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Behold, Humanity! #1
Behold Humanity!: May We Come In?
The Unified Civilized Council, which has ruled for over a hundred million years has discovered new species in the Long Dark. Strange and unknown species that seem to have no rhyme or reason about them. Compounding the problem is the reappearance of the ancient Precursor Autonomous War Machines. Even worse is the fact that the newly discovered Terran Confederacy of Aligned Systems appear to be the only force capable of stopping the murderous robotic starships, some the size of small continents.
The first book in the Behold Humanity! series, this covers the initial meetings as well as the initial battles between the living and the terrible machines.
The first book in the Behold Humanity! series, this covers the initial meetings as well as the initial battles between the living and the terrible machines.
- GenresScience Fiction
471 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2021
172 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 16, 2024
Както успяваме да забележим, поне в развитите държави, човечеството е постигнало нещо като началото на "икономика на благоденствието". Никой не умира от глад, а бедните са бедни защото са духовно бедни, не защото нямат възможности. Дори със среден доход можеш да си позволиш материални и културни придобивки и качество на живот, немислими за 99.99% от хората в цялата история на света и даже за почти всички преди 50 г.
Както изглежда, исторически погледнато не е далеч моментът, когато част от човечеството ще заживее наистина в общество на благоденствието, където материалното и икономическото няма да са значим фактор в живота. На прост език, хората ще могат да имат всичко, което поискат. Искаш книга с точно определен сюжет или специална песен за рождения ти ден? Изкуственият интелект ти я пише за секунди. Искаш собствена виртуална реалност, дето си бог-император на всички планети? Имаш я. Собствена планета, на която да живееш сам? Готово. Крайният вариант на това развитие е разглеждан от много писатели-фантасти през годините.
Behold Humanity! е забавно, надъхващо и зарибяващо четиво, описващо точно това - човечество, отдавна забравило всякакви материални ограничения. И срещата на различни извънземни с него, в контекста на една космическа война с древен, жесток и привидно всесилен враг. На когото човечеството наритва задника по възможно най-нелепия начин.
Чудейки се какво може да стане, ако всички далечни, скрити от окото на нормалния човек, мръсни, извратени кътчета на съвременния интернет, всякакви форуми/дискорди/тиктоци на всякакви гейминг/аниме/военни откачалници имат безкрайно количество ресурси и енергия да задоволят всяка своя материална прищявка и да осъществят на живо болните си фантазии, авторът ни вкарва в нелеп, абсурден и неимоверно смешен свят.
Ако не бяха дългите и еднообразни описания на битки, които съставляват по-голямата част от текста, щях да прочета доста повече от тази писана в интернет, няколко хиляди странична сага.
Както изглежда, исторически погледнато не е далеч моментът, когато част от човечеството ще заживее наистина в общество на благоденствието, където материалното и икономическото няма да са значим фактор в живота. На прост език, хората ще могат да имат всичко, което поискат. Искаш книга с точно определен сюжет или специална песен за рождения ти ден? Изкуственият интелект ти я пише за секунди. Искаш собствена виртуална реалност, дето си бог-император на всички планети? Имаш я. Собствена планета, на която да живееш сам? Готово. Крайният вариант на това развитие е разглеждан от много писатели-фантасти през годините.
Behold Humanity! е забавно, надъхващо и зарибяващо четиво, описващо точно това - човечество, отдавна забравило всякакви материални ограничения. И срещата на различни извънземни с него, в контекста на една космическа война с древен, жесток и привидно всесилен враг. На когото човечеството наритва задника по възможно най-нелепия начин.
Чудейки се какво може да стане, ако всички далечни, скрити от окото на нормалния човек, мръсни, извратени кътчета на съвременния интернет, всякакви форуми/дискорди/тиктоци на всякакви гейминг/аниме/военни откачалници имат безкрайно количество ресурси и енергия да задоволят всяка своя материална прищявка и да осъществят на живо болните си фантазии, авторът ни вкарва в нелеп, абсурден и неимоверно смешен свят.
Ако не бяха дългите и еднообразни описания на битки, които съставляват по-голямата част от текста, щях да прочета доста повече от тази писана в интернет, няколко хиляди странична сага.
December 18, 2021
Humans are Space Orks
This ‘novel’ was originally written on Reddit. So there are some issues and some idiosyncrasies.
But.
It. Is. Awesome.
You will chuckle as VI (viral intelligence) driven missiles argue over who gets to attack first; as “goodbois” and “furbois” prove how useful they can be; as aliens express the horror of fighting against humanity and the…discomfort of being their allies.
The bad: needs a copy editor. Proofreading can be rough at times. Not *unreadable*, but could easily be cleaner.
The different: this is not a “hero’s journey”; there is no single MC to follow. Instead, it is a series of braided short stories and brief sketches. A singular theme drives the whole, but even recurrent characters don’t have a whole lot of page space.
The awesome: as noted, between Reddit and Space Orks…well this is quite imaginative. The bad guys are making The Borg seem friendly, and the good guys…just be glad they’re on ‘our’ side. Mostly. As far as anyone can tell.
I really like how they refer to some of the main battle fleet as “The Idiots”, but make note that *they haven’t been thawed out yet*. Yes, that’s right. The ongoing insanity are the *normal* ones they keep around for small problems.
I am *SO* looking forward to book 2!
This ‘novel’ was originally written on Reddit. So there are some issues and some idiosyncrasies.
But.
It. Is. Awesome.
You will chuckle as VI (viral intelligence) driven missiles argue over who gets to attack first; as “goodbois” and “furbois” prove how useful they can be; as aliens express the horror of fighting against humanity and the…discomfort of being their allies.
The bad: needs a copy editor. Proofreading can be rough at times. Not *unreadable*, but could easily be cleaner.
The different: this is not a “hero’s journey”; there is no single MC to follow. Instead, it is a series of braided short stories and brief sketches. A singular theme drives the whole, but even recurrent characters don’t have a whole lot of page space.
The awesome: as noted, between Reddit and Space Orks…well this is quite imaginative. The bad guys are making The Borg seem friendly, and the good guys…just be glad they’re on ‘our’ side. Mostly. As far as anyone can tell.
I really like how they refer to some of the main battle fleet as “The Idiots”, but make note that *they haven’t been thawed out yet*. Yes, that’s right. The ongoing insanity are the *normal* ones they keep around for small problems.
I am *SO* looking forward to book 2!
February 26, 2023
I was recommended this series by someone on Reddit, but I ended up feeling misled about what it was going to be. I expected a somewhat irreverent military sci-fi told mostly from the point of view of aliens encountering humanity in the early stages of space exploration.
It ended up being a series of loosely connected humorous vignettes taking place long after the aliens encountered humanity. Although I'm sure things get serious at some point, the first chapter (in which an alien infiltrator gets high on ice cream and steals a bunch of it to bring back to his people) set an overly silly tone that the next few chapters did little to move away from.
It ended up being a series of loosely connected humorous vignettes taking place long after the aliens encountered humanity. Although I'm sure things get serious at some point, the first chapter (in which an alien infiltrator gets high on ice cream and steals a bunch of it to bring back to his people) set an overly silly tone that the next few chapters did little to move away from.
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April 13, 2025At first I was really excited by this book, because it seemed like it was going to be xenofiction. But that turned out to be unique to the first chapter. Which is fine, I understand that xenofiction is a difficult sub-genre of sci-fi to write. But it set a high bar, that the rest of the book ultimately wasn't able to meet. The first half is pretty good, being all about interesting first contact scenarios between humanity and those under their aegis meeting the various alien races governed by the Unified Civilized Council. After that we meet the enemy of the book, the Precursors. Massive ancient AI ships who have decided that since there are finite resources and time in the universe only one being should really get to exist. The UCC is wildly outgunned and having them figure out that they need help is interesting. There's a great chapter that shows how the Precursors are using social media to demoralize the UCC that's almost uncomfortably resonant.
But pretty much every chapter after that is fairly same-y. The Precursors attack a UCC system. The higher ups of the UCC flee, leaving the native races of the planets to die. (The UCC had bought those planets before said races had achieved spaceflight, so the population of the planet is enslaved) Humanity shows up with their war machines and destroy the Precursors. They then, having liberated the system, hand it back to the native population much to the consternation of the UCC and the corporations that run it. (The idea of a benevolent and anti-corporate humanity doesn't jibe with my lived experience, but it's a fantasy I am willing to entertain) Rinse and repeat a few times. The message of "The UCC bad, Humanity good" sinks in well before the book is done both showing and telling you this.
This book needed an editor, or at least a second set of eyes on it. I understand that this is self-published and that doing that is expensive. But having someone else read it would have caught both the repetitiveness of the second half of the book and the many spelling and grammar errors that plague the book. I was okay with overlooking them in the first half, when the plot going on was interesting and novel. But once it got repetitive, it's really hard to ignore that the author doesn't always know where to put (or not put) and apostrophe, as well as their/there/they're and to/too/two errors. I think the most egregious mistake I caught was when a character (whose name and race were both created by the author) has their name misspelled. There are 16 more books in this series and the first half of this book had me excited to read them. The second half of the book killed that excitement off as efficiently as a Precursor massacring the population of a UCC planet.
But pretty much every chapter after that is fairly same-y. The Precursors attack a UCC system. The higher ups of the UCC flee, leaving the native races of the planets to die. (The UCC had bought those planets before said races had achieved spaceflight, so the population of the planet is enslaved) Humanity shows up with their war machines and destroy the Precursors. They then, having liberated the system, hand it back to the native population much to the consternation of the UCC and the corporations that run it. (The idea of a benevolent and anti-corporate humanity doesn't jibe with my lived experience, but it's a fantasy I am willing to entertain) Rinse and repeat a few times. The message of "The UCC bad, Humanity good" sinks in well before the book is done both showing and telling you this.
This book needed an editor, or at least a second set of eyes on it. I understand that this is self-published and that doing that is expensive. But having someone else read it would have caught both the repetitiveness of the second half of the book and the many spelling and grammar errors that plague the book. I was okay with overlooking them in the first half, when the plot going on was interesting and novel. But once it got repetitive, it's really hard to ignore that the author doesn't always know where to put (or not put) and apostrophe, as well as their/there/they're and to/too/two errors. I think the most egregious mistake I caught was when a character (whose name and race were both created by the author) has their name misspelled. There are 16 more books in this series and the first half of this book had me excited to read them. The second half of the book killed that excitement off as efficiently as a Precursor massacring the population of a UCC planet.
June 7, 2023
Glad I Kept Reading
The first few chapters had me shaking my head. They seemed almost disjointed, like short stories or even vignettes. But I kept reading, despite my doubts & I am glad I did.
First (& 2nd & 3rd) contact with humanity composed of multiple types of sapiens (homo digitalis, I think). Each chapter ends with communication and reports, revealing how one party, sometimes both, viewed the contact.
The setting is a near barren arm of the galaxy, long ago site of two massive civilizations clashing. Their war cleared entire worlds of life.
Life forms outside the warzone survived and developed their own space faring civilizations. Now they have started getting fleeting, and odd, reports of new races.
But of course, this won't be as simple as first contact. The war machines are still out there. Still fulfilling their goals, kill all life.
I like first contact stories and I like military Sci Fi. This is both. Note: this is a war. People die, including innocent people. But people are also saved.
The first few chapters had me shaking my head. They seemed almost disjointed, like short stories or even vignettes. But I kept reading, despite my doubts & I am glad I did.
First (& 2nd & 3rd) contact with humanity composed of multiple types of sapiens (homo digitalis, I think). Each chapter ends with communication and reports, revealing how one party, sometimes both, viewed the contact.
The setting is a near barren arm of the galaxy, long ago site of two massive civilizations clashing. Their war cleared entire worlds of life.
Life forms outside the warzone survived and developed their own space faring civilizations. Now they have started getting fleeting, and odd, reports of new races.
But of course, this won't be as simple as first contact. The war machines are still out there. Still fulfilling their goals, kill all life.
I like first contact stories and I like military Sci Fi. This is both. Note: this is a war. People die, including innocent people. But people are also saved.
November 7, 2021
*Interesting, Entertaining, and Mainly Smart Read Of Interlocking Vignettes To Form A Story Arc*
“Behold Humanity!: May We Come In?” is a mainly smart, often humorous, and engrossing story arc complied by interlocking vignettes.
It opens with an almost slapstick comedy vignette (which works) of an alien zealously intent on engaging in damaging espionage against his species’ enemies — humans, which gets turned 180° due his actual close contact with humans.
The rest of the book set millennia forward, is a series of quite good, crisp, and brisk vignettes of humans and aliens oft times tumultuous interactions. A reader can see much of the story arc as being an allegory for contemporary times if they so choose.
Proofreading is spastically sub-par [some examples on Goodreads] that jar a reader from an otherwise flowing narrative, a lack of author effort.
All said, “Behold Humanity!” Is a worthwhile read and is recommended.
Read via Kindle Unlimited.
“Behold Humanity!: May We Come In?” is a mainly smart, often humorous, and engrossing story arc complied by interlocking vignettes.
It opens with an almost slapstick comedy vignette (which works) of an alien zealously intent on engaging in damaging espionage against his species’ enemies — humans, which gets turned 180° due his actual close contact with humans.
The rest of the book set millennia forward, is a series of quite good, crisp, and brisk vignettes of humans and aliens oft times tumultuous interactions. A reader can see much of the story arc as being an allegory for contemporary times if they so choose.
Proofreading is spastically sub-par [some examples on Goodreads] that jar a reader from an otherwise flowing narrative, a lack of author effort.
All said, “Behold Humanity!” Is a worthwhile read and is recommended.
Read via Kindle Unlimited.
December 7, 2025
Amazing story by a talented author
While some will say that this epic story is too derivative, inserting entire fictional universes into his own, I say that the setting is broad enough to include all the fiction as realistic LARP using the technologies described by the author.
In the future, we boldly go where no one has gone before. We recreate our own ancient stories of magic and fantasy with nanotechnology, zero point reactors and creation engines. We can bring our fantasies to life.
However, the universe is not a place for unanswered happiness. It maliciously rips away whatever is precious and good, then gleefully destroys it. So, humanity learns an important lesson. In the cold grim darkness of the year 120000, there is only war. And War, War never changes.
While some will say that this epic story is too derivative, inserting entire fictional universes into his own, I say that the setting is broad enough to include all the fiction as realistic LARP using the technologies described by the author.
In the future, we boldly go where no one has gone before. We recreate our own ancient stories of magic and fantasy with nanotechnology, zero point reactors and creation engines. We can bring our fantasies to life.
However, the universe is not a place for unanswered happiness. It maliciously rips away whatever is precious and good, then gleefully destroys it. So, humanity learns an important lesson. In the cold grim darkness of the year 120000, there is only war. And War, War never changes.
January 21, 2022
This one!
I first started reading this about 120 days into its reddit run, and this published version is a phenomenal rendition of what I found in that thread. Consider it less a novel and more akin to a collection of short stories within a shared universe, each entry adding to the overarching story, and each character bringing something new to the table.
You will find heros and cowards, nobility and cruelty, greatness and despotism, and a great deal more within these words. Read on, and see why a malevolent universe decries: Behold, humanity!
I first started reading this about 120 days into its reddit run, and this published version is a phenomenal rendition of what I found in that thread. Consider it less a novel and more akin to a collection of short stories within a shared universe, each entry adding to the overarching story, and each character bringing something new to the table.
You will find heros and cowards, nobility and cruelty, greatness and despotism, and a great deal more within these words. Read on, and see why a malevolent universe decries: Behold, humanity!
November 7, 2021
Really wacky, but so interesting and awesome
I got to say I did not expect as the read the beginning of the book to weird with the different POV, but honestly the mix was done very well and held to a general universal lore instead of focusing on a specific team or person. Gonna definitely get book two and honestly I think this universe could continue after the Precursor war so hope this series or saga goes on more than 3 books
I got to say I did not expect as the read the beginning of the book to weird with the different POV, but honestly the mix was done very well and held to a general universal lore instead of focusing on a specific team or person. Gonna definitely get book two and honestly I think this universe could continue after the Precursor war so hope this series or saga goes on more than 3 books
February 5, 2023
Amazing Sci-Fi story that has great worldbuilding
This series is one of my absolute favourites. Would highly recommend it. There's lot of world building and what starts like a small story blooms into an epic that exceeds LoTR in page count and is very close in terms of quality. There are a few spelling mistakes here and there that haven't been caught in editing but that's the only flaw with the book in my opinion
This series is one of my absolute favourites. Would highly recommend it. There's lot of world building and what starts like a small story blooms into an epic that exceeds LoTR in page count and is very close in terms of quality. There are a few spelling mistakes here and there that haven't been caught in editing but that's the only flaw with the book in my opinion
December 24, 2024
From Reddit to Book
I first read this when it was on Reddit some years back, since then it's grown. As the afterword states, into a full blown universe. It is hectic, fast paced, action packed and filled with emotions.
Ralts Bloodthorne has and continues to do an AMAZING job of bringing a universe to life that will leave you wanting more. If you need a sampler jump onto the HFY subreddit and take a gander, enjoy a universe that'll make you wonder what our future will hold.
I first read this when it was on Reddit some years back, since then it's grown. As the afterword states, into a full blown universe. It is hectic, fast paced, action packed and filled with emotions.
Ralts Bloodthorne has and continues to do an AMAZING job of bringing a universe to life that will leave you wanting more. If you need a sampler jump onto the HFY subreddit and take a gander, enjoy a universe that'll make you wonder what our future will hold.
August 7, 2025
Raving for Ralts
Ralts Bloodthorne has written a beautiful story. He looks towards a future where the bleak and dreary times we experience today are seen through the blur of history. He writes of the best of humanity with the twist that most of what we read is from the perspective of those looking in and gazing in wonder and horror of what we are. It's easily one of the best series I've read in modern sci-fi.
Ralts Bloodthorne has written a beautiful story. He looks towards a future where the bleak and dreary times we experience today are seen through the blur of history. He writes of the best of humanity with the twist that most of what we read is from the perspective of those looking in and gazing in wonder and horror of what we are. It's easily one of the best series I've read in modern sci-fi.
November 24, 2021
Heart Warming and Breaking
Brilliant, insane, hopeful, cynical, and absolutely human. This wild ride is one the most beautiful and uplifting, and heartbreaking and sad works I have ever read. It mostly uses inhuman perspectives to showcase the wonder and terror that is humanity. Against an interstellar menace of omnicidal purpose and massive power.
Brilliant, insane, hopeful, cynical, and absolutely human. This wild ride is one the most beautiful and uplifting, and heartbreaking and sad works I have ever read. It mostly uses inhuman perspectives to showcase the wonder and terror that is humanity. Against an interstellar menace of omnicidal purpose and massive power.
February 22, 2022
Delightful!
This collection of small stories combines to provide a truly amazing book filled with action (!), drama, valor, cowardice, kindness, humor, fear, and rage. If you enjoy military SF, and pop culture, then do yourself a favor and read this. Definitely recommended (16+)!
This collection of small stories combines to provide a truly amazing book filled with action (!), drama, valor, cowardice, kindness, humor, fear, and rage. If you enjoy military SF, and pop culture, then do yourself a favor and read this. Definitely recommended (16+)!
August 8, 2022
Excellent
Book is written as a series of short stories that are sometimes connected by characters or location. Which was confusing at start because I had no idea if current story follows a terran or other side.
Also, it could use an editor, there are wrong and missing words and wrong tenses. Not too many but still annoying.
Book is written as a series of short stories that are sometimes connected by characters or location. Which was confusing at start because I had no idea if current story follows a terran or other side.
Also, it could use an editor, there are wrong and missing words and wrong tenses. Not too many but still annoying.
March 19, 2023
This is a very different universe and a unique style of many short stories tied together. The characters are original yet known. You will find references to Warhammer 40,000. You will find references to superheroes. You will find references to anime.
As you go along, the book gets better. This was far more than I expected.
Nice stories, nicely written.
As you go along, the book gets better. This was far more than I expected.
Nice stories, nicely written.
June 21, 2024
This series is hilarious, witty, and has great moments of tension that deliver an excellent gut punch all the with important characters called ‘the squishies’ and ‘kittykitties’ and the neko space marines. I’ve been listening to hours and hours of this series in the car as an audiobook and loved every second of this fever dream.
February 1, 2022
Fantastic
Unbelievably good. Exciting, intelligent and funny. I've been reading military SF for 50 years (from Heinlein to Dickson to Webber and Abbott). This ranks up there with some of the best.
Unbelievably good. Exciting, intelligent and funny. I've been reading military SF for 50 years (from Heinlein to Dickson to Webber and Abbott). This ranks up there with some of the best.
February 24, 2022
Keeps your attention.
Well written and insets plenty of humor into hard hitting sci-fi read. The author includes elements from other series ie: Hammer's Slammers.
Yery entertaining.
Well written and insets plenty of humor into hard hitting sci-fi read. The author includes elements from other series ie: Hammer's Slammers.
Yery entertaining.
March 1, 2022
More of a fun romp than it should be
It has a bit of a slow start. Keep reading because it is setting the,
background. Then it sort of becomes a fanfic of various games, books etc all mashed together. Now this part gets weird because somehow it works.
It has a bit of a slow start. Keep reading because it is setting the,
background. Then it sort of becomes a fanfic of various games, books etc all mashed together. Now this part gets weird because somehow it works.
September 29, 2022
Great story! I love it!
Please get the entire series. It has great characters you come to care for. Makes you laugh and enjoy the concept and world your in. I have read three times already. Looking forward to the next book.
Please get the entire series. It has great characters you come to care for. Makes you laugh and enjoy the concept and world your in. I have read three times already. Looking forward to the next book.
November 5, 2022
This is unique, there is no other way to describe it.
It has some grammatical issues but nothing that inhibits your enjoyment. The humor, the frustration, the moments of honor and glory, this just covers every base and leaves you wanting more.
It has some grammatical issues but nothing that inhibits your enjoyment. The humor, the frustration, the moments of honor and glory, this just covers every base and leaves you wanting more.
April 11, 2023
Glorious
A wonderful, glorious, military sci-fi opening book in a series that continues to entertain. And the tech. Oh the technology...it does this techies heart good.
The grammar can be off at times, but in many cases I can ignore it. Not enough to drop a star.
A wonderful, glorious, military sci-fi opening book in a series that continues to entertain. And the tech. Oh the technology...it does this techies heart good.
The grammar can be off at times, but in many cases I can ignore it. Not enough to drop a star.
February 23, 2024
This is not a good book
There is no character development or even much of a story. The battle scenes have no actual tension. This book is what happens one someone gets overly found of narrating their video games.
There is no character development or even much of a story. The battle scenes have no actual tension. This book is what happens one someone gets overly found of narrating their video games.
April 25, 2024
A much appreciated Science Fiction Escape
This collection of stories can be best described as EE Smith "Lensmen" series injected with enough CCs of pre-2010 4Chan to slay a pod of Blue Whales. It's fucking amazing.
This collection of stories can be best described as EE Smith "Lensmen" series injected with enough CCs of pre-2010 4Chan to slay a pod of Blue Whales. It's fucking amazing.
March 22, 2025
There's a new standard in Epic Science Fiction, and here it begins
I honestly dont know how much more to throw in past the title. Ive been reading sci-fi since i was small and this begins what in my opinion is a Tolkienian or Jordan-esque level of storytelling in the genre.
I honestly dont know how much more to throw in past the title. Ive been reading sci-fi since i was small and this begins what in my opinion is a Tolkienian or Jordan-esque level of storytelling in the genre.
February 5, 2022
Warbois and purbois!
I don't know how to describe what I just read, but I very much loved it. Especially the world building. Could use a proofreader though.
I don't know how to describe what I just read, but I very much loved it. Especially the world building. Could use a proofreader though.
March 8, 2022
Hfy...i love these stories
Great read, a few typos that should be cleaned up but generally did not take me out of the series of short stories or vignettes.
Great read, a few typos that should be cleaned up but generally did not take me out of the series of short stories or vignettes.
June 23, 2022
Fantastic read!
I love it! The kung pow reference made me stop reading because I was laughing so hard. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
I love it! The kung pow reference made me stop reading because I was laughing so hard. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
August 7, 2022
Good
I really liked this book. The universe in this book is interesting. I have always been a fan of sentient A.I.
I really liked this book. The universe in this book is interesting. I have always been a fan of sentient A.I.
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