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Titan Chronicles #1
Mission One
Five months to Titan. Four brave crew members. One incredible mystery.
Jeff Dolan always wanted to be an astronaut. After helping a private space company build a ship that can travel to Saturn's sixth moon in five months, he gets his chance.
Shortly after launch, a devastating malfunction forces Jeff and the crew to make a choice: continue to Titan, or go back home. As the truth about their mission unravels, one thing is clear: someone on Earth knew about the system flaw and covered it up.
Yet surviving the journey isn't the crew's only concern. Even if they make it to Titan, they will face another problem:
Something is already there.
Fans of thoughtful space exploration science fiction will enjoy this near Earth first contact adventure. This is the first book in the Titan Chronicles, a thrilling addition to space travel fiction.
Jeff Dolan always wanted to be an astronaut. After helping a private space company build a ship that can travel to Saturn's sixth moon in five months, he gets his chance.
Shortly after launch, a devastating malfunction forces Jeff and the crew to make a choice: continue to Titan, or go back home. As the truth about their mission unravels, one thing is clear: someone on Earth knew about the system flaw and covered it up.
Yet surviving the journey isn't the crew's only concern. Even if they make it to Titan, they will face another problem:
Something is already there.
Fans of thoughtful space exploration science fiction will enjoy this near Earth first contact adventure. This is the first book in the Titan Chronicles, a thrilling addition to space travel fiction.
Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2017
1373 people are currently reading
737 people want to read
About the author
Samuel Best
14 books95 followersBorn in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Samuel grew up a mile from the gates of Kennedy Space Center. His grandmother built space shuttles, his father designed scientific equipment that flew on them, and Samuel watched the launches from his rattling front porch, dreaming of the stars.
His best-selling novel Mission One, a near-future first contact odyssey, is the book that launched his career as a science fiction writer.
He recently spent three years traveling the world with his wife. They welcomed their son near the end of that journey and are now spending their days exploring the United States while Samuel works on his next book.
Want FREE Sci-Fi stories? Head on over to http://sam-best.com for a free introduction to Samuel's work.
His best-selling novel Mission One, a near-future first contact odyssey, is the book that launched his career as a science fiction writer.
He recently spent three years traveling the world with his wife. They welcomed their son near the end of that journey and are now spending their days exploring the United States while Samuel works on his next book.
Want FREE Sci-Fi stories? Head on over to http://sam-best.com for a free introduction to Samuel's work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
September 21, 2017
It's okay, but full of bad science
Writing hard science fiction well requires a strong grasp of the science involved. This author doesn't demonstrate that requisite knowledge. Annoying mistakes in general concepts plague the book. Not much of interest really happens until the end and it's pretty vague stuff. Tough to finish. Very cliche characters. No grasp of spaceflight, nor orbital mechanics. The author should probably try researching his subject matter a little deeper than the first paragraph of Wikipedia.
Writing hard science fiction well requires a strong grasp of the science involved. This author doesn't demonstrate that requisite knowledge. Annoying mistakes in general concepts plague the book. Not much of interest really happens until the end and it's pretty vague stuff. Tough to finish. Very cliche characters. No grasp of spaceflight, nor orbital mechanics. The author should probably try researching his subject matter a little deeper than the first paragraph of Wikipedia.
August 14, 2019
What can I say about this sci-fi adventure. It is an adventure that’s for sure but it got off to such a slow start I was beginning to get a bit bored - just launch into space will you! Also there is far too much pointless detail. Do I really need to know all the tiny insignificant specifics and I’m not talking about hard science fiction here, I don’t mind someone explaining the science but this was getting bogged down in details unimportant to the story.
Other than that however and once you get into it it is a good fun read with a few twists that surprised me and kept me entertained and guessing. However I wasn’t mad keen on the ending a bit far-fetched (even for sci-fi!)
Oh and one of the main characters annoyed the hell out of me. Kate was not that likable for me, she’s supposed to be smart but came across as an idiot for the first half of the book.
So overall a good story but not great, it could have been done better in my humble opinion. I liked the twists and turns but I had to go through a fair amount of c**p to get there. I’m giving it a harsh 3*/5, it probably deserves a 3.5* but I am rounding down because parts of it annoyed me.
Other than that however and once you get into it it is a good fun read with a few twists that surprised me and kept me entertained and guessing. However I wasn’t mad keen on the ending a bit far-fetched (even for sci-fi!)
Oh and one of the main characters annoyed the hell out of me. Kate was not that likable for me, she’s supposed to be smart but came across as an idiot for the first half of the book.
So overall a good story but not great, it could have been done better in my humble opinion. I liked the twists and turns but I had to go through a fair amount of c**p to get there. I’m giving it a harsh 3*/5, it probably deserves a 3.5* but I am rounding down because parts of it annoyed me.
Read
September 7, 2025Rating: minus 4 on a scale of minus 5 through plus 5.
This will be another tedious rewrite but needs must. At stake is my reputation as a semi-intellectual bent on converting hordes of readers to the dreaded "Socialism" with its women's rights, Human rights of all members of the LGBTQI+ community, the end of the brutality of racism and the movement of government policy towards providing an increasingly higher standard of living for All citizens, rather than preserving the value of the stock or bond markets.
I am totally in favour of all the above ideas and more but until a bit more than three year ago, I was content to write the shortest possible notes to myself about the substandard and often horrible writing and writers.
Before I continue, I will need to spend time on the YouTube. This has been made possible by the channels - Doctor Who/They Break My Heart - RecklessGirl100, NCMI, Anark, The Military Show, Willow Talks Books, ATP Geopolitics, Outlaw Bookseller, Welcome to Ukraine, Red Glasgow, KernowDamo, ScaredKetchup, Underthedesknews, Supertanskiii, The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, Bobbing Along, Chess Vibes, Silicon Curtain, Acollierastro, May, Belinda Strnad, Canadian Dominion, Books and Things, Hej Sokoly, TIKHistory, Truth to Power, Kyiv Post, HIstory of Everything, According to Alina, Grace McGuire, Hailey in Bookland, Riverboat Jack, Alizee, SK Media, The Juice Media, Julie Nolke, Terrible Writing Advice, ThePrimeChronus, Reese Waters, Ben and Emily, Northern Narrowboaters, Purple Sweater, BookTube Goddess, Biz, Sailing Melody, The Grungeon Master, Sarah Z, Ash L G, Bernadette Banner, Reads with Rachel, Issy Vine, Reads With Cindy, Smack the Pony, Naughty Nana DUZ, Jean's Thoughts, BobbyBroccoli, Words in Time, The Brothers Gwynne, The Recount, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Unlearning Economics, A Day of Small Things, Kat Blacque, Alice Cappelle, IzzzYzzz, Lily Simpson, Jean's Thoughts, Part Time Hobbit, Princess Weekes, The Dadvocate, The Clockwork Reader, Jake Broe, Eugenia from Ukraine, Shitty Book Club, Alt Shift X, Kazachka, Media Death Cult, Agro Squirrel Narrates, Hello Future Me, The Contented Narrative, Elliot Brooks, Joe Blogs, Suchominus, Rebecca Watson, Strange Aeon, Real Time History, Tale Foundry, Cambrian Chronicles, Ukraine Matters, Bask in the Story, Just Write, Abby Cox, Operator Starsky, Postmodern Jukebox, Winging it on a Budget, Puddles Pity Party, Guard the Leaf, Queen Penguin, Jennifer Jelinkova, Betty on a Boat, A Very Casual Librarian, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, Dinithi Book and Coffee, Gingers are Black, Captured in Words, Some More News, Dropkick Murphys, Times Radio, Kirkpattiecake.
I saw an idiot who whilst insulting an essayist I list, complain to her that I list trans creators. What in the air of the US that seems to eliminate self-awareness, must be worthy of scientific examination. A trigger warning then.
The channels which I list include economist, het, Kenyan, redhaired, older, bi, primatologist, autist, architect. cis, Australian, train historian, WOC, trans, chess player, archaeologist, tall, intersex, military historian, marine biologist, Scottish, lesbian, modeller, communist, military board gamer and other female creators whom the sane refer to as Women.
Almost as damaging and just as threatening to the proudly stupid are channels with other neurodivergent, anarchist, Indian, chemist, anthropologist, other BIPOC, ginger, miniatures painter, Irish, fashion historian, other LGBTQI+, Cornish, socialist and other creators whom the sane refer to as Human Beings.
If the voices refuse to be silenced, seek emergency pastoral counselling and/or repeat several times daily "I will not be a bellend today" and/or adopt Mahayana Buddhism.
The knowledge of the very existence of these nasty, near illiterates sometimes affect life energy but then I remember the short early days interview with the middle age teacher who organised and led her civilian anti-tank team hunting Russian armour North of Kyiv. With that model, I must continue.
Onto the book. There is no worldbuilding to speak of. The billionaire as hero is a staple of comic book heroes. In those stories great effort is made to create a redemption arc to make possible a connection between reader and main character. Here the writer does not try.
The conflict is between two billionaires racing to become wealthier billionaires. Gripping struggle! There is no role for any governmental involvement. I am not sure that any of the planetary governments are mentioned or matter. The death of a crew racing towards the object is declared unfortunate and the fault of underlings, not billionaires who ordered override of safety protocols.
One of the billionaires's sole description is being young and handsome, who not satisfied with just being a little king, sleeps with the wife of a high level executive in his own organisation.
The 40+ year old wife dating her husband's employer, unbeknownst to her husband seems included solely to illustrate the sleaziness of the lower orders, especially women. I do not remember the writer giving her a name. The bitterness of that executive, instead of gratitude that he had not been sacked, serves no story purpose but seems included to further illustrate the inferiority of the lower orders.
Fortunately together with no personality, neither billionaire have a backstory. It is assumed that both these empty vessels were born to wealth, attended the right schools and enjoyed all other trappings of obscene wealth and privilege. Given the US fashion of every billionaire rising from minimum wages through hard work, I would have been sick.
I did laugh it seems, through the last third of the book. I remembered none of the character names when I put the book down. Elon Musk would love this book, a middle-aged woman may focus on the "Pretty Woman" fantasy of seducing a vapid, 10-15 year younger, narcissistic billionaire and I cannot picture any other audience for the book.
I think it fair to say that I have earned a YouTube visit. This next was brought to you by Doctor Who/Be Kind - Reality Genre Studios, NCMI, Guard the Leaf, Acollierastro, Mia Mulder, Ben and Emily, Beautifully Bookish Bethany, Ukraine Calling, Jay Exci, Kyiv Independent, Templin Institute, Hardy's Books, Some More News, Munecat, History with Cy, Kopke613, Epimetheus, UATV English, Yarmak, Science Insanity, France 24, Raw News and Politics, Cruising Crafts, Chris and Shell, Dark Seas, Dark Docs, Ren Rants, Hello Future Me, Adiemus - Carmina Slovenica, Sci-Fi Odyssey, Make Better Media, Lynn Saga, The Juice Media, OrangeRiver, Remote Chess Academy, Jay Reed, UATV, Kozak Siromaha, The British Museum, Up and Atom, Biz, Adam Something, Red Viburnam Song, Alice Cappelle, TVP World, Paola Hermosin, Verilybitchie, Amie's Literary Empire, History with Kayleigh, Anna from Ukraine, The Cold War, FAFO, Anka Daily News, Keffals, Reese Waters, Up and Atom, Planarwalker, It ain't half hot mum, Snappy Dragon, Think That Through, Kozak Muzon, Think Ukraine, Shannon Makes, United 24, Sarah Millican, Abby Cox, Tabithaspeakspolitics, Engineering Knits, Books N Cats, Bookslike Whoa, Zoe Bee, Jackie Fish, Maggie Mae Fish, Channel AtoZ, Planet D, Steampunk Magazine, Twinshangout, Halfling Hobbies, PBS Voices - It's Lit, Kris Atomic, Chris and Shell, OrangeRiver, Cover in French, Willow Talks Books, A Cup of Nicole, ShelfClutter, Physics Girl, Abbie Emmons, Diane Callahan Quotidian Writer, Diary of a Ditch Witch, Premee Mohamed, Philosophy Vibe, Of Elves and Droids, FAFO, Amanda The Jedi, Tod Maffin, Art Deco, Trae Crowder, The Trans Atheist, 100 Watt Vipers, Jabzy, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Julie Nolke, Bella Ciao - Nikolay Kutuzov, Noella Reacts, Travelling K, Spacedock, Ro Ramdin, Jay Exci, Delamer, Silicon Curtain, Dr Fatima, Wayward Winchester, Kelly Loves Physics and History, Dominic Noble, The Welsh Viking, Discourse Minis, Players Aid, Knowing Better, Rowan J Coleman, Anna from Ukraine, Female Warriors - Teresatessa, The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, Hildegard von Blingin', NerdForge, Silicon Curtain, Natasha's Adventures, AllShorts, Emma Thorne, Northern Narrowboaters, Xiran Jay Zhao, Vlad Vexler, Dami Lee, Jormungandr, Answer in Progress, Kaz Rowe, Erutan, Saga Lore AI, Belle of the Ranch, BlackAdder.
I also watched Landscape with Invisible Hand, Archer, Inside Job, Mr and Mrs Smith, Ragnarok, Carol and the End of the World.
These No Effort books are the reason that I have moved away from Amazon low end US science fiction and ended my Unlimited sub. Watching feels a better choice. The streaming services all seem to offer science fiction that is better written or at least more entertaining. YouTube also host short film channels, including DUST and Omeleto.
YouTube are beset by problems. Creators are de-monetized with little recourse. Channels include man-babies moaning that emotionally healthy and usually more educated women will not date them through "proof" of the Flat Earth. Fortunately they also host a bewildering number of splendid essayist, lecture, hobby and educational channels. My most exciting discoveries were the book channels. 😍 The reader communities hosted are curious, thoughtful people who love the world of books. They are far different to the Goodreads environment. I first found the dedicated educational video sites through sponsor spots on YouTube educational channels. Nebula and the rest are worth a look.
Consider treating this site as potentially hostile. 🤔
There is no Goodreads discourse. As example, I wrote a mild, negative review of Powers of the Earth, a pathetic, juvenile salute to what would now be called the January 6, 2021 sociopathic hero by Travis Corcoran.
He self-described as US veteran, libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without portfolio?) and vocal supporter for the return of chattel slavery (long time popular US stance), employee of an unnamed US agency and enthusiastic Putin supporter (another popular stance among MAGA and the White House).
The story is the heroic tale of a rich twat enlisting the military in overthrow of the US
government in order that he not pay inheritance tax. Though the original Amazon blurb described the book as akin to "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", it was a poor imitation of "Atlas Shrugged" set on the moon, more like.
I described this popular in the Unlimited library theme both dangerous and unhealthy. In 2025 US, the white working have seen their vision manifested. The Corcoran and six fellow patriots were incensed. There followed a year long string of comments on my socialism, the glory of colonialism, etc. My lack of response was labelled narcissism. The layers of irony were painful.
The final comment was delivered by Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr (who seems to no longer identify as Nazi), in which after referencing the contents of my last message to a friend, grandly declared that They had "won" (?).
It developed that They had deluged channels which I mentioned with vile sexual, racist and other comments for somewhat more than a year and it continues still. They failed to impress the British professor of literature, the Swedish historical essayist, the Oxford astrophysicist, the German theoretical physicist or the many other female creators.
However in addition to needlessly increasing the world's overabundance of ugliness, They did manage to deliver a sadly accurate self-portrait of the Snowflake (vicious, narcissistic US man -child) to a broad multinational audience. They would not have been my choice of cultural ambassador but as I was fortunate in not being born American, I will not judge. USA, Yay ?? Goodreads,Yay ??
My YouTube picks of the moment.
Verilybitchie, Red Plateaus, Lily Simpson, Dropkick Murphys, Skip Intro, Jake Broe, JammiDodger, Jay Long Bone, Cass Ellis, Dutchy, Dreamloop Cinema, Ben and Emily, Alizee, Crow Caller, KernowDamo, Mr Newberger's AI Funnies, Gracie DelTaco, SpruesNBrews Scale Modeling, IMY2, AllShorts, Combat Veteran Reacts, Hawk's Podcasts, Miniature Adventures, The Narrowboat That James Built, Parkrose Permaculture, Zorpazorp, Valhalla Drums.
Ominous music begins. 😊 The comment gang behaviours affecting myself and others defined my opinion of the site and its usefulness. They are endemic and supported by employees. They have moved beyond the rude comment to doxxing, stalking, threatening and I suspect in 2025 USA, soon to the Swatting. They operate across speculative fiction and romance/romantasy, are sometimes organised by writers and enabled by Amazon employees with no response from Amazon.
Their reactions are almost always directed at criticisms of racist, misogynistic, ableist, ethno-supremacist and similar elements of books. BookTubers have also noted the special attention given to readers of colour. No surprise from a US heavy membership. Fortunately BookTubers will discuss alternative reader forums.
The most extreme and last to be tolerated attack was the Australian Intervention. Amazon gave over my very limited message history to these yobs. That allowed a request through Pine Gap Centre that Australian Intelligence interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. The attempt at my personal history failed, though it did create two outraged customers.
There was an acknowledgement but not an apology. All visible harassment were removed from my pages, format and options returned to normal, comments masked, Lurkers whom I had not previously been Permitted to remove were disappeared and others. One does wonder whether Amazon customer service protocols might be in need of overhaul.
Recently the seventh ex-employee of EBay was sentenced for a months long campaign of harassment of a couple whose small e-commerce channel were deemed unkind to EBay. The couple were awarded several millions and that ex-employee had been the EBay Chief of Global Security or some such. These US data corporations committed those crimes before the current US support for any and all of their actions. Facts worthy of consideration.
My recommendations for safety on the site. Remove all personal information from profile and avoid messaging. Remove Lurkers, those friends who never post. They are likely monitors for gangs or Amazon madlads, not admirers. With Amazon's cavalier use of customer page Alteration, the screenshot of the odd, ugly and threatening are essential. These should suffice.
Kindle are a more dangerous exposure. Do Not use Kindle Files, Calendar, Contacts or Email, unless a US reader comfortable with the above. Amazon do read emails with no notice or permissions. Do Not "purchase" Amazon Ebooks, as you own only the device not downloads. Those may be altered or deleted at Amazon's whim. Searches using Silk should be innocuous and non-critical. They will be used in an attempted triangulation. Fortunately, BookTubers will discuss alternative devices, sellers and best print purchase options.
Any temporary immunity is dependent upon the whims of degenerates. It is prudent to remember that these animals, employees and members alike are devoid of other than White Nationalist morality but most troubling are US patriots. Ominous music ends. 😊
May we all find Good Reading. 🤗
Some of my favourite YouTube channels.
NCMI, Heather Cox Richardson, The Closer Look, Mia Mulder, TVP News, Some More News, The Russian Dude, Cruising Crafts, Mrs Betty Bowers, Skip Intro, Chloe Stafler, Wizards and Warriors, Widebeams and Wellingtons, Peachy Tips, Star Wars Girl, Alt Shift X, Nini Music, Philosophy Tube, Cambrian Chronicles, Spacedock, Prime of Midlife, Up and Atom, Veritas et Caritas, Atun Shei Films, Karolina Zebrowska, Dominic Noble, Jessie Gender, Sarah Z, Julie Nolke, What Vivi did next, AllShorts, Linguoer Mechanic, Samantha Lux, Lilly's Life, Holly the Cafe Boat, Claus Kellerman POV, LIbrary Ladder. With Olivia, Roomies Digest, Enby Reads, Historical Fashion, Inside Russia, HBomberGuy, Times Radio, Chloe Daniels, Snappy Dragon, Omeleto, Reese Waters, Crecganford, Dan Davis History, Mythology and Fiction Explained, Tibees, Jay Exci, Renegade Cut, LydLoves, Captured in Words, Lives and Histories, Nikki Howard, Scared Ketchup, Hoots, Joe Blogs, Unlearning Economics, Horses, Brandon Fisichella, KrimsonRogue, Dark Brandon, Dark Seas, EarleWrites, Oh Joe, DamiLee, Jake Broe, Combat Veteran Reacts, Elina Charatsidou, Eileen, Nini Music, Weekend Warrior, Alice Cappelle, Alizee, DW News, Living Anachronism, Professor Gerdes Explains, Patrick (H)Willems, Maggie Mae Fish, Swell Entertainment, The Historical Gamer, Ponderful, UATV, Ship Happens, Chess Vibes, Vanwives, DUST, The Leftist Cooks, Truth to Power, Boat Time, Austin McConnell, I'm Rosa, Mallen Baker, Natasha's Adventures, No Justice, Part Time Hobbit, Turtleneck Philosophy, Narrowboat Pirate, The Shades of Orange, The Confused Adipose, Olly Richards, Amanda the Jedi, A Life of Lit, Kathy's Flog in France, Jean's Thoughts, IzzzYzzz, Sophie From Mars, Michael Lambert, Dark Side of Russia, Mary Spender, Viva La Dirt League, Xiran Jay Zhao, Depressed Russian, Harbo Wholmes, Guard the Leaf.
I wish you a sunny morning, a brilliant afternoon, a contemplative evening, a splendid night and may we all continue learning.
Allow Another to speak for you, adopt Another's sins.
My Grandmother of solid peasant stock
This will be another tedious rewrite but needs must. At stake is my reputation as a semi-intellectual bent on converting hordes of readers to the dreaded "Socialism" with its women's rights, Human rights of all members of the LGBTQI+ community, the end of the brutality of racism and the movement of government policy towards providing an increasingly higher standard of living for All citizens, rather than preserving the value of the stock or bond markets.
I am totally in favour of all the above ideas and more but until a bit more than three year ago, I was content to write the shortest possible notes to myself about the substandard and often horrible writing and writers.
Before I continue, I will need to spend time on the YouTube. This has been made possible by the channels - Doctor Who/They Break My Heart - RecklessGirl100, NCMI, Anark, The Military Show, Willow Talks Books, ATP Geopolitics, Outlaw Bookseller, Welcome to Ukraine, Red Glasgow, KernowDamo, ScaredKetchup, Underthedesknews, Supertanskiii, The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, Bobbing Along, Chess Vibes, Silicon Curtain, Acollierastro, May, Belinda Strnad, Canadian Dominion, Books and Things, Hej Sokoly, TIKHistory, Truth to Power, Kyiv Post, HIstory of Everything, According to Alina, Grace McGuire, Hailey in Bookland, Riverboat Jack, Alizee, SK Media, The Juice Media, Julie Nolke, Terrible Writing Advice, ThePrimeChronus, Reese Waters, Ben and Emily, Northern Narrowboaters, Purple Sweater, BookTube Goddess, Biz, Sailing Melody, The Grungeon Master, Sarah Z, Ash L G, Bernadette Banner, Reads with Rachel, Issy Vine, Reads With Cindy, Smack the Pony, Naughty Nana DUZ, Jean's Thoughts, BobbyBroccoli, Words in Time, The Brothers Gwynne, The Recount, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Unlearning Economics, A Day of Small Things, Kat Blacque, Alice Cappelle, IzzzYzzz, Lily Simpson, Jean's Thoughts, Part Time Hobbit, Princess Weekes, The Dadvocate, The Clockwork Reader, Jake Broe, Eugenia from Ukraine, Shitty Book Club, Alt Shift X, Kazachka, Media Death Cult, Agro Squirrel Narrates, Hello Future Me, The Contented Narrative, Elliot Brooks, Joe Blogs, Suchominus, Rebecca Watson, Strange Aeon, Real Time History, Tale Foundry, Cambrian Chronicles, Ukraine Matters, Bask in the Story, Just Write, Abby Cox, Operator Starsky, Postmodern Jukebox, Winging it on a Budget, Puddles Pity Party, Guard the Leaf, Queen Penguin, Jennifer Jelinkova, Betty on a Boat, A Very Casual Librarian, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, Dinithi Book and Coffee, Gingers are Black, Captured in Words, Some More News, Dropkick Murphys, Times Radio, Kirkpattiecake.
I saw an idiot who whilst insulting an essayist I list, complain to her that I list trans creators. What in the air of the US that seems to eliminate self-awareness, must be worthy of scientific examination. A trigger warning then.
The channels which I list include economist, het, Kenyan, redhaired, older, bi, primatologist, autist, architect. cis, Australian, train historian, WOC, trans, chess player, archaeologist, tall, intersex, military historian, marine biologist, Scottish, lesbian, modeller, communist, military board gamer and other female creators whom the sane refer to as Women.
Almost as damaging and just as threatening to the proudly stupid are channels with other neurodivergent, anarchist, Indian, chemist, anthropologist, other BIPOC, ginger, miniatures painter, Irish, fashion historian, other LGBTQI+, Cornish, socialist and other creators whom the sane refer to as Human Beings.
If the voices refuse to be silenced, seek emergency pastoral counselling and/or repeat several times daily "I will not be a bellend today" and/or adopt Mahayana Buddhism.
The knowledge of the very existence of these nasty, near illiterates sometimes affect life energy but then I remember the short early days interview with the middle age teacher who organised and led her civilian anti-tank team hunting Russian armour North of Kyiv. With that model, I must continue.
Onto the book. There is no worldbuilding to speak of. The billionaire as hero is a staple of comic book heroes. In those stories great effort is made to create a redemption arc to make possible a connection between reader and main character. Here the writer does not try.
The conflict is between two billionaires racing to become wealthier billionaires. Gripping struggle! There is no role for any governmental involvement. I am not sure that any of the planetary governments are mentioned or matter. The death of a crew racing towards the object is declared unfortunate and the fault of underlings, not billionaires who ordered override of safety protocols.
One of the billionaires's sole description is being young and handsome, who not satisfied with just being a little king, sleeps with the wife of a high level executive in his own organisation.
The 40+ year old wife dating her husband's employer, unbeknownst to her husband seems included solely to illustrate the sleaziness of the lower orders, especially women. I do not remember the writer giving her a name. The bitterness of that executive, instead of gratitude that he had not been sacked, serves no story purpose but seems included to further illustrate the inferiority of the lower orders.
Fortunately together with no personality, neither billionaire have a backstory. It is assumed that both these empty vessels were born to wealth, attended the right schools and enjoyed all other trappings of obscene wealth and privilege. Given the US fashion of every billionaire rising from minimum wages through hard work, I would have been sick.
I did laugh it seems, through the last third of the book. I remembered none of the character names when I put the book down. Elon Musk would love this book, a middle-aged woman may focus on the "Pretty Woman" fantasy of seducing a vapid, 10-15 year younger, narcissistic billionaire and I cannot picture any other audience for the book.
I think it fair to say that I have earned a YouTube visit. This next was brought to you by Doctor Who/Be Kind - Reality Genre Studios, NCMI, Guard the Leaf, Acollierastro, Mia Mulder, Ben and Emily, Beautifully Bookish Bethany, Ukraine Calling, Jay Exci, Kyiv Independent, Templin Institute, Hardy's Books, Some More News, Munecat, History with Cy, Kopke613, Epimetheus, UATV English, Yarmak, Science Insanity, France 24, Raw News and Politics, Cruising Crafts, Chris and Shell, Dark Seas, Dark Docs, Ren Rants, Hello Future Me, Adiemus - Carmina Slovenica, Sci-Fi Odyssey, Make Better Media, Lynn Saga, The Juice Media, OrangeRiver, Remote Chess Academy, Jay Reed, UATV, Kozak Siromaha, The British Museum, Up and Atom, Biz, Adam Something, Red Viburnam Song, Alice Cappelle, TVP World, Paola Hermosin, Verilybitchie, Amie's Literary Empire, History with Kayleigh, Anna from Ukraine, The Cold War, FAFO, Anka Daily News, Keffals, Reese Waters, Up and Atom, Planarwalker, It ain't half hot mum, Snappy Dragon, Think That Through, Kozak Muzon, Think Ukraine, Shannon Makes, United 24, Sarah Millican, Abby Cox, Tabithaspeakspolitics, Engineering Knits, Books N Cats, Bookslike Whoa, Zoe Bee, Jackie Fish, Maggie Mae Fish, Channel AtoZ, Planet D, Steampunk Magazine, Twinshangout, Halfling Hobbies, PBS Voices - It's Lit, Kris Atomic, Chris and Shell, OrangeRiver, Cover in French, Willow Talks Books, A Cup of Nicole, ShelfClutter, Physics Girl, Abbie Emmons, Diane Callahan Quotidian Writer, Diary of a Ditch Witch, Premee Mohamed, Philosophy Vibe, Of Elves and Droids, FAFO, Amanda The Jedi, Tod Maffin, Art Deco, Trae Crowder, The Trans Atheist, 100 Watt Vipers, Jabzy, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Julie Nolke, Bella Ciao - Nikolay Kutuzov, Noella Reacts, Travelling K, Spacedock, Ro Ramdin, Jay Exci, Delamer, Silicon Curtain, Dr Fatima, Wayward Winchester, Kelly Loves Physics and History, Dominic Noble, The Welsh Viking, Discourse Minis, Players Aid, Knowing Better, Rowan J Coleman, Anna from Ukraine, Female Warriors - Teresatessa, The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, Hildegard von Blingin', NerdForge, Silicon Curtain, Natasha's Adventures, AllShorts, Emma Thorne, Northern Narrowboaters, Xiran Jay Zhao, Vlad Vexler, Dami Lee, Jormungandr, Answer in Progress, Kaz Rowe, Erutan, Saga Lore AI, Belle of the Ranch, BlackAdder.
I also watched Landscape with Invisible Hand, Archer, Inside Job, Mr and Mrs Smith, Ragnarok, Carol and the End of the World.
These No Effort books are the reason that I have moved away from Amazon low end US science fiction and ended my Unlimited sub. Watching feels a better choice. The streaming services all seem to offer science fiction that is better written or at least more entertaining. YouTube also host short film channels, including DUST and Omeleto.
YouTube are beset by problems. Creators are de-monetized with little recourse. Channels include man-babies moaning that emotionally healthy and usually more educated women will not date them through "proof" of the Flat Earth. Fortunately they also host a bewildering number of splendid essayist, lecture, hobby and educational channels. My most exciting discoveries were the book channels. 😍 The reader communities hosted are curious, thoughtful people who love the world of books. They are far different to the Goodreads environment. I first found the dedicated educational video sites through sponsor spots on YouTube educational channels. Nebula and the rest are worth a look.
Consider treating this site as potentially hostile. 🤔
There is no Goodreads discourse. As example, I wrote a mild, negative review of Powers of the Earth, a pathetic, juvenile salute to what would now be called the January 6, 2021 sociopathic hero by Travis Corcoran.
He self-described as US veteran, libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without portfolio?) and vocal supporter for the return of chattel slavery (long time popular US stance), employee of an unnamed US agency and enthusiastic Putin supporter (another popular stance among MAGA and the White House).
The story is the heroic tale of a rich twat enlisting the military in overthrow of the US
government in order that he not pay inheritance tax. Though the original Amazon blurb described the book as akin to "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", it was a poor imitation of "Atlas Shrugged" set on the moon, more like.
I described this popular in the Unlimited library theme both dangerous and unhealthy. In 2025 US, the white working have seen their vision manifested. The Corcoran and six fellow patriots were incensed. There followed a year long string of comments on my socialism, the glory of colonialism, etc. My lack of response was labelled narcissism. The layers of irony were painful.
The final comment was delivered by Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr (who seems to no longer identify as Nazi), in which after referencing the contents of my last message to a friend, grandly declared that They had "won" (?).
It developed that They had deluged channels which I mentioned with vile sexual, racist and other comments for somewhat more than a year and it continues still. They failed to impress the British professor of literature, the Swedish historical essayist, the Oxford astrophysicist, the German theoretical physicist or the many other female creators.
However in addition to needlessly increasing the world's overabundance of ugliness, They did manage to deliver a sadly accurate self-portrait of the Snowflake (vicious, narcissistic US man -child) to a broad multinational audience. They would not have been my choice of cultural ambassador but as I was fortunate in not being born American, I will not judge. USA, Yay ?? Goodreads,Yay ??
My YouTube picks of the moment.
Verilybitchie, Red Plateaus, Lily Simpson, Dropkick Murphys, Skip Intro, Jake Broe, JammiDodger, Jay Long Bone, Cass Ellis, Dutchy, Dreamloop Cinema, Ben and Emily, Alizee, Crow Caller, KernowDamo, Mr Newberger's AI Funnies, Gracie DelTaco, SpruesNBrews Scale Modeling, IMY2, AllShorts, Combat Veteran Reacts, Hawk's Podcasts, Miniature Adventures, The Narrowboat That James Built, Parkrose Permaculture, Zorpazorp, Valhalla Drums.
Ominous music begins. 😊 The comment gang behaviours affecting myself and others defined my opinion of the site and its usefulness. They are endemic and supported by employees. They have moved beyond the rude comment to doxxing, stalking, threatening and I suspect in 2025 USA, soon to the Swatting. They operate across speculative fiction and romance/romantasy, are sometimes organised by writers and enabled by Amazon employees with no response from Amazon.
Their reactions are almost always directed at criticisms of racist, misogynistic, ableist, ethno-supremacist and similar elements of books. BookTubers have also noted the special attention given to readers of colour. No surprise from a US heavy membership. Fortunately BookTubers will discuss alternative reader forums.
The most extreme and last to be tolerated attack was the Australian Intervention. Amazon gave over my very limited message history to these yobs. That allowed a request through Pine Gap Centre that Australian Intelligence interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. The attempt at my personal history failed, though it did create two outraged customers.
There was an acknowledgement but not an apology. All visible harassment were removed from my pages, format and options returned to normal, comments masked, Lurkers whom I had not previously been Permitted to remove were disappeared and others. One does wonder whether Amazon customer service protocols might be in need of overhaul.
Recently the seventh ex-employee of EBay was sentenced for a months long campaign of harassment of a couple whose small e-commerce channel were deemed unkind to EBay. The couple were awarded several millions and that ex-employee had been the EBay Chief of Global Security or some such. These US data corporations committed those crimes before the current US support for any and all of their actions. Facts worthy of consideration.
My recommendations for safety on the site. Remove all personal information from profile and avoid messaging. Remove Lurkers, those friends who never post. They are likely monitors for gangs or Amazon madlads, not admirers. With Amazon's cavalier use of customer page Alteration, the screenshot of the odd, ugly and threatening are essential. These should suffice.
Kindle are a more dangerous exposure. Do Not use Kindle Files, Calendar, Contacts or Email, unless a US reader comfortable with the above. Amazon do read emails with no notice or permissions. Do Not "purchase" Amazon Ebooks, as you own only the device not downloads. Those may be altered or deleted at Amazon's whim. Searches using Silk should be innocuous and non-critical. They will be used in an attempted triangulation. Fortunately, BookTubers will discuss alternative devices, sellers and best print purchase options.
Any temporary immunity is dependent upon the whims of degenerates. It is prudent to remember that these animals, employees and members alike are devoid of other than White Nationalist morality but most troubling are US patriots. Ominous music ends. 😊
May we all find Good Reading. 🤗
Some of my favourite YouTube channels.
NCMI, Heather Cox Richardson, The Closer Look, Mia Mulder, TVP News, Some More News, The Russian Dude, Cruising Crafts, Mrs Betty Bowers, Skip Intro, Chloe Stafler, Wizards and Warriors, Widebeams and Wellingtons, Peachy Tips, Star Wars Girl, Alt Shift X, Nini Music, Philosophy Tube, Cambrian Chronicles, Spacedock, Prime of Midlife, Up and Atom, Veritas et Caritas, Atun Shei Films, Karolina Zebrowska, Dominic Noble, Jessie Gender, Sarah Z, Julie Nolke, What Vivi did next, AllShorts, Linguoer Mechanic, Samantha Lux, Lilly's Life, Holly the Cafe Boat, Claus Kellerman POV, LIbrary Ladder. With Olivia, Roomies Digest, Enby Reads, Historical Fashion, Inside Russia, HBomberGuy, Times Radio, Chloe Daniels, Snappy Dragon, Omeleto, Reese Waters, Crecganford, Dan Davis History, Mythology and Fiction Explained, Tibees, Jay Exci, Renegade Cut, LydLoves, Captured in Words, Lives and Histories, Nikki Howard, Scared Ketchup, Hoots, Joe Blogs, Unlearning Economics, Horses, Brandon Fisichella, KrimsonRogue, Dark Brandon, Dark Seas, EarleWrites, Oh Joe, DamiLee, Jake Broe, Combat Veteran Reacts, Elina Charatsidou, Eileen, Nini Music, Weekend Warrior, Alice Cappelle, Alizee, DW News, Living Anachronism, Professor Gerdes Explains, Patrick (H)Willems, Maggie Mae Fish, Swell Entertainment, The Historical Gamer, Ponderful, UATV, Ship Happens, Chess Vibes, Vanwives, DUST, The Leftist Cooks, Truth to Power, Boat Time, Austin McConnell, I'm Rosa, Mallen Baker, Natasha's Adventures, No Justice, Part Time Hobbit, Turtleneck Philosophy, Narrowboat Pirate, The Shades of Orange, The Confused Adipose, Olly Richards, Amanda the Jedi, A Life of Lit, Kathy's Flog in France, Jean's Thoughts, IzzzYzzz, Sophie From Mars, Michael Lambert, Dark Side of Russia, Mary Spender, Viva La Dirt League, Xiran Jay Zhao, Depressed Russian, Harbo Wholmes, Guard the Leaf.
I wish you a sunny morning, a brilliant afternoon, a contemplative evening, a splendid night and may we all continue learning.
Allow Another to speak for you, adopt Another's sins.
My Grandmother of solid peasant stock
August 26, 2018
3,5/5
November 12, 2022
Good proper stuff.
This is the “private enterprise going to titan for the first time” one.
Wonderful plot beats.
This is the “private enterprise going to titan for the first time” one.
Wonderful plot beats.
March 20, 2020
Excellent book and cast. Think it would make for a good movie. Very happy with it and definitely will look into any sequels. I enjoyed the plot, other subplots and the cliffhanger ending has me hooked
February 2, 2025
Tiekties pēc zvaigznēm, pēc Visuma plašākas izpētes ir ilgstoši bijis daudzu cilvēku sapnis. Kamēr vienmēr būs tādi, kuri ar pamatotību liks pretargumentus, ka noderīgāk izlietot līdzekļus un resursus dažādu problēmu risināšanai tepat uz Zemes, tad tiem pretim atkal var likt dažādus tehnoloģiju uzlabojumus un inovācijas, ko var sniegt vajadzība, tā teikt, izdomāt risinājumu, kas ļautu četru cilvēku komandai sasniegt, piemēram, Saturna pavadoni Titānu.
https://poseidons99.com/2025/02/02/sa...
https://poseidons99.com/2025/02/02/sa...
March 15, 2021
A fun read in the "space travel fiction" genre.
The pace seems slow at first, but it's steady and building as each chapter progresses. I liked the character development to give complexity and depth to several characters, not just the main two (Jeff and Kate). I also enjoyed the overall story arc, blended with humorous details such as how to cook a pizza in space.
So soon after the successful SpaceX launches, there were details in this that seemed a little quirky and archaic. For example, the description of the cockpit with buttons everywhere and ugly surfaces seemed dated compared with SpaceX (as an actual commercial venture). In addition, it struck me as odd that the astronauts were using metal clipboards and carbon pencils to make their notes. But those are little quirks imho.
If you're looking for intensive detail on the science side of science fiction, look up GS Jennsen and Cixin Liu instead. If you're ok with basic science concepts and an interesting near-future idea about first contact, read this one too (and then read GS Jennsen and Cixin Liu!).
The pace seems slow at first, but it's steady and building as each chapter progresses. I liked the character development to give complexity and depth to several characters, not just the main two (Jeff and Kate). I also enjoyed the overall story arc, blended with humorous details such as how to cook a pizza in space.
So soon after the successful SpaceX launches, there were details in this that seemed a little quirky and archaic. For example, the description of the cockpit with buttons everywhere and ugly surfaces seemed dated compared with SpaceX (as an actual commercial venture). In addition, it struck me as odd that the astronauts were using metal clipboards and carbon pencils to make their notes. But those are little quirks imho.
If you're looking for intensive detail on the science side of science fiction, look up GS Jennsen and Cixin Liu instead. If you're ok with basic science concepts and an interesting near-future idea about first contact, read this one too (and then read GS Jennsen and Cixin Liu!).
August 8, 2018
Fantastic story from start to end. This story as elements of the space odyssey series considering there is a strange alien artifact. To me what made and what makes this story believable is the fact it can almost be considered Hard science fiction considering its set in then near distinct future where we still travel in space with rockets and capsules. The only different thing about this is the new form of engine that propels us through space. Instead of 4 years to get to Saturn, it now only takes about 5 to 6 months.
May 31, 2018
An exciting science fiction thriller, Mission One opens when a private spaceship embarks to Titan, the sixth moon of Saturn, on a preliminary mission to establish a research station on the distant moon.
From the beginning there are clues that things aren't as they seem. From clandestine spies and murder on the ground, to mechanical issues on board the spaceship, the entire crew appear to be in danger. As if that weren't enough, upon arrival at Titan, they discover their ship isn't the only craft there.
I enjoyed this novel very much. It was a fun, fast, summer read.
From the beginning there are clues that things aren't as they seem. From clandestine spies and murder on the ground, to mechanical issues on board the spaceship, the entire crew appear to be in danger. As if that weren't enough, upon arrival at Titan, they discover their ship isn't the only craft there.
I enjoyed this novel very much. It was a fun, fast, summer read.
March 11, 2021
Pretty straightforward: A planned mission to Titan to begin building what will be the farthest human abode in the solar system. Straightforward. Except for a world of things going on in the background of this commercial endeavor. A steady build to a mind blowing conclusion.
April 16, 2023
This is just fantastic. I'm not a regular reader of hard scifi and I don't care if the science makes sense as long as it seems like it does (it's fiction, folks). The characters here are wonderfully dimensional and the aliens are just mysterious, not antagonistic.
And the action was great. It has a very realistic feel. And Jonathan Davis gives a great performance on audio.
And the action was great. It has a very realistic feel. And Jonathan Davis gives a great performance on audio.
December 15, 2020
This book started off pedantically. Incredibly boring. Not much in the way to motivate a reader to continue reading. Extremely heavy on observation of 'things' - going over each minute detail is unnecessary and is not good story-telling. Once I got to over a third of the way through the writing improved. I think the book needed to be heavily edited in the first third. The miniscule detail was unnecessary and was to the detriment of building up characterisation and plot. That the actual concept is an exciting one, a mission to Titan that is deeply flawed from the start, is what allowed the three stars.
November 19, 2019
This book was very interesting, but didn’t explain a lot about what happened. We’re definitely in the future for Earth and space travel has become pretty routine with mining operations going on the moon and the asteroids. Most of this has been due to the ambition of one private company, Diamond Aerospace. It is led by Noah Bell, a very young entrepreneur who was also a very rich young man. Now his company was poised to pull off one of the most spectacular space missions every dreamed of. His team of four astronauts were headed to Titan!
Saturn is a long ways away. While there’s no intent to land on the gas giant, there’s also no intent to land on Titan. The mission of Explorer I was to reach Titan and build the beginnings of an orbital lab over Titan and then safely return. They were the first such crew to attempt to go so far and their space craft was the first of its kind with a new Thermal Antimatter Propulsion System (TAPS) engine. This engine would cut their journey down to five months and then they would have about a month to finish the construction mission and then another five months back to Earth. A pretty straight-forward mission if everything went according to plan. But, not everyone knew the entire plan. Noah Bell was withholding something from the crew until they got well on their way. He was then going to tell them of their additional mission requirements.
The space launch facility for Diamond Aerospace wasn’t the huge operation that NASA had. No, it was ran by some very competent people who had some history with the company. Frank Johnson was the Mission Director and an OK kind of guy, but not particularly friendly to everyone. Then their was Kate Bishop who for some reason was always called Ms. Bishop during most of the book. Kate was the Ground and Flight Teams Manager so she would be in direct contact with the Explorer I crew almost all the time. That was good, but complicated because Jeff Dolan, the Engineer Astronaut and Kate had a thing going just as Jeff left on this 11-month mission.
Aboard Explorer I was the crew of four, Commander Tag Riley, Pilot; Lieutenant Li Ming, Co-pilot from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, Jeff Dolan, Mission Flight Engineer, and Dr. Gabriel Silva, specialist in advanced hydroponics. All of these people were going to be stuck together for 11 months so they had to be able to work together and that’s what they all planned to do, except it didn’t work out that way.
Sometimes, when you hire people to do a job, you really don’t know what you’ve got until they actually do the job even in an emergency situation. While Frank Johnson had been around for quite some time, Noah Bell trusted him to provide sound decisions when the time required them. He didn’t expect Frank to go rogue. There were secrets within secrets about this mission. And, there was clearly something floating around Titan that wasn’t supposed to be there. The Explorer I crew were going to find out what that something was, but they didn’t know that yet. In Frank’s mind, that was the purpose of the mission and nothing would stop him from getting that done; not even if the crew never made it back to Earth!
A pretty exciting book, but I didn’t care for the space ship crew. They seemed very incompatible for such a crew to spend 11 months together. The Commander was just too military and the Lieutenant was a meek individual. Dr. Silva seemed to just do what he wanted reguardless of wheither or not it was part of his job. And then Jeff Dolan thought he had to be the hero for the stupidest reasons. The end also wasn’t explained very well and I’m not sure I want to read the second book. I’ll have to think about it.
Saturn is a long ways away. While there’s no intent to land on the gas giant, there’s also no intent to land on Titan. The mission of Explorer I was to reach Titan and build the beginnings of an orbital lab over Titan and then safely return. They were the first such crew to attempt to go so far and their space craft was the first of its kind with a new Thermal Antimatter Propulsion System (TAPS) engine. This engine would cut their journey down to five months and then they would have about a month to finish the construction mission and then another five months back to Earth. A pretty straight-forward mission if everything went according to plan. But, not everyone knew the entire plan. Noah Bell was withholding something from the crew until they got well on their way. He was then going to tell them of their additional mission requirements.
The space launch facility for Diamond Aerospace wasn’t the huge operation that NASA had. No, it was ran by some very competent people who had some history with the company. Frank Johnson was the Mission Director and an OK kind of guy, but not particularly friendly to everyone. Then their was Kate Bishop who for some reason was always called Ms. Bishop during most of the book. Kate was the Ground and Flight Teams Manager so she would be in direct contact with the Explorer I crew almost all the time. That was good, but complicated because Jeff Dolan, the Engineer Astronaut and Kate had a thing going just as Jeff left on this 11-month mission.
Aboard Explorer I was the crew of four, Commander Tag Riley, Pilot; Lieutenant Li Ming, Co-pilot from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, Jeff Dolan, Mission Flight Engineer, and Dr. Gabriel Silva, specialist in advanced hydroponics. All of these people were going to be stuck together for 11 months so they had to be able to work together and that’s what they all planned to do, except it didn’t work out that way.
Sometimes, when you hire people to do a job, you really don’t know what you’ve got until they actually do the job even in an emergency situation. While Frank Johnson had been around for quite some time, Noah Bell trusted him to provide sound decisions when the time required them. He didn’t expect Frank to go rogue. There were secrets within secrets about this mission. And, there was clearly something floating around Titan that wasn’t supposed to be there. The Explorer I crew were going to find out what that something was, but they didn’t know that yet. In Frank’s mind, that was the purpose of the mission and nothing would stop him from getting that done; not even if the crew never made it back to Earth!
A pretty exciting book, but I didn’t care for the space ship crew. They seemed very incompatible for such a crew to spend 11 months together. The Commander was just too military and the Lieutenant was a meek individual. Dr. Silva seemed to just do what he wanted reguardless of wheither or not it was part of his job. And then Jeff Dolan thought he had to be the hero for the stupidest reasons. The end also wasn’t explained very well and I’m not sure I want to read the second book. I’ll have to think about it.
November 13, 2022
2.5 stars - Had potential, but kinda went off the rails at the end.
Mission One is the first book of the Titan Chronicles trilogy and focuses on a race to reach Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. When the ship arrives, they discover they are not alone.
Parts of the book play well and are interesting. However, there are errors in the science and space mechanics that are hard to ignore for a hard sci-fi novel. The ending took an unexpected twist which really was unbelievable and it is unclear where this series is heading.
Although many will probably enjoy the series, I don't think it's my cup of tea.
Mission One is the first book of the Titan Chronicles trilogy and focuses on a race to reach Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. When the ship arrives, they discover they are not alone.
Parts of the book play well and are interesting. However, there are errors in the science and space mechanics that are hard to ignore for a hard sci-fi novel. The ending took an unexpected twist which really was unbelievable and it is unclear where this series is heading.
Although many will probably enjoy the series, I don't think it's my cup of tea.
January 7, 2021
This is self-published so it does not have the benefit of an editor, who would surely have pointed out the faults in this book. The story is rather routine, and takes a long time for anything interesting to happen. And a SF book should only be written by someone who understands Science, and this author does not. For example, he uses antimatter propulsion, which is completely unrealistic for the near-future. Another annoying error which he makes repeatedly is to describe a moon or other large object as looking like a coin or other small object, confusing angular size with linear size. Titan is over 3000 miles across, so it cannot possibly look as big as a coin!
Also, I am not impressed by the publishers! After page 81 the next numbered page is page 7, followed by page 6, then yet another page 7! Then they increase normally one at a time.
Also, I am not impressed by the publishers! After page 81 the next numbered page is page 7, followed by page 6, then yet another page 7! Then they increase normally one at a time.
February 22, 2022
I'm already into book 2 of this series, so I'm going to keep this review brief. I enjoyed book 1 because I like reading about the science-based realities of space travel, such as the challenges of getting materials into orbit, spaceship design, and planetary physics. The author didn't get overly "techie" about these but also didn't just force through assumptions that these issues had somehow been magically overcome. I think the characters were fairly well developed and "real", but maybe a little more could have been invested in their backgrounds and lives to richen things up a bit.
Possible spoiler: Book 1 just started to get a bit "weird" near the end, with some pretty bizarre things happening. We'll see where things go in book 2. So far it is engaging and suspenseful.
Possible spoiler: Book 1 just started to get a bit "weird" near the end, with some pretty bizarre things happening. We'll see where things go in book 2. So far it is engaging and suspenseful.
December 10, 2017
This was FUN! Not particularly great prose, and the science was more than a bit ropey as were some of the facts (really - astronauts changing their underwear every four days, and getting a completely new set of clothes every time they changed? Nah. ) But I like the characters and the action and it was a rollicking good read - which was all I needed at the time.
Three and a half stars rounded up to four because I was desperate to know how it ended (which is always a good thing) ;)
Three and a half stars rounded up to four because I was desperate to know how it ended (which is always a good thing) ;)
September 1, 2017
Show, dont tell
Isnt that what they teach you in writing school? It took 187 pages for anything to start to happen... infinite descriptions of space life, which in the 21st century, weve all already read.. what the book needs is a good editor. Then when the book is finally getting somewhere, it stops!!! Introducing the sequel maybe? Which I sure wont be buying.
Isnt that what they teach you in writing school? It took 187 pages for anything to start to happen... infinite descriptions of space life, which in the 21st century, weve all already read.. what the book needs is a good editor. Then when the book is finally getting somewhere, it stops!!! Introducing the sequel maybe? Which I sure wont be buying.
November 8, 2021
Incredibly detailed trivial interactions eventually lead to the ship taking off for Titan. There is a conspiracy, a few bad guys, a girl friend, and a goofy ending.
It just wasn't exciting. The characters were placeholders. The pacing was SLOW!
Not a bad book, but not a good book.
It just wasn't exciting. The characters were placeholders. The pacing was SLOW!
Not a bad book, but not a good book.
October 10, 2020
A Long and Painful Read!
Have you ever read a novel that starts off with a very interesting plot only to stretch out into mind numbing drivel? Well this is one of them!
Have you ever read a novel that starts off with a very interesting plot only to stretch out into mind numbing drivel? Well this is one of them!
November 14, 2022
This book about the first manned mission to Titan, Saturn's moon, was clearly inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey. It was written by an indie author and while it's a pretty good space story for those who like medium-hard SF, the prose was merely adequate and the characters and dialog were stilted, and some of the twists made me roll my eyes.
Jeff Dolan, the main protagonist, leads the crew of a mission to Titan, powered by an antimatter drive (this is one of several handwavey technological bits that can be forgiven in a SF novel but make it somewhat less "hard science") built by a private space company. The entire mission is funded by an Elon Musk-like billionaire who wants to be the first to reach Titan.
Jeff, of course, is banging one of the engineers back on the ground. As a secondary character, she becomes aware of some sort of conspiracy involving a rival company and a known flaw in the ship's drive. One of her coworkers is a comical figure full of anti-government conspiracy theories despite (or because of) having been a NASA engineer. There's a really implausible twist in which it turns out the billionaire in charge was just the pawn of his evil underlings. Also, he's banging the ex-wife of one of the crew, which surprise, surprise, results in another twist midway through the book in which said crew member turns out to not be cool with this.
All of this skullduggery overshadows the real climax in which the crew finally arrives at Titan and finds someone already there. The ending was a little confusing, with very Arthur C. Clarke-like alien deux ex machinas, and it turns out to be setup for the next book.
Mission One was okay, but it's not The Martian.
Jeff Dolan, the main protagonist, leads the crew of a mission to Titan, powered by an antimatter drive (this is one of several handwavey technological bits that can be forgiven in a SF novel but make it somewhat less "hard science") built by a private space company. The entire mission is funded by an Elon Musk-like billionaire who wants to be the first to reach Titan.
Jeff, of course, is banging one of the engineers back on the ground. As a secondary character, she becomes aware of some sort of conspiracy involving a rival company and a known flaw in the ship's drive. One of her coworkers is a comical figure full of anti-government conspiracy theories despite (or because of) having been a NASA engineer. There's a really implausible twist in which it turns out the billionaire in charge was just the pawn of his evil underlings. Also, he's banging the ex-wife of one of the crew, which surprise, surprise, results in another twist midway through the book in which said crew member turns out to not be cool with this.
All of this skullduggery overshadows the real climax in which the crew finally arrives at Titan and finds someone already there. The ending was a little confusing, with very Arthur C. Clarke-like alien deux ex machinas, and it turns out to be setup for the next book.
Mission One was okay, but it's not The Martian.
April 18, 2023
Best joins the ranks of authors building sci-fi epics based on exploration of far-distant planets, or, in this case, moons: Jeff Dolan is one of a small crew trying out a barely-out-of-testing super-rocket, allow the team to shoot to Titan in record time. For the private space company that's funding the trip, it'll be a huge success, the first humans to Titan. Their goal? To start setting up a permanent space station.
But there's a secret second reason that the space billionaire wants to get a crew to Titan: What appears to be an alien artifact orbiting the Saturnian moon! Problem is, he's also hired a head of project who might just be a bit too heavy-handed, the ship itself has a malfunction en route, and it's not entirely clear who had access to the technical data supporting the venture in the first place.
There are definitely some rough edges to this fairly science-heavy space opera, not the least of which is a major plot twist mid-way through the novel that is resolved in record time (too quickly from a narrative perspective, and then basically ignored for the rest of the story), but Best has a great writing style and I found the book quite enjoyable, even if it has perhaps a few too many echoes of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Oh, and skip the postscript by the author. It is, unfortunately, a bit condescending and will leave you with a bit of a sour taste and less enthusiasm for reading #2 in the series.
But there's a secret second reason that the space billionaire wants to get a crew to Titan: What appears to be an alien artifact orbiting the Saturnian moon! Problem is, he's also hired a head of project who might just be a bit too heavy-handed, the ship itself has a malfunction en route, and it's not entirely clear who had access to the technical data supporting the venture in the first place.
There are definitely some rough edges to this fairly science-heavy space opera, not the least of which is a major plot twist mid-way through the novel that is resolved in record time (too quickly from a narrative perspective, and then basically ignored for the rest of the story), but Best has a great writing style and I found the book quite enjoyable, even if it has perhaps a few too many echoes of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Oh, and skip the postscript by the author. It is, unfortunately, a bit condescending and will leave you with a bit of a sour taste and less enthusiasm for reading #2 in the series.
August 1, 2017
Four stars. Could have been five.
Not a bad novel. Few mistakes (a couple of repeated words) and a pretty good plot, if shaky at times.
I wish I could go into the details without spoilers, alas, I'll just mention that videoconference from Ceres are not immediate. There is delay with the moon, the delay with Ceres would require sleep shifts.
Also, there are no pressure waves in space. That's why nuclear weapons (there aren't any in this novel) don't work as effectively in space.
No pressure waves means no stuff breaks unless the bomb is right in it. Enough said.
I was going to give the book 3 stars, but then I read the author note at the end and it sounds so eager (I would be too if I finished a novel, it's a lot of work) that I just could not bring myself to leave just 3 stars. An extra star for effort.
If I can make a suggestion to the author, next time a bit more research would help. I'd rather have fewer plot points and more credible physics.
Also, I would not have created the tension in Ground Control the same way. It seemed a bit far fetched. What was the boss going to do a week later? Not Fire his ass? Because I would have and then I would have called the FBI.
Anyway, good effort. It's a good story. Enjoyable, a bit far fetched, but a nice space romp.
Not a bad novel. Few mistakes (a couple of repeated words) and a pretty good plot, if shaky at times.
I wish I could go into the details without spoilers, alas, I'll just mention that videoconference from Ceres are not immediate. There is delay with the moon, the delay with Ceres would require sleep shifts.
Also, there are no pressure waves in space. That's why nuclear weapons (there aren't any in this novel) don't work as effectively in space.
No pressure waves means no stuff breaks unless the bomb is right in it. Enough said.
I was going to give the book 3 stars, but then I read the author note at the end and it sounds so eager (I would be too if I finished a novel, it's a lot of work) that I just could not bring myself to leave just 3 stars. An extra star for effort.
If I can make a suggestion to the author, next time a bit more research would help. I'd rather have fewer plot points and more credible physics.
Also, I would not have created the tension in Ground Control the same way. It seemed a bit far fetched. What was the boss going to do a week later? Not Fire his ass? Because I would have and then I would have called the FBI.
Anyway, good effort. It's a good story. Enjoyable, a bit far fetched, but a nice space romp.
March 4, 2020
This was quite a bit different from what I was expecting, as I have read many sci-fi books about first encounters and various forms of space travel. To begin with, the vehicle that was used on the mission was way more realistic than others I have read about or seen in movies. It was not the spacious "home away from home" that you usually see with private quarters and elaborate exercise facilities. The crew slept in one cramped space and ate food akin to MRE's rather than "home-cooked" meals.
The book focused not only on the crew and their mission, but also on Mission Control and what they were coping with as well. Their feeling of helplessness was depicted quite well, as was the general mood of the crew in space.
About 2/3 of the way through, the book took on a situation very similar to "2001, A Space Oddesy." At first I felt that the author was cheating by copying another author's plot, but enough was changed to still make it fairly original.
I did feel that the ending was somewhat trite and was very disappointed in it. It would have been better without the /epilogue.
The book focused not only on the crew and their mission, but also on Mission Control and what they were coping with as well. Their feeling of helplessness was depicted quite well, as was the general mood of the crew in space.
About 2/3 of the way through, the book took on a situation very similar to "2001, A Space Oddesy." At first I felt that the author was cheating by copying another author's plot, but enough was changed to still make it fairly original.
I did feel that the ending was somewhat trite and was very disappointed in it. It would have been better without the /epilogue.
July 7, 2023
This is exactly the kind of Sci-Fi I love the most: Solid ‘old-school’ Sci-Fi with overtones of Clarke, Bear and all the authors that made this genre great.
This is the story of the (supposedly) first mission to Titan. When the crew of four arrives, they get several big surprises. Firstly, they find an exact replica of their ship already there. Second, there is an alien artifact there as well. The story evolves around a number of questions: how did that second ship get there, what is the artifact and is it friendly or dangerous, and who back at mission control is a traitor who wants to put the artifact first, ahead of the mission and the lives of the crew. Telling you the answers would be a terrible giveaway, so you’ll just have to read it yourself.
This book kept me hooked all the way through, and is a quick, well written and thrilling read. The only bad thing I have to say is that the book is the first of a series, so nothing is finalized at the end. It is left completely open for book two. If you don’t like that, then it’s not for you. Personally, I have already bought book 2.
This is the story of the (supposedly) first mission to Titan. When the crew of four arrives, they get several big surprises. Firstly, they find an exact replica of their ship already there. Second, there is an alien artifact there as well. The story evolves around a number of questions: how did that second ship get there, what is the artifact and is it friendly or dangerous, and who back at mission control is a traitor who wants to put the artifact first, ahead of the mission and the lives of the crew. Telling you the answers would be a terrible giveaway, so you’ll just have to read it yourself.
This book kept me hooked all the way through, and is a quick, well written and thrilling read. The only bad thing I have to say is that the book is the first of a series, so nothing is finalized at the end. It is left completely open for book two. If you don’t like that, then it’s not for you. Personally, I have already bought book 2.
February 4, 2018
I would prefer to give the book 3.5 stars. I opted to go down instead of up because the story just wasn't that compelling. It was definitely hard science. There were mistakes, but they were acceptable, but the plot takes you in a way to another place and I wanted to spend more time there to figure it out. The author says at the end that it was essentially on purpose to get you to think.
There was a section in the middle that I felt was a bit unrealistically done. I don't want to spoil it so that's all I'll say.
I think there could have been a bit more character development as well.
Overall, it was a good read and despite what appears to be a bad review, I WOULD recommend the book. I think the author is most of the way there. It just needs that little bit more.
I read this on my kindle and I received it for free from the Kindle lending library. I would say it's safe for teens to read. There was no obvious political or religious agenda to the book and the harsh language was minimal (maybe non-existent, I don't recall any).
There was a section in the middle that I felt was a bit unrealistically done. I don't want to spoil it so that's all I'll say.
I think there could have been a bit more character development as well.
Overall, it was a good read and despite what appears to be a bad review, I WOULD recommend the book. I think the author is most of the way there. It just needs that little bit more.
I read this on my kindle and I received it for free from the Kindle lending library. I would say it's safe for teens to read. There was no obvious political or religious agenda to the book and the harsh language was minimal (maybe non-existent, I don't recall any).
December 9, 2020
My search for good indie sci-fi novels goes on. It is a perilous test of literary endurance, an endless journey through a wilderness of Kindle previews---perhaps an expedition into the heart of darkness itself. Some days I doubt I shall return with my health or sanity intact...
Just kidding. There is no place for snobbery here! Self-publishing really is better than people make it out to be, and has a lot of gems overlooked by the broader industry. Such was the case with Samuel Best's 2017 novel Mission One, which deals with a manned expedition to Titan in the near future, and along the way treats the reader to a very entertaining (if scientifically shaky) ride through deep space. It has decent writing and characterization, but really shines in the area of hard-sci-fi adventure. I came to like many of the characters and I even got invested in the outcome of the story---always a good sign! Furthermore, there aren't a ton of stories about the exploration of Titan, perhaps the coolest moon in the Solar System, and it was very refreshing to see an indie author take it on. Highly recommended!
Read my full review here:
https://letsgetoffthisrockalready.com...
Just kidding. There is no place for snobbery here! Self-publishing really is better than people make it out to be, and has a lot of gems overlooked by the broader industry. Such was the case with Samuel Best's 2017 novel Mission One, which deals with a manned expedition to Titan in the near future, and along the way treats the reader to a very entertaining (if scientifically shaky) ride through deep space. It has decent writing and characterization, but really shines in the area of hard-sci-fi adventure. I came to like many of the characters and I even got invested in the outcome of the story---always a good sign! Furthermore, there aren't a ton of stories about the exploration of Titan, perhaps the coolest moon in the Solar System, and it was very refreshing to see an indie author take it on. Highly recommended!
Read my full review here:
https://letsgetoffthisrockalready.com...
May 26, 2023
Plot. Throughout the three-book series, we're dealing with an alien entity whose objectives aren't obvious, at least to this writer. There is a slew of techno-babble that will either delight or frustrate the space fans among us - mostly frustrate. It's not simply a space opera - but also includes sabotage and corporate espionage - and a bit of romance. But ... it's never clear exactly what the aliens want besides a moon of Jupiter, Titan, or the planet Venus. Do the aliens want to be friends? You'll never know - at least, I couldn't tell. Throw in the annihilation of mankind because of comets/meteors. Wait...what? Aliens AND meteors?
Liked. No sex, no offensive language, clean reads. Narration is fine; no trouble discerning who is speaking to whom. Bumped the speed to 1.5.
Not so hot. Holes in the story - lots - unnecessary subplots and characters. Needs a story editor.
Written by Samuel Best and narrated by Jonathan Davis. Each story is in the area of 10 hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format, released from March 2022 through August 2022 by Podium Audio.
Liked. No sex, no offensive language, clean reads. Narration is fine; no trouble discerning who is speaking to whom. Bumped the speed to 1.5.
Not so hot. Holes in the story - lots - unnecessary subplots and characters. Needs a story editor.
Written by Samuel Best and narrated by Jonathan Davis. Each story is in the area of 10 hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format, released from March 2022 through August 2022 by Podium Audio.
December 11, 2022
Samuel Best’s Mission One is near-future science fiction in the tradition of Robert Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke. The book’s character drama also owes a debt to the grand tour series by Ben Bova. An entrepreneur unable to make a profit with the first generation of robot mining in the asteroid belt puts his money behind a manned mission to Titan, where he hopes to build a space station to oversee a mining operation on Titan itself. He has a competitor who may get there first and a vice president who wants to displace him. Since the book is billed as a first-contact story, it is not much of a spoiler to say there is also an alien artifact in orbit around Titan. The character drama is ramped up by a long-distance romance between the mission’s pilot and his capcom. Is Best as good a writer as the grandmasters who defined the genre? No. But I kept turning the pages on this one and will read the next volume in the trilogy. 3.5 stars.
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