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Kepler-186f
The Genesis mission promised a new start on Kepler-186f. A new start for Captain Nikkole Johnson, and a new start for humanity.
An elite soldier recruited to protect settlers on the new world, Johnson wakes from cryosleep to find that the mission went sideways thousands of years ago.
Most of the original crew has vanished. Those who remain know no more than she. Strange voices whisper in the trees and on the winds. Monsters attack in the night to carry off the survivors. To save what’s left of the mission, Johnson must discover what happened in the first place.
Before the ghosts of the past erase any chance of a future.
An elite soldier recruited to protect settlers on the new world, Johnson wakes from cryosleep to find that the mission went sideways thousands of years ago.
Most of the original crew has vanished. Those who remain know no more than she. Strange voices whisper in the trees and on the winds. Monsters attack in the night to carry off the survivors. To save what’s left of the mission, Johnson must discover what happened in the first place.
Before the ghosts of the past erase any chance of a future.
- GenresScience Fiction
422 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2022
2 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Ford
74 books126 followersRachel Ford lives in beautiful Central Wisconsin. She is a programmer, who works in everything from SQL to .NET to Cisco CVP and IVR. Her latest foray into new and exciting things has been developing custom Java plugins for CVP applications.
Rachel also enjoys recreating historically authentic jewelry, and mixing historical recreations with fantasy elements to create exciting new pieces.
When not designing jewelry or tinkering with computers, Rachel spends her time writing and reading science fiction and fantasy.
Rachel also enjoys recreating historically authentic jewelry, and mixing historical recreations with fantasy elements to create exciting new pieces.
When not designing jewelry or tinkering with computers, Rachel spends her time writing and reading science fiction and fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 13, 2022
At first, I'll admit, I wasn't sure what I was getting into...I mean, Lesbian Cannibals in Space was how it was pitched to me. Cue every B-rated SciFi movie you can think of.
And then I read the book.
Holy WoW! One of the best books I have read all year. Engaging, page-turning, thrilling, mortifying, thought-provoking.
When you take a look at the world around you and think to yourself, "yeah, this is hot garbage, but it's going to get better..." Ford's cautionary SciFi tale shows how very wrong that statement can be. What happens when human culture devolves over the course of 3,000 years? Can't answer that without ruining everything.
The SciFi aspects of space travel, technology, and planetary discovery was astounding as well. Honestly, I'd love to see this made into a movie. Netflix, are you listening?
Pick this up. You will not be disappointed.
And then I read the book.
Holy WoW! One of the best books I have read all year. Engaging, page-turning, thrilling, mortifying, thought-provoking.
When you take a look at the world around you and think to yourself, "yeah, this is hot garbage, but it's going to get better..." Ford's cautionary SciFi tale shows how very wrong that statement can be. What happens when human culture devolves over the course of 3,000 years? Can't answer that without ruining everything.
The SciFi aspects of space travel, technology, and planetary discovery was astounding as well. Honestly, I'd love to see this made into a movie. Netflix, are you listening?
Pick this up. You will not be disappointed.
December 22, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Told in a first-person perspective from Nikkole, this book is somewhat dry. Instead of descriptions of people and places, we get names, titles, and a sitrep. The trees are important for the cover they offer, not for their alien botany. Thing, the winged monster, is given a slapdash description, with more attention paid to how to fight it and win. Nikkole’s sourness at bed rest colors those sections of the books, and her joy at being able to move again makes the next chapters more vivid and alive. However, she is also stubborn, blind, and mulish, refusing to back down or admit fault, let alone sympathy or empathy when other characters are struggling to find their footing. None of this makes her a bad character, though it might make her a difficult person at best or a jerk at worst. Johnson is completely and utterly faithful to herself. The characterization is rock solid and unwavering, and she is a perfect straight man to everyone else, allowing the reader to see the story between the lies she tells herself and the truths she chooses to ignore.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Told in a first-person perspective from Nikkole, this book is somewhat dry. Instead of descriptions of people and places, we get names, titles, and a sitrep. The trees are important for the cover they offer, not for their alien botany. Thing, the winged monster, is given a slapdash description, with more attention paid to how to fight it and win. Nikkole’s sourness at bed rest colors those sections of the books, and her joy at being able to move again makes the next chapters more vivid and alive. However, she is also stubborn, blind, and mulish, refusing to back down or admit fault, let alone sympathy or empathy when other characters are struggling to find their footing. None of this makes her a bad character, though it might make her a difficult person at best or a jerk at worst. Johnson is completely and utterly faithful to herself. The characterization is rock solid and unwavering, and she is a perfect straight man to everyone else, allowing the reader to see the story between the lies she tells herself and the truths she chooses to ignore.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
April 10, 2023
This was a powerful novel. It starts with the necessity of sending humans into space because we have so destroyed Earth. That’s such a bleak thought, especially when I consider all the species of life also gone with the planet. Anyway, it starts with a bang when the narrator awakens from a several hundred years sleep and wakes up other members of the expedition.
A lot happens. It’s neither all good nor all horrible for the crew of the mission, but it is life in a foreign world where you don’t know what might kill you. Johnson, the narrator, soldiers on, providing her perspective and opinions of everyone while trying to keep the crew alive. There are moments of sheer terror, hope, and also joy. The things that the people on the planet chose to do to survive, and what they don’t want to accept, was horrifying and fascinating. I was engrossed from beginning to end.
A lot happens. It’s neither all good nor all horrible for the crew of the mission, but it is life in a foreign world where you don’t know what might kill you. Johnson, the narrator, soldiers on, providing her perspective and opinions of everyone while trying to keep the crew alive. There are moments of sheer terror, hope, and also joy. The things that the people on the planet chose to do to survive, and what they don’t want to accept, was horrifying and fascinating. I was engrossed from beginning to end.
March 4, 2023
Grisly yet Hopeful
Humans. No matter where we are, we bring strife and death. And, eventually hope, maybe even joy. This book is set on Kepler-186f but it could be anywhere. Choices, inability/ability for personal responsibility, and community vs mine mentality all play a part in what happens in this story. None of it is surprising or shocking (well, some IS shocking) but it's well told.
Humans. No matter where we are, we bring strife and death. And, eventually hope, maybe even joy. This book is set on Kepler-186f but it could be anywhere. Choices, inability/ability for personal responsibility, and community vs mine mentality all play a part in what happens in this story. None of it is surprising or shocking (well, some IS shocking) but it's well told.
January 24, 2023
Very Intense
This is the best Rachel Ford book yet. I could not put it down! What happens to an expedition that’s sent out to another planet light years away from earth. It’s a study in human degradation and hope, action and adventure and the very best science fiction in between. Sequel would be wonderful!!
This is the best Rachel Ford book yet. I could not put it down! What happens to an expedition that’s sent out to another planet light years away from earth. It’s a study in human degradation and hope, action and adventure and the very best science fiction in between. Sequel would be wonderful!!
March 21, 2023
Kepler-186f, my forty-fourth enjoyable read from author Rachel Ford. No matter the genre a Rachel Ford book can be counted on to be entertaining & enjoyable. A Rachel Ford read is like a visit with an old friend. A throwback to classic science fiction of yesteryear, the masters would be proud of this work. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews