What do you think?
Rate this book
Vice Versa #1
The Forerunner
A resourceful pathfinder coming from the furthest corners of the universe sets foot on our planet to assist the human race with an AI dilemma and pursue an agenda of his own...
...Failure could result in massive losses back home, including that of his loved one.
...Success will drive a massive death toll with the other parties involved.
Is there a more desirable outcome?
-
Kármán Line - HALO DROP
May 12, 2019. Eastern Africa. An extraterrestrial lifeform arrives on Earth to broker a deal with the leaders of the free world.
Known as the Forerunner, he quickly finds himself confronted by multi-dimensional threats determined to shift the planet’s geopolitical landscape.
Initially sent to bring solutions forth, the protagonist veers towards a more aggressive path, navigating between shadowy actors of questionable ethics, morality and character.
Will he lose sight of his primary purpose, woven into his partners’ fate? And who is he, truly?
-
A subtle blend of the modern action thriller’s pacing and the Sci-Fi’s highly scientific component, “The Forerunner” is a dynamic piece challenging our perspectives on inclusion, colonialism, social justice, and binary views on Good and Evil.
Part of a three-story ensemble, the short novel aims to introduce an exciting new world to its beloved readers; one that will witness a clash of titans operating far beyond humans reach.
...Failure could result in massive losses back home, including that of his loved one.
...Success will drive a massive death toll with the other parties involved.
Is there a more desirable outcome?
-
Kármán Line - HALO DROP
May 12, 2019. Eastern Africa. An extraterrestrial lifeform arrives on Earth to broker a deal with the leaders of the free world.
Known as the Forerunner, he quickly finds himself confronted by multi-dimensional threats determined to shift the planet’s geopolitical landscape.
Initially sent to bring solutions forth, the protagonist veers towards a more aggressive path, navigating between shadowy actors of questionable ethics, morality and character.
Will he lose sight of his primary purpose, woven into his partners’ fate? And who is he, truly?
-
A subtle blend of the modern action thriller’s pacing and the Sci-Fi’s highly scientific component, “The Forerunner” is a dynamic piece challenging our perspectives on inclusion, colonialism, social justice, and binary views on Good and Evil.
Part of a three-story ensemble, the short novel aims to introduce an exciting new world to its beloved readers; one that will witness a clash of titans operating far beyond humans reach.
- GenresScience Fiction
141 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
3 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 12, 2022
This book was infantilizing to read and very pretentious considering it lacked for want of a good editor. The concept itself wasn’t awful but the execution was almost unreadable.
February 9, 2021
Amazingly woven like an interesting spell. I didn't think this book was going to be this good. It was , as you might expect , engaging , a total different piece of art from every aspect.
It sets a very high bar for whatever he does that comes next.
Must Read
It sets a very high bar for whatever he does that comes next.
Must Read
February 12, 2022
Oops another one did it again.
October 21, 2023
I find it curious that the many one star reviews this book received happened of the course of three specific days by a specific audience. This only made me more curious about this book and I realized those leaving one star reviews had probably never read a true psychological sci-fi thriller.
February 14, 2022
Another day, another Chad
February 15, 2021
Beginning with a warpspeed survey of history from prehistoric timelines to the present from a detached, alien perspective, the quick pace of the narrative is established right off the bat. With straightforward prose and skewed perspective, the author renders unique concepts in a convincing way to convey the logical dealings between a divergent entity and human society. Integrating future technology and innovative scientific advances through a progression of scenes detailing the extraordinary contact with the Forerunner, and using revelatory dialogue to build a dark undercurrent, the author employs state-of-the-art imagery with suggestions of sinister motivations subtly laced throughout the innocuous documentary-style approach. It is nonetheless a thriller-paced book with sophisticated word choice, as well as an exploration of utilitarian consciousness and the rather bureaucratic proceedings of human interactions by comparison.
The sense of movement is constant and maintains a riveting tension, while the complex maneuvers of task forces and response teams, thick with political intrigue, provide an interplay of unpredictable implementations of its intriguing premise.
The ramifications of human nature amid the influence of extraterrestrial prerogatives is foremost in Forerunner's assertions.
The world building is established by degrees. Characters are constantly occupied with their duties, observations and interactions, revealing subtleties within the expanding scope of the story. With its culturally interesting setting and characters who respond intelligently but serve the churning gears of the plot, the book begins to take on real-world implications and resonance, with just enough description to paint a picture in the reader's mind. The author has a delicate sensibility but a strong sense of propulsion backing the well-honed sentences.
With moderate nuance, he sketches his characters in brief asides without slowing the proceedings down. This novel will cause the reader to ponder surveillance, Imperialistic tendencies inherent in our nature, technological responsibility, and the intricate layering of safeguards which conceal an imposed contradiction between survival and progress. It is a weighty discussion of the give and take of our innovation as compared to our ruthless ambition.
In the end, it is a bleak but intelligent conjuring of science fiction scenarios well-developed into a cohesive and breakneck reading experience. The complex motivations can lead to some demanding passages involving many interwoven characters, but the language is always crisp and to the point.
The sense of movement is constant and maintains a riveting tension, while the complex maneuvers of task forces and response teams, thick with political intrigue, provide an interplay of unpredictable implementations of its intriguing premise.
The ramifications of human nature amid the influence of extraterrestrial prerogatives is foremost in Forerunner's assertions.
The world building is established by degrees. Characters are constantly occupied with their duties, observations and interactions, revealing subtleties within the expanding scope of the story. With its culturally interesting setting and characters who respond intelligently but serve the churning gears of the plot, the book begins to take on real-world implications and resonance, with just enough description to paint a picture in the reader's mind. The author has a delicate sensibility but a strong sense of propulsion backing the well-honed sentences.
With moderate nuance, he sketches his characters in brief asides without slowing the proceedings down. This novel will cause the reader to ponder surveillance, Imperialistic tendencies inherent in our nature, technological responsibility, and the intricate layering of safeguards which conceal an imposed contradiction between survival and progress. It is a weighty discussion of the give and take of our innovation as compared to our ruthless ambition.
In the end, it is a bleak but intelligent conjuring of science fiction scenarios well-developed into a cohesive and breakneck reading experience. The complex motivations can lead to some demanding passages involving many interwoven characters, but the language is always crisp and to the point.
March 1, 2021
For this book, I truly appreciate the short headings for the chapters because they create unquenchable suspense as the story flows. Those who know me are aware of just how choosy I can be when picking out a fictional book to read. This one is simply a captivating one. Have you ever been so caught up in a story that you lost touch with reality, well, that was me as I read the book. The way he brings out the characters actually made me consider the possibility of this becoming a reality. I found it so easy to drift off into this fictional world created by the character even as the book makes it simple to build up imaginations of that world. Fantastic!
The "foreign identity" term used by the Forerunner at the beginning of the book is enough to hint at the fictional approach. For those who don't know, a forerunner is a person that precedes another. I will try not to be a spoiler, but I can't help but point out some aspects of the book. The application of contiguity, neurosis, and anabolism in this book's context is mind-blowing and well-blended in the story. This pathfinder's timely landing on the planet leads to a series of interesting events written down in 11 chapters, each documented under subtopics with different timelines and locations. This book moves from date to date, a place to place, and time to time and flows easily. Will this pathfinder accomplish his mission in solving the mysteries with AI? It is all in this amazing book. Be careful not to get lost in this book's timelines. It is a drift away from the usual! I reread it when I need to keep my mind distracted from reality and it doesn't fail!
The "foreign identity" term used by the Forerunner at the beginning of the book is enough to hint at the fictional approach. For those who don't know, a forerunner is a person that precedes another. I will try not to be a spoiler, but I can't help but point out some aspects of the book. The application of contiguity, neurosis, and anabolism in this book's context is mind-blowing and well-blended in the story. This pathfinder's timely landing on the planet leads to a series of interesting events written down in 11 chapters, each documented under subtopics with different timelines and locations. This book moves from date to date, a place to place, and time to time and flows easily. Will this pathfinder accomplish his mission in solving the mysteries with AI? It is all in this amazing book. Be careful not to get lost in this book's timelines. It is a drift away from the usual! I reread it when I need to keep my mind distracted from reality and it doesn't fail!
June 1, 2022
Andre takes you on a journey you never anticipated and thoughtfully creates a world you never imagined. He introduces you to a new approach to science-fiction and his detailed and vibrant writing style allows you to envision the world he’s designed. The premise of The Forerunner is layered and it challenges the reader to reflect on and unpack their POV on power, class, love, relationships, and more.
Whether you love sci-fi or are new to sci-fi, this is a wonderful exploration with depth to match.
Whether you love sci-fi or are new to sci-fi, this is a wonderful exploration with depth to match.
March 6, 2021
THE FORERUNNER is an intense sci-fi tale of first contact and the aftermath as the story’s protagonist (The Forerunner) and the humans he encounters engage in a game of politics and scheming. What I loved about this book was the author’s skill in describing sci fi and military tech. Action scenes were sharp and well-paced and left me wanting more. At times frequent shifts in POV and long background info dumps made me feel disconnected as a reader, rather than like each scene was building a streamlined narrative. More show and less tell, along with another ruthless edit will help this work to shine.
“He pauses again, in an ongoing effort to convey a more impactful statement.
The Forerunner is visibly amused, and it proves contagious.
They nod again, indicating a mutual and collective understanding.”
“He pauses again, in an ongoing effort to convey a more impactful statement.
The Forerunner is visibly amused, and it proves contagious.
They nod again, indicating a mutual and collective understanding.”
June 6, 2021
This book brings it all to the table! André's writing style and deep understanding of the current social and economic climate is translated into a universe that feels alive with interesting and unique characters. With fast-paced action, well-thought-out narration, and compelling flashbacks, 'The Forerunner' does an amazing job at setting the scene for future installments to build on the engaging foundation of the first book from this up-and-coming writer.
March 15, 2021
An entertaining and captivating story spanning over millions of years.
The author crafted a credible and gripping story beginning with a contact between a foreign entity and humanity for a purpose that seems clear but appears to present further ramifications.
I really enjoyed this novel and I highly recommend it!
The author crafted a credible and gripping story beginning with a contact between a foreign entity and humanity for a purpose that seems clear but appears to present further ramifications.
I really enjoyed this novel and I highly recommend it!
February 9, 2021
Five Stars
One of the best books I have read this month!
Highly recommend it! I only leave positive feedback and reviews when I love the book.
Feel free to ask anything regarding this book.
A must read for sure.
One of the best books I have read this month!
Highly recommend it! I only leave positive feedback and reviews when I love the book.
Feel free to ask anything regarding this book.
A must read for sure.
January 26, 2021
From story to narration, everything creates a different world. It is perfect blend of everything. In one book, i have read so many genres.
Very unique story and tons of well-thought-out details.
Very unique story and tons of well-thought-out details.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews