Gibraltar Sun

Gibraltar Stars #2

by Michael McCollum

The expedition to the Crab Nebula has returned to Earth and the news is not good. Out among the stars, a million systems have fallen under Broan domination, the fate awaiting Earth should the Broa ever learn of its existence. The problem would seem to allow but three submit meekly to slavery, fight and risk extermination, or hide and pray the Broa remain ignorant of humankind for at least a few more generations. Are the hairless apes of Sol III finally faced with a problem for which there is no acceptable solution? While politicians argue, Mark Rykand and Lisa Arden risk everything to spy on the all-powerful enemy that is beginning to wonder at the appearance of mysterious bipeds in their midst…

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Ebooks

314 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Michael McCollum was born in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1946, and is a graduate of Arizona State University, where he majored in aerospace propulsion and minored in nuclear engineering. He is employed at Honeywell in Tempe, Arizona, where he is Chief Engineer in the valve product line. In his career, Mr. McCollum has worked on the precursor to the Space Shuttle Main Engine, a nuclear valve to replace the one that failed at Three Mile Island, several guided missiles, Space Station Freedom, and virtually every aircraft in production today. He is currently involved in an effort to create a joint venture company with a major Russian aerospace engine manufacturer and has traveled extensively to Russia in the last several years. In addition to his engineering, Mr. McCollum is a successful professional writer in the field of science fiction. He is the author of a dozen pieces of short fiction and has appeared in magazines such as Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, Amazing, and Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. Mr. McCollum is married to a lovely lady named Catherine, and has three children: Robert, Michael, and Elizabeth.

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

A slow slow start to get to a place we already knew was coming.
I found it dragggggggggged and I was tempted to give up, but hoped it would get better. It didn’t

The sex scenes were idiotic and did not help the story

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry to admit that I didn't enjoy this one at all. First off, the buildup in the earlier part of the story took way too long to reach the inevitable outcome that we assumed would happen all along.

Furthermore, although I respect the author's adherence to scientific accuracy, it grew tiresome to read about how long space travel takes and how weary it seemed to make the characters involved. This story could have used some significant speeding up. By the end of the book, we still have not learned much at all about the Broan empire.

I read the ebook version of this book so I never knew where in the book I was relative to the end. I felt like it was dragging on until I finally reached a part of the story that had some dramatic tension. Little did I realize that it was literally at the end of the book! It was disappointing that this resolves itself in a single chapter.

One last note is that I found the few bits of intimate scenes between Mark and Lisa cringe-worthy.

I still love the overall idea of this series and will check out the third book - if only to support Micheal McCollum for self -publishing DRM-free eBooks.

[Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just okay

So what is Earth going to do. One option is to employ a luddite strategy and pull back, or use a MacArthur type strategy and try to subvert the Broa from the inside out and isolate and destroy the power centers.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I said in my review of "Gibraltar Earth" applies here as well, but, thankfully, the author stopped using the phrase, "stygian darkness". Thank you! I was about to tear my hair out and I don't have much left!

The story: Having discovered the Broa race and wishing to avoid their domination, two paths were taken, the first and least likely to succeed was to "hide." That is, to stop all electronic noise, evacuate the colonists and destroy all our space ships in the hope that the Broa wouldn't find us. (FYI, this was the method used with success in David Weber's Safehold series starting with "Off Armageddon Reef".) The other path was to prepare for war.... not just defense but to strike first. That would require a lot of spying.... otherwise known as "reconnaissance". That is what this book is mostly concerned about. Space ships are sent to figure out where the Broa home world is without first getting caught doing it. If they suspected anything too soon, Earth would be doomed.

Any problems with this story? This is a transitional book. It carries the storyline forward, but doesn't really resolve anything. The trilogy probably should have been written as a single very big book, but then a lot of the story would have been cut and the storyline would have tightened up. (And, of course, it would have cost less money overall, but fewer people would have invested in a larger book with a larger price, so I understand why it was split up like it was.)

Any modesty issues? Well... at least now it is married sex.

The final showdown is not yet here, so don't expect too much. I've read the series, and I was hoping for a total melee battle. It was far less than that although it did get exciting.

I might read this book again as part of reading the series.

[Stan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of recap, a lot of set-up. Not much happens until some good action in the last 10%. Still, I guess I need to stay on and see how this turns out in Book 3. Finding the love/sex parts cringe-y. And feeling a little sorry for the main female character, who, after being the first with a major breakthrough in Book 1, now mostly fills the role of being cute/beautiful with a turned-up nose.

[Josn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part 2 of 3, and I still like it. Yes, the characters are without much depth. I got a feeling that the captain of the starship would be a better main character… And the story is easy in a sense that you can predict a happy end from the start. (I still have to read part 3, so this is not a spoiler!) But it’s a fun book to read.

[Bernard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A continuation from the first book.

The political infighting and discussion as to hiding, attacking, etc.

I thought the "escape" sub plot was lacking...

If you liked the first book, this one will not disappoint.

[Lyle Blosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good follow-on to the first book in the series, building on the characters and situations established previously, and expanding in a logical and well-envisioned manner. Looking forward to the third book.

[Chris (horizon_brave) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book, i listened to the audio version. It was very heavy on political decision making, planning, tactics and subterfuge instead of action and explosions. I definitely didn't mind te change of pace but i know that some may be put off by the lack of battle.
My main compliant which goes for mccollum's antares series as well is that he spends an annoyingly long time recapping the story line for the first book. If you're reading the 2nd book... Then you should have read the first!


Besides that gripe the book was fun and entertaining. If you've read the antares series you'll like this. The two books mirror each other very closely.

[Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, great improvement on book 1. I really hope there will be more than 3 books because the author has created such a huge story that it would be a crime to leave it too early. Onto the next book!

[Michielm · Rating 5 out of 5]

awsome need to have at least 10 more in the series

[Jeff Daly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version.

Not as good as the first.

started: 2013-09-04.Sep.Wed 14:26
finished: 2013-09-07.Sep.Sat 19:05

[Scott Karch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice solid read. Good story, good characters. I enjoyed it as much as the first. Getting started on Gibraltar Stars now.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series but finding some of the character interaction believable and engaging while others cheesy and less believable. Definitely would recommend.

[Joshua Kimble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent realistic science fiction book about first contact. Part of a trilogy.

[Angelo · Rating 2 out of 5]

No, I couldn't make it through. I love the story, but the writing's just makes it too hard to enjoy. Too bad, could have been a great series!

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and fast and fun. Read all three books in less than a week.