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Orion Connection
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ORION CONNECTION is the first installment in the Legends Trilogy. Inspired by the Face on Mars and the unexplainable technological marvels that predate the rise of Egypt by thousands of years, S DeGiorgio offers an eerily plausible connection between Mars and the rise of modern civilization. This novel is rocket fuel for people seeking answers to the question, “Are we alone?”
It’s 2050, Earth’s resources are nearly gone, and armies guard what precious little remains. As mankind prepares to set foot on Mars, leaders of an ancient society are forced out of the shadows to protect secrets they’ve guarded for millennia.
Orion’s crew gets caught in the middle, and on the eve of Earth’s first manned mission to Mars, unknown adversaries murder four of their own. As the reserve team is pressed into service, fears grow that co-conspirators may be on board.
No one’s ever gone farther than the moon. Rumor and espionage threaten to tear the crew apart at a time when America can’t afford to fail, and they only have each other, elite training, and raw instincts to rely on. Not everyone believes they will make it home. Some even consider them expendable—acceptable losses to advance the cause.
Control of Mars’ mineral rights will reestablish America’s position as the leader of the free world. Standing down is not an option—but we’re not the only country in the race for the red planet.
“This story kept me spellbound and on the edge of my seat! I have been reading non-stop all day and just couldn’t put it down. Now I have to wait for the next book, which I hope is out soon. If you’re looking for great action, science fiction, mystery and a fantastic cast of characters, this is the book you need to read.” ~ RW
ORION CONNECTION is the first installment in the Legends Trilogy. Inspired by the Face on Mars and the unexplainable technological marvels that predate the rise of Egypt by thousands of years, S DeGiorgio offers an eerily plausible connection between Mars and the rise of modern civilization. This novel is rocket fuel for people seeking answers to the question, “Are we alone?”
It’s 2050, Earth’s resources are nearly gone, and armies guard what precious little remains. As mankind prepares to set foot on Mars, leaders of an ancient society are forced out of the shadows to protect secrets they’ve guarded for millennia.
Orion’s crew gets caught in the middle, and on the eve of Earth’s first manned mission to Mars, unknown adversaries murder four of their own. As the reserve team is pressed into service, fears grow that co-conspirators may be on board.
No one’s ever gone farther than the moon. Rumor and espionage threaten to tear the crew apart at a time when America can’t afford to fail, and they only have each other, elite training, and raw instincts to rely on. Not everyone believes they will make it home. Some even consider them expendable—acceptable losses to advance the cause.
Control of Mars’ mineral rights will reestablish America’s position as the leader of the free world. Standing down is not an option—but we’re not the only country in the race for the red planet.
“This story kept me spellbound and on the edge of my seat! I have been reading non-stop all day and just couldn’t put it down. Now I have to wait for the next book, which I hope is out soon. If you’re looking for great action, science fiction, mystery and a fantastic cast of characters, this is the book you need to read.” ~ RW
- GenresScience FictionAmazon
Kindle Edition
First published April 3, 2014
51 people are currently reading
942 people want to read
About the author
S. DeGiorgio
4 books250 followersWe (S DeGiorgio) are a husband/wife team who primarily work as co-authors of science-fiction novels, like Orion Connection, but we also enjoy dabbling in children’s literature, such as Yo Ho Ho and a Very Merry Christmas! (now available in audio), and non-fiction. See our website, sdegiorgio.com.
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Twitter - twitter.com/ssdegiorgio
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 9, 2019
Fun Romp
The backstory is a delightful way to account for the architectural and engineering wonders from Egypt. The interweaving of what is known of the early inhabitants of that area with plausible filler material from the author’s speculation made for a very intriguing tale.
The backstory is a delightful way to account for the architectural and engineering wonders from Egypt. The interweaving of what is known of the early inhabitants of that area with plausible filler material from the author’s speculation made for a very intriguing tale.
August 31, 2019
Interesting
What if the Earth really was visited by people from another planet? This author gives you good for thought. Lots of twists and turns.
What if the Earth really was visited by people from another planet? This author gives you good for thought. Lots of twists and turns.
August 16, 2016
"Orion Connection" is a great science fiction novel; one that harkens back to the late 40s and early 50s when Asimov, Clarke, Anderson, and their ilk were writing classic stories with big themes featuring iron-jawed heroes, alien princesses, and villains worthy of the name.
The husband-and-wife team who wrote this book may not have gotten the science absolutely right - I'm not a rocket scientist so I don't know if they did or did not - but as both an author and a reader I can say that they were absolutely spot on when it came to getting the characters right.
And, let's be honest here, isn't that really all that matters when you're writing a novel? I mean, if you're writing a treatise on astrophysics or a technical manual on the care and maintenance of faster-than-light engines then characters don't really matter much. However, if you're writing fiction - science or otherwise - it's the characters that make or break the book. Readers have to feel an emotional connection with them, even the villains. When they do feel that connection, readers are drawn into the narrative.
The DeGiorgios have done that in "Orion Connection." They've given us heroic characters, aliens, treacherous spies, lovers, friends, and comrades in arms. They've put their characters through the wringer; forcing them to deal with life-threatening situations, betrayals, romance, and loss.
And they've done it well in the course of a fast-paced narrative that has sufficient detail to put the reader "in the moment" without lapsing into so much technobabble that your eyes glaze over.
The authors, in addition to giving readers some really interesting characters, have done an impressive job of world building. Their descriptions of a depleted Earth - stripped nearly bare of resources by greedy corporations and a population that can't see past the next weekend - is well done. Their descriptions of life aboard Orion and of Mars itself are also well done. The plot is straightforward with a couple of really nice twists to keep it interesting.
All in all, a very nice read complete with topical subject matter: 5 stars.
The husband-and-wife team who wrote this book may not have gotten the science absolutely right - I'm not a rocket scientist so I don't know if they did or did not - but as both an author and a reader I can say that they were absolutely spot on when it came to getting the characters right.
And, let's be honest here, isn't that really all that matters when you're writing a novel? I mean, if you're writing a treatise on astrophysics or a technical manual on the care and maintenance of faster-than-light engines then characters don't really matter much. However, if you're writing fiction - science or otherwise - it's the characters that make or break the book. Readers have to feel an emotional connection with them, even the villains. When they do feel that connection, readers are drawn into the narrative.
The DeGiorgios have done that in "Orion Connection." They've given us heroic characters, aliens, treacherous spies, lovers, friends, and comrades in arms. They've put their characters through the wringer; forcing them to deal with life-threatening situations, betrayals, romance, and loss.
And they've done it well in the course of a fast-paced narrative that has sufficient detail to put the reader "in the moment" without lapsing into so much technobabble that your eyes glaze over.
The authors, in addition to giving readers some really interesting characters, have done an impressive job of world building. Their descriptions of a depleted Earth - stripped nearly bare of resources by greedy corporations and a population that can't see past the next weekend - is well done. Their descriptions of life aboard Orion and of Mars itself are also well done. The plot is straightforward with a couple of really nice twists to keep it interesting.
All in all, a very nice read complete with topical subject matter: 5 stars.
February 6, 2015
Two Worlds, the Past and the Future, Collide in Outer Space
The year is roughly 2040. The earth is dying from the lack of enough natural resources to sustain the overly populated planet. NASA is looking for Mars to be the saviour colony.
The Chinese are hot on the heels of the launch of the U.S. spaceship Orion, wanting to claim Mars for themselves. Killing vital personnel and attempting to assassinate other crucial Orion crewmembers is how the Chinese plan to get their spacecraft to Mars first. A trusted friend and engineer onboard is also sabotaging the Orion from within. But who is it in this tight-knit group that has worked together and trained together for years? Commander Lawson, on his last trip into space before retirement, has some tough problems to deal with from the moment he finds out his dearest friend and pilot for the Orion has been murdered the morning before the scheduled launch.
Enough spoilers...suffice it to say, this action-packed beginning can in no way prepare you for the incredible revelations to follow...the artifacts and fossils of an ancient alien race that once called earth home is to be studied. Those studies leave the reader and the crew of the Orion whirling in Outer space when worlds collide.
DeGiorgia is an good storyteller, whose realism in the research of spacecraft and future innovations carries the plot in a steady stream of predictability until about a little over halfway through the book...then the anticipated, no-surprises action is left in Martian dust on a planet so unlike earth. Definitely worth the read, so hang in there through the well-written, yet predictable, first half to find the explosive, unexpected ending.
Set up well to proceed with a sequel/trilogy. I would have tacked on another star if there hadn't been such an abrupt change in pace.
I highly recommend this book, and I suspect the 5th star will be forthcoming on the next book(s) in the series. S. DeGiorgia is a voice of the future, both in genre and in literary achievement. I look forward to more of his work.
The year is roughly 2040. The earth is dying from the lack of enough natural resources to sustain the overly populated planet. NASA is looking for Mars to be the saviour colony.
The Chinese are hot on the heels of the launch of the U.S. spaceship Orion, wanting to claim Mars for themselves. Killing vital personnel and attempting to assassinate other crucial Orion crewmembers is how the Chinese plan to get their spacecraft to Mars first. A trusted friend and engineer onboard is also sabotaging the Orion from within. But who is it in this tight-knit group that has worked together and trained together for years? Commander Lawson, on his last trip into space before retirement, has some tough problems to deal with from the moment he finds out his dearest friend and pilot for the Orion has been murdered the morning before the scheduled launch.
Enough spoilers...suffice it to say, this action-packed beginning can in no way prepare you for the incredible revelations to follow...the artifacts and fossils of an ancient alien race that once called earth home is to be studied. Those studies leave the reader and the crew of the Orion whirling in Outer space when worlds collide.
DeGiorgia is an good storyteller, whose realism in the research of spacecraft and future innovations carries the plot in a steady stream of predictability until about a little over halfway through the book...then the anticipated, no-surprises action is left in Martian dust on a planet so unlike earth. Definitely worth the read, so hang in there through the well-written, yet predictable, first half to find the explosive, unexpected ending.
Set up well to proceed with a sequel/trilogy. I would have tacked on another star if there hadn't been such an abrupt change in pace.
I highly recommend this book, and I suspect the 5th star will be forthcoming on the next book(s) in the series. S. DeGiorgia is a voice of the future, both in genre and in literary achievement. I look forward to more of his work.
January 16, 2015
This was an okay book. It wasn’t great; it wasn’t bad; it was just okay.
The characters weren’t always consistently portrayed, but for the most part were pretty likeable, though it did take a while for them to feel like real people.
The dialogue and narrative were both a little dry, but not nearly as bad as some science fiction.
The worldbuilding was mostly excellent -- I loved the smart glass -- but with a few bits of tech that felt insufficiently advanced compared to everything else.
The grammar, frequently a problem in self-published books, was nearly perfect, with just a couple of distracting comma errors in the whole thing. Really, this was better copy-edited than some professionally published books I’ve read lately.
The fight scenes were very action packed and well written. That was nice.
Ultimately, what made me give this book three stars instead of four were two factors:
First, the number of times my suspension of disbelief was broken. I’m not talking about unrealistic tech -- I write space opera myself, so I have a very high tolerance for that.
Second, there was way too much mundane detail and this, combined with the dry narrative tone, made the book feel a bit more like an after action report on what had happened than a story at times.
Still, it was good enough and the ending was intriguing enough that I’ll probably read the sequel.
The characters weren’t always consistently portrayed, but for the most part were pretty likeable, though it did take a while for them to feel like real people.
The dialogue and narrative were both a little dry, but not nearly as bad as some science fiction.
The worldbuilding was mostly excellent -- I loved the smart glass -- but with a few bits of tech that felt insufficiently advanced compared to everything else.
The grammar, frequently a problem in self-published books, was nearly perfect, with just a couple of distracting comma errors in the whole thing. Really, this was better copy-edited than some professionally published books I’ve read lately.
The fight scenes were very action packed and well written. That was nice.
Ultimately, what made me give this book three stars instead of four were two factors:
First, the number of times my suspension of disbelief was broken. I’m not talking about unrealistic tech -- I write space opera myself, so I have a very high tolerance for that.
Second, there was way too much mundane detail and this, combined with the dry narrative tone, made the book feel a bit more like an after action report on what had happened than a story at times.
Still, it was good enough and the ending was intriguing enough that I’ll probably read the sequel.
September 1, 2014
Orion Connection is a very good read that this reader found hard to put down, even long after I should have turned out the light. One hallmark of a good book is if it makes the reader think about it some time after a reading session. OC certainly delivered on that.
I found the characters to be believable, personable, and well thought out and portrayed. The plot is nice and tight with conflict, intrigue, thrills, and excitement around every corner. Since I am a space exploration and astronomy freak I was particularly caught up in everything after the shuttle launch and blastoff for Mars. The ending had an appropriate unresolved issue to springboard into a much anticipated second installment.
Of particular interest was that the author(s)took a known topic in astronomy circles and crafted and wove a remarkable story around it...a sort of "what if" exercise. It gives the reader a point of reference around a familiar topic rather than having to learn a whole new universe from scratch. Even this writer owns a book about the Face on Mars.
This writer highly recommends Orion Connection and eagerly awaits the next thrill ride. Hats off to the authors!
Brett Lawrence
Author of Shadow Guardians
I found the characters to be believable, personable, and well thought out and portrayed. The plot is nice and tight with conflict, intrigue, thrills, and excitement around every corner. Since I am a space exploration and astronomy freak I was particularly caught up in everything after the shuttle launch and blastoff for Mars. The ending had an appropriate unresolved issue to springboard into a much anticipated second installment.
Of particular interest was that the author(s)took a known topic in astronomy circles and crafted and wove a remarkable story around it...a sort of "what if" exercise. It gives the reader a point of reference around a familiar topic rather than having to learn a whole new universe from scratch. Even this writer owns a book about the Face on Mars.
This writer highly recommends Orion Connection and eagerly awaits the next thrill ride. Hats off to the authors!
Brett Lawrence
Author of Shadow Guardians
January 14, 2015
I enjoyed The Orion Connection. It kept my interest throughout, the plot was compelling, the characters fairly well developed, the science and technology interesting, believable and well described.
That said, I thought there was room for improvement. In the best writing the writing itself is invisible and we get absorbed in the story and the characters. Too often with The Orion Connection I became aware I was being told a story. And a few times there were events and actions that I found jarring, that could have benefited from additional prior development to fit more smoothly in the story.
All in all though this was an enjoyable read and I look forward to future books in the series.
That said, I thought there was room for improvement. In the best writing the writing itself is invisible and we get absorbed in the story and the characters. Too often with The Orion Connection I became aware I was being told a story. And a few times there were events and actions that I found jarring, that could have benefited from additional prior development to fit more smoothly in the story.
All in all though this was an enjoyable read and I look forward to future books in the series.
January 1, 2015
This is the best written indie work I've read to this point. The author(s)' mastery of the craft allows the storyline to shine through. The characters are believable and the reader doesn't just read, but feels what they are going through. The story, though relatively familiar--given several similar Sci-Fi plots--is engaging and makes the read go quickly.
May 23, 2015
This book was a cross between Star Trek and Stargate.. It was hard to follow at times and I lost interest at different points. Overall it wasn't bad and it had a decent ending,
June 12, 2014
Excellent read
the book moved at a good pace and the character building was good. if they hadn't killed off one person I would give it a 5
the book moved at a good pace and the character building was good. if they hadn't killed off one person I would give it a 5
September 5, 2014
It dribbled along and took quite a while to get to the action. I found it quite elementary and struggled to keep reading.
June 13, 2015
Good Science Fiction. I was part of the story from the first paragraph and am ready to read the rest of the series.
July 14, 2019
I am am in the minority. Just could not suspend enough belief to make this book work for me.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews