Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue (The Bern Saga, #1)

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Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue (The Bern Saga #1)

by Hugh Howey (Goodreads Author)

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 908 ratings · 114 reviews

When Molly gets kicked out of the Naval Academy, she loses more than just another home, she loses the only two things that truly matter: flying in space and her training partner, Cole. A dull future seems to await, until a marvelous discovery changes everything. Her father's old starship, missing for a decade, turns up halfway across the galaxy. Its retrieval launches Moll...more

Paperback, 268 pages

Published September 1st 2009 by Norlightspress.com (first published August 22nd 2009)

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Oct 11, 2009 J. Hounshell rated it 5 of 5 stars

A superb introduction to an exciting new series.

A back-story is no small thing. Too often, particularly in the science fiction genre, back-stories are left to the wiles of the reader's imagination. Which is fine if your novel relies heavily on current events and the need to complete the tale in one simple volume. Hugh Howey's Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue takes great exception to that unfortunate habit common among so many upstart sci-fi writers. Howey's tale of a young and ambitious studen...more

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Mar 25, 2010 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: readers who would enjoy a good science fiction adventure

Shelves: young-adult, kickbutt-heroine, soldier-or-military, action-adventure, science-fiction, owned-copy, favorites, space-another-planet, good-secondary-characters, alien, heroine-i-adore, girl-power

I can say with no reservations that this was a fantastic book. Let me be honest and admit that I'm not a big science fiction reader. I'm not sure I will ever be a wholesale science fiction fan in every form. But this book, well, it has convinced me that I can enjoy a good 'pure' science fiction book.

While Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue is a young adult book, it really doesn't feel like one. What I mean by that is, the writing is such that you never felt things are being dummed down in the fa...more I can say with no reservations that this was a fantastic book. Let me be honest and admit that I'm not a big science fiction reader. I'm not sure I will ever be a wholesale science fiction fan in every form. But this book, well, it has convinced me that I can enjoy a good 'pure' science fiction book.

While Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue is a young adult book, it really doesn't feel like one. What I mean by that is, the writing is such that you never felt things are being dummed down in the false belief that a younger reader cannot handle an intelligent storyline. I would never assume that young adult fiction should be any different, and I'm glad that Mr. Howey did not make that assumption, either. As I read this story, I was impressed with his ability to tell this story in such a manner that words flow smoothly, your interest is engaged, but you are neither lost in streaming lines of technobabble, or pseudointelligent pomposity, or left feeling bored. In some ways, he compared favorably to Mr. Ray Bradbury, who wrote science fantasy back when hardly anything was common knowledge of space. Using his incredible imagination, his focus was always on telling a story, and the words used always contributed to this goal. That's how I felt about Mr. Howey's efforts.

Science fiction is a genre I often shy away from, because I am not very good with technical jargon. I find it hard to visualize highly technological concepts in my head when I read. So I tend to get bored with books that are written with heavy emphasis on these things. I am a very visual person, so that's an integral part of reading for me. When I read a book, it plays like a movie in my head. And the best books, they are like really good movies. Such was the case with this book. It was like a very good, intelligent, but fun science fiction movie with a hefty dose of adventure.

What I really liked about this novel, was that Mr. Howey infused this story with elements of philosophy and an awareness of ethical issues. And there are some very weighty ones in this book. Yet, he managed not to overload the story until it became dull and pretentious. He never resorted to shoveling an agenda down my throat as I read. There were moments that caused me genuine emotional pain, as I experienced the anguish that Molly felt, seeing what she did, and what she inadvertently took part in, and how she struggled with her conscience over decisions that she made, and those that were taken out of her hands by necessity, or through the actions of others. I'm by no means a science fiction connoisseur, but it's my understanding that science fiction is a genre that does probe into the questions of how technology can be for the advancement of humanity, but at the same time, it can cause destruction when used inappropriately. That issue arises in this book with a civilization of beings that are so intelligent, that they have come close to wiping themselves out, and would do the same to the rest of the galaxies they encountered. My brain was able to take this in, and I could really see both sides of the issue. But this was done without me feeling like I was being lectured to, or getting bored. That is the hallmark of good fiction to me, that I read a good story, but it gives me something to think about. I'm grateful that Mr. Howey did so with this story.

Molly is a genuinely likeable heroine. There were no moments in this story where she annoyed me or lost credibility with me. She was very human, and she seemed like a sixteen year old girl on the cusp on womanhood. But she dealt with some situations that were truly harrowing, ones that truly required intense strength of character from her. There were moments where I feared she was put in the role of looking to her male supporting character, Cole, a young man that she attended Naval Flight School with, as the stronger, more capable person, and I was prepared to be disappointed about that, not comfortable about what kind of message that might send to young girls reading this novel. However, further reading revealed that this was not an attempt to undermine the capability of Molly, or show that she could not be independent and in charge of her destiny, but to show that at times even the strong need to lean on, and to follow others. That's real life to this reader.

As for the adventure quotient of this novel, it was very satisfactorily high. Yet, the action was paced so well, that the moments of introspection and character development could be savored equally well. And, as I said earlier, I could easily visualize most of the action sequences. Any question marks about the equipment that I might have had were cleared away either through my imagination, or by further reading.

The worldbuilding in this novel was excellent. I had no problem picturing a future Earth that wasn't overly different, and seeing the other worlds through the narrative. The depiction of the different alien civilizations was distinct, and was done with a respect that didn't pander to bigotry or racial insensitivities. Although the various alien civilizations had their particularities, it was clear that stereotypes were not being established or relied upon. As a person who is sensitive to the depiction of people in a way that isn't stereotypical or racially insensitive, that was very important to me.

The cast of secondary characters managed to become very important to me. Cole became my shelter, a shoulder to lean on, and a boon companion, as I read this story and saw him take this harrowing journey along with Molly. Along the way, they meet friend and foe, and you feel their anguish and fears when the realization is made that not everyone can be trusted. Although this was Molly's story, and you never doubt her importance, Cole is also an intregral part of this novel, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

This book is perfectly suitable for mid-to-older teens, but I would advise readers that there is quite a bit of violence, and some disturbing events do occur. However, Mr. Howey does an excellent job of showing the consequences of violence, and how it affects the participants. And the violent scenes are not done in any way that is offensive or gratuitous.

Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue took me on an incredible journey. It kept me in suspense, made me laugh, made me cry, and gave me a sense of wonder at the beauty of the universe. I was in awe that humans might be able to travel through galaxies and meet life on other planets. I felt a sense of excitement reading this story, that has yet to leave me. But it also gave me something to think about. Like Molly, we humans tend to dream big, and life will knock some of the idealism out of us. But that's not the end of the road. It's just another turn that we take.
I can't wait to read the next in this series.(less)

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Dec 18, 2009 Tina (Fantastic Book Review) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, sci-fi

The year is 2413. In a galaxy full of life outside of Earth, Molly Fyde is a 16 yr old living in a man’s world where all she wants to do is follow in her father’s footsteps. Graduating from the Academy is one step that could get her closer to that goal but when sabotage rears its ugly head, Molly has another thing coming. Finally things start to look up for Molly, her father’s ship, The Parsona is found on an alien planet called Palan where there seems to be no legal or social system intact. Mol...more The year is 2413. In a galaxy full of life outside of Earth, Molly Fyde is a 16 yr old living in a man’s world where all she wants to do is follow in her father’s footsteps. Graduating from the Academy is one step that could get her closer to that goal but when sabotage rears its ugly head, Molly has another thing coming. Finally things start to look up for Molly, her father’s ship, The Parsona is found on an alien planet called Palan where there seems to be no legal or social system intact. Molly along with the help of one charming Navy graduate is on a mission to rescue The Parsona from pirates. They soon find themselves on a journey traveling to new planets and meeting interesting people along the way. What starts out as a simple journey to retrieve her father’s missing ship quickly turns in to an adventure that Molly will never forget...

So I’m a big sci-fi fan, well at least with shows such as "Firefly", "Star Trek", "Stargate SG-1", "Stargate Atlantis" and "Battlestar Galactica." So I figured what the heck, I’m probably going to love Molly Fyde. And boy was I right! This book starts off with a bang and albeit a clever one too. I was engrossed with this book from the beginning by Hugh’s tactical missions which were created in a dog eat dog world where Molly has to constantly be on the top of her game and prove that she can hang with the “boys.” I couldn’t wait to finish this book, I wanted to know what adventure Molly and crew would embark upon next.

Hugh created a great cast of unforgettable characters. I love strong heroines in my books and Molly in no exception. She’s smart and brave and she’s one helluva pilot in my opinion and she’s trying to accomplish the impossible that could lead her to becoming the pilot of her own ship. Then there’s the notable Cole Mendonca, Molly’s crush who seems to love conspiracy theories and would do anything to protect Molly. He’s quite the heart-throb and I can see why Molly is smitten. Cole also provides a lot of humor on their adventure in the face of danger that makes me like him even more. The secondary characters are also some of my favorites especially Walter. That’s all I’m going to say!

Hugh crafted a great world where anything is possible. With the way this book ended, I can’t wait to read the next installment in this series. You know what else? This book kept reminding me of Sci-Fi’s “Firefly.”
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Sep 25, 2009 James rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well writen book. I loved it. A real good Frist book. Great character's, that you well love. Even better yet they are not perfect. Can't wait for the next book

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Mar 18, 2013 Magpie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This is one of my favorite series ever, now. It reminded me at times of Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, and Ender's Game, three of the best things of all time.

Molly is a strong female lead character. She is an exceptionally gifted pilot and brave as hell, but is also balanced in that she has realistic flaws as well. Her judgement isn't always the best, and she sometimes doesn't put clues together until long after it seems like she should have. The other supporting characters are equally well writ...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Rob rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, speculative-fiction

I picked up Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue after powering through Wool. I've not almost completed the Molly Fyde series, but will stick my opinion to just this one book.

Hugh Howey is a very adept world builder. I love the universe that he's constructed for Molly Fyde, and the races within it.

The book reads like an old Star Trek novel. Crazy races that don't make any sense, with a pair of adventurers just trying to survive. It executes on this concept well, and is definitely a page-turner.

The...more

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Sep 11, 2010 YA Reads Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ever looked up into the sky at night and imagined yourself flying around the stars off on some other-worldly adventure? Well, this is Molly’s reality. Or will be. Molly is a navy cadet. And don’t be fooled into thinking the Navy is what we understand the Navy to be. Yes they drive ships, but not the standard H.M.A.S. vessels of today’s waters. Molly and her fellow classmates are learning to pilot starships. Sure they are still in training but running a full visual simulator is darn close to the...more Ever looked up into the sky at night and imagined yourself flying around the stars off on some other-worldly adventure? Well, this is Molly’s reality. Or will be. Molly is a navy cadet. And don’t be fooled into thinking the Navy is what we understand the Navy to be. Yes they drive ships, but not the standard H.M.A.S. vessels of today’s waters. Molly and her fellow classmates are learning to pilot starships. Sure they are still in training but running a full visual simulator is darn close to the real thing, right down to the G-force experienced.

But in a standard-procedure simulator test, something seems to go wrong. For Molly and her pilot Cole fail and fail miserably. And as much as they try to convince their superiors otherwise, no-one believes them. For Molly and Cole’s simulator was tampered with. Every procedure runs fine, except the ability to arm and fire weapons. Without weapons, they have almost a no-chance at survival. Cole suspects sabotage. With both of them for examination, it will be Molly that the blame is laid at. Particular since Cole was technically ‘killed’ early into the simulator run and it is so much easier to blame the girl.

For Molly, this means expulsion. No more training, and no more hope of becoming a Naval officer. Resigned to a life at a normal high school, everything suddenly seems less for Molly. If loss of her only home, her connection to her past and her best friend that she can’t stop thinking about wasn’t enough, Molly is an outcast in her new school, merely because she is different. That is, until she gets an opportunity of a lifetime. Her father’s ship has been found. And as the legal owner, Molly is the only one who can go and collect it.

And a seemingly straightforward mission is the start of a whole new adventure that even Molly couldn’t begin to fathom…

Molly Fyde and the Parson Rescue is debut novel from Hugh Howey and the first in the Molly Fyde series. The thing that grabbed me from the first page of this novel was the believability in writing and character. The plot just flowed effortlessly, from describing the complexities of hyperspace, simulation flying and other world social structure to the simple dialogue between two best friends struggling to find what they mean to each other. There aren’t many authors who can get you completely lost in a story, but Howey was one of them. For me, I just wanted to know what would happen next, what the next twist in the story would be. As a credit to the author, I never saw the ending that was coming. It makes you easily want to read the next book in the series as soon as you can.

The characters of Molly and Cole were another highlight to the novel. Reading from Molly’s point of view as she struggled through countless personal and emotional challenges left me caring about what happened to her. The history and connection between Molly and Cole as a pair was believable, and the tension that built up added to the story, instead of taking away from it as so many teen-romances can be known to do. That being said, Molly does have her fair share of moments where I just wanted to knock some sense into her and tell her to get over the small dramatics that really seemed unnecessary.

All in all though, a highly engaging read that I would recommend for anyone who is or was a fan of space adventure.(less)

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Oct 01, 2009 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, scifi

Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue is an exciting, fast-paced YA science fiction adventure with elements that will appeal to both males and females. The characters were interesting, and the world-building was very good.

The writing was very good overall, but there were a number of "huh?" points that confused me while I was reading. For example, until about halfway through, it appeared that the navigator only ran the weapon systems and the pilot guided the ship. It took me some time to get it throu...more

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Sep 13, 2009 Lisa Robinson rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’ll start by saying, “Wow!” This book does everything a great book should do! The story piques your curiosity from the start and it takes you on a journey that causes you to loose track of time and the world around you. Instead, you become an invisible member of the crew of Parsona. I read the book in less than twenty-four hours because I just couldn’t put it down until I knew how it ended!

The characters in the story all have traits that every person can relate to on some level. They each grow...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Kageashi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bildugs-romans, sci-fi, space

The first book in the Molly Fyde series - a series brought by the same author of the Silo series of serials (Wool 1-5, Shift 1-3) - and an intriguing read. The book itself never bogs down into the trap so many science fiction books fall into: getting so bogged down in details of the mechanics of the universe the author has built that the story becomes unnavigable. The story rarely is predictable, and takes a rather indirect series of turns to get to the climax (or climaxes, depending on prerogat...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Bill rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Sci-fi lovers, Space opera lovers

Shelves: science-fiction

This is the first of four books about Molly Fyde's intra-galactic adventures. Molly is suddenly and inexplicably kicked out of a prestigious spaceflight academy. She goes on a mission - with a fellow space cadet - to recover her missing father's recently discovered space ship. Reclaiming it turns out to be a life-threatening adventure. At every turn, she is frustrated, and forces are at work to violently discourage her from her aims and objectives. But Molly and her friends are resourceful and r...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Janyaa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: hell-in-a-handbasket

There were a couple of reasons I decided to pick this series up. First off, I just recently finished Hugh Howey's Wool Omnibus #1-5 and was absolutely impressed with the level of detail and quality of writing that went into that piece of work. I wanted to see what else he had written.

Coincidentally, I've been on the lookout for a great series I could sink my teeth into. I've had the frustration of starting a number of trilogies lately that only have one or two books published. While I can apprec...more There were a couple of reasons I decided to pick this series up. First off, I just recently finished Hugh Howey's Wool Omnibus #1-5 and was absolutely impressed with the level of detail and quality of writing that went into that piece of work. I wanted to see what else he had written.

Coincidentally, I've been on the lookout for a great series I could sink my teeth into. I've had the frustration of starting a number of trilogies lately that only have one or two books published. While I can appreciate the effort it takes to produce a good book, and the marketing reasons for delaying new releases, I have been left disappointed with the fact that I now have a number of incomplete storylines and their corresponding questions floating around in my head. I was tired of not getting the payoff in the end. What I needed was a series that was fully completed and published!

To top it off, I was also scouting for a new series that I could recommend to my sister. I had recently convinced her to read the Hunger Games trilogy and she absolutely loved it. She's going to be having about a week of free time on her hands soon, and asked me to find another series that would be just as satisfying. Her requests were for quality writing, a strong female character, adventure, and maybe a little romance. She didn't want anything too depressing or dark.

Luckily, Hugh Howey's Bern Series fulfilled all of these requirements and then some!

This book grabs you from the very beginning. The action sequences are well written and the dialogue is seamless. I found myself emotionally invested in the characters, what motivated them, and their struggles. I think the author did a very good job of portraying that stage in life as an older teen. Things are are fresh, and still awkward, and yet...you're able to ascertain their character and the type of people they will become.

Molly Fyde is a strong, intelligent, vulnerable protagonist who has an inner strength she has not fully discovered yet. She has the courage to stand up in a male dominated profession and excel at it. Although she's fighting against the inequality of a sexist system, I love the fact that Molly is a typical girl in so many ways. She's unsure of herself when it comes to the boy she likes and she worries about what to wear when meeting him for the first time after being away for awhile. Yet, when the chips are down, she's capable of handling herself and isn't afraid of making tough decisions.

Cole is intelligent, caring and protective. While he has a little bit more life experience than Molly, and isn't quite as naive, you can tell he's also on the cusp of full manhood. In this first book, it's fun to watch these two characters orbit each other as they grapple with themselves and their newfound emotions.

The amount of creativity that was in this book was breathtaking. I'm a fan of post-apocalyptic, dystopic and science fiction novels. Most of the time, when I'm reading these genres, half the fun is being able to immerse myself in a new, or different world. A lot of that enjoyment is contingent on how well the author can describe and illustrate that alternate reality through the pages. After reading (and being a fan of) Hugh Howey's Wool Omnibus, I was already going into this series with high expectations. Yet, despite my inflated confidence, I was still pleasantly surprised about how much he was able to impress and amaze me.

He was able to project a future Earth setting; including the myriad ways it would be altered with the event of space travel, discovery of new worlds and various political changes. He also produced the same level of creativity for multiple alien worlds, each one having their own unique flavor, look, cultures, lingo, etc.

This type of success really hinges on the details. Weather patterns, curse words, different philosophies, the various ways to imprison a person... it's all accounted for in this book. I also appreciated the amount of thought that was put into the technical side of things; such as some of the challenges of hyperspace, for instance. Or, what a lagrange point is (thanks Wikipedia!) The sum of all these elements became a world that was at once familiar and unknown. It provided just enough to be recognizable and relatable while still launching the reader across the galaxy.

As an aside, I especially loved the Glemots' way of speaking. Just to give you a taste, here's a quote from the book just as Molly is meeting them for the first time: "A unit of your companions is ambulating within five hundred meters of your location. Do you desire for this range of proximity to decrease?" How awesome is that? It's like Spock on steroids!

All I can say is that you absolutely can't go wrong by reading this book. Plus, the fact that the series is fully published guarantees you'll be hitting the kindle store for book two faster than hyperspace after reading the cliffhanger of a final sentence.(less)

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Feb 09, 2013 Angela R. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

I started reading Hugh Howey with the Wool series, which was absolutely amazing. I love those short little books with their big stories inside! Tried one of Howey's scifi books and wasn't so impressed, but decided to try again with the Molly Fyde series. There is something a little simple, a little hokey, about the storyline. Kind of reminds me of Star Trek, which I never could get into. I need something a little more gritty, a little more real. But I enjoyed this book and really like the charac...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Kate Copeseeley rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Readers who love REAL YA Sci-fi

If Wool didn't do it, this book has now made me a slobbering Hugh Howey fangirl! Guys... THIS is what YA sci-fi should be like. Seriously! None of that other drivel I've read of late cuts the mustard. This sci-fi gives me that meaty fare that I loved back when I first discovered Brin, McCaffrey, Norton, and Heinlein.

What I love though, is how capable Mollie is. (Everyone knows that's the real way you spell her name.) People don't usually throw around the word "capable" when they discuss why a h...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Simon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue by Huge Howey is the first book of four in the Bern Saga. I've come to know the author by reading his Wool series and was highly delighted at finding a sci-fi writer who wrote books in an easy to understand manner that doesn't have a need to use large words and the need to over complicate things just because their work is considered science fiction. I've been so impressed with his work on Wool that I've decided to give one of his previous works a go at it as wel...more Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue by Huge Howey is the first book of four in the Bern Saga. I've come to know the author by reading his Wool series and was highly delighted at finding a sci-fi writer who wrote books in an easy to understand manner that doesn't have a need to use large words and the need to over complicate things just because their work is considered science fiction. I've been so impressed with his work on Wool that I've decided to give one of his previous works a go at it as well. Suffice it to say, the author has done it again. The story itself is nothing mind blowing but I still enjoyed it from start to finish. Just like with any other genres, all that is required to enjoy this book is an open mind and a vivid imagination. When I think of science fiction, I immediately think of cruiser ships in the far distant future being able to travel from planet to planet in an open galaxy where humans get to interact with all sorts of unique alien races and species. This is what I got with Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue.

The story details the adventures of Molly Fyde, an orphan, through her up's and down's within the navy unit as a female pilot. One day she gets a notice that her deceased father's ship, Parsona, has been rediscovered somewhere within the galaxy. Along with her flight simulator training partner Cole, they set out on a mission to help recover the ship so that Molly can claim ownership of it. This all sounds like a simple mission but both Molly and Cole have no idea for the ride they'll be in once the journey gets going. In a way, this book kind of reminds me of playing a video game called Mass Effect. In it, you travel from planet to planet solving different mysteries and problems all the while getting to meet different alien races. Once in a while, you'll even get to recruit a new member or two and spend time on your personal aircraft as a temporary interval where a break is needed from all the fighting and action. I've always thought this was a pretty cool experience and it allows the writer or video game developer to really expand on their creativity levels as there is so much that can be done in a open universe with dozens and dozens of planets to explore.

Character wise, Molly and Cole will be your two main protagonists. Personally, I would have loved for the author to make Molly a tad bit more unique somehow. It would have been awesome if she was a bit more on the funny side. The author seem to have no problem giving the lead role of the books he writes to a female character. Molly is not dull enough to be considered boring by all means but neither does she exhibit a unique personality trait that you'll somehow remember after having completed the book. When Cole says at one point in the story that he's just along for the ride, it couldn't be farther from the truth. Cole does borderline on being boring and lifeless but I have a feeling that's going to change later on in the series. The one thing that did irritate me about this book is the childish love game between Molly and Cole. It's clear they both have a thing for each other but neither is willing to take the first step. Luckily, this issue doesn't crop up as often so it's not too big a distraction. Both Molly and Cole will recruit new members overtime but I won't ruin the fun here.

All in all, Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue is a good introduction to a promising series. If you're into light science fiction and travelling between planets is your thing, this book just might be up your alley. The book is not long enough to make it seem a drag yet the author still seem to fit a lot of story and adventure in it. The book obviously is not without its flaws but this is another classic example of how the positive parts outweigh the negative. I'm definitely looking forward to reading book number 2!(less)

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Feb 03, 2012 N E White rated it 4 of 5 stars

Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue is a story about a young woman aiming to make her mark in the Navy, but those ambitions are shattered when she’s kicked out of the Naval Academy for something she didn’t do.
Set in a future when space travel is the norm, trade between alien races is thriving, and a long-drawn out war between humanity’s sworn enemy, the Drenards, is well established, our heroine is thrown into a family mystery that will put her life on the line – several times. We soon find out th...more Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue is a story about a young woman aiming to make her mark in the Navy, but those ambitions are shattered when she’s kicked out of the Naval Academy for something she didn’t do.
Set in a future when space travel is the norm, trade between alien races is thriving, and a long-drawn out war between humanity’s sworn enemy, the Drenards, is well established, our heroine is thrown into a family mystery that will put her life on the line – several times. We soon find out that not every corner of the star-charts is safe when Molly, along with her boyfriend Cole Mendonco, begin a journey across the galaxy to recover her father’s space ship – the Parsona.

Along the way, Molly picks up a few strays that help to fill out her thin crew, and we encounter new races with starling perspectives than our own. The mystery of her father’s disappearance deepens as does the danger when she realizes she may be on the wrong side of the Navy’s arsenal. At each step she takes towards recovering the only thing left to her from her parents, she encounters betrayal and corruption, slowly stripping away her trust and naivety. She tackles each challenge with perseverance, compassion and her wits.

The first in a three part series, Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue is a fun, quick read. Filled with lots of action, and a little bit of romance, a young adult reader transitioning to more adult material will find a lot to like, and maybe love, about this book. Molly Fyde’s character feels real and immediate. Her dilemma is touching, and I found myself rooting for her the entire time as she struggles with what is the right thing to do.

With that said, there were a few times during the book where I had to turn up the suspension of disbelief by a factor or two. Our two main protagonists are in their late teens, and some of their antics would have swamped someone with far more training and experience behind them. There were also a few times in the book where the point of view was switched in a seemingly indiscriminate manner that had me re-reading a couple of passages.

Regardless of the few faults, I completely enjoyed this book and would recommended it to anyone who likes their science fiction packed with action and a bit of mystery.(less)

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Apr 16, 2012 Ruth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, space-opera

Classic space opera with Howey's dose of humor and philosophy added in. Interesting aliens and planets, moral dilemmas abound, the philosophy of architecture - ooooh, just having deep thought about the differences between the two main alien planets, Palan and Glemot - but this was very definitely the pilot (haha) of a series, because basically, this book rounds up the crew and gives them a mission, establishing bad guys and good guys and the sometimes impossibility of telling the difference betw...more

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Jul 09, 2012 J4n3 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: scifi, awesomeness, read-in-2012

Being sick at home usually sucks hamster testicles but at least it gave me the opportunity to finish this book. Beats pitying myself :D

Anyway, what can I say? I did start reading Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue with high expectations after Hugh Howey's Wool had literally blown my mind, and it didn't disappoint.

Molly is a great character with a great "what doesn't kill me only makes me stronger" attitude. I wonder if she'd be a Slipknot fan if she lived today, but I digress. It is just so ref...more

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Nov 06, 2009 Sandi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, sci-fi, young-adult

It's such a shame that Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue wasn't picked up by one of the big publishing houses. It's really one of the best young adult science fiction novels I've read. I liked it so much more than Ender's Game. It's so well paced and the characters are so engaging. I can't believe how much action Hugh Howey packed into 283 pages. It never let up and there were surprising twists at every turn. Sadly, the big publications aren't printing much in the way of young adult space fictio...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is my first straight up Sci-Fi novel and I liked it! What makes this story so enjoyable for me is Molly. She is exactly what I love in a heroine: smart, strong, brave and thank God, not whiny! I loved the relationship development between Molly and Cole as well. It did not dominated the whole story, but it was enough to provide a good spark that kept things interesting. Even though I am a recent convert to Sci-Fi, the hyperdrive and some space talk in the story did not scare me away. The sto...more

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Dec 05, 2009 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Michelle by: author's proof giveaway

Shelves: kids_and_y-a, sci-fi, dtb-own, free

3.5 stars - a fun space opera in the school of "one wacky thing after another" serial-adventure. molly fyde is an orphan teen about to wash out of the naval academy (apparently, they REALLY don't like chicks flying their spaceships). when life kicks her in the pants, she finds out that her long-lost parents' ship has been found, as in hock across the galaxy. setting off with her best buddy (and huge crush) from the academy to pick it up begins a series of big adventures and close scrapes.

it's n...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Ken Sodemann rated it 4 of 5 stars

While this book is clearly aimed at a young adult audience, it is not typical young adult fair. Actually, at first I was picturing the main characters are all being in their early 20's or so. It was not until later in the story that I learned I should be subtracting about five or six years from that.

I thought the author did an excellent job of illustrating the various worlds and cultures through his words. You can almost see the planets that our adventurers land on. I also like the way that the...more

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Sep 24, 2009 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue is the first book from author Hugh Howey and as far as first efforts go, this is good. Howey’s characters are well written and contain a depth that is rarely seen in popular fiction these days. His story is strong and moves along at a nice pace never getting ahead of itself or becoming taxing to read. He mixes in enough political, sociological and philosophical questions and observations to let you know that he understands and appreciates the history of science...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Katelynn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi, ya, action-adventure

So, I started reading this book on my iPhone to kill time this weekend. And for the purposes of just that--killing time--this book delivered. I don't know, I'm just not nearly as enamored with this as I was with Wool.

And I mean, don't get me wrong, I love sci-fi and YA... but parts of it just seemed unrealistic and rubbed me the wrong way. And the ending got so unnecessarily convoluted that I found myself just skimming "the big reveal".

Ugh, kind of a let-down. But overall, not atrocious. I don'...more

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May 20, 2012 Chris rated it 2 of 5 stars

Hmm, hrm. I came to this novel after reading 'Wool' and was disappointed. Not because it is a young adult novel, but because it has a very uneven, first-novelly feel.

For a YA novel, the heroine came across as too much of a sociopath for my tastes. For a philosophical picaresque novel in the Chesterton tradition, there wasn't enough philosophising and too much fluff. And, the initial space battle scene goes on for much too long.

But the plot twists and turns nicely, like the road down to the coast...more

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Oct 28, 2009 Sara Grochowski rated it 5 of 5 stars

Unfortuntately, I don't think Molly Fyde is a book that I would have picked up on my own. When I was contacted about reviewing this book, I debated whether or not to say yes. After all, I hadn't heard of the title, the author, or the publisher. In the end, I decided to accept because I love YA and science fiction and this book did have a plot that sounded interesting. I am so ridiculously glad that I did: Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue is most definitely one of the best YA science fiction nov...more Unfortuntately, I don't think Molly Fyde is a book that I would have picked up on my own. When I was contacted about reviewing this book, I debated whether or not to say yes. After all, I hadn't heard of the title, the author, or the publisher. In the end, I decided to accept because I love YA and science fiction and this book did have a plot that sounded interesting. I am so ridiculously glad that I did: Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue is most definitely one of the best YA science fiction novels that I've read the entire year.

I am always wary when picking up a new science fiction novel. Some scifi books focus too much on the technical (science) side of the plot, which I sometimes find boring or too complex. I read the first chapter of the novel and was starting to see these tendencies, but that really only lasted throughout the first chapter and their was a good reason for it. Once I got through that beginning chapter, I was hooked!

I was thrilled to discover that there was a love story within Molly Fyde, which will appeal to many YA readers. Cole, Molly's romantic interest, was a great match for her and I loved their dialogue. This aspect of the plot was wonderful.

This novel takes place many years in the future, when space travel is common and there are many planets with life, both alien and human. It was so interesting to read about the different planets Howey has imagined and sent Molly and Cole to. Along the way, Cole and Molly are met not only with adventure and clues to unraveling the mystery of Molly's past, but with new ideas and cultures.

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing: 10
Romance: 10
Originality: 10
Total: 50/50 (A!)

I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait until the next installment, Molly Fyde and the Land of Light, is released. The story leaves readers with a cliffhanger that left me anxious for more! Don't let this novel pass you by! Whether you are a scifi fan or simply a fan of adventure and love stories, this novel shouldn't be missed!

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Mar 13, 2013 Terri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ah...Molly Fyde should be the YA hero of the year...This series is so much more interesting than vampires and zombies. She portrays a strong independent young woman with values, and I love that. The entire series is well written, with action that keeps the pages turning. I could never find a stopping point! And the supporting characters are all fully fleshed out and credible, and I had strong feelings about each of them! (Dang Walter!) I loved the Wool series so I was familiar with Hugh's writin...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Wendy Dingwall rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi

I thoroughly enjoyed this young adult sci-fi. I haven't read one in many years and it brought back the excitement of what it must be like to experience outerspace and the unknown. All the characters were well fleshed out, it was easy to get caught up in their motivations for what lead them to this adventure. Even the aliens were likable, or not, as needed to fully believe in their existence. This is a well-written first in the series and I can't wait to read the next one. Molly Fyde is an inspir...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Julia Reed rated it 2 of 5 stars

Picked this up in the Kindle store, wanting to give it a chance. The author is a successful self-publisher, and this book had many enthusiastic reviews. I love science fiction and space opera, so I thought I would give it a go. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed. The sorry is thin, the characters worse. I couldn't help feeling like I'd read all of this before, and didn't really are for it the first time. Probably good entertainment for the not too picky sic fi reading early teenager, other...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Kristi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Times like these I wish Goodreads had half stars, this really gets a 3.5 from me. I am a big fan of the author, and thought I'd give this series a try. First, it really reads like tween/teen fiction, but that's ok - I mean Harry Potter was too, right? But I found it a little distracting sometimes, just something about the tone was not quite right or too young for me maybe. But the plot is interesting and I like that the lead is a girl with opinions and strengths, and quirks and problems. Also, t...more

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About Hugh Howey

I'm the author of WOOL, a top 5 science fiction book on Amazon. I also wrote the Molly Fyde saga, a tale of a teenager from the 25th century who is repeatedly told that girls can't do certain things -- and then does them anyway.

A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified...more

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“He could imagine how nice it would be to not understand. To see one's microcosm as the macrocosm. To focus a meter beyond one's own nose.” — 3 people liked it

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