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Skyward #0.5
La Defensa del Elíseo
Ambientado en el mismo universo que la serie Escuadrón, La defensa del Elíseo tiene lugar siglos antes de sus acontecimientos.
Ganador del premio UPC de Ciencia Ficción
Apareció en la revista Asimov's Science Fiction
«Le vino una imagen a la mente, la imagen de la humanidad escapando al espacio. Una imagen de comerciantes humanos negociando y estafando, de tiranos humanos dominando a las especies tecnológicamente inferiores, los varvax, los tenasi, los hommar. Imágenes de guerras, de conflicto, de un paraíso destruido».
Curiosamente, quienes establecieron el Primer Contacto fueron los trabajadores de una compañía telefónica anticuada y casi en quiebra. Desde entonces, ante la inferioridad intelectual humana, la Compañía Telefónica ha sido la intermediaria entre los humanos y las poblaciones galácticas. Todo el mundo sospecha que dominan los viajes superlumínicos, pero nadie ha sido capaz de demostrarlo. Y ellos, por su parte, actúan bajo sus propias reglas, con independencia de las impuestas por los Gobiernos Unidos.
Jason Write, un agente de la compañía, ha jurado mantener la galaxia a salvo de los bárbaros humanos que no harían otra cosa que arruinar el Elíseo del que las razas galácticas disfrutan actualmente. Sin embargo, cuando una colaboradora de la compañía desaparezca, los cimientos en los que se fundamentan todas sus creencias ¾y sus sentidos¾ empezarán a tambalearse.
Desde 2006, Brandon Sanderson se ha consolidado como el gran renovador de la fantasía y de la ciencia ficción del siglo XXI. Ha logrado ganarse a veinte millones de lectores, publicar en treinta y cinco idiomas y convertirse en el heredero de todo un género.
Ganador del premio UPC de Ciencia Ficción
Apareció en la revista Asimov's Science Fiction
«Le vino una imagen a la mente, la imagen de la humanidad escapando al espacio. Una imagen de comerciantes humanos negociando y estafando, de tiranos humanos dominando a las especies tecnológicamente inferiores, los varvax, los tenasi, los hommar. Imágenes de guerras, de conflicto, de un paraíso destruido».
Curiosamente, quienes establecieron el Primer Contacto fueron los trabajadores de una compañía telefónica anticuada y casi en quiebra. Desde entonces, ante la inferioridad intelectual humana, la Compañía Telefónica ha sido la intermediaria entre los humanos y las poblaciones galácticas. Todo el mundo sospecha que dominan los viajes superlumínicos, pero nadie ha sido capaz de demostrarlo. Y ellos, por su parte, actúan bajo sus propias reglas, con independencia de las impuestas por los Gobiernos Unidos.
Jason Write, un agente de la compañía, ha jurado mantener la galaxia a salvo de los bárbaros humanos que no harían otra cosa que arruinar el Elíseo del que las razas galácticas disfrutan actualmente. Sin embargo, cuando una colaboradora de la compañía desaparezca, los cimientos en los que se fundamentan todas sus creencias ¾y sus sentidos¾ empezarán a tambalearse.
Desde 2006, Brandon Sanderson se ha consolidado como el gran renovador de la fantasía y de la ciencia ficción del siglo XXI. Ha logrado ganarse a veinte millones de lectores, publicar en treinta y cinco idiomas y convertirse en el heredero de todo un género.
67 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2008
468 people are currently reading
12292 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Sanderson
396 books282k followersI’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.
The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.
During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.
Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.
November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.
Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.
I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.
Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!
Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.
I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.
Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.
The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.
During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.
Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.
November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.
Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.
I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.
Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!
Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.
I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.
Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 817 reviews
September 4, 2023
1.5/5 stars
Defending Elysium is one of the first stories written by Sanderson, even before Elantris was first published, and it shows.
I will keep this brief. I read this novelette immediately after I finished reading Skyward, and because I highly enjoyed Skyward, I obviously wanted more out of the Cytoverse. Yes, there is Starsight, which I will read later this month, but before that, I heard it is a good idea to read Defending Elysium first. But honestly speaking, nothing in this novelette clicked with me. Defending Eysium also shows how far Sanderson has improved as a storyteller now. And it's ridiculously far. I wouldn't know Defending Elysium is written by Sanderson or one that takes place in the same universe as Skyward if I didn’t know about it first. Sure, there were terms and concepts relating to the world-building of Skyward. Defending Elysium takes place centuries before the events of Skyward, after all. But other than that, the tone was so different from Skyward, and there was nothing compelling about this novelette except that it is readable and short. The short length of the novelette is ultimately its downfall. Jason Write was absolutely forgettable and underdeveloped as a character. Many ideas were crammed in, but none ever transformed into something incredible. The mystery was not interesting, and the revelation was insanely underwhelming. Everything here needs more pages.
If you want to know more about the roots of Skyward and Cytoverse, feel free to read Defending Elysium. At least, it will take you more or less an hour to read. But if you read this expecting Sanderson's standard magnificent storytelling caliber, read other books by him. I'm a diehard fan of Sanderson's books. People are probably tired of me praising his works so much. But as Sanderson said, this was written before Elantris was first published, and everything about it shows. Fortunately, this was incredibly unmemorable, and I will most likely forget its existence soon. I look forward to reading Starsight this month.
You can find the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Arliss, Barbara, Biskit, Brad, Cade, Casey, Chris, Cullen, David, Dernerror, Donna, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, Jenn, Jesse, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Kristina, Lara, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Norbert, Radiah, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Tori, Tracy, TS, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
Defending Elysium is one of the first stories written by Sanderson, even before Elantris was first published, and it shows.
I will keep this brief. I read this novelette immediately after I finished reading Skyward, and because I highly enjoyed Skyward, I obviously wanted more out of the Cytoverse. Yes, there is Starsight, which I will read later this month, but before that, I heard it is a good idea to read Defending Elysium first. But honestly speaking, nothing in this novelette clicked with me. Defending Eysium also shows how far Sanderson has improved as a storyteller now. And it's ridiculously far. I wouldn't know Defending Elysium is written by Sanderson or one that takes place in the same universe as Skyward if I didn’t know about it first. Sure, there were terms and concepts relating to the world-building of Skyward. Defending Elysium takes place centuries before the events of Skyward, after all. But other than that, the tone was so different from Skyward, and there was nothing compelling about this novelette except that it is readable and short. The short length of the novelette is ultimately its downfall. Jason Write was absolutely forgettable and underdeveloped as a character. Many ideas were crammed in, but none ever transformed into something incredible. The mystery was not interesting, and the revelation was insanely underwhelming. Everything here needs more pages.
If you want to know more about the roots of Skyward and Cytoverse, feel free to read Defending Elysium. At least, it will take you more or less an hour to read. But if you read this expecting Sanderson's standard magnificent storytelling caliber, read other books by him. I'm a diehard fan of Sanderson's books. People are probably tired of me praising his works so much. But as Sanderson said, this was written before Elantris was first published, and everything about it shows. Fortunately, this was incredibly unmemorable, and I will most likely forget its existence soon. I look forward to reading Starsight this month.
You can find the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Arliss, Barbara, Biskit, Brad, Cade, Casey, Chris, Cullen, David, Dernerror, Donna, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, Jenn, Jesse, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Kristina, Lara, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Norbert, Radiah, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Tori, Tracy, TS, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
March 15, 2021
A must read for all Skyward fans. If you don’t know novella this “prequel” novella exists, now you do.
When my friend wanted to read this novella, I didn’t think much of it. It’s by Brandon Sanderson, no need to know more. I had no clue that it inspired Skyward later on nor that the latter takes place in the future. When I learned that, I was excited to read it, I always wanted to know more about the past that led to the current events in Skyward. I quite enjoyed it, it was a very entertaining quick read all more interesting because of my knowledge of the Skyward world.
I would recommend this novella to any Sanderson fan. It’s very good. Whether you have have read Skyward or completely new to it because then you’d find out if the concept might interest you (and read the Skyward series). Keep in mind, however, that unlike Skyward this isn’t YA. Jason is older and very different from Spensa but I liked them both. I found Jason more interesting because of his knowledge/who he is and I want to know all about it.
I hope Sanderson considers writing a direct sequel to Defending Elysium because it was very intriguing and I want more of the characters!! I don’t think it’s possible though because it’s been 12 years since its release. At least we got Skyward. I would’ve hated reading it only to not know more about the universe because in 42 pages, Brandon Sanderson created a solid world building, three-dimensional characters, and excellent story! Not many can pull that off in 42 pages for sure!
When my friend wanted to read this novella, I didn’t think much of it. It’s by Brandon Sanderson, no need to know more. I had no clue that it inspired Skyward later on nor that the latter takes place in the future. When I learned that, I was excited to read it, I always wanted to know more about the past that led to the current events in Skyward. I quite enjoyed it, it was a very entertaining quick read all more interesting because of my knowledge of the Skyward world.
I would recommend this novella to any Sanderson fan. It’s very good. Whether you have have read Skyward or completely new to it because then you’d find out if the concept might interest you (and read the Skyward series). Keep in mind, however, that unlike Skyward this isn’t YA. Jason is older and very different from Spensa but I liked them both. I found Jason more interesting because of his knowledge/who he is and I want to know all about it.
I hope Sanderson considers writing a direct sequel to Defending Elysium because it was very intriguing and I want more of the characters!! I don’t think it’s possible though because it’s been 12 years since its release. At least we got Skyward. I would’ve hated reading it only to not know more about the universe because in 42 pages, Brandon Sanderson created a solid world building, three-dimensional characters, and excellent story! Not many can pull that off in 42 pages for sure!
November 24, 2021
2021 update: I just reread this older novelette again because Sanderson has explained how this story is tied into his Skyward series that I'm getting ready to dive back into, although that series is set many, many years (centuries, actually) after this story. Some of my questions below have been answered, but I still am a little hazy on the logic of some of the plot points in this story. I'd also love to talk to Sanderson about how we got from here to the Skyward situation. Maybe he'll write an interim book or novelette about it sometime? (Hint, hint) Anyway, it's still 4 stars for me, but there's definitely some interesting ideas here.
Initial review: Today I am the queen of Brandon Sanderson freebies. I found this very interesting SF novelette on Sanderson's website here.
This story is set in a future where humans have been contacted by aliens and, because of reasons, one of the Bell phone companies played a key role in that contact. As a result the Phone Company has a monopoly on all cool alien technology, including the secret to faster than light (FTL) travel, which would open up the galaxy to humanity. So the fact that the Phone Company won't share its knowledge of FTL travel with other people has created a lot of resentment.
But there are reasons for this secrecy that only a few know, including Jason Write. Jason has been sent to a space habitat to investigate the disappearance of a Phone Company employee. Life get more progressively complicated for Jason as soon as he arrives: his telepathic communications are being monitored, he's being followed by an intelligence agency operative, an alien ambassador has been killed, the missing woman has been found but is amnesiac, in a very odd way. The reasons for all this are stranger than even Jason would have guessed.
I liked this story a lot--better than the other Sanderson story I read today, Firstborn--but I'm still confused about a few plot points. Four stars for now: I'm going to reread this tomorrow and see if I can figure out the answers to my questions. Depending on how satisfied I am, my rating might go up. Stay tuned. Or go read it for yourself and we can chat in the comments. :)
ETA: Okay, I've read this story a second time, which was actually quite interesting because I picked up on a lot of nuances and subtext that I missed the first time. It's a fascinating worldview:
6. Am I just an idiot?
So, because of so many major unanswered questions, this remains a 4 star read for me. I did think the reveal at the end, was very creepy and well done.
A solid 4 stars, especially for those who like hard science fiction.
Initial review: Today I am the queen of Brandon Sanderson freebies. I found this very interesting SF novelette on Sanderson's website here.
This story is set in a future where humans have been contacted by aliens and, because of reasons, one of the Bell phone companies played a key role in that contact. As a result the Phone Company has a monopoly on all cool alien technology, including the secret to faster than light (FTL) travel, which would open up the galaxy to humanity. So the fact that the Phone Company won't share its knowledge of FTL travel with other people has created a lot of resentment.
But there are reasons for this secrecy that only a few know, including Jason Write. Jason has been sent to a space habitat to investigate the disappearance of a Phone Company employee. Life get more progressively complicated for Jason as soon as he arrives: his telepathic communications are being monitored, he's being followed by an intelligence agency operative, an alien ambassador has been killed, the missing woman has been found but is amnesiac, in a very odd way. The reasons for all this are stranger than even Jason would have guessed.
I liked this story a lot--better than the other Sanderson story I read today, Firstborn--but I'm still confused about a few plot points. Four stars for now: I'm going to reread this tomorrow and see if I can figure out the answers to my questions. Depending on how satisfied I am, my rating might go up. Stay tuned. Or go read it for yourself and we can chat in the comments. :)
ETA: Okay, I've read this story a second time, which was actually quite interesting because I picked up on a lot of nuances and subtext that I missed the first time. It's a fascinating worldview:
"Do you know how the Interspecies Monitoring Coalition rates a race’s intelligence class?”Some of my questions were answered, but there are still several things that confuse me: [Note: not only are my questions very spoilerish, but they won't even make sense if you haven't read the story.]
“No.”
“They look at the race’s children,” Jason said quietly. “The older ones. Children who have lived just long enough to begin imitating the society they see around them, children who have lost the innocence of youth but haven’t yet replaced it with the tact and mores of adulthood. In those children, you can see what a species is really like. From them, the Varvax determine whether a species is civilized or barbaric.”
“And we failed that test,” Lanna said.
“Miserably.”
6. Am I just an idiot?
So, because of so many major unanswered questions, this remains a 4 star read for me. I did think the reveal at the end, was very creepy and well done.
A solid 4 stars, especially for those who like hard science fiction.
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April 14, 2024
Considering the fact that this novelette, set in the same universe as the Skyward series, is one of Brandon’s early works, written in 2001/2002, before Elantris was published, I am surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I don’t know why I’m surprised anymore really; recently reading and enjoying Dragonsteel Prime, which predates Defending Elysium by about two years, should have taught me my lesson: that Sanderson is an extraordinary talent, which had already been honed by writing about a dozen novels before this novelette.
I would actually recommend reading this 70-page-long story after you’ve read Skyward; you’ll get the most enjoyment out of it that way as it functions as a sort of prequel, set hundreds of years earlier. We get to know the origins of Jason Write of the Phone Company (PC), the origins of Faster Than Light communication and travel; we also learn how alien species view humans as threatening, as an undeveloped civilization and, most importantly, as creatures of lesser intelligence, setting the stage for the conflict in Skyward. On the surface, however, this story is a mystery: Jason Write is dispatched to investigate the disappearance of one of the PC’s agents.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced novelette and the insight into the Cytoverse it provides; even if some questions remain unanswered (to my mind at least). The ending was very satisfying nonetheless. I shall never question Brandon’s writing again.
I would actually recommend reading this 70-page-long story after you’ve read Skyward; you’ll get the most enjoyment out of it that way as it functions as a sort of prequel, set hundreds of years earlier. We get to know the origins of Jason Write of the Phone Company (PC), the origins of Faster Than Light communication and travel; we also learn how alien species view humans as threatening, as an undeveloped civilization and, most importantly, as creatures of lesser intelligence, setting the stage for the conflict in Skyward. On the surface, however, this story is a mystery: Jason Write is dispatched to investigate the disappearance of one of the PC’s agents.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced novelette and the insight into the Cytoverse it provides; even if some questions remain unanswered (to my mind at least). The ending was very satisfying nonetheless. I shall never question Brandon’s writing again.
January 1, 2020
What an interesting "novella" available on Sando's website HERE for free.
What has actually just blown my mind, having read the blurb after reading the novella itself, is this was a short story released in 2008! 10 years before Skywards publication. This guys imagination and storytelling ability never ceases to amaze me 🤯
Thank you so much @twila for bringing this prequel, set much earlier in the Skyward universe, to my attention 🤩
As always Brando manages to pack in humour, twists & reveals, prob not surprising tho as for most of the novelette we are as much in the dark as to the happenings as the characters are. It does give us some sneaky backdoor insight into information lost by the humans that survive on Detritus and it perhaps hints at the power dynamics that lead to (potential mini-spoiler for info revealed in Starsight, not a plot point but some intel mentioned. In an effort to be better safe than sorry I popped on some spoiler tags)
What I found most impressive is how much he manages to squeeze into so few pages. There are multiple characters some with pre-established bantery interactions and others that stumble into the plot alongside us...fantastic little glimpse into a world we are still very much only scratching the surface of in the "full" series.
I read this after Skyward & Starsight, however it could easily be read between them without spoiling anything and in fact could probably be read as a standalone without any confusion as it is self contained in the info it gives while dropping you into the action blind!
I'd venture to say it might even be more enjoyable read without crossing your eyes & frying your (read:my) brain trying to put the puzzle pieces together with "future" insight 😂
What a fun final read for 2019, thanks again Twila 😍
It's hard to rate something this short, and although I spent much of it confused trying to cobble together what I've learnt from the later books & patch it back into the info we are given in this novella...my sluggishness on the uptake is prob more to do with my having started excitedly reading it at 5am as I couldn't wait & took absolute advantage of being on holidays 😴
3.75*
What has actually just blown my mind, having read the blurb after reading the novella itself, is this was a short story released in 2008! 10 years before Skywards publication. This guys imagination and storytelling ability never ceases to amaze me 🤯
Thank you so much @twila for bringing this prequel, set much earlier in the Skyward universe, to my attention 🤩
As always Brando manages to pack in humour, twists & reveals, prob not surprising tho as for most of the novelette we are as much in the dark as to the happenings as the characters are. It does give us some sneaky backdoor insight into information lost by the humans that survive on Detritus and it perhaps hints at the power dynamics that lead to (potential mini-spoiler for info revealed in Starsight, not a plot point but some intel mentioned. In an effort to be better safe than sorry I popped on some spoiler tags)
What I found most impressive is how much he manages to squeeze into so few pages. There are multiple characters some with pre-established bantery interactions and others that stumble into the plot alongside us...fantastic little glimpse into a world we are still very much only scratching the surface of in the "full" series.
I read this after Skyward & Starsight, however it could easily be read between them without spoiling anything and in fact could probably be read as a standalone without any confusion as it is self contained in the info it gives while dropping you into the action blind!
I'd venture to say it might even be more enjoyable read without crossing your eyes & frying your (read:my) brain trying to put the puzzle pieces together with "future" insight 😂
What a fun final read for 2019, thanks again Twila 😍
It's hard to rate something this short, and although I spent much of it confused trying to cobble together what I've learnt from the later books & patch it back into the info we are given in this novella...my sluggishness on the uptake is prob more to do with my having started excitedly reading it at 5am as I couldn't wait & took absolute advantage of being on holidays 😴
3.75*
November 28, 2024
The Phone Company
A very good short story in the Cytoverse. A great introduction to the story by Brandon Sandersan of where the story came from and when he wrote it.
The early days of humans are Cytonic powers and alien contact. Everything goes through the Phone Conpany. Who are they, and what are they hiding? An operative Jason Write is supposed to be on a simple mission. However, what he learns can change everything.
A very good short story in the Cytoverse. A great introduction to the story by Brandon Sandersan of where the story came from and when he wrote it.
The early days of humans are Cytonic powers and alien contact. Everything goes through the Phone Conpany. Who are they, and what are they hiding? An operative Jason Write is supposed to be on a simple mission. However, what he learns can change everything.
December 16, 2021
4'5 Estrellitas para el inicio del Citoverso. Esto sí que es una manera de empezar una serie intergaláctica. No sé cómo lo hace Sanderson para que en 67 páginas te quede todo cuadrado y atado y sumergirse en lo que será la serie de verdad, "Escuadrón".
"La Defensa del Elíseo" es un relato corto que publicó Sanderson allá hace tantos años como "Elantris" y que se llevó varios premios. Hace poco me enteré de que éste relato era la introducción de su serie de ciencia ficción juvenil "Escuadrón", y leyéndolo, ha sido cuando todo me ha casado.
El relato ocurre en el siglo XXIII, la humanidad ha avanzado científicamente, se está colonizando el espacio y hay ciertas comunicaciones con otras especies alienígenas.
El protagonista del relato es Jason Write, uno de los primeros citónicos, un hombre ciego y agente de la Phone Company, una de las agencias de telecomunicaciones mas importantes del universo, y con una tecnología muy superior, la tecnología de la mayor velocidad de la luz, o si no lo he entendido mal, la citónica.
En el relato Jason tiene una misión. Viajar a una plataforma terrestre orbital entre Saturno y Urano, para investigar la desaparición de una científica de su compañía, pero lo que descubre a su llegada será el inicio de una serie de discordancias entre la humanidad y los varvax, la especie alienígena antagonista en "Escuadrón", que son los malos de la historia.
No voy a contar más, porque lo mejor es leerlo y descubrirlo y es una historia de obligada lectura si estás leyendo los libros de Spensa. Si no lo has leído antes, puede casar mejor si lo lees antes de "Citónica", pues en ése libro se descubren historias del pasado de la humanidad, entre ellas las Grandes Guerras Espaciales o quién fue Jason Write.
Por mi parte he quedado encantada con el relato y decepcionada porque ha sido demasiado corto, pero me armaré de paciencia para esperar al cuarto libro del Citoverso cuando Brandon Sanderson quiera publicarlo.
"La Defensa del Elíseo" es un relato corto que publicó Sanderson allá hace tantos años como "Elantris" y que se llevó varios premios. Hace poco me enteré de que éste relato era la introducción de su serie de ciencia ficción juvenil "Escuadrón", y leyéndolo, ha sido cuando todo me ha casado.
El relato ocurre en el siglo XXIII, la humanidad ha avanzado científicamente, se está colonizando el espacio y hay ciertas comunicaciones con otras especies alienígenas.
El protagonista del relato es Jason Write, uno de los primeros citónicos, un hombre ciego y agente de la Phone Company, una de las agencias de telecomunicaciones mas importantes del universo, y con una tecnología muy superior, la tecnología de la mayor velocidad de la luz, o si no lo he entendido mal, la citónica.
En el relato Jason tiene una misión. Viajar a una plataforma terrestre orbital entre Saturno y Urano, para investigar la desaparición de una científica de su compañía, pero lo que descubre a su llegada será el inicio de una serie de discordancias entre la humanidad y los varvax, la especie alienígena antagonista en "Escuadrón", que son los malos de la historia.
No voy a contar más, porque lo mejor es leerlo y descubrirlo y es una historia de obligada lectura si estás leyendo los libros de Spensa. Si no lo has leído antes, puede casar mejor si lo lees antes de "Citónica", pues en ése libro se descubren historias del pasado de la humanidad, entre ellas las Grandes Guerras Espaciales o quién fue Jason Write.
Por mi parte he quedado encantada con el relato y decepcionada porque ha sido demasiado corto, pero me armaré de paciencia para esperar al cuarto libro del Citoverso cuando Brandon Sanderson quiera publicarlo.
December 17, 2021
Corto y muy interesante.
3,5⭐
3,5⭐
September 19, 2019
Well, that was VERY interesting!
One of the first stories Sanderson ever wrote, and I would not have guessed it, it's so well written. It's scifi and packed with a LOT for such a short story, but it is a great little read.
One of the first stories Sanderson ever wrote, and I would not have guessed it, it's so well written. It's scifi and packed with a LOT for such a short story, but it is a great little read.
March 18, 2023
دفاع از بهشت، ناول سری اسکایوارد، که بعد از ٣ جلدِ این مجموعه خوندم نقش خیلیخیلی زیادی توی احساسم به این مجموعه داشت.
با امین و الهه همخوانی کردم!😅 البته همخوانی که چه عرض کنم، همش ۶۰ صفحه بود ولی واقعا تأثیرشو گذاشت. خیلی خیلی زیاد...
راستش من سندرسون رو همیشه کسی درنظر گرفتم که توی مجموعهها و علل خصوص خلق جهان منحصر به فرد خودش استاده. یعنی شاید فکر میکردم اونجا موفقتر باشه. اما این ناولای کوچولو و جمع و جور (خصوصا برای منی که مجموعه اسکایوارد رو خیلی دوست داشتم و تازگی خونده بودمش) یه نقطهی عطف بود.
داستان در راستای تیکتهای خود مجموعه شکل گرفته. یعنی یه بخشی از کل رو شامل میشه و درک بهتری از یه جاهایی از جلد سوم یا حتی دوم بهتون میده.
قصه درمورد یه برنامهریزی جامع اصلاح نژادیه که توسط تکنولوژی خاصی به اسم «سایتو» داره رهبری میشه (نمیتونم درموردش چیزی بگم چون لذتشو از دست میده)
و جیسون رایت نمایندهی بالقوهی این تکنولوژی بزرگه. که از قضا بدخواه و دشمن زیاد داره. و حالا عازم یه مأموريته که طی اون اتفاقات جالبی واسش میوفته و... 😁
شخصیت پردازی قشنگه، پخته و مناسبه. شخصیت جیسون به عنوان نمایندهی سایتو، از تایپ شخصیتهایی بود که اتمسفر فکریاش عجیب بود و خاص...😁
به هیچکس برنامهها و تصمیماتشو نمیگفت و یهو انتحاری عمل میکرد.
من عاشق این بودم که لانا (همکارش) اونور خط بیسیم هی میگفت:
میخوای چیکار کنی؟ نقشه چیه؟ داری چه غلطی میکنی تو؟
بعد جیسون:
میفهمی👀
میبینی😄
صبور باش🙄
ساکت باش😜
تمام ایدئولوژیهای جیسون حتی با وجود اشتباهاتی که درمورد نژاد خودش داشت و حقیقتش اصلا هم بابتشون سرزنشش نمیکنم، برای من یه داستان خوب و لذتبخش ساخت که به عنوان تجربهی ناول خوندن از یه نویسندهی کلهگنده ازش همیشه یاد میکنم. بخونید. قشنگه
با امین و الهه همخوانی کردم!😅 البته همخوانی که چه عرض کنم، همش ۶۰ صفحه بود ولی واقعا تأثیرشو گذاشت. خیلی خیلی زیاد...
راستش من سندرسون رو همیشه کسی درنظر گرفتم که توی مجموعهها و علل خصوص خلق جهان منحصر به فرد خودش استاده. یعنی شاید فکر میکردم اونجا موفقتر باشه. اما این ناولای کوچولو و جمع و جور (خصوصا برای منی که مجموعه اسکایوارد رو خیلی دوست داشتم و تازگی خونده بودمش) یه نقطهی عطف بود.
داستان در راستای تیکتهای خود مجموعه شکل گرفته. یعنی یه بخشی از کل رو شامل میشه و درک بهتری از یه جاهایی از جلد سوم یا حتی دوم بهتون میده.
قصه درمورد یه برنامهریزی جامع اصلاح نژادیه که توسط تکنولوژی خاصی به اسم «سایتو» داره رهبری میشه (نمیتونم درموردش چیزی بگم چون لذتشو از دست میده)
و جیسون رایت نمایندهی بالقوهی این تکنولوژی بزرگه. که از قضا بدخواه و دشمن زیاد داره. و حالا عازم یه مأموريته که طی اون اتفاقات جالبی واسش میوفته و... 😁
شخصیت پردازی قشنگه، پخته و مناسبه. شخصیت جیسون به عنوان نمایندهی سایتو، از تایپ شخصیتهایی بود که اتمسفر فکریاش عجیب بود و خاص...😁
به هیچکس برنامهها و تصمیماتشو نمیگفت و یهو انتحاری عمل میکرد.
من عاشق این بودم که لانا (همکارش) اونور خط بیسیم هی میگفت:
میخوای چیکار کنی؟ نقشه چیه؟ داری چه غلطی میکنی تو؟
بعد جیسون:
میفهمی👀
میبینی😄
صبور باش🙄
ساکت باش😜
تمام ایدئولوژیهای جیسون حتی با وجود اشتباهاتی که درمورد نژاد خودش داشت و حقیقتش اصلا هم بابتشون سرزنشش نمیکنم، برای من یه داستان خوب و لذتبخش ساخت که به عنوان تجربهی ناول خوندن از یه نویسندهی کلهگنده ازش همیشه یاد میکنم. بخونید. قشنگه
December 4, 2019
This sci-fi novella is one of Brandon Sanderson's early works. That shows a litttle as this is not quite so polished a story as his more recent stuff. It is still pretty good but I feel this story lacked the usual emotional connection with the characters that Sanderson is good at creating. Outside of that this was a pretty fun sci-fi novella. The world was an interesting one and the story packed in a few twists and turns despite being less than 2 hours long in audio!
This was a decent sci-fi spy thriller that was also set in the same world as Sanderson's Skyward books though I assume this is a prequel that sets the stage for events in that series. I usually say read connected stories in publication order but I'll make an exception this time and recommend people pick up Skyward before they pick up this novella as a few of the shock twists and turns and mysteries will be more predictable and less fun to readers who have read Defending Elysium beforehand.
All in all I thought this was an engaging enough read and I was just getting sucked into the story as it ended and left me wanting more!
Rating: 3.5 stars. I'll round up because its Sanderson.
Audio Note: I listened to this for free via the Starship sofa podcast. I missed the narrators name but felt like he did a good job with the audio.
This was a decent sci-fi spy thriller that was also set in the same world as Sanderson's Skyward books though I assume this is a prequel that sets the stage for events in that series. I usually say read connected stories in publication order but I'll make an exception this time and recommend people pick up Skyward before they pick up this novella as a few of the shock twists and turns and mysteries will be more predictable and less fun to readers who have read Defending Elysium beforehand.
All in all I thought this was an engaging enough read and I was just getting sucked into the story as it ended and left me wanting more!
Rating: 3.5 stars. I'll round up because its Sanderson.
Audio Note: I listened to this for free via the Starship sofa podcast. I missed the narrators name but felt like he did a good job with the audio.
November 27, 2021
Update:
I've read this the first time after reading Skyward as Sanderson alluded that he has written in the same universe before and I suspected this was it. True enough, I immediately recognised the worldbuilding elements. Now the ebook has been re-released as the official canon for the Cytoverse.
Fast forward 3 years later after reading Cytonic, the third book of the Skyward series, I knew I had to reread this novelette again. With the narrative connectivity that was made even more apparent, it cast a new light and perspective into this dense short story. Initially, I thought that this was a nice bit of worldbuilding that stood well on its own. After this reread though, I really wanted more Jason Write stories.
-----------------------------------------------
Technology is limited. Only the mind is infinite.
Another great short story from Sanderson which was written way back before Elantris was published. I frankly do not know why he used to think he was not good in writing shorter stories, as this was pretty darn excellent. For just under an hour of reading, the world and characters were well fleshed-out and the plot detailed. Sanderson wasn't kidding when he said in the preface that he "took a short story (well, novelette) and filled it with as many ideas as I could pack into the space." The amazing thing was that it worked so well.
I've read this the first time after reading Skyward as Sanderson alluded that he has written in the same universe before and I suspected this was it. True enough, I immediately recognised the worldbuilding elements. Now the ebook has been re-released as the official canon for the Cytoverse.
Fast forward 3 years later after reading Cytonic, the third book of the Skyward series, I knew I had to reread this novelette again. With the narrative connectivity that was made even more apparent, it cast a new light and perspective into this dense short story. Initially, I thought that this was a nice bit of worldbuilding that stood well on its own. After this reread though, I really wanted more Jason Write stories.
-----------------------------------------------
Technology is limited. Only the mind is infinite.
Another great short story from Sanderson which was written way back before Elantris was published. I frankly do not know why he used to think he was not good in writing shorter stories, as this was pretty darn excellent. For just under an hour of reading, the world and characters were well fleshed-out and the plot detailed. Sanderson wasn't kidding when he said in the preface that he "took a short story (well, novelette) and filled it with as many ideas as I could pack into the space." The amazing thing was that it worked so well.
November 7, 2023
A quick read but it packs quite a punch.
(This story is best understood when read between starsight and cytonic.)
This short reveals how humans discovered cytonic powers and how the inter-species war happened etc.
Some other cool powers were described in this which I hope, get included in book 3.
I really hope to see more of Jason Write!
(This story is best understood when read between starsight and cytonic.)
This short reveals how humans discovered cytonic powers and how the inter-species war happened etc.
Some other cool powers were described in this which I hope, get included in book 3.
I really hope to see more of Jason Write!
April 16, 2022
*** 4.65 ***
“Space is Elysium, Lanna. The place where heroes go when they die. The Varvax and the others, they’ve fought and bled, just like we have. They finally overcame all of that—they paid their price and have earned their peace. I want to make certain their paradise remains such.”
But is it really? Or is it all just a smoke screen????
So good! Short, but packed to the brim with everything you need to question the message... 😎😎😎
... He’d known it was coming—he’d feared that he couldn’t keep humankind out of space. He just hadn’t expected heaven to fail him....
“Space is Elysium, Lanna. The place where heroes go when they die. The Varvax and the others, they’ve fought and bled, just like we have. They finally overcame all of that—they paid their price and have earned their peace. I want to make certain their paradise remains such.”
But is it really? Or is it all just a smoke screen????
So good! Short, but packed to the brim with everything you need to question the message... 😎😎😎
... He’d known it was coming—he’d feared that he couldn’t keep humankind out of space. He just hadn’t expected heaven to fail him....
July 2, 2023
به نظرم واقعاً جذاب بود، حالت پیشدرآمد برای دنیا اسکایوارد هست، و خیلی سوالات خوبی هم جواب میده، که البته به نظرم یکم از حالت رازگونه اسکایوارد جلد اول کم میکنه مخصوصاً اگه دفاع از الیسیوم رو اول بخونی، اسپویل خاصی نداره منتها، واقعاً دوست دارم سندرسون به صورت مستقیم برای این ناولا یکدونه ادامه بنویسه، اونقدری جذاب بود که بخوام شانسی بهش بدم.
سندرسون وقتی بحث داستان کوتاه و ناولا میشه دست تواناتری داره حس میکنم، سر همین و روح امپراطور هم ثابت کرده، کاش بیشتر داستان کوتاه بنویسه.
سندرسون وقتی بحث داستان کوتاه و ناولا میشه دست تواناتری داره حس میکنم، سر همین و روح امپراطور هم ثابت کرده، کاش بیشتر داستان کوتاه بنویسه.
November 28, 2021
Muy entretenido pero no empecéis el citoverso por aquí porque se desvelan detalles de Estelar. Si estáis al día con las aventuras de Spensa a por él sin miedo.
A mi me ha gustado mucho, me interesa bastante más esta historia que lo que nos contó en Estelar, así que ojalá tengamos más relatos previos al citoverso.
A mi me ha gustado mucho, me interesa bastante más esta historia que lo que nos contó en Estelar, así que ojalá tengamos más relatos previos al citoverso.
November 29, 2021
A fantastic short that has left me wanting more.
One of the first stories Sanderson ever wrote, and I would not have guessed it, it's so well written. It's scifi and packed with a LOT for such a short story, but it is a great little read and now it's officially part of the Cytoverso, linking it with the Skyward series of books and lending new perspective to the story.
One of the first stories Sanderson ever wrote, and I would not have guessed it, it's so well written. It's scifi and packed with a LOT for such a short story, but it is a great little read and now it's officially part of the Cytoverso, linking it with the Skyward series of books and lending new perspective to the story.
March 14, 2023
خب انتظارشو نداشتم، اما این ناولا رو از کل مجموعهی اسکایوارد بیشتر دوست داشتم.
سندرسون بارها ثابت کرده که مهم نیست چند کلمه بنویسه، هرچی بنویسه برای من ارزش خوندن رو داره.
سندرسون بارها ثابت کرده که مهم نیست چند کلمه بنویسه، هرچی بنویسه برای من ارزش خوندن رو داره.
March 11, 2023
کوتاه بود و برای یه داستان کوتاه جذاب بود
April 12, 2024
Чудесен разказ, с който до някъде се изяснява неизгодната начална позиция на човечеството в "Към небето".
Винаги е удоволствие да четеш Сандърсън!
Винаги е удоволствие да четеш Сандърсън!
August 9, 2019
3,25 / 5
Aparecida originalmente en la revista de ciencia ficción Asimov de octubre / noviembre de 2008 y en la colección de ciencia ficción de la UPC, Defendiendo el Eliseo es uno de los primeros trabajos publicados de nuestro querido Brandon Sanderson. Ambientada en el mismo universo que la serie Escuadrón, aunque siglos antes, gracias a la gente de Cosmere.es podemos disfrutar de estar historia corta gratis y en castellano que nos cuenta más sobre la FTL, sobre la tecnología citónica y la guerra entre las civilizaciones alienígenas.
Jason Write, un agente de la CT, ha jurado mantener la galaxia a salvo de los humanos hasta que no estén preparados para la tecnología pertinente. Jason tiene una misión. Ha viajado hasta un hábitat espacial para investigar la desaparición de un miembro de la Compañía Telefónica. Una misión fácil a simple vista que, como cabe esperar, se vuelve complicada. Le están monitorizando sus comunicaciones telepáticas, lo sigue un agente de la agencia de inteligencia, un embajador alienígena ha sido asesinado y la mujer desaparecida aparece con una extraña amnesia.
Una historia entretenida para leer de una sentada, con una interesante construcción de mundo que nos deja con muchas ganas de tener la secuela de Escuadrón en nuestras manos. Varios conceptos de la saga se tocan en la historia y la revelación final cuadra a la perfección con ese gran final que tiene la novela mencionada. Es una buena clave para saber por dónde han ido los tiros, aunque ocurre siglos antes, hasta la situación actual que vemos en la novela. A la par, un par de escenas de acción muy visuales (sello Sandersoniano de calidad) y un discurso interesante sobre lo que significa la paz.
Aparecida originalmente en la revista de ciencia ficción Asimov de octubre / noviembre de 2008 y en la colección de ciencia ficción de la UPC, Defendiendo el Eliseo es uno de los primeros trabajos publicados de nuestro querido Brandon Sanderson. Ambientada en el mismo universo que la serie Escuadrón, aunque siglos antes, gracias a la gente de Cosmere.es podemos disfrutar de estar historia corta gratis y en castellano que nos cuenta más sobre la FTL, sobre la tecnología citónica y la guerra entre las civilizaciones alienígenas.
Jason Write, un agente de la CT, ha jurado mantener la galaxia a salvo de los humanos hasta que no estén preparados para la tecnología pertinente. Jason tiene una misión. Ha viajado hasta un hábitat espacial para investigar la desaparición de un miembro de la Compañía Telefónica. Una misión fácil a simple vista que, como cabe esperar, se vuelve complicada. Le están monitorizando sus comunicaciones telepáticas, lo sigue un agente de la agencia de inteligencia, un embajador alienígena ha sido asesinado y la mujer desaparecida aparece con una extraña amnesia.
Una historia entretenida para leer de una sentada, con una interesante construcción de mundo que nos deja con muchas ganas de tener la secuela de Escuadrón en nuestras manos. Varios conceptos de la saga se tocan en la historia y la revelación final cuadra a la perfección con ese gran final que tiene la novela mencionada. Es una buena clave para saber por dónde han ido los tiros, aunque ocurre siglos antes, hasta la situación actual que vemos en la novela. A la par, un par de escenas de acción muy visuales (sello Sandersoniano de calidad) y un discurso interesante sobre lo que significa la paz.
November 10, 2021
Un relato ambientado en el citoverso, cientos de años antes de los acontecimientos de Escuadrón. En él veremos como se produjo el primer contacto de la humanidad con otras especies, y como algunos de los encargados de las comunicaciones extraterrestres (entre ellos nuestro protagonista Jason) dudan de que la humanidad esté a la altura.
Sin embargo, un acontecimiento hará que Jason empiece a dudar de todas sus convicciones...
Se me ha hecho extraño leer un relato realmente cortito de Sanderson. Está bien, pero te deja con ganas de más. Sobre todo para aquellos que ya estamos esperando "Citónica".
Sin embargo, un acontecimiento hará que Jason empiece a dudar de todas sus convicciones...
Se me ha hecho extraño leer un relato realmente cortito de Sanderson. Está bien, pero te deja con ganas de más. Sobre todo para aquellos que ya estamos esperando "Citónica".
Want to read
March 26, 2015I just found this earlier today thanks to Dan.
It's free and it even has an audio version! More details here:
http://brandonsanderson.com/defending...
I'll read it soon.
December 15, 2019
3.5 stars
Pretty good, although it felt a little mechanical. I read this for its connection to Skyward and the newly released sequel, Starsight. Defending Elysium is set in the same world as those books, although obviously many generations in time before, so the actual stories are really not all that connected.
Read this story for free here:
https://www.brandonsanderson.com/defe...
Pretty good, although it felt a little mechanical. I read this for its connection to Skyward and the newly released sequel, Starsight. Defending Elysium is set in the same world as those books, although obviously many generations in time before, so the actual stories are really not all that connected.
Read this story for free here:
https://www.brandonsanderson.com/defe...
August 20, 2021
This is a prequel short story to the Cytonic series and is available to read, for free, here.
The fact that Sanderson wrote this story so many years before Skyward was penned has me, yet again, astounded at the brilliance of this man's mind and in his ability to keep so many different worlds, magic systems, and technological advancements inside of it.
The story is seemingly unrelated to the major story arc, appearing throughout the full-length series instalments. It does not involve the same major characters but does provide information on how Spensa's world came to be.
Much of the focus here was on the movements of differing governing bodies and the interplay between them and various other species. Despite the politics that took the centre of attention, this was also a very fast-moving and action-packed read. It had an adult perspective ,situated in a well-respected and high-powered role, which allowed the reader to garner a new understanding of this fictional future.
The fact that Sanderson wrote this story so many years before Skyward was penned has me, yet again, astounded at the brilliance of this man's mind and in his ability to keep so many different worlds, magic systems, and technological advancements inside of it.
The story is seemingly unrelated to the major story arc, appearing throughout the full-length series instalments. It does not involve the same major characters but does provide information on how Spensa's world came to be.
Much of the focus here was on the movements of differing governing bodies and the interplay between them and various other species. Despite the politics that took the centre of attention, this was also a very fast-moving and action-packed read. It had an adult perspective ,situated in a well-respected and high-powered role, which allowed the reader to garner a new understanding of this fictional future.
August 23, 2022
Defending Elysium is considered a prequel novella to the Skyward series but it takes place centuries before the actual series.
After a horrible first contact with an alien species, the Phone Company managed to negotiate a peace agreement between humans and the aliens. And because of its role in the negotiations, the Phone Company got a monopoly on all alien technology. Now we follow Jason, a head operative in the Phone Company. He arrives at a space platform to find a missing scientist. But he quickly learns that an alien ambassador has been killed while he was on his way to the platform. So he has two mysteries to solve for the price of one. And it doesn’t take long before someone tries to kill him too. During his investigations, we learn about the real motives of these peaceful aliens.
This is a fascinating concept in a cool science fiction setting and is thematically quite strong. Especially the way the aliens tested us and classified us as a species is some very interesting stuff that gives us a lot of food for thought. The plot is without a doubt solid but it’s also quite complicated for such a short story.
After a horrible first contact with an alien species, the Phone Company managed to negotiate a peace agreement between humans and the aliens. And because of its role in the negotiations, the Phone Company got a monopoly on all alien technology. Now we follow Jason, a head operative in the Phone Company. He arrives at a space platform to find a missing scientist. But he quickly learns that an alien ambassador has been killed while he was on his way to the platform. So he has two mysteries to solve for the price of one. And it doesn’t take long before someone tries to kill him too. During his investigations, we learn about the real motives of these peaceful aliens.
This is a fascinating concept in a cool science fiction setting and is thematically quite strong. Especially the way the aliens tested us and classified us as a species is some very interesting stuff that gives us a lot of food for thought. The plot is without a doubt solid but it’s also quite complicated for such a short story.
December 4, 2021
Precuela que sucede 300 años antes de los echos narrados en Escuadrón.
Relato corto que nos sirve para conocer un poco como empezó todo y nos da alguna pista de lo que puede suceder en los siguientes libros de la saga y sobre los citónicos.
Relato corto que nos sirve para conocer un poco como empezó todo y nos da alguna pista de lo que puede suceder en los siguientes libros de la saga y sobre los citónicos.
February 17, 2022
3.5
this was really interesting, and branderson managed to pack an intense plot and world in very few pages. unfortunately, that left me completely confused in the end
this was really interesting, and branderson managed to pack an intense plot and world in very few pages. unfortunately, that left me completely confused in the end
August 25, 2024
Cool idea: In the sci-fi future, a phone company has become the most powerful organization due to their monopoly on communication.
Lame idea: It is referred to as "The Phone Company" the entire time.
I feel like this novella kept trying to knock over dominos that it hadn't actually set up yet
Lame idea: It is referred to as "The Phone Company" the entire time.
I feel like this novella kept trying to knock over dominos that it hadn't actually set up yet
April 26, 2020
Woa. For a so-called short story -more novelette in intend- pack a lot of punch and ideas.
Aliens were to be handled by the Phone Company. The PC had made first contact; the PC had negotiated Earth out of danger following the Tenasi incident. The PC had brought FTL communication to humankind.
This is a century before prequel of Skywar. Special agents, intrigue, agents following agents and unexpected revelations.
Jason is with the Phone Company to recover a missing minor funcionary, but the Bureou is following, an ambassador is dead , and oh the space is...
“Technology is limited,” Jason said. “Only the mind is infinite.”
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Woa. Para un llamado cuento corto -más novelette en la intención-, carga mucho impacto e ideas.
Esto precuela de Skywar, unos cuantos siglos antes. Agentes especiales, intrigas, agentes que siguen agentes y revelaciones inesperadas.
Jason trabaja en Phone Company y va a recuperar una funcionaria menor desaparecida, pero el Bureou lo sigue, un embajador está muerto y, oh, el espacio es ...
Vale la pena leerlo
https://www.brandonsanderson.com/defe...
Aliens were to be handled by the Phone Company. The PC had made first contact; the PC had negotiated Earth out of danger following the Tenasi incident. The PC had brought FTL communication to humankind.
This is a century before prequel of Skywar. Special agents, intrigue, agents following agents and unexpected revelations.
Jason is with the Phone Company to recover a missing minor funcionary, but the Bureou is following, an ambassador is dead , and oh the space is...
“Technology is limited,” Jason said. “Only the mind is infinite.”
--------------------------------------------
Woa. Para un llamado cuento corto -más novelette en la intención-, carga mucho impacto e ideas.
Esto precuela de Skywar, unos cuantos siglos antes. Agentes especiales, intrigas, agentes que siguen agentes y revelaciones inesperadas.
Jason trabaja en Phone Company y va a recuperar una funcionaria menor desaparecida, pero el Bureou lo sigue, un embajador está muerto y, oh, el espacio es ...
Vale la pena leerlo
https://www.brandonsanderson.com/defe...
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