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Distant Suns #1
Dawn of Procyon
In the midst of an interstellar conflict, mechanic Landry Stanton is shipwrecked on a remote outpost planet, stranded along with a hostile alien that wants him dead.
All Landry wants is to forget the woman he left back on Earth, but now he finds that much bigger issues are at stake: the creature, belonging to a species known as the Argoni, may hold the key to turning the tide in the entire war, assuming Landry can live long enough to tell anyone about it.
Pitched into a life and death struggle against the brutal environment and the Argoni itself, Landry is forced to challenge everything he thought he knew about the war, the aliens and even himself.
Get notified of Dawn of Procyon's official launch and giveaways here: http://www.futurehousepublishing.com/beta-readers-club/
All Landry wants is to forget the woman he left back on Earth, but now he finds that much bigger issues are at stake: the creature, belonging to a species known as the Argoni, may hold the key to turning the tide in the entire war, assuming Landry can live long enough to tell anyone about it.
Pitched into a life and death struggle against the brutal environment and the Argoni itself, Landry is forced to challenge everything he thought he knew about the war, the aliens and even himself.
Get notified of Dawn of Procyon's official launch and giveaways here: http://www.futurehousepublishing.com/beta-readers-club/
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2016
86 people are currently reading
675 people want to read
About the author
Mark R. Healy
16 books63 followersMark R. Healy is an author and musician from Brisbane, Australia. From an early age he loved to create, and often assembled his own illustrated books with accompanying stories - and then forced his parents to buy them.
Unfortunately this model was not scalable and Mark now seeks to promote his works to a wider audience.
Mark has also combined his storytelling prowess with music, creating a project called ‘Hibernal’ through which he interweaves original sci-fi stories with his own music to create an immersive theatrical experience for the listener. Combined with a professional voice cast and sound effects, these “audio movies” are available online through iTunes, Bandcamp and Amazon under the name ‘Hibernal’.
Unfortunately this model was not scalable and Mark now seeks to promote his works to a wider audience.
Mark has also combined his storytelling prowess with music, creating a project called ‘Hibernal’ through which he interweaves original sci-fi stories with his own music to create an immersive theatrical experience for the listener. Combined with a professional voice cast and sound effects, these “audio movies” are available online through iTunes, Bandcamp and Amazon under the name ‘Hibernal’.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
April 30, 2018
Dawn of Procyon
Distant Suns, Book 1
By: Mark R. Healy
Narrated by: Travis Baldree
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
This is a suspenseful, alien contact, against the elements or die kind of book. Being a kind hearted sucker, our main man takes a shuttle transport out to help his only friend to get something and they crash. His friend is killed and he is stranded far from the outpost low on oxygen, a wrecked shuttle, and a giant boulder type creature is watching him and taking pieces from the wrecked ship. His outpost thinks he is dead and is on lockdown. It is very exciting how he tries to survive and not get captured or killed. The is a female that takes his job and follows leads...keeps wondering if he is really dead.
The narrator is super awesome at keeping the suspension up and the emotions up and down as needed. There are some very emotionally parts as our man flashes back in his life. The narrator also is wonderful at performing girls and women's voices.
Great job!
Distant Suns, Book 1
By: Mark R. Healy
Narrated by: Travis Baldree
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
This is a suspenseful, alien contact, against the elements or die kind of book. Being a kind hearted sucker, our main man takes a shuttle transport out to help his only friend to get something and they crash. His friend is killed and he is stranded far from the outpost low on oxygen, a wrecked shuttle, and a giant boulder type creature is watching him and taking pieces from the wrecked ship. His outpost thinks he is dead and is on lockdown. It is very exciting how he tries to survive and not get captured or killed. The is a female that takes his job and follows leads...keeps wondering if he is really dead.
The narrator is super awesome at keeping the suspension up and the emotions up and down as needed. There are some very emotionally parts as our man flashes back in his life. The narrator also is wonderful at performing girls and women's voices.
Great job!
February 9, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I think it works perfectly for fans of hard scifi like THE MARTIAN, but where I felt it surpasses that book is that it has heart.
The story moves along at a brisk pace, with my only complaint being that it started a little slowly. After that though, it was all the smartly written techno-sequences of THE MARTIAN, but with interesting characters that I actively felt frightened for and could root rooted for. It definitely felt like a first book in a series, with a lot more expected to be revealed in sequels. I'm eagerly waiting for them!
The characters pop off the page. The action is electric. Mark Healy is a new voice in sci-fi that's worth keeping an eye on!
4.5 out of 5 stars
The story moves along at a brisk pace, with my only complaint being that it started a little slowly. After that though, it was all the smartly written techno-sequences of THE MARTIAN, but with interesting characters that I actively felt frightened for and could root rooted for. It definitely felt like a first book in a series, with a lot more expected to be revealed in sequels. I'm eagerly waiting for them!
The characters pop off the page. The action is electric. Mark Healy is a new voice in sci-fi that's worth keeping an eye on!
4.5 out of 5 stars
April 14, 2016
FYI: I received a copy of Dawn of Procyon from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review
Wow. That’s all I have to say for this review. I know, I know, that’s not telling you the story but I was actually blown away by this plot. Couldn’t get myself to stop because it was so desirable that you wanted to know what the hell happens! To start off, Dawn of Procyon is about a battle; two colonies—Earth and Argoni, trying to conquer one another as it took place on Procyon (an inhabitable planet). Landry Stanton had an unfortunate situation that caused him to be left on this planet. Now, don’t get me wrong he had a decent life but one day everything changes. I guess helping others can sometimes backfire…
Oh can’t forget this girl Cait, who really really wants Landry’s job. She seems like she would do anything to steal it away, but her break came in when Landry mysteriously disappears….Duh Duh Duh! First day on the job, things don’t go the way she wanted it to be. C’mon, everything is always messy on your first day! The character description was incredible. I liked how Healy’s thoroughly details everything; from the planet to the people–I feel like I’m walking into the world as if it existed. The way he makes the two characters be connected was perfect. I mean, I love how descriptive the two characters were and how their lives were polar opposite. Yet, they somehow had similar taste. I am big on action pack fight scenes. I mean, I love them! So the style that he had written them were really exciting. I felt it was a scene from Independent’s Day, when Will Smith kick the crap out of the alien…just say ” best moment ever”. I felt my heart pounding and flipping out!
To read more...check out http://www.floralsndragons.com/2016/0...
Wow. That’s all I have to say for this review. I know, I know, that’s not telling you the story but I was actually blown away by this plot. Couldn’t get myself to stop because it was so desirable that you wanted to know what the hell happens! To start off, Dawn of Procyon is about a battle; two colonies—Earth and Argoni, trying to conquer one another as it took place on Procyon (an inhabitable planet). Landry Stanton had an unfortunate situation that caused him to be left on this planet. Now, don’t get me wrong he had a decent life but one day everything changes. I guess helping others can sometimes backfire…
Oh can’t forget this girl Cait, who really really wants Landry’s job. She seems like she would do anything to steal it away, but her break came in when Landry mysteriously disappears….Duh Duh Duh! First day on the job, things don’t go the way she wanted it to be. C’mon, everything is always messy on your first day! The character description was incredible. I liked how Healy’s thoroughly details everything; from the planet to the people–I feel like I’m walking into the world as if it existed. The way he makes the two characters be connected was perfect. I mean, I love how descriptive the two characters were and how their lives were polar opposite. Yet, they somehow had similar taste. I am big on action pack fight scenes. I mean, I love them! So the style that he had written them were really exciting. I felt it was a scene from Independent’s Day, when Will Smith kick the crap out of the alien…just say ” best moment ever”. I felt my heart pounding and flipping out!
To read more...check out http://www.floralsndragons.com/2016/0...
April 16, 2016
Larry's take
Very good characters and well written. This fellows along with Mark's previous books which are very interesting reads. Keep up the good work Mark we're ready for more.
Very good characters and well written. This fellows along with Mark's previous books which are very interesting reads. Keep up the good work Mark we're ready for more.
April 14, 2016
I really enjoyed Mark R. Healy's "Silent Earth" dystopian trilogy so when I saw "Dawn of Procyon" pop up today on Amazon I immediately grabbed it.
Sorry, I had to stop for a minute to pat myself on the back for doing so because this is a brilliant novel, the first in a series about a long-running war between Earth and an implacable alien enemy - the Argoni. The action takes place on the inhospitable planet Procyon, an Earth outpost, where Landry Stanton is having a really bad day. Landry wound up on Procyon as the result of a personal tragedy (I won't spoil the story by telling you what it is) and he leads what seems to be a perfectly boring life. Work, sleep, work... his routine never varies except on this one day when he agrees to help a friend - the only one he has on the entire planet - who is in desperate need.
Meanwhile, Cait Underwood, an ambitious young woman with her eye on Landry's job as an operational technology supervisor, thinks she is about to realize her dream of climbing the administrative ladder when Stanton suddenly disappears.
Her first day in her new job is not quite what she hoped for, however, and therein lies a tale.
Healy has a remarkable talent for creating memorable characters, world building, and injecting just the right amount of action into his novels to keep the reader fully engaged.
At first glance Landry and Cait seem, for example, to be wildly different: One, haunted by his past, seeks to bury himself in his job, while the other is trying desperately to prove that, despite her gender, she is as capable as any man. Beneath the surface, however, they may be more alike than either realizes but that remains to be seen.
The wonderful thing about these characters, and the secondary men and women that Healy has created, is that they read as "real." We can readily identify with Landry, Cait and his other characters because we work with - and for - men and women that are just like them.
Some of us might even "be" them.
In his earlier "Silent Earth" trilogy, Healy did a remarkable job describing a war-ravaged planet. In "Dawn of Procyon" he does an equally good job of describing not just the physical characteristics of this outpost planet but also life inside the artificial world humans have created so they can live and work on it. His description of the Argoni is detailed and written in such a way that the reader discovers who and what they are gradually, through the natural course of the novel. There is no massive "information dump" to slow down the narrative, in other words. That not only keeps the reader engaged but adds to the enjoyment of the novel: The reader is allowed, as a result, to make discoveries throughout the story.
The action scenes in this novel are very well written. You can feel muscles getting tired, breath growing short, and almost smell the fear that his characters - human and alien - are experiencing. The ability to do that successfully is a rare gift, one that Healy takes full advantage of in this novel as he has done in the past.
As all good novels do, "Dawn of Procyon" raises important questions for readers. How much responsibility, for example, do those in charge bear for those who work for them? Are people more important than profits? How much should a person risk to "do the right thing?" Is doing the right thing worth risking your career? Your life? How far would you - should you - go to help someone in need? Is it your moral duty to question decisions made by higher-ups when you think they are wrong? Or is it more important to simply follow orders and get on with the job?
I could go on but in the end it comes down to this: "Dawn of Procyon" is, for so many reasons, an excellent read and the start to what looks to be an amazing science fiction series. I highly recommend it.
Sorry, I had to stop for a minute to pat myself on the back for doing so because this is a brilliant novel, the first in a series about a long-running war between Earth and an implacable alien enemy - the Argoni. The action takes place on the inhospitable planet Procyon, an Earth outpost, where Landry Stanton is having a really bad day. Landry wound up on Procyon as the result of a personal tragedy (I won't spoil the story by telling you what it is) and he leads what seems to be a perfectly boring life. Work, sleep, work... his routine never varies except on this one day when he agrees to help a friend - the only one he has on the entire planet - who is in desperate need.
Meanwhile, Cait Underwood, an ambitious young woman with her eye on Landry's job as an operational technology supervisor, thinks she is about to realize her dream of climbing the administrative ladder when Stanton suddenly disappears.
Her first day in her new job is not quite what she hoped for, however, and therein lies a tale.
Healy has a remarkable talent for creating memorable characters, world building, and injecting just the right amount of action into his novels to keep the reader fully engaged.
At first glance Landry and Cait seem, for example, to be wildly different: One, haunted by his past, seeks to bury himself in his job, while the other is trying desperately to prove that, despite her gender, she is as capable as any man. Beneath the surface, however, they may be more alike than either realizes but that remains to be seen.
The wonderful thing about these characters, and the secondary men and women that Healy has created, is that they read as "real." We can readily identify with Landry, Cait and his other characters because we work with - and for - men and women that are just like them.
Some of us might even "be" them.
In his earlier "Silent Earth" trilogy, Healy did a remarkable job describing a war-ravaged planet. In "Dawn of Procyon" he does an equally good job of describing not just the physical characteristics of this outpost planet but also life inside the artificial world humans have created so they can live and work on it. His description of the Argoni is detailed and written in such a way that the reader discovers who and what they are gradually, through the natural course of the novel. There is no massive "information dump" to slow down the narrative, in other words. That not only keeps the reader engaged but adds to the enjoyment of the novel: The reader is allowed, as a result, to make discoveries throughout the story.
The action scenes in this novel are very well written. You can feel muscles getting tired, breath growing short, and almost smell the fear that his characters - human and alien - are experiencing. The ability to do that successfully is a rare gift, one that Healy takes full advantage of in this novel as he has done in the past.
As all good novels do, "Dawn of Procyon" raises important questions for readers. How much responsibility, for example, do those in charge bear for those who work for them? Are people more important than profits? How much should a person risk to "do the right thing?" Is doing the right thing worth risking your career? Your life? How far would you - should you - go to help someone in need? Is it your moral duty to question decisions made by higher-ups when you think they are wrong? Or is it more important to simply follow orders and get on with the job?
I could go on but in the end it comes down to this: "Dawn of Procyon" is, for so many reasons, an excellent read and the start to what looks to be an amazing science fiction series. I highly recommend it.
May 18, 2016
Fans of Mark R. Healy books will detect a distinct change in writing in his latest series and novel, Dawn of Procyon. This change is something that comes to authors who have carefully developed and honed their craft over time, until the epiphanal novel emerges that is not only well written but also a great read.
Dawn of Procyon revolves around standoffish and inglorious technician Landry, repairman and mechanic on a remote planetary outpost named Proc-One. He is the supervisor to a crew of Optech "grease monkeys" and mechanical engineers which keep the outpost and its detachment of Marines (UEM) up and running. Their role is pivotal to the outpost and keeping the Marines' dropships and military hardware operational; Earth and all planetary outposts are at war with a mysterious alien species named the Argoni.
Chapter 1 drops the reader directly into the thick of things. The story begins with Landry having just crashed on the inhospitable (and unbreathable) Proc-One after colliding with an alien fighter. The pilot is dead, and Landry is running out of options on how to survive and return to the outpost over 300 kilometers away; his problem lies with the fact no one knows there are Argoni on Proc-One, that the ship has left the outpost, or where it has crashed. Landry is quickly running out of oxygen, water, and options.
Why no one knows where Landry or the ship has crashed is cleverly explained through flashbacks and exposition in chapters that follow. The story's main exposition of Landry comes from Cait, a female co-worker whom Landry supervised and quarreled with. Cait is more than happy to be promoted to Landry's now-vacant position of OpTech Supervisor. Her first duty as the new Optech Supervisor is to obtain a death certificate for Landry, but ends up discovering the hidden backstory and person Landry was during the process. The story's pace quickens, and Landry and Cait find themselves caught separately in their own intrigue and danger while an unseen alien threat to the outpost manifests itself.
Dawn of Procyon takes me back to classic science fiction works like The Forever War (Joe Haldeman - 1974) or Starship Troopers (Robert Heinlein - 1959). The pleasure I derived when first reading those novels was the same enjoyment I had reading Healy's novel. This comes from enjoying a book that is as much world building as it is sub-text on society, the corporations and military which control it, and mankind's existence now-versus-later.
Dawn of Procyon feels like fiction written by a well established, veteran science fiction author. With thousands of science fiction writers published on Amazon, not all that glitters is gold. Maybe that's why I love this book as much as I do, as it is an undiscovered jewel hidden within the giant Amazon sea of glittering sci fi. Highly recommended read.
Dawn of Procyon revolves around standoffish and inglorious technician Landry, repairman and mechanic on a remote planetary outpost named Proc-One. He is the supervisor to a crew of Optech "grease monkeys" and mechanical engineers which keep the outpost and its detachment of Marines (UEM) up and running. Their role is pivotal to the outpost and keeping the Marines' dropships and military hardware operational; Earth and all planetary outposts are at war with a mysterious alien species named the Argoni.
Chapter 1 drops the reader directly into the thick of things. The story begins with Landry having just crashed on the inhospitable (and unbreathable) Proc-One after colliding with an alien fighter. The pilot is dead, and Landry is running out of options on how to survive and return to the outpost over 300 kilometers away; his problem lies with the fact no one knows there are Argoni on Proc-One, that the ship has left the outpost, or where it has crashed. Landry is quickly running out of oxygen, water, and options.
Why no one knows where Landry or the ship has crashed is cleverly explained through flashbacks and exposition in chapters that follow. The story's main exposition of Landry comes from Cait, a female co-worker whom Landry supervised and quarreled with. Cait is more than happy to be promoted to Landry's now-vacant position of OpTech Supervisor. Her first duty as the new Optech Supervisor is to obtain a death certificate for Landry, but ends up discovering the hidden backstory and person Landry was during the process. The story's pace quickens, and Landry and Cait find themselves caught separately in their own intrigue and danger while an unseen alien threat to the outpost manifests itself.
Dawn of Procyon takes me back to classic science fiction works like The Forever War (Joe Haldeman - 1974) or Starship Troopers (Robert Heinlein - 1959). The pleasure I derived when first reading those novels was the same enjoyment I had reading Healy's novel. This comes from enjoying a book that is as much world building as it is sub-text on society, the corporations and military which control it, and mankind's existence now-versus-later.
Dawn of Procyon feels like fiction written by a well established, veteran science fiction author. With thousands of science fiction writers published on Amazon, not all that glitters is gold. Maybe that's why I love this book as much as I do, as it is an undiscovered jewel hidden within the giant Amazon sea of glittering sci fi. Highly recommended read.
April 14, 2016
Wow... I was on the edge of my seat all through this! Full review very soon, once I go hide under my bed for a little while...
Review posted on Tea in the Treetops in April 2016:
In the not-too-distant future, humans will invent the fold engine, making it possible to head out across star systems. Almost as soon as they start heading out, they are followed back by a strange race of space travelers. These creatures are called the Argoni by the humans, and they immediately attack Earth without provocation or warning. A war begins, and the humans continue to spread among the stars, establishing bases on far planets to catch incoming Argoni attacks as they fold through space.
Dawn of Procyon is about one such base on the world of Proc-One, but it is actually a dual story between Landry, a Op-tech supervisor, and one of his staff, Cait. When Landry finds himself stranded away from the base, he has to try everything he can to signal for help. There’s an Argoni (not-so-affectionately known as ‘Toads’ by the Marines) hanging around, and Landry’s not really sure what it wants, or why it hasn’t killed him already. Meanwhile, Cait is happy to step into the job of supervisor, but she has a feeling that something isn’t quite right with Landry’s disappearance.
This was a really interesting story about trying to keep a foothold on a world that is foreign to two separate races. Nothing is known about the biology of the Argoni, as their bodies break down quickly when they are captured or killed. I love hard sci-fi involving properly alien races, where every interaction is totally unknown. It makes for such a nail-biting story!
Each of the characters have excellent back stories that make them feel very realistic. It’s the details that make it, like the workers in the maintenance section who mention that they’re going out for a drink to honour the lost pilot, Gus. The flashbacks Landry has to the time before he left Earth are heartbreaking, but outside of the flashbacks I did love HAIRI, the AI module with added personality. Some of those conversations had me giggling to myself on the train.
I only had one issue with the way the ending played out. I’ll try not to be spoilery here, but a discovery is made late in the story that reveals a lot of the Argoni’s motivation. It helped the story to move along, but it did have a touch of deus ex machina about it. In any case, the ending was satisfying. I feel there is plenty more to come, involving the outpost, the ‘illegals’ and if course, the war with the Argoni.
In all, a great hard sci-fi thriller. I’ll be looking out for more of Brisbane-based Mark Healy’s work.
I received a copy of Dawn of Procyon from Future House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
Review posted on Tea in the Treetops in April 2016:
In the not-too-distant future, humans will invent the fold engine, making it possible to head out across star systems. Almost as soon as they start heading out, they are followed back by a strange race of space travelers. These creatures are called the Argoni by the humans, and they immediately attack Earth without provocation or warning. A war begins, and the humans continue to spread among the stars, establishing bases on far planets to catch incoming Argoni attacks as they fold through space.
Dawn of Procyon is about one such base on the world of Proc-One, but it is actually a dual story between Landry, a Op-tech supervisor, and one of his staff, Cait. When Landry finds himself stranded away from the base, he has to try everything he can to signal for help. There’s an Argoni (not-so-affectionately known as ‘Toads’ by the Marines) hanging around, and Landry’s not really sure what it wants, or why it hasn’t killed him already. Meanwhile, Cait is happy to step into the job of supervisor, but she has a feeling that something isn’t quite right with Landry’s disappearance.
This was a really interesting story about trying to keep a foothold on a world that is foreign to two separate races. Nothing is known about the biology of the Argoni, as their bodies break down quickly when they are captured or killed. I love hard sci-fi involving properly alien races, where every interaction is totally unknown. It makes for such a nail-biting story!
Each of the characters have excellent back stories that make them feel very realistic. It’s the details that make it, like the workers in the maintenance section who mention that they’re going out for a drink to honour the lost pilot, Gus. The flashbacks Landry has to the time before he left Earth are heartbreaking, but outside of the flashbacks I did love HAIRI, the AI module with added personality. Some of those conversations had me giggling to myself on the train.
I only had one issue with the way the ending played out. I’ll try not to be spoilery here, but a discovery is made late in the story that reveals a lot of the Argoni’s motivation. It helped the story to move along, but it did have a touch of deus ex machina about it. In any case, the ending was satisfying. I feel there is plenty more to come, involving the outpost, the ‘illegals’ and if course, the war with the Argoni.
In all, a great hard sci-fi thriller. I’ll be looking out for more of Brisbane-based Mark Healy’s work.
I received a copy of Dawn of Procyon from Future House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
April 17, 2016
In this, Mark R Healy's first book for Future House Publishing, he has written the first instalment in a sci-fi series that works just as well for teens as it does adults. Dawn of Procyon starts out slowly as he establishes his main characters and the world they inhabit but picks up pace later with the ending leaving the reader teetering on the edge with a good old fashioned cliffhanger.
Mark’s ability to build solid characters you believe in is on show once again. But whereas his
previous novels had a dark claustrophobic quality to them this, whilst not entirely dispensing with
that formula, is distinctly lighter in tone reflecting the books wider audience.
The book centres around two main characters; Landry and Cait who work as mechanics at an outpost on the inhospitable planet Procyon A. Humanity is at war with an alien race called The Argoni and the base they work at is one of many that act as a buffer between the Argoni and the Earth.
Both Landry (a quiet focussed loner) and Cait (driven and ambitious) are looking to flee their pasts for different reasons. The difficulties they encounter make them able to finally confront those pasts and as a consequence contemplate their futures differently.
There are other threads running through the story and I am sure that other characters will be
developed further in books to come. I am very much looking forward to reading the next instalment
as Mark R Healy never fails to deliver stories full of exciting twists, perilous situations and believable people you come to genuinely care about.
I received a copy of Dawn of Procyon from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review
Mark’s ability to build solid characters you believe in is on show once again. But whereas his
previous novels had a dark claustrophobic quality to them this, whilst not entirely dispensing with
that formula, is distinctly lighter in tone reflecting the books wider audience.
The book centres around two main characters; Landry and Cait who work as mechanics at an outpost on the inhospitable planet Procyon A. Humanity is at war with an alien race called The Argoni and the base they work at is one of many that act as a buffer between the Argoni and the Earth.
Both Landry (a quiet focussed loner) and Cait (driven and ambitious) are looking to flee their pasts for different reasons. The difficulties they encounter make them able to finally confront those pasts and as a consequence contemplate their futures differently.
There are other threads running through the story and I am sure that other characters will be
developed further in books to come. I am very much looking forward to reading the next instalment
as Mark R Healy never fails to deliver stories full of exciting twists, perilous situations and believable people you come to genuinely care about.
I received a copy of Dawn of Procyon from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review
April 17, 2016
No spoilers.
I don't normally gravitate to sci-fi, dystopia type reads, but I started this book and read it in one sitting. I was immediately pulled in by how normal the main character was, flaws and all, and as the story progressed I longed to know his secrets.
It is so well written and edited that I was pulled along for the ride, seeing with my mind's eye things I never imagined, but Mr. Healy wrote in a fashion that made places, things, people and events seem possible.
I really enjoyed this novel, I could easily see it as a movie, I would pay to see .... Nope, no spoilers!
I was offered a free pre release copy of Dawn of Procyon, it is currently available for purchase
April 14, 2016
Dawn of Procyon is a thrilling sci-fi book with a good plot that keeps the reader wondering how it will end. Landry is a great main character who is not your everyday hero in fact in his world he is not a hero at all. When Landry's only friend convinces him to help him go off base to save his friend from being shipped back to Earth Landry hesitantly agrees. Landry embark's on an adventure with only a little bit of oxygen and water left he has to find a way to warn his people that there is an even greater Argoni threat than anyone could imagine. Will Landry make it back in time. All I can say is it's worth the read to figure out.
I did receive this Dawn of Procyon at a discounted price in exchange for my review. I honestly recommend this book to any sci-fi lover.
I did receive this Dawn of Procyon at a discounted price in exchange for my review. I honestly recommend this book to any sci-fi lover.
April 15, 2016
this book was sent to me for free in return of an honest review
I think this book was amazing. i didnt want to put it down and just wanted to read it 24/7
It was a little confusing and boring in the beginning and in some parts in the middle that i wanted to skip.
the books about a war between humans this species of aliens called the argoni.
They have been trying to take over thee earth since a few years but always failed
i think the end couldve been better
it was really sad how they introduced landrys wife and baby that had died.
I was confused when it was brought up in the book because there was no background of them or anything.
This book was all over the place and had a lot of twists and that is what made this book so interesting to read.
I think this book was amazing. i didnt want to put it down and just wanted to read it 24/7
It was a little confusing and boring in the beginning and in some parts in the middle that i wanted to skip.
the books about a war between humans this species of aliens called the argoni.
They have been trying to take over thee earth since a few years but always failed
i think the end couldve been better
it was really sad how they introduced landrys wife and baby that had died.
I was confused when it was brought up in the book because there was no background of them or anything.
This book was all over the place and had a lot of twists and that is what made this book so interesting to read.
April 15, 2016
Dawn of Procyon is an amazing start to what looks to be a very intriguing series. Landry is a real and flawed main character who you can't help but get behind. Love the humour with HAIRI. I was all prepared to dislike Cait as well, but the Author crafts such a complex character that I couldn't help but like her immensely. The world building and character development are well thought out and flow seamlessly with the plot, leaving you deeply connected to both the characters and the story. I can't wait for the next novel in the series to find out what happens. Great book. A must read!
April 16, 2016
This book was amazing! I read it in one day, in one sitting, and I don't even feel guilty! I must say, this book very well written, and had me since page one! I am very hesitant on reading Sci-Fi books, but I am glad I got the opportunity to receive this book for free #Tomoson. Definitely makes me want to read more of this authors books! #FutureHousePub
August 26, 2017
This is an entertaining science fiction story with interesting, fully fleshed out main characters and good writing. While it starts off very reminiscent of the book "The Martian", it quickly veers off into something different. The more or less back and forth chapters between Landry's fight for survival and Kate's experiences at the outpost, made me not want to put the book down. There was, however, one major incident at the outpost that seems to have no connection to the rest of the storyline but perhaps that will be explained in the next book. Yes, there most definitely should be a next book as this one feels way too much like the start of a series (though at the time I write this review it is not labeled as part of a series). There isn't exactly a cliffhanger but the book ends with much left unanswered and what feels like a lead-in to the plot for the next book. If there is one, I will be happy to pick it up when it's available.
UPDATE to above portion of my review: Please note that this book is marked as book 1 on both Amazon and Audible, just not here on Goodreads, hence my error above in my original review. Rather than change the original review (which I cannot do on Audible), I am making note of it here in this review. Book 2 is already available (just not on audio... bummer).
The audiobook is very nicely narrated by Travis Baldree. He does a solid job with both male and female voices and his pacing is excellent. I could comfortably listen at the regular 1.0x speed (no need to speed it up like I often have to do). Would really like it if Book 2 was available on audio too.
**Please note that this audiobook was provided by the author, narrator or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com.
UPDATE to above portion of my review: Please note that this book is marked as book 1 on both Amazon and Audible, just not here on Goodreads, hence my error above in my original review. Rather than change the original review (which I cannot do on Audible), I am making note of it here in this review. Book 2 is already available (just not on audio... bummer).
The audiobook is very nicely narrated by Travis Baldree. He does a solid job with both male and female voices and his pacing is excellent. I could comfortably listen at the regular 1.0x speed (no need to speed it up like I often have to do). Would really like it if Book 2 was available on audio too.
**Please note that this audiobook was provided by the author, narrator or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com.
July 15, 2017
Pros: fascinating aliens, Landry’s resourcefulness
Cons: cliched characters, Landry comprehends the alien with remarkable speed
When Landry agrees to help a friend he has no idea that favour will leave him stranded on the surface of Proc-One, oxygen running out, no way to communicate with the base, and no hope of a rescue. Then he realizes that one of the alien enemy Argoni is nearby, cannibalizing the wreck of his scout ship.
Cait’s the optech promoted to supervisor after Landry’s disappearance. Her day’s not going well either. Her boss is unreasonable, work is piling up, there’s an emergency repair that brings its own mystery, and she’s found a picture of Landry with a mystery woman. She wants to enjoy her promotion but keeps thinking of Landry and wondering if he really is dead.
Landry’s a pretty resourceful character, surviving in harsh conditions for a surprising amount of time. Though lots of new problems arise, he faces each one and finds a solution. I really enjoyed his man vs nature chapters. The book spends a lot of time trying to get away from the initial impression of him as an anti-social workaholic. He’s portrayed as mostly friendless, with few redeeming qualities.
For the most part I liked Cait, though she’s somewhat cliched as well, a female mechanic trying to prove her worth to her father and male co-workers. She’s conflicted in that she’s happy to be promoted, but she doesn’t feel that abandoning Landry is fair, regardless of the circumstances for his disappearance. I did find it strange that the picture of Landry and his wife made her reconsider him as a person. I wouldn’t have thought his personal relationships would matter if she believed him a jerk for being so stand offish at work. There’s a chapter towards the end of the book where she makes some baseless assumptions about him that her own investigations don’t support.
There were some plot points that didn’t make much sense to me, starting with how Landry and Gus managed to steal a scout ship out of a military installation that requires passing through some sort of airlock. Surely there would be notification that the outer door has been opened, if there isn’t anything showing that a scout ship has been activated.
While I liked the pacing of most of the book, the ending progresses too quickly to feel realistic. It’s hard to believe Landry could come to comprehend anything at all from something so alien, but to do so as quickly as he does defied belief. I did enjoy learning more about the aliens and found these chapters very interesting, regardless of how contrived parts of it felt.
Having said that, the book’s ending was rather cool, with sequel potential.
This is a flawed book, but one that reads quickly and has some interesting ideas.
Cons: cliched characters, Landry comprehends the alien with remarkable speed
When Landry agrees to help a friend he has no idea that favour will leave him stranded on the surface of Proc-One, oxygen running out, no way to communicate with the base, and no hope of a rescue. Then he realizes that one of the alien enemy Argoni is nearby, cannibalizing the wreck of his scout ship.
Cait’s the optech promoted to supervisor after Landry’s disappearance. Her day’s not going well either. Her boss is unreasonable, work is piling up, there’s an emergency repair that brings its own mystery, and she’s found a picture of Landry with a mystery woman. She wants to enjoy her promotion but keeps thinking of Landry and wondering if he really is dead.
Landry’s a pretty resourceful character, surviving in harsh conditions for a surprising amount of time. Though lots of new problems arise, he faces each one and finds a solution. I really enjoyed his man vs nature chapters. The book spends a lot of time trying to get away from the initial impression of him as an anti-social workaholic. He’s portrayed as mostly friendless, with few redeeming qualities.
For the most part I liked Cait, though she’s somewhat cliched as well, a female mechanic trying to prove her worth to her father and male co-workers. She’s conflicted in that she’s happy to be promoted, but she doesn’t feel that abandoning Landry is fair, regardless of the circumstances for his disappearance. I did find it strange that the picture of Landry and his wife made her reconsider him as a person. I wouldn’t have thought his personal relationships would matter if she believed him a jerk for being so stand offish at work. There’s a chapter towards the end of the book where she makes some baseless assumptions about him that her own investigations don’t support.
There were some plot points that didn’t make much sense to me, starting with how Landry and Gus managed to steal a scout ship out of a military installation that requires passing through some sort of airlock. Surely there would be notification that the outer door has been opened, if there isn’t anything showing that a scout ship has been activated.
While I liked the pacing of most of the book, the ending progresses too quickly to feel realistic. It’s hard to believe Landry could come to comprehend anything at all from something so alien, but to do so as quickly as he does defied belief. I did enjoy learning more about the aliens and found these chapters very interesting, regardless of how contrived parts of it felt.
Having said that, the book’s ending was rather cool, with sequel potential.
This is a flawed book, but one that reads quickly and has some interesting ideas.
June 8, 2016
**I received this book for free from the publisher for providing my honest opinion about the book. **
Let me just stay right out the gate I looked at this book in a very sceptical manner. I've read several books lately and to be honest the majority of them have left a very bad taste in my mouth. As such I wasn't expecting very much from this book either. I was sure it would be filled with sci-fi elements and a lot of things to make me think huh this seems like {insert here video game title}. Yet, as I turned the first free pages I was shocked at just how good the story was.
Healy opens the book with the protagonist Landry stuck in the middle of a CO2 heavy desert. With his ship blown to pieces, his oxygen running out and his pilot dead, Landry is a bit of a pickle. Additionally, a second protagonist Cait emerges in the next chapter. The book jumps between the two protags revealing bits of their back history. Unlike most books this one breaks the mold and covers a very small outpost in a remote part of the galaxy. Healy peppers the details about space folding, the lives of the people on the outpost as well as the alien race The Argoni.
Instead of weaving a deeply complicated story Healy sums up the entire book in two days. TWO DAYS. It is unbelievable how much happens in two days. The theme of the story is LIFE. Beautiful precious life. Many times the subject is touched from the beautiful and deeply saddening depiction of infertility to the importance of the life of one small girl.
The story is complicated in that, while there are elements of sci-fi it is more about the relationships between the characters. How they value LIFE. I have to admit I was beyond pleased to read this book and I would certainly want to be the first in line to get the next book in the series. It ends with a major cliffhanger. One that I was so shocked about I wanted to email the publisher to make sure they sent me the completed book.
Hurry up and get this book! You won't regret it!
Let me just stay right out the gate I looked at this book in a very sceptical manner. I've read several books lately and to be honest the majority of them have left a very bad taste in my mouth. As such I wasn't expecting very much from this book either. I was sure it would be filled with sci-fi elements and a lot of things to make me think huh this seems like {insert here video game title}. Yet, as I turned the first free pages I was shocked at just how good the story was.
Healy opens the book with the protagonist Landry stuck in the middle of a CO2 heavy desert. With his ship blown to pieces, his oxygen running out and his pilot dead, Landry is a bit of a pickle. Additionally, a second protagonist Cait emerges in the next chapter. The book jumps between the two protags revealing bits of their back history. Unlike most books this one breaks the mold and covers a very small outpost in a remote part of the galaxy. Healy peppers the details about space folding, the lives of the people on the outpost as well as the alien race The Argoni.
Instead of weaving a deeply complicated story Healy sums up the entire book in two days. TWO DAYS. It is unbelievable how much happens in two days. The theme of the story is LIFE. Beautiful precious life. Many times the subject is touched from the beautiful and deeply saddening depiction of infertility to the importance of the life of one small girl.
The story is complicated in that, while there are elements of sci-fi it is more about the relationships between the characters. How they value LIFE. I have to admit I was beyond pleased to read this book and I would certainly want to be the first in line to get the next book in the series. It ends with a major cliffhanger. One that I was so shocked about I wanted to email the publisher to make sure they sent me the completed book.
Hurry up and get this book! You won't regret it!
June 9, 2016
I love science fiction books and knowing that one day we will probably try to inhabit another planet I had to read the Dawn of Procyon.
The Author, Mark R. Healy, has written an amazing story that keeps the reader engaged. He details life on a space station and creates memorable characters that get into the weirdest situations and all while adding action and suspense to the story.
The main character, Landry, is stuck on a distant planet, Procyon A, on an unauthorized mission and has to find a way to survive and return to the main base. He uses methods straight out of a MacGyver episode to make sure he has enough oxygen to return to the main base. Throughout the story there are times when you don't feel that Landry will survive but he perseveres despite the fact that there are aliens chasing him and he has to keep his batteries charged.
And then there is Cait, a woman who wants to succeed and she wants Landry's job. She is convinced that she has succeeded in her goal when something happens.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. The book ends in a cliffhanger meaning that there will be a sequel. I guess we will just have to wait to see what happens next.
I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of science fiction.
#FutureHousePub
The Author, Mark R. Healy, has written an amazing story that keeps the reader engaged. He details life on a space station and creates memorable characters that get into the weirdest situations and all while adding action and suspense to the story.
The main character, Landry, is stuck on a distant planet, Procyon A, on an unauthorized mission and has to find a way to survive and return to the main base. He uses methods straight out of a MacGyver episode to make sure he has enough oxygen to return to the main base. Throughout the story there are times when you don't feel that Landry will survive but he perseveres despite the fact that there are aliens chasing him and he has to keep his batteries charged.
And then there is Cait, a woman who wants to succeed and she wants Landry's job. She is convinced that she has succeeded in her goal when something happens.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. The book ends in a cliffhanger meaning that there will be a sequel. I guess we will just have to wait to see what happens next.
I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of science fiction.
#FutureHousePub
April 12, 2016
I read an interesting Sci-Fi book called 'Dawn of Procyon', by Mark R. Healy. It is a story of human ingenuity, self-reliance, and persevering even though it would be so much easier to just give up. Although it took place on an alien planet, there are recurring themes of understanding the human spirit. The author was very descriptive, and illustrated the story vividly in my mind. I really enjoyed the story.
It is a bit of a love story, a bit about human ambition, a bit about aliens, a bit of hardcore survival, and a bit of justice that makes up a good read.
I received an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. The book will launch on April 14th. #FutureHousePub
It is a bit of a love story, a bit about human ambition, a bit about aliens, a bit of hardcore survival, and a bit of justice that makes up a good read.
I received an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. The book will launch on April 14th. #FutureHousePub
April 20, 2016
For someone that is really not into sci-fi, let alone a huge fan of reading. I found this book intriguing and was unable to put it down! Dawn of Procyon looks to be a good start to a long lived series of interesting reading. I was taken in almost immediately by how realistic the characters were, each having their own background making them seem even more normal. The specific detail that carried on throughout the entire book is truly what made the story and separated it from all the other alien vs human race stories that are out there.
Disclaimer: I received the ebook Dawn of Procyon for free from Future House Publishing for my honest review.Dawn of Procyon
Disclaimer: I received the ebook Dawn of Procyon for free from Future House Publishing for my honest review.Dawn of Procyon
April 14, 2016
I really liked 'Dawn of Procyon.' The writer is clearly talented, and the words of the book flow in a unique voice.
The characters and the setting are interesting, and well fleshed-out.
My problem is that I want more. I want to go deeper into what this world is like, deeper into the mythology of the war that's at the center of the story, and deeper into these characters -- what drives them, what they want, how they treat people and are treated.
This is a great starting point, and a great read, but I feel like it just scratched the surface.
The characters and the setting are interesting, and well fleshed-out.
My problem is that I want more. I want to go deeper into what this world is like, deeper into the mythology of the war that's at the center of the story, and deeper into these characters -- what drives them, what they want, how they treat people and are treated.
This is a great starting point, and a great read, but I feel like it just scratched the surface.
March 26, 2017
Dawn of Procyon is a thrilling book. Although the character developments take a couple of chapters to establish, it is well worth the wait. It is somewhat of a plain story but becomes interesting due to the detail and likability within the attitudes of the characters. I would give it four stars for it's simply written story and characters, that just become interesting because of the various situations they encounter and must find a way to cope, solve, or escape from.
I received a copy of Dawn of Procyon from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of Dawn of Procyon from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2016
Another "colony on another planet deals with alien race" novella. Lots of fun, with interesting new ideas (don't want to spoil them here) on how someone else might choose to fight a war. There are similarities to Heinlein's Starship Troopers, both the book and the movie. If you enjoyed the movie, grab this first novella in a series. It is a complete thought by itself (unlike some serialized stories) and enjoyable. Solid 3.
April 14, 2016
I think this is a really good book. The pace of it is nice and not too fast, but not slow either. You get a lot of information in a short amount of time. The story itself is great. Aliens are taking over and it is a fight to save everything. The author did a really nice job on this book, I really enjoyed it!
I received this product in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion/review.
I received this product in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion/review.
May 5, 2016
Awesome Book. It glues you into it from beginning to end. If you're into Sci-Fi this is the perfect book for you. Overall, it's a good read. Mark Healy did leave me wanting more. Leaves you wondering, what next? I wanted to keep reading more. I definitely recommend this book!!
I received a pre release copy of Dawn of Procyon from Future House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
I received a pre release copy of Dawn of Procyon from Future House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
August 29, 2017
“Dawn of Procyon” is the first book in the “Distant Suns” series where a lonely mechanic on a very distant planet lives away from the front lines of a raging war between the Humans and the Argoni. The book is written by Mark R. Healy and the audiobook edition is narrated by Travis Baldree. The main character’s life, job, and activities are boring, that is until he finds himself in a rather harsh predicament requiring his every wit to survive. During his journey, back from the crash site, he unearths what may put him and the entire human race at risk. Will he survive, and even if he does, is it too late for the human race to defeat this powerful and unrelenting foe? If you are one who likes well written survival space stories with a few great twists and surprises, I think you will find Dawn of Procyon a fresh new series. Note that the book ends with a cliffhanger and most of the plot lines appear to be resolved in the remaining book of the series.
I can best describe the book as a mixing of Aliens, some from The Martian, a dab from Enemy Mine, and a dash of Silent Running. The writing was quite descriptive, but not overly so. The book opens with some suspense and tension, and then jumps backwards to prior events filling the reader in with all leading up to it; and beyond. Even though the book is mostly a drama, the author does include a fair amount of humor in the right places. I laughed out loud as he was discussing Gaffer (duct) tape and how it is the solution to every woe. No matter what the circumstances, this seemly magical tape always comes to the rescue. The main character often banters with his traveling AI (Harry) companion, and all Harry wants in life is to be loved. Even with much of the story focused on one’s survival and somewhat light-hearted, there are some scenes that really caused an emotional reaction. I liked where these were placed as they often helped bring me back into the story. We learn about the main characters lives by way of flashbacks and I thought the author did a decent job giving the book’s characters three dimensions and you will find you actually care about them.
The alien race is one that we get only a glimpse at, but I have a feeling they will become more prominent in future books. The author does provide enough of whet one’s whistle, but I would have liked to have had much more information on them. I found myself as some points feeling sorry for how humans have treated them, while at others I could see why they needed to be destroyed. For me, it was a conflict that was difficult to resolve; and that is OK. I believe it was having a slight view into their struggles that had be feeling this way. I liked their means of communication and how it affected those they spoke with. I will say that I was very happy with how the story progressed and how it was revealed. It felt very well thought out and not disjointed as others I have read. For those wanting a comparison with The Martian, this book is much less technical but I felt the characters were more complex. So, if you are looking for deep science fiction with technical details, you may find this book light on that aspect. But, this does not mean it is a bad book. Far from it. It is just different, and tells the story in a distinctive way.
Let me turn to the narration of the book. It appears from a look on Audible that Travis Baldree is a newer narrator to the platform with a total of seven book; at the time of this review. Don’t let that bother you as all of his rated books are 4.5 or 5 stars for performance. I found the audio of the book very well done and I cannot recall any specific issues I feel worth mentioning. He was able to use inflection giving the times of suspense, emotion, and action their own color. If I was to request one area of improvement, it would be in voicing the female characters. Even though the female characters did not sound like four-year-old children (which is a good thing), the narrator did give them a bit lower voice than I would have liked. To be honest, I prefer the way he voiced them in this book than the first with screechy voices. I also understand how difficult it can be for a male narrator to properly voice main female characters.
For parents and younger readers, be aware that the book contains a few vulgar words along with some very high-level sexual references. These are few and far between, however if you are one that stays away from books that have such material in them, you may not want to pick up this book.
In summary, this is a space survival drama that include suspense, intrigue, and survival. The voicing is solid and the book had only a few slight grammar issues. I found the book quite enjoyable and would have liked to have had the second in the series ready when I finished this one. Hopefully it is in the works and will be released soon.
I can best describe the book as a mixing of Aliens, some from The Martian, a dab from Enemy Mine, and a dash of Silent Running. The writing was quite descriptive, but not overly so. The book opens with some suspense and tension, and then jumps backwards to prior events filling the reader in with all leading up to it; and beyond. Even though the book is mostly a drama, the author does include a fair amount of humor in the right places. I laughed out loud as he was discussing Gaffer (duct) tape and how it is the solution to every woe. No matter what the circumstances, this seemly magical tape always comes to the rescue. The main character often banters with his traveling AI (Harry) companion, and all Harry wants in life is to be loved. Even with much of the story focused on one’s survival and somewhat light-hearted, there are some scenes that really caused an emotional reaction. I liked where these were placed as they often helped bring me back into the story. We learn about the main characters lives by way of flashbacks and I thought the author did a decent job giving the book’s characters three dimensions and you will find you actually care about them.
The alien race is one that we get only a glimpse at, but I have a feeling they will become more prominent in future books. The author does provide enough of whet one’s whistle, but I would have liked to have had much more information on them. I found myself as some points feeling sorry for how humans have treated them, while at others I could see why they needed to be destroyed. For me, it was a conflict that was difficult to resolve; and that is OK. I believe it was having a slight view into their struggles that had be feeling this way. I liked their means of communication and how it affected those they spoke with. I will say that I was very happy with how the story progressed and how it was revealed. It felt very well thought out and not disjointed as others I have read. For those wanting a comparison with The Martian, this book is much less technical but I felt the characters were more complex. So, if you are looking for deep science fiction with technical details, you may find this book light on that aspect. But, this does not mean it is a bad book. Far from it. It is just different, and tells the story in a distinctive way.
Let me turn to the narration of the book. It appears from a look on Audible that Travis Baldree is a newer narrator to the platform with a total of seven book; at the time of this review. Don’t let that bother you as all of his rated books are 4.5 or 5 stars for performance. I found the audio of the book very well done and I cannot recall any specific issues I feel worth mentioning. He was able to use inflection giving the times of suspense, emotion, and action their own color. If I was to request one area of improvement, it would be in voicing the female characters. Even though the female characters did not sound like four-year-old children (which is a good thing), the narrator did give them a bit lower voice than I would have liked. To be honest, I prefer the way he voiced them in this book than the first with screechy voices. I also understand how difficult it can be for a male narrator to properly voice main female characters.
For parents and younger readers, be aware that the book contains a few vulgar words along with some very high-level sexual references. These are few and far between, however if you are one that stays away from books that have such material in them, you may not want to pick up this book.
In summary, this is a space survival drama that include suspense, intrigue, and survival. The voicing is solid and the book had only a few slight grammar issues. I found the book quite enjoyable and would have liked to have had the second in the series ready when I finished this one. Hopefully it is in the works and will be released soon.
October 10, 2017
Review originally published at: http://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookre...
Earth is at war with the Argoni. To avoid being caught by surprise, human have set several outposts in order to detect any Argoni. Escaping from his sorrow, Landry Stanton decides to leave Earth and work on an outpost planet, Proc-One. While being there he is asked by one of the pilots, his only friend, to help him get something out of the compound. To avoid too many questions, Landry’s friend decides to fly under the radar, but before then can land, the ship crashes. Landry will learn that they are in more danger than what they thought.
This was a very satisfactory listen. After a couple of just okay books, I am happy that I have stumbled upon this one. It is one of those that trap me from the start and get ahold of me until the very end. The characters seem real and we are provided with enough background from them. Their stories alternate with the current narrative in a way that they complement each other. The information was given in small doses, making me want to know more about Landry and Kate. Both had flaws, but also very humane reactions. Due to this it was easy to relate to them and get in their shoes.
The parts in which Landry is stranded reminded me a lot of ‘The Martian’, and his conversations with Harry made me chuckle more than once. I really enjoyed this part, wondering how Landry could find a way to survive enough time to be able to find a way to go back to the station.
He discovers part of the biology of the Argoni, unknown until then to men, and I found it quite original. More often than not we are not given a lot of information about aliens in books, and I found Healy’s approach quite interesting and refreshing. It made me think, in a way of the Pequeninos, created by Orson Scott Card.
Travis Baldree delivered a wonderful narration. His voice is clear and he has an ample range to give each character a different personality. It was clear at all times who was talking. He also transmitted well the character’s emotions, and it felt like I was watching a movie instead of listening to an audiobook. It definitely raised the book to a higher level.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it left me hungry for more. I hope ‘Eclipse of Procyon’ gets released soon as an audiobook.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
Earth is at war with the Argoni. To avoid being caught by surprise, human have set several outposts in order to detect any Argoni. Escaping from his sorrow, Landry Stanton decides to leave Earth and work on an outpost planet, Proc-One. While being there he is asked by one of the pilots, his only friend, to help him get something out of the compound. To avoid too many questions, Landry’s friend decides to fly under the radar, but before then can land, the ship crashes. Landry will learn that they are in more danger than what they thought.
This was a very satisfactory listen. After a couple of just okay books, I am happy that I have stumbled upon this one. It is one of those that trap me from the start and get ahold of me until the very end. The characters seem real and we are provided with enough background from them. Their stories alternate with the current narrative in a way that they complement each other. The information was given in small doses, making me want to know more about Landry and Kate. Both had flaws, but also very humane reactions. Due to this it was easy to relate to them and get in their shoes.
The parts in which Landry is stranded reminded me a lot of ‘The Martian’, and his conversations with Harry made me chuckle more than once. I really enjoyed this part, wondering how Landry could find a way to survive enough time to be able to find a way to go back to the station.
He discovers part of the biology of the Argoni, unknown until then to men, and I found it quite original. More often than not we are not given a lot of information about aliens in books, and I found Healy’s approach quite interesting and refreshing. It made me think, in a way of the Pequeninos, created by Orson Scott Card.
Travis Baldree delivered a wonderful narration. His voice is clear and he has an ample range to give each character a different personality. It was clear at all times who was talking. He also transmitted well the character’s emotions, and it felt like I was watching a movie instead of listening to an audiobook. It definitely raised the book to a higher level.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it left me hungry for more. I hope ‘Eclipse of Procyon’ gets released soon as an audiobook.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2017
,( Format : audiobook )
"Let's go spit on the barbeque."
Procyon is an inhospitable planet. No one can survive on the surface for more than a few minutes without a full suit and oxygen, unlike the occasional fearsome Argoni sometimes still seen roaming about. Twice the size of a human, they seem impervious to almost anything.
Landry Stanton is an engineer, a supervisor, on the planet of Procyon. He works hard, eats, sleeps and then does it all over again. He doesn't have any friends, well, perhaps just one. So when that one person begs for his for help, just a little thing, he says, something no one will ever know about, Landry reluctantly agrees.
Cait is.not his friend. In fact, she wants Landry's job, which means he'll have to go. But when she is given the supervisor job when he fails to turn up at work, she is at first thrilled but soon finds it's not all she had hoped for or even expected.. Then she starts to discover things about Landry that surprise her.
This is a story which creeps under the skin slowly, steadily, until the reader is right there, experiencing through the eyes ànd ears of the protàgonists. The characters are cleverly cràfted, slowly emerging as real living, breathing people.with their fears and frustrations becoming palpable. There are choices to be màde which could have serious implications. These personalities are further brought a to life with the narration of Travis Baldree, who gives each a personalised and distinctive voice as well as reading fluently and with a passion fitting the text. Part survival, part discovery, this is an excellent science fiction story which will entertain as well as open up ideas to make the reader think. My thanks to the rights holder from whom I received a complimentary copy of Dawn of Procyon, via Audiobook Boom. It was a thoroughly enjoyable book, full of suspense, tension and humour, too, almost from the beginning..A continuation book is definitely needed - I will be looking out for .it.
"Let's go spit on the barbeque."
Procyon is an inhospitable planet. No one can survive on the surface for more than a few minutes without a full suit and oxygen, unlike the occasional fearsome Argoni sometimes still seen roaming about. Twice the size of a human, they seem impervious to almost anything.
Landry Stanton is an engineer, a supervisor, on the planet of Procyon. He works hard, eats, sleeps and then does it all over again. He doesn't have any friends, well, perhaps just one. So when that one person begs for his for help, just a little thing, he says, something no one will ever know about, Landry reluctantly agrees.
Cait is.not his friend. In fact, she wants Landry's job, which means he'll have to go. But when she is given the supervisor job when he fails to turn up at work, she is at first thrilled but soon finds it's not all she had hoped for or even expected.. Then she starts to discover things about Landry that surprise her.
This is a story which creeps under the skin slowly, steadily, until the reader is right there, experiencing through the eyes ànd ears of the protàgonists. The characters are cleverly cràfted, slowly emerging as real living, breathing people.with their fears and frustrations becoming palpable. There are choices to be màde which could have serious implications. These personalities are further brought a to life with the narration of Travis Baldree, who gives each a personalised and distinctive voice as well as reading fluently and with a passion fitting the text. Part survival, part discovery, this is an excellent science fiction story which will entertain as well as open up ideas to make the reader think. My thanks to the rights holder from whom I received a complimentary copy of Dawn of Procyon, via Audiobook Boom. It was a thoroughly enjoyable book, full of suspense, tension and humour, too, almost from the beginning..A continuation book is definitely needed - I will be looking out for .it.
March 16, 2025
I do not say this lightly, this is the best written book I have ever read. The main plot is good, and keeps you interested. But the kicker is the style. Every chapter is a star date and time stamp. The main story is only 3 days of time, but everything is set up in flash backs, and memories of the two main characters. The one will remember something while the other will find out through trying to investigate what is going on,and from the 2 points of view the reader is given a full narrative, beyond the events that are taking place.
It's a great way to tell this story. It does not feel like info dumps. Sometimes it is part of 2 people talking and sharing their past, or a memory triggered by the event of the current story, that happened with in the 3 days of the book. It was just masterfully done, and something I never have come across before.
The world overall is interesting, but the real draw here is the 2 main characters, and probably 2 side characters you learn about, through the main characters' perspectives. You want to learn more about them, both in the current narrative as well as the backstories you are given.
The only negative here is the book just ends, luckily the sequel is out and you will need to read it right away, I know I will be. I would have made it 1 book, or gave it a real ending. And I do hope it continues along the same lines it has so far. I am not sure if there is much back story left for the second book but I would love to get more for sure.
It's a great way to tell this story. It does not feel like info dumps. Sometimes it is part of 2 people talking and sharing their past, or a memory triggered by the event of the current story, that happened with in the 3 days of the book. It was just masterfully done, and something I never have come across before.
The world overall is interesting, but the real draw here is the 2 main characters, and probably 2 side characters you learn about, through the main characters' perspectives. You want to learn more about them, both in the current narrative as well as the backstories you are given.
The only negative here is the book just ends, luckily the sequel is out and you will need to read it right away, I know I will be. I would have made it 1 book, or gave it a real ending. And I do hope it continues along the same lines it has so far. I am not sure if there is much back story left for the second book but I would love to get more for sure.
August 27, 2017
What did you love best about Dawn of Procyon?
I don't love books. That said, DofP did not follow the formula of alien invasion novels.
The aliens did not attack in overwhelming numbers. Humans were not defending their home planet or even their homes. This is the story of an outpost and the opening moves in what could become a grand space opera.
What did you like best about this story?
The science was light in this science fiction piece, but it did not slow the story and the tech was not a crutch to save day. I believe I liked the pacing of the story best.
Which character – as performed by Travis Baldree – was your favorite?
Travis has a great voice. His performance of Landry Stanton reflected Landry's pain and resolve to help even when his boss just doesn't care. All indications are, his boss would prefer him dead.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I don't usually listen all the way through a book in one sitting, but what with hurricane Harvey and my kids back at school, I was able to enjoy a continuous block of time to listen. Dawn of Procyon was a good choice for non-stop listening.
Any additional comments?
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I don't love books. That said, DofP did not follow the formula of alien invasion novels.
The aliens did not attack in overwhelming numbers. Humans were not defending their home planet or even their homes. This is the story of an outpost and the opening moves in what could become a grand space opera.
What did you like best about this story?
The science was light in this science fiction piece, but it did not slow the story and the tech was not a crutch to save day. I believe I liked the pacing of the story best.
Which character – as performed by Travis Baldree – was your favorite?
Travis has a great voice. His performance of Landry Stanton reflected Landry's pain and resolve to help even when his boss just doesn't care. All indications are, his boss would prefer him dead.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I don't usually listen all the way through a book in one sitting, but what with hurricane Harvey and my kids back at school, I was able to enjoy a continuous block of time to listen. Dawn of Procyon was a good choice for non-stop listening.
Any additional comments?
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
September 13, 2017
I quite enjoyed this book. It reminds me of some of my favorite books, like The Martian. It doesn't fall solidly in just one genre. There is world building and a similar feel to fantasy, science fiction, but more hard science than what I expected, and a lot of humor. The feel of the book changes somewhat for me part of the way through, but the writing is good throughout. I think the book will appeal to a wide range of people. There is an obvious setup for the second book.
The narration is quite good. I hadn't listened to this narrator before, but he blew me away. The narration adds another .5 star for me (would rate 4.5 if I could). His voices are spectacular, and he adds so much emotion to the story. It really drew me in.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left my honest review. The free copy did not influence my review in any way.
The narration is quite good. I hadn't listened to this narrator before, but he blew me away. The narration adds another .5 star for me (would rate 4.5 if I could). His voices are spectacular, and he adds so much emotion to the story. It really drew me in.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left my honest review. The free copy did not influence my review in any way.
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