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A Planet with No Name
All Veronica Smith and her husband wanted to do was start a new life on a new planet. The Smiths found a compatible group forming on the North American continent and signed a five-year Pioneer Compact short on law and long on freedoms. They planned and fantasized of a paradise while waiting for Earth’s telescopic surveyors to discover a viable planet meeting current Goldilocks zone requirements. Now, Veronica stood in the middle of the muddy street on a planet with no name. The rain washed her tears away while heavy drops plummeted into jumbo-sized puddles splashing murky water onto her ankle length dress. She stared down at Cal, laying dead in the mud. The townspeople of Peaceful Junction ignored her. The Halberds were going to pay. The town was going to pay.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2019
35 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Alan Black
25 books3 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 7, 2019
No spoilers review (almost).
This is a novel that obviously has nothing to do with Alan Black. If you ever read one of his previous novels it's pretty obvious.
1) (This is the minor spoiler) In the description the (real) author actually fakes the death/murder of a loved one to mislead the possible buyer. It's a slap to the face once you pay and start reading what actually happened. You have been warned. Cal isn't even a human or even living... (/This is the minor spoiler).
2) The main character is a cardboard cutout. She isn't even a real person. You are told a few things about her past but she is so underdeveloped that you just won't care what happens to her.
She doesn't really do anything. You keep expecting she will actually DO SOMETHING but nooooooo. Her actions and her supposed feelings are so random and disjointed that the reader can't make sense.
There is no logic to this madness. You end up finishing the book and know you will have no issue forgetting about her. Even the random side-show characters that are there as filler are more memorable and interesting than the MC.
3) The world-building is atrocious.It's a ripoff of the standard theme "wild west space colony" but there isn't actually any science fiction in there.
The whole context is improbable. I had problem suspending disbelief right at the first chapter.
You keep making allowances and push on hopping that something might change and the narrative will make sense but nooooo.
The real author perverts the way human societies function just to fit a "set" plot.
The real author perverts the way people function just to fit a "set" plot.
The real author forces the universe to roll over for the MC.
Well it makes no bloody sense whatsoever. Feel free to read it and join the club XD.
4) The plot is so uninteresting and forced that i still can't believe i finished it.
And that's it. If i could i would rate in the negatives.
I'm a Alan Black fan. A real fan that has raved about his books. I gave away 5 copies of Empty Space to friends and colleagues.
This isn't Alan Black.
This is a novel that obviously has nothing to do with Alan Black. If you ever read one of his previous novels it's pretty obvious.
1) (This is the minor spoiler) In the description the (real) author actually fakes the death/murder of a loved one to mislead the possible buyer. It's a slap to the face once you pay and start reading what actually happened. You have been warned. Cal isn't even a human or even living... (/This is the minor spoiler).
2) The main character is a cardboard cutout. She isn't even a real person. You are told a few things about her past but she is so underdeveloped that you just won't care what happens to her.
She doesn't really do anything. You keep expecting she will actually DO SOMETHING but nooooooo. Her actions and her supposed feelings are so random and disjointed that the reader can't make sense.
There is no logic to this madness. You end up finishing the book and know you will have no issue forgetting about her. Even the random side-show characters that are there as filler are more memorable and interesting than the MC.
3) The world-building is atrocious.It's a ripoff of the standard theme "wild west space colony" but there isn't actually any science fiction in there.
The whole context is improbable. I had problem suspending disbelief right at the first chapter.
You keep making allowances and push on hopping that something might change and the narrative will make sense but nooooo.
The real author perverts the way human societies function just to fit a "set" plot.
The real author perverts the way people function just to fit a "set" plot.
The real author forces the universe to roll over for the MC.
Well it makes no bloody sense whatsoever. Feel free to read it and join the club XD.
4) The plot is so uninteresting and forced that i still can't believe i finished it.
And that's it. If i could i would rate in the negatives.
I'm a Alan Black fan. A real fan that has raved about his books. I gave away 5 copies of Empty Space to friends and colleagues.
This isn't Alan Black.
March 6, 2020
Good frontier story, woman alone, taken for granted as weak shows back bone & guts to all that would steal kill & destroy freedom.
This is a classic story of good over evil set in a off world "western" town. Well told, color characters, a good Saturday afternoon read, well done Alan & D. E. Black
This is a classic story of good over evil set in a off world "western" town. Well told, color characters, a good Saturday afternoon read, well done Alan & D. E. Black
January 1, 2022
Darn good version of colonization
I don't know if there is a chance for people to explore in the means that this book suggests and kind of assumes as backstory, but I sure hope so. The characters are true, the challenges are very probable, and the whole setup almost seems to real. Thank you Mr Black. What a good ride.
I don't know if there is a chance for people to explore in the means that this book suggests and kind of assumes as backstory, but I sure hope so. The characters are true, the challenges are very probable, and the whole setup almost seems to real. Thank you Mr Black. What a good ride.
June 16, 2019
Loved it
I love this woman who moved light years away from Earth and started a new life in another planet with just the help of Cal....her robot. What happens when some greedy unscrupulous SOBs kill Cal and try to take her land is amazing. Thanks Alan and Dee.
I love this woman who moved light years away from Earth and started a new life in another planet with just the help of Cal....her robot. What happens when some greedy unscrupulous SOBs kill Cal and try to take her land is amazing. Thanks Alan and Dee.
February 4, 2020
Interesting. Edgier than I expected, the book gets right up to the moral line of if murder is ever justified without really examining the consequences of committing such an act. I expected more of a "good" times story, but still enjoyed the book.
April 16, 2020
Engaging
This is an engaging story of what happens when life gives you lemons. The author has written an excellent story with fantastic characters. Wonderful. P.S. I have been up alright reading this book so sorry if It’s not my best written review.
This is an engaging story of what happens when life gives you lemons. The author has written an excellent story with fantastic characters. Wonderful. P.S. I have been up alright reading this book so sorry if It’s not my best written review.
December 28, 2021
Brilliant story as ever, well written and follows previous books in that it's a pleasant story that is enjoyable to read, predictable outcomes but so well told that it doesn't matter and it's a shame to reach the end
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews