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The Foundry #1
The Foundry
Beware the helping hand. What it offers, may not be what we expect.
It is near the end of the 21st century. Persistent war, overpopulation, and climate change have caused poverty and natural disasters like mankind has never known. When a signal offering assistance reaches Earth from an alien entity calling itself The Foundry, humanity plans a mission to the stars for first contact. In the midst of this, Milo Hughes is just another five-year-old boy who wishes nothing more than to doodle with crayons and dig in the dirt, while his parents secretly plot to join the mission—whether they were invited or not.
Caught as stowaways aboard the interstellar vessel the Vasco Da Gama, the Hughes family must convince the ship’s captain to let them stay. Milo must start over, leaving everything behind for the forty-year mission.
Twenty years to the Foundry, and twenty years back. If they can survive.
Not part of the mission plan, and living in the shadow of world-class scientist obsessed with their work, Milo has to grow up and find his own path. His own purpose.
Can the Foundry help him? Can it help humanity?
When Milo comes face to face with the mysterious entity, he alone can answer these questions. His survival, and all of humanity, depend on it.
It is near the end of the 21st century. Persistent war, overpopulation, and climate change have caused poverty and natural disasters like mankind has never known. When a signal offering assistance reaches Earth from an alien entity calling itself The Foundry, humanity plans a mission to the stars for first contact. In the midst of this, Milo Hughes is just another five-year-old boy who wishes nothing more than to doodle with crayons and dig in the dirt, while his parents secretly plot to join the mission—whether they were invited or not.
Caught as stowaways aboard the interstellar vessel the Vasco Da Gama, the Hughes family must convince the ship’s captain to let them stay. Milo must start over, leaving everything behind for the forty-year mission.
Twenty years to the Foundry, and twenty years back. If they can survive.
Not part of the mission plan, and living in the shadow of world-class scientist obsessed with their work, Milo has to grow up and find his own path. His own purpose.
Can the Foundry help him? Can it help humanity?
When Milo comes face to face with the mysterious entity, he alone can answer these questions. His survival, and all of humanity, depend on it.
- GenresScience FictionFantasy
452 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2022
175 people are currently reading
1829 people want to read
About the author
J. Fitzpatrick Mauldin
11 books41 followersJ. Fitzpatrick Mauldin is a science fiction and fantasy writer based in Atlanta, Georgia, where he lives with his bibliophilic wife and two daughters. Destined to be a nerd by birth, the product of a science, history, and engineering obsessed father and grandfather, he had no other option than to let his creative juices flow onto paper. Not a single genre writer, he explores many facets and sub genres of SFF such as cheesy horror, sci-fi satire, flintlock fantasy, and speculative fiction. Like many authors, genre niches are not what tend to arouse inspiration in him, but rather, what a character can do within a compelling setting. He seeks to explore grand events and extraordinary times while plumbing the depths of the human condition from life unto death—and beyond.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 1, 2026
We've all asked the question at one time or another, "What's out there?". This simple question comes with many more, such as, "Is it malicious?" "Will it be a friend?" "Will it be indifferent?" What if it was all of these, and yet, none of these?
In the Foundry, I set out to explore humanities not too distant future and the prospect of an unconventional first contact. We've reached a point in history where something has to change, or we won't make it as a species.
These questions and more are ones which Milo Hughes is forced to answer by the choices his parents made when he was five years old, while at the same time, because of them, being left with many questions of his own. "Who am I?" "What choices do I have in life?" "Do my parents love me, or am I just an object to them?" "Do I matter?"
I hope you enjoy his journey through the dark of space, exploring both the wonder and fear that the unknown encompasses as he learns to accept himself, rescue the found family he's come to love from a terrible fate, and perhaps, just maybe even save Earth from itself.
In the Foundry, I set out to explore humanities not too distant future and the prospect of an unconventional first contact. We've reached a point in history where something has to change, or we won't make it as a species.
These questions and more are ones which Milo Hughes is forced to answer by the choices his parents made when he was five years old, while at the same time, because of them, being left with many questions of his own. "Who am I?" "What choices do I have in life?" "Do my parents love me, or am I just an object to them?" "Do I matter?"
I hope you enjoy his journey through the dark of space, exploring both the wonder and fear that the unknown encompasses as he learns to accept himself, rescue the found family he's come to love from a terrible fate, and perhaps, just maybe even save Earth from itself.
December 30, 2022
This book was recommended to me by one of my friends. I had never heard of this author before and didn't go in with any expectations. Little did I know this would be one of my top favorites of the year.
Written in the vein of authors like Alastair Reynolds and Adrian Tchaikovsky, the Foundry is an exciting, memorable adventure into the deep unknowns of the universe. Loaded with wonder, action, great characters, and big ideas that make you stop and think. If this sounds interesting to you, give it a go.
Written in the vein of authors like Alastair Reynolds and Adrian Tchaikovsky, the Foundry is an exciting, memorable adventure into the deep unknowns of the universe. Loaded with wonder, action, great characters, and big ideas that make you stop and think. If this sounds interesting to you, give it a go.
June 17, 2022
I really enjoyed it. The scale was grand but very personable. I might have nightmares about the possibilities of space & technology but still worth a read!
October 18, 2022
good book by a new-to-me author
March 24, 2025
I don’t normally reach for heavy sci-fi books, but this one really intrigued me and I’m so glad I won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway! The plot was so incredibly interesting. I really loved that the story progressed as Milo grew up - it made the characters so much more relatable because you saw the entire progression through the lens of their era of life. This is a definite recommendation from me, especially if you are interested in space and what else is out there.
October 29, 2023
Great sci fi adventure
But I skimmed the last 10%. The book is well-written and imaginative and ends on a hopeful note, but the overall tone is grim. There is a high body count (including named characters) with graphic violence. The time issues gave me a headache (and may give me nightmares; I really don't like time dilation). Although Milo is 5 years old when the book begins, The Foundry is in no way a children's story. Hard sci fi is in the title, so I was warned. I would have loved this book when I was younger; now, I hope to read happier stories.
But I skimmed the last 10%. The book is well-written and imaginative and ends on a hopeful note, but the overall tone is grim. There is a high body count (including named characters) with graphic violence. The time issues gave me a headache (and may give me nightmares; I really don't like time dilation). Although Milo is 5 years old when the book begins, The Foundry is in no way a children's story. Hard sci fi is in the title, so I was warned. I would have loved this book when I was younger; now, I hope to read happier stories.
dnf
September 7, 2023DNF @ 3% I received a copy of this ebook in a Goodreads giveaway. Not my type of sci-fi.
January 19, 2024
The overall plot was just interesting enough to hold my attention, but the lengthy dialogue and monologues telling rather than showing backstory and action. The climate change, doomed earth trope was hammered into our heads so hard my head hurt - and I agree with these opinions. But I don't need to read them over and over. More time should have been spent on a convincing plot and characters that had more depth.
This novel read more like a screenplay for a CW or Scyfy channel show. The author was so focused on relaying its major themes that he forgot to produce a believable plot and flesh out more interesting well-rounded characters. He couldn't put a finger on how to best demonstrate real connection between characters and or form a bond between the reader and the characters. We just didn't get enough examples to really to care.
Character motivations were so spotty and unclear. Dialogue was so flat. There were no real examples of the little things people do in their everyday lives that show us who they are. He simply told us.There wasn't much that showed us the raw essence of each character, what there actions meant and we couldn't really get to know their personalities through their actions. It's the description of little actions and reactions between characters that show us who they are and the nature of their relationships. There was not enough meat there to complete this meal.
I want to feel the characters aches and pains, not be told that they feel this and that. Don't give me one of the same examples over and over. Show me all the angst until I feel it to my very core. Character development and growth was completely lost on the author. A story that doesn't show the depths of its characters or show scenes and dialogue that express their individuality will always fall flat. No matter how cool the science, or interesting the world building is readers won't feel obligated to keep reading because they haven't formed any real connection to the characters and cannot fully invest in the plot.
And the female character? Don't get me started. They were incredibly weak-minded even though we are told they are smart.
Then halfway through the novel. Things shifted. It's like the clouds parted and the sky opened up. It was an incredible world full of wonder. The focus on the friendship of two characters are what I had been begging to experience this whole time! It felt like it took ages to get here. The action started coming together, some character building started to develop, it began to get real. Then they found the others and it got flat again.
Spoiler:
The alien worlds explored were so cool. Those chapters were the best of the book. I even started to develop a real connection to the friendship between Milo and Esteban. Then they joined the others on this new planet and things got ridiculous again.
James couldn't forgive Milo for what? Wanting to save his parents. That's just ridiculously immature. Friends don't act this way.
Overall, The Foundry was an unmotivated story with, flat characters, too much social commentary included in the dialogue, and an unreasonable attempt at a plot.
This book took so long for me to get through, I almost gave up. it was just too easy to want to put down. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. But I sure as heck didn't like it.
This novel read more like a screenplay for a CW or Scyfy channel show. The author was so focused on relaying its major themes that he forgot to produce a believable plot and flesh out more interesting well-rounded characters. He couldn't put a finger on how to best demonstrate real connection between characters and or form a bond between the reader and the characters. We just didn't get enough examples to really to care.
Character motivations were so spotty and unclear. Dialogue was so flat. There were no real examples of the little things people do in their everyday lives that show us who they are. He simply told us.There wasn't much that showed us the raw essence of each character, what there actions meant and we couldn't really get to know their personalities through their actions. It's the description of little actions and reactions between characters that show us who they are and the nature of their relationships. There was not enough meat there to complete this meal.
I want to feel the characters aches and pains, not be told that they feel this and that. Don't give me one of the same examples over and over. Show me all the angst until I feel it to my very core. Character development and growth was completely lost on the author. A story that doesn't show the depths of its characters or show scenes and dialogue that express their individuality will always fall flat. No matter how cool the science, or interesting the world building is readers won't feel obligated to keep reading because they haven't formed any real connection to the characters and cannot fully invest in the plot.
And the female character? Don't get me started. They were incredibly weak-minded even though we are told they are smart.
Then halfway through the novel. Things shifted. It's like the clouds parted and the sky opened up. It was an incredible world full of wonder. The focus on the friendship of two characters are what I had been begging to experience this whole time! It felt like it took ages to get here. The action started coming together, some character building started to develop, it began to get real. Then they found the others and it got flat again.
Spoiler:
The alien worlds explored were so cool. Those chapters were the best of the book. I even started to develop a real connection to the friendship between Milo and Esteban. Then they joined the others on this new planet and things got ridiculous again.
James couldn't forgive Milo for what? Wanting to save his parents. That's just ridiculously immature. Friends don't act this way.
Overall, The Foundry was an unmotivated story with, flat characters, too much social commentary included in the dialogue, and an unreasonable attempt at a plot.
This book took so long for me to get through, I almost gave up. it was just too easy to want to put down. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. But I sure as heck didn't like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2023
Book: **** (3 1/2)
Performance: ***
This book was billed as a Hard SciFi Space Opera … which for most people would be an oxymoron … and in this specific case hold true; although there is an inconsistent attempt to keep the science good, the primary focus is on the drama at the expense of the science. Fortunately the story is still entertaining, once you get beyond the extremely boring and frustrating prospect of a very young child (age 5ish) stuck on a 40 year deep space mission (presumably because the original crew might not make it the whole way). Unfortunately … that takes up a good portion of the beginning of the book.
The mission is a response to an ET message saying come find us … so the earth, in a desperate attempt to find help that might save humanity from its poor stewardship of the earth, sends out a handful of ships (redundant missions show how desperate the situation is). There is a lot of juvenile drama on the trip out until the finally get to The Foundry … and everything falls apart. Not only are we not alone, there is a veritable menagerie of aliens and they are not all friendly. One one side are competing philosophies on how to protect ALL life and a few trippy parts exploring post humanism and genetic manipulation (just a little). It does get a little over the top and preachy at times … but you should expect that with a space opera … so set phasers to max and just bring it … and have a little fun.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheFoundry #FreeAudiobkFacebkGrp #KindleUnlimited
Performance: ***
This book was billed as a Hard SciFi Space Opera … which for most people would be an oxymoron … and in this specific case hold true; although there is an inconsistent attempt to keep the science good, the primary focus is on the drama at the expense of the science. Fortunately the story is still entertaining, once you get beyond the extremely boring and frustrating prospect of a very young child (age 5ish) stuck on a 40 year deep space mission (presumably because the original crew might not make it the whole way). Unfortunately … that takes up a good portion of the beginning of the book.
The mission is a response to an ET message saying come find us … so the earth, in a desperate attempt to find help that might save humanity from its poor stewardship of the earth, sends out a handful of ships (redundant missions show how desperate the situation is). There is a lot of juvenile drama on the trip out until the finally get to The Foundry … and everything falls apart. Not only are we not alone, there is a veritable menagerie of aliens and they are not all friendly. One one side are competing philosophies on how to protect ALL life and a few trippy parts exploring post humanism and genetic manipulation (just a little). It does get a little over the top and preachy at times … but you should expect that with a space opera … so set phasers to max and just bring it … and have a little fun.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheFoundry #FreeAudiobkFacebkGrp #KindleUnlimited
May 22, 2024
The story fluctuates between seriousness and cringe, making it hard for me to adjust my expectation. Sometimes it is philosophical, yet other times, especially during the encounter with the alien species, too cliche.
The space battle is not convincing.
It is also hard to accept the outcome of the final battle . There is an attempt to make sense of the illogical decision, but the reasoning was weak.
Last but not least, while the author could've ended the story with a tough tone that may induce deeper thoughts, he instead chose to keep the story alive for a sequel. The big problem is that to make that happen, a gigantic Deus ex machina was required. Given the build up of the story, the handling of the ending is a bit disapponiting.
In summary, I can give the first 80% of the book a passing grade, but unfortunately, the last 20% lacks merit. I will need a lot of convincing to read another installment in this series.
The space battle is not convincing.
It is also hard to accept the outcome of the final battle . There is an attempt to make sense of the illogical decision, but the reasoning was weak.
Last but not least, while the author could've ended the story with a tough tone that may induce deeper thoughts, he instead chose to keep the story alive for a sequel. The big problem is that to make that happen, a gigantic Deus ex machina was required. Given the build up of the story, the handling of the ending is a bit disapponiting.
In summary, I can give the first 80% of the book a passing grade, but unfortunately, the last 20% lacks merit. I will need a lot of convincing to read another installment in this series.
November 13, 2023
Just incredible !!!
Excellent story & perfect
timing.
The author J. Fitzpatrick Mauldin have started writing a series which fits perfectly in timing to the happening of the world of today’s date.
In perfect timing The author is writing about the doom of humanity on the planet Earth which can’t contain and feed the billions of people.
As I type this the planet has already started its fight for survival by crazy climate changes like storms and greenhouse effect, global warming, water level are rising, which means that wars are coming but not like the old territorial wars but more like wars over drinking water ( which will cost more then oil or gold ) and fruitful land for growing food, those are the wars of the future.
Excellent:
Hoping that the author will continue this into a series and that I’ll get an audio copy for reviewing.
Beautiful narration by Andrew Tell for each of the characters of this creation.
Without a doubt,
my full recommendations !!!
Oded Ostfeld.
Excellent story & perfect
timing.
The author J. Fitzpatrick Mauldin have started writing a series which fits perfectly in timing to the happening of the world of today’s date.
In perfect timing The author is writing about the doom of humanity on the planet Earth which can’t contain and feed the billions of people.
As I type this the planet has already started its fight for survival by crazy climate changes like storms and greenhouse effect, global warming, water level are rising, which means that wars are coming but not like the old territorial wars but more like wars over drinking water ( which will cost more then oil or gold ) and fruitful land for growing food, those are the wars of the future.
Excellent:
Hoping that the author will continue this into a series and that I’ll get an audio copy for reviewing.
Beautiful narration by Andrew Tell for each of the characters of this creation.
Without a doubt,
my full recommendations !!!
Oded Ostfeld.
November 11, 2024
Mauldin knows how to write a good narrative. Lots of unexpected turns, lots of good characters, lots of good aliens. I confess that I skipped over sections of Part I ... but only because they were slowing me down as I raced to find out what they would find at the Foundry. I look forward to the next Foundry books.
March 8, 2025
Absolutely excellent
Wondering how life on our planet may end is not what we want to think about, but here is a saga unlike any other of how it could go. Poor Milo starts out as a 5 year old boy and proceeds to grow up on a starship in hopes the Earth can be saved. And so it begins...
Wondering how life on our planet may end is not what we want to think about, but here is a saga unlike any other of how it could go. Poor Milo starts out as a 5 year old boy and proceeds to grow up on a starship in hopes the Earth can be saved. And so it begins...
December 18, 2023
Not a bad little romp through space. It did lose my interest towards the back third, but overall it was decent.
Promo images on the author’s website for this title are a little spoilery, and would be more suited to a book 2 in my opinion.
Promo images on the author’s website for this title are a little spoilery, and would be more suited to a book 2 in my opinion.
October 24, 2024
Fantastic
This book is seamless. Filled with spectacular characters and space events. Just loved it
I am anxiously waiting for another trip into space
This book is seamless. Filled with spectacular characters and space events. Just loved it
I am anxiously waiting for another trip into space
November 1, 2024
I revived this book as a goodreads giveaway. This had the right balance of pacing, science, aliens, and futurism to check the boxes for me. I liked that the aliens were far from cookie cutter.
November 4, 2024
Was sent it to review but I just couldn’t get into it. The plot sounds interesting, and I definitely will try to read it again one day. But my brain is too fogged at the moment to really dive in.
November 8, 2024
absolutely loved this book!!! Highly recommend.
June 29, 2025
WOW! Great scifi book about ships leaving earth to find The Foundry, an alien entry that saves lives.
May 18, 2025
Imaginative space adventure
I really enjoyed this book. It was long and took a while before I really became interested, but it was well worth it. The details of alien species and technology made the story even more interesting. The characters, including the main character, were well developed and likable.
I really enjoyed this book. It was long and took a while before I really became interested, but it was well worth it. The details of alien species and technology made the story even more interesting. The characters, including the main character, were well developed and likable.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews