The Birth of the Dread Remora

The Scattered Earth

by Aaron Rosenberg

Nathaniel Demming is a midshipman aboard the HMES Remora, the very first ship to go beyond their world's waters and out into the ether. He and the rest of the crew are ready for adventure, eager to explore the unknown and chart a new course for the rest of their world to follow. But what they find out there will change their lives, and their perspective, forever. The ether is not empty at all, but teeming with life--including vicious marauders waiting to prey upon the hapless Remora. Can Demming help his friends and fellow officers through the crises that await? Can they survive the dangers all around them? And can he convince them to transform their ship and themselves into the antithesis of everything they trained for, while still holding true to everything they believe in?

Birth of the Dread Remora is the first tale of the epic Scattered Earth saga, and the first in a series of swashbuckling adventures about the space-pirate ship the Dread Remora!

Genres: Science Fiction

236 pages

First published January 31, 2011

About the author

Aaron Rosenberg is an award-winning, bestselling novelist, children’s book author, and game designer. He's written original fiction (including the NOOK-bestselling humorous science fiction novel No Small Bills, the Dread Remora space-opera series, and the O.C.L.T. supernatural thriller series), tie-in novels (including the PsiPhi winner Collective Hindsight for Star Trek: SCE, the Daemon Gates trilogy for Warhammer, Tides of Darkness and the Scribe-nominated Beyond the Dark Portal for WarCraft, Hunt and Run for Stargate: Atlantis, and Substitution Method and Road Less Traveled for Eureka), young adult novels (including the Scribe-winning Bandslam: The Novel and books for iCarly and Ben10), children's books (including an original Scholastic Bestseller series, Pete and Penny's Pizza Puzzles, and work for PowerPuff Girls and Transformers Animated), roleplaying games (including original games like Asylum and Spookshow, the Origins Award-winning Gamemastering Secrets, and sections of The Supernatural Roleplaying Game, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, and The Deryni Roleplaying Game), short stories, webcomics, essays, and educational books. He has ranged from mystery to speculative fiction to drama to comedy, always with the same intent—to tell a good story. You can visit him online at gryphonrose.com or follow him on Twitter @gryphonrose.

Reviews

[Christine Steendam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book last night and I have to say; I devoured it. Read it in two days (if my husband would have let me I probably would have finished it in one.) It's an easy read and a fast paced adventure that is going to leave you wondering what comes next in this series. The characters draw you in and have you rooting from them from the beginning, even when their actions are questionable. Can't wait to read the second book.

[Samuel Proulx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one entirely in one sitting! It's classic science fantasy action adventure, but with Victorian space merfolk, basically. If you enjoy books like Starman Jones, or the Seafort saga, you'll probably be entertained by this. If I hadn't already spent my e-book budget for this month, I'd go on to book 2 in the series right away, assuming it's already published; I refuse to look, in case I get tempted to spend money I shouldn't.

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written with good characters and a wonderful realization of what it can be like to love the water as well as the adventure of space flight. I look forward to reading the next story of the Dread Remora.

[Miguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, entertaining read. With likable characters.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was wavering between 2 and 3 stars. The book was ok. I gave it three stars because of the creative viewpoint - what would it be like to be ocean creatures seeking the stars for the first time? This book addressed that creative question and had some decent characters to go along.

One thing that annoyed me was the use of sound waves in space - as I understand sounds waves they are vibrating particles that vibrate against the next one and the sound moves forward losing a bit of energy by the transaction of creating vibration in the next particle. Sound waves do not travel though empty space. The basic middle school bell jar experiment confirms this.

I understand why the author would choose sound waves as many marine creatures use sonar, however true that may be - doesn't work without a medium for the sound to travel through.

[David Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book a while ago, and while I wouldn't say it stuck out to me in a great way, it is worthy of noting that I did finish it. Some of the other books I picked up in the Bundle of Holding did not fare so well.

The main story here wasn't so compelling, but the idea was fascinating to me. Humans along a different evolutionary state? Excellent! Strange, alien, aliens? Even better!

I'd say it is a light, easy read overall. It probably took me the better part of a year to get through, but I wasn't reading often at that point.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book,,, one of the best I've read in a long time. I've found a new favorite author!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun space opera. As my first introduction to the Scattered Earth series, it certainly whetted my appetite for more, so I will definitely keep my eyes out for stories in this series.

[Danielle Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun to read. It had me hooked, and I never really expected what was coming.