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Planet of the Red Dust #1
Planet of the Red Dust
Jared Adams is the sole survivor of the space ship Wayfarer, wrecked on a dead planet, alone in this barren world. Until he sees two humans arrive at the crash site.
Aaronia, daughter of the king, and her uncle Porto are in awe of this strange man who speaks babble and yet appears God-like. He rescues her uncle from a deadly beast by throwing lightning from his hand, then takes them back to their camp in a miraculous cart that runs on its own power.
Though their languages are different, Aaronia and Jared are drawn to each other. Still, her father the king, in fear of Jared’s technology, imprisons him and sentences him to death.
Aaronia must not only prevent Jared’s execution, she and Jared must find a way to save the people of Sionon from their forced execution by a dying planet.
Aaronia, daughter of the king, and her uncle Porto are in awe of this strange man who speaks babble and yet appears God-like. He rescues her uncle from a deadly beast by throwing lightning from his hand, then takes them back to their camp in a miraculous cart that runs on its own power.
Though their languages are different, Aaronia and Jared are drawn to each other. Still, her father the king, in fear of Jared’s technology, imprisons him and sentences him to death.
Aaronia must not only prevent Jared’s execution, she and Jared must find a way to save the people of Sionon from their forced execution by a dying planet.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2017
17 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 1, 2017
I've always said, there's something about royalty that touches me and this story brings to life a tale like no other. When Jared crash lands on a new planet, he's not really expecting to find other humans. Aaronia and her uncle are surprised to find someone so foreign, yet his ways are necessary to help save their dying planet.
Through the adventures of this people, the reader is told a powerful tale of survival and different, yet similar, customs that span across the universe. I loved watching strengths unfold in ways that could really benefit others, as well as seeing prophecies come to pass. There are some subtle parallels to Christian beliefs and I found myself once again wondering--is there life on other planets?
I was entertained by these characters and found the setting very interesting. I wanted to know how it would all end, although there were a few surprises. I like to be shown how relationships develop because I become very emotionally invested, but the telling way of this book was fine and felt comfortable.
Content: mild+ talk of religious matters/prophecies/Bible stories; mild romance, kissing and some innuendo.
*I received a copy from the author, which did not affect my thoughts. All opinions are my own.*
Through the adventures of this people, the reader is told a powerful tale of survival and different, yet similar, customs that span across the universe. I loved watching strengths unfold in ways that could really benefit others, as well as seeing prophecies come to pass. There are some subtle parallels to Christian beliefs and I found myself once again wondering--is there life on other planets?
I was entertained by these characters and found the setting very interesting. I wanted to know how it would all end, although there were a few surprises. I like to be shown how relationships develop because I become very emotionally invested, but the telling way of this book was fine and felt comfortable.
Content: mild+ talk of religious matters/prophecies/Bible stories; mild romance, kissing and some innuendo.
*I received a copy from the author, which did not affect my thoughts. All opinions are my own.*
March 6, 2018
Planet of the Red Dust caught my eye as maybe being one of those stranded-on-Mars stories (like Andy Weir's “The Martian”), something I would have loved even more. This is not quite that, however. The planet is called Sion and the stranded astronaut is not alone. Not at all. Jared Adams finds himself caught up in a resident civilization of Sionians who first take him as a prisoner, and then learn what he can do for them. Sion is a place that is perishing from climate change, possibly from an altered orbit. The Sion residents are struggling to survive. Jared's ship has crashed here and he becomes a reluctant savior because he is a science officer. These three themes could have been made clearer. How and why did the Sion people come to this place? There's a hint they are descendants of Enoch...
It is, in a way, a story of redemption in a harsh world. It reminded me somewhat of The Sound of Music as well. There are very obvious Biblical themes: Jared, a prophesied King David-type redeemer, Annia, a type of Ruth, readings from an ancient book that parallels the Old Testament, and mentions of Christ. Is this a repeat of the Gospel story on another world?
The first half of the novel unwinds very slowly. There seems to be no tension other than Jared's immediate plight and his unfortunate jailing. Then things get comfortable as he is rapidly accepted into the Sion people's circles. They survive by farming, but winters are so harsh that they go underground for part of the year. Jared periodically sends radio messages toward Earth for help. I find the language a bit stilted, with a hint of O.T. narrative style, but there are hints of humor: “Daniel dipped his finger in the sauce then sucked off the evidence. His father said, 'I see Daniel is volunteering for the prayer again.'”
It could have used better editing {“she needs to be good a good housekeeper”...} - The King's Courtship chapter – “He explained about gravity, weightlessness and a million other things” (would he have time to explain 'a million things'?) But all in all I liked both the setting and the dilemma Jared is in. This is a classic theme to work with: the search for a home, even an alien place that can be called home. I enjoyed the last half, between Jared and Annia. You can't help but melt during those scenes of reconciliation and accepted marriage proposals. I think a young romance-seeking readership will like it better.
It is, in a way, a story of redemption in a harsh world. It reminded me somewhat of The Sound of Music as well. There are very obvious Biblical themes: Jared, a prophesied King David-type redeemer, Annia, a type of Ruth, readings from an ancient book that parallels the Old Testament, and mentions of Christ. Is this a repeat of the Gospel story on another world?
The first half of the novel unwinds very slowly. There seems to be no tension other than Jared's immediate plight and his unfortunate jailing. Then things get comfortable as he is rapidly accepted into the Sion people's circles. They survive by farming, but winters are so harsh that they go underground for part of the year. Jared periodically sends radio messages toward Earth for help. I find the language a bit stilted, with a hint of O.T. narrative style, but there are hints of humor: “Daniel dipped his finger in the sauce then sucked off the evidence. His father said, 'I see Daniel is volunteering for the prayer again.'”
It could have used better editing {“she needs to be good a good housekeeper”...} - The King's Courtship chapter – “He explained about gravity, weightlessness and a million other things” (would he have time to explain 'a million things'?) But all in all I liked both the setting and the dilemma Jared is in. This is a classic theme to work with: the search for a home, even an alien place that can be called home. I enjoyed the last half, between Jared and Annia. You can't help but melt during those scenes of reconciliation and accepted marriage proposals. I think a young romance-seeking readership will like it better.
July 7, 2017
Planet of the Red Dust is a story of hope and survival on an alien world. The novel opens with Jared, sold survivor of the crashed Wayfarer, burying his dead colleagues on a planet which, by all indications, is devoid of life. So it comes a something of a shock when two humans appear nearby.
We quickly realise we are in the realm of the Lost Civilization genre (a genre I particularly love), but this is a civilisation lost in space. The surprisingly human nature of the denizens of this world is soon explained and their origin is unexpected and original. However, this in itself raised more questions and I eagerly anticipated answers which never came.
This was my one niggle with this tale. We discover the Who and the Where but never the How or the Why, and this left me a tad disappointed. I would also have loved to know more about the ancient technology to which we are introduced and although the people themselves may have forgotten how things work I would have expected Jared, as an astronaut, innovator and adventurer, to have more of an enquiring mind. He felt at times rather too accepting and not sufficiently questioning.
But that aside I enjoyed this tale very much. It is a gentle and ambling story of love and survival. I found the world building fascinating, both the planet and the solar system we are introduced to and the culture of the people who inhabit it. The environmental disaster that threatens this world felt very real and totally plausible. And of course, Jared has a key role to play in their survival. But to say any more would only be a spoiler.
So all in all an enjoyable and leisurely read that should appeal to all ages.
We quickly realise we are in the realm of the Lost Civilization genre (a genre I particularly love), but this is a civilisation lost in space. The surprisingly human nature of the denizens of this world is soon explained and their origin is unexpected and original. However, this in itself raised more questions and I eagerly anticipated answers which never came.
This was my one niggle with this tale. We discover the Who and the Where but never the How or the Why, and this left me a tad disappointed. I would also have loved to know more about the ancient technology to which we are introduced and although the people themselves may have forgotten how things work I would have expected Jared, as an astronaut, innovator and adventurer, to have more of an enquiring mind. He felt at times rather too accepting and not sufficiently questioning.
But that aside I enjoyed this tale very much. It is a gentle and ambling story of love and survival. I found the world building fascinating, both the planet and the solar system we are introduced to and the culture of the people who inhabit it. The environmental disaster that threatens this world felt very real and totally plausible. And of course, Jared has a key role to play in their survival. But to say any more would only be a spoiler.
So all in all an enjoyable and leisurely read that should appeal to all ages.
May 22, 2017
As the story begins astronaut Jared Adams buries the crew of his crashed space vehicle in the red dust of an unexplored planet. He believes he is alone—dreadfully alone after he buries the rest of the crew—but a woman and man appear near the wreckage speaking a strange tongue and obviously in awe of him.
Thus begins a narrative that explores a civilization where the people dress as ancient Earth tribes did thousands of years ago and exhibit customs and traditions not dissimilar. This leads the reader to an expectancy that somehow the author will link this unexplored planet to Earth. And she does, in a most remarkable way.
The story is gentle and flowing covering a span of several years, following the life events of Jared as he assimilates into this society and rises to become … well, I don’t want to spoil it. I found the plot easy reading and suitable for ages 12 and up. In fact, I think this would be a pleasant bedtime read-aloud for younger children too. Nothing scary or inappropriate.
Thus begins a narrative that explores a civilization where the people dress as ancient Earth tribes did thousands of years ago and exhibit customs and traditions not dissimilar. This leads the reader to an expectancy that somehow the author will link this unexplored planet to Earth. And she does, in a most remarkable way.
The story is gentle and flowing covering a span of several years, following the life events of Jared as he assimilates into this society and rises to become … well, I don’t want to spoil it. I found the plot easy reading and suitable for ages 12 and up. In fact, I think this would be a pleasant bedtime read-aloud for younger children too. Nothing scary or inappropriate.
January 20, 2018
I found this to be an enjoyable book to read with an interesting premise. The hero crash lands on an alien planet as the sole survivor. The natives take him in, and he ends up being the fulfillment of a prophecy to save their people. There were references to the Jewish/Christian creation of man and fall of man stories which leads the reader to guess that the people of this planet had originally come from Earth. I found that the references to the stories and characters of the Old Testament added to the complexity of the story, but not necessary to the plot. I would have liked some sort of prologue at the end, but instead, the author left open the possibility of the continuation of the story in a future book.
May 24, 2017
From the first line of Planet of the Red Dust, my whole heart was with American astronaut, Jared Adams. Crashed on what he believes to be an uninhabited & dying planet, he faces the fate he cannot change.
Following her tender heart, and a fiery streak through the sky, Sionian princess, Aaronia finds herself the key to saving Jared's life. But physically rescuing him is only the beginning.
I loved this book until the very last word! The perfect blend of fantasy, science fiction, and romance - it is gentle and heartwarming. A story you and your teens or tweens can enjoy.
Following her tender heart, and a fiery streak through the sky, Sionian princess, Aaronia finds herself the key to saving Jared's life. But physically rescuing him is only the beginning.
I loved this book until the very last word! The perfect blend of fantasy, science fiction, and romance - it is gentle and heartwarming. A story you and your teens or tweens can enjoy.
June 14, 2017
This was a fun read! The characters were likable and set apart as individuals, the setting well imagined and described, and the plot easy to understand. I enjoyed the way the author used real prophecies and mixed them with prophecies on the planet Sion. Very unique.
April 13, 2018
Loved it. I enjoyed the world, the characters, and situations. So many books about planetary romance involve great armies and great conflicts. This is a simple story of survival. I've already begun the second book in the series.
August 27, 2017
Wonderful story
Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the next book, to continue this story.
Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the next book, to continue this story.
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October 12, 2020
This turned out to be an enjoyably good story. The culture was well thought out and interesting how it corresponded with planet Earth's. I am looking forward to the sequel.
March 22, 2023
Great Read
I love science fiction stories. I also love the gospel and the way this author combines both. It was a feel good read. I had a hard time putting it down.
I love science fiction stories. I also love the gospel and the way this author combines both. It was a feel good read. I had a hard time putting it down.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews