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17th out of 188 books
—
443 voters
Defying Gravity (Gravity)
by
Cherie Reich (Goodreads Author)
A Futuristic Space Fantasy Novelette
Homesick upon the SS Perseid, Linia, a young linguist, thinks she signed up for a mission of peace, but her crew members have another plan: attack the planet Medusa.
Bored with his dying planet, Alezandros, a space cruiser pilot, joins the Medusan Army in his quest for adventure.
When the SS Perseid clashes with the Medusans’ space cruiser...more
Homesick upon the SS Perseid, Linia, a young linguist, thinks she signed up for a mission of peace, but her crew members have another plan: attack the planet Medusa.
Bored with his dying planet, Alezandros, a space cruiser pilot, joins the Medusan Army in his quest for adventure.
When the SS Perseid clashes with the Medusans’ space cruiser...more
ebook, First
Published
February 9th 2012
by Surrounded by Books Publishing
(first published February 1st 2012)
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Delightful read! Defying Gravity is a fast-paced and exciting read with a sweet bit of romance thrown in. Linia and Alezandros are on a collision course, their planets sworn enemies. When Linia is roped into a war she did not expect, and Alezandros is sucked into a wormhole, they meet in dire circumstances with only stereotypes and cultural misunderstanding to guide them.
The scene where Linia and Alezandros cannot see each other, but can only converse through a hole in the wall was sweet and tou...more
The scene where Linia and Alezandros cannot see each other, but can only converse through a hole in the wall was sweet and tou...more
Author Cherie Reich has a knack for creating alien species with just a few quick images gently inserted into an exciting tale. Defying Gravity takes a young Persean linguist, Linia, on a mission into space where she meets the Medusan Alezandros. But Medusa and Perseus fought a war long years ago and Linia’s dreams of communication ensuring peace seem rapidly doomed.
The aftermath of hopeless battle sees both characters flung through a wormhole onto a post-apocalyptic earth. Trapped in separate pr...more
The aftermath of hopeless battle sees both characters flung through a wormhole onto a post-apocalyptic earth. Trapped in separate pr...more
MY REVIEW
I would classify this novelette as Sci-Fi. The "people" in this novelette are all different species. Linia is a linguist, she is of the Persean race who has been given her first mission which she thinks is one of peaceful exploration but is she being lied to? There is a crew of ten including Linia on her spaceship.
Alezandros has recently joined the army of his planet. His race is called Medusan's. He is sent to protect Medusan from any attack from the Persean's.
The story see's the Perse...more
I would classify this novelette as Sci-Fi. The "people" in this novelette are all different species. Linia is a linguist, she is of the Persean race who has been given her first mission which she thinks is one of peaceful exploration but is she being lied to? There is a crew of ten including Linia on her spaceship.
Alezandros has recently joined the army of his planet. His race is called Medusan's. He is sent to protect Medusan from any attack from the Persean's.
The story see's the Perse...more
Defying Gravity by Cherie Reich is a rare gem in the vast sci-fi universe. It nabbed me from the beginning with two fascinating characters starting great adventures themselves. Linia is a sweet young alien with a high intelligence yet little experience outside of her lovely and safe home world of Persea. Alezandros comes from a hard life on Medusa and seeks something better for himself and his family. Linia and Alezandros are suddenly thrown together when their peoples battle and a wormhole swal...more
Linea is about to take the adventure of her life. As the linguist on the SS Perseid, she puts years of learning and hard work to the test to greet intelligent life in the galaxy. Unfortunately, the young man she’s trying to avoid is also on the team. Griffon is handsome and arrogant, and teases her from the moment she steps foot on the ship.
Besides the expected bout of homesickness, everything on the mission is going as planned. Until, Linea overhears a secret conversation in which her superior...more
Besides the expected bout of homesickness, everything on the mission is going as planned. Until, Linea overhears a secret conversation in which her superior...more
Feb 16, 2012
Rachel Morgan
added it
Things to enjoy in this story:
- The alternating points of view: It adds another dimension to a story when you can see it from more than one perspective. And I always enjoy it when I'm allowed to know what the characters think of each other! The author switches from one POV to the other at just the right time, building tension and keeping readers' interest.
- The world-building: It makes sense that on another planet they wouldn't use the same language and words we do. Planet-specific words add to...more
- The alternating points of view: It adds another dimension to a story when you can see it from more than one perspective. And I always enjoy it when I'm allowed to know what the characters think of each other! The author switches from one POV to the other at just the right time, building tension and keeping readers' interest.
- The world-building: It makes sense that on another planet they wouldn't use the same language and words we do. Planet-specific words add to...more
Now this is my kind of book, with short chapters usually not much more than a page long. This was such a breeze to read. This story flies by which is just the thing for a slowest-reader-in-the-world sort of guy like I am.
I'll have to be honest and say I haven't read much space sci-fi since I was a kid so I don't have much to compare this with, but it seemed like pretty classic stuff like I remember. It's almost comic book style story-telling which makes for a fun light read.
The story is a love s...more
I'll have to be honest and say I haven't read much space sci-fi since I was a kid so I don't have much to compare this with, but it seemed like pretty classic stuff like I remember. It's almost comic book style story-telling which makes for a fun light read.
The story is a love s...more
I have one complaint: I wish the book was longer. This short story could have been a novel. We meet so many characters and there is a situation that I wish I knew more about, I wish I had known the thoughts of the other characters. However, now that it's left to my imagination, the story can turn out the way I want it to.
The characters, Linia, a linguist, and Alezandros, a pilot are wonderful. There is backstory (but not too much because it's a short story) that makes us feel the loss they suff...more
The characters, Linia, a linguist, and Alezandros, a pilot are wonderful. There is backstory (but not too much because it's a short story) that makes us feel the loss they suff...more
Defying Gravity does not read like a story I've read three billion times before, which is pretty unusual. Reich has created at least two alien races with cultural history, war backgrounds, drama, romance, and I was pretty darn disappointed when it ended.
I would probably not recommend this to friends who are hardcore old-school Science Fiction aficionados. However, I will (and have) happily recommended it to people interested in reading something new, interesting, and quick. I could easily see m...more
I would probably not recommend this to friends who are hardcore old-school Science Fiction aficionados. However, I will (and have) happily recommended it to people interested in reading something new, interesting, and quick. I could easily see m...more
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A fast and short read that begins with two alien species in a space combat, but this isn't a book about war, or spaceships or other space opera stuff. Reich uses this as a backdrop for the real story: What if a young person from each of the warring races became imprisoned together and fell in love. Paralleling similar cultural taboos throughout history, this book takes it to the next level. And a nod to mythology too.
Their blossoming relationship is extremely well written, with lots of tension,...more
Their blossoming relationship is extremely well written, with lots of tension,...more
In a blend of science fiction and romance, Cherie Reich‘s Defying Gravity begins with two opposing worlds coming together in a small space battle. The Persians and Medusans are historical enemies with the latter’s planet dying after being bombarded with meteors. Following the battle, the opposing ships are pulled though a wormhole into a futuristic Earth where the survivors must find a way to live and love one another in the time they have left.
An entertaining and fast read, the author begins a...more
An entertaining and fast read, the author begins a...more
Loved it. Author Cherie Reich wrote a very satisfying tale about two people, worlds apart (literally) that have to overcome impossible odds to survive.
The read is pretty short. I wish I'd paid attention to how long it took me to read it. I think an hour, not sure. But it tells a complete story. Beginning, middle, end. It's hard to do in something that short, but she pulled it off nicely.
I am not a very big fan of romance, I was very thankful that it was still very guy-friendly. It compares qui...more
The read is pretty short. I wish I'd paid attention to how long it took me to read it. I think an hour, not sure. But it tells a complete story. Beginning, middle, end. It's hard to do in something that short, but she pulled it off nicely.
I am not a very big fan of romance, I was very thankful that it was still very guy-friendly. It compares qui...more
Jun 03, 2012
Larry Kollar
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Young people, especially girls, who want a sci-fi story
Defying Gravity is a YA, soft-SF novella. Or maybe it's a romance in an SF wrapper. I can't say too much more about the story than the synopsis does, without giving away too many details. ;-) The story is extremely character-driven, which I mostly like, but I'd have also liked a few more details here and there.
But no matter. The story itself was a fun (if brief) read, and there were a couple of places where I laughed out loud. The initial chapters do a very good job of introducing the two main c...more
But no matter. The story itself was a fun (if brief) read, and there were a couple of places where I laughed out loud. The initial chapters do a very good job of introducing the two main c...more
I found myself caught up in this si-fi adventure, which turns into a sweet love story and when it ended I wanted more! Cherie crosses two species set for war against each other into a fight for survival when they are forced to crash their respective space crafts. The lives of two survivors from the battle, are threatened by carnivores of a once thriving, all too familiar planet.
The couple in this story live through some tense moments while they are imprisoned. They make their escape as soon as a...more
The couple in this story live through some tense moments while they are imprisoned. They make their escape as soon as a...more
I’m not really a sci-fi fan. If it takes place on a spaceship, chances are my eyes are going to glaze over. I love Firefly and Battlestar Galactica but that’s really about it. So the fact that the two main characters in story are…well, not human gave me pause. But despite my personal views on the genre (I'm always striving to broaden my horizons), it’s an interesting read. Especially when the main characters both crash land in a post apocalyptic-esque New York City. Curious if there will be more...more
Toss out Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
This is close Encounters of the Best Kind.
First off, what an incredible book. Cherie weaves an allegorical tale of romance, borrowing some from Shakespeare and also from Greek mythology. Her heroes come from opposite worlds, yet when they find each other, it becomes clear that only together, can they rise above the challenges given to them and escape an apocalyptic earth.
I'm a sucker for good sci-fi romance and this has it all in a very tame way. I wou...more
This is close Encounters of the Best Kind.
First off, what an incredible book. Cherie weaves an allegorical tale of romance, borrowing some from Shakespeare and also from Greek mythology. Her heroes come from opposite worlds, yet when they find each other, it becomes clear that only together, can they rise above the challenges given to them and escape an apocalyptic earth.
I'm a sucker for good sci-fi romance and this has it all in a very tame way. I wou...more
Linia is leaving her home planet of Persea to serve as a linguist on a diplomatic mission to a planet called Medusa. Everything goes fine until she realizes that there's really nothing to do on the ship and she might die of boredom before her skills are even needed. Alezandros, on the other hand, has just joined the military of Medusa and is ordered to take out the ship that Linia is on. Of course, nothing goes as planned and both he and Linia somehow end up taken prisoner together by furry litt...more
I gotta be honest. The words "space" or "spaceship" usually make me put a book back on the shelf. Nothing against the genre at all, I just don't get any enjoyment out of it. Enter Cherie Reich. I devoured Defying Gravity in a way that took me by complete surprise. I loved the characters, I loved the way the relationships built, I loved how Cherie didn't drown me with spacey words and that it was reasonably short, allowing me to dip my toe into the sci-fi waters without being overwhelmed. I'd rec...more
My only comment is I didn't know this was a short story before reading it. This could easily be expanded into a full length novel. There were lots of places where I wanted more background, more character building, world building, etc.
I liked the space twist on the Romeo and Juliette theme, but I had so many unanswered questions at the end that I was left with a "What?" kind of feeling.
Give me more, I know it's in you! ;)
I liked the space twist on the Romeo and Juliette theme, but I had so many unanswered questions at the end that I was left with a "What?" kind of feeling.
Give me more, I know it's in you! ;)
It's been so long since I've read a short story this was a fun change. I love the world building and all the interesting races that populate this story. Lina and Alezandros unlikely relationship was fun to watch unfold. It reminded me of Romeo and Juliet in space, but with a much more satisfying ending :)
I like the story, really. It was really very sweet, definitely the kind of thing I like in SciFi. But it was so short! Great for a short story, but it could have been expanded and developed so much. Looking forward to more from this author.
I really enjoyed this book. Nice combination of science fiction, fantasy-like powers and romance.
May 17, 2013
Holly
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A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies. Her books include the horror series Nightmare, the futuristic space fantasy trilogy Gravity, and The Foxwick Chronicles, a series of fantasy stories. She is the Vice President of Valley Writers, a member of the...more
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