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Transit #1
Out of Due Season: The First Transit
What if humanity had a second chance?
On a June afternoon, a body is discovered floating in a remote lake in northwestern Washington. When a recovery team attempts to retrieve it, they make a shocking discovery: 311 other bodies lie under the water, all members of a previously unknown religious cult. However, what appears to be a tragedy of immense proportions is only the beginning.
When a few relatives and friends of the victims discover inconsistencies in the stories, a small group bands together to learn the truth. As government agencies apply pressure for reasons unknown and civil unrest in the country makes communication and movement difficult, this tiny yet determined team unravels what may be the greatest event in recent—if not all—human history.
Something epic is about to happen in that remote lake, and as competing sides inch ever closer to the truth, the last pieces of the puzzle are revealed.
The First Transit is for those who follow the rules, while disaster awaits everyone else.
On a June afternoon, a body is discovered floating in a remote lake in northwestern Washington. When a recovery team attempts to retrieve it, they make a shocking discovery: 311 other bodies lie under the water, all members of a previously unknown religious cult. However, what appears to be a tragedy of immense proportions is only the beginning.
When a few relatives and friends of the victims discover inconsistencies in the stories, a small group bands together to learn the truth. As government agencies apply pressure for reasons unknown and civil unrest in the country makes communication and movement difficult, this tiny yet determined team unravels what may be the greatest event in recent—if not all—human history.
Something epic is about to happen in that remote lake, and as competing sides inch ever closer to the truth, the last pieces of the puzzle are revealed.
The First Transit is for those who follow the rules, while disaster awaits everyone else.
595 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 8, 2022
22 people are currently reading
745 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin X. Wretlind
28 books296 followersBenjamin X. Wretlind is a speculative fiction author who writes science fiction, dark fantasy, magical realism, and some horror. He has been--at different times, of course–a fry cook, range boy, greens maintenance technician, reservations agent, room service attendant, editor, banquet server, meteorologist, instructor, program manager for Internet applications, curriculum developer, training simulation engineer, leadership facilitator/coach, process improvement consultant, learning manager and organizational psychologist. He currently builds and facilitates leadership courses at Yale.
Benjamin is the creator of the Transit series of novels, which has been called “an engaging, personality-driven tale with detailed SF worldbuilding.” He has also written and published many novels, collections, and the weirdest creative writing book ever. Owing his life’s viewpoint to Bob Ross, he has also painted a few things, thrown a few paintings away, and probably has a painting on an easel right now. Oh, and he loves wood working, too.
It’s all about creating.
Benjamin lives with his wife Jesse in Colorado.
Benjamin is the creator of the Transit series of novels, which has been called “an engaging, personality-driven tale with detailed SF worldbuilding.” He has also written and published many novels, collections, and the weirdest creative writing book ever. Owing his life’s viewpoint to Bob Ross, he has also painted a few things, thrown a few paintings away, and probably has a painting on an easel right now. Oh, and he loves wood working, too.
It’s all about creating.
Benjamin lives with his wife Jesse in Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 19, 2021
I received an ARC for this book, but the review and opinions are my own.
A summary up front: this is one fast, real, and scary (because of what you know is coming) ride. Highly recommended.
This is the first book I've ever read that was set in my backyard, and one that is full of dead bodies.... a bit creeped out personally, but I'll get over it.
The writer has built a multi-layered castle of personal loss, respect, philosophy, and the decisions of bad people (Jim Jones and Hitler, etc.). It is a framework that becomes woven into the plot as it unfolds. The premise is that there may be chaos in front of the protagonists, but things are going to get a lot worse.
What helps speed the tension along? The dialog is on point, perfect and real.
The description of bodies is done carefully to heighten the unreal that becomes real, and the reader spends a good deal of time in the divers' POV, which is unusual. This is not a spoiler, but there is a memorable, but skillfully executed, scene of an exploding body in the water not easily forgotten. Its purpose is to put the reader right in the water with the divers in a surreal close-in situation.
As the theme parallels some aspects of Jim Jones' Jonestown, it is not the main point, but it gives clues and in some areas perhaps justification for what happens. The layers are blended into the issue of trust, and of something greater than fear.
The plot moves fast, and then at the 75% point, it accelerates even further. The reader will be patient, hopefully, because without the build-up, they won't appreciate the imagery, and the inherent heart in what ultimately happens.
Of note, the dream sequences are well executed with perfect balance and descriptions associated to the past, and the heartache of the character Zachary.
Favorite scene? What Mathias saw.
The ending is like a surreal sunrise.
A summary up front: this is one fast, real, and scary (because of what you know is coming) ride. Highly recommended.
This is the first book I've ever read that was set in my backyard, and one that is full of dead bodies.... a bit creeped out personally, but I'll get over it.
The writer has built a multi-layered castle of personal loss, respect, philosophy, and the decisions of bad people (Jim Jones and Hitler, etc.). It is a framework that becomes woven into the plot as it unfolds. The premise is that there may be chaos in front of the protagonists, but things are going to get a lot worse.
What helps speed the tension along? The dialog is on point, perfect and real.
The description of bodies is done carefully to heighten the unreal that becomes real, and the reader spends a good deal of time in the divers' POV, which is unusual. This is not a spoiler, but there is a memorable, but skillfully executed, scene of an exploding body in the water not easily forgotten. Its purpose is to put the reader right in the water with the divers in a surreal close-in situation.
As the theme parallels some aspects of Jim Jones' Jonestown, it is not the main point, but it gives clues and in some areas perhaps justification for what happens. The layers are blended into the issue of trust, and of something greater than fear.
The plot moves fast, and then at the 75% point, it accelerates even further. The reader will be patient, hopefully, because without the build-up, they won't appreciate the imagery, and the inherent heart in what ultimately happens.
Of note, the dream sequences are well executed with perfect balance and descriptions associated to the past, and the heartache of the character Zachary.
Favorite scene? What Mathias saw.
The ending is like a surreal sunrise.
January 18, 2023
First off, I am going to start with the fact that there will be nine books in this series. It’s science fiction, but so much more than science fiction. It is a study of humanity, the good, the bad, and the ugly. It is a saga, each book 500+ pages long, so be prepared when you sit down to read.
A lake. A floating corpse. Under the water, 131 more. A mass suicide? A cult?
Zachary is twenty five years old, and the body of his missing sister, Claire, was identified as one of the three hundred and twelve bodies found in the lake. He is a part of the dive team, whose job it is to recover the decomposing bodies. This is his first dive and even those prepared for what they found, were hard put to keep it together.
Claire had told him that he is detached from the world around him, so he is quick to adapt to the what ifs that life throws at him. I have a suspicious nature, and it is confirmed when Zachary receives an email from his dead sister, DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT YOU HEAR.
Tigger’s best friend is one of the bodies found in the lake. They had been in the service together, then Darrell disappeared and Tigger got lost in a bottle. Tigger was injured in Syria, where he served as a Marine. He lives in a trailer with his drugged out girlfriend and a case of PTSD. BUT, he’s determined to get the real story about Darrell and the other COL members.
Kayla’s brother, Kenneth, was a victim of the Circle of Light, or COL. Or was he? She is black, deaf, mute, and a geointelligence specialist, spying on citizens, reading every email ever sent. She is on the run, because no one leaves the agency. I immediately thought of the deaf girl in Walking Dead, and how dangerous the world is for someone who can’t hear what’s going on around them.
Jorge an accountant finds out his father is missing. When he meets Kayla, he becomes her protector.
They are the Remainders, an unlikely group of people that come together, seeking answers. Will they be off on a wild goose chase, or hunting down a conspiracy?
I love when a book mentions the Pandemic, now that I’ve lived it first hand. I can relate to the lockdown imposed on the characters. The mounting chaos in the streets, the government clamping down, taking advantage of the situation. Riots, militia uprisings, police crackdowns, curfews, closed borders, government oppression…
…fifteen seconds to midnight
…fifteen seconds folks.
Is this our future? The clock was designed to keep people afraid, so they can be controlled. Their liberties, their freedoms can be taken away, one by one, until they are happy to be locked away in a detention center or an internment camp, or whatever the government wants to call their home these days.
Transit won! Going to Utopia, right?
The book was loaded with details, told from multiple points of view. There is so much going on, I try to put the pieces together, one page at a time, one day at a time. I am so happy that I saved this book to read at this time, because I now have two more books in the series. At 500+ pages each, I think that will keep me going for a while and maybe the wait won’t be too long for the rest of the books in the series, which will be nine…at this time.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Out Of Due Season: Transit One by Benjamin X Wretlind.
A lake. A floating corpse. Under the water, 131 more. A mass suicide? A cult?
Zachary is twenty five years old, and the body of his missing sister, Claire, was identified as one of the three hundred and twelve bodies found in the lake. He is a part of the dive team, whose job it is to recover the decomposing bodies. This is his first dive and even those prepared for what they found, were hard put to keep it together.
Claire had told him that he is detached from the world around him, so he is quick to adapt to the what ifs that life throws at him. I have a suspicious nature, and it is confirmed when Zachary receives an email from his dead sister, DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT YOU HEAR.
Tigger’s best friend is one of the bodies found in the lake. They had been in the service together, then Darrell disappeared and Tigger got lost in a bottle. Tigger was injured in Syria, where he served as a Marine. He lives in a trailer with his drugged out girlfriend and a case of PTSD. BUT, he’s determined to get the real story about Darrell and the other COL members.
Kayla’s brother, Kenneth, was a victim of the Circle of Light, or COL. Or was he? She is black, deaf, mute, and a geointelligence specialist, spying on citizens, reading every email ever sent. She is on the run, because no one leaves the agency. I immediately thought of the deaf girl in Walking Dead, and how dangerous the world is for someone who can’t hear what’s going on around them.
Jorge an accountant finds out his father is missing. When he meets Kayla, he becomes her protector.
They are the Remainders, an unlikely group of people that come together, seeking answers. Will they be off on a wild goose chase, or hunting down a conspiracy?
I love when a book mentions the Pandemic, now that I’ve lived it first hand. I can relate to the lockdown imposed on the characters. The mounting chaos in the streets, the government clamping down, taking advantage of the situation. Riots, militia uprisings, police crackdowns, curfews, closed borders, government oppression…
…fifteen seconds to midnight
…fifteen seconds folks.
Is this our future? The clock was designed to keep people afraid, so they can be controlled. Their liberties, their freedoms can be taken away, one by one, until they are happy to be locked away in a detention center or an internment camp, or whatever the government wants to call their home these days.
Transit won! Going to Utopia, right?
The book was loaded with details, told from multiple points of view. There is so much going on, I try to put the pieces together, one page at a time, one day at a time. I am so happy that I saved this book to read at this time, because I now have two more books in the series. At 500+ pages each, I think that will keep me going for a while and maybe the wait won’t be too long for the rest of the books in the series, which will be nine…at this time.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Out Of Due Season: Transit One by Benjamin X Wretlind.
January 3, 2022
I was thrilled to get my hands on an advanced copy Mr. Wretlind latest offering, 'Out of Due Season: The First Transit.' It did NOT disappoint. He has done it again! He's given us another outstanding book with his usual vivid textured descriptions, and well developed interesting characters set out on an epic adventure to save mankind (maybe?) from themselves. And this is just the first in a series of many "transits!" Bring on the Second Transit ASAP!!
January 4, 2022
The ARC of this book provided a great reading experience. The author hooked me from the first page then took me on a mystery/sci-fi/adventure with hints of family drama, romance and the struggle between good and evil. It sports plot twists and cliffhangers at every turn and is truly a difficult book to put down.
We see the tale through the eyes of a huge cast of well-sketched characters, each of whom stands out clearly as an individual. My favorites were Tigger, Kayla, Zachary and Jorge.
Benjamin X. Wretlind keeps amping up the tension, bringing everything together in an ending is satisfying and poetic—and which leads to the next installment. I can honestly say this is a world I’ll enjoy revisiting.
We see the tale through the eyes of a huge cast of well-sketched characters, each of whom stands out clearly as an individual. My favorites were Tigger, Kayla, Zachary and Jorge.
Benjamin X. Wretlind keeps amping up the tension, bringing everything together in an ending is satisfying and poetic—and which leads to the next installment. I can honestly say this is a world I’ll enjoy revisiting.
January 14, 2022
Incredible saga, because it is a saga. With lots of turns and twists and whenever you think, you can guess what comes... no you don't.
The world has more than enough problems without underground terrorists who want to blow everything up. Escape earth? But how? How do you choose who will go with you? How organize everything? Who can you trust? Can you get away? Leave earth?.... read it! I finished it in less than a week....
Thanks @booksirens for the copy!!
The world has more than enough problems without underground terrorists who want to blow everything up. Escape earth? But how? How do you choose who will go with you? How organize everything? Who can you trust? Can you get away? Leave earth?.... read it! I finished it in less than a week....
Thanks @booksirens for the copy!!
January 8, 2022
I actually like the book better than three stars, but not as much as four stars. It was weird. The beginning of the book comes across strongly as a political diatribe. Not that I disagree, just wasn't looking to have it poured over my head. Middle of the book gets you very involved in the characters and was a very good read. By the end of the book, there is so much going on it was hard to know which way you were looking and who you were following and then the author took a great big spoon and stirred it all up creating even more confusion. The strong elements of current events make this a pretty scary story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 3, 2022
Exciting
What a great fast paced book. Right from the beginning it’s so hard to put down. The book is well written and easy to follow so there’s no getting lost. No spoilers but the ending was nothing like I expected. Can’t wait for the next book. It’s a must read.
I received this book free from Goodreads.
What a great fast paced book. Right from the beginning it’s so hard to put down. The book is well written and easy to follow so there’s no getting lost. No spoilers but the ending was nothing like I expected. Can’t wait for the next book. It’s a must read.
I received this book free from Goodreads.
February 28, 2022
This is not a genre I am normally drawn to reading yet after winning a Goddreads Giveaway Kindle copy i dove in head first. In the beginning I thought I may not make it past the first couple chapters. Keeping an open mind, I stuck with it. After a while I found myself drawn in by the characters and the suspense of what would happen next. I found I could not put it down and enjoyed reading it. Thank you for the copy of Out of Due Season: The First Transit and introducing me to a new reading experience!
February 27, 2022
A tale that transitions from a grand-scale murder mystery to a sort of dystopian/sci-fi fantasy. The opening chapter immediately grabbed me with the mystery of 312 dead bodies found decomposing in a lake in the middle of nowhere. A few of the characters are somewhat likeable and I was saddened to learn of their early demise. Without giving way to spoilers, all I have to say is it's worth tagging along on this journey and unraveling the mystery. I look forward to continuing with book two.
February 27, 2022
Well written but scary and bleak. I wanted to bleach my brain after reading Mitch’s speech. However the events it describes are a chilling possibility in the current state of fear and division in our world. For me it is too apocalyptic to consider reading the next book. Our world is in such a mess already that reading something of this ilk depresses me. Thank you to the author for sending me a free copy for review.
May 7, 2022
This book has everything: horror, intrigue, mystery, a political sidebar, unexpected turns and skillfully weaved side stories. Wretlind is a skilled creator whose descrIptions come alive in your imagination. You can see his new worlds expanding and it was very difficult to put down for long. I find myself anxious for the next installment!
July 9, 2022
Excellent story telling and superb writing
This book kept me interested page after page and threw me off track so many times I lost count. As the mysteries are revealed they only lead to another unforseen mystery that thickens the plot and Kris you rewarding. Well done, Ben. Thriller, Surprise, and Sci Fi fans will love it!
This book kept me interested page after page and threw me off track so many times I lost count. As the mysteries are revealed they only lead to another unforseen mystery that thickens the plot and Kris you rewarding. Well done, Ben. Thriller, Surprise, and Sci Fi fans will love it!
February 5, 2022
This was an amazing book, I really enjoyed the plot development, and character building. It was a really good read, and it speaks to the series and I can't wait for more in the series.
please note that I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
please note that I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 23, 2022
This author knows how to tell a good tale. He's written many books and this one includes an interesting plot and characters, and it's well-structured. I look forward to the next book.
Thanks very much for the free review copy!!
Thanks very much for the free review copy!!
April 18, 2022
A creepy dystopian scifi thriller. It did take me a bit to get into this book, but the characters are well-developed and the story is really well thought out. This book is dark, but well worth your time. The end is a shocker, too! Recommend!
October 13, 2022
Wow, wow, wow! What a thrilling ride! Cults? Yes! Advanced technology? Yes! Thrilling manhunts and dangerous actors? Yes! I can't wait to get my hands on the second book in the series. Excellent read!
May 31, 2022
I enjoyed the fast-paced story & highly recommend it to others. Some of the government overreach action seemed so real it was unnerving. I hope the author is simply an excellent Sci-Fi fantasy writer and not a profit.
Looking forward to the next book.
Looking forward to the next book.
July 23, 2022
Wasn’t sure abt this but ended up wanting more.
February 12, 2023
This was one of those rare novels that had me intrigued from the first page to the last. Science fiction and mystery meets the modern day and current events of our world with a diverse cast of characters braving dangers and a future beyond their control and understanding. All throughout the novel, I could identify with the characters as I was just as caught up in trying to work out and guess what was happening and what would happen and why as much as they were.
The story begins on a lake where an eerie discovery has taken place; hundreds of dead bodies have been discovered under the surface and a recovery mission begins and so does the mystery. The lives and fates of strangers all with different backgrounds begin to intertwine, both for the cult members and the surviving family and friends left behind.
I found myself routing for characters and thinking, you've got to make it! all throughout the book as the intrigue and danger builds every chapter up to the ending, which leaves me reaching for the sequel as soon as possible.
The story begins on a lake where an eerie discovery has taken place; hundreds of dead bodies have been discovered under the surface and a recovery mission begins and so does the mystery. The lives and fates of strangers all with different backgrounds begin to intertwine, both for the cult members and the surviving family and friends left behind.
I found myself routing for characters and thinking, you've got to make it! all throughout the book as the intrigue and danger builds every chapter up to the ending, which leaves me reaching for the sequel as soon as possible.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews