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Marooned: A Prequel to the Arcadia's Children Series
My name is Bee Bee, well, at least that’s what everyone calls me, and I’m 15, nearly 16. The last year has been tough. I’ve found myself on the Empress of Incognita, travelling through the stars toward a new life with my dad and step-mum. Or at least that’s what should be happening.
After I’d emerged from suspension, Mary, my stepmother, told me that the Empress of Incognita had been involved in a collision. I later discovered that our starship had in fact hit a mine, a remnant of a long-forgotten war. I was then told that the captain of the Empress had deliberately risked the passenger’s lives by flying down a wormhole known to have unexploded ordnance floating around in it. He took the risk to save time and money.
The Empress was then hit by five more mines and was forced into an uncharted wormhole to escape the bombardment.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the passengers began to fight among themselves.
I just pray that Akbar’s dream revelations will save my group.
After I’d emerged from suspension, Mary, my stepmother, told me that the Empress of Incognita had been involved in a collision. I later discovered that our starship had in fact hit a mine, a remnant of a long-forgotten war. I was then told that the captain of the Empress had deliberately risked the passenger’s lives by flying down a wormhole known to have unexploded ordnance floating around in it. He took the risk to save time and money.
The Empress was then hit by five more mines and was forced into an uncharted wormhole to escape the bombardment.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the passengers began to fight among themselves.
I just pray that Akbar’s dream revelations will save my group.
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About the author
Andrew R. Williams
11 books88 followersBy day mild mannered Andrew R. Williams is a chartered surveyor.... but after twilight falls, he snatches up his pen and the writing takes control. The Fyfield Plantation is Andrew's second creation, and the third Arcadia's Children instalment pores out of Andrew on only the coldest and darkest of nights. When he isn't writing, or chartering surveyoring, Andrew spends time with his wife Geraldine, staring up at the stars, and plotting eventual world domination. Don't let that calm demeanour and easy smile fool you, oh no.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 6, 2022
Marooned by Andrew R Williams is the prequel to Arcadia's Children series. Now we get to the part where and how everything started - Arcadia. It's a well written story with a lots of twists, turns and suspense with a good measure of intrigue thrown into the mix. I love the character and world building in this novel, just like the author's other books from this series.
Meet Bee Bee, a teenager who asks a lot of questions and the story revolves around how he grows up fast and why. If you love a good sci-fi or a good story, this is a must read.
The series of Arcadia makes even more sense, now that we have the prequel!
Meet Bee Bee, a teenager who asks a lot of questions and the story revolves around how he grows up fast and why. If you love a good sci-fi or a good story, this is a must read.
The series of Arcadia makes even more sense, now that we have the prequel!
September 12, 2023
The recent addition to the Arcadia series was marked with human behaviours, but only unity and one young man’s ability to listen could save the day.
Being in space on a ship would have been perfect for most people. But for Bee Bee and his fellow travelers, it was an entirely different thing.
Bee Bee (James) Kinfrank was a typical teenager that asked a lot of questions, to everyone’s chagrin. Left disfigured after a gruesome accident, the scare in his face didn’t make him a favourite. But this was also the reason for him to connect with people differently, which made him more acceptable, even a leader in his ‘tribe’.
As an oracle, he took to his role like it was second nature. It raised his status in the community. It did not make him very popular at first, but as he began to prove himself, people started to accept him and the value he brings to the community.
His father was a genuine piece of work which showed his true colors at the end. And Mary was his only support when things really became difficult, even though she was only his step mum.
To be stuck into deep space without knowing if you would be saved created all sorts of problems and soon to be sixteen-year-old Bee Bee had to grow up.
Not only were there enemies in the wormholes, but there were enemies inside. And he had to listen to the inner voice for guidance.
Lack of space, oxygen and food added to the tension as the depilated ship tried to stay on course.
This is the prequel to the Arcadia series and because I have read most of it, I struggled to understand where the new characters fit into the bigger plotline. But in the author’s typical writing style, it became clear, and it was worth the read. It gives the reader a better understanding of where it had all begun.
Chas Foony knew too much but was a good informant/friend to Bee Bee. Then there was the Whiston family—the bain in everyone’s life that caused havoc wherever he and his gang of misfits went. Charl Whyler was thrusted into a leadership position and way over his head. Mary became Bee Bee’s support and protector while he became her purpose for being in the ‘tribe’.
The fast-paced plot quickly takes you from one suspenseful scenario to another while the group tries to survive. First on the ship, then on the new planet, where more twists made for adventurous moments.
When an alien appeared on the ship, killing everyone on its path, it left Bee Bee a strange message. This was where the story escalated and became very interesting. With flashbacks from Mars and his mother’s death, you could sense the building tension.
Especially the secretive ‘Great Ones’ no one knew about except for Bee Bee and his dreams. A force that added a layer of tension to the entire plot.
“The Great Ones were sent to this planet for security reasons. This planet is far from the rest of our culture. Under our laws, execution is not possible. So sending them here seemed a sensible solution; they were banished to repent for their war crimes.”
These parasite creatures or beings controlled the new planet, and the survival game has stepped up a notched. Adding more drama, mystery, and suspense. Especially when Suzanne Flyfield stepped into the picture.
Except for a few grammar problems, this was a good read that every science fiction reader would enjoy. The story touches on primal behaviours and how humans would cope when put in a strange environment where the only aim is to survive. Not only as a human, but as a race.
The character of Bee Bee became the centre of their survival, which made this a good plotline. In the end, his own struggles and how he had to overcome them were woven into the many layers and a race was saved.
Since this was an audible book, I enjoyed the narrative. The different characters were beautifully portrayed through the voice of the narrator, making this story so endearing and easy to follow. A great edition to the enfolding series.
Being in space on a ship would have been perfect for most people. But for Bee Bee and his fellow travelers, it was an entirely different thing.
Bee Bee (James) Kinfrank was a typical teenager that asked a lot of questions, to everyone’s chagrin. Left disfigured after a gruesome accident, the scare in his face didn’t make him a favourite. But this was also the reason for him to connect with people differently, which made him more acceptable, even a leader in his ‘tribe’.
As an oracle, he took to his role like it was second nature. It raised his status in the community. It did not make him very popular at first, but as he began to prove himself, people started to accept him and the value he brings to the community.
His father was a genuine piece of work which showed his true colors at the end. And Mary was his only support when things really became difficult, even though she was only his step mum.
To be stuck into deep space without knowing if you would be saved created all sorts of problems and soon to be sixteen-year-old Bee Bee had to grow up.
Not only were there enemies in the wormholes, but there were enemies inside. And he had to listen to the inner voice for guidance.
Lack of space, oxygen and food added to the tension as the depilated ship tried to stay on course.
This is the prequel to the Arcadia series and because I have read most of it, I struggled to understand where the new characters fit into the bigger plotline. But in the author’s typical writing style, it became clear, and it was worth the read. It gives the reader a better understanding of where it had all begun.
Chas Foony knew too much but was a good informant/friend to Bee Bee. Then there was the Whiston family—the bain in everyone’s life that caused havoc wherever he and his gang of misfits went. Charl Whyler was thrusted into a leadership position and way over his head. Mary became Bee Bee’s support and protector while he became her purpose for being in the ‘tribe’.
The fast-paced plot quickly takes you from one suspenseful scenario to another while the group tries to survive. First on the ship, then on the new planet, where more twists made for adventurous moments.
When an alien appeared on the ship, killing everyone on its path, it left Bee Bee a strange message. This was where the story escalated and became very interesting. With flashbacks from Mars and his mother’s death, you could sense the building tension.
Especially the secretive ‘Great Ones’ no one knew about except for Bee Bee and his dreams. A force that added a layer of tension to the entire plot.
“The Great Ones were sent to this planet for security reasons. This planet is far from the rest of our culture. Under our laws, execution is not possible. So sending them here seemed a sensible solution; they were banished to repent for their war crimes.”
These parasite creatures or beings controlled the new planet, and the survival game has stepped up a notched. Adding more drama, mystery, and suspense. Especially when Suzanne Flyfield stepped into the picture.
Except for a few grammar problems, this was a good read that every science fiction reader would enjoy. The story touches on primal behaviours and how humans would cope when put in a strange environment where the only aim is to survive. Not only as a human, but as a race.
The character of Bee Bee became the centre of their survival, which made this a good plotline. In the end, his own struggles and how he had to overcome them were woven into the many layers and a race was saved.
Since this was an audible book, I enjoyed the narrative. The different characters were beautifully portrayed through the voice of the narrator, making this story so endearing and easy to follow. A great edition to the enfolding series.
May 16, 2022
Marooned follows the crew of the Empress spaceship as they try to survive on a planet they've named Arcadia after becoming stranded in an unfamiliar portion of space. Arcadia is not without it's dangers though from former passengers trying to create an empire. Or the danger from strange parasitic beings imprisoned there known only as the great ones who want to enslave humanity.
This book did a good job drawing me in right away. While the portions on the spaceship were a bit slow in the beginning, the story soon began to pick up. Bee Bee (the protagonist) is a bit irritating at times but it makes sense for his age. The prophetic dreams he receives is also an interesting story telling mechanic that allows the story to move along without becoming too dark. I did find the characters to be fairly static for the most part, while they also got some character development, some such as Bee Bee's father got a lot more than others. The book I received from Netgalley was also missing a few pages at the end so I'm not exactly sure how the book ends right at this precise moment, but I'm looking forward to reading the next book (if there is a next one).
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book did a good job drawing me in right away. While the portions on the spaceship were a bit slow in the beginning, the story soon began to pick up. Bee Bee (the protagonist) is a bit irritating at times but it makes sense for his age. The prophetic dreams he receives is also an interesting story telling mechanic that allows the story to move along without becoming too dark. I did find the characters to be fairly static for the most part, while they also got some character development, some such as Bee Bee's father got a lot more than others. The book I received from Netgalley was also missing a few pages at the end so I'm not exactly sure how the book ends right at this precise moment, but I'm looking forward to reading the next book (if there is a next one).
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 25, 2024
From the first chapter this was a roller coaster of a read. We meet our hero James Kinfrank (aka Bee Bee) on page 1 shortly before his impending voyage on the starship Empress of Incognita from Mars to the Keplar-452 system. Needless to say things do not go according to plan. Bee Bee's adventures on the ill fated voyage culminate in his landing on an unscheduled Earth like planet where the indigenous lifeforms present Bee Bee and the other starship survivors with issues worthy of the best in science fiction literature. Andrew R Williams seems to have effortlessly shown that science fiction novels can be written as an 'easy read'...you do not need a degree in Astrophysics to understand what is happening.
Do I want to read another of Andrew's novels?... yes I do!!
Do I want to read another of Andrew's novels?... yes I do!!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews