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Redleg in Space #1
Stowaway
Lt Zade, on his last days of his last deployment to Afghanistan, still couldn’t find the excitement he so desperately needed. A chance encounter, on his last mission, sends him hurtling through space on the Unity exploration ship XES01. Surrounded by aliens, Zade must quickly learn to interact with the non-soldiers on the crew.
As he tries to earn his place amongst the ship, Zade’s combat prowess quickly earns him a spot as the security officer of the ship. A seat left vacant because of a fatal exchange between the former security officer and the wildlife of a far planet. As Zade begins living the adrenaline filled life of a space explorer, he has to ask himself some very important questions.
How does he get back to earth? Does he even want to?
Disclaimer: The main character is a combat veteran, so there is some rough language throughout the audiobook.
RUNNING TIME => 9hrs. and 6mins.
©2015 Z.D. Dean (P)2020 Podium Audio
As he tries to earn his place amongst the ship, Zade’s combat prowess quickly earns him a spot as the security officer of the ship. A seat left vacant because of a fatal exchange between the former security officer and the wildlife of a far planet. As Zade begins living the adrenaline filled life of a space explorer, he has to ask himself some very important questions.
How does he get back to earth? Does he even want to?
Disclaimer: The main character is a combat veteran, so there is some rough language throughout the audiobook.
RUNNING TIME => 9hrs. and 6mins.
©2015 Z.D. Dean (P)2020 Podium Audio
Audible Audio
First published November 15, 2019
About the author
Z.D. Dean
9 books33 followersZ.D. Dean is a former Army officer who spent most of his free time on deployments either working out or reading. As an avid fan of science fiction, once he left the military, he began writing his own. When he's not working his day job or writing, Dean enjoys helping local veterans' charities and being outdoors.
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August 5, 2026Rating: minus 10 (scale of -15 to +5)
The next was made possible by Doctor Who/Never Cruel or Cowardly, National Centre for Military Intelligence, Russian Media Monitor, fig tree, Anark, Red Glasgow, NFKRZ, Media is Fay, LuckyBlackCat, Smack the Pony, Leeja Miller, 2 Cellos, Reese Waters, Anna from Ukraine, Bothered, Book Leo, Ms Modeller, Real Vintage Dolls House,
AllShortsPolitics, Welcome to Ukraine, Carl Walmsley, LIbrary Ladder, OrangeRiver, Tod Maffin, Karolina Zebrowska, Jake Broe, Underthedesknews, Katie Montgomerie, Joe Blogs, Bobbing Along, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Queen Penguin, Ukraine Calling, Kyiv Independent, Verilybitchie, Zilla Blitz, Silicon Curtain, FAFO, Biz,
Yankee Farm Wife, Viva La Dirt League, Riverboat Jack, Physics Girl, Diem25, Mandy, ScaredKetchup, Kelly Loves Physics and History, Warthog Defence, Times Radio, France 24, Kazachka, Lily Alexandre, Tibees, LydLoves, Canadian Dominion, Sound of Music Flashmob, Truth to Power, Biz, TLDR News EU, Raw News and Politics,
The Shades of Orange, Cecilia Blomdahl, Leena Norms, Cruising Alba, Marsh Family, The Present Past, Squire, It's Black Friday, Tibees, CBC News, Discourse Minis, Rogue Hobbies, Ms Paints, Red Viburnam Song, Poisoned Pen Bookstore, Anthony Gramuglia, Mr Zod, Medieval Wargamer, Vintage Space, Honest2Betsy, Hanna Smith, Dadvocate,
Amanda Rae, Gingers are Black, Fiona Hill, Haropones, ATP Geopolitics, Gingers are Black, DW News, Jormungandr, UATV English, The History of Everything, Kiko1006 -Secret Melody, The Marsh Family, TableTop Times, Dungeons and Discourse, 52 Miniatures, Big Battles Little Wars, RevolutionarythOt, Battlefield Ambience.
A member of the venerable Village Idiots whilst insulting a trans female creator, complained to her that I list trans creators. The Snowflake (arrogant, womanphobic. attention-seeking, insecure US man-child) no longer surprises. A trigger warning then.
The channels which I list include older, archaeologist, lesbian, mathematician, oils artist, Swedish, cis, socialist, miniatures painter, mechanic, sewist, military boardgamer, aviation modeller, lumber yard worker, redhaired, writer, language historian, intersex, science historian, marine biologist, lumber yard worker, Bahamian, sociologist, asexual, pensioner, engineer, water colour painter, Kenyan, communist, trans, economist, comedienne, cosplayer, mathematician, architect, chess player, WOC, bisexual, tall, Canadian, het, astrophysicist, book reviewer, married, culture critic, singer, queer, magician, primatologist, parent, Norwegian, singer, narrowboater, relationship advisor, farmer, military historian, fabric maker, welder and other creators known as Women.
Nearly as threatening are channels with anarchist, Finnish, wood worker, other LGBTQI+, neurodivergent, Irish, philosopher, logician, fashion historian, younger, RPG player, paleontologist, game historian, marine archaeologist, linguist, ethnocynologist, musician, New Zealander, other BIPOC, hat historian, reenactor, engineer, science communicator, archaeologist, Cornish, musician, ginger, other military board gamer, anthropologist, tailor, Scottish, chemist, zoologist, science fiction critic, boat restorer and other creators known (outside US) as Human Beings.
If the voices persist, seek emergency pastoral counselling and\or develop a hobby (reading perhaps) and\or adopt Mahayana Buddhism. My feelings towards these dullards are summed in one word, Contempt. Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes. Crimea is Ukraine.
Once more unto the page, dear friend. The worldbuilding is lacking. The writer has no clear idea of what this universe is, how it functions or where characters live. The first few pages seemed almost plausible but my forbearance was repaid in bad coin.
Science fiction involve technologies which define the limitations of combat, other interaction, character choices, range of options in a given scene, the how and why of plot points and more. The science and engineering may be magical but must be consistent and hopefully logical.
The alien technology is of the "can do everything" variety. One can only guess how the writer expected to illustrate plausible danger to the characters. Fortunately contrivance avoidance is not an issue in spacey-space, boom-boom books. With that restriction lifted, the plot hole is soon to follow. The writer exercises that freedom with wild abandon.
As examples, a crew member suffers life threatening loss of a limb. After returning to the ship, nether it nor treatment are again mentioned. No environmental protection suits are required on unexplored worlds. Ship systems able to transmute any material into the needed, can for no apparent reason not locate feedstock in an entire solar system.
The crew are a mix of species without need of a mix of environmental living spaces. The galaxy hopping explorers are five or six in a ship the approximate size of an outsized Widebeam Narrowboat from description. That ship with less internal space than the "Millennium Falcon" is fitted out with all resources, equipment and supplies to explore a galaxy. A gunman would make more sense as an infantry sergeant or corporal.
The crew number less than the functions described in the book despite no cross training. The stowaway from a barely space capable race assumes command. Being american is qualification enough apparently.
There is vague mention of a home authority of some sort and the crew are descriptive cutouts of each species. The authority is described as having no Navy or other Military and the ship itself is unarmed. The purposes of the trip are several, unclear and contradictory. That is the extent of societal description.
There is another civilisation labelled the "baddies" for reasons unknown, which may or may not be at war with the extra-galactic protagonists.
The book could not pass muster with an 11 year old, as according to that reading level, simple questions would be asked and go unanswered. The book is a children's story, written below the fifth grade reading level, which I believe is 10 to 11 years old. Yet the rating from adult readers is 4+ stars.
This next made possible by Doctor Who/Never fail to be Kind, fig tree, Heather Cox Richardson, Brittany Page, Sailing Melody, Ship Happens, Crow Caller, Jean's Thoughts, Bobbing Along, EarleWrites, Geo Girl, Up and Atom, Physics Girl, Tale Foundry, OrangeRIver, The Lost Species, PoliticsGirl, Outlaw Bookseller, Dice Hour,
Kyiv Post, Ahsoka Hyrule, The Kavernacle, Russian Dude, Lynn Saga, LydLoves, Nikki Howard, Burd's Books, Michael Lambert, SK Media, Honest Government Ads, Kings and Generals, Snappy Dragon, Mercado Media, Sarah Millican, Puddles Pity Party, Climate Town, White Stork, Noble Knight Games, Whitney Avalon, Julie Nolke,
Not the Andrew Marr Show, Paola Hermosin, Spacedock, The Dungeon Dad, IzzzYzzz, Chloe Daniels, Alex Fleev, Kozak Muzon, Philosophy Tube, Terrible Writing Advice, Gemma Dyer, Riverboat Jack, Agro Squirrel Narrates, What Vivi did next, Reads with Rachel, Break N Remake, Eileen, Jabzy, Kanal 13, Rebecca Watson, Verilybitchie,
Shannon Makes, Cruising the Cut,It is that Deep, Roomies Digest, Installation 00, Weirdo Book Club, TimeGhost History, Tank Museum, Octopus Lady, Gutsick Gibbon, ScaredKetchup, Tiktok Board Games, Chanse Hungerford, Matriarchetype, Northern Narrowboaters, Outlaw Bookseller, Justin Taylor, Raine Reacts, Little Blossom Darling.
I had lost most of my interest in recent science fiction print after using Amazon's loans. I accidentally discovered YouTube about four years ago and was stunned by the choice of channels. The special interest channels were a welcome surprise but the book tube were the best. 😍 The book channels cover the world of books from book hauls through library organization. The communities these creators foster are friendly, thoughtful and excited by the entirety of the bookish world. I promise that they are a different environment to that of Goodreads.
Consider treating this as a potentially hostile site. 🤔
Goodreads do not do discourse. As example, I wrote a short review of Powers of the Earth by Travis Corcoran. It is poorly written. rehash "Atlas Shrugged" set on the Moon. It was originally blurbed as similar to a Heinlein classic.
The book is the story of a sociopathic rich twat heroically attempting to enlist the military in overthrow of a US government In order that he not pay taxes. I found this and the many similar to be dangerous and now prophetic.
The writer, a Travis Corcoran self-described as libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without portfolio), employee of an unnamed US agency and admirer of Putin's Russia (a popular position of the 600+ influencers who accepted cash payments to promote Russian propaganda very effectively, especially a Tim Poole).
He also was/is a vocal advocate for the return of chattel slavery. With RFK endorsing forced labour prisoners used as agricultural workers, the criminalization of the unhoused, protesters, physically challenged and others with no civil rights there seem no pathways to release barring death. That is slave labour with a generational twist.
The same prisons including industrial furnaces for disposal, little opposition from the Democratic or Republican Party and a general indifference, the trajectory of the German death camps is being replicated. He must be well pleased.
Travis and six fellow patriots were disturbed by my opinion of the book and my defence of their democracy, though no other negative review had received comments. Their comment stream lasted for a year. No mention was made of that literary gem, though I did receive advice regarding my education, deficient intelligence, class background, given a corrected view of socialism, western philosophy, geopolitical analysis, literary merit and more.
While no insight into the latest crisis in cosmology was offered, I was left with a cosy bit of irony.
The final comment was delivered by Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr. After referencing the contents of my last message to a Goodreads friend, he wrote that They had Won.
I found that They and many allies had launched a year long deluge of vile sexual, anti-LGBTQI, racist and other comments against apparently every female creator of channels I mentioned (sometimes in my name), which continues in muted form still.
The midteen boater and her mother, historian, sewist, the splendid couple restoring a historic wooden boat and other female creators were neither impressed nor charmed.
Despite that setback, the world's overabundance of unpleasantness was certainly increased and They did deliver an accurate self-portrait of the Snowflake (vicious, poorly educated, anti-woman "middle class" US man-child) to a multinational audience.
By any metric, quite a Victory. Fortunately there are BookTubers to direct a reader to safe, sane, true reader forums.
This last made possible by YouTube's Julia Galef, Ponderful, Stevie Emerson, Mia Mulder, Fantasy and World Music by the Fletchers, Radio Retrofuture, Cindy's Villa, Emma Thorne, Tom Nicholas, Mercado Media, Books and Things, Delamer, Red Dawn,
Mandy, Owen Jones, May, Nope Brigade, FAFO, Cover in French, EU Made Simple,
Lily Simpson, CultCollege, Allie 202, D'Angelo, Zilla Blitz, The Dice Treasures, Geek and Sundry, Aid Thompsin, No Justice, Quackalope, The Discriminating Gamer, Leeanne Morgan, Hej Sokoly, Roisin's Reading, Reads With Cindy, Jess Owens, WokeGardener, Whitenoiz CA, Munecat, HIstory with Kayleigh, Squire, Nasimi Shabnam, Lady Izdihar,
Legendary Tactics, Joe Scott, Engineering Knits, V. Birchwood, Planet D, MechWest Show, Double Down News, Shitty Book Club, Jay Reed, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, Read Rant Review, Unlearning Economics, TransCrush, Cruising Crafts, Think Ukraine, Grace McGuire, Bernadette Banner, BardCore, Dark Brandon, Jill Bearup.
Ominous music begins. 😊 The comment gangs are dangerous groups. Amazon do not acknowledge incidents, discipline mental members, punish writers involved nor dismiss Kindle madlads who enable Them.
My own most extreme experience on the site involved the sharing of my very limited message history with these animals. After the Powers review, Pine Gap Centre requested that Australian Security interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. The attempt at my personal history failed.
Amazon were unconcerned until we broadcast our outrage as widely as possible. No apology was offered, nor recognition of the violation of customer privacy or the criminality.
Their response was the sudden return of my Page format and options to normal. lurkers I'd not been Allowed to be remove for several years were disappeared. Kindle bricking seem to have ended, etc.
I recently purchased replacement for my 8 year old phone and spotty service provid e with MintMobile. Despite my misgivings (the company's seeming sleaziness), Ryan Reynolds ads encouraged my giving it a go. One the fellows described above seem to manage processing my 500+ USD, year in advance service and new phone purchase, then held my order for weeks of "Review".
This mysterious Review and the weeks long refusal to refund my payment were unheard of by customer service and seemed to genuinely trouble them. It indicated that a supervisory type had intruded. Most concerning was the ability of MintMobile to insert a backdated email message into my feed, which against my previous contacts made no sense.
I'm sat at my computer, while that email struggled to force itself into my feed. That Yahoo could do so was no surprise, that They would stunned me. 2 months later I have received no phone, no refund. Worst is that I now can not bear to see Ryan Reynolds' face or his movies after his having been one of my favourite actors. US firms are out of control and i expect worse in future.
I have several simple safety suggestions for this site. Remove all personal information from Goodreads profile and avoid messaging except to establish contact with other victims of the Kindle Brownshirts.
Remove lurkers, those friends who do not post. They are certain to be gang monitors for employee dummies.
Given the cavalier attitude of Amazon towards customer safety, the screenshot of the odd, ugly and threatening are invaluable. These should suffice for Goodreads.
Kindle however are a more serious threat. Do not use Kindle Calendar, Email, Contacts or Files. Employees Sign Into customer emails without notice or permission. Make of that what you will.
Do Not "purchase" Amazon e-books, as you own only your device and if Kindle that is conditional. If purchased download titles immediately. There are BookTubers to suggest safer, more customer friendly ebook and device sellers, as well as alternatives to ebook purchases.
All Silk searches should of course, be innocuous and non-critical. Use of a single use email address for all things Amazon is hardly overkill.
Despite any seeming immunity, your status tests on the whims of unstable individuals. To implement the above will cost nothing but to not might well do. Remember that the mental man-child, employee and member alike embrace no non-Randian morality but are freedom loving US patriots with all that implies. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be safe and may we all find Good Reading. 🤗
Some of my favourite YouTube channels.
Narrowboat Pirate, No Justice MTG, Tom Nicholas, Some More News, Tara Mooknee, In the Woodyard, Double Down News, Munecat, The Juice Media, Chloe Stafler, Kathy's Flog from France, Kings and Generals, The Mindful Narrowboat, The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, Brandon Fisichella, NFKRZ, Atun Shei Films, Tibees, Maggie Mae Fish,
Karolina Zebrowska, Rebecca Watson, Raw News and Politics, What Vivi did next, Sciencephile The AI, Ember Green, Blooms and Greens by Chloe, PoliticsJoe, Templin Institute, Physics Girl, Red letter Media, Dominic Noble, The Great War, Vlad Vexler, Tank Museum, Chill Goblin, Sabine Hossenfelder, Bookpilled, Belinda Carr,
Prime of Midlife, Duck bricks, Esoterica, Maiorianus, Then & Now, Owen Jones, Kazachka, Gresham College, AllShortsPolitics, Fit 2B Read, Rowan J Coleman, Pentatonix, Autumn's Boutique, TheShadesofOrange, Sort of Interesting, Boat Time, Mrs Betty Bowers, Travelling K, Secret Sauce of StoryCraft, archyipx, Tale Foundry,
Chris Animations, Hello Future Me, Resurrected Starships, Jack in the Books, The Researcher, Omeleto, Lilly's life, Steve Shives, Lily Simpson, Amie's Literary Empire, Adult Wednesday Addams - 2 seasons, The Historian's Craft, Eugenia from Ukraine, Half as Interesting, Dr Becky, Psychology with Dr Ana, Nelson Chen, Past and Curious,
Bruising the Cut, Vanwives, Historia Civilis, With Olivia, I'm Rosa, ConeOfArc, Nomadic Crobot, Bobbing Along, Engineering with Rosie, The Leftist Cooks, The Present Past, SciFi Odyssey, The Welsh Viking, Jack Edwards, Renegade Cut, ChloeVSHistory, May,
Jessie Gender, Lindsay Stirling, Lady of the Library, RobWords, Alice Cappelle, Alizee, DW News, Perun, A Life of Lit, Told in Stone, Reads with Rachel, Mike's Book Reviews, Venom Geek Media, Austin McConnell, DUST, Squire, The Science of Science Fiction, Jean's Thoughts, Lindsay Ellis, Guard the Leaf.
I wish you a sunny morning, a breezy afternoon, a wonderful evening, a pleasant night and may we all continue learning.
Purpose is the driver of both stories and lives.
Paraphrasing Mia Mulder
The next was made possible by Doctor Who/Never Cruel or Cowardly, National Centre for Military Intelligence, Russian Media Monitor, fig tree, Anark, Red Glasgow, NFKRZ, Media is Fay, LuckyBlackCat, Smack the Pony, Leeja Miller, 2 Cellos, Reese Waters, Anna from Ukraine, Bothered, Book Leo, Ms Modeller, Real Vintage Dolls House,
AllShortsPolitics, Welcome to Ukraine, Carl Walmsley, LIbrary Ladder, OrangeRiver, Tod Maffin, Karolina Zebrowska, Jake Broe, Underthedesknews, Katie Montgomerie, Joe Blogs, Bobbing Along, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Queen Penguin, Ukraine Calling, Kyiv Independent, Verilybitchie, Zilla Blitz, Silicon Curtain, FAFO, Biz,
Yankee Farm Wife, Viva La Dirt League, Riverboat Jack, Physics Girl, Diem25, Mandy, ScaredKetchup, Kelly Loves Physics and History, Warthog Defence, Times Radio, France 24, Kazachka, Lily Alexandre, Tibees, LydLoves, Canadian Dominion, Sound of Music Flashmob, Truth to Power, Biz, TLDR News EU, Raw News and Politics,
The Shades of Orange, Cecilia Blomdahl, Leena Norms, Cruising Alba, Marsh Family, The Present Past, Squire, It's Black Friday, Tibees, CBC News, Discourse Minis, Rogue Hobbies, Ms Paints, Red Viburnam Song, Poisoned Pen Bookstore, Anthony Gramuglia, Mr Zod, Medieval Wargamer, Vintage Space, Honest2Betsy, Hanna Smith, Dadvocate,
Amanda Rae, Gingers are Black, Fiona Hill, Haropones, ATP Geopolitics, Gingers are Black, DW News, Jormungandr, UATV English, The History of Everything, Kiko1006 -Secret Melody, The Marsh Family, TableTop Times, Dungeons and Discourse, 52 Miniatures, Big Battles Little Wars, RevolutionarythOt, Battlefield Ambience.
A member of the venerable Village Idiots whilst insulting a trans female creator, complained to her that I list trans creators. The Snowflake (arrogant, womanphobic. attention-seeking, insecure US man-child) no longer surprises. A trigger warning then.
The channels which I list include older, archaeologist, lesbian, mathematician, oils artist, Swedish, cis, socialist, miniatures painter, mechanic, sewist, military boardgamer, aviation modeller, lumber yard worker, redhaired, writer, language historian, intersex, science historian, marine biologist, lumber yard worker, Bahamian, sociologist, asexual, pensioner, engineer, water colour painter, Kenyan, communist, trans, economist, comedienne, cosplayer, mathematician, architect, chess player, WOC, bisexual, tall, Canadian, het, astrophysicist, book reviewer, married, culture critic, singer, queer, magician, primatologist, parent, Norwegian, singer, narrowboater, relationship advisor, farmer, military historian, fabric maker, welder and other creators known as Women.
Nearly as threatening are channels with anarchist, Finnish, wood worker, other LGBTQI+, neurodivergent, Irish, philosopher, logician, fashion historian, younger, RPG player, paleontologist, game historian, marine archaeologist, linguist, ethnocynologist, musician, New Zealander, other BIPOC, hat historian, reenactor, engineer, science communicator, archaeologist, Cornish, musician, ginger, other military board gamer, anthropologist, tailor, Scottish, chemist, zoologist, science fiction critic, boat restorer and other creators known (outside US) as Human Beings.
If the voices persist, seek emergency pastoral counselling and\or develop a hobby (reading perhaps) and\or adopt Mahayana Buddhism. My feelings towards these dullards are summed in one word, Contempt. Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes. Crimea is Ukraine.
Once more unto the page, dear friend. The worldbuilding is lacking. The writer has no clear idea of what this universe is, how it functions or where characters live. The first few pages seemed almost plausible but my forbearance was repaid in bad coin.
Science fiction involve technologies which define the limitations of combat, other interaction, character choices, range of options in a given scene, the how and why of plot points and more. The science and engineering may be magical but must be consistent and hopefully logical.
The alien technology is of the "can do everything" variety. One can only guess how the writer expected to illustrate plausible danger to the characters. Fortunately contrivance avoidance is not an issue in spacey-space, boom-boom books. With that restriction lifted, the plot hole is soon to follow. The writer exercises that freedom with wild abandon.
As examples, a crew member suffers life threatening loss of a limb. After returning to the ship, nether it nor treatment are again mentioned. No environmental protection suits are required on unexplored worlds. Ship systems able to transmute any material into the needed, can for no apparent reason not locate feedstock in an entire solar system.
The crew are a mix of species without need of a mix of environmental living spaces. The galaxy hopping explorers are five or six in a ship the approximate size of an outsized Widebeam Narrowboat from description. That ship with less internal space than the "Millennium Falcon" is fitted out with all resources, equipment and supplies to explore a galaxy. A gunman would make more sense as an infantry sergeant or corporal.
The crew number less than the functions described in the book despite no cross training. The stowaway from a barely space capable race assumes command. Being american is qualification enough apparently.
There is vague mention of a home authority of some sort and the crew are descriptive cutouts of each species. The authority is described as having no Navy or other Military and the ship itself is unarmed. The purposes of the trip are several, unclear and contradictory. That is the extent of societal description.
There is another civilisation labelled the "baddies" for reasons unknown, which may or may not be at war with the extra-galactic protagonists.
The book could not pass muster with an 11 year old, as according to that reading level, simple questions would be asked and go unanswered. The book is a children's story, written below the fifth grade reading level, which I believe is 10 to 11 years old. Yet the rating from adult readers is 4+ stars.
This next made possible by Doctor Who/Never fail to be Kind, fig tree, Heather Cox Richardson, Brittany Page, Sailing Melody, Ship Happens, Crow Caller, Jean's Thoughts, Bobbing Along, EarleWrites, Geo Girl, Up and Atom, Physics Girl, Tale Foundry, OrangeRIver, The Lost Species, PoliticsGirl, Outlaw Bookseller, Dice Hour,
Kyiv Post, Ahsoka Hyrule, The Kavernacle, Russian Dude, Lynn Saga, LydLoves, Nikki Howard, Burd's Books, Michael Lambert, SK Media, Honest Government Ads, Kings and Generals, Snappy Dragon, Mercado Media, Sarah Millican, Puddles Pity Party, Climate Town, White Stork, Noble Knight Games, Whitney Avalon, Julie Nolke,
Not the Andrew Marr Show, Paola Hermosin, Spacedock, The Dungeon Dad, IzzzYzzz, Chloe Daniels, Alex Fleev, Kozak Muzon, Philosophy Tube, Terrible Writing Advice, Gemma Dyer, Riverboat Jack, Agro Squirrel Narrates, What Vivi did next, Reads with Rachel, Break N Remake, Eileen, Jabzy, Kanal 13, Rebecca Watson, Verilybitchie,
Shannon Makes, Cruising the Cut,It is that Deep, Roomies Digest, Installation 00, Weirdo Book Club, TimeGhost History, Tank Museum, Octopus Lady, Gutsick Gibbon, ScaredKetchup, Tiktok Board Games, Chanse Hungerford, Matriarchetype, Northern Narrowboaters, Outlaw Bookseller, Justin Taylor, Raine Reacts, Little Blossom Darling.
I had lost most of my interest in recent science fiction print after using Amazon's loans. I accidentally discovered YouTube about four years ago and was stunned by the choice of channels. The special interest channels were a welcome surprise but the book tube were the best. 😍 The book channels cover the world of books from book hauls through library organization. The communities these creators foster are friendly, thoughtful and excited by the entirety of the bookish world. I promise that they are a different environment to that of Goodreads.
Consider treating this as a potentially hostile site. 🤔
Goodreads do not do discourse. As example, I wrote a short review of Powers of the Earth by Travis Corcoran. It is poorly written. rehash "Atlas Shrugged" set on the Moon. It was originally blurbed as similar to a Heinlein classic.
The book is the story of a sociopathic rich twat heroically attempting to enlist the military in overthrow of a US government In order that he not pay taxes. I found this and the many similar to be dangerous and now prophetic.
The writer, a Travis Corcoran self-described as libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without portfolio), employee of an unnamed US agency and admirer of Putin's Russia (a popular position of the 600+ influencers who accepted cash payments to promote Russian propaganda very effectively, especially a Tim Poole).
He also was/is a vocal advocate for the return of chattel slavery. With RFK endorsing forced labour prisoners used as agricultural workers, the criminalization of the unhoused, protesters, physically challenged and others with no civil rights there seem no pathways to release barring death. That is slave labour with a generational twist.
The same prisons including industrial furnaces for disposal, little opposition from the Democratic or Republican Party and a general indifference, the trajectory of the German death camps is being replicated. He must be well pleased.
Travis and six fellow patriots were disturbed by my opinion of the book and my defence of their democracy, though no other negative review had received comments. Their comment stream lasted for a year. No mention was made of that literary gem, though I did receive advice regarding my education, deficient intelligence, class background, given a corrected view of socialism, western philosophy, geopolitical analysis, literary merit and more.
While no insight into the latest crisis in cosmology was offered, I was left with a cosy bit of irony.
The final comment was delivered by Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr. After referencing the contents of my last message to a Goodreads friend, he wrote that They had Won.
I found that They and many allies had launched a year long deluge of vile sexual, anti-LGBTQI, racist and other comments against apparently every female creator of channels I mentioned (sometimes in my name), which continues in muted form still.
The midteen boater and her mother, historian, sewist, the splendid couple restoring a historic wooden boat and other female creators were neither impressed nor charmed.
Despite that setback, the world's overabundance of unpleasantness was certainly increased and They did deliver an accurate self-portrait of the Snowflake (vicious, poorly educated, anti-woman "middle class" US man-child) to a multinational audience.
By any metric, quite a Victory. Fortunately there are BookTubers to direct a reader to safe, sane, true reader forums.
This last made possible by YouTube's Julia Galef, Ponderful, Stevie Emerson, Mia Mulder, Fantasy and World Music by the Fletchers, Radio Retrofuture, Cindy's Villa, Emma Thorne, Tom Nicholas, Mercado Media, Books and Things, Delamer, Red Dawn,
Mandy, Owen Jones, May, Nope Brigade, FAFO, Cover in French, EU Made Simple,
Lily Simpson, CultCollege, Allie 202, D'Angelo, Zilla Blitz, The Dice Treasures, Geek and Sundry, Aid Thompsin, No Justice, Quackalope, The Discriminating Gamer, Leeanne Morgan, Hej Sokoly, Roisin's Reading, Reads With Cindy, Jess Owens, WokeGardener, Whitenoiz CA, Munecat, HIstory with Kayleigh, Squire, Nasimi Shabnam, Lady Izdihar,
Legendary Tactics, Joe Scott, Engineering Knits, V. Birchwood, Planet D, MechWest Show, Double Down News, Shitty Book Club, Jay Reed, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, Read Rant Review, Unlearning Economics, TransCrush, Cruising Crafts, Think Ukraine, Grace McGuire, Bernadette Banner, BardCore, Dark Brandon, Jill Bearup.
Ominous music begins. 😊 The comment gangs are dangerous groups. Amazon do not acknowledge incidents, discipline mental members, punish writers involved nor dismiss Kindle madlads who enable Them.
My own most extreme experience on the site involved the sharing of my very limited message history with these animals. After the Powers review, Pine Gap Centre requested that Australian Security interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. The attempt at my personal history failed.
Amazon were unconcerned until we broadcast our outrage as widely as possible. No apology was offered, nor recognition of the violation of customer privacy or the criminality.
Their response was the sudden return of my Page format and options to normal. lurkers I'd not been Allowed to be remove for several years were disappeared. Kindle bricking seem to have ended, etc.
I recently purchased replacement for my 8 year old phone and spotty service provid e with MintMobile. Despite my misgivings (the company's seeming sleaziness), Ryan Reynolds ads encouraged my giving it a go. One the fellows described above seem to manage processing my 500+ USD, year in advance service and new phone purchase, then held my order for weeks of "Review".
This mysterious Review and the weeks long refusal to refund my payment were unheard of by customer service and seemed to genuinely trouble them. It indicated that a supervisory type had intruded. Most concerning was the ability of MintMobile to insert a backdated email message into my feed, which against my previous contacts made no sense.
I'm sat at my computer, while that email struggled to force itself into my feed. That Yahoo could do so was no surprise, that They would stunned me. 2 months later I have received no phone, no refund. Worst is that I now can not bear to see Ryan Reynolds' face or his movies after his having been one of my favourite actors. US firms are out of control and i expect worse in future.
I have several simple safety suggestions for this site. Remove all personal information from Goodreads profile and avoid messaging except to establish contact with other victims of the Kindle Brownshirts.
Remove lurkers, those friends who do not post. They are certain to be gang monitors for employee dummies.
Given the cavalier attitude of Amazon towards customer safety, the screenshot of the odd, ugly and threatening are invaluable. These should suffice for Goodreads.
Kindle however are a more serious threat. Do not use Kindle Calendar, Email, Contacts or Files. Employees Sign Into customer emails without notice or permission. Make of that what you will.
Do Not "purchase" Amazon e-books, as you own only your device and if Kindle that is conditional. If purchased download titles immediately. There are BookTubers to suggest safer, more customer friendly ebook and device sellers, as well as alternatives to ebook purchases.
All Silk searches should of course, be innocuous and non-critical. Use of a single use email address for all things Amazon is hardly overkill.
Despite any seeming immunity, your status tests on the whims of unstable individuals. To implement the above will cost nothing but to not might well do. Remember that the mental man-child, employee and member alike embrace no non-Randian morality but are freedom loving US patriots with all that implies. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be safe and may we all find Good Reading. 🤗
Some of my favourite YouTube channels.
Narrowboat Pirate, No Justice MTG, Tom Nicholas, Some More News, Tara Mooknee, In the Woodyard, Double Down News, Munecat, The Juice Media, Chloe Stafler, Kathy's Flog from France, Kings and Generals, The Mindful Narrowboat, The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, Brandon Fisichella, NFKRZ, Atun Shei Films, Tibees, Maggie Mae Fish,
Karolina Zebrowska, Rebecca Watson, Raw News and Politics, What Vivi did next, Sciencephile The AI, Ember Green, Blooms and Greens by Chloe, PoliticsJoe, Templin Institute, Physics Girl, Red letter Media, Dominic Noble, The Great War, Vlad Vexler, Tank Museum, Chill Goblin, Sabine Hossenfelder, Bookpilled, Belinda Carr,
Prime of Midlife, Duck bricks, Esoterica, Maiorianus, Then & Now, Owen Jones, Kazachka, Gresham College, AllShortsPolitics, Fit 2B Read, Rowan J Coleman, Pentatonix, Autumn's Boutique, TheShadesofOrange, Sort of Interesting, Boat Time, Mrs Betty Bowers, Travelling K, Secret Sauce of StoryCraft, archyipx, Tale Foundry,
Chris Animations, Hello Future Me, Resurrected Starships, Jack in the Books, The Researcher, Omeleto, Lilly's life, Steve Shives, Lily Simpson, Amie's Literary Empire, Adult Wednesday Addams - 2 seasons, The Historian's Craft, Eugenia from Ukraine, Half as Interesting, Dr Becky, Psychology with Dr Ana, Nelson Chen, Past and Curious,
Bruising the Cut, Vanwives, Historia Civilis, With Olivia, I'm Rosa, ConeOfArc, Nomadic Crobot, Bobbing Along, Engineering with Rosie, The Leftist Cooks, The Present Past, SciFi Odyssey, The Welsh Viking, Jack Edwards, Renegade Cut, ChloeVSHistory, May,
Jessie Gender, Lindsay Stirling, Lady of the Library, RobWords, Alice Cappelle, Alizee, DW News, Perun, A Life of Lit, Told in Stone, Reads with Rachel, Mike's Book Reviews, Venom Geek Media, Austin McConnell, DUST, Squire, The Science of Science Fiction, Jean's Thoughts, Lindsay Ellis, Guard the Leaf.
I wish you a sunny morning, a breezy afternoon, a wonderful evening, a pleasant night and may we all continue learning.
Purpose is the driver of both stories and lives.
Paraphrasing Mia Mulder
March 22, 2021
After a few chapters I was beginning to think this might be an interesting book, then came the nanites. This went too far, was the author trying to turn into a ‘backdoor’ superhero novel? After half-a-dozen chapters the book seemed to be about how big were Zade’s mods and little else.
As the story progressed I began to find the ‘Universe and Technology’ were fairly shaky, I wasn’t really convinced about any of it, at times it was more Fantasy than SciFi.
Perhaps if I had been in the mood for some 'comic book' SciFi I might have kept going, but I'm afraid this just wasn't for me.
As the story progressed I began to find the ‘Universe and Technology’ were fairly shaky, I wasn’t really convinced about any of it, at times it was more Fantasy than SciFi.
Perhaps if I had been in the mood for some 'comic book' SciFi I might have kept going, but I'm afraid this just wasn't for me.
December 3, 2020
Could not read. So many typos and missing words
I tried to read this story, it seemed to have promise however the sheer number of mistakes was unforgivable in an age of computer editing, did no one proof this book before selling it! It was like a reddit post crossed with a Wikipedia rant. Wish I could get my money back.
I tried to read this story, it seemed to have promise however the sheer number of mistakes was unforgivable in an age of computer editing, did no one proof this book before selling it! It was like a reddit post crossed with a Wikipedia rant. Wish I could get my money back.
January 9, 2020
This book and author saddens me
It truly makes me sad that a man can join the army, come out with an engineering degree and a commission in the U.S. armed forces and still have the writing level of a middle schooler.
It truly makes me sad that a man can join the army, come out with an engineering degree and a commission in the U.S. armed forces and still have the writing level of a middle schooler.
April 21, 2022
A few egregious grammar issues ('breakdown' is a noun; 'break down' is the verb) I could deal with. Too much bad science. Aliens just humans in different skins. I made it half way before giving up.
July 3, 2022
completely unbelievable. I stopped after 60 pages
September 9, 2020
Exhausting
A good concept with exhausting descriptions that can last pages long before minimal dialog makes what could have been an entertaing tale instead a dismal read. It was a drag to read and finally found myself looking for quotation marks indicating verbals exchanges between characters.
A good concept with exhausting descriptions that can last pages long before minimal dialog makes what could have been an entertaing tale instead a dismal read. It was a drag to read and finally found myself looking for quotation marks indicating verbals exchanges between characters.
November 27, 2020
I think Mr Dean read "Glory Road" and thought he could do that. Sadly he isn't Robert Heinlein, and he can't.
September 26, 2020
Decent story marred by clumsy writing
This is a military power fantasy in the shape of a science fiction book. And there's nothing at all wrong with that, as long as you know what you're getting into. The story was alright, overall, and an enjoyable, fast-paced read, with all the usual Clancy/Ringo military tropes you want in this kind of thing, mixed with some he-man scifi. I would have given it 3 stars, but the writing was poor-to-average. The very few, very minor technical mistakes weren't too bad, but the style was clearly "new author honing his craft" and while I expect later books will be gradually better as Dean finds his voice, this one could have benefited from an editor to chop unnecessary things off of sentences and do some rewrites. It's not a bad book, but it's not a good one either. If I could give 2.5 stars, I would.
This is a military power fantasy in the shape of a science fiction book. And there's nothing at all wrong with that, as long as you know what you're getting into. The story was alright, overall, and an enjoyable, fast-paced read, with all the usual Clancy/Ringo military tropes you want in this kind of thing, mixed with some he-man scifi. I would have given it 3 stars, but the writing was poor-to-average. The very few, very minor technical mistakes weren't too bad, but the style was clearly "new author honing his craft" and while I expect later books will be gradually better as Dean finds his voice, this one could have benefited from an editor to chop unnecessary things off of sentences and do some rewrites. It's not a bad book, but it's not a good one either. If I could give 2.5 stars, I would.
December 22, 2019
Story is great. Grammar is atrocious.
Dawn: The period of time just before sunrise, or just as something is happening. Or as a verb to indicate the same. The sun dawns in the morning.
Don: among other things, to put things on.
This author repeatedly uses the word dawn instead of don, and it is driving me insane.
Dawn: The period of time just before sunrise, or just as something is happening. Or as a verb to indicate the same. The sun dawns in the morning.
Don: among other things, to put things on.
This author repeatedly uses the word dawn instead of don, and it is driving me insane.
August 24, 2020
Basic HFY trope
This story is too short and boring to be worth the purchase. Use the money to buy something better.
There is no character development or any real explanation for why the characters make the choices they make

This story is too short and boring to be worth the purchase. Use the money to buy something better.
There is no character development or any real explanation for why the characters make the choices they make

September 23, 2020
Chapter 12 and I'm done with this. It started out GREAT! Stayed real good till about chapter 10, then started going down hill... fast. Meeting Sam's father after he all but kills Z and then says "Oh, I'm sorry" and all is fine.... killed the book for me.
February 10, 2020
Illogical
Poorly written with many incosistency's which might have been fixed with some decent editing especially if done during the writing.
Poorly written with many incosistency's which might have been fixed with some decent editing especially if done during the writing.
September 21, 2020
Struggling to continue through this novel. I'll give it one more go before I post an actual review.
October 8, 2022
Glad that I was listening to this book instead of trying to read it. On the plus side it had a few interesting moments. A few contradictions and plot holes but that’s just par for the course with new sci-fi stories. Nothing truly great about the book but nothing too dislikable about it either. The story was okay, no real character growth but for the type of story this is, it wasn’t expected. The book was sufficiently described and nicely read.
I got it from the Audible plus store for free. An okay listening experience designed for a sequel.
3 stars.
I got it from the Audible plus store for free. An okay listening experience designed for a sequel.
3 stars.
October 7, 2022
I was able to complete books 1 & 2, but just barely. The author relies on stupidity to tell his tale. Most obvious are the lengths the author goes to to lose navigational data so the MC can't be immediately returned to earth. This is ridiculous in the extreme as it results in highly advanced aliens being less competent with computers than earth. By the time humans are interstellar travelers we will have galactic maps in our AV glasses or some such. Alternatively the author could have just had the MC choose to take advantage of a once in a life time opportunity.
The MC ends up joining the crew of the spaceship. Shortly thereafter a glitch in the highly advanced spaceship results in the AI using an extremely convoluted plan to kill the MC by stranding him on a backwards planet. Fortunately the captain of the ship turns the computer off and on again, fixing the problem and allowing for the rescue of the MC from amazingly stupid locals, locals who were only chasing the MC because the other crew member with him had done something incredibly stupid.
Are you getting the feeling yet that the author only uses stupidity to move his story forward? If so, go with it. It is basically accurate.
After the AI fiasco the ship returns to “the Unity” which is essentially an interstellar empire run by its wealthy elite with democratic window dressings. The Unity leader, the Chancellor, has the MC imprisoned and tortured. Why? Essentially because Chancellor is crazy, after all, Chancellor concludes MC is a spy contrary to all available evidence. Even if MC was a spy a remotely intelligent person would have MC watched, not break the law to get a cheap thrill by personally participating in the MC's torture. Is the MC rescued by stalwart companions or his own ingenuity? No. He is rescued because Chancellor is too stupid to post guards or lock doors so Chancellor’s daughter walks in on the torture when she comes to call Chancellor to diner.
Chancellor then attempts to kill MC in the stupidest possible way. Chancellor gives MC a decrepit ancient alien (Groz) ship. A couple of centuries ago the Groz fought the Unity and lost to the Unity’s numbers in spite of the Groz’s advanced tech. The Groz are now believed extinct. In an insane turn of events, the Groz ship is so advanced it was able to hide this fact from Unity scientist for decades. The Groz ship, however, immediately reveals itself to the MC (end book 1).
In book 2 MC takes his magic Groz ship (and it really is a magic ship for all intents), and heads in the general direction of earth because the author ignores the fact that the necessary information to find earth should be readily available on the Unity home world. MC names his ship Ananna. MC and Ananna plan to scavenge more Groz technology on the way to earth. However they become involved in fighting piracy in the first system with a Groz wreck. The pirates are preying on local miners but, as the large corporations running the mining are themselves pirates, difficulties ensue including some really dumb stuff and a twist which can be seen from a mile off but I still won’t reveal it here.
MC & co. resolve the piracy/corporate greed problem and continue on their way to earth via Groz salvage sites. I realize I failed to give examples of stupidity in book 2 but, trust me, they are there.
Bottom line: Only worth the read if you have a high tolerance for stupidity.
The MC ends up joining the crew of the spaceship. Shortly thereafter a glitch in the highly advanced spaceship results in the AI using an extremely convoluted plan to kill the MC by stranding him on a backwards planet. Fortunately the captain of the ship turns the computer off and on again, fixing the problem and allowing for the rescue of the MC from amazingly stupid locals, locals who were only chasing the MC because the other crew member with him had done something incredibly stupid.
Are you getting the feeling yet that the author only uses stupidity to move his story forward? If so, go with it. It is basically accurate.
After the AI fiasco the ship returns to “the Unity” which is essentially an interstellar empire run by its wealthy elite with democratic window dressings. The Unity leader, the Chancellor, has the MC imprisoned and tortured. Why? Essentially because Chancellor is crazy, after all, Chancellor concludes MC is a spy contrary to all available evidence. Even if MC was a spy a remotely intelligent person would have MC watched, not break the law to get a cheap thrill by personally participating in the MC's torture. Is the MC rescued by stalwart companions or his own ingenuity? No. He is rescued because Chancellor is too stupid to post guards or lock doors so Chancellor’s daughter walks in on the torture when she comes to call Chancellor to diner.
Chancellor then attempts to kill MC in the stupidest possible way. Chancellor gives MC a decrepit ancient alien (Groz) ship. A couple of centuries ago the Groz fought the Unity and lost to the Unity’s numbers in spite of the Groz’s advanced tech. The Groz are now believed extinct. In an insane turn of events, the Groz ship is so advanced it was able to hide this fact from Unity scientist for decades. The Groz ship, however, immediately reveals itself to the MC (end book 1).
In book 2 MC takes his magic Groz ship (and it really is a magic ship for all intents), and heads in the general direction of earth because the author ignores the fact that the necessary information to find earth should be readily available on the Unity home world. MC names his ship Ananna. MC and Ananna plan to scavenge more Groz technology on the way to earth. However they become involved in fighting piracy in the first system with a Groz wreck. The pirates are preying on local miners but, as the large corporations running the mining are themselves pirates, difficulties ensue including some really dumb stuff and a twist which can be seen from a mile off but I still won’t reveal it here.
MC & co. resolve the piracy/corporate greed problem and continue on their way to earth via Groz salvage sites. I realize I failed to give examples of stupidity in book 2 but, trust me, they are there.
Bottom line: Only worth the read if you have a high tolerance for stupidity.
February 11, 2020
Mr Lagree Walker
I enjoyed this all the twist and turns held me spelled bound. But you left me hanging the way it ended now I Gabe to wait for book 2 damn please it’s already written
I enjoyed this all the twist and turns held me spelled bound. But you left me hanging the way it ended now I Gabe to wait for book 2 damn please it’s already written
December 23, 2019
Very good 1st book in a series.
Seems as the science was ok. Also the background development of the different races was adequate. Am wondering how you will fill out the crew requirements of the ship. Possibly for the security-related forces finding operator's in the VA hospitals that are disabled that can be healed with the namites.I did enjoy this book really hope you continue the series.
Seems as the science was ok. Also the background development of the different races was adequate. Am wondering how you will fill out the crew requirements of the ship. Possibly for the security-related forces finding operator's in the VA hospitals that are disabled that can be healed with the namites.I did enjoy this book really hope you continue the series.
December 12, 2019
Could’ve been good
Interesting premise, and this book could’ve been pretty good. But spelling, punctuation errors, and lack of disciplined editing brings this down a couple of stars. It reads like a first draft. At least our hero isn’t some super spec ops guy like similar plot lines out there. This story is a good first attempt.
Interesting premise, and this book could’ve been pretty good. But spelling, punctuation errors, and lack of disciplined editing brings this down a couple of stars. It reads like a first draft. At least our hero isn’t some super spec ops guy like similar plot lines out there. This story is a good first attempt.
January 14, 2020
Someone to follow
This rookie writer will be someone to follow going forward. As he found his stride the book developed good rhythm. Yes ZD, you should write the sequel which you more than hinted at in the last chapter. Being a vet myself it is always a special treat to watch another vet succeed. Lock and load ZD!
This rookie writer will be someone to follow going forward. As he found his stride the book developed good rhythm. Yes ZD, you should write the sequel which you more than hinted at in the last chapter. Being a vet myself it is always a special treat to watch another vet succeed. Lock and load ZD!
January 19, 2020
Great book
I was initially put off by the cover art, but the reviews convinced me to give this book a try. I’m really pleased I did, the book was hard to put down. Pacing was good, I enjoyed the unfolding of events and history. Good twist there at the end. I’m really looking forward to part 2.
I was initially put off by the cover art, but the reviews convinced me to give this book a try. I’m really pleased I did, the book was hard to put down. Pacing was good, I enjoyed the unfolding of events and history. Good twist there at the end. I’m really looking forward to part 2.
January 23, 2020
Overall I enjoyed this tale of a current military vet becoming a stowaway on an alien science survey starship. Good main character in Lt. Zade and I liked the alien characters Samix and Porlux. The issues the guy deals with feel real and credible. And I want to read a sequel to this novel. That said, the negatives killed off a star in the rating. The author badly needs a good editor to catch missed periods, misspellings, poorly phrased "Zade said" segments and wrongly spelled locations in Afghanistan, like Bagram Air Base, which is not Bogram Air Base. The word 'Salerno' is also spelled two ways. Wrong word choice was also a bother--the use of 'dawning' instead of the correct 'donning' to indicate putting things onto oneself was common. And the location of Earth and the Unity space empire was made confusing by comments that made Unity sound like it was in another galaxy, when the action made it clear it was all happenig in the Milky Way galaxy. Problems with a lack of quote marks used around dialogue were also common. Overall the writing was decent if not accomplished. Good editing and some thought by the author on scene transitions would help. As would consistent use of third person limited POV for the hero guy. Recommended. Tom.
December 16, 2019
Loved the story
The characters are interesting with a believable background for each. The how they came to be on the explorer, their different missions and how they interact as a crew. I would be very interested in the next installment. My only reason for not giving the fifth star is the number of typographical errors, misspellings and a few inconsistencies in character names. The author should spend a little time on his dictionary of this series' names and functions. The editor assigned by the publisher should know the difference between donned clothing and "dawned clothing". I don't know why anyone would not see that particular mistaken use. But it is in the book, more than once.
The characters are interesting with a believable background for each. The how they came to be on the explorer, their different missions and how they interact as a crew. I would be very interested in the next installment. My only reason for not giving the fifth star is the number of typographical errors, misspellings and a few inconsistencies in character names. The author should spend a little time on his dictionary of this series' names and functions. The editor assigned by the publisher should know the difference between donned clothing and "dawned clothing". I don't know why anyone would not see that particular mistaken use. But it is in the book, more than once.
November 14, 2020
While a fair story, not sure it is deserving of an overall 4 1/3 stars. A good deal of conversation and description, but not much action. The writing style is bland, and not terribly engaging. The lead character seems to have little emotional life. His reaction to his new life and inability to return home seems to be a yawn. And his ability to instantly utilize wildly advanced technology with barely a missed step is not very believable. Forming almost instant relationships with utterly alien people, including jokes, seems way too simplistic.
One MAJOR complaint! Is proofreading a defunct artform? Far too many mistaken hominyms, and terrble use of language.
Not sure that I would take up the next book in the series
One MAJOR complaint! Is proofreading a defunct artform? Far too many mistaken hominyms, and terrble use of language.
Not sure that I would take up the next book in the series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2022
Review of Stowaway by Z.D. Dean
I liked this book because of the characters in it. The premise of the book being human meeting aliens from anotherters planet and his acceptance that his life has changed and he needs to find a way home to planet earth. His acceptance by the crew of the alien ship letting become a member of the crew and helping them on their mission to explore new worlds and collect samples of vegetation and soil and. The characters are believable and come across as real beings. I gave this book 5 stars because it deserves such a rating, although my review of the book doesn't deserves even 1 star. This is my first rating of a book ever. So please accept my stumbling attempt to review. Its a good book and series.
I liked this book because of the characters in it. The premise of the book being human meeting aliens from anotherters planet and his acceptance that his life has changed and he needs to find a way home to planet earth. His acceptance by the crew of the alien ship letting become a member of the crew and helping them on their mission to explore new worlds and collect samples of vegetation and soil and. The characters are believable and come across as real beings. I gave this book 5 stars because it deserves such a rating, although my review of the book doesn't deserves even 1 star. This is my first rating of a book ever. So please accept my stumbling attempt to review. Its a good book and series.
April 4, 2020
Challenging
I have read a lot of sci-fi books. Most are very similar to one another, in plot and character development. I can see how much thought you put into the concept of this series and the individual characters. You have made me really think and challenged my own thought process. I enjoyed your novel more with every turn of the page. You may not have been sure if you could write this. I can only say, that you should never have had any doubts. Incredible story and great characters. I would recommend this to any one with thoughts of the heavens and the universe around us. Thank you so much and I look forward to next in-line.
I have read a lot of sci-fi books. Most are very similar to one another, in plot and character development. I can see how much thought you put into the concept of this series and the individual characters. You have made me really think and challenged my own thought process. I enjoyed your novel more with every turn of the page. You may not have been sure if you could write this. I can only say, that you should never have had any doubts. Incredible story and great characters. I would recommend this to any one with thoughts of the heavens and the universe around us. Thank you so much and I look forward to next in-line.
June 19, 2020
Found this a very enjoyable read with good characters with interesting backgrounds. It has believable future technology with some loopholes. They manage to loose all information regarding Earth in an accident something needed for the plot progression, but hardly likely never heard of backups? This is one of few negatives I found, however more positives like a story based on exploration not war although there hints of a big bad in the background. The alien society portrayed seem as flawed as earth's despite it higher tech, with class, sex and racial differences apparent. End on something of a cliffhanger which has me looking forward to the next episode.
September 16, 2020
Enjoyed a good read
This book started off OK but was not outstanding. However as it went along I felt that the author was fairly new at the craft and was improving the more that was written. I completed reading within a day and will go on to read Book 2. I enjoyed the overall story and look forward to see where it goes. If this was a first Book then well done by the author. I often feel annoyed by others who comment bitterly about the quality of books, when they themselves have probably never written a single chapter. Try to write a book before you get too critical. This was a good read
This book started off OK but was not outstanding. However as it went along I felt that the author was fairly new at the craft and was improving the more that was written. I completed reading within a day and will go on to read Book 2. I enjoyed the overall story and look forward to see where it goes. If this was a first Book then well done by the author. I often feel annoyed by others who comment bitterly about the quality of books, when they themselves have probably never written a single chapter. Try to write a book before you get too critical. This was a good read
January 28, 2023
For a book about aliens, completely unrelated to earth and humans, all of the characters are not only very human, but very American. They are culturally the least alien beings to have ever been written. I kept trying to get past it but ultimately any of the fun concepts or interesting themes are thoroughly overshadowed by amature writing and simplistic story development.
To be fair, I read so far past when I wanted to stop, but ultimately can't bring myself to finish the book. All the same, I really can't imagine how this book is rated as highly on here as it is. Who knows, maybe it got a *ton* better in the second half, I just can't imagine how.
To be fair, I read so far past when I wanted to stop, but ultimately can't bring myself to finish the book. All the same, I really can't imagine how this book is rated as highly on here as it is. Who knows, maybe it got a *ton* better in the second half, I just can't imagine how.
January 14, 2020
AD Deans novel is a gem. Hopefully the start of a new alt universe.
Following the likes of past writers in this genre. He? Has created then filled a earth that is based on reality while creating a alternate universe filled with fresh beings and worlds. The setting up of a dangerous empire for the hero and his cohorts to battle in order to save their and his people will bring about exciting further story's. To say I anxiously await the next novel would be a fast understatement.
Following the likes of past writers in this genre. He? Has created then filled a earth that is based on reality while creating a alternate universe filled with fresh beings and worlds. The setting up of a dangerous empire for the hero and his cohorts to battle in order to save their and his people will bring about exciting further story's. To say I anxiously await the next novel would be a fast understatement.
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