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The Collapse #1
Tartarus Gate
Captain Josiah Bleys is one heck of a smuggler. A man with no respect for rules, save one: "Don't be a hero."
Chief Ragnar Kane, one of the Emperor's finest warriors, likewise harbors no aspirations toward gallantry, just increasing his kill count.
Fate, however, has other plans. The mighty, galaxy-spanning Terran Empire is mortally wounded, brought to its knees by a terrifying, intelligent plague from hyperspace. The core worlds are dead, their people slaughtered, and the government lies in ruins. Outlying colonies, suddenly isolated and without support, are on their own.
Luck (the bad kind) has both men stuck on the icy mining facility on Cerberus, an installation that won't last long without resupply. Bleys and Kane must mount a daring raid on a neighboring planet to retrieve a legendary scientist in the hopes that he can reconnect them to civilization, or they and everyone else at their frozen outpost are doomed.
The trouble is that the scientist isn't exactly willing, nor is he exactly....alive.
Don't miss a space opera thrill ride from award-winning author Matthew P Gilbert. It's perfect for fans of JN Chaney, Andy Peloquin, and the Halo Franchise.
Chief Ragnar Kane, one of the Emperor's finest warriors, likewise harbors no aspirations toward gallantry, just increasing his kill count.
Fate, however, has other plans. The mighty, galaxy-spanning Terran Empire is mortally wounded, brought to its knees by a terrifying, intelligent plague from hyperspace. The core worlds are dead, their people slaughtered, and the government lies in ruins. Outlying colonies, suddenly isolated and without support, are on their own.
Luck (the bad kind) has both men stuck on the icy mining facility on Cerberus, an installation that won't last long without resupply. Bleys and Kane must mount a daring raid on a neighboring planet to retrieve a legendary scientist in the hopes that he can reconnect them to civilization, or they and everyone else at their frozen outpost are doomed.
The trouble is that the scientist isn't exactly willing, nor is he exactly....alive.
Don't miss a space opera thrill ride from award-winning author Matthew P Gilbert. It's perfect for fans of JN Chaney, Andy Peloquin, and the Halo Franchise.
- GenresScience FictionHorror
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2021
53 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Matthew P. Gilbert
15 books23 followersMatt Gilbert, in addition to being a fiction author, is a professional video game developer; a veteran; a columnist for his local newspaper; and the father of three wild boys and two wild girls. He was born and raised in Woodbury, GA, and has been on watch for zombies ever since.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 29, 2021
Matthew P. Gilbert is a great author that I have enjoyed multiple novels of. However, I think this is probably my favorite of his works. I absolutely love the terrifying introduction where we witness a doomed attempt to resist the forces of Hell in a spaceship. It's an excellent combination of horror and science fiction that reminded me a lot of Dead Rising (the good ones, not 3). The characters are engrossing, the action intense, and the atmosphere genuinely creepy. It's a quick read but there's ample room to do more in the universe.
August 27, 2021
This is my first book by the author.
What I expected was solid military sci-fi, and I sort of got that. Except not really.
This is a book that could have been so much larger than it actually is. Ed Bleys, a drug trafficker and ship captain, finds himself stuck on a space station with no reason given. He's spinning his wheels to pass the time, and drinking too much at the same time.
When the reason for his stay becomes apparent, it's a big one. Humanity has died to the pestilence, things that can pull flesh together into different shapes. The FTL jump gates are locked down to keep the pestilence in one place, but it's too late. The emperor is dead, as are the many families of those stuck on the space station.
Pretty good premise, right? I thought so too.
Except that's where the book takes a different turn. Not a bad one, just different. Near the space station is a small planet that provides a VR type experience for the super wealthy who want to live forever. They ditch their bodies, and live on forever. They can use temporary mech bodies to eat, drink, and... other things, but it's only temporary.
The head of the space station decides that they need the resources the small planet has, and is going to do whatever he can to get it.
I won't spoil what happens after that. It's a well written novel, well edited and with strong characters that stand out. Honestly, I'm surprised it's not getting more love from sci-fi enthusiasts. Yes, the story could be much bigger, focusing on the pestilence instead of a small, isolated story on the small planet, but I found i didn't mind.
The ending does a good job of setting up book 2, and maybe finding a solution to the pestilence that has destroyed most of the known world.
Recommended for sci-fi enthusiasts. 5/5*
What I expected was solid military sci-fi, and I sort of got that. Except not really.
This is a book that could have been so much larger than it actually is. Ed Bleys, a drug trafficker and ship captain, finds himself stuck on a space station with no reason given. He's spinning his wheels to pass the time, and drinking too much at the same time.
When the reason for his stay becomes apparent, it's a big one. Humanity has died to the pestilence, things that can pull flesh together into different shapes. The FTL jump gates are locked down to keep the pestilence in one place, but it's too late. The emperor is dead, as are the many families of those stuck on the space station.
Pretty good premise, right? I thought so too.
Except that's where the book takes a different turn. Not a bad one, just different. Near the space station is a small planet that provides a VR type experience for the super wealthy who want to live forever. They ditch their bodies, and live on forever. They can use temporary mech bodies to eat, drink, and... other things, but it's only temporary.
The head of the space station decides that they need the resources the small planet has, and is going to do whatever he can to get it.
I won't spoil what happens after that. It's a well written novel, well edited and with strong characters that stand out. Honestly, I'm surprised it's not getting more love from sci-fi enthusiasts. Yes, the story could be much bigger, focusing on the pestilence instead of a small, isolated story on the small planet, but I found i didn't mind.
The ending does a good job of setting up book 2, and maybe finding a solution to the pestilence that has destroyed most of the known world.
Recommended for sci-fi enthusiasts. 5/5*
October 4, 2021
Pirates and AI - what could go wrong
When The Pestilence invades the galaxy and the star gates are shut down, only one ship is left flying and smuggler Bleys is at the helm. Elysium is the only planet with food but it is run by an AI called Ed and is also full of dead people. But wait, is Ed sentient and what does that mean? How the marines come on the scene and the pestilence is contained (or is it?) make for a great adventure story!
When The Pestilence invades the galaxy and the star gates are shut down, only one ship is left flying and smuggler Bleys is at the helm. Elysium is the only planet with food but it is run by an AI called Ed and is also full of dead people. But wait, is Ed sentient and what does that mean? How the marines come on the scene and the pestilence is contained (or is it?) make for a great adventure story!
August 18, 2021
Solid opening, got me hooked good right away. Action is just about constant and engaging. Characters are pretty well rounded and interesting, with few exceptions. It feels a whole lot like David Weber had a baby with The Expanse, except that it was a lot shorter than the books of either one. I wish it were a little longer, but it is part 1. Looking forward to part 2.
September 6, 2021
I really liked the start of the book, however I am still deciding if I want to read the rest of the series when they are released. The book has overtones of the Hamilton reality disfunction series but the characters do not seem to be as deeply developed. I did like the fact it went straight into the main story and the ideas its plays with, I am hopeful the following books have more depth.
August 24, 2021
A fairly standard space opera with clues along the way to help the reader work out 'who done it' and what's going on.
It has enough interest to invest the reader in what happens to some of the characters, sufficient that I would read the next in the series, so not too bad .
It has enough interest to invest the reader in what happens to some of the characters, sufficient that I would read the next in the series, so not too bad .
August 25, 2021
High praise for a good story
My first read by this author, but that's about to change. Top marks for a well-told story having good characters, dialog and scenarios. I'm getting the second book immediately when it becomes available.
My first read by this author, but that's about to change. Top marks for a well-told story having good characters, dialog and scenarios. I'm getting the second book immediately when it becomes available.
February 3, 2022
Suprising
This book surprised me quite a bit. It's an enjoyable mil scifi romp, with elements of AI, Halo and the like. The characters are well formed and likeable. Has plenty of gore and action, as well as suspense. The humour is a great addition.
This book surprised me quite a bit. It's an enjoyable mil scifi romp, with elements of AI, Halo and the like. The characters are well formed and likeable. Has plenty of gore and action, as well as suspense. The humour is a great addition.
August 23, 2021
VERY imaginative. The story is told from multiple, very different characters with engaging personalities. The story itself is interesting and food for thought.
October 29, 2021
4 stars. Pretty good with an interesting story-line. Would have preferred the book end about a chapter earlier rather than in the cliffhanger that it did, however.
September 21, 2021
Really enjoyed this. It had a kick-ass beginning, great characters and kept the intensity up. Loved it.
August 17, 2021
( Format : ebook )
"Help us. Give death. We are in hell."
Simply stunning, crazy, chaos with destruction and mixed up bizarre characters - and all of those expressions ingredients in one amazing mix.. The reader is thrown straight into the explosive action and that 'What the hell is happening? " feeling from page one and the spectacular gore, crazy chaos, speculation and emotion doesn't stop even with the end page. Can't wait for book two: the adventure has just begun! I think!
Not high literature but it is high fun. Give it a try, folks, and tangle with the text.
"Help us. Give death. We are in hell."
Simply stunning, crazy, chaos with destruction and mixed up bizarre characters - and all of those expressions ingredients in one amazing mix.. The reader is thrown straight into the explosive action and that 'What the hell is happening? " feeling from page one and the spectacular gore, crazy chaos, speculation and emotion doesn't stop even with the end page. Can't wait for book two: the adventure has just begun! I think!
Not high literature but it is high fun. Give it a try, folks, and tangle with the text.
September 8, 2021
9/10: Fantastic, left me wanting more.
“We’re going hot on a retirement community? What do we do for an encore, melt puppies?”
Loved it!
“We’re going hot on a retirement community? What do we do for an encore, melt puppies?”
Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews