see that coming.

Reviews

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is one of my currently favorites in the scifi genre, ever since the glorious Bobiverse series.

Earth is dying and it cannot be reversed. So humanity is leaving and trying to build colonies somewhere else. The ship Ouroboros is a scout ship tasked with checking out possible new homes and delivering colonists there. But there are some … erm … complications. *lol*

This is only a short story but the universe we find ourselves in is instantly familiar and captivating (the narrator being familiar didn‘t hurt) and I was pleased to discover that the story also had the author‘s signature humour which is just fantastic.

Naturally, I wanted more than just this short story just because the author is really good at this, but it was still wonderful and highly entertaining (and not just because of the slight twist at the ending) despite being so short.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short science fiction story..
About humankind colonising other planets..

Very good written and with an unexpected ending!!
Dennis E. Taylor seems to me an author to keep in mind..

If you love short stories like I do, then go for it!!

Dean;)

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a friend who is in to his modern science fiction and he is always sending me recommendations of what to try next (bobverse anyone) and I have to say so many of them very intriguing so I thought I would give it a go and give a few of them a spin (so what out for more to come) - this being one of them.

I have to say that as as standalone story it is rather good and does not pan out in the way I was originally expecting it to go - which I have to say was a refreshing idea.

I think for me having a read a lot of the classic science fiction stories it is all too easy at times to expect clichés and predictable outcomes - there are now authors out there who are trying to adjust this and I have to say that this was a good affirmation of that.

So yes without trying to be clever this is a great story in a much bigger universe I guess the question is am I willing to dip my toe in further and read some more?

[Sensei_cor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relato corto sobre una colonización planetaria con sus "cositas". Sencillo y directo.
No hubiera dado para novela pero como relato queda bastante interesante.

Recuerda a Bobiverse, como si el autor hubiera reciclado una idea, pero sin tener ninguna conexión con esa trilogía.

[Karen’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story audiobook was a nice surprise from Dennis E. Taylor. Love his sci-fi space tales.

[Priskah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,0 ✨✨✨

(Audiobook)

[AndrewP · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story set in the Bobiverse. An audible original so it may only be available as an audio presentation. Good story and worth a look if you are a fan or want to sample Dennis E. Taylors work.

[Samuel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my thing. Well-narrated though.

[Matt Lillywhite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite science fiction books/short stories of all time.

Writing style is brilliant. Plot is simple, yet highly engaging. Just the right amount of dialogue. Overall, a great book and would definitely recommend.

[Chip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absurdly short - not even a short story, much less a novella.

[Working Man Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to try this author's writing before jumping into the Bob Verse book series. I was delightfully surprised by the author's skill. I did listen to this on audible on my way to a service call. This one was a lot of fun it has some pirate vibes. The plot follows a colonization ship trying to start fresh on a planet called Valhalla. In this science fiction story, Earth is dying but they have decided to send ships to distant worlds to populate them and continue the human race. I will leave the rest of the story out of my review. Overall I definitely will be jumping into this author's work shortly.

[Kacy❁ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though it was a short story, I felt there really wasn't any development or depth. Not a usual Dennis Taylor story.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great stories can be told on this small amount of space, but this one isn’t one of them. There’s no spark in the plot or any of the characters. Things happen fast with little or no explanation, and the end is full of heel turns and changed minds that are either laughably obvious or make no sense.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great short scifi story. Currently free on Audible.

[Karsyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. This was alright - nothing great. Just an ok short story, but I'll probably read most things Taylor writes.

[Jacey]

Audiobook, read by Ray Porter
Earth is dying and colony ships are taking humanity to every inhabitable planet that can be found. When the crew of the Ourobos arrive at theor destination planet they discover that an ice-age is in progress and the planet is less than habitable. The settlers come up with a plan that the crew disagree with. This is a short story, quite involving and well read by Ray Porter.

[Panda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook (44 minutes) narrated by Neil Hellegers

The narration and audio quality are good.
I found it understandable and easy to listen too up too 2.3x speed, however I do recommend it at 2x speed or below, as preferred.

This is a great short story. There's a lot going on. There is a good amount of character development and world building for the size of the story. There's a lot going on and I feel this is one of those short stories that could be expanded into a full movie, similar to Supertoys Last All Summer Long and Other Stories of Future Time was expanded to make A.I.

Recommend.

Edit: Only a couple of months later and I ended up re-reading this short story.

Clocking in at under an hour, it's the perfect length to read as part of my nighttime routine, or as a palette cleanser between books.

I really enjoyed the authors take on a dystopian space story, which feels like something that many people have likely pondered in the face of the future of humanity. It's absolutely incredible the amount of thought, details, and emotion that are packed into a 44 minute novella. We have everything from political discourse, fears of resettling, families, job security, living conditions, and even life itself.

Again, this is something that I can see doing well as a full sized movie or even a series. The foundation is set.

I am looking at other novels by the author and I immediately I see another short Feedback, that I just added to my audible library, as well as the first book of a series We Are Legion: We Are Bob that I had been considering not realizing who the author was. I will add this to my wishlist.

Recommend.

[Sacha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Change of Plans by Dennis E. Taylor

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3*)

In this short story a captain is flying with his spaceship and the crew to a distant planet, since Earth is becoming inhabitable, to unload colonists and head back to Earth. Then things start „change course“… 😳

The story was actually very short but there was some slight character development and an interesting plot with a cool turn. For sure not the best story I‘ve read so far but still a great sci-fi read for in between.

Enjoy! 🚀🪐😁👍🏻

[Erik Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a great story.
I can see why people might think it is in the Bob verse.
I really enjoyed it.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting novella. Short story with much food for thought. Somewhat along the same lines as his Bobiverse series. Maybe there is hope for the human species?

[Elentarri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

This was an entertaining science fiction short story, that worked really well as an audiobook. The story starts on the space ship Ouroboros, when the crew discovers that the expected habitable planet is not really that habitable anymore. Things get more complicated when it becomes apparent that Earth is dying and the Ouroboros is transporting refugees with the aim of setting up colonies in other solar systems. Return to Earth is not an option for the refugees... A fun little story with an unexpected ending.

[Natalie H · Rating 2 out of 5]

June 2023
Audiobook edition
44m (1.3x speed)

Nope. I didn't like the story and none of the characters really stuck out to me except Jacob and he was awful. This one was Earth ending so ships finding colonies new homes on sometimes inhabitable planets. Cue the mutiny, but it's alright because everything works out in the end and its better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Not my thing.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Dennis E Taylor's Bobiverse books so I was intrigued to see what he could do with a short story. The story center's around a standoff between the crew of a colony ship and colonists unhappy with the planetary conditions of their destination. It's fine, probably a bit too ambitious for a short story and would likely have benefitted from being a novella at the least.

The characters aren't particularly memorable and given the limited page count things are resolved very suddenly and not particularly satisfyingly. There's not a lot here that's unique or thought provoking and I'm sure the set up could have been put to better use had it been fleshed out more. It's alright but not much more than that.

[Joshua · Rating 1 out of 5]

I almost gave this two stars because Dennis Taylor's writing is so engaging.

However, I loathe the idea that all we need to do to solve major, civilization-level problems is just give billionaires and tech bros freedom from all oversight. Our civilization-level problems are caused by those types of people already having no oversight.

At first I thought we were getting a look at how the ultra wealthy put humanity in existential danger through their selfishness, but nah, apparently giving the most selfish members of our species unfettered control of all resources is the best way to save humanity. Gross.

[Onionboy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am biased because I love anything Dennis Taylor writes. But this was fantastic. In a way, I wish it was a full length book, but that is just because I want more to read from this author. I see that this was just the right length for this story, so it wouldn't be good to force it into a full book. I enjoyed reading it over a relaxing weekend lunch. If you like sci-fi, don't miss this.

[Stephen Richter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very short, compact story. I liked the construction of the story, the main character and the overall plot. A colony ship arrives at it planetary destination but things are not okay. Taylor has written a great story.

[David Blaylock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read that could have been a full length book.

[Abigail Advincula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpectedly hopeful. :)

[TonyAntSonWil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little Sci-Fi short story. Well worth taking a few moments to read.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cool short story that was free on Audible. I really enjoyed the narration and the story itself was interesting with a similar sci-fi vibe to The Martian and Project Hail Mary. Only complaint is that it was too short, as I expected it would be. It felt like a first chapter to an awesome novel about the colonisation of a planet to save humanity. We got the set up and initial conflict but then all of a sudden it was all resolved after a cryo time jump where we’re told a happy ending. Now I just need a book of everything in the middle!