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Gordian Knot #1
One Day as a Lion
Two civilizations clash. A rebellion grows. The fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance.
Technical Chief "Pappy" Gunther is a grizzled, burning out commando in the United Earth Armed Forces. He ponders a return to civilian life, yet feels a strong sense of belonging to his elite team. When colonists on a far-flung world request aid, a task force from several allied systems is assembled. Pappy and his crack unit are sent to investigate, and to engage a mysterious alien force from beyond.
Talks-To-His-Spear is the warrior-caste champion of a matriarchal space empire called the Regime. Leading an army of fanatical, genetically-enhanced super soldiers, he dreams of dying in battle for the glory of his Queen. However, he’s beginning to question the motives of this new campaign, and fears that he may have to compromise his own deep sense of honor in order to fulfill his tasks.
Nobody expected the two alien cultures to have so much in common, and for friendships and alliances to form alongside rivalries. However, when Pappy discovers a rebellion spanning worlds, everything changes. The growing insurrection threatens to tear the Regime—and the galaxy—apart.
Technical Chief "Pappy" Gunther is a grizzled, burning out commando in the United Earth Armed Forces. He ponders a return to civilian life, yet feels a strong sense of belonging to his elite team. When colonists on a far-flung world request aid, a task force from several allied systems is assembled. Pappy and his crack unit are sent to investigate, and to engage a mysterious alien force from beyond.
Talks-To-His-Spear is the warrior-caste champion of a matriarchal space empire called the Regime. Leading an army of fanatical, genetically-enhanced super soldiers, he dreams of dying in battle for the glory of his Queen. However, he’s beginning to question the motives of this new campaign, and fears that he may have to compromise his own deep sense of honor in order to fulfill his tasks.
Nobody expected the two alien cultures to have so much in common, and for friendships and alliances to form alongside rivalries. However, when Pappy discovers a rebellion spanning worlds, everything changes. The growing insurrection threatens to tear the Regime—and the galaxy—apart.
437 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 2, 2021
180 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan E. Hernandez
7 books52 followersJonathan E. Hernandez is an author, visual artist, and organizer with the Brooklyn Speculative Fiction Writers. After an honorable discharge from the military, he went back to school to study creative writing and pursue a career better suited to his muse. A Nuyorican originally from the Bronx, he now lives in Astoria, New York with his partner Anita and a cat named Jonesy.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 27, 2021
One Day as a Lion is the first in an intense and captivating trilogy by Jonathan Hernandez. It chronicles the return of a human civilization that has been absent from its origin galaxy from time immemorial. The Regime have an extremely rigid caste system and are ruled by a line of omnipotent Queens. Their holy book, the Codex, tells them it’s their destiny to return to their ancient home and bring it into submission and their armies are led by a member of their warrior caste, Talks-to-his-Spear. Waiting for them on the other side of a wormhole are the Lost Ones - the humans who never left and have spread themselves across galaxies in the ensuing years, defended by the United Earth Armed Forces. Against the backdrop of an epic battle, we meet the main character, Technical Chief “Pappy” Gunther and his quirky band of compatriots who find themselves in the middle of the action as two regimes clash.
For fans of military or epic science fiction, this book is pure catnip. The various units and their battleships are vividly imagined ¬– right down to the drones. Pappy is a wildly engaging character much in the tradition of grizzled and battle-hardened heroes and his intrepid unit all have their own personalities. There is plenty of action and I heard a John Williams-like orchestral soundtrack in my head the entire time. One Day as a Lion delivers all the right notes and sets up the next book perfectly without leaving you unsatisfied at the resolution. I highly recommend.
For fans of military or epic science fiction, this book is pure catnip. The various units and their battleships are vividly imagined ¬– right down to the drones. Pappy is a wildly engaging character much in the tradition of grizzled and battle-hardened heroes and his intrepid unit all have their own personalities. There is plenty of action and I heard a John Williams-like orchestral soundtrack in my head the entire time. One Day as a Lion delivers all the right notes and sets up the next book perfectly without leaving you unsatisfied at the resolution. I highly recommend.
March 4, 2021
( Format : Audiobook and ebook )
"It's a grunt's world."
A superb military science fiction novel, first in a series.
When a call to help is received from a small 10,000 person community in Madron, Pathfinders sent to assess the problem encountered ships of unknown type and origin, neither Commonwealth nor Consortium. And Pappy and his patrol soon found themselves on an inhospitable and bleak yellow sand planet, with active geysers and vicious storms with no easy way off, facing alien technology which far surpassed their own.
For those readers looking for action, it's here in abundance, with fighting scenarios which are a!most visceral, inclusive and atmospheric. But there is also so much more, with the protagonists all being given good background histories and the major players being fully fleshed out into realistoc, living entities so that an empathy forms even with some who might otherwise be left simply as villains. This is also a first contact meeting between two very different cultures and technologies, the differences imaginatively presented. To survive, and end the fighting, the earth team will have to not only get very creative but also learn to put aside prejudice - and trust.
Narration in the Audio book is excellently performed by Ryan Kennard Burke, who puts the reader right into the heart of the story. He makes it feel personal. Altogether a very good read with even has an amusingly satisfying ending. I look forward to the second in Jonathan Hernandez's Gordion Knot series.
"It's a grunt's world."
A superb military science fiction novel, first in a series.
When a call to help is received from a small 10,000 person community in Madron, Pathfinders sent to assess the problem encountered ships of unknown type and origin, neither Commonwealth nor Consortium. And Pappy and his patrol soon found themselves on an inhospitable and bleak yellow sand planet, with active geysers and vicious storms with no easy way off, facing alien technology which far surpassed their own.
For those readers looking for action, it's here in abundance, with fighting scenarios which are a!most visceral, inclusive and atmospheric. But there is also so much more, with the protagonists all being given good background histories and the major players being fully fleshed out into realistoc, living entities so that an empathy forms even with some who might otherwise be left simply as villains. This is also a first contact meeting between two very different cultures and technologies, the differences imaginatively presented. To survive, and end the fighting, the earth team will have to not only get very creative but also learn to put aside prejudice - and trust.
Narration in the Audio book is excellently performed by Ryan Kennard Burke, who puts the reader right into the heart of the story. He makes it feel personal. Altogether a very good read with even has an amusingly satisfying ending. I look forward to the second in Jonathan Hernandez's Gordion Knot series.
March 2, 2021
“Sometimes, when we’re confronted with big, complicated problems, we’re tempted to find fast, simple solutions. But difficult problems require difficult solutions. […] There’s a fine line between reacting and overreacting. A fine line between retaliation and revenge. I’m old enough to remember the way wars start… and how they end.”
Jonathan E. Hernandez’s debut, ONE DAY AS A LION, is a military science fiction book with thrilling twists and turns, vivid and genuine characters, and the kind of galaxy-altering, humanity-challenging stakes that will make you question everything.
The book opens in an alien civilization called the Regime, with the commander of military forces -- a warrior called Talks-To-His-Spear -- who has been summoned to meet with the Queen as a rebellion simmers under the surface of their rigid, hierarchical society.
Meanwhile, human civilization still believes itself to be alone in the stars. Technical Chief Pappy Gunther and his team of colorful and daring commandos are ambushed on a colony called Modron. This is no routine squabble, however; this is first contact with an alien race. As Pappy and his team encounter members of the Regime on Modron, including the enigmatic and enthralling warrior woman Speaks-The-Truth, they’re forced to come to grips with humanity’s neighbors in all their complexity.
This book could have gone down a simple us-versus-them first contact narrative, but instead Hernandez gives us a nuanced and thoughtful perspective, not smoothing over any of the messy, gritty parts of this clash of civilizations. Alleigances are challenged, emotions run high, and the question of what do we fight for runs strong through the story. The worldbuilding is layered and complex, both in the ways humanity has been changed by time and in the detailed exploration of the Regime’s social structures and technology.
The first in a trilogy, ONE DAY AS A LION is an excellent read. I’m thirsty for more of Pappy and Truth, the Commonwealth and the Regime, and all the mess and complication of humanity’s struggle to find their place in the stars.
Jonathan E. Hernandez’s debut, ONE DAY AS A LION, is a military science fiction book with thrilling twists and turns, vivid and genuine characters, and the kind of galaxy-altering, humanity-challenging stakes that will make you question everything.
The book opens in an alien civilization called the Regime, with the commander of military forces -- a warrior called Talks-To-His-Spear -- who has been summoned to meet with the Queen as a rebellion simmers under the surface of their rigid, hierarchical society.
Meanwhile, human civilization still believes itself to be alone in the stars. Technical Chief Pappy Gunther and his team of colorful and daring commandos are ambushed on a colony called Modron. This is no routine squabble, however; this is first contact with an alien race. As Pappy and his team encounter members of the Regime on Modron, including the enigmatic and enthralling warrior woman Speaks-The-Truth, they’re forced to come to grips with humanity’s neighbors in all their complexity.
This book could have gone down a simple us-versus-them first contact narrative, but instead Hernandez gives us a nuanced and thoughtful perspective, not smoothing over any of the messy, gritty parts of this clash of civilizations. Alleigances are challenged, emotions run high, and the question of what do we fight for runs strong through the story. The worldbuilding is layered and complex, both in the ways humanity has been changed by time and in the detailed exploration of the Regime’s social structures and technology.
The first in a trilogy, ONE DAY AS A LION is an excellent read. I’m thirsty for more of Pappy and Truth, the Commonwealth and the Regime, and all the mess and complication of humanity’s struggle to find their place in the stars.
December 9, 2022
DNF 10%
Я начинаю подозревать, что книги про бравых космодесантников - это такой же безнадежный кринж, как и попаданки в гарем.
Этот конкретный космодесантник в первой главе сидит возле зеркала и грустит. Ведь ему только тридцать, а уже морщинки вокруг глаз.
Профессия космодесантника, бессердечная ты сучка.
Я начинаю подозревать, что книги про бравых космодесантников - это такой же безнадежный кринж, как и попаданки в гарем.
Этот конкретный космодесантник в первой главе сидит возле зеркала и грустит. Ведь ему только тридцать, а уже морщинки вокруг глаз.
Профессия космодесантника, бессердечная ты сучка.
March 27, 2021
Military sci-fi with an anthropologist's eye for cultural nuance and detail.
I totally enjoyed this debut book for the following reasons: the action, the characters and the worldbuilding. I read a reasonable amount of military sci-fi, and whilst I'm a sucker for action-packed battles and pitting the characters against impossible odds, it's always a bonus when the 'baddies' are not just cardboard cut-out KILL ALL HUMANS types.
The antagonists in One Day as a Lion are fully realised people, with a believable cultural imperative and even cultural conflicts that shape the plot. That depth made this book work so well and sets it out from other books in the genre.
I look forward to reading to the rest of the series, getting to know Pappy's team better and seeing how the Regime characters develop.
Many thanks to the author and Aeothon Books for the ARC.
I totally enjoyed this debut book for the following reasons: the action, the characters and the worldbuilding. I read a reasonable amount of military sci-fi, and whilst I'm a sucker for action-packed battles and pitting the characters against impossible odds, it's always a bonus when the 'baddies' are not just cardboard cut-out KILL ALL HUMANS types.
The antagonists in One Day as a Lion are fully realised people, with a believable cultural imperative and even cultural conflicts that shape the plot. That depth made this book work so well and sets it out from other books in the genre.
I look forward to reading to the rest of the series, getting to know Pappy's team better and seeing how the Regime characters develop.
Many thanks to the author and Aeothon Books for the ARC.
March 8, 2021
I this is a superb example of world and culture creation with plenty of action and suspense.
March 19, 2021
I had a hard time really deciding what to say about One Day as a Lion and how to rate it, as there are tons of great things about the book, but also a few nagging issues. At the start, I was pretty convinced this was going to end up as a three-star book, but by the end, I’d give it four stars. Averaging it out, it’s a solid three and a half stars, but I think there is a good chance future books in this series will be better. So overall, I’m rounding it up to four stars (since we don’t have a half rating).
The world-building was my favorite part of the novel and it involves a really unique take on human colonization and evolution. The Regime was a different kind of antagonist that I haven’t really seen before and I really found their xenobiology-based technology and distinctive culture fascinating. The level of development and detail put into the Regime is impressive. Talks-To-His-Spear’s POV chapters were great and everything involving the Regime was well done. I’d quickly pick up a novel that focused on the Regime’s POV that explored their culture, politics, and history.
My main critique of One Day as a Lion boils down to the quality of writing, particularly throughout the first half or so of the book. At the beginning of the book, most of the text is heavy on plot-driving dialog and action, but short on the descriptive text to really describe what’s going on and who the characters are. The pacing is odd and the story skips forward without transition text, which makes it hard to figure out how characters moved to a new location or scene. The missing transitions and “travel” scenes also meant less opportunity for character development, so most of the characters end up feeling flat and didn’t grow beyond their cliche military character tropes.
But, from what I understand, this is Hernandez’s first published book and the writing continued to improve as I moved deeper into the story. By the end of the book, I felt like there had been a dramatic improvement. I think the next book will be even better.
Ryan Kennard Burke narrates the audio version and does a good job with the story and unique characters. I don’t have any complaints about Burke’s performance, voices, or accents.
Special thanks to Aethon Books, who provided me this book free of charge at my request.
The world-building was my favorite part of the novel and it involves a really unique take on human colonization and evolution. The Regime was a different kind of antagonist that I haven’t really seen before and I really found their xenobiology-based technology and distinctive culture fascinating. The level of development and detail put into the Regime is impressive. Talks-To-His-Spear’s POV chapters were great and everything involving the Regime was well done. I’d quickly pick up a novel that focused on the Regime’s POV that explored their culture, politics, and history.
My main critique of One Day as a Lion boils down to the quality of writing, particularly throughout the first half or so of the book. At the beginning of the book, most of the text is heavy on plot-driving dialog and action, but short on the descriptive text to really describe what’s going on and who the characters are. The pacing is odd and the story skips forward without transition text, which makes it hard to figure out how characters moved to a new location or scene. The missing transitions and “travel” scenes also meant less opportunity for character development, so most of the characters end up feeling flat and didn’t grow beyond their cliche military character tropes.
But, from what I understand, this is Hernandez’s first published book and the writing continued to improve as I moved deeper into the story. By the end of the book, I felt like there had been a dramatic improvement. I think the next book will be even better.
Ryan Kennard Burke narrates the audio version and does a good job with the story and unique characters. I don’t have any complaints about Burke’s performance, voices, or accents.
Special thanks to Aethon Books, who provided me this book free of charge at my request.
July 17, 2021
Intergalactic warfare and alien humans.
An alien human invasion from beyond known space. A thrilling action packed space adventure.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action. How far can the human genome be altered until it is no longer recognisable.
I look forward to the next one 😀
An alien human invasion from beyond known space. A thrilling action packed space adventure.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action. How far can the human genome be altered until it is no longer recognisable.
I look forward to the next one 😀
March 11, 2021
An interesting book
This book was a little slow to get interested in at first but then it will have you hooked and wanting more
This book was a little slow to get interested in at first but then it will have you hooked and wanting more
April 25, 2021
A military sci-fi opera with pages and pages of action. Interesting start
July 31, 2021
The book starts with a sort of prologue that nearly made me give up before even starting chapter one. It introduces ‘Talks-To-His-Spear’, who annoyed me right from the beginning and then there are the ridiculous names, which were even more irritating.
Once the book begins there is plenty of action, but there were times when I wasn’t too impressed by ‘Pappy’ and his group, it felt like the author was trying too hard to make them interesting, after a while they became more caricatures than characters. The author also has a disjointed way of constructing a story that occasionally makes it difficult to follow.
Towards the end there were a couple of big battles, but again I thought the author was trying too hard to impress and they were often more chaotic than interesting. Finally I thought the last chapter was a bit of a liberty.
Having said all that, I still quite enjoyed some parts of the story and if possible would have given 2.5 stars.
Once the book begins there is plenty of action, but there were times when I wasn’t too impressed by ‘Pappy’ and his group, it felt like the author was trying too hard to make them interesting, after a while they became more caricatures than characters. The author also has a disjointed way of constructing a story that occasionally makes it difficult to follow.
Towards the end there were a couple of big battles, but again I thought the author was trying too hard to impress and they were often more chaotic than interesting. Finally I thought the last chapter was a bit of a liberty.
Having said all that, I still quite enjoyed some parts of the story and if possible would have given 2.5 stars.
March 29, 2021
In this satisfying start to an epic series, Jonathan Hernandez offers readers a richly imagined world filled with entertaining characters, inventive technologies and plenty of high-stakes action. The story is engrossing, with a combination of fun thrills and deeper themes to reflect upon. While the novel is set on a distant planet in the future, it manages to tackle many issues that are relevant to today’s world, including genetic engineering, cultural barriers, social justice and the complexities of regime change. This book is much, much more than a tale for military action lovers! The author appeals to a broad audience, weaving together the novel and the familiar, the timely and the timeless, to create an impactful work of science fiction.
March 18, 2021
Exciting us v the aliens, military and weapons, and strange worlds. The author also tackles some deep issues about nurture vs nature. I wont say I loved it, but I did read in one sitting and found it enthralling. I found the chapters dealing with the aliens view to be refreshing, as it isnt all them bad us good. The charcters were well drawn and were very real. Although I feel that some readers will not enjoy this story, I will be getting the next book, as I want to see how the relationships work out between Pappy and Teacher, as well as between Pappy and his superiors.
April 18, 2021
What a great read
I don't give out many 5 stars. This is an extremely well written book that managed to hold my interest for the whole story. The characters are well developed and believable, in a Sci-Fi way. I am looking forward to reading the next installment and would recommend this book to all lovers of this genre.
I don't give out many 5 stars. This is an extremely well written book that managed to hold my interest for the whole story. The characters are well developed and believable, in a Sci-Fi way. I am looking forward to reading the next installment and would recommend this book to all lovers of this genre.
May 6, 2021
I enjoyed this book, especially the character building. Some of the shifts in outlook and pts of view left me a little disoriented. The people in authority seem to be the antagonists in this series. I will certainly follow up with the next book in the series.
March 24, 2021
Excellent sci fi
Great characters and relationships in a very good and interesting story. Can't wait for the next book due in April.
Great characters and relationships in a very good and interesting story. Can't wait for the next book due in April.
June 27, 2021
Different but enticing
Very convincing. Looking forward to the 2nd one and all the books in the series. Pure sci fi action stuff.
Very convincing. Looking forward to the 2nd one and all the books in the series. Pure sci fi action stuff.
March 17, 2021
DNF — Don’t know the rating but this on first third
Gill is introduced as female, and was for most of the part I read. But then male pronouns used to describe her appeared for most of a chapter, thereabouts. Aliens, first time ever. On the ground, landing n engagement is disaster and the ‘professionals’ are broadcasting, using electronics from the start, without any thought...and not getting target locks wasn’t a clue, maybe, to not use just yet? A lot of this type of inconsistency throughout the third I read.
Character development.... I didn’t relate, engage with any of the characters. The story inconsistencies messed up my ability to engage. They just didn’t seem very credible.
Seen the appendix a little too late, like when I called it quits. I point this out because the author uses animals, birds, mammals to describe most anything. Sometimes you’d get clues — ‘looks like a tank...must be a command vehicle’ — and a lot of times, you didn’t know for sure. Yes, the more you read, the more you’d find out. But why keep us, the reader, guessing, not knowing what kind of vehicle, armor, air, weapon it actually is. Hard enough trying to figure out who was what.
Way too many unexplained jargon, descriptors. Author needed to write appendix, plus, into the story in the beginning. Frustrating because story is just bang-bang with no real context when I bailed 1/3 thru.
Gill is introduced as female, and was for most of the part I read. But then male pronouns used to describe her appeared for most of a chapter, thereabouts. Aliens, first time ever. On the ground, landing n engagement is disaster and the ‘professionals’ are broadcasting, using electronics from the start, without any thought...and not getting target locks wasn’t a clue, maybe, to not use just yet? A lot of this type of inconsistency throughout the third I read.
Character development.... I didn’t relate, engage with any of the characters. The story inconsistencies messed up my ability to engage. They just didn’t seem very credible.
Seen the appendix a little too late, like when I called it quits. I point this out because the author uses animals, birds, mammals to describe most anything. Sometimes you’d get clues — ‘looks like a tank...must be a command vehicle’ — and a lot of times, you didn’t know for sure. Yes, the more you read, the more you’d find out. But why keep us, the reader, guessing, not knowing what kind of vehicle, armor, air, weapon it actually is. Hard enough trying to figure out who was what.
Way too many unexplained jargon, descriptors. Author needed to write appendix, plus, into the story in the beginning. Frustrating because story is just bang-bang with no real context when I bailed 1/3 thru.
August 14, 2022
Some fascinating worldbuilding in this military sci-fi novel following divergent human cultures clashing on a distant planet. My interest was captured immediately by the prologue and the culture of the Regime, and I was somewhat disappointed that the majority of the book followed a man in the United Earth Armed Forces, a space age society much more similar to today's humans. This book is very plot driven, and I felt the characters weren't described deeply enough for me to care about them as much as I wanted. Still, an interesting and reasonably engaging story, but I remain undecided as to whether I'll try to complete the series.
March 13, 2021
First off Scifi military isn't my usual fare, so it's without any fault of the author or narrator, that I found I never quite connected with the story 🤔!
The characters were well thought out, and I found it interesting to view both sides of this first-contact situation and skirmish. Both sides similar, but culturally they were miles apart.
Unfortunately for me, I found that the balance between world building and action was so skewed that my action-lovin heart just wanted to hibernate through big chunks of the book!
The characters were well thought out, and I found it interesting to view both sides of this first-contact situation and skirmish. Both sides similar, but culturally they were miles apart.
Unfortunately for me, I found that the balance between world building and action was so skewed that my action-lovin heart just wanted to hibernate through big chunks of the book!
dnf-not-for-me
March 23, 20211/10: Couldn't get past the first few chapters; not for me.
November 23, 2021
Refreshingly good mil sci-fi. More on infantry action than space, lack of details on technologies, but good.
May 4, 2022
An old friend and co-worker wrote this book. I am super proud and happy for him.
March 29, 2025
One fine read
Military science fiction the way it should be written. The author captures the essence of troops headed to, and in combat
Military science fiction the way it should be written. The author captures the essence of troops headed to, and in combat
January 21, 2026
this was a fun sci-fi book with very interesting characters I will definitely read the sequel
March 8, 2021
Not terrible, but not good enough to continue the series. Too long. 3-
June 17, 2021
This was a good story with some great characters, many whom I cared what happened to. The long, detailed descriptions about warfare tech sometimes lost me, but that is the genre, so I shouldn't complain. However, and this might be no fault of the author, but the Kindle edition is riddled with this and grammar errors and finally blank pages that must have included missing text because connecting text over the blanks rarely made sense. This was very infuriating, particularly because this problem started during the biggest battle in the story. Without these editing and formatting problems,
I would give the book about 4 stars.
I would give the book about 4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews