Traders On The Galactic Tunnel Network

EarthCent Auxiliaries #2

by E.M. Foner

Have aliens spent the last century looting Earth of its treasures?

Ellen, the Earth Syndication Coordinator for the Galactic Free Press, and her partner, John, EarthCent Intelligence's roving troubleshooter, are back with Semmi the gryphon to investigate. Larry, finding himself stuck as the Minister of Trade for the nascent Human Empire, starts making the rounds of sovereign human communities, while his freelance reporter partner, Georgia, trades in educational toys and tries to land a big interview. Can the five of them put their heads together and solve the literal crime of the century?

Genres: Science Fiction, Humor

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 3, 2021

About the author

I wrote Date Night on Union Station while taking a break from work on a science fiction epic I've been struggling with for years. The goal was to cheer myself up and to find out if there is still an audience for a science fiction comedy that gets its laughs from dialogue and funny situations rather than from gross-outs and shocks. As many readers have pointed out, the EarthCent series could be rated PG under the old fashioned system, no bloodshed, no graphic sex, no four letter words. And after years of imagining a galaxy for my epic in which multiple human civilizations are at war with each other, it did me a world of good to write about a galaxy where most people are just trying to make a living and find some joy in life. I received so many requests to extend the Date Night universe into a series that I put aside my epic for an extended period to write a sequel, Alien Night on Union Station. The events take place five years after the conclusion of Date Night, and the plot involves a mix of business, diplomacy, gaming and family relations. As a bonus, we finally get to meet Kelly's mother. After the positive response to Alien Night, I wrote a third book for the series, High Priest of Union Station, which is currently in the editing stage and due out in mid-October. I just started a book that extends the EarthCent galaxy with a different mission and cast of characters, though they may intersect at some point.

Reviews

[Dr susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent science fiction

The world building is excellent; the book is well-written with characters I care about. The aliens are awesome and fun. I missed the Farling doctor, although he does make a cameo appearance. Semmi is my new favorite character, and her human pets are very well trained. Foner's books are refreshingly different, and I highly recommend them.

[Dave Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

E.M. Foner has written another wonderful book here. This title is the second in the EarthCent Auxiliaries series and in this one, Foner unleashed a mystery. Animals and plants, along with many of earth's artistic/creative treasures have gone missing. Two investigative reporters from the Galactic Free Press are investigating. All this is happening in the shadow of the upcoming Rendezvous, a gathering of traders from across the universe. I found this book to be unique for Foner and yet with a lot of the wonderful qualities I have come to expect—wonderful character development, interesting storylines, and Science Fiction with a real difference. This is not all lasers and deathstars and explosions. It's relational and relatable.
If you haven't read Foner yet, I have a few recommendations. My first is that you start with the Union Station 1,2,3 collection available on Amazon as this will start you off at the very beginning of things. There are 18 books in the Union Station Series. If you don't have time for an 18 book series, at least begin with the first book in this series, Freelancers on the Galactic Tunnel Network. I highly recommend you read all the books. E.M. Foner's universe is really a fun adventure. He also has a three book series called the Earthcent universe series and one called the AI Diaries. All the series are interconnected in some form or fashion. I highly recommend these books, especially if you find yourself in need of a diversion. Great stuff

[John Stults · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story

Another fun humorous read. It is a short easy read. As are all of the author’s books. If you need a pick me up, or just want to enjoy a great story this is one to read. Parts of the novel do an excellent job explaining gov overspending, NY tax base (people) left, moved off world and with the huge pensions coming due the gov crashed and could no longer pay for basic services ( fire police etc)
The communes who deny aliens (and believe microwaves and cell produce harmful radiation and kill people) is also very comic.

AlL in all a great book and I highly recommend it.

[Jessica Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another Union Station Spin off

This is the second book in the series that concentrates on the independent traders. Many characters and locales from other books in the Earthcent Universe have appearances in this book. It also has an adolescent, adorable, anime binge watching Griffin with no hesitation spending other people's money on anime figurines. I recommend you read the first book in this series first. It's titled 'freelance on the galactic tunnel network'. Enjoy!

[Kathy Bryson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As another installment in the Earthcent universe, Traders on the Galactic Tunnel Network by E. M. Foner works. By itself, it’s a little confusing as the two protagonists are depicted similarly enough that I had to go back a book in the series to keep track of who was who. But, it’s a nice explanation of black market government subsidizing, actually a real-life problem. So altogether, another funny, satirical look at human practices thrown into stark relief against alien civilizations that don’t share mankind’s cherished delusions - er, beliefs!

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foner, E. M. Traders on the Galactic Tunnel Network. EarthCent Auxiliaries No. 2. Foner Books, 2021.
Traders on the Galactic Tunnel Network is the sequel to Freelance on the Galactic Tunnels Network. You need to have read at least one other Galactic Tunnel Network or Union Station story to not feel lost in Foner world. A freelance reporter, her intelligence agent partner, and their telepathic gryphon companion investigate the smuggling of Earth’s flora, fauna, and topsoil. Fun, lightweight stuff. 3.5 stars.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well isn't that special!

Earth cent needs to find out why ,for the last century, that historical items have been taken away ! They need to be found and returned so Georga and Ellen are off with Larry and Walt in two different directions to find what has happened and to see why so much dirt is missing!

[Lance Saleme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully predictable, but satisfying

I'm now on hold for the next installment, but remain eager to see where the plot will turn next. Lots of dangling threads remain to be tied up, but the series paints an eventual bright future for humanity in a time we could use a positive outlook.

[LinHigley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flower again stirs the pot adds salt pepper and gryphon.

Any story that is circulating around my favorite childhood game as a mystery and seriously thinks about human child rearing in micro-g is unique in the sci-fi universe. I'm impressed.

[Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's see our true masters

Intrepid explorers are left Ceylon sitting then become owned by their pet. The alien so are all about transacting earth for it's flora and fauna and maybe a few clones.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting direction.

I reccomend reading the union station 3 pack first. What do Verlocks and rabbits in common? They're great at multiplication. Foner has a great setting and gets a lot of use out of it.

[Les Bonser · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent addition to Foner’s EarthCent/Stryx universe. No spoilers here. Excellent character building and adding context for future stories.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

More good reading

Semmi the gryphon and her friends are back for fun and some trading with other species. Great characters and an interesting plot. A great story.

[stephanie huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. This is becoming one of my all time favorite sci fi universes

[x x x · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for gryphon lovers

Ok. I enjoyed the research portions and the revolution of the shops. The gryphon interactions we're beyond my hours and pleasure.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Georgia continues to pursue her ambition to be a freelance reporter, while also setting herself up a sideline as a trader. Enjoyed the story; wish it came in audio format.

[Edward Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

E. M. Foner is a great writer low stress high reward i love it

[john Calkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

E.M. Foner's body of work has created a future universe that I quite prefer to current Earth time. I devour his new books as they appear and often reread older volumes to get me through the several months between new arrivals. I first read Traders On The Galactic Tunnel Network as a download from Kindle Unlimited. Then I bought it from Amazon ($4.00) and immediately read it again. I don't know if Foner needs the money, but I consider it a tip for a few hours of reading pleasure. He certainly earned it. Thank you, E.M., I needed my spirits lifted once again.

A perusal of Foner's reviews reveal, as often as not, notes from fans to other fans as much as plot and character descriptions that might lure in (and hardly ever discourage, I hope) new readers. We want to lure in new readers for Foner, but the suggestion is always made that the newcomers fall back to the beginning of the EarthCent series if they wish to gain maximum satisfaction from his work. I'll repeat that suggestion here. I'll also say that the dark side of sci-fi makes no appearance in Foner's writing. However, the storylines remain twisty and unpredictable. The foibles of human nature are the main theme that drives the comedy. The aliens are exotic creatures whose possible extreme behavior is held in check by the Stryx, the Artificial Intelligence(s) that control the Tunnel Network.

I write this during the time of Covid-19 as well as the political dissatisfaction of half of my country. I'd time-jump to Foner's universe if I could. I can only do that for a few hours of reading at a time, but I'll take it.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentle