What do you think?
Rate this book
Unidentified
It's now clear that UFOs are real. When Jason Ramsey discovers their shocking agenda, his actions will either transform humanity . . . or destroy it entirely. Unidentified is a riveting page-turner. One detailing the actual evidence that UFOs are here, while offering a mind-blowing fictional take on the reasons why.
Ripped from today's headlines, Unidentified is the latest thriller from the NY Times bestselling author whose books have sold over two million copies.
Between 2017 and 2021 the US military admitted to having undeniable evidence that UFOs (now UAVs or UAPs) are here, and defy the laws of physics. When Jason Ramsey, a popular science-fiction writer, becomes obsessed with the subject, he undertakes a relentless quest to uncover what is really going on. After recruiting Tessa Barrett, an extraordinarily talented mercenary, Jason devises a risky, desperate plan to get to the bottom of it all. But the truth is far more shocking, convoluted, and dangerous than anyone could have guessed, and he has no idea who he can trust.
Jason soon realizes that he can only be certain of two things. He somehow holds the key to the future of the galaxy itself . . . and his chances of living out the week are vanishingly small.
Unidentified is a masterful near-future thriller, one packed with nonstop action, unexpected twists, extraordinary technology, and astonishing ideas.
Ripped from today's headlines, Unidentified is the latest thriller from the NY Times bestselling author whose books have sold over two million copies.
Between 2017 and 2021 the US military admitted to having undeniable evidence that UFOs (now UAVs or UAPs) are here, and defy the laws of physics. When Jason Ramsey, a popular science-fiction writer, becomes obsessed with the subject, he undertakes a relentless quest to uncover what is really going on. After recruiting Tessa Barrett, an extraordinarily talented mercenary, Jason devises a risky, desperate plan to get to the bottom of it all. But the truth is far more shocking, convoluted, and dangerous than anyone could have guessed, and he has no idea who he can trust.
Jason soon realizes that he can only be certain of two things. He somehow holds the key to the future of the galaxy itself . . . and his chances of living out the week are vanishingly small.
Unidentified is a masterful near-future thriller, one packed with nonstop action, unexpected twists, extraordinary technology, and astonishing ideas.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2021
4137 people are currently reading
1503 people want to read
About the author
Douglas E. Richards
50 books1,742 followersWrite to Doug at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and visit the author's website to be notified of new releases.
Douglas E. Richards is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of science-fiction thrillers that have sold more than three million copies (see list below). Richards has been celebrated for his gripping, thought-provoking works that blend cutting-edge scientific concepts with heart-pounding narratives.
Richards burst onto the literary scene with his debut novel, WIRED, published in 2010. The novel garnered widespread acclaim for its ingenious combination of scientific speculation and thrilling storytelling. This success set the stage for a series of bestselling novels, each marked by meticulous research, riveting plots, and characters that resonate with readers.
Known for his ability to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging narratives, Richards has become a go-to author for readers seeking an intellectually stimulating and adrenaline-fueled reading experience. His works delve deeply into the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific breakthroughs and the potential impact of technology on society.
A former Director of Biotechnology Licensing at Bristol Myers Squibb and a former biotechnology executive, Richards earned a BS in microbiology from the Ohio State University, a master's degree in genetic engineering from the University of Wisconsin--where he engineered mutant viruses now named after him--and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
The author has two grown children and lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and dog.
Richards loves hearing from readers, and always replies, so feel free to write to him at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and address him as "Doug". You can also Friend Richards on Facebook at Douglas E. Richards Author, or visit his website, where you can sign up to be notified of new releases.
SCIENCE FICTION THRILLERS BY DOUGLAS E. RICHARDS
SERIES
WIRED (Wired 1)
AMPED (Wired 2)
MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)
UNLEASHED (Nick Hall 4)
SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)
THE ENIGMA CUBE (Alien Artifact 1)
A PIVOT IN TIME (Alien Artifact 2)
STANDALONE NOVELS
QUANTUM LENS
GAME CHANGER
INFINITY BORN
SEEKER
VERACITY
ORACLE
THE IMMORTALITY CODE
UNIDENTIFIED
PORTALS
THE CURE (To become KU eligible for the first time in 2023)
THE BREAKTHROUGH EFFECT
Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)
TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)
OUT OF THIS WORLD
DEVIL'S SWORD
Douglas E. Richards is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of science-fiction thrillers that have sold more than three million copies (see list below). Richards has been celebrated for his gripping, thought-provoking works that blend cutting-edge scientific concepts with heart-pounding narratives.
Richards burst onto the literary scene with his debut novel, WIRED, published in 2010. The novel garnered widespread acclaim for its ingenious combination of scientific speculation and thrilling storytelling. This success set the stage for a series of bestselling novels, each marked by meticulous research, riveting plots, and characters that resonate with readers.
Known for his ability to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging narratives, Richards has become a go-to author for readers seeking an intellectually stimulating and adrenaline-fueled reading experience. His works delve deeply into the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific breakthroughs and the potential impact of technology on society.
A former Director of Biotechnology Licensing at Bristol Myers Squibb and a former biotechnology executive, Richards earned a BS in microbiology from the Ohio State University, a master's degree in genetic engineering from the University of Wisconsin--where he engineered mutant viruses now named after him--and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
The author has two grown children and lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and dog.
Richards loves hearing from readers, and always replies, so feel free to write to him at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and address him as "Doug". You can also Friend Richards on Facebook at Douglas E. Richards Author, or visit his website, where you can sign up to be notified of new releases.
SCIENCE FICTION THRILLERS BY DOUGLAS E. RICHARDS
SERIES
WIRED (Wired 1)
AMPED (Wired 2)
MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)
UNLEASHED (Nick Hall 4)
SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)
THE ENIGMA CUBE (Alien Artifact 1)
A PIVOT IN TIME (Alien Artifact 2)
STANDALONE NOVELS
QUANTUM LENS
GAME CHANGER
INFINITY BORN
SEEKER
VERACITY
ORACLE
THE IMMORTALITY CODE
UNIDENTIFIED
PORTALS
THE CURE (To become KU eligible for the first time in 2023)
THE BREAKTHROUGH EFFECT
Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)
TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)
OUT OF THIS WORLD
DEVIL'S SWORD
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
Currently reading
November 15, 2021After what seems like an eternity--at least to me 🙂 -- my new novel, UNIDENTIFIED, is finally out! It is now available as an eBook (enrolled in Kindle Unlimited), and a paperback, and I'll let you know when the audiobook is available. This one is a science-fiction thriller detailing the compelling evidence that UFOs are here, while offering a mind-blowing fictional take on the reasons why.
As always, if you read this one and enjoy it, I'd be grateful for your help spreading the word. Also, if you get a moment, please consider writing a few sentences in a Goodreads review box so other readers will know what's in store for them.
Thanks! Happy reading.
Doug
Douglas E. Richards
As always, if you read this one and enjoy it, I'd be grateful for your help spreading the word. Also, if you get a moment, please consider writing a few sentences in a Goodreads review box so other readers will know what's in store for them.
Thanks! Happy reading.
Doug
Douglas E. Richards
November 26, 2021
MY OPINION:
Jayzus, this book stinks.
Written on the back of a McDonald’s napkin with blue and red crayons, at stoplights?
I wish I could give this EVEN LESS than one star. I give it a “minus 100,000 stars.”
Written by an 11 year old for a 10 year old?
I dunno….
Does a lot of writer stuff that is highly annoying.
Like, “Let that sink in….” Wow! That is VAGUE!!!
The author makes a YUGE deal about how much he researches weapons and security personnel but gets it all wrong: he knows CRAP about CRAP.
And his “protag” is so modern that he weeps 😭 tears and whines and is quite the Millennial hero.
“‘Yes!’ I screeched….”
“…A giddy grin erupted across my face.…”
“…I rose from the chair, noticing that my left thigh had been dressed and bandaged. I kept my weight on my right leg and sat beside Tessa, kissing her with great passion, so ecstatic that she was alive that I almost whimpered in ecstasy.”
Oh, and a woman is the smartest, toughest, bestest shot, and bestest at everything there is in the galaxy, and the bestest thing to be is a woman, I guess.
“…She probably would have prevailed over scores of elite commandos, and even more drones….”
“…She’s a remarkable warrior,” said the colonel. “Remarkable. She killed six of my men. And even after she fell and was nearly fatally wounded, it took three more to finally bring her down.” He paused. “She’s as good as anyone I’ve ever seen….”
…She sighed. “Not really. I despise having to kill. It’s a horrible thing to have to live with, even if I had no choice. But I’ll shake it off. Now isn’t the time.”
“I understood. The carnage I had just witnessed was likely to leave permanent scars on my psyche, and was hard to get out of my head. And I hadn’t killed anyone.
“I had long wondered if Tessa had ever been forced to take lives, but I had never brought it up. She had served with the Deltas, after all, a special forces branch famous for its counter-terrorism and hostage rescue operations, so it wouldn’t be crazy to imagine that she had.”
“I shook my head in awe. She had taken out Chen and six of China’s elite special forces single-handedly, and was only captured because of bad luck. If I hadn’t believed in her skills before, I sure did now.
This book STINKS
(How I wish I were a woman!!
I wish all my children and grandchildren were women!)
By Page 167, this “book” had become too much bllsht to bear, and I quit reading, no longer caring about it, or what might happen next.
What bllsht.
After this apparent piglet-abortion, I am swearing off the genre.
.
.
Jayzus, this book stinks.
Written on the back of a McDonald’s napkin with blue and red crayons, at stoplights?
I wish I could give this EVEN LESS than one star. I give it a “minus 100,000 stars.”
Written by an 11 year old for a 10 year old?
I dunno….
Does a lot of writer stuff that is highly annoying.
Like, “Let that sink in….” Wow! That is VAGUE!!!
The author makes a YUGE deal about how much he researches weapons and security personnel but gets it all wrong: he knows CRAP about CRAP.
And his “protag” is so modern that he weeps 😭 tears and whines and is quite the Millennial hero.
“‘Yes!’ I screeched….”
“…A giddy grin erupted across my face.…”
“…I rose from the chair, noticing that my left thigh had been dressed and bandaged. I kept my weight on my right leg and sat beside Tessa, kissing her with great passion, so ecstatic that she was alive that I almost whimpered in ecstasy.”
Oh, and a woman is the smartest, toughest, bestest shot, and bestest at everything there is in the galaxy, and the bestest thing to be is a woman, I guess.
“…She probably would have prevailed over scores of elite commandos, and even more drones….”
“…She’s a remarkable warrior,” said the colonel. “Remarkable. She killed six of my men. And even after she fell and was nearly fatally wounded, it took three more to finally bring her down.” He paused. “She’s as good as anyone I’ve ever seen….”
…She sighed. “Not really. I despise having to kill. It’s a horrible thing to have to live with, even if I had no choice. But I’ll shake it off. Now isn’t the time.”
“I understood. The carnage I had just witnessed was likely to leave permanent scars on my psyche, and was hard to get out of my head. And I hadn’t killed anyone.
“I had long wondered if Tessa had ever been forced to take lives, but I had never brought it up. She had served with the Deltas, after all, a special forces branch famous for its counter-terrorism and hostage rescue operations, so it wouldn’t be crazy to imagine that she had.”
“I shook my head in awe. She had taken out Chen and six of China’s elite special forces single-handedly, and was only captured because of bad luck. If I hadn’t believed in her skills before, I sure did now.
This book STINKS
(How I wish I were a woman!!
I wish all my children and grandchildren were women!)
By Page 167, this “book” had become too much bllsht to bear, and I quit reading, no longer caring about it, or what might happen next.
What bllsht.
After this apparent piglet-abortion, I am swearing off the genre.
.
.
December 21, 2021
I've delayed writing this review because I feel really guilty writing it. I guess it's time to rip off the Band-aid. Douglas E. Richards is a talented author. His first two popular books, "Wired" and "Amped" were truly excellent, and remain among the best books he has written. Therein, however, hangs a tail. Many of his subsequent books were also great reads. However, more recently, I've found them just not up to the level of his promising early works. I'll be quite clear here—I intend to continue reading books by Douglas E. Richards because the talent he first hooked me with is, I am sure, still there. Hidden, perhaps, under the pressure of success, deadlines, etc.
"Unidentified," like all of Richards' works, draws on recent or interesting scientific developments and speculation along with topically relevant circumstances. They tend to be timely and engaging. He is fussy about the science, and devotes a great deal of time and effort to getting it right, and keeping the speculative elements within a reasonable frame of possibility. While he is often raising ethical issues raised by newer technology, he always works to present a balanced perspective. It's not the technology per se that is evil, but how it can be used by unscrupulous people. "Unidentified" carries on in this vein, in every respect.
Where "Unidentified" falls short for me is in several key areas. The first is an area that I have mentioned in a number of my reviews of some of his earlier books. He has a propensity to fill his books with "infodumps." Paragraph upon paragraph with little to no action, and serving only to advance the plot through explanations of circumstances, technologies. It's not a failing unique to Mr. Richards, and remains far to common in all but the very best science fiction and speculative fiction. The issue with "Unidentified" is that it has "jumped the shark" in percentage of the book that amounts to "infodump." It's almost a vast majority. It's like one long "infodump" with a little bit of action in-between to break up the monotony.
The second shortcoming is related to the overall perspective of the book. While Mr. Richards is a very talented author, he is not yet worthy of being hailed among the giants of the genre—Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, Dick, Herbert, LeGuin, Bradbury, Pohl, Niven, Bear, Butler, Gibson, and so many more. He's good, but he's not quite up there with the newer generation of giants like Martine, Weir, Jemison, Liu, Leckie, et al. Then again, that's not his target market, the literary SciFi world. All this is meant to say that it is a bit presumptuous of Richards to go meta and be self-referential, even indirectly (or purposefully just different enough,) to his own self, writing, and works. I found this very off-putting, and it feels like he worked a bit too hard at getting it in, yet believing is was subtle enough to pass.
The third shortcoming is one that has been causing a bit of a slow burn in me as I have read through his catalogue since I first discovered him (around the time he published "Wired.") It's the constant reliance on individual (or two-character) resilience and winning against all odds. Also, in almost every case, there is a male-female relationship amongst the primary antagonists that is just plain similar to Heinlein-juvenile-style misogyny. Yes, his female characters do have a little more agency, but it still feels really dated given the 21st-century realities we live in. In some ways, the entire book of "Unidentified" may exist to serve as justification for having characters that are simply too successful to be believable by laying the source in the hand of alien species. The whitewash just doesn't work for me. It's time for some truly "woke" characters, and not "woke" in some sort of stereotypical, overblown caricature of what that really means. I can just hear Richards saying now "but that's just exactly what I did in this book and others." If he really believes that is true, then I'm worried that his worldview is a bit tainted.
There are a few other nitpicky items that bothered me, in particular a Star Trek reference to an alien species as a comparison to circumstances in the book that is so far off the mark of what that species truly is like, that I wonder why it's even there, and makes it feel even more gratuitous because it's so, well, just wrong.
As I always do, I read this book to the end. I didn't skip. I took my time reading it. I even went back and re-read some parts when I was unclear about something. I allowed myself time to savour it, to sit with it and reflect on it. After doing so, I have come to the conclusion that my general gut reaction while reading it were on the mark.
Douglas, I am sure you have many readers who will be quite happy with "Unidentified" so there's no reason to worry about the impact of my review. But it's an honest review, and, as I value your work as a writer, I hope you'll value, at least to some degree, the thoughtful comments I've written here. Still looking forward to your next book.
"Unidentified," like all of Richards' works, draws on recent or interesting scientific developments and speculation along with topically relevant circumstances. They tend to be timely and engaging. He is fussy about the science, and devotes a great deal of time and effort to getting it right, and keeping the speculative elements within a reasonable frame of possibility. While he is often raising ethical issues raised by newer technology, he always works to present a balanced perspective. It's not the technology per se that is evil, but how it can be used by unscrupulous people. "Unidentified" carries on in this vein, in every respect.
Where "Unidentified" falls short for me is in several key areas. The first is an area that I have mentioned in a number of my reviews of some of his earlier books. He has a propensity to fill his books with "infodumps." Paragraph upon paragraph with little to no action, and serving only to advance the plot through explanations of circumstances, technologies. It's not a failing unique to Mr. Richards, and remains far to common in all but the very best science fiction and speculative fiction. The issue with "Unidentified" is that it has "jumped the shark" in percentage of the book that amounts to "infodump." It's almost a vast majority. It's like one long "infodump" with a little bit of action in-between to break up the monotony.
The second shortcoming is related to the overall perspective of the book. While Mr. Richards is a very talented author, he is not yet worthy of being hailed among the giants of the genre—Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, Dick, Herbert, LeGuin, Bradbury, Pohl, Niven, Bear, Butler, Gibson, and so many more. He's good, but he's not quite up there with the newer generation of giants like Martine, Weir, Jemison, Liu, Leckie, et al. Then again, that's not his target market, the literary SciFi world. All this is meant to say that it is a bit presumptuous of Richards to go meta and be self-referential, even indirectly (or purposefully just different enough,) to his own self, writing, and works. I found this very off-putting, and it feels like he worked a bit too hard at getting it in, yet believing is was subtle enough to pass.
The third shortcoming is one that has been causing a bit of a slow burn in me as I have read through his catalogue since I first discovered him (around the time he published "Wired.") It's the constant reliance on individual (or two-character) resilience and winning against all odds. Also, in almost every case, there is a male-female relationship amongst the primary antagonists that is just plain similar to Heinlein-juvenile-style misogyny. Yes, his female characters do have a little more agency, but it still feels really dated given the 21st-century realities we live in. In some ways, the entire book of "Unidentified" may exist to serve as justification for having characters that are simply too successful to be believable by laying the source in the hand of alien species. The whitewash just doesn't work for me. It's time for some truly "woke" characters, and not "woke" in some sort of stereotypical, overblown caricature of what that really means. I can just hear Richards saying now "but that's just exactly what I did in this book and others." If he really believes that is true, then I'm worried that his worldview is a bit tainted.
There are a few other nitpicky items that bothered me, in particular a Star Trek reference to an alien species as a comparison to circumstances in the book that is so far off the mark of what that species truly is like, that I wonder why it's even there, and makes it feel even more gratuitous because it's so, well, just wrong.
As I always do, I read this book to the end. I didn't skip. I took my time reading it. I even went back and re-read some parts when I was unclear about something. I allowed myself time to savour it, to sit with it and reflect on it. After doing so, I have come to the conclusion that my general gut reaction while reading it were on the mark.
Douglas, I am sure you have many readers who will be quite happy with "Unidentified" so there's no reason to worry about the impact of my review. But it's an honest review, and, as I value your work as a writer, I hope you'll value, at least to some degree, the thoughtful comments I've written here. Still looking forward to your next book.
January 12, 2022
I’ve enjoyed other books by this author so with the high rating on this one I had high hopes. It didn’t take long for disappointment to set in. The love story was cringey. Long info dumps were interspersed with impossible captures and rescues.
Here’s the story about us aliens.
They lied!
OK, we lied, here’s the REAL story.
That’s a lie, here’s the real story.
No, that’s a lie, but our original story was actually true!
Ugh! I don’t even care anymore.
Here’s the story about us aliens.
They lied!
OK, we lied, here’s the REAL story.
That’s a lie, here’s the real story.
No, that’s a lie, but our original story was actually true!
Ugh! I don’t even care anymore.
December 8, 2021
I have enjoyed good science fiction for more than 60 years. The stories don't have to be believable - after all it's fiction - but they have to be plausible. The twists and turns in this novel are so far fetched that the story line became incomprehensible. Can't recommend this to anyone who truly enjoys good sci-fi. I dropped out about 2/3 of the way through.
July 7, 2022
This book felt like it's 80% characters spending chapter after chapter explaining stuff. What happened to "show, don't tell"? Our hero gets captured, listens to what feels like hours of explanation of what's going on, then gets captured by "the other side" and gets to listen for hours about how everything he just learned is actually the opposite of what he thought. Rinse and repeat. Oh – and don't forget THE POWER OF LOVE (I shit you not!).
Also: "I kissed her exquisite lips". Are we 12?
Even the worst authors published by major publishers are better than this. This book has done the impossible and made me long for Dan Brown!
Also: "I kissed her exquisite lips". Are we 12?
Even the worst authors published by major publishers are better than this. This book has done the impossible and made me long for Dan Brown!
November 20, 2021
Fun and impossible to leave until finished
A thrilling tale in an amazingly well narrated first person, well documented to the point of doubt if I was reading a personal biographic account in the first few chapters. Douglas E. Richards first formal incursion in the UFO lore is more like a deep dive, with his personal touch and a great morale in the end.
A thrilling tale in an amazingly well narrated first person, well documented to the point of doubt if I was reading a personal biographic account in the first few chapters. Douglas E. Richards first formal incursion in the UFO lore is more like a deep dive, with his personal touch and a great morale in the end.
November 20, 2021
Another Great Read.
Cannot wait for the sequels. At times it's a parallel story to Doug Richard's life. You know something we don't?
Cannot wait for the sequels. At times it's a parallel story to Doug Richard's life. You know something we don't?
February 28, 2022
Now! It can be told- flying saucers are real! Except, it was all a dream or, er, dreams, where characters swap motivation like a ball and cups scam. The nerd of all nerds our protagonist, humble-brags his way ("after all everyone has always told me I'm special") through 400 some pages while capturing the complete love of THE MOST PERFECT WOMAN IN THE WORLD by about page 5. Although goof-proofed: AIs, aliens, and ideas continuously get goofed, nothing stops our nanite-enhanced Clark Kent from, well basically, from doing anything he wants. The big reveal- spoiler alerts-be-damned: The entire galaxy is in jeopardy from the Borg...I mean "Swarm" who appears to be Santa Clause but is actually The Wizard of Oz who is both bored and nasty. Have yourself a drink or three as you slog through this it's-all-about-me, plagiarized* cliche ride. There's no place like home.
*see: Arthur C Clark's- Childhood's End
*see: Arthur C Clark's- Childhood's End
March 31, 2022
Superficial, Silly, Sophomoric
Sorry. I know how hard it is to write. But this is like a kid’s comic book written without any drawings. There are way too many
“miracle resolutions“ to unsolvable predicaments. The old Greek tragedy term, “ Deus ex machina”
( The god from the machine”) comes to mind. The plot had more holes than really good Swiss cheese. More “miracle salvations” for Our Hero and Heroine than can be stomached, even in science fiction.
Sorry. I know how hard it is to write. But this is like a kid’s comic book written without any drawings. There are way too many
“miracle resolutions“ to unsolvable predicaments. The old Greek tragedy term, “ Deus ex machina”
( The god from the machine”) comes to mind. The plot had more holes than really good Swiss cheese. More “miracle salvations” for Our Hero and Heroine than can be stomached, even in science fiction.
April 29, 2022
Complex and Fascinating Technothriller
Unidentified is another fabulous technothriller from Douglas Richards. I tried for weeks to pare down my feedback about this book and finally gave up.
What I love the most about Richard's writing is that he richly researches every topic, uses cutting edge concepts across quantum physics, technology, artificial intelligence and so much more, and then stretches into speculative fiction.
The reader never knows until the appendix just what is really possible, this allowing your imagination to be free to follow the story anywhere it goes.
Trust me, Unidentified is a must read for anyone who wants to explore the Universe and the possibilities out there waiting for us. Highly recommended.
Unidentified is another fabulous technothriller from Douglas Richards. I tried for weeks to pare down my feedback about this book and finally gave up.
What I love the most about Richard's writing is that he richly researches every topic, uses cutting edge concepts across quantum physics, technology, artificial intelligence and so much more, and then stretches into speculative fiction.
The reader never knows until the appendix just what is really possible, this allowing your imagination to be free to follow the story anywhere it goes.
Trust me, Unidentified is a must read for anyone who wants to explore the Universe and the possibilities out there waiting for us. Highly recommended.
November 20, 2021
Overwhelming
You have outdone yourself Doug. What a quirky big tale of panic, pace and storytelling. Great job that I enjoyed as much as any of you books. Though less educational, except for your creative juices. How I would have liked to meet you when I was younger. Thanks for another book.
You have outdone yourself Doug. What a quirky big tale of panic, pace and storytelling. Great job that I enjoyed as much as any of you books. Though less educational, except for your creative juices. How I would have liked to meet you when I was younger. Thanks for another book.
November 16, 2021
Well, he did it again!
I have been a fan for quite some time now, and my only regret is that I am older than Doug and am likely to miss some great books after I’m gone. Guess I’ll have to check back in from Valhalla from time to time, or just start from the beginning in my next life, or ...
I have been a fan for quite some time now, and my only regret is that I am older than Doug and am likely to miss some great books after I’m gone. Guess I’ll have to check back in from Valhalla from time to time, or just start from the beginning in my next life, or ...
November 16, 2021
Very well done
A fascinating subject with many outrageous plot twists. Just when you think you know who the real villains are, the plot turns upside down. I read all Richard's books and hope there is a sequel.
'
A fascinating subject with many outrageous plot twists. Just when you think you know who the real villains are, the plot turns upside down. I read all Richard's books and hope there is a sequel.
'
February 24, 2022
An enjoyable read.
November 14, 2021
Wow! This ride was phenomenal!
I chose this rating because Mr. Richard's ability to spin a tale is over the top.
The concept we are not alone in our back water part if the universe has been part of our narrative for pretty much forever. This story takes the concept of our not being alone as the only intelligent and cogent species and turns it on it's head.
Have a fun read and enjoy this book.
I chose this rating because Mr. Richard's ability to spin a tale is over the top.
The concept we are not alone in our back water part if the universe has been part of our narrative for pretty much forever. This story takes the concept of our not being alone as the only intelligent and cogent species and turns it on it's head.
Have a fun read and enjoy this book.
November 15, 2021
Again another outstanding book from this author i love reading his books this one as the others are awesome reads i found this book was especially a very good read it kept me reading from cover to cover without stopping a lot of thought provoking ideas in this book I highly recommend this book
November 15, 2021
Really fun book!
This book kept me on my toes! Its fast paced changes were exciting and fun. Love the protagonists ; the creative scenes, pop culture references. Recommend for a fun read!
This book kept me on my toes! Its fast paced changes were exciting and fun. Love the protagonists ; the creative scenes, pop culture references. Recommend for a fun read!
November 14, 2021
A gripping read
Twists and turns galore in what shapes up to be a gripping and thrilling First Contact story... Or is it?
Twists and turns galore in what shapes up to be a gripping and thrilling First Contact story... Or is it?
November 14, 2021
This book had me on the edge of my seat, couldn’t put it down, had to know what came next. So many twists & turns! Was never sure what was real.
November 21, 2021
Worth the wait!!!
Doug, you did it again!! One of your books is like a box of most exquisite chocolates, to be savored bite by bite. While it took Herculean effort, I managed to take an entire week to read Unidentified. Any chance we may see more of Tess and Jason in the future?
Doug, you did it again!! One of your books is like a box of most exquisite chocolates, to be savored bite by bite. While it took Herculean effort, I managed to take an entire week to read Unidentified. Any chance we may see more of Tess and Jason in the future?
February 7, 2022
This book starts off with exciting factual information on the USS Nimitz "tic-tac" incident back in 2004. I felt I had a real good read coming my way, but as the story plodded along, it completely lost focus as the author and his bad-ass girlfriend (who whooped every single spec-ops soldier she ever met) meet and have a jolly good chat with genuine octopus aliens. I love how authors come up with absolutely fascinating ideas and then utilize their literary prowess to create a story for the masses. But being in love with a bad ass does not constitute literary prowess to me, it simply tosses the tired idea where the man is proud to be a wimp and the woman is certifiably better in every aspect than anyone else in the room. Could not finish this, as the entire idea seemed to completely dissolve faster than the 44,000 miles per hour spaceships could fly.
November 17, 2021
DNF: This book drove me crazy! Explainerisms, cliches with inane conversations and comments was just too much to stick with.
I quit the book at the point where the author had to explain that Goldilocks "came from a children's fairy tale. " Who would have guessed?
What age range does he write to impress, maybe I'm missing something?
I gave him two stars because I got about 30% of the way through, and his story has soooo much potential.
I quit the book at the point where the author had to explain that Goldilocks "came from a children's fairy tale. " Who would have guessed?
What age range does he write to impress, maybe I'm missing something?
I gave him two stars because I got about 30% of the way through, and his story has soooo much potential.
December 18, 2021
A very creative
Plot, with imaginative occurrences, twists and turns. However the main character Jason, is put in too many death defying circumstances to be believable, even for sci fi. There are contradictions and the dialog in many instances is too simplistic. If you can ignore/ accept the above, then it’s fun to read.
Plot, with imaginative occurrences, twists and turns. However the main character Jason, is put in too many death defying circumstances to be believable, even for sci fi. There are contradictions and the dialog in many instances is too simplistic. If you can ignore/ accept the above, then it’s fun to read.
September 5, 2023
4.1/5, they should have changed Unidentified Flying Objects to Mysterious Otherworldly Flying Objects—or MOFOs.
This book took me a while to get through. A mix of having a break from reading to be productive elsewhere and generally being busier has allowed me to imagine far more.
The universe is gargantuan and this book ventures far but realistically only dipping our toes in to the potential near future. How I’d love our evolution to take a similar course would be selling my dreams short. This story is fantastic and a real pleasure.
Finally a book about aliens that doesn’t seem to go off the deep end of far fetched. Extra credit for using (and always using) real life patents that can be found easily online, or the technology that is hidden away. I love that, I tip my hat to all of the detailed research and all of the tech that’s backed up.
The story itself is a lot of fun with some great twists. I felt a little short changed somewhere in the middle but proceedings ramped up and I was firmly relieved. Characters are solid with a wide range of personality. But, I do feel as though there’s too few women and those that there are are too extraordinary, all of the time. Still, it works here but I’d hate for this to be a common theme across every single novel of Richards’.
Douglas E. Richards is quickly gaining notoriety in my world and I look forward to more of his stories. A brilliant tale and a splash of creative genius.
This book took me a while to get through. A mix of having a break from reading to be productive elsewhere and generally being busier has allowed me to imagine far more.
The universe is gargantuan and this book ventures far but realistically only dipping our toes in to the potential near future. How I’d love our evolution to take a similar course would be selling my dreams short. This story is fantastic and a real pleasure.
Finally a book about aliens that doesn’t seem to go off the deep end of far fetched. Extra credit for using (and always using) real life patents that can be found easily online, or the technology that is hidden away. I love that, I tip my hat to all of the detailed research and all of the tech that’s backed up.
The story itself is a lot of fun with some great twists. I felt a little short changed somewhere in the middle but proceedings ramped up and I was firmly relieved. Characters are solid with a wide range of personality. But, I do feel as though there’s too few women and those that there are are too extraordinary, all of the time. Still, it works here but I’d hate for this to be a common theme across every single novel of Richards’.
Douglas E. Richards is quickly gaining notoriety in my world and I look forward to more of his stories. A brilliant tale and a splash of creative genius.
February 16, 2024
I tried. I really tried but I got as far as page 214 and I just could not read any more. This was my first time reading a book by this author and my impression is not a good one. I understand from other reviews that his previous books were really good but I guess it was my bad luck that I read this one first and I am not impressed.
I love science fiction books. Poul Anderson, Assimov, Bradbury, J.N. Chaney, Blake Crouch just to name a few favorite authors so you can tell I enjoy a variety of science fiction styles. Sadly, this book seemed more a mashup of old science fiction movies, you know the black and white ones with men running around in what looks like ski pajamas as uniforms.
Anyway, the author seems to know his science but the storyline just kept jumping around too much.
I don’t give up on books all that often but I just couldn’t take one more storyline switch.
I love science fiction books. Poul Anderson, Assimov, Bradbury, J.N. Chaney, Blake Crouch just to name a few favorite authors so you can tell I enjoy a variety of science fiction styles. Sadly, this book seemed more a mashup of old science fiction movies, you know the black and white ones with men running around in what looks like ski pajamas as uniforms.
Anyway, the author seems to know his science but the storyline just kept jumping around too much.
I don’t give up on books all that often but I just couldn’t take one more storyline switch.
June 29, 2023
This was a very interesting book. I learned a lot about the reality of what we know about UFOs. Of course we don't call them that anymore. UAPs or something like that. We know that they exist. We just don't know much about why they are here. This book provides an entertaining answer. But like most things, we don't know how much of that answer is real. Maybe some of it. You never know. But there is a lot of food for thought.
November 23, 2021
An unbelievable thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat
Douglas Richards is the best novelist I have ever read and considering I have read almost all of the best sci-fi writers of our day that is the best praise that I can give a blossoming author since George R.R. Martin wrote Game of Thrones. Every book he puts out is pure gold. I can't wait to get my hands on whatever he is working on next. He is by far and away the best author I have to ever read and he continues to amaze me at every turn of the page as I can't stop reading everything he puts out. I wish everyone would read just 1 novel cause I can guarantee you that you have never read anything like what he keeps putting out on a rediculous scale. I can't sing enough praises to keep him in the know but I can tell you his novels will make you wrap your head around your own head. Absolutely phenomenal........... Can't wait for the next one. Your biggest fan. R.A. McLean
Douglas Richards is the best novelist I have ever read and considering I have read almost all of the best sci-fi writers of our day that is the best praise that I can give a blossoming author since George R.R. Martin wrote Game of Thrones. Every book he puts out is pure gold. I can't wait to get my hands on whatever he is working on next. He is by far and away the best author I have to ever read and he continues to amaze me at every turn of the page as I can't stop reading everything he puts out. I wish everyone would read just 1 novel cause I can guarantee you that you have never read anything like what he keeps putting out on a rediculous scale. I can't sing enough praises to keep him in the know but I can tell you his novels will make you wrap your head around your own head. Absolutely phenomenal........... Can't wait for the next one. Your biggest fan. R.A. McLean
June 4, 2023
interesting story though a little rushed
I thought the concept was intriguing. Overall the storyline holds well. However, I suppose, to keep the book to a reasonable number of pages, the action and events develop overly quickly with lots of convenient plot contrivances.
In this case I’d argue that another couple of hundred pages would have been fine just to let the complexity of many of the events get spelled out more thoroughly.
I thought the concept was intriguing. Overall the storyline holds well. However, I suppose, to keep the book to a reasonable number of pages, the action and events develop overly quickly with lots of convenient plot contrivances.
In this case I’d argue that another couple of hundred pages would have been fine just to let the complexity of many of the events get spelled out more thoroughly.
December 27, 2024
Absolutely awesome!
If you like really good science fiction, read this book. Excellent story. I was sorry to see it end. Hopefully their will be a part two to really wrap up. Don't get me wrong, it's a complete story with a good ending . Buy it, read it, enjoy it.
If you like really good science fiction, read this book. Excellent story. I was sorry to see it end. Hopefully their will be a part two to really wrap up. Don't get me wrong, it's a complete story with a good ending . Buy it, read it, enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews