What do you think?
Rate this book
Atlas and the Winds #2
Prometheus and the Dragon
Librarian's Note: This is an alternate-cover edition for ASIN B01E4UPXHQ
Mankind is out of options, and time is running out.
After America’s Hammerthrow fails, President Hutton launches Project Prometheus as a second mitigation effort, while the Chinese continue their relentless march to test and deploy their super-warhead. Even a partial success of either mitigation mission would leave the other unable to defend the earth. Political tension explodes as both sides race to challenge the relentless wheelwork of the Universe.
With its array of advanced technologies, Stormhaven’s lunar colony cannot avoid becoming part of a shooting war between the two superpowers, and its residents will face the ultimate responsibility of being the final peacekeepers.
Prometheus and the Dragon, is a wild ride across a changing and uncharted political landscape, as well as the unforgiving lunar wasteland … where all of humanity hangs on the precipice of doomsday.
Mankind is out of options, and time is running out.
After America’s Hammerthrow fails, President Hutton launches Project Prometheus as a second mitigation effort, while the Chinese continue their relentless march to test and deploy their super-warhead. Even a partial success of either mitigation mission would leave the other unable to defend the earth. Political tension explodes as both sides race to challenge the relentless wheelwork of the Universe.
With its array of advanced technologies, Stormhaven’s lunar colony cannot avoid becoming part of a shooting war between the two superpowers, and its residents will face the ultimate responsibility of being the final peacekeepers.
Prometheus and the Dragon, is a wild ride across a changing and uncharted political landscape, as well as the unforgiving lunar wasteland … where all of humanity hangs on the precipice of doomsday.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2016
7 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Eric Michael Craig
21 books120 followersEric Michael Craig is a "harder-edged" Science Fiction writer living in the Manzano Mountains of New Mexico. He is the former Director of Research for a private consulting laboratory in Phoenix, where he experimented with inertial propulsion and power generation technologies.
Eric is a founding member of the SciFi Roundtable. The SFRT is an active online group dedicated to supporting indie and traditional authors by networking them with other writers and professional resources.
When not writing, Eric is active in Intentional Community Design, plays guitar and bass, occasionally dabbles in art of various forms. He also owns way too many dogs.
Eric is a founding member of the SciFi Roundtable. The SFRT is an active online group dedicated to supporting indie and traditional authors by networking them with other writers and professional resources.
When not writing, Eric is active in Intentional Community Design, plays guitar and bass, occasionally dabbles in art of various forms. He also owns way too many dogs.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 20, 2016
A book with maximum impact
“Does anybody else feel like we’ve just been made responsible for the entire future?”
'Prometheus and the Dragon' is the aptly named second book in the 'Atlas and the Winds' series and follows up on 'Stormhaven Rising' with a powerful continuation of the story.
Antu is coming - a lump of rock which will destroy human life on earth. Instead of co-operating to meet the challenge, the world has fragmented and there are various nations attempting individual projects to deflect it. But some seem to think the chance of those efforts failing is high and prefer to invest in lunar colonies - or in repositories of genetic material: human, animal and vegetable.
The technology exists to deflect Antu and is already doing its job. Given just a reasonable modicum of good fortune the world will be saved. But a string of accidents and disasters could still seal the fate of Planet Earth and bring disaster instead of survival.
“If it weren’t for you, we’d have no hope at all”
The people most at home on the moon are Colton Taylor's future-tech company. They already have solutions to many of the problems the other lunar colonies have yet to even think about. I liked it that in this book that we get to know their people (and AI) in a bit more depth and start to see the reality of the man behind them. They are the real heroes of this story and it is their people we shadow most closely and come to care most about - except possibly the US President whose 'pink fuzzy slippers' moment is one I cherish.
This book has insight and insanity, humour and horror, courageous feats and catastrophic fiascos, it shows humanity at its finest and its most feral. And as with all good literature, it turns the mirror back on those who are its readers, challenging them to consider where they would stand or how they would fall.
“We’ve still got work to do out here. Suck it up for now, and let’s get through what we’ve got in front of us. We can both fall apart later.”
So what is not like? Not much - very little in fact. I still struggled a bit with what I felt was an overlarge cast of characters, leading to frequent shifts in viewpoint and all too often it seemed we only met someone so they could die horribly a few pages later. I also found the description of the logistical detail a little overwhelming - but I do recognise that this is something another reader could find adds verisimilitude and solid foundations to the story. But these minor issues were not enough for me to be taken away from the roller-coaster ride of immersion in a storyline which put a bit extra into 'existential'.
This is a very well written and compelling book and if you enjoy political thrillers, near future dystopias, apocalyptic sci-fi - or seek a thought provoking and plausible insight into one way humanity could react in the face of such an extreme crisis, I would recommend this book wholeheartedly. But I would also recommend reading 'Stormhaven Rising' first or you will miss out on some valuable scene setting and a thundering good tale.
For myself, I am looking forward to seeing how the story continues and develops in the next book which I hope will be out in the not too distant future
“Does anybody else feel like we’ve just been made responsible for the entire future?”
'Prometheus and the Dragon' is the aptly named second book in the 'Atlas and the Winds' series and follows up on 'Stormhaven Rising' with a powerful continuation of the story.
Antu is coming - a lump of rock which will destroy human life on earth. Instead of co-operating to meet the challenge, the world has fragmented and there are various nations attempting individual projects to deflect it. But some seem to think the chance of those efforts failing is high and prefer to invest in lunar colonies - or in repositories of genetic material: human, animal and vegetable.
The technology exists to deflect Antu and is already doing its job. Given just a reasonable modicum of good fortune the world will be saved. But a string of accidents and disasters could still seal the fate of Planet Earth and bring disaster instead of survival.
“If it weren’t for you, we’d have no hope at all”
The people most at home on the moon are Colton Taylor's future-tech company. They already have solutions to many of the problems the other lunar colonies have yet to even think about. I liked it that in this book that we get to know their people (and AI) in a bit more depth and start to see the reality of the man behind them. They are the real heroes of this story and it is their people we shadow most closely and come to care most about - except possibly the US President whose 'pink fuzzy slippers' moment is one I cherish.
This book has insight and insanity, humour and horror, courageous feats and catastrophic fiascos, it shows humanity at its finest and its most feral. And as with all good literature, it turns the mirror back on those who are its readers, challenging them to consider where they would stand or how they would fall.
“We’ve still got work to do out here. Suck it up for now, and let’s get through what we’ve got in front of us. We can both fall apart later.”
So what is not like? Not much - very little in fact. I still struggled a bit with what I felt was an overlarge cast of characters, leading to frequent shifts in viewpoint and all too often it seemed we only met someone so they could die horribly a few pages later. I also found the description of the logistical detail a little overwhelming - but I do recognise that this is something another reader could find adds verisimilitude and solid foundations to the story. But these minor issues were not enough for me to be taken away from the roller-coaster ride of immersion in a storyline which put a bit extra into 'existential'.
This is a very well written and compelling book and if you enjoy political thrillers, near future dystopias, apocalyptic sci-fi - or seek a thought provoking and plausible insight into one way humanity could react in the face of such an extreme crisis, I would recommend this book wholeheartedly. But I would also recommend reading 'Stormhaven Rising' first or you will miss out on some valuable scene setting and a thundering good tale.
For myself, I am looking forward to seeing how the story continues and develops in the next book which I hope will be out in the not too distant future
June 6, 2020
The books/saga are all about earth's humanity trying to dodge or deflect a monster asteroid destined to be the "big one." As in book one, the author does love his acronyms, which to me are irritating. There is sufficient science in the fiction.
However, this book two started to become ludicrous as it moved past its rapid fire opening. I was thinking either forget it or continue. Since I finally made it three-quarters of the way through, I finished, though kept looking at the Kindle time....when will this end? To quote from the about the author, E. M. Craig does employ the "cacophony of humanity" in how man reacts with man under disastrous conditions. For that alone I brought my initial two star rating up to three.
This was a Kindle, two book deal. I don't feel I totally wasted my time reading it, but I'll simply say, "Buyer beware of Kindle deals."
However, this book two started to become ludicrous as it moved past its rapid fire opening. I was thinking either forget it or continue. Since I finally made it three-quarters of the way through, I finished, though kept looking at the Kindle time....when will this end? To quote from the about the author, E. M. Craig does employ the "cacophony of humanity" in how man reacts with man under disastrous conditions. For that alone I brought my initial two star rating up to three.
This was a Kindle, two book deal. I don't feel I totally wasted my time reading it, but I'll simply say, "Buyer beware of Kindle deals."
February 1, 2017
In my review of Stormhaven Rising, the first volume of the “Atlas and the Winds” series, I briefly noted comparisons between that novel and the first sci fi classic about an asteroid destroying the earth, the 1933 When Worlds Collide.
I have far fewer comparisons between the first book’s sequel, After When Worlds Collide, and Prometheus and The Dragon. The 1934 sequel was pure fantasy with amazing remains of a vanished alien civilization left behind on another planet for the human survivors to inhabit. True, the various bands of humans from different countries brought with them dangerous ideological conflicts from their now dead home planet. The same is true of Prometheus, although on a far more complex scale.
From the beginning of Prometheus, the Chinese and Americans battle each other both on the moon and on earth as each think they have the real hope of throwing the coming asteroid off course. Each, due to both arrogance and technological issues, cancel out each other’s efforts. At the same time, other conflicts flare up on earth and between various lunar colonies. On earth, an alliance between the Russians and Arab states seek to destroy Israel, but this union breaks down and threatens the stability of the Russian/Arab moon colony. An insane American evangelist enflames thousands of followers to destroy all spacecraft taking potential survivors to the moon as he thinks unbelievers should simply accept the will of God and die in the coming apocalypse. The Americans don’t like the idea of the Stormhaven colony having an equal voice in the future as they feel the Stormhaven base doesn’t have legitimate international standing. In short, in the precious time left before the asteroid hit, humanity is its own worst enemy.
Author Eric Michael Craig does an excellent job providing characters who represent the multiple perspectives and widely differing agendas of a number of nations, scientists, political and military leaders, as well as religious groups. He also provides a large number of interpersonal relationships of those desperate to survive on the moon, those who try to create safe havens on earth, or those spreading terrestrial and lunar havoc based on self-defeating motives. As with volume one, Craig is especially good with his explanations of scientific advances, vivid settings, and sadly too many believable human tensions. Without giving anything away, the concluding chapters include so much emotional punch that readers may well be breathless by the time they read the bonus chapter from the next book, Shadows in the Sun.
Certainly, it’s best to read Stormhaven Rising before diving into Prometheus. If you’re like me, you’ll want to go beyond these two novels, read book three, and look forward to the rest of the series coming out in 2017. To me, Eric Michael Craig undeniably deserves to be lauded as an important new voice in science fiction.
This review first appeared at BookPleasures.com on Jan. 23, 2016—
goo.gl/3dhs3C
February 12, 2017
One of my top reads of last year was Stormhaven Rising, and this is the sequel to that story.
That first book told the tale of the discovery of an asteroid headed on a collision course for Earth - but that was a distant threat throughout the story, with the real focus being how different factions mobilised to try to deal with that menace. More particularly, there were the political machinations that took place as different groups vied to take the primary role in tackling something that could prove catastrophic for Earth.
This book picks up where that left off - with two major plans in progress to try to deal with the incoming rock. Prometheus is a beam weapon designed to push the asteroid onto a new course that would miss Earth, but that beam needs to be sustained over many days to be a success. Meanwhile, a Chinese plan, The Dragon, is to launch a massive warhead that would shatter the rock. Both projects are operated from bases on the Moon - and the teams behind them are not on friendly sides.
Political manoeuvres on the surface see nations trying to settle old scores before the asteroid can hit - while a back-up plan of scrambling people to colonies on the moon in case the worst happens faces hazards of its own, with too many people and not enough room.
As below, so above - and ensuring safety on the Moon for both people and the projects that could ensure Earth's survival becomes a challenge.
This book really takes up the gauntlet cast down by the opening book in the series and runs with it - it's an absolute thrill ride full of hard decisions and harder consequences. More than a few times I cursed at the book as I turned pages filled with moments that bit deep. Then against those there are moments where you punch the air - such as when the Flight Infantry deploys in a skirmish on the Moon, tumbling out of the back of the vehicle carrying them at hundreds of miles an hour. It's the kind of kickass moment that reminds me of the Orion Ship in Niven and Pournelle's Footfall - a spaceship propelled by dropping nuclear bombs underneath it. Science kicking ass.
The latter half of the book sees the asteroid getting ever closer - will humanity overcome its divisions to succeed in preventing its impact?
That I won't spoil - but I will say you've got a great read ahead of you as you find out.
That first book told the tale of the discovery of an asteroid headed on a collision course for Earth - but that was a distant threat throughout the story, with the real focus being how different factions mobilised to try to deal with that menace. More particularly, there were the political machinations that took place as different groups vied to take the primary role in tackling something that could prove catastrophic for Earth.
This book picks up where that left off - with two major plans in progress to try to deal with the incoming rock. Prometheus is a beam weapon designed to push the asteroid onto a new course that would miss Earth, but that beam needs to be sustained over many days to be a success. Meanwhile, a Chinese plan, The Dragon, is to launch a massive warhead that would shatter the rock. Both projects are operated from bases on the Moon - and the teams behind them are not on friendly sides.
Political manoeuvres on the surface see nations trying to settle old scores before the asteroid can hit - while a back-up plan of scrambling people to colonies on the moon in case the worst happens faces hazards of its own, with too many people and not enough room.
As below, so above - and ensuring safety on the Moon for both people and the projects that could ensure Earth's survival becomes a challenge.
This book really takes up the gauntlet cast down by the opening book in the series and runs with it - it's an absolute thrill ride full of hard decisions and harder consequences. More than a few times I cursed at the book as I turned pages filled with moments that bit deep. Then against those there are moments where you punch the air - such as when the Flight Infantry deploys in a skirmish on the Moon, tumbling out of the back of the vehicle carrying them at hundreds of miles an hour. It's the kind of kickass moment that reminds me of the Orion Ship in Niven and Pournelle's Footfall - a spaceship propelled by dropping nuclear bombs underneath it. Science kicking ass.
The latter half of the book sees the asteroid getting ever closer - will humanity overcome its divisions to succeed in preventing its impact?
That I won't spoil - but I will say you've got a great read ahead of you as you find out.
June 11, 2016
This second book in the Atlas and the Winds series is an exciting read. It is a masterfully crafted story, so much so that I really felt their hopes, their victories and their defeats. The scope of the story is all of humanity. Eric Michael Craig allows you to see our race through the eyes of his characters. They are heroes, politicians, billionaires geniuses, brilliant minds, tough DHS agents, common people, and tragic figures who are all too human. They do their best to do what is right and they don't always succeed.
Prometheus portrays the lunacy of the masses and the frantic mistakes of government when the whole world is faced with an extinction level event. I found myself feeling anger at first one government then another as they fumble the ball much too close to the end zone. Yet I also felt heartache for them as individual humans trying desperately to save the whole world.
How can I love a book about such a hard subject? That is easy. The last word in the book sums my feelings up well. Hope.
Prometheus portrays the lunacy of the masses and the frantic mistakes of government when the whole world is faced with an extinction level event. I found myself feeling anger at first one government then another as they fumble the ball much too close to the end zone. Yet I also felt heartache for them as individual humans trying desperately to save the whole world.
How can I love a book about such a hard subject? That is easy. The last word in the book sums my feelings up well. Hope.
July 11, 2018
Prometheus and the Dragon is the sequel to Stormhaven Rising and picks up the action right where the first book leaves off. The asteroid, labelled Antu, is heading straight for Earth and there are different countries all trying to mount their own responses to the threat. Colonies have moved up to the moon from the U.S., China, Russia and the Arab world, and a united group from Japan, Australia, and the EU. Also in the mix is a religious colony from the Church of the Latter Dy Saints and Sentinel Colony founded by Stormhaven. Can the different groups band together to stop the asteroid threat? Will their attempts thwart each other? What happens if one group succeeds over the others? What happens if they all fail? What happens to humans on Earth?
Prometheus and the Dragon tells a riveting tale about the consequences of different groups of people - whether they be nations or religions or corporations - being at odds with each other and distrusting of each other, rather than banding together to face a common threat. A sobering read. 5 Stars
Prometheus and the Dragon tells a riveting tale about the consequences of different groups of people - whether they be nations or religions or corporations - being at odds with each other and distrusting of each other, rather than banding together to face a common threat. A sobering read. 5 Stars
March 30, 2017
Tense, riveting, and gripping, Prometheus and the Dragon is an eye-opening tale of humanity at its best and worst. Realistic and gritty, how does the world prepare for a worldwide catastrophic extinction level event? Author Eric Michael Craig gives us a masterful tale of unfolding human drama seen through shifting perspectives of individuals, nations, civil and religious institutions. As survival plans unfold for emerging lunar colonies and on earth below, geopolitical, ethnic, and religious forces collide. Craig has a deep understanding of the social and cultural forces and currents coloring the world today. From this palette, a portrait of what the future may hold emerges. Prepare yourself!
July 22, 2016
Hello, it's Amp and today I will be reviewing Prometheus and the Dragon by Eric Michael Craig. This is seemingly only the second part of the multi-book series called Atlas and the Winds. I haven't read the first book, but going off of what I have already read I don't think I need to, as a lot of things can be picked up via context clues and deductive thinking. It's a hard science fiction with a bit of thriller, religion, politics, and sociological/psychological themes all mixed together.
A meteoroid dubbed Antu is on it's way towards earth, large enough to send it back to the dark ages and deadly enough to diminish all hope of survival. Well all hope except for the final frontier, space. In anticipation of the meteoroid countries from all over the world begin to build colonies on the moon, however it seems that the Chinese and American bases are the most advanced colonies and are in an arms race to see who can get rid of Antu first. When trouble stirs back on planet earth, full on spacial warfare breaks out on on the moon, and a destructive space rock counting down the days until impact, will either colony prove victorious? Or will their competitiveness be their downfall, and all their actions in vain?
I give this book a 4/5 because it kept me thoroughly entertained even though I was coming in at the middle of the series. It's one less star than perfect because I feel as though the author could have been more descriptive. Many times I'd lose track of what character was who, or what they looked like, or why they even mattered. The setting would blur quite a bit, especially with the seemingly constant dynamic perspectives making it difficult to imagine the area around the characters. However while character development and tons of intriguing dialogue make up for this drawback, it doesn't completely cover the gap.
A meteoroid dubbed Antu is on it's way towards earth, large enough to send it back to the dark ages and deadly enough to diminish all hope of survival. Well all hope except for the final frontier, space. In anticipation of the meteoroid countries from all over the world begin to build colonies on the moon, however it seems that the Chinese and American bases are the most advanced colonies and are in an arms race to see who can get rid of Antu first. When trouble stirs back on planet earth, full on spacial warfare breaks out on on the moon, and a destructive space rock counting down the days until impact, will either colony prove victorious? Or will their competitiveness be their downfall, and all their actions in vain?
I give this book a 4/5 because it kept me thoroughly entertained even though I was coming in at the middle of the series. It's one less star than perfect because I feel as though the author could have been more descriptive. Many times I'd lose track of what character was who, or what they looked like, or why they even mattered. The setting would blur quite a bit, especially with the seemingly constant dynamic perspectives making it difficult to imagine the area around the characters. However while character development and tons of intriguing dialogue make up for this drawback, it doesn't completely cover the gap.
August 3, 2016
After the events of the first book, humanity has to buckle down if they hope to survive. I guarantee if you read and enjoyed the first book in this series, you will not be disappointed in this novel! The days leading up to Antu are terrifying and amazing all at once, and you get to see the best and worst of us as we try to cope with the potential end.
I can't wait for the third book!
I can't wait for the third book!
February 12, 2018
Wow. This book is the continuation of the book Stormhaven Rising. This is the best book I have read in a very long time. The author does an excellent job extrapolating what would happen if a natural disaster went beyond a small locality. Definitely worth reading.
October 9, 2018
Prometheus and the Dragon is the second book in Eric Michael Craig's Atlas and the Winds series. Picking up nearly a year after the end of Stormhaven Rising the citizens of the earth have put their hopes on two competing projects to stop the asteroid known as Antu before it strikes the earth. The effort is led by the Americans, at the lunar colony, who are building a massive particle weapon that will be used to deflect the asteroid. The Chinese, meanwhile, are building a next-generation nuclear weapon at their own lunar colony and they plan to launch it at the asteroid to destroy it in one massive explosion. While the Chinese and Americans work toward the same goal, but often at cross purposes, Stormhaven continues to expand their colony with the goal to save as many people of the earth as possible. Stormhaven isn't alone as the other space agencies have unified to build their own massive domed colony, the Russians have partnered with the Arab nations to finance their own colony, and the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints is focused on building an ark on the moon to save genetic material of people, plants, and animals. The moon is getting very crowded, and as the two biggest players start stepping on each others toes the consequences could prove to be disastrous for the earth.
As with the first book in the series, Prometheus and the Dragon is a techno-thriller roller coaster ride. Eric knows his science, even when he's pushing the envelope with new technologies, and this comes through as conflict spreads not only on the earth but between the lunar colonies as well. As a writer, he's adept at adding stress and new challenges to his characters, always ratcheting up the tension. Whether it is the machinations of an apocalyptic preacher who's gathering the people of the world for the last battle before Armageddon, to the secrecy and political infighting between nation states, Eric does a wonderful job of making things worse - and that's a good thing. If everybody worked together, worked in harmony, they might be able to save the world, and while that might leave the reader with a fuzzy warm "feel good" feeling it's not what drives a story. To do that you need conflict and Eric delivers, and in very plausible and realistic ways.
Prometheus and the Dragon is different from Stormhaven Rising in that a lot of the focus is on many characters who had more supporting roles in the first book. This was necessary because the story moved away from what was happening on earth to what was happening on the moon, and I liked to see these characters get more of the lime light. My one quibble was that I didn't like the melancholic depression (funk) that Colton Taylor - genius and guru of Stormhaven - got into. I understood why Eric did this, but it felt a bit like a cheat to force the other characters to step up and think on their own. As such, Colton has very little page time, and since I really liked his character from book one, to have him set aside in this manner was a bit disappointing. I wanted him to continue to be the shining light of progress and reason, and he seemed to sit out, curled up in a proverbial fetal position. However, just because I wanted to see more of Taylor, doesn't mean that the other characters do not shine on their own. Eric does a great job of developing these minor characters in their own right, and in the end the ensemble he has created makes the story come alive.
I highly recommend this second book in the Atlas and the Winds series. Prometheus and the Dragon is a high-tech science fiction adventure that not only gets the science right, but keeps you on the edge of your seat for the entire ride.
As with the first book in the series, Prometheus and the Dragon is a techno-thriller roller coaster ride. Eric knows his science, even when he's pushing the envelope with new technologies, and this comes through as conflict spreads not only on the earth but between the lunar colonies as well. As a writer, he's adept at adding stress and new challenges to his characters, always ratcheting up the tension. Whether it is the machinations of an apocalyptic preacher who's gathering the people of the world for the last battle before Armageddon, to the secrecy and political infighting between nation states, Eric does a wonderful job of making things worse - and that's a good thing. If everybody worked together, worked in harmony, they might be able to save the world, and while that might leave the reader with a fuzzy warm "feel good" feeling it's not what drives a story. To do that you need conflict and Eric delivers, and in very plausible and realistic ways.
Prometheus and the Dragon is different from Stormhaven Rising in that a lot of the focus is on many characters who had more supporting roles in the first book. This was necessary because the story moved away from what was happening on earth to what was happening on the moon, and I liked to see these characters get more of the lime light. My one quibble was that I didn't like the melancholic depression (funk) that Colton Taylor - genius and guru of Stormhaven - got into. I understood why Eric did this, but it felt a bit like a cheat to force the other characters to step up and think on their own. As such, Colton has very little page time, and since I really liked his character from book one, to have him set aside in this manner was a bit disappointing. I wanted him to continue to be the shining light of progress and reason, and he seemed to sit out, curled up in a proverbial fetal position. However, just because I wanted to see more of Taylor, doesn't mean that the other characters do not shine on their own. Eric does a great job of developing these minor characters in their own right, and in the end the ensemble he has created makes the story come alive.
I highly recommend this second book in the Atlas and the Winds series. Prometheus and the Dragon is a high-tech science fiction adventure that not only gets the science right, but keeps you on the edge of your seat for the entire ride.
May 9, 2018
The conclusion to Stormhaven Rising did not disappoint! Earth’s long establish and new found powers clash until life on Earth’s pivotal moment. Will our species stop bungling itself long enough to prevent the giant rock from hitting home? I recommend you dig in and find out.
Micah is my favorite. Her subplot is possibly the most important event in the novel! Nestled deep within the shadow of mankind’s greatest crisis, a new life form becomes conscious. Artificial Intelligence becomes self-aware. What next? Taking good union jobs like they did at the Distribution Center? Where’s it going to stop. Next they’ll want to drive our cars.
Different religions make their way into space. If we found another species, would they convert to Earth’s God. Whoa. Sorry folks. There’s two things we shouldn’t discuss in a book review; religion and reality television.
I enjoyed the first so much that Craig’s editor Ducky gave me a free copy. There were no strings attached. It was digital. If there were, I kind of remember how to fix cassette tapes, so… Anyways, I’d recommend this to hard scifi fans, people who like the walking dead because its people killing people while something much more epic goes down, those who know Armageddon got it wrong, and doomsday preppers.
Micah is my favorite. Her subplot is possibly the most important event in the novel! Nestled deep within the shadow of mankind’s greatest crisis, a new life form becomes conscious. Artificial Intelligence becomes self-aware. What next? Taking good union jobs like they did at the Distribution Center? Where’s it going to stop. Next they’ll want to drive our cars.
Different religions make their way into space. If we found another species, would they convert to Earth’s God. Whoa. Sorry folks. There’s two things we shouldn’t discuss in a book review; religion and reality television.
I enjoyed the first so much that Craig’s editor Ducky gave me a free copy. There were no strings attached. It was digital. If there were, I kind of remember how to fix cassette tapes, so… Anyways, I’d recommend this to hard scifi fans, people who like the walking dead because its people killing people while something much more epic goes down, those who know Armageddon got it wrong, and doomsday preppers.
November 10, 2021
I'll try to avoid too much in the way of spoilers...
The dire situation developed in Book 1 comes to a dramatic conclusion, but the series is over yet! The situations in Book 1 basically come apart and disaster flies in from outer space. New characters are introduced, many of them only live for a few minutes before they're dispached which makes a reader a little leery about developing any sense of attachment or interest in many characters who seem to deserve more than this brief appearance. However, the scope of the book/series is quite wide so it seems necessary but overwhelming to a certain extent. I would have preferred fewer characters of the disposable type.
Craig is definitely a careful and thorough researcher so you can pretty well rely on the realistic details and consequences of what happens in this book as the asteroid Cantu approaches Earth. The characters I became attached to in the first book continue and develop in interesting ways as the plot plunges headlong toward disaster.
But wait, there's more! It's not over yet. Looking forward to the third book!
The dire situation developed in Book 1 comes to a dramatic conclusion, but the series is over yet! The situations in Book 1 basically come apart and disaster flies in from outer space. New characters are introduced, many of them only live for a few minutes before they're dispached which makes a reader a little leery about developing any sense of attachment or interest in many characters who seem to deserve more than this brief appearance. However, the scope of the book/series is quite wide so it seems necessary but overwhelming to a certain extent. I would have preferred fewer characters of the disposable type.
Craig is definitely a careful and thorough researcher so you can pretty well rely on the realistic details and consequences of what happens in this book as the asteroid Cantu approaches Earth. The characters I became attached to in the first book continue and develop in interesting ways as the plot plunges headlong toward disaster.
But wait, there's more! It's not over yet. Looking forward to the third book!
November 10, 2017
When it comes to end-of-the-world stories, we are conditioned by Hollywood to expect certain tropes. A hero will save us, a villain will be revealed, and a fanatic will throw a wrench into the whole thing. Eric Michael Craig knows this, which is why he flipped the table on that script, ripped it in half, and set it ablaze.
Humans are fallible to the bone, no matter where they fall on the societal spectrum. Prometheus and the Dragon, book two of Craig's Atlas and the Winds series, explores this reality in grisly and distressing detail. Imagine a world where the heroes are errant, the fanatics are adept, and the powers that be bicker like greedy children. Actually, you don't have to imagine, because that's the world we live in.
I have to applaud Craig for his deep dive into the discordant flaws of humanity that we often feel too proud to acknowledge. Without giving anything away, yes, there is hope. But, we have to claw ourselves out of a grim gutter to feel it.
Humans are fallible to the bone, no matter where they fall on the societal spectrum. Prometheus and the Dragon, book two of Craig's Atlas and the Winds series, explores this reality in grisly and distressing detail. Imagine a world where the heroes are errant, the fanatics are adept, and the powers that be bicker like greedy children. Actually, you don't have to imagine, because that's the world we live in.
I have to applaud Craig for his deep dive into the discordant flaws of humanity that we often feel too proud to acknowledge. Without giving anything away, yes, there is hope. But, we have to claw ourselves out of a grim gutter to feel it.
January 3, 2018
Prometheus and the Dragon by Eric Michael Craig is the sequel to Stormhaven Rising. In this one, the meteor Antu is approaching Earth and various groups are building colonies of the moon for as many people as possible. The U.S. and China have different approaches for dealing with Antu - to destroy it or deflect it. Neither works. There are threats on Earth, too, from those opposed to the colonies.
This is a fast-paced story, made even more frenetic by the frequent changes in scene. To accommodate the large cast of characters, Craig lists them all at the beginning of the story. Some stand out more than others as the action moves along. It's exciting with high tension throughout. The writing is crisp and clean.
This is a fast-paced story, made even more frenetic by the frequent changes in scene. To accommodate the large cast of characters, Craig lists them all at the beginning of the story. Some stand out more than others as the action moves along. It's exciting with high tension throughout. The writing is crisp and clean.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews