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The Earthburst Saga #1
Last Man Standing
I wasn’t supposed to survive.
The station has been hit. Everyone around me is dead.
I have 11 hours of life support left and no way of contacting Earth.
I’m alone. I’m stranded. I’m desperate.
But I’m alive.
The more of the station I explore, the surer I get that this was no accident. Someone did this, and I don't think they're finished yet.
Making it home feels like an impossible task, but I'm not just fighting for my own life.
I have to protect my family — whatever it takes.
And as long as I’m breathing, this isn't over.
Because whoever did this almost pulled it off… but they made one big mistake:
They left the wrong man standing...
The station has been hit. Everyone around me is dead.
I have 11 hours of life support left and no way of contacting Earth.
I’m alone. I’m stranded. I’m desperate.
But I’m alive.
The more of the station I explore, the surer I get that this was no accident. Someone did this, and I don't think they're finished yet.
Making it home feels like an impossible task, but I'm not just fighting for my own life.
I have to protect my family — whatever it takes.
And as long as I’m breathing, this isn't over.
Because whoever did this almost pulled it off… but they made one big mistake:
They left the wrong man standing...
456 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2022
1362 people are currently reading
2363 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
October 25, 2022
Oh my gosh! Why have I never read this author before? Last Man Standing is the first in the Earthburst Saga series and guarantees to pull you right in!!👨🚀🚀
Ray Barclay is a visiting researcher using The International Space Station to test his experiment on a newly discovered mineral for biofuel. It's too dangerous to test on Earth if it goes kaboom so he's in space at their testing chamber which is separate from the main module to make sure that if things go wrong, no one else dies.
Days later, Ray's excited to tell everyone what he accomplished. When he got back to the main ISS he found that everyone was dead. What happened while he was away?
This is a survival mystery sci-fi thriller of a guy whose plan is to be in space for two months for his research and returns home to his wife Eve and son Joe. He's alone now but Ray proves to be resourceful, smart, witty, and very likable. There's science but not too heavy and doesn't feel bogged down. I thought the first-person narrative was a perfect choice for the story as Ray tries to stay alive in space, solves various problems, finds a way to return to earth, and helps mankind.
🎧Scott Aiello does an outstanding solo narration for the story. I laugh out loud at times. He really brings the character to life with his performance.
A huge thank you to RB Media/Recorded Books and Netgalley for this DRC.
Published Oct. 25, 2022!
Ray Barclay is a visiting researcher using The International Space Station to test his experiment on a newly discovered mineral for biofuel. It's too dangerous to test on Earth if it goes kaboom so he's in space at their testing chamber which is separate from the main module to make sure that if things go wrong, no one else dies.
Days later, Ray's excited to tell everyone what he accomplished. When he got back to the main ISS he found that everyone was dead. What happened while he was away?
This is a survival mystery sci-fi thriller of a guy whose plan is to be in space for two months for his research and returns home to his wife Eve and son Joe. He's alone now but Ray proves to be resourceful, smart, witty, and very likable. There's science but not too heavy and doesn't feel bogged down. I thought the first-person narrative was a perfect choice for the story as Ray tries to stay alive in space, solves various problems, finds a way to return to earth, and helps mankind.
🎧Scott Aiello does an outstanding solo narration for the story. I laugh out loud at times. He really brings the character to life with his performance.
A huge thank you to RB Media/Recorded Books and Netgalley for this DRC.
Published Oct. 25, 2022!
November 7, 2022
3.5 stars
This was a really engaging sci fi thriller that pulled me right in (despite a slump sick mood). It takes a special book to grab my attention in this brain fog.
I got the opportunity to listen to the audiobook which I highly recommend. I've heard this particular narrator before and he does an amazing job of making our protagonist immediately relatable. The story itself was fast paced and compelling with a good balance of action and subtle humor.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was a really engaging sci fi thriller that pulled me right in (despite a slump sick mood). It takes a special book to grab my attention in this brain fog.
I got the opportunity to listen to the audiobook which I highly recommend. I've heard this particular narrator before and he does an amazing job of making our protagonist immediately relatable. The story itself was fast paced and compelling with a good balance of action and subtle humor.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
December 6, 2022
way too long
would have made a better short story maybe, just unbelievable repetition and stretching out everything to the point of parody. Falconer is Dollar Tree Andy Weir.
would have made a better short story maybe, just unbelievable repetition and stretching out everything to the point of parody. Falconer is Dollar Tree Andy Weir.
November 6, 2022
Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: Scott Aiello
Content: 2 stars ~ Narration: 2 stars
Ray Barclay is a scientist at a space station testing his discovery. After a few days in a sealed module, he discovers he is the only one left alive.
MC is very unlikeable, but this could be ok. It bothered me more that he didn’t feel like an actual person. Ray sounded like a tough guy, but, in reality, he was more of a nerdy scientist. He often felt emotionless, but he was supposed to be a very caring father and husband. I was wondering why was Ray not nervous about being the last human alive? And he was constantly so optimistic. Why? I would expect him to have at least one moment of weakness and freak out or something.
So, no. This novel was not for me. I listened to the whole audio, and it was somewhat interesting. But I kept waiting for some twist that would set things right. A lot of details felt unnatural, and as a result, the whole novel just didn’t click for me. I think it was both the writing and narration.
Thanks to Recorded Books for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Content: 2 stars ~ Narration: 2 stars
Ray Barclay is a scientist at a space station testing his discovery. After a few days in a sealed module, he discovers he is the only one left alive.
MC is very unlikeable, but this could be ok. It bothered me more that he didn’t feel like an actual person. Ray sounded like a tough guy, but, in reality, he was more of a nerdy scientist. He often felt emotionless, but he was supposed to be a very caring father and husband. I was wondering why was Ray not nervous about being the last human alive? And he was constantly so optimistic. Why? I would expect him to have at least one moment of weakness and freak out or something.
So, no. This novel was not for me. I listened to the whole audio, and it was somewhat interesting. But I kept waiting for some twist that would set things right. A lot of details felt unnatural, and as a result, the whole novel just didn’t click for me. I think it was both the writing and narration.
Thanks to Recorded Books for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
November 21, 2022
Oh my....painful
I have a rule. If I start a book, I finish it. But this one tested my limits. So much useless drivel through the 1st three fourths of the book. A science nerd who is also a superhero, who stumbles into road block after road block only to find some fortuitous solution. I gave it one star only because I had to.
I have a rule. If I start a book, I finish it. But this one tested my limits. So much useless drivel through the 1st three fourths of the book. A science nerd who is also a superhero, who stumbles into road block after road block only to find some fortuitous solution. I gave it one star only because I had to.
November 2, 2024
I picked this up on a whim, having never heard of it before but finding the audiobook for free in the Audible Plus catalogue. I'm really pleased that I decided to try it out, as I really, really enjoyed it.
I loved Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir, and there's an unmistakeable PHM vibe here, although the two books are different enough to avoid any confusion or much crossover of ideas. This is also the start of an expansive series that I'm looking forward to getting deeper into.
The main character is quite likeable, and very resourceful, and I enjoyed the addition of Laika and Bex too, as much as that last can be called a character. The twists and turns in here were really well handled and made it much more than just "man stranded in space, trying to get home".
There's not really that much science in here, so it's maybe a bit like a "Project Hail Mary Lite", but that's not a negative aimed at either book. They are both great books that just share some similar themes.
The audiobook here was excellent too, I really liked the narration by Scott Aiello, and I'm pleased to see he returned to narrate the rest of the series too. Last Man Standing will be one of my top sci-fi recommendations of the year, and one that I'll happily shout out about, even if the rest of the series ends up not being a hit for me when I get to reading them.
I loved Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir, and there's an unmistakeable PHM vibe here, although the two books are different enough to avoid any confusion or much crossover of ideas. This is also the start of an expansive series that I'm looking forward to getting deeper into.
The main character is quite likeable, and very resourceful, and I enjoyed the addition of Laika and Bex too, as much as that last can be called a character. The twists and turns in here were really well handled and made it much more than just "man stranded in space, trying to get home".
There's not really that much science in here, so it's maybe a bit like a "Project Hail Mary Lite", but that's not a negative aimed at either book. They are both great books that just share some similar themes.
The audiobook here was excellent too, I really liked the narration by Scott Aiello, and I'm pleased to see he returned to narrate the rest of the series too. Last Man Standing will be one of my top sci-fi recommendations of the year, and one that I'll happily shout out about, even if the rest of the series ends up not being a hit for me when I get to reading them.
March 10, 2023
Color me blue; the hue of disappointment. The good news is I finished this overly long tale, and I strengthened my ability to skim written text.
There were moments where I felt trapped in the midst of a time warp (let’s do the time warp again and again) as much of story was repetitive. This dilemma is easily remedied through editorial scrubbing. Would the author be amenable to this process? I find this doubtful.
Finally, there were moments where I sensed this was a SNL MacGyver skit, it became quite comical. This reader has zero interest in reading sequels to this book and I’m highly doubtful if I will ever read anything by Mr. Falconer in the future.
There were moments where I felt trapped in the midst of a time warp (let’s do the time warp again and again) as much of story was repetitive. This dilemma is easily remedied through editorial scrubbing. Would the author be amenable to this process? I find this doubtful.
Finally, there were moments where I sensed this was a SNL MacGyver skit, it became quite comical. This reader has zero interest in reading sequels to this book and I’m highly doubtful if I will ever read anything by Mr. Falconer in the future.
January 25, 2023
Okay I’m 100 pages in and honestly I think the 446 page count could have easily been cut in half, most of the plot so far is the main character trying to reconcile with what is happening or needs to happen. That’s a HUGE pet peeve of mine and it’s made even more tedious when we can already see the direction from a mile away. The MC’s inner dialogue is pretty base, no insights on life or humans or relationships or trauma. It’s kind just like “oh shit oh shit oh shit” over and over again.
For example, we spend like 30 pages looking for a particular person so that the MC can access other areas of the ship, and this person has that ability. When this person is found he has passed away and is under some heavy machinery. IMMEDIATELY I was like okay so we need to remove whatever body part is used to scan identity. We don’t get to that for another 12 pages and two more chapters bc MC is running through his “oh shit, am I really doing this?” Like a hamster in a wheel. Yet when a big plot point is revealed, like the earth has been destroyed, it’s covered in one sentence: “the earth is on fire.” Really? The WHOLE earth is in flames? No more description? Okay.
I’m sitting on jury duty and wanted something junky and fun I could speed through, but the writing is SO amateur I just can’t. I’m interested in where this is going, but its like trying to see in very dim light. So much effort for very little payoff.
For example, we spend like 30 pages looking for a particular person so that the MC can access other areas of the ship, and this person has that ability. When this person is found he has passed away and is under some heavy machinery. IMMEDIATELY I was like okay so we need to remove whatever body part is used to scan identity. We don’t get to that for another 12 pages and two more chapters bc MC is running through his “oh shit, am I really doing this?” Like a hamster in a wheel. Yet when a big plot point is revealed, like the earth has been destroyed, it’s covered in one sentence: “the earth is on fire.” Really? The WHOLE earth is in flames? No more description? Okay.
I’m sitting on jury duty and wanted something junky and fun I could speed through, but the writing is SO amateur I just can’t. I’m interested in where this is going, but its like trying to see in very dim light. So much effort for very little payoff.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2024
Solid sci-fi that kept me guessing all the way to the end!
This was a very entertaining and short read that was almost equal parts thriller and sci-fi. It has a definite flavour of Project Hail Mary, but with a very different main character and situation.
We have betrayals and corruption, a fight to survive, several mysteries, a robot and an animal sidekick.
As it is part of a series, the ending leaves some things open for the story to continue, so it wasn’t quite as satisfying as if it had been a standalone.
Great narration of the audiobook, too :D
Oh, and this was my 40th read of the year, hitting my TBR target!
This was a very entertaining and short read that was almost equal parts thriller and sci-fi. It has a definite flavour of Project Hail Mary, but with a very different main character and situation.
We have betrayals and corruption, a fight to survive, several mysteries, a robot and an animal sidekick.
As it is part of a series, the ending leaves some things open for the story to continue, so it wasn’t quite as satisfying as if it had been a standalone.
Great narration of the audiobook, too :D
Oh, and this was my 40th read of the year, hitting my TBR target!
October 16, 2022
This is an insanely entertaining sci-fi adventure. Ray Barclay just made a breakthrough discovery in an international space station that will revolutionize the world. He comes out to celebrate and finds everybody dead. He’s alone in space, but if only he can get into the control station he can call for help. First, he needs to restore oxygen to the station. Every single time Ray fixes something, another problem comes up and every thing he learns about his situation makes his situation worse. Ray’s situation is very similar to Mark Watney’s… that is, if besides space, actual bad people were trying to kill him. Oh, yes, and did I mention there may not be an Earth to return to? This is popcorn fiction at its best. Suspenseful, fun, insanely entertaining and addictive. Ray is well rounded, with his flaws and hangups. He’s also brilliant and is doing the best that he can. Scott Aiello brings that warmth to his audiobook performance. Ray sounds like a genuinely likable and relatable guy (despite being a literal genius). The only negative thing I can say about this excellent audiobook is that it’s part of a series and we’ll need to wait to find out what happens next. Five supernovae!
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#RB Media, Recorded Books!
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#RB Media, Recorded Books!
May 1, 2023
I like this story, but not everyone will. Why? Details. There are a LOT of details in this story, repeated over and over. Some are technical details since the story revolves around getting past one barrier after another by using technical prowess. But even the main character's goal (to get off a crippled space station and return to his wife and child) is repeated over and over... After a while you want to scream, "Okay, I've got it!"
So, why do I like it? It's a lot like The Martian by Andy Weir. Every obstacle that must be overcome is carefully thought through, and every solution is accurate to science and technology. If you like that kind of story, this is a good one. It will definitely keep you turning the pages!
So, why do I like it? It's a lot like The Martian by Andy Weir. Every obstacle that must be overcome is carefully thought through, and every solution is accurate to science and technology. If you like that kind of story, this is a good one. It will definitely keep you turning the pages!
January 10, 2023
Meh.
Got a bit tired of the protagonist constantly telling me how much he'd gone through in life, and how much he needed to get back home, and why it was so important he get back home, and how angry he was, and ad nauseam. Plus, you don't want to think too hard about the conspiracy part of the story - you'll find way too many holes.
Not a horrible read, but not a good one. I do not plan on continuing the series.
Got a bit tired of the protagonist constantly telling me how much he'd gone through in life, and how much he needed to get back home, and why it was so important he get back home, and how angry he was, and ad nauseam. Plus, you don't want to think too hard about the conspiracy part of the story - you'll find way too many holes.
Not a horrible read, but not a good one. I do not plan on continuing the series.
November 30, 2023
It is clear to me after reading Last Man Standing that Craig Falconer, after reading The Martian, said to himself "What if I wrote the same book, but made Mister Magoo the main character? I'm a genius!". I have seldom facepalmed so frequently than following the crises self inflicted by the eponymous "Last Man Standing", but if you like Andy Weir's novels so much that you would tolerate a flavorless store-brand knock off, this book is right up your alley. Some inconsequential spoilers follow, if my opening salvo wasn't enough on its own to turn you off of this turkey.
The plot is like a made for TV movie, boringly predictable and sloppy. Falconer frequently loses the thread of his own plot and spends several paragraphs stuck in the mud, repeating and restating the same expository monologues before stumbling to the next. Does the main character see a dead body? You can bet your ass the next paragraph is going to be dedicated to apologizing and groveling to the corpse. Did he find a computer terminal or door? This next chapter will be dedicated to the most banal way to figure out a password. Is there a garden rake in hallway? Ray will almost certainly step on it and smack himself in the face like a Charlie Chaplin bit. Ok that last one didn't happen, but he did take out his contacts and a random parrot managed to fly into the bathroom and conveniently knock them down the drain (yes, you read that correctly).
Whoever edited this book must have been pressed for time, or more likely bored by the whole endeavor, as there are glaring continuity errors that will leave you scratching your head. Alas, poor Justin- Ray's only friend on the station is dead. Ok well forget that guy, lets go find Yannick- the only other person on the station who showed Ray any kindness. 10 chapters later, "I looked at the chair where my good friend Lily sat, remembering how kind she was to me" okay, WHAT?
I feel like this book was written straight through in a Redbull fueled weekend and then rushed to publishing, and the fact that there are enough people who read it to merit not just one follow up book but a "saga" has got me questioning the reality I find myself in.
The plot is like a made for TV movie, boringly predictable and sloppy. Falconer frequently loses the thread of his own plot and spends several paragraphs stuck in the mud, repeating and restating the same expository monologues before stumbling to the next. Does the main character see a dead body? You can bet your ass the next paragraph is going to be dedicated to apologizing and groveling to the corpse. Did he find a computer terminal or door? This next chapter will be dedicated to the most banal way to figure out a password. Is there a garden rake in hallway? Ray will almost certainly step on it and smack himself in the face like a Charlie Chaplin bit. Ok that last one didn't happen, but he did take out his contacts and a random parrot managed to fly into the bathroom and conveniently knock them down the drain (yes, you read that correctly).
Whoever edited this book must have been pressed for time, or more likely bored by the whole endeavor, as there are glaring continuity errors that will leave you scratching your head. Alas, poor Justin- Ray's only friend on the station is dead. Ok well forget that guy, lets go find Yannick- the only other person on the station who showed Ray any kindness. 10 chapters later, "I looked at the chair where my good friend Lily sat, remembering how kind she was to me" okay, WHAT?
I feel like this book was written straight through in a Redbull fueled weekend and then rushed to publishing, and the fact that there are enough people who read it to merit not just one follow up book but a "saga" has got me questioning the reality I find myself in.
January 13, 2023
Ugh. Protagonist finds himself as a sole survivor on a space station with a "critical" air leak.
25 chapters later and captain distraction has still not taken any action to fix the leak. He is more concerned with charging his cell phone than fixing the leak.
But then, around chapter 30, he finally gets to a point to fix it, and he fails because he can't figure out how to use a computer mouse.
I gave up on it at that point.
25 chapters later and captain distraction has still not taken any action to fix the leak. He is more concerned with charging his cell phone than fixing the leak.
But then, around chapter 30, he finally gets to a point to fix it, and he fails because he can't figure out how to use a computer mouse.
I gave up on it at that point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2022
Advertisement/ audio advanced readers copy (arc) from Netgalley and RB Media, Recorded Books.
Last man standing is a story of a man (and a parrot) desperate to survive. Ray Barclay is the only survivor after an attack on a space center, but the problems has only just begun. This is book 1 in The Earthburst saga.
I have no idea how possible all of the things that happen are. And some things seemed unrealistic, but the story itself and the execution was good, entertaining, a little scary, and sometimes even a little funny. I also liked how Ray solved all the problems he faced, and how he managed to keep calm, or as calm as you can in a situation like this. All in all a good, entertaining book that I recommend if you like space, sci-fi or one man trying to survive with little to no help.
The narrator of this book, Scott Aiello does a great job getting the story to life.
Last man standing is a story of a man (and a parrot) desperate to survive. Ray Barclay is the only survivor after an attack on a space center, but the problems has only just begun. This is book 1 in The Earthburst saga.
I have no idea how possible all of the things that happen are. And some things seemed unrealistic, but the story itself and the execution was good, entertaining, a little scary, and sometimes even a little funny. I also liked how Ray solved all the problems he faced, and how he managed to keep calm, or as calm as you can in a situation like this. All in all a good, entertaining book that I recommend if you like space, sci-fi or one man trying to survive with little to no help.
The narrator of this book, Scott Aiello does a great job getting the story to life.
January 17, 2023
I'm (almost) out of time.
...time to spend reading this book, that is. I admit, I didn't finish this. (I *did*! see Update below) At about 5% in, I started glossing over the text where Falconer was trying to say something in a chapter that should have been a paragraph. At 30% in, I couldn't take it anymore. Too. Many. Words.
.
The premise (at least in the first third) is good! I like the character, and the story is compelling, but the getting there was taking far, far too long for me, and I couldn't see that changing. 400+ pages was going to be too long. This went in my "abandoned" list - which isn't a long list.
.
I see that some reviewers hung in there, and were rewarded with something they really liked. Maybe I'll revisit this book sometime, but not today.
Oh yeah! One real complaint about the story: If our guy is on a space station, how come so many things are "too heavy?" I didn't think gravity was a thing up there.
.
Update: I un-gave-up, and I'm giving it another go. I do want to see how it turns out, but I don't want to slog through all of the (IMHO) extra words. What I'm doing now is *skimming* the pages-long descriptions of esoterica, and trying to land on the parts where something actually moves the plot along.
Final note: finished! Must have been ok, because I'm starting part 2 ...
...time to spend reading this book, that is. I admit, I didn't finish this. (I *did*! see Update below) At about 5% in, I started glossing over the text where Falconer was trying to say something in a chapter that should have been a paragraph. At 30% in, I couldn't take it anymore. Too. Many. Words.
.
The premise (at least in the first third) is good! I like the character, and the story is compelling, but the getting there was taking far, far too long for me, and I couldn't see that changing. 400+ pages was going to be too long. This went in my "abandoned" list - which isn't a long list.
.
I see that some reviewers hung in there, and were rewarded with something they really liked. Maybe I'll revisit this book sometime, but not today.
Oh yeah! One real complaint about the story: If our guy is on a space station, how come so many things are "too heavy?" I didn't think gravity was a thing up there.
.
Update: I un-gave-up, and I'm giving it another go. I do want to see how it turns out, but I don't want to slog through all of the (IMHO) extra words. What I'm doing now is *skimming* the pages-long descriptions of esoterica, and trying to land on the parts where something actually moves the plot along.
Final note: finished! Must have been ok, because I'm starting part 2 ...
May 31, 2023
I'm not sure why anyone would leave more than a one star review for this book.
I didn't like the book at all but kept pushing through in order to finish it. And by pushing through, I mean, skimming. A lot of skimming. This tells me the author could have made this into a short story as it feels like there is too much repetitious filler.
The author tried to create some depth with the main character but the effort fell flat. There is just no dimension or depth to any of the characters at all. The only character I cared about was the parrot.
I'm guessing the main problem with this book comes down to the author not having a scientific background or at least a basic understanding of science. If he does have this background he should allow that voice to come through in his writing, you know, in a story about a scientist??
My first book by this author and most likely my last.
I didn't like the book at all but kept pushing through in order to finish it. And by pushing through, I mean, skimming. A lot of skimming. This tells me the author could have made this into a short story as it feels like there is too much repetitious filler.
The author tried to create some depth with the main character but the effort fell flat. There is just no dimension or depth to any of the characters at all. The only character I cared about was the parrot.
I'm guessing the main problem with this book comes down to the author not having a scientific background or at least a basic understanding of science. If he does have this background he should allow that voice to come through in his writing, you know, in a story about a scientist??
My first book by this author and most likely my last.
March 13, 2025
3.5…..engaging for sure, because every time I turned around another insurmountable problem arose AND THEN the most improbable thing would come up or work out, so our hero could stumble to the NEXT crazy coincidence! OH SURE, OF COURSE! I actually yelled out loud. I was telling a friend about what was happening in the book and how I had to set it down because there was ANOTHER unbelievable incident and I just needed to walk away. I later texted him:(spoiler alert) “You'll be pleased to know my space scientist has managed to create a passable set of glasses from safety goggle frames, and the magnifying glass insets from the insect cages in the science wing”
Anyway, I thought it was a trilogy. Just finished the first book and see there are NINE BOOKS! Will I keep going? I might. How much crazier could it get?
Anyway, I thought it was a trilogy. Just finished the first book and see there are NINE BOOKS! Will I keep going? I might. How much crazier could it get?
February 2, 2023
There's definitely something about this novel that kept me reading, well, skimming, then skipping whole chapters, then multiple chapters at a time. But I really, really wanted to get to the end. Unfortunately, this novel has no "end," just a pit stop along the plot for some emotionally satisfying partial resolutions on the way to TWO MORE of these. I will not be along for the rest of the journey.
So, the plotting kept me wanting more. But that's it.
This is a first draft.
Falconer badly, badly needs an editor. He could cut 1/2 to 2/3 of the prose to dramatically improve the book. If the first book is any indication, this trilogy could and should be one tight novel. The main character is painfully breezy, informal and self-referential in the first person. The worst part - the character uses the adverb "MAJORLY" so many times, I lost count. Painful.
Also, so much woolgathering. Every thought that comes into this character's head goes straight to the page. So an event that should take a paragraph to recount takes 5 or 10. Just ... painful. Falconer is not a bad writer. This novel is just painfully unpolished.
There are lots of situations that stretch - no, completely fracture credulity:
Why did the rich guy go in the sleep coffin for just a few days, when he didn't need to sleep at all?
Why did he have zero security?
Why is the entire nefarious plan in a spreadsheet on an unlocked laptop? Why did it require the henchman to ENTER the sleeping billionaire's cabin to enter a time and date? Wasn't this all pre-planned?
Why did the company put a robot with a wrecking ball on a SPACE STATION?
The bad guys can still somehow get the magic fuel from the BOTTOM of the OCEAN after setting off an explosion AT THAT LOCATION that is large enough to make the entire earth uninhabitable.
The bad guys are ready to set off an interstellar journey when their fuel enrichment technology hasn't even been proven to work and their sleep technology is still in animal testing.
The psych profiles of the ENTIRE company, including the founder, are just sitting on an unencrypted flash drive by a first aid kit.
I hate writing negative reviews. So let's be honest - I'm angry that such a book exists and seems to have such success, that so many people call it mindblowing. This is my little resistance to those sci-fi fans that will read literally anything with a spaceship and love it no matter how bad it is.
Again, there is something fantastic here. It's buried deep. The escape from a space station - the twists, all the cool technology. It's fun and interesting. But it needs massive editing.
So, the plotting kept me wanting more. But that's it.
This is a first draft.
Falconer badly, badly needs an editor. He could cut 1/2 to 2/3 of the prose to dramatically improve the book. If the first book is any indication, this trilogy could and should be one tight novel. The main character is painfully breezy, informal and self-referential in the first person. The worst part - the character uses the adverb "MAJORLY" so many times, I lost count. Painful.
Also, so much woolgathering. Every thought that comes into this character's head goes straight to the page. So an event that should take a paragraph to recount takes 5 or 10. Just ... painful. Falconer is not a bad writer. This novel is just painfully unpolished.
There are lots of situations that stretch - no, completely fracture credulity:
Why did the rich guy go in the sleep coffin for just a few days, when he didn't need to sleep at all?
Why did he have zero security?
Why is the entire nefarious plan in a spreadsheet on an unlocked laptop? Why did it require the henchman to ENTER the sleeping billionaire's cabin to enter a time and date? Wasn't this all pre-planned?
Why did the company put a robot with a wrecking ball on a SPACE STATION?
The bad guys can still somehow get the magic fuel from the BOTTOM of the OCEAN after setting off an explosion AT THAT LOCATION that is large enough to make the entire earth uninhabitable.
The bad guys are ready to set off an interstellar journey when their fuel enrichment technology hasn't even been proven to work and their sleep technology is still in animal testing.
The psych profiles of the ENTIRE company, including the founder, are just sitting on an unencrypted flash drive by a first aid kit.
I hate writing negative reviews. So let's be honest - I'm angry that such a book exists and seems to have such success, that so many people call it mindblowing. This is my little resistance to those sci-fi fans that will read literally anything with a spaceship and love it no matter how bad it is.
Again, there is something fantastic here. It's buried deep. The escape from a space station - the twists, all the cool technology. It's fun and interesting. But it needs massive editing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2024
"Last Man Standing: Earthburst, Book 1" by Craig A. Falconer is the 1st book in The Earthburst Saga. It is a gripping sci-fi thriller that dives deep into the survival and mystery genres. The story follows Ray Barclay, a visiting researcher on the International Space Station (ISS), who finds himself in a dire situation when he returns to the main module only to discover that everyone else is dead. With limited life support and no way to contact Earth, Ray must uncover the truth behind the catastrophe and find a way to survive and protect his family.
The narrative is intense and fast-paced, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Ray navigates through the ISS, solving various problems and uncovering clues about the incident. Falconer's writing is detailed and well-researched, providing a believable and immersive experience of life in space. The first-person perspective allows readers to experience Ray's thoughts and emotions, making his struggle and determination relatable and compelling.
Scott Aiello's narration of the audiobook brings Ray to life, capturing the character's wit, resourcefulness, and vulnerability. Aiello's ability to convey emotions effectively enhances the listening experience, making the story even more engaging. His voice acting adds depth to the characters and helps listeners visualize the scenes vividly.
The audiobook is well-paced, with a balance of action, suspense, and moments of reflection. Aiello's clear and expressive voice ensures that listeners remain hooked from start to finish.
In conclusion, "Last Man Standing: Earthburst, Book 1" is a thrilling and well-crafted sci-fi novel that offers a gripping tale of survival and mystery. Scott Aiello's narration elevates the story, making it a must-listen for fans of the genre. With its strong character development, engaging plot, and excellent production quality, this audiobook is a standout in the sci-fi thriller category. However, the abrupt ending was a little unexpected.
The narrative is intense and fast-paced, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Ray navigates through the ISS, solving various problems and uncovering clues about the incident. Falconer's writing is detailed and well-researched, providing a believable and immersive experience of life in space. The first-person perspective allows readers to experience Ray's thoughts and emotions, making his struggle and determination relatable and compelling.
Scott Aiello's narration of the audiobook brings Ray to life, capturing the character's wit, resourcefulness, and vulnerability. Aiello's ability to convey emotions effectively enhances the listening experience, making the story even more engaging. His voice acting adds depth to the characters and helps listeners visualize the scenes vividly.
The audiobook is well-paced, with a balance of action, suspense, and moments of reflection. Aiello's clear and expressive voice ensures that listeners remain hooked from start to finish.
In conclusion, "Last Man Standing: Earthburst, Book 1" is a thrilling and well-crafted sci-fi novel that offers a gripping tale of survival and mystery. Scott Aiello's narration elevates the story, making it a must-listen for fans of the genre. With its strong character development, engaging plot, and excellent production quality, this audiobook is a standout in the sci-fi thriller category. However, the abrupt ending was a little unexpected.
January 27, 2023
I liked the story overall,enough to buy the second instalment. I like the first-person narration, and the character.
BUT….
I agree with many other reviewers that it was very wordy,often repetitively so, and ended up doing quite a lot of skimming.
It’s a given in sci-fi that you need to accept technological advances, eg ‘wormholes’ or ‘star drives’, but for me getting the basics right is a must. For example:If you are on a spacewalk outside your vehicle, you don’t ‘run out of momentum’ when you switch off your thrusters. A ‘volatile mineral’ capable of destroying the earth would have done so millions of years ago.
And why was You-know-who in suspended animation yet he had a hot tub full of hot water?
There were strong similarities to The Martian,and Project Hail Mary, with the main protagonist alone and McGyvering his way through impossible odds. There’s even a non-human sidekick. I liked him.
As I said, the story was entertaining, and I am now sufficiently invested in the character to read on…
BUT….
I agree with many other reviewers that it was very wordy,often repetitively so, and ended up doing quite a lot of skimming.
It’s a given in sci-fi that you need to accept technological advances, eg ‘wormholes’ or ‘star drives’, but for me getting the basics right is a must. For example:If you are on a spacewalk outside your vehicle, you don’t ‘run out of momentum’ when you switch off your thrusters. A ‘volatile mineral’ capable of destroying the earth would have done so millions of years ago.
And why was You-know-who in suspended animation yet he had a hot tub full of hot water?
There were strong similarities to The Martian,and Project Hail Mary, with the main protagonist alone and McGyvering his way through impossible odds. There’s even a non-human sidekick. I liked him.
As I said, the story was entertaining, and I am now sufficiently invested in the character to read on…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2022
Fun reading, but the author is not a real scientist
I mostly enjoyed the book, but there were some unscientific or at least incorrect things that killed me.
The author apparently doesn't wear corrective lenses, because he doesn't know that they aren't for magnification, but focal length. The point is to focus the image on the back of the retina. Plus, anybody going to space wearing contacts will have spares, even if they are fancy 10-year lenses... Not to mention glasses. You have backups for your backups in space. So that whole plot line failed the sniff test.
There were other things too, but I just couldn't get over this one.
There were some surprises too, which kept me going.
I mostly enjoyed the book, but there were some unscientific or at least incorrect things that killed me.
The author apparently doesn't wear corrective lenses, because he doesn't know that they aren't for magnification, but focal length. The point is to focus the image on the back of the retina. Plus, anybody going to space wearing contacts will have spares, even if they are fancy 10-year lenses... Not to mention glasses. You have backups for your backups in space. So that whole plot line failed the sniff test.
There were other things too, but I just couldn't get over this one.
There were some surprises too, which kept me going.
January 26, 2024
The grocery store brand version of The Martian with even worse/more cheesy inner monologue. The foreshadowing is some of the worst I’ve experienced; [main character takes out only pair of contacts and sets them on the lip of the sink while washing his face] “I’m blind without those, if anything bad were to happen to them, I would be absolutely screwed!”
You cannot possibly imagine what happened next.
You cannot possibly imagine what happened next.
April 28, 2024
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For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
I absolutely loved every moment of this! Last Man Standing is a riveting hybrid sci-fi, apocalyptic, mystery-thriller that’s tense, twisty and loads of fun! While I was reading this, my mind kept trying to find something that reminded me of this, it went all over the place from Gravity to Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day… but eventually I realized there was a perfect comp that was staring me right in the face with the title, and that’s when it hit me, the Fox sitcom starring Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth! TLMoE takes place on Earth, while LMS takes place on space station, though it does have a few elements, the story revolves around solving the mystery of how his fellow space station companions all died, who did it, and is happening everywhere else.
What hit me most about this was just how likable the main character, Ray Barclay is, Falconer did such a great job of making him a character to want to root for, from the moment he’s introduced, he just gave off a vibe that I really liked. As the story went on, I just started to like him even more, especially when he mentioned that everything he’s doing is to get back to his family. The development he went through and learning more about his past that lead to his growth to who he is now. With the comparison of the sitcom, Ray actually reminds me a bit of Forte’s character, of an ill-fated character that seems to always accidentally put himself into precarious situations while trying to fix something and causing another issue at the same time, it led to some fantastic giggles while being edgy. On top of all that, we must not forget the parrot, that’s another addition that made me giggle throughout the story.
“Curiosity killed the cat and it almost just got the human and the parrot, too.”
I love the decision to not only go with short chapters, but also go with a first person POV for the story, it made it a lot more engaging and a lot more fun when Ray got himself into situations that he had to get himself out of, I would like to talk about a lot of it, but at the same time, people need to experience it without knowing and have fun for the ride. The way this ends was perfect, I’m not gonna call it a cliff-hanger, but it had a somewhat happy-ish ending that left a tinge of excitement to see where things were going to lead in book 2. The narration by Scott Aiello made this story and Ray absolutely come alive, without his narration, I think this would’ve still been good, but it wouldn’t be near as good without him getting deep into character with Ray.
For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
I absolutely loved every moment of this! Last Man Standing is a riveting hybrid sci-fi, apocalyptic, mystery-thriller that’s tense, twisty and loads of fun! While I was reading this, my mind kept trying to find something that reminded me of this, it went all over the place from Gravity to Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day… but eventually I realized there was a perfect comp that was staring me right in the face with the title, and that’s when it hit me, the Fox sitcom starring Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth! TLMoE takes place on Earth, while LMS takes place on space station, though it does have a few elements, the story revolves around solving the mystery of how his fellow space station companions all died, who did it, and is happening everywhere else.
What hit me most about this was just how likable the main character, Ray Barclay is, Falconer did such a great job of making him a character to want to root for, from the moment he’s introduced, he just gave off a vibe that I really liked. As the story went on, I just started to like him even more, especially when he mentioned that everything he’s doing is to get back to his family. The development he went through and learning more about his past that lead to his growth to who he is now. With the comparison of the sitcom, Ray actually reminds me a bit of Forte’s character, of an ill-fated character that seems to always accidentally put himself into precarious situations while trying to fix something and causing another issue at the same time, it led to some fantastic giggles while being edgy. On top of all that, we must not forget the parrot, that’s another addition that made me giggle throughout the story.
“Curiosity killed the cat and it almost just got the human and the parrot, too.”
I love the decision to not only go with short chapters, but also go with a first person POV for the story, it made it a lot more engaging and a lot more fun when Ray got himself into situations that he had to get himself out of, I would like to talk about a lot of it, but at the same time, people need to experience it without knowing and have fun for the ride. The way this ends was perfect, I’m not gonna call it a cliff-hanger, but it had a somewhat happy-ish ending that left a tinge of excitement to see where things were going to lead in book 2. The narration by Scott Aiello made this story and Ray absolutely come alive, without his narration, I think this would’ve still been good, but it wouldn’t be near as good without him getting deep into character with Ray.
October 18, 2022
This was an awesome audiobook, I finished a couple of days ago the Hail Mary (audiobook) and I must say that this one is as good, if you liked the hail Mary you will like this one, maybe is not that big on science, but in the other hand the main character in this book sounds more relatable, he is a broken human with his fears, flaws and traumas just like you and me and I did enjoy that a lot.
And when Ray thinks about his past is not as detailed as in Andy weir books and that for me was a plus. The only down of this book is, that it is a trilogy and we will need to read what comes next to know the end of the story, but that is not a deal breaker for me.
Also the person that was reading this book, Scott Aiello was the PERFECT voice to give life to Ray, and all the cast of this book, this was 5 out of 5 I loved each minute of this audiobook. I highly recommend this Audiobook.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for the Wonderful AAC and this is my honest opinion.
And when Ray thinks about his past is not as detailed as in Andy weir books and that for me was a plus. The only down of this book is, that it is a trilogy and we will need to read what comes next to know the end of the story, but that is not a deal breaker for me.
Also the person that was reading this book, Scott Aiello was the PERFECT voice to give life to Ray, and all the cast of this book, this was 5 out of 5 I loved each minute of this audiobook. I highly recommend this Audiobook.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for the Wonderful AAC and this is my honest opinion.
December 10, 2024
I absolutely LOVE alone in space novels. This is no exception. A bit slow paced, but Ray sure does do a lot in the span of only a few days. The beginning of the book could be called a series of unfortunate events. Poor guy couldn’t catch a break. I love Laika so much. And even Bex. What a way to end the book! I can’t wait to see what happens next. The book definitely took a bit of a different turn than I expected but I really enjoyed it. Ray is funny, quirky, smart, resourceful, and a really great character to read the perspective of the book from.
February 15, 2023
Exciting storyline!
Despite being the last man, there are other characters that Ray has to both help and
hinder him in his mission. The story will keep you intrigued and sometimes asking yourself "could this really happen?" Because it seems all too possible...
A very good read, I look forward to more!
Despite being the last man, there are other characters that Ray has to both help and
hinder him in his mission. The story will keep you intrigued and sometimes asking yourself "could this really happen?" Because it seems all too possible...
A very good read, I look forward to more!
November 3, 2022
Wow - this book is a hot mess. I loved the Not Alone series. This one doesn't even begin to compare. The plot is predictable and wanders thru needless and predictable hurdles that the protagonist must overcome. The author repeats plot references that the reader doesn't need. I don't need to be reminded about what happened 10 pages ago! I kept reading because I thought it's got to get better. But it didn't. I won't be reading any other books in this series.
I listened on Audible. They chose the wrong narrator. The writing had humor, but the narrator chose a sarcastic, ironic tone. It was painful to listen to. It was not the same narrator as Not Alone.
I listened on Audible. They chose the wrong narrator. The writing had humor, but the narrator chose a sarcastic, ironic tone. It was painful to listen to. It was not the same narrator as Not Alone.
November 20, 2023
I'm not sure what to make of this book.
This book had a very familiar story arc, something about it just tickled my memory a bit. Having a protagonist 'science the shyte' out of his own rescue, is just so darn familiar. Hmmm...
On a serious note, yeah this book had a Martian vibe throughout it. A man in space facing impossible odds, has to figure out how to get himself out of his current situation. But that is where the similarities ended, and the books diverged in completely different directions. For starters, I found the protagonist of Last Man Standing, annoying, unbelievable, and a tad bit too whiney. He starts off the book constantly complaining about an accident that happened when he was a teen that left him with a messed up right arm. He has this fetish about remembering that one teacher that told him he would amount to nothing. And he constantly found himself in situations in which he was in constant trouble for no good reason outside of the author thought the story needed a twist, and he mysteriously, happened to have that one skillet needed to get him out of it. If it wasn't a skillet, then it was that one time at space camp, when he read that comic book, and the mysteries to that robotic interface was there all along. Basically, insert plot device X, spend a paragraph explaining how all hope is lost, only to conveniently have the protagonist have a way to solve it... rinse-repeat at nauseum.
This book reads like the first draft of a first novel by an author. As a result, the story telling felt very amateurish, and I found myself being pulled away from the story when I had to groan over certain passages. I did manage to finish this book, but there's nothing in this story to convince me to check out the next volume. I think I will be skipping the rest of this series.
This book had a very familiar story arc, something about it just tickled my memory a bit. Having a protagonist 'science the shyte' out of his own rescue, is just so darn familiar. Hmmm...
On a serious note, yeah this book had a Martian vibe throughout it. A man in space facing impossible odds, has to figure out how to get himself out of his current situation. But that is where the similarities ended, and the books diverged in completely different directions. For starters, I found the protagonist of Last Man Standing, annoying, unbelievable, and a tad bit too whiney. He starts off the book constantly complaining about an accident that happened when he was a teen that left him with a messed up right arm. He has this fetish about remembering that one teacher that told him he would amount to nothing. And he constantly found himself in situations in which he was in constant trouble for no good reason outside of the author thought the story needed a twist, and he mysteriously, happened to have that one skillet needed to get him out of it. If it wasn't a skillet, then it was that one time at space camp, when he read that comic book, and the mysteries to that robotic interface was there all along. Basically, insert plot device X, spend a paragraph explaining how all hope is lost, only to conveniently have the protagonist have a way to solve it... rinse-repeat at nauseum.
This book reads like the first draft of a first novel by an author. As a result, the story telling felt very amateurish, and I found myself being pulled away from the story when I had to groan over certain passages. I did manage to finish this book, but there's nothing in this story to convince me to check out the next volume. I think I will be skipping the rest of this series.
February 10, 2024
I am having a very hard time rating this book. The first few chapters were 4 stars ( about 1/8th of the book) and then it became diarrhea of the mouth. Too many word, no forward momentum and repetitive paragraphs that did nothing but irritate me.
I have a broken foot right now and am non weight bearing, so plenty of time to read ( the only bonus) and. Still could not read more than a certain amount of time, because the next 3/4 of the book was just too horrible to read, for more than a few pages at a time. ZERO star time.
The last Part picked up and was great..4 star again.
If this book had been much shorter- take out the entire middle part and turn it into 3 chapters it would have been much better
But I LOVE the bird!
2 stars
I have a broken foot right now and am non weight bearing, so plenty of time to read ( the only bonus) and. Still could not read more than a certain amount of time, because the next 3/4 of the book was just too horrible to read, for more than a few pages at a time. ZERO star time.
The last Part picked up and was great..4 star again.
If this book had been much shorter- take out the entire middle part and turn it into 3 chapters it would have been much better
But I LOVE the bird!
2 stars
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