Specimen 959

The Specimen Chronicles #1

by Robert Davies

Faced with overwhelming odds, they’ll have to fight to survive..

Astronaut. Repairman. Prisoner. CenturoCorp engineer Darrien Norris begins a journey across Terran Colonial space to restore a broken mining machine on a distant, mineral harvest world. It was supposed to be routine—a good run to finish his career—but his shuttle is thrown without warning from its course by an unseen power and survival becomes the only thing that matters. Catapulted across half the galaxy to a violent and hostile place, Norris has been left to survive or die inside an inescapable, alien horror merely for the crime of being lost—of being human. Escape is his purpose, but what he finds in the grinding, desperate fight to live will forever change the path of human history.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook

472 pages, Nook

First published October 25, 2012

About the author

Robert Davies is a born-and-raised Michigan kid with an overactive imagination and love of literature that eventually became a disease, curable only through the odd, frustrating therapy of writing fiction. A Navy veteran, musician, private pilot and erstwhile traveler, he crossed oceans and countless borders to find and understand Earth, only to leave it behind in the pages of his first novel. Released from the University of Portland with a Bachelor’s in Journalism, Rob has spent the last twenty years as a contract manager in the information technology and telecommunications industries. He currently lives in southwest Washington with his wife Stephanie, daughter Natalie and four mildly overbearing female tabbies.

Reviews

[Jeanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in space in a futuristic world, Specimen 959 follows Darrien Norris, a human working on another planet on his way to a routine maintenance space mission who is unexpectedly diverted to a lone alien planet and forced to figure out how to survive in conditions no one on Earth knew existed.

Was that synopsis kind of clunky? Yes? I’ll be honest— for the first couple chapters of this book, I didn’t really know what was going on. The story drops you right into an existing sci-fi world that I can only assume is set sometime far in the future. Eventually you get some backstory on the other alien worlds in the book, but it takes a while, so for much of the story I was muddling through trying to piece things together. There are many characters, and each chapter follows several of them and switches back and forth. I found myself not very invested in any of the characters, and it felt like a lot of time was spent on subplots with the mystery of the main plot somewhat explained and wrapped up quickly at the end. As a reader, I’m left with a lot of questions.

Overall, I can appreciate the creativity it takes to build a whole new world or environment. If you’re a sci-fi fan, you might enjoy this one, but it wasn’t really for me.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the constant feeling of impending disaster in this book. At the same time, I just knew there was more going on than the author let on - too many unanswered questions and too much intrigue. I had to keep reading just to gind out if my guesses were right. I was pleasantly surprised however. My only complaint would be that the ending left too many of these questions unanswered, but I suppose that makes for grist for the next book.
This is not a run of the mill space opera. The characters are likeable, the story held my interest and the book addressed many social issues, as science fiction often does. I highly recommend this one.

[iam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had all that it needed to be so much fun, but unfortunately left me disappointed.

It starts out as typical SciFi with throwing the reader right into the thick of it, and it isn't until the very end that some plot threads made sense. This is fine in an of itself, the issue I had was with how long it took to get there, and the pay off.

This book was easily twice as long as it needed to be. Almost every single dialogue is painfully slow, with characters going back and forth and back and forth about the same issue, talking in circles and around the actual meat of topics. It was incredibly frustrating to read, and I skimmed so many sections simply because I knew I wouldn't miss anything of import.

At its core, the book is about a bunch of characters wrongfully thrown into a high security prison, and their daily life there and eventual escape.
All the stuff about the fate of humanity is barely even mentioned, and when it is it's only brought up in the last few pages and left at a cliffhanger.

So that already was sort of disappointing, but the other issue I had was the worldbuilding/exposition in regards to aliens. It was done so subtly I didn't even realize there were alien species until well into the book. And even when I realized some of the main characters weren't human, there still was no description of what they looked like. The first description of one of the two main alien species isn't until the last few book chapters. Granted, I am a bit more obsessed with aliens than the average person, but this was stunningly disappointing to me.

Not a bad read, but wayyy too dragged out in terms of plot, and its unfortunately lost me and my engagement in the story along the way.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Closer to 3.5 than 3, Specimen 959 by Robert Davies will have you entertained, but may leave readers hoping for a stand-alone novel frustrated at the end when Davies works to set up the second book in the series.

As the jacket summary notes, the hero Darrien Norris is asked to pull one more job before retirement before all hell breaks loose. "Specimen 959" follows Darrien through his adventure in chaos.

Davies is a capable writer and the story hangs together fairly well. At its heart, despite the sci fi category, "Specimen 959" is a mystery. Why is this happening to Norris? Or, for that matter to some of the other characters as well? In a good mystery, the reader comes to his or her own conclusions that are confirmed or altered as the story goes along.

Davies is not completely successful in this aspect. There are too many parties and too many motives to make sense of what is happening. He attempts to aid the reader through some higher level narrative, but these are some of the most confusing chapters in the book because the reader has no idea who is speaking.

In the end, one is left, frustratingly, with almost as many questions as answers.

My thanks to Librarything and the publisher for an early reviewer copy.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of several possible candidates prominently discussed in this book, the identity of specimen 959 was an unknown until the end. Most of the book is about the pursuit of freedom from a maximum-security prison on a remote planet in a war loving species’ space. The main character had been erroneously incarcerated for trumped-up charges after crash landing on one of that species’ planets.

Life in prison involves trading for necessary daytime items with other inmates. While there are various layers of prisoners, many of whom are violent and must be avoided, life in the prison follows a routine with prisoners stratified based on status.

With the help of government officials who are aligned with a piece seeking faction, an escape plan is formulated and carried out. We find out who specimen 959 is only after the main character and his cellmates escape.

This is the first book in a series and it leaves the reader hanging as to the future of specimen 959. The story is captivating and I will be buying book 2 and 3 in the series to continue following Specimen 959’s adventure.

[Susan Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The free serial read for March at Barnes and Noble. An interesting look at a man at a space station who goes off to repair some equipment (reluctantly, but he's the only one available nearby who can work on this old equipment. He steers into the plexus threat to make the jump to the planet and is suddenly yanked out of it who-knows-where and the stars are all strange and the ship cannot make any sense of where he is. Then as e formulates a survival plan on a planet where he crash landed, he is attacked and captured and taken to a secure and escape-proof prison. There he is taken under the protection of a couple of other prisoners on the orders of the head of the prison. But apparently there are lots of other things going on in this prison.
Quite an intriguing sci fi.

[meghann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the Nook serial read for March. We don't get sci-fi too often with serial reads, so this was a treat. I really enjoyed reading this and definitely found it hard to wait for each day's chapter release. I would have binged this book for sure. So much was happening at the start of the book, and I really got into it as all the characters ended up in the same place and their stories merged. At first I thought this was a standalone and started wondering how there would be enough book left to wrap it all up. I'm so excited that this is part of a series and the next book is out and ready for me to read.

[Craig Leimkuehler · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a rare move the powers at Nook selected a more than half way descent book. The protagonist is on a solo flight to a remote outpost when his ship is mysteriously diverted to a galaxy far, far away. Once there he is sent to a prison world where he integrated relentlessly. He is able to make alliances with some of his alien cell mates. I am only sorry that this author’s works do not seem to available in local libraries. But if you like science fiction I think this worth your time.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thoroughly pulled into this story. The imagery was vivid, yet left much to the imagination as well. The characters were easy to identify with, you could feel their struggles. The one thing that I didn't care for was the ending; while not exactly a typical cliffhanger, it completely left you hanging.... wait what happened ? Is it Over? Otherwise I loved this story and am continuing the series, because I have to!

[Kent Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mostly satisfactory plot, with enough twists to keep the interest level up, but ...

-writing is uneven, suggesting the absence of "outside" editing help;

- the characters tend to the old-timey, half-rounded kind that would fit better in a 1960s comic book;

- and the writer expects us to participate in too many suspensions of disbelief.

[Roh Bawt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have no idea if this turns out to be good. I absolutely hated the narration direction so much that I couldnt get more than a few minutes in. I've heard the narrator before and he wasnt bad. But its like he was ordered to read this book in the most droning, bored, and down right apathetic town he could muster. Hard turn off for me.

[Alice Horoshev · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept is intriguing, but it could easily be cut in half. The so-called dialogues turned out to be lengthy monologues of a person explaining things to himself inside his own head. Too many details about trivial activities that add nothing to the plot. With a good editors work it could be more engaging and popular.

[Stephanie Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never read Sci-fi before, but this was a book I couldn't put down. I felt like I was part of the book. I could see everything as if I was reading a movie. Wonderfully descriptive and believable dialogue!

[Susan Dion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Specimen 959 began at a bit of a slow pace yet I was swept into Davies vivid imagination quite quickly. I really enjoyed his original characters, methods of space flight, ways that people were employed, etc. I zipped through the story and was very anxious for Book 2.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. The author creates a good amount of suspense, and does a pretty good job of creating interesting characters. I like hard scifi and this belong in that category. I have to check out the next the series.

I really appreciate the copy for review!!

[Craig Reges · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book. They leave you hanging for episode two but I've already bought it in anticipation of reading it.

The characters are very well developed and they all have interesting backstories. I like the flow and the plot lines. This is a good choice for a science fiction book.

[Grace Stamper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, at first I didn't like this very much. I was confused about the connections between the characters and stories, but I stuck it out and have already downloaded the sample of the continuing book. I want to know what happens!

[Janet Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the Barnes & Noble serial read for this month. An interesting sci-fi adventure. Not my usual type of reading, but enjoyable reading. I just wish it would have continued a bit further. I'll have to get a hold of book 2.

[Melissa Overby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Something about this just didn't click with me, and I ended up not finishing it. I quit after just a few chapters. Maybe I just wasn't the intended audience.

[Brandy Montgomery · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to get into this book. I really did. Sounded like an interesting story, but I literally fell asleep in the first two chapters...not for me.

[Beverly Laude]

Couldn't get into this book. Way too much description, too little "human" interaction, no idea what was going on. DNF

[Bobbi Workman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started it as the free book of the month on my nook. Wasn't a fan at first but once I start a book I have to finish it. Ended up loving it and can't wait to read the next one.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barnes and Noble Serial Read - March

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting Nook serial Readout, not centered on romance. Good for a light but still reasonably complex sci-fi read.

[Anthony Philosophos · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an interesting book. The plot was intricately woven. One does not understand until the ending why people are acting as they do.

[Kirk Guy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow start to a not so interesting story, I'm disappointed as it seemed to have an good premise.

[Eben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, interesting story, but the ending stumbles trying to set up all the plot lines for the next book.

[corey Roy G Biv · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will not be reading the rest of the series, the dialogue is great but the story is boring and unoriginal.

[Donna Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book snuck up on me. When I started reading I thought, okay, this book is pretty cool. Then suddenly, several chapters in, I was completely glued to the page. These characters! This plot! Literally everything about this book just grabbed me by the throat and compelled me to read it. I immediately went out and got the rest of the series. This is the kind of scifi I love. Indepth world-building, fascinating characters and an intriguing and mysterious plot. This author can write and I'm definitely reading anything he writes no matter what genre it is.

[Soozee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise behind this science fiction novel is that an engineer is sent to a distant planet to repair some equipment, and along the way he is drawn out of the vortex that speeds them along and crash lands on a planet.
However, there is initially some confusing dialogue implying that his appearance on an alien world has been carefully contrived.
He then is taken to a prison planet, where he meets other beings and they plan their escape.
I liked the way the aliens were not described - there was enough to tell the reader they were different, but we were left to form our own mental images.
I found the back story to the events confusing and not presented very well.
Overall a reasonably entertaining middle, with dry patches at either end. I kept expecting some twist or revelation and felt the ending left too much to a sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and BHC Press for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.