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The Arkship Saga #1
Arkship Obsidian
The Earth is gone, destroyed along with the rest of the solar system. Now, almost two hundred years after the Fracture, all that remains of the sun is the enigmatic Infinite - a string of stellar material that shines at the heart of the Cluster. The last survivors of humanity live on vast arkships doing what they can to survive in this hostile ever-changing environment.
When the arkship Obsidian is attacked, Wynn awakes in a lifeboat in the middle of a huge space battle, unable to remember who he is. Hunted by a killer robot, the forces of a rival arkship and the Church of the Infinite, Wynn must find new allies if he is to survive long enough to discover who is behind the attack and take his revenge.
When the arkship Obsidian is attacked, Wynn awakes in a lifeboat in the middle of a huge space battle, unable to remember who he is. Hunted by a killer robot, the forces of a rival arkship and the Church of the Infinite, Wynn must find new allies if he is to survive long enough to discover who is behind the attack and take his revenge.
327 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2017
208 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Niel Bushnell
25 books35 followersNiel Bushnell is an award-winning science-fiction and fantasy author based in the north-east of England.
An accomplished artist and animator, Niel has worked in the creative sector for over twenty years, across film, TV, online, games, advertising and publishing.
He is the author of the Arkship Saga, a science-fiction series set in the distant future after the Earth has been destroyed along with the rest of the solar system in a cataclysmic event known as the Fracture. He is also the author of two time-travel children's books called Sorrowline and Timesmith, and a Young-Adult novel called Altitude.
An accomplished artist and animator, Niel has worked in the creative sector for over twenty years, across film, TV, online, games, advertising and publishing.
He is the author of the Arkship Saga, a science-fiction series set in the distant future after the Earth has been destroyed along with the rest of the solar system in a cataclysmic event known as the Fracture. He is also the author of two time-travel children's books called Sorrowline and Timesmith, and a Young-Adult novel called Altitude.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 21, 2018
This book is amazing, it did something that no other book have done to me before, by this I mean that from page one I was hooked, I couldn't stop listening and I want more, it's such an excellent story, I can't wait for the next one to get released.
I really praise the author, even my favorites books took a few chapters to pull me in, this is a first for me a real masterpiece!
I fully recommend this book, trust me you won't regret it what so ever.
Got this audiobook for free for reviewing.
I really praise the author, even my favorites books took a few chapters to pull me in, this is a first for me a real masterpiece!
I fully recommend this book, trust me you won't regret it what so ever.
Got this audiobook for free for reviewing.
November 6, 2017
Following the destruction of planets, the remaining population live on arkships ruled by families but ultimately controlled by the Church of the Infinite!! This story follows Wynn, the last survivor of the Kenric House, after his arkship is destroyed. This is a good start to a new series, with some good characters, which will hopefully evolve more in book two.
October 24, 2017
I absolutely love this spectacular, edge-of-your-seat, breath-taking space opera. I could go on and on but instead, let me just say, go get your copy! Yes, it's that great.
I read this book through Kindle Unlimited.
I read this book through Kindle Unlimited.
October 9, 2017
Niel brings an unusual scenario to Sci-Fi, whole colonies of populated huge ships (Arkships) living in the open spaces of what was once the solar system of mankind. His stories are not so much about the cataclysm that set the scene, but rather the physical, religious and social aspects of life in these independent colonies. Threats abound, as social and political differences between Arkships have raged over the years, various factions shouldering their way to positions of power. These power struggles have now spilled over and now threaten to engulf formerly neutral Arkships into the conflagration. Caught in the middle are the trading ships making their meager living hauling supplies between the great distances, facing the cold and loneliness of space, marauders, and often times old or poorly operating ships.
October 17, 2017
Another really great book from Niel Bushnell. I normally need my arm twisted to read SF, preferring watching it but this just washed over me so easily. I was brought up on science fiction like Star Wars, Babylon 5, Blakes 7 and this is refreshingly very much in that mould.
Having read the free prequel Arkship Countdown first (you don't need to) I look forward to the next one. The author clearly knows his Science Fiction and it shows. Its not swamped with technobabble but just a sprinkling of Cube drives here and a Golgore grid there, it lets the plot speed along. Characters are well rounded, with Reader Durante and Gorfal the hunterbot standing out for me. I like the fact that the action takes place either in space or on ships and isn't beaming down onto 'this weeks crazy planet'.
I've already preordered the next book, but have to wait 2 months... "Sol!"
Having read the free prequel Arkship Countdown first (you don't need to) I look forward to the next one. The author clearly knows his Science Fiction and it shows. Its not swamped with technobabble but just a sprinkling of Cube drives here and a Golgore grid there, it lets the plot speed along. Characters are well rounded, with Reader Durante and Gorfal the hunterbot standing out for me. I like the fact that the action takes place either in space or on ships and isn't beaming down onto 'this weeks crazy planet'.
I've already preordered the next book, but have to wait 2 months... "Sol!"
October 21, 2018
I am a true SciFi nerd and I can’t say enough about this book! I love this kind of dystopian “what if”, and read it in almost one sitting. The plot and the characters are fantastic. I kept thinking as I read it that my aunt, who introduced me to SciFi like Asimov, Herbert and Sagan, would have loved this book.
Saving pennies for the nest one. Highly recommended 5/5
Saving pennies for the nest one. Highly recommended 5/5
July 2, 2018
The story is somewhat reminiscent of the Foundation series, or Dune with power struggles between interstellar royal families. The story opens hot with the protagonists in a life boat, drifting in the debris field of a destroyed Ark Ship. He has no memory and doesn’t know his identity. Scooped into the collection bay of a scavenger ship he finds another survivor and with her help they escape the killer bots chasing them. Then we go to page two. The tale is fast paced with a lot of action.
The Arkships are massive constructions, often built from an asteroid. Orcades Draig of House Draig has destroyed the Royal Arkship Kenric, killing the princely leader. He claims the right to the Kenric throne as the illegitimate son of the prince he just killed. This first book in the series follows the intrigue, strategy, and political maneuvering Between the royal families, the powerful church, and independent factions. Uneasy alliances are formed and broken as war comes and thousands are killed.
A good read, that I recommend. I’ll check the rest of the books in the series.
The Arkships are massive constructions, often built from an asteroid. Orcades Draig of House Draig has destroyed the Royal Arkship Kenric, killing the princely leader. He claims the right to the Kenric throne as the illegitimate son of the prince he just killed. This first book in the series follows the intrigue, strategy, and political maneuvering Between the royal families, the powerful church, and independent factions. Uneasy alliances are formed and broken as war comes and thousands are killed.
A good read, that I recommend. I’ll check the rest of the books in the series.
May 14, 2018
We meet the characters.
Wynn was gotten off the Arkship Obsidian, doesn't know by who and remembers nothing but seeing the Obsidian blowing up in front of his escape pod.
Read and enjoy!
Wynn was gotten off the Arkship Obsidian, doesn't know by who and remembers nothing but seeing the Obsidian blowing up in front of his escape pod.
Read and enjoy!
June 14, 2018
[[ASIN:B0754728PD Arkship Obsidian (The Arkship Saga Book 1)]
You are onboard a mega airship. You get attacked, your ship is destroyed, but you somehow save yourself. Inside your lifeboat, you realize that you basically lost all of your memory, except your fist name. Where are you, what happened, why.
The young man saves a young pilot approximately his age, and she helps him recompose his personnality. But who is he, and why was he in that life boat.
He learns of family disputes between ships, But this is the first time a family ship of great category is destroyed. Bara, the young pilot brings him to some of her friends, at home, on an asteroid made vessel... where they get tangled into more adventures.
Nice story about friendship, and faithfulness. A strange world where all the planets of the solar system have exploded, and life is lived in vessels.
For young adults, and teenagers, for thos who like people with virtues.
First of a series. Promising.
You are onboard a mega airship. You get attacked, your ship is destroyed, but you somehow save yourself. Inside your lifeboat, you realize that you basically lost all of your memory, except your fist name. Where are you, what happened, why.
The young man saves a young pilot approximately his age, and she helps him recompose his personnality. But who is he, and why was he in that life boat.
He learns of family disputes between ships, But this is the first time a family ship of great category is destroyed. Bara, the young pilot brings him to some of her friends, at home, on an asteroid made vessel... where they get tangled into more adventures.
Nice story about friendship, and faithfulness. A strange world where all the planets of the solar system have exploded, and life is lived in vessels.
For young adults, and teenagers, for thos who like people with virtues.
First of a series. Promising.
October 31, 2017
Great beginning to the series
Arkship Obsidian is an excellent introduction to the Arkship Saga. The main characters are well developed and the story line teases us with an exciting taste of what's coming.
Arkship Obsidian is an excellent introduction to the Arkship Saga. The main characters are well developed and the story line teases us with an exciting taste of what's coming.
March 6, 2018
easy to put down
The back story and the ark universe does not appear to be well thought out. Is the story set in the remains of earths solar system. If so why stick around if you have a FTL drive (cube drive)? If a ship can just pop up, I would make myself hard to find or be ready to energize my cube drive in an instant. I have way too many questions that should have been answered. I am not sure if I can read the next one.
The back story and the ark universe does not appear to be well thought out. Is the story set in the remains of earths solar system. If so why stick around if you have a FTL drive (cube drive)? If a ship can just pop up, I would make myself hard to find or be ready to energize my cube drive in an instant. I have way too many questions that should have been answered. I am not sure if I can read the next one.
February 9, 2018
📚📚📚📚
A good story, lots of action with uncertainty and danger at every turn. The main characters are developing well. An exciting start.
A good story, lots of action with uncertainty and danger at every turn. The main characters are developing well. An exciting start.
April 2, 2018
Very fast paced. You will need to focus on this one.
A great story by Neil Bushnell with a fine narration by Mike Robinson.
Well worth a listen. A+++
A great story by Neil Bushnell with a fine narration by Mike Robinson.
Well worth a listen. A+++
July 17, 2018
Arkship Obsidian - a review by Rosemary Kenny
At the heart of the Cluster is the Infinite - the last remainder of Earth's Sun - ruled by the powerful Church of the Infinite, in Book 1 of the series The Arkship Saga, by Master of the Universe, Niel Bushnell.
Royal families and commoners alike have been forced to leave the Earth and live in vast Arkships, like the eponymous Obsidian, in scenes reminiscent of the animated film W.A.L.L-e, where Earth has been abandoned to a desolate fate. Battles for supremacy between the warring factions' Arkships is no rarity and the trading ships who market their wares among them, risk both their lives and their hoped-for fortunes to do so,
Where has Wynn come from and how did he lose his memory?
Who are Gortal and Orcades Draig and why must Wynn avoid them?
When does Wynn meet Bara? How does she help him escape - and where does she take him?
This epic space opera with a difference continues in Book 2, Arkship Vengeance that will eagerly welcomed by all new readers of Niel Bushnell's great books - a real galactic winner for all ages!
At the heart of the Cluster is the Infinite - the last remainder of Earth's Sun - ruled by the powerful Church of the Infinite, in Book 1 of the series The Arkship Saga, by Master of the Universe, Niel Bushnell.
Royal families and commoners alike have been forced to leave the Earth and live in vast Arkships, like the eponymous Obsidian, in scenes reminiscent of the animated film W.A.L.L-e, where Earth has been abandoned to a desolate fate. Battles for supremacy between the warring factions' Arkships is no rarity and the trading ships who market their wares among them, risk both their lives and their hoped-for fortunes to do so,
Where has Wynn come from and how did he lose his memory?
Who are Gortal and Orcades Draig and why must Wynn avoid them?
When does Wynn meet Bara? How does she help him escape - and where does she take him?
This epic space opera with a difference continues in Book 2, Arkship Vengeance that will eagerly welcomed by all new readers of Niel Bushnell's great books - a real galactic winner for all ages!
May 27, 2018
Nice Space Opera
I wasn't sure if I would get into this kind of story but it was addictive pretty quickly. A lot of the action details were almost overwhelming but since his writing focused on character reactions and motivations, the tech and physics of it all were relatively unimportant.
It seemed slow in spots at the beginning but as I absorbed the background and the wild tech, the flow of the story felt as if it speeded up.
The condition of the solar system was really different for me, at least. I liked the descriptions of the phenomenon that resulted from the fracture. The Church reminded me a little of the Foundation but these characters are much more complete than Asimov's. I liked the Foundation series but a lot of his characters are flat.
Good writing combined with a new kind of premise, a plot that is reminiscent of both Dune and Foundation makes for an interesting read. The sequel will answer some questions and I am looking forward to seeing where the series goes.
I wasn't sure if I would get into this kind of story but it was addictive pretty quickly. A lot of the action details were almost overwhelming but since his writing focused on character reactions and motivations, the tech and physics of it all were relatively unimportant.
It seemed slow in spots at the beginning but as I absorbed the background and the wild tech, the flow of the story felt as if it speeded up.
The condition of the solar system was really different for me, at least. I liked the descriptions of the phenomenon that resulted from the fracture. The Church reminded me a little of the Foundation but these characters are much more complete than Asimov's. I liked the Foundation series but a lot of his characters are flat.
Good writing combined with a new kind of premise, a plot that is reminiscent of both Dune and Foundation makes for an interesting read. The sequel will answer some questions and I am looking forward to seeing where the series goes.
June 16, 2018
I love the premise for this story and the settings are great. The characters are likeable (or not as the case may be) and generally well developed, although our resident bad guy seems a bit one dimensional. There is plenty of action, and while the science is not always spot on, this generally does not detract too much from the overall story. Overall a pretty good take on the need to find somewhere we belong, and the senseless loss that greedy men can cause - even in the far future.
I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
June 9, 2020
Good old-fashioned space opera!
The story follows Wynn and Bara as they fight to survive in a hostile zone of space formerly occupied by our solar system. What remains of humanity lives on vast Arkships, ruled over by competing families and heavily influenced by the Church of the Infinite.
Characters were realistic and well-defined, ships were fascinating mini-worlds and the action was well paced yet exciting. There are lots of sub-plots going on and I'm genuinely looking forward to reading the next installment.
The story follows Wynn and Bara as they fight to survive in a hostile zone of space formerly occupied by our solar system. What remains of humanity lives on vast Arkships, ruled over by competing families and heavily influenced by the Church of the Infinite.
Characters were realistic and well-defined, ships were fascinating mini-worlds and the action was well paced yet exciting. There are lots of sub-plots going on and I'm genuinely looking forward to reading the next installment.
June 5, 2018
A great read
That keeps you on your toes. Good writing, great story line. Makes the reader wanting more. Usually I'm not a fan of books written thru more than one character ( feels like I'm reading more than one book at the same time) but it wasn't like the norm. When going thru one person to another, your not lost, it completes the story instead of adding fillers to make it longer. Really enjoyed and looking to read more from Mr. Bushnell
That keeps you on your toes. Good writing, great story line. Makes the reader wanting more. Usually I'm not a fan of books written thru more than one character ( feels like I'm reading more than one book at the same time) but it wasn't like the norm. When going thru one person to another, your not lost, it completes the story instead of adding fillers to make it longer. Really enjoyed and looking to read more from Mr. Bushnell
July 18, 2018
If you're looking for heart stopping action full of intrigue and mystery, then look no further.
The book throws back to classic sci-fi adventure in the best way it possibly could, with quirky characters, explosive set pieces and a plot that sinks it's teeth into you and won't let go.
The audiobook version was read clearly and gave each character their own unique sound, despite it only being the voice of one man, Mike Robinson.
The book throws back to classic sci-fi adventure in the best way it possibly could, with quirky characters, explosive set pieces and a plot that sinks it's teeth into you and won't let go.
The audiobook version was read clearly and gave each character their own unique sound, despite it only being the voice of one man, Mike Robinson.
August 20, 2018
This book is scary!
Not because there are space battles with tens of thousands losing their lives and being forced into an alliance they would never chose. Not because the leader of the assault force is a drug addict. But because the religious leaders are trying to reform the Sun and solar system by putting data into a computer program that tells the religious leaders which characters to support and which to allow to die.
Not because there are space battles with tens of thousands losing their lives and being forced into an alliance they would never chose. Not because the leader of the assault force is a drug addict. But because the religious leaders are trying to reform the Sun and solar system by putting data into a computer program that tells the religious leaders which characters to support and which to allow to die.
January 22, 2024
A very fine book that pulls you in from the first page.
It was fantastic to discover this rich universe through the eyes of the main character, and the pacing keeps you on your toes for the whole journey.
I was very keen to read about all the little finds, concepts and pieces of story that set this sci-fi saga apart, and am looking forward to read more about these characters and this universe !
It was fantastic to discover this rich universe through the eyes of the main character, and the pacing keeps you on your toes for the whole journey.
I was very keen to read about all the little finds, concepts and pieces of story that set this sci-fi saga apart, and am looking forward to read more about these characters and this universe !
April 22, 2018
I will probably continue on to book 2 of the series, the book was well written with good pacing, but some of the fictional science seems a bit too far out. Some of the ideas reminded me of works by Asimov and Clark, which is not uncommon in modern SF, but I like to see old ideas advanced to new levels, so far this is lacking, but it was a fairly short book so there is hope.
June 7, 2018
What a great storyline! The sun was split, all the planets destroyed and now humanity lives in Arkships. Niel has managed to bring a whole new light on humanities future and making it believable. I was caught up in the story from start to finish. Can't wait for book 2.
You will enjoy reading this new take on humanities future!
You will enjoy reading this new take on humanities future!
July 28, 2018
Very interesting!
It took a bit to get into it, but it was worth it. (Four “it’s” in one sentence. A world’s record?) I am looking forward to the relationships progressing in the next book. I’m still a bit confused, but I’m hanging in there...
It took a bit to get into it, but it was worth it. (Four “it’s” in one sentence. A world’s record?) I am looking forward to the relationships progressing in the next book. I’m still a bit confused, but I’m hanging in there...
October 10, 2019
Enjoyable Reading
Decent character development and storyline. Good action sequences with some twists and turns. I would gave liked more back story, but I understand that would have affected parts of the storyline.
Decent character development and storyline. Good action sequences with some twists and turns. I would gave liked more back story, but I understand that would have affected parts of the storyline.
January 19, 2021
Didn’t finish it.
Not enough depth for me. Shallow, stereotypical characters, predictable, one dimensional, unoriginal plot.
I guess it’s an easy read & romps along at a good pace but no depth & nothing to keep the reader interested in my opinion.
Not enough depth for me. Shallow, stereotypical characters, predictable, one dimensional, unoriginal plot.
I guess it’s an easy read & romps along at a good pace but no depth & nothing to keep the reader interested in my opinion.
July 4, 2018
Interesting and engaging. Recommended
June 13, 2022
Unrealistic universe, shallow plot.
This could really use a copy editor. How can a space opera author not know the difference between 'hanger' and 'hangar'? Such a turn off.
This could really use a copy editor. How can a space opera author not know the difference between 'hanger' and 'hangar'? Such a turn off.
February 20, 2019
This is a very good start to what appears to be an interesting series. It has war, duplicity, intrigue, death, political subterfuge, adultery, a romantic interest hope, and redemption. The author weaves all of these elements into a very coherent, interesting and delightful story. From the first pages, the reader is drawn into a very complex Galactic war which has very subtle meanings. A very very very good beginning.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews