Audible Book Review: Linesman by S. K. Dunstall

I really like the characters and the unique storyline in this. I’m ready to listen to more.

Linesman
Written by: S. K. Dunstall
Narrated by: Brian Hutchison

Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:06-30-15
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Sci Fi, Space Military
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
First in a brand-new, thought-provoking space opera series.
The lines. No ship can traverse the void without them. Only linesmen can work with them. But only Ean Lambert hears their song. And everyone thinks he's crazy.... Most slum kids never go far, certainly not becoming a level 10 linesman like Ean. Even if he's part of a small and unethical cartel, and the other linesmen disdain his self-taught methods, he's certified and working. Then a mysterious alien ship is discovered at the edges of the galaxy. Each of the major galactic powers is desperate to be the first to uncover the ship's secrets, but all they've learned is that it has the familiar lines of energy and a defense system that, once triggered, annihilates everything in a 200 kilometer radius. The vessel threatens any linesman who dares to approach it, except Ean. His unique talents may be the key to understanding this alarming new force and forever reconfiguring the relationship between humans and the ships that serve them.
©2015 S.K. Dunstall (P)2015 Recorded Books

Review:
Ean Lambert is a linesman but his skills are different than most linesmen. Lines are paths of energy which serve specific purposes on space ships. Lower lines (1 through 5) control more basic systems not needed for space travel, and these are on planets too. The technology is not completely understood and no one yet knows the purpose of lines 7 and 8. Most linesmen have a special extra sensory perception and have been taught to manipulate the lines by pushing them into place to keep them working properly. The linesmen are certified at the highest level, 1-10, that they can manipulate.

Ean’s contract is with one of the least respected cartels but Ean was glad to sign on for the training and the chance to become a linesman. His boss did manage to get him certified as a Level 10, although it was all a bit unorthodox because Ean doesn’t manipulate the lines like the others. He hears the songs of the lines and sings to them – and they respond. Ean doesn’t get the respect the other high linesmen get, but while other 10s were out at the ‘confluence’ trying to learn the secrets of an alien ship, Ean has been busy fixing lines on many ships and gaining a reputation as a reliable, if strange, linesman.

Ean’s life is suddenly changed when his contract is bought by an angry woman from the Lancastrian Princess. Ean was raised in the slums of Lancia so he doesn’t have warm feelings towards their rulers. The crew doesn’t welcome him warmly, although the lines do. Slowly the crew, especially the ship’s owner, Michelle, her high-ranking bodyguard, Abram, and eventually the ship’s captain, Helmo, begin to appreciate Ean’s unique talents. When they realize that Ean can communicate with the mysterious alien ship, he quickly becomes their secret weapon. He discovers line 11 on the alien ship, learns the purposes of the other lines and realizes that he can use the lines collectively. Which is a big help when enemies first try to attack the alien ship and then try to kidnap Ean.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Ean and the lines. (I suppose some might relate if they have a car or other object they pat and croon too.) The story is told in third person primarily focused on Ean but rotating to other characters too. One of these is Jordan Rossi, an arrogant, rival Level 10 who thinks Ean is crazy and dangerous. Ean is assigned his own bodyguard, Radko, and I like her no nonsense attitude. There is political intrigue that Ean becomes entangled in even though he doesn’t fully understand it all.

The story is full of strong, likeable characters and has a fresh storyline full of action and intrigue. The writing flows well; mostly at a quick pace. When I had to turn it off, I was anxious to get back to listen to more. This book has an appropriate ending but there is clearly more for the next book and I look forward to continuing the adventure.

Audio Notes: Brian Hutchison does a wonderful job with the narration. He gives each character their unique personality, flair and emotions, and his narration flows so well that you aren’t conscious of the reading. There are a few slower points in the story and he manages to maintain a good flow even through those. The narration definitely enhanced my enjoyment of this story and I highly recommend this in audio format.

This book is from my Audible Library (September 2016). It qualifies for my 2017 Audio, Mount TBR and “L” in Alphabet Challenge.

Audible Book Review: The Synchronicity War, Part 1 by Dietmar Wehr

This is slow starting but gets better – with personable AIs to add to the excitement.

The Synchronicity War, Part 1
Written by: Dietmar Wehr
Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
Series: The Synchronicity War, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:02-27-15
Publisher: Podium Publishing
Genre: Sci Fi, Military
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Be aware that Part 1 has a cliffhanger ending. After almost a century of peaceful exploration and colonization of space, the United Earth Space Force stumbles across a shockingly xenophobic alien race that has more and better armed ships and refuses all attempts at contact. As the outgunned Space Force is driven back in battle after battle in what appears to be a war of extermination, one officer experiences precognitive visions that help him blunt the enemy onslaught, but he can't control or predict when they occur. With the Senior Brass convinced that he's a tactical genius, he's given more and more responsibility and is terrified by the belief that Humanity's Fate will be determined by a battle with himself in overall command.
This is Volume 1 of a military SF series about desperate space battles and the men, women and Artificial Intelligences, who fight and die in them.
©2013 Dietmar Wehr (P)2015 Podium Publishing

Review:
Commander Victor Shiloh is one of seven Frigates out in jump space. One of their own team has gone missing and the squadron leader is going in to investigate. It soon becomes apparent that a ruthless enemy is destroying ships at will with no contact or warning.

Shiloh begins to have visions of movements to take that become true after the fact. These appear to be instinctive, if not skilled, tactical moves. He can’t go to his superiors to tell them of his visions but it may be tricky to explain some of his actions without revealing the source. His superior wants to move Shiloh up in leadership but Shiloh declines the advancement and is sent off to an AI hanger as punishment. This turns out to have a positive result as Shiloh begins to develop a relationship with the AI team.

The AI units seem to be developing their own personalities – naming themselves and bantering with the humans they interact with. These AIs soon become fiercely involved in the battle preparations. Shiloh’s superior soon realizes that Shiloh is still making important decisions even from the fringes. They reassign him and he continues to face the enemy with limited success – but more success than anyone else.

The first book ends with a terrible cliffhanger. Fortunately, the audible book had the beginning of book two so I got pulled into that. I love the interaction with the AIs and I really enjoy the battle strategy and Shiloh’s personality. The story starts slowly and seems a bit dry until well into the story. Much of the beginning of the book was less than stellar in presentation and I might not have been interested in book two except for the pick up of action near the end of part 1 and the excerpt of part 2 being made available.

Audio Notes: Luke Daniels is the narrator and I have found him very effective in narrating The Iron Druid series. Sadly, this story is dry well into the midpoint so I think that the lackluster was more the story than the narration. I have not yet decided if I will continue in ebook or audio.

[I had to look up “synchronicity” and that wasn’t totally helpful. The Webster definition is: “the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events (as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality —used especially in the psychology of C. G. Jung.”]

This has been in my Audible Library since December 2015 and on my Kindle library since 2014. This qualifies for Audio Challenge and Mount TBR.

Audible Book Review: Swarm: Star Force, Book 1, by B. V. Larson

This is an easy listening, action-packed military sci fi.
Swarm: Star Force, Book 1
Written by: B. V. Larson
Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
Series: Star Force, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-06-11
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Military Sci Fi, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Earth arms marines with alien technology and builds its first battle fleet! Kyle Riggs is snatched by an alien spacecraft sometime after midnight. The ship is testing everyone it catches and murdering the weak. The good news is that Kyle keeps passing tests and staying alive. The bad news is the aliens who sent this ship are the nicest ones out there.
A novel of military science fiction by best-selling author B. V. Larson, Swarm is the story of Earth's annexation by an alien empire. Long considered a primitive people on a backwater planet, humanity finds itself in the middle of a war - and faced with extinction.
Battle stations! Listen to another Star Force novel.
©2010 B.V. Larson (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Kyle Riggs is a college professor and farmer – until aliens reach into his yard and capture his son. As Kyle scrambles to grab a shotgun and get his daughter into the car for safety, his son’s body is dropped from the sky. Then the alien snake-like arm breaks through the car window to snatch his daughter. A few minutes later his daughter is dropped on his roof. Then they grab him, and Kyle is more than happy to be dragged to the ship so he can shoot the enemy who took his children. Soon Kyle is facing obstacles and passing levels before he realizes he is being tested. Before his anger subsides, and he gets to cope with his grief and guilt, Kyle is caught up in a battle for his life… then a war for his planet. Kyle and other successful fighter/survivors have been recruited by smaller alien ships to be commanders and to help fight against larger ships who plan to strip resources from earth.

Kyle manages to rescue one of the other capture ‘candidates’ so he ends up with a young, curvaceous sidekick which is different than most of the other ships. He hesitates to join the ‘team’ of fighters which makes him one of the rogues. Kyle’s computer science background helps him come up with solutions and tactics which make it clear the other ships need his help as much as he needs them. The Star Force, and especially Kyle and his ship, end up teaming with special earth forces to face the enemy.

Kyle’s character is a little awkward as he goes from a rather normal professor/farmer to a fighter, a strategist and finally a super warrior. He continues being a rogue as he leads by his own initiative despite orders. I liked that he uses his computer thought processes to relate to the ship but his taking over leadership of military forces is a stretch. The female character is a feisty, buxom caricature and it was sort of icky (awkward again) that Kyle was lusting after her shortly after losing his kids. Still, this wasn’t a huge issue and I didn’t let it bother me. The story is fun listening with lots of action. It moves quickly and made me think of a comic super hero scenario (perhaps like Iron Man). I’d be willing to listen to more in the series when I want a fast, fun, military sci fi fix. I recommend this to listeners/readers who are okay with fast-paced, easy action entertainment and are not looking for serious military politics.

Audio Notes: Mark Boyett does a nice job with the voices and energy in the presentation. The story is primary told in first person by Kyle but there are other characters with accents that are done well by Boyett. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

This has been on my Audible shelf since May 2015. It qualifies for Audio Challenge and TBR Challenge.

Book Review: Outlaw Trigger (Epic Book 2) by Lee Stephen

This is an emotionally charged sequel propelling the series toward combustion!

Outlaw Trigger (Epic Book 2)
by Lee Stephen

• File Size: 2369 KB
• Print Length: 300 pages
• Publisher: Stone Aside Publishing, L.L.C.; 2 edition (September 25, 2007)
• ASIN: B0044UHVUY
• Genre: Military Sci Fi
• My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 25, 2007
They say every man has a breaking point-every man can be pushed off the edge. Scott Remington entered EDEN with the heart of a lion. He forged glory in the furnace of war. But on the heels of dawn, darkness awaits. Only when stretched to the limit will a man truly learn who he is. That limit is about to be breached. Lines will be crossed. Sides will be chosen. And faith will be put to the test. Will the righteous prevail?

Review:
Scott has told all of his friends about his fiancée, Nicole. They are all excited (him most of all) when she arrives at Novosibirsk, the Russian base, to visit. Everyone finds her as lovely as Scott proclaimed, but at least one person isn’t interested in her beauty and kindness.

The events that occur send Scott into a spiral and cause consternation for all the members of Unit 14. Scott's foundation of faith is challenged as he feels abandoned and turns his anger on God, along with everyone else around him. Initially I wasn't sure why the author spent such time and detail on the sweet romance between Scott and Nicole. However, the reason becomes clear as the book progresses. Emotions run fast with love as a high but despair and horror hot on its heels. There is love, joy, despair, danger, betrayal, conspiracy, sorrow and –maybe– a small spark of hope.

The soldiers deal with upheaval and an expansion of Nightmen troops at Novosibirsk. Meanwhile, Benjamin Archer, the newest member to the Eden Command Council, brings fresh eyes and new ideas to the ruling Judges. Archer has never fought in war but he proclaims himself to be a tactician. He quickly charms many of the Judges with his astute assessment of trouble in the form of General Thoor and the Nightmen. Archer sets out to prove his worth to the remaining skeptic on the Council by introducing a plan to challenge, and ultimately get control of, Thoor.

There are still battles with the puzzling aliens but this book has more relationship time and less action than book one. Still, I was completely caught up in the story, running the gamut of those emotions, and wrenching my heart along the way. I wasn’t happy with what was happening, but I believe I clearly saw the author’s intended message: the best of us become weak and can be manipulated by evil if we lose focus on the right way.

Mr. Stephen has done an excellent job of creating full characters and a gripping, twisting, plot. (I was also challenged to look up the precise meaning of a word that was new to me. I liked that.)  This was a good sequel to book one even though it was more difficult to read because of the intense emotions. Now I am more than anxious to get the next books and learn what happens to the men and women of Unit 14 and to see the implementation of Archer’s plans to rein in Thoor's Machine.

I received this book from iReads for an honest review during blog tour. Please see my review of Book One, Dawn of Destiny, and the GIVEAWAY linked there.

Where to buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Author's Bio:

Born and raised in Cajun country, Lee Stephen spent his childhood paddling pirogues through the marshes of South Louisiana. When he wasn’t catching bullfrogs or playing with alligators in the bathtub (both true), he was escaping to the world of the imagination, creating worlds in his mind filled with strange creatures and epic journeys. This hasn’t stopped.

Now a resident of Luling, Louisiana, Lee spends time every day delving into the world of Epic, the science-fiction series that has come to define him as a writer and producer. Alongside his wife, Lindsey, their sons, Levi and Lawson, and their dog, Jake, Lee has made it a mission to create a series that is unique in its genre—one unafraid to address the human condition while staying grounded in elements of faith.
Connect with Lee:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

Audiobook Review and Giveaway: Dawn of Destiny (Epic Book 1) by Lee Stephen

I enjoyed this engaging story with its well developed characters and solid action.

Dawn of Destiny (Epic Book 1)
by Lee Stephen

Genre: Sci-fi
Publisher: Stone Aside Publishing, L.L.C.
Published: October 2014
Available in: Mp3
Length: 9 hours, 47 mins
Available in: Print, ebook (mobi for Kindle and ePub) and audiobook (full cast with cinematic sound effects - see more description below)
Content Rating: PG-13 for violence and depictions of war. There is no profanity, sexual content, or drug use.
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: November 4, 2006
Some men go to war for the glory. Some men go to war to escape. For Scott Remington, war is entirely different. It is a belief. It is a calling. It is a destiny. Leaving everything behind-his fiancée, his future, his life-he embarks on a mission of faith into a battle he can barely understand. This is his story. This is his war. This is only the beginning.

Review:
Scott Remington is a Christian young man who has a natural talent for leadership. He did well at the Philadelphia Academy training to be a new soldier for EDEN, the Earth Defense Network. Even though the soldiers are well trained and learn about the alien creatures that are now invading earth, it isn’t the same as suddenly being thrust into the fight and facing live enemies.

Scott applies for assignment to Detroit where his young fiancé, Nicole, is in nursing school. Instead he is sent to Richmond, VA where he meets new friends. David is the eldest, a fourteen year old New York Police officer. Becan is a brash, cocky Irishman. Jayden is a quiet young Texan who is the respected sniper of the group. Scott and the other rookies are assigned to the top unit, the Falcon Platoon. Their commander is less than pleased to be given alpha level privates but they are the only troops available especially after Falcon lost all but three of its members in the last engagement at Cleveland.

The platoon is called out with others to face the purple, eye-bulging Bakma in Chicago. Scott steps into command when his unit leader falls and leads the team to complete a successful mission. The men respect Scott’s quick, calm authority.

Scott’s actions result in his becoming the youngest soldier to be awarded the rare and prestigious Golden Lion medal. Although the press makes a fuss, Scott accepts the honor humbly, sharing credit with others.

The four friends face other enemies and their versatility and successes cause them to be reassigned to Novosibirsk, Russia. The Russian base is under the command of the famed, brutal General Thoor who leads the mysterious Russian unit known as the Nightmen. These are all fierce, highly trained soldiers and rumor has it the initiation price is murder.

Scott and his friends are assigned to unit 14 where they build new friendships and face more serious dangers. There are painful losses even before the troops face a major stealth attack on their base. Scott again gains respect with his fast, decisive actions.

I really enjoyed the fierce and fast paced battle scenes. I also liked how Mr. Stephen’s develops the characters and builds their friendships. The story is not just war but it includes personal interactions that add interest. I appreciated the faith foundation of Scott’s character yet the story does not have religious preaching that might put off some readers. I was also impressed that the author deals in intense situations without resorting to unnecessary swearing. Finishing the first book left me anxious to jump right into the next one.

Audio Notes: The audiobook is a dramatization with background sounds fitting the scenes. The production is well done making the action come alive. The only drawback was the spacing and music at the end of chapters is left a bit longer than necessary. I definitely enjoyed the audio version and recommend it to those who enjoy a full, surround sound experience.

I received this in Audiobook from iRead Book Tours to provide an honest review. This qualifies for my Audiobook Challenge.

The Audiobook:
The Dawn of Destiny audiobook project is a full adaptation of the first book in the Epic series. It's not your typical “audiobook,” even though technically that's what it is. When people hear “audiobook,” there’s a certain type of thing that usually comes to mind. Most likely it’s the thought of someone reading a book to them, occasionally with music playing in the background. This isn't that.

What you’re going to hear in this project, is more of an audio “experience,” the audio equivalent of a summer blockbuster movie. Over thirty voice actors played a role in this. This is ear-splitting sound effects, bombastic music, and characters shouting back and forth in the middle of a war zone. This is unlike anything you've ever heard.

Where to buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Author's Bio:
Born and raised in Cajun country, Lee Stephen spent his childhood paddling pirogues through the marshes of South Louisiana. When he wasn’t catching bullfrogs or playing with alligators in the bathtub (both true), he was escaping to the world of the imagination, creating worlds in his mind filled with strange creatures and epic journeys. This hasn’t stopped.

Now a resident of Luling, Louisiana, Lee spends time every day delving into the world of Epic, the science-fiction series that has come to define him as a writer and producer. Alongside his wife, Lindsey, their sons, Levi and Lawson, and their dog, Jake, Lee has made it a mission to create a series that is unique in its genre—one unafraid to address the human condition while staying grounded in elements of faith.

Connect with Lee:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

Enter the Giveaway!

Prizes: ​ Win one of 3 sets of books in the Epic series, Dawn of Destiny and Outlaw Trigger; Open to USA & Canada.  Ends July 4, 2015.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

For additional information visit the blog tour page at iRead Book Tours.