Titan

Impact #1

by Brandon Q. Morris

Description
How to avoid killing Earth if you don't even know who sent the killer

250 years ago, humanity nearly destroyed itself in the Great War. Shortly before, a spaceship full of researchers and astronauts had found a new home on Saturn's moon, Titan, and survived by having their descendants genetically adapted to the hostile environment.

The Titanians, as they call themselves, are proud of their cooperative and peaceful society, while unbeknownst to them, humanity is slowly recovering back on Earth. When a 20-mile-wide chunk of rock escapes the asteroid belt and appears to be on a collision course with Earth, the Titanians fear it must look as if they launched the deadly bombardment. Can they prevent the impact and thus avoid an otherwise inevitable war with the Earthlings?

Genres: Science Fiction

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2020

About the author

Brandon Q. Morris is a physicist and space specialist. He has long been concerned with space issues, both professionally and privately and while he wanted to become an astronaut, he had to stay on Earth for a variety of reasons. He is particularly fascinated by the "what if” and through his books he aims to share compelling hard science fiction stories that could actually happen, and someday may happen. Morris is the author of several best-selling science fiction novels.

Reviews

[reherrma · Rating 2 out of 5]

O. K. dies ist ein untypisch infantiler Brandon Q. Morris. Die Story ist einfach erzählt. Auf Titan hat sich die menschliche Spezies, aufgeteilt in die, in Habitaten lebenden Nachfahren der Erdmenschen, und eine genetisch umweltangepasste Art, die innerhalb der kalten Titanatmosphäre überleben kann, etabliert. Die beiden Arten leben in großer Eintracht, aber in Feindschaft zu den Erdmenschen, die vermeintlich nach einem großen Krieg dezimiert, ein unglückliches Leben auf der Erde fristen. Was genau dahintersteckt, bleibt verborgen, genauso ist nicht klar, ob das alles so stimmt. Auf jeden Fall wird eines Tages endeckt, dass ein Asteroid aus dem Asteroidengürtel sich selbständig macht und auf die Erde zustürzt. Die Politiker der Titanier beauftragen ein Team von Wnutri und Snofri (die beiden oben beschriebenen Menschenarten auf dem Saturnmond) ein legendäres Raumschiff der Begründer der Titan-Kultur, innterhalb einen Methan-Gletschers zu suchen und zum Asteroiden zu fliegen um das Einschlagsereignis zu verhindern, die Titanier fürchten eine Racheaktion der Terraner, denen man alles Schlechte zutraut. Ein kurzweiliges Abenteuer mit einer Romanze entsteht, sowie eine Begegnung mit Erde/Marsmenschen, die ganz anders sind als erwartet. Außerdem macht sich noch ein weiterer Asteroid selbstständig und droht auf Titan abzustürzen, was die Besatzung aber zu verhindern weiß...
Die Geschichte geht aus wie das Hornberger Schießen, d.h. keine Auflösung der vielen Rätsel. Der Grund ist wohl der, dass Brandon Q. Morris wieder in Kooperation mit einem anderen Autor gegangen ist, hier John C. Corner, der mit dem 2. Teil "Einschlag: Erde" wohl eine Auflösung der Story bringt.
Dieser Roman gehört m.E. auch nicht zu der Future-History (Eismond etc.), sondern könnte eher in das Helium-3 Universum passen...
Die ganze Choreographie fand ich willkürlich und unglaubhaft zusammengeschustert, den Protagonisten hilft immer wieder ein unglaubhafter Zufall, die Raumfahrt-Physik erscheint mir nicht korrekt (so ist ein Raumschiff ein-zwei Tage vom Mars zum Asteroidengürtel unterwegs, während ein anderes Schiff gerade mal in wenigen Tagen von Asteroidengürtel zum Saturn unterwegs ist, um einen Asteroiden abzufangen. Mit einem Fingerschnippen wird das gemacht, ohne auf die physikalischen Grundlagen zu achten bzw. zu erklären, warum so etwas möglich sein sollte. Das fand ich sehr enttäuschend.
Weiterhin muß man sagen, das Morris sich hier, was wissenschaftliche Aussagen betrifft, sich sehr weit aus dem Fenster lehnt, man kann das kaum als wirkliche Hard-SF bezeichnen, immerhin beschreibt er eine glaubhafte Landschaftsbeschreibung des Titan, sowie sein neuer wissenschaftlicher Anhang über die Monde des Saturn ist gewohnt aufschlussreich und interessant.
Allerdings muss ich der pupertierenden Beziehungskiste, die die gesamts SF-Handlung überlagert, einige Punkte abziehen, das kenne ich so von anderen Romanen von BQR viel besser.

[Charl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Morris does come up with interesting stories, but usually they're rife with basic science errors, a grievous sin for a so-called "Hard Sci-Fi" author.

This one had two that stood out:

Suction cups don't work in a vacuum. Period. So them "somehow" holding to the asteroid needed to be explained. Instead, they just "somehow worked". Morris should have come up with a better way to "cling" to the asteroid.

And our heroes got going fast enough to get ahead of the dust cloud after the explosion, yet it somehow caught up with them again? To get ahead of the dust, they had to be going faster than the dust. So unless they slowed down again, or the dust is still accelerating, it wouldn't catch up with them. They were in space, so there's nothing to slow them down, and the dust is from an explosion, so there's nothing still accelerating it. Morris is listed as a physicist, but this is very basic physics in a vacuum.

Fortunately, they weren't enough to make me quit reading (unlike the Ice Moon books), and it turned out to be a decent story. If basic science errors don't bother you, you'll probably enjoy it even more than I did.

[David Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enhanced beings and rogue asteroids around Titan!

Humans from Earth have colonized Titan, generating a new symbiote to enhance their ability to live in such a cold climate. They left Earth many years ago while a big war was on and have not been in contact for ages. One day an asteroid changes it trajectory and appears to be heading for Earth. The Titanians want to investigate and so search for their original Earth ship so as to be able to reach it, since space flight is strongly discouraged. Secrets are uncovered and things may not be as they seem. At the same time romance blossoms! While not actions packed and full of space battles, this is a highly entertaining and thought-provoking story about what it means to be human (or Titanian).

[John JJJJJJJJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn’t always a pleasant experience.

Fifty years ago, humanity nearly self-destructed in the Great War. Shortly before that, a spaceship full of researchers and astronauts had found a new home on Saturn’s moon, Titan, and survived by genetically adapting their descendants to the hostile environment.

The Titanians, as they call themselves, take pride in their cooperative and peaceful society, unaware that humanity is slowly recovering on Earth. When a 20-mile-wide chunk of rock breaks off from the asteroid belt and seems on a collision course with Earth, the Titanians fear it will give the impression that they’ve launched a deadly bombardment. Can they prevent the impact and thus avoid an otherwise inevitable war with Earth?

At times, it felt slow and boring.

[Andreas Kouris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writer has an astonishing fantasy, and an amazing talent to create immersive worlds starting from true science.

However in most of his books he appears that somewhere along the way, he gets either tired, or less thrilled to deliver a good story, and he writes as if he just wants to finish the book and start the next one because he has already dreamed of another astonishing world.

As a result although the books have a great start and you can't stop imagining the endless possibilities of what the writer describes, very soon they dissapoint you because the story is underdeveloped, or in many cases, hastily written.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writes like Hal Clement

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I will definitely read the other books in the series. I can't get enough of post human stories, whether they be stories like this one about genetically enhanced humans, or about the survivors from a human caused apocalypse, which this story is also about.

[Bob Ribokas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly good

I enjoyed this as much as other stories by Brandon but the main character in this one, Boris, leaves a bit to be desired. Stuck way too much in his head with negativity. Still a good read.

[Justin Redman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way different

Don't lay my title defer you. The characters and imagination in this storyline make it a great read. One those page turners that is exciting and a feel good ending with it. Best read in a while

[Phillip W. Hargrove · Rating 3 out of 5]

One Tiresome Character

The character Boris and his childish reactions ruined an otherwise enjoyable story. I found myself tempted to stop reading half way through to vent my disappointment.

[Rachel Broughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fab book by Brandon, I am eagerly awaiting the next in the series Impact Earth

[Jay Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

Thank you Brandon Q. Morris for another great journey off world. I look forward to your next story/series and ask what I always do. Can you make it longer?!?!!!!

[Russell Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting the usual high quality hard science fiction. Instead, this is a romance based in space. He's a good writer, but in the end it didn't leave me craving for Impact Earth.

[William Dorsett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story Line with Hard Science

Good read all around with interesting plot and action. I liked the characters and a little romance that made the read enjoyable.

[Olympio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great worldbuilding at the beginning about living on Titan, the adventure is resolved rather too quickly for such a focus at the beginning. Maybe this book is the first of a long series.