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Random Walk
Book One in the Fractured Galaxy near-future hard science fiction trilogy, Random Walk is the story of three U.S. Air Force Space Command Colonel Derek Williams, a mild-mannered, experienced space traveler; Captain Jacob Mendez, the ship's playful navigator; and civilian Vicky Abrams, an introverted civilian accelerator physicist who joined the crew late.
Together, the diverse military crew sets out to test a new propulsion system that will significantly shorten future trips to Mars. When the system malfunctions, the spacecraft is unexpectedly flung out of our solar system. The crew, cut off from Earth with no faster-than-light capabilities, has to set aside their differences and work together to survive without help from Ground Control. While their colleagues on Earth scramble to figure out what happened to them, Derek, Jacob and Vicky must find solutions that don't exist to a situation that shouldn't be possible.
Together, the diverse military crew sets out to test a new propulsion system that will significantly shorten future trips to Mars. When the system malfunctions, the spacecraft is unexpectedly flung out of our solar system. The crew, cut off from Earth with no faster-than-light capabilities, has to set aside their differences and work together to survive without help from Ground Control. While their colleagues on Earth scramble to figure out what happened to them, Derek, Jacob and Vicky must find solutions that don't exist to a situation that shouldn't be possible.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
258 pages, Paperback
Published December 3, 2019
6 people are currently reading
437 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Lulich
8 books50 followersRachel Lulich is a writer, editor, and Air Force veteran. When she's not out exploring the world herself, she likes creating worlds for other people to enjoy.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 4, 2021
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A spaceflight is a test for a new propulsion system where everything goes wrong. They end up far away from home with no way back. Both the spacers and home base try to find a way home. Sort of like the Martian without the loneliness
A spaceflight is a test for a new propulsion system where everything goes wrong. They end up far away from home with no way back. Both the spacers and home base try to find a way home. Sort of like the Martian without the loneliness
February 25, 2020
When my friend asked me to review this I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was science yes, but also thrills and excitement. A trip into the unknown that had been planned for became a trip into terror when everything that could go wrong did. Only quick think saves the crew. And only planning can bring them home. I look forward to the next book.
July 24, 2021
3.5/5 rounded up, given that it is a debut novel and it kept me interested.
I got this book through a giveaway.
I enjoyed this book, it was not a long read and it drew me in enough feel invested in the characters to want them to figure things out and to be looking forward to the next installment. It finds the right balance between pushing the story along and taking the time to flesh out some of the technology and science in the story and at first impression it seems well researched, but then there were what would appear some weird quirks or mistakes that seem uncharacteristic, the story was good enough for me to get passed these, but they feel like weird mistakes to me and if it was somehow intentional then I did not notice enough explanation as to why things were that way.
For example: currently a trip to Mars would take between 9 months to a year, in the story a round trip is quoted as taking three years, that seems a little long - especially for this mission which is not going to land on Mars, just make orbit drop a pre-supply module and leave. Similarly it is mentioned that one of the astronauts was almost too tall to be in the program at 5'11", this was indeed the maximum height for astronauts at some point, but these days the maximum height is 1.93m, which is more like 6'6". In many instances it almost feels like the Air Force when organizing space command decided to go with 60-70s Apollo era technology and ignore everything that came after... and it made me wonder if the mention at the start of the book about the Apollo-like crew capsule actually was meant to imply that it pretty much was an Apollo era spacecraft... with all the associated technology levels, because that would explain a lot...
Such as the thing with the apparent lack of computing power on the spacecraft that the astronauts had to use their own laptops to do any kind of serious calculations, this makes sense if we assume that this was say the capsule from the movie Apollo 13 when computers of any power were too big and heavy and too power hungry to stick on the space craft. If we assume this book is set in the present day and the references to cell phones and social media suggests it is, then it seems that if you were going to send a spacecraft to Mars you were going to put as much control and computing power at the finger tips of the crew because of the time delay it takes for ground control to communicate or affect anything to or on the spacecraft once they get any distance away from Earth.
Also why would you put a PhD (non-military) level scientific who is presumably an expert in the new engine technology on the mission to then take away any way for her to actually affect said experimental engine in any meaningful manner except to turn it on and off, set the power levels, and do a hard reset. Makes no sense even for the Air Force, unless we are back at Apollo era technology.
Also, I highly doubt that after some of the weird glitches that happened that this scientist engine technology expert would just say or think 'oh my screen says nothing is out of the ordinary so we will just keep going'. No way would she or ground control for that matter not try and get to the absolute bottom of this, it is experimental technology after all. She would have checked anything she had access to, to try and figure what if anything was wrong, the Air Force may teach people to trust their equipment, someone coming presumably from academia or a tech company as a civilian member of the program would have no such training, it would be the exact opposite.
Also meteors are not meteorites until they have landed, so the spacecraft was being hit by (micro)meteors or meteoroids.
Anyway, as noted these things did not bother me enough to feel this was a huge detraction to the story, but clearly they bothered me enough to write them down here. It just seems like a weird dichotomy.
I got this book through a giveaway.
I enjoyed this book, it was not a long read and it drew me in enough feel invested in the characters to want them to figure things out and to be looking forward to the next installment. It finds the right balance between pushing the story along and taking the time to flesh out some of the technology and science in the story and at first impression it seems well researched, but then there were what would appear some weird quirks or mistakes that seem uncharacteristic, the story was good enough for me to get passed these, but they feel like weird mistakes to me and if it was somehow intentional then I did not notice enough explanation as to why things were that way.
For example: currently a trip to Mars would take between 9 months to a year, in the story a round trip is quoted as taking three years, that seems a little long - especially for this mission which is not going to land on Mars, just make orbit drop a pre-supply module and leave. Similarly it is mentioned that one of the astronauts was almost too tall to be in the program at 5'11", this was indeed the maximum height for astronauts at some point, but these days the maximum height is 1.93m, which is more like 6'6". In many instances it almost feels like the Air Force when organizing space command decided to go with 60-70s Apollo era technology and ignore everything that came after... and it made me wonder if the mention at the start of the book about the Apollo-like crew capsule actually was meant to imply that it pretty much was an Apollo era spacecraft... with all the associated technology levels, because that would explain a lot...
Such as the thing with the apparent lack of computing power on the spacecraft that the astronauts had to use their own laptops to do any kind of serious calculations, this makes sense if we assume that this was say the capsule from the movie Apollo 13 when computers of any power were too big and heavy and too power hungry to stick on the space craft. If we assume this book is set in the present day and the references to cell phones and social media suggests it is, then it seems that if you were going to send a spacecraft to Mars you were going to put as much control and computing power at the finger tips of the crew because of the time delay it takes for ground control to communicate or affect anything to or on the spacecraft once they get any distance away from Earth.
Also why would you put a PhD (non-military) level scientific who is presumably an expert in the new engine technology on the mission to then take away any way for her to actually affect said experimental engine in any meaningful manner except to turn it on and off, set the power levels, and do a hard reset. Makes no sense even for the Air Force, unless we are back at Apollo era technology.
Also, I highly doubt that after some of the weird glitches that happened that this scientist engine technology expert would just say or think 'oh my screen says nothing is out of the ordinary so we will just keep going'. No way would she or ground control for that matter not try and get to the absolute bottom of this, it is experimental technology after all. She would have checked anything she had access to, to try and figure what if anything was wrong, the Air Force may teach people to trust their equipment, someone coming presumably from academia or a tech company as a civilian member of the program would have no such training, it would be the exact opposite.
Also meteors are not meteorites until they have landed, so the spacecraft was being hit by (micro)meteors or meteoroids.
Anyway, as noted these things did not bother me enough to feel this was a huge detraction to the story, but clearly they bothered me enough to write them down here. It just seems like a weird dichotomy.
Read
March 13, 2020Pretty hard sci-fi, though the author does not make the theoretical ins and outs of the technology hard to understand. In fact, the book is pretty breezy.
A trio of astronauts try out an experimental propulsion device for the Air Force. The thing goes all haywire, and they end up very very far from home. As the astronauts try to figure out where the ship is and what they should do, Ground Control tries to do the same thing.
Because the characters are all military, they have a very do-your-duty attitude about virtually everything and it comes across as pretty authentic. It does mean the characters don't spend much time being pensive or awestruck by the situation they're in, but I don't think this book is meant to be that internal, it's all about the situation and resolving it.
Very curious how/where the next installments in this series will go.
A trio of astronauts try out an experimental propulsion device for the Air Force. The thing goes all haywire, and they end up very very far from home. As the astronauts try to figure out where the ship is and what they should do, Ground Control tries to do the same thing.
Because the characters are all military, they have a very do-your-duty attitude about virtually everything and it comes across as pretty authentic. It does mean the characters don't spend much time being pensive or awestruck by the situation they're in, but I don't think this book is meant to be that internal, it's all about the situation and resolving it.
Very curious how/where the next installments in this series will go.
June 17, 2021
Every bit as good as The Martian and, for me, a whole lot easier to understand. This is a short-ish introduction to a science fiction series about a mission to Mars gone wrong; how the spaceship’s crew try to figure out what happened and fix it before they run out of luck (if you can call it that) and supplies. The science part is well explained and seems realistic while the fiction never goes outside the bounds of believability or into predictable tropes. I liked that it didn’t leave things hanging but it still had enough of a hook that I’m looking forward to finding out what comes next. 3 ½ stars
My thanks to the publisher and goodreads giveaways for a copy of the ebook to review.
My thanks to the publisher and goodreads giveaways for a copy of the ebook to review.
June 8, 2021
Great read
This was a quick, engaging read about space-survival in the style of near-realistic science fiction. If you like The Martian, NASA, or realistic science-based adventures, give this a try!
This was a quick, engaging read about space-survival in the style of near-realistic science fiction. If you like The Martian, NASA, or realistic science-based adventures, give this a try!
June 27, 2021
Random Walk is an excellent science fiction novel that is filled with science. The novel starts slowly with three astronauts preparing for their first trip to Mars. In the first three chapters the trip is routine with almost no action. By the fourth and fifth chapters, the story takes off when the astronauts lose contact with the people on earth. As the astronauts work to discover what happened the tension builds as does the science.
The novel is the first of a series and ends with the astronauts still stranded in space far from earth with a very tenuous connection to the people on earth.
I wish the action in the novel had started earlier. I almost stopped reading too soon. I also wish that it was a stand alone novel and not part of a series. My connection with the characters is not strong enough to encourage me to continue reading the other books in the series.
The novel is the first of a series and ends with the astronauts still stranded in space far from earth with a very tenuous connection to the people on earth.
I wish the action in the novel had started earlier. I almost stopped reading too soon. I also wish that it was a stand alone novel and not part of a series. My connection with the characters is not strong enough to encourage me to continue reading the other books in the series.
January 5, 2020
Lovely to get lost in this book and find myself smarter at the end
I've never read a book quite like this. Somehow the author managed to include a ton of real-world facts from different fields (I believe it would fit into the "hard sci-fi" genre) with enough explanation that one wouldn't have to look things up, but I found myself, instead of mindlessly scrolling facebook before bed, browsing wikipedia entries on subjects from "quantum entanglement" to 'what is the sh'ma?" (cultural/religious reference) to "how is pudding stored in space?"
With all the educational aspects, one might expect unrelatable characters or predictable plot drama to carry the readers attention - but no! The narrative had character development and realistic interpersonal issues without the overdone plot-devices such as obligatory romance, hidden sociopath, idiotic-person there just for plot-foil, damsel in distress, or other drama that often leaves me feeling disappointed with the state of humanity and literature/writing.
The plot took some interesting, unexpected, and exciting twists in the last 10% that accelerated quickly to an ending where I won't lose sleep over the characters... that is, unless the next book takes too long to come out!
Read this if you're looking for a refreshing sci-fi read that will provide entertainment and suspense yet also restore your faith in humanity,
I've never read a book quite like this. Somehow the author managed to include a ton of real-world facts from different fields (I believe it would fit into the "hard sci-fi" genre) with enough explanation that one wouldn't have to look things up, but I found myself, instead of mindlessly scrolling facebook before bed, browsing wikipedia entries on subjects from "quantum entanglement" to 'what is the sh'ma?" (cultural/religious reference) to "how is pudding stored in space?"
With all the educational aspects, one might expect unrelatable characters or predictable plot drama to carry the readers attention - but no! The narrative had character development and realistic interpersonal issues without the overdone plot-devices such as obligatory romance, hidden sociopath, idiotic-person there just for plot-foil, damsel in distress, or other drama that often leaves me feeling disappointed with the state of humanity and literature/writing.
The plot took some interesting, unexpected, and exciting twists in the last 10% that accelerated quickly to an ending where I won't lose sleep over the characters... that is, unless the next book takes too long to come out!
Read this if you're looking for a refreshing sci-fi read that will provide entertainment and suspense yet also restore your faith in humanity,
May 31, 2023
Book 1 of Rachel Lulich's Fractured Galaxy series, Random Walk, envelops the reader in a very feasible scenario: three astronauts headed off on a mission to Mars using a cutting-edge engine that enables travel at incredible speeds. Two things I especially appreciated about this book was that no fantastic "science-y" abilities go unexplained. I'm a big skeptic known for reacting with "yeah, right!" during sci-fi movies, but Rachel Lulich brings everything into the realm of mental possibility with her adept descriptions and dialogues. The second top compelling aspect of the book for me was the character development both of the astronauts and those on the ground (as readers we get to see both perspectives). Their feelings, histories, families, strengths and weaknesses, relationship dynamics, etc. are drawn out and depicted in a way that creates a very full and human picture that beautifully complements the technical side of the story. Overall, a fun and fascinating read definitely worth the time and money!
August 16, 2023
Random Walk is Rachel Lulich’s first in the Fractured Galaxy series. Spacecraft Pioneer launches from Earth on a manned mission to Mars. It took several pages to get into this book and get to know the characters, since the author used omniscient POV instead of one POV character at a time. This created a beginning with more telling than showing, and made it difficult to get to know the characters. As we might expect from sci-fi, this story is more plot-driven than character motivated. After the initial minor problems one might expect, the crew experienced a few more challenges, engaging me in the story. Changes in location from one chapter to the next, between Pioneer (the rocket) and Ground Control, really added to the tension and plot development. In the second half of the book, I appreciated the unusual obstacles and plot twists and turns that make this a unique sci-fi adventure. Character development also increased in the second half. The book ends with a strong lead to the next book in the series.
October 25, 2021
Programming note: I read this book because the author is a college friend of my wife, albeit one I've never met. That said...
This is a perfectly enjoyable book. Lulich pulls together a logically coherent universe - one where things happen for sensible reasons and characters react in logical ways. While science fiction must by necessity reach beyond known science, the concepts are pretty sound. She leans into a few theoretically realistic concepts without getting too hand-wavy and adheres to the rules that she has created for herself. This is a book where everyone is a good guy doing their best, where the tension comes from the events (think the movie Gravity) rather than some nefarious actors. In the world of near-term realistic Sci-Fi, I appreciate that.
I'm interested to see how she continues the story in her upcoming sequel; the problems seem insurmountable. But, for now, the first book, a good read.
This is a perfectly enjoyable book. Lulich pulls together a logically coherent universe - one where things happen for sensible reasons and characters react in logical ways. While science fiction must by necessity reach beyond known science, the concepts are pretty sound. She leans into a few theoretically realistic concepts without getting too hand-wavy and adheres to the rules that she has created for herself. This is a book where everyone is a good guy doing their best, where the tension comes from the events (think the movie Gravity) rather than some nefarious actors. In the world of near-term realistic Sci-Fi, I appreciate that.
I'm interested to see how she continues the story in her upcoming sequel; the problems seem insurmountable. But, for now, the first book, a good read.
December 26, 2024
I’ve always been a fan of space-centered science fiction, especially when it’s just within the realm of possibility. Space is something that’s so vast and unexplored, which brings forth all sorts of situations that could happen.
The pacing of this book was just perfect. The author has to present a lot of information to the reader as the story is technical but it’s not fed in a way that floods.
As you read you really get a sense of being there, stuck in a tin can in the middle of a sea of black. The author does a great job of describing each scene without taking too long or dragging it out.
The character development is interesting as well. Though you settle into a “main character” style of reading, there’s still plenty of spotlight for each character - which is great considering they’re part of a team.
It’s been an enjoyable read so far and there’s plenty to get you looking to continue the story.
The pacing of this book was just perfect. The author has to present a lot of information to the reader as the story is technical but it’s not fed in a way that floods.
As you read you really get a sense of being there, stuck in a tin can in the middle of a sea of black. The author does a great job of describing each scene without taking too long or dragging it out.
The character development is interesting as well. Though you settle into a “main character” style of reading, there’s still plenty of spotlight for each character - which is great considering they’re part of a team.
It’s been an enjoyable read so far and there’s plenty to get you looking to continue the story.
December 17, 2021
Fun Futuristic Space Story!
I enjoyed this book. Space missions are not something I know much about, and this story is chuck full of amazing things!
The author has truly done her research into the world of space travel and NASA. Wow!
The characters were all well developed and the story moved along keeping me engaged.
I'm not sure I'd ever want to be an astronaut. It seems so scary to think of being lost in space.
Rachel Lulich has a wonderful way of writing.
I'm pleased to be able to read this book and now hope to read the next book in this series. I really want to know what happen next.
I enjoyed this book. Space missions are not something I know much about, and this story is chuck full of amazing things!
The author has truly done her research into the world of space travel and NASA. Wow!
The characters were all well developed and the story moved along keeping me engaged.
I'm not sure I'd ever want to be an astronaut. It seems so scary to think of being lost in space.
Rachel Lulich has a wonderful way of writing.
I'm pleased to be able to read this book and now hope to read the next book in this series. I really want to know what happen next.
April 4, 2023
It's okay.
I picked up the book at the Elkhart comicon. I always try to support the author at these events. The book is a mix of the Martian and project hail Mary.
The characters are compelling enough, the story is interesting enough. It just just doesn't quite get there. Does it mean it's bad? No, does it mean it's great? No, it's a solid good. I'm invested enough I'm the characters in space to want to find out what happens next, and will likely buy the next book. Which is I guess the whole point, it's a quick fun read.
Don't knock yourself author, it's your first book, many folks don't get that far, and it's good enough to have me invested to get the next one.
I picked up the book at the Elkhart comicon. I always try to support the author at these events. The book is a mix of the Martian and project hail Mary.
The characters are compelling enough, the story is interesting enough. It just just doesn't quite get there. Does it mean it's bad? No, does it mean it's great? No, it's a solid good. I'm invested enough I'm the characters in space to want to find out what happens next, and will likely buy the next book. Which is I guess the whole point, it's a quick fun read.
Don't knock yourself author, it's your first book, many folks don't get that far, and it's good enough to have me invested to get the next one.
November 9, 2021
Not my normal type of book. I got it for bookclub. It's very well written. It's an easy read. There were times that I was skipping paragraphs then I'd read a sentence then go back and read what I skipped. Those parts seemed to be the more technical times. Which part of me It ends with you clearly knowing another book is coming. It's not wrapped up in a"happily ever after" type ending... it's actually very realistic. I highly recommend it if you like Star Trek type stories, wormhole science, science, or just something other than your normal.
July 6, 2021
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
This book didn't really capture my interest. It was very slow paced, and the characters felt flat. Overall, not to my taste.
This book didn't really capture my interest. It was very slow paced, and the characters felt flat. Overall, not to my taste.
June 9, 2022
This is an excellent book. Lulich does a fantastic job explaining the science in ways you can understand, but she also doesn’t over simplify it. It’s perfectly balanced. I could see in my mind everything written. Descriptions are fantastic.
January 4, 2023
Unique. Fresh. Ingenius.
I love the story. Fresh, ingenious, really real. The author deserves high praise for a unique, mind bending, tale of human ingenuity and the resourcefulness of such. I'm impressed.
Oh and clean. No cussing, sex but just good clean fun and excitement.
I love the story. Fresh, ingenious, really real. The author deserves high praise for a unique, mind bending, tale of human ingenuity and the resourcefulness of such. I'm impressed.
Oh and clean. No cussing, sex but just good clean fun and excitement.
June 11, 2021
Hard to put down.
June 25, 2021
That was great! Can't believe this was the author's debut novel. Wonder when Book Two is supposed to come out? Being acquainted with this author, I'm going to send her fan e-mail right now!
November 24, 2023
It was ok. I mean good story, but not to relatable for us who didn't grow up military, whom understand all the abbreviations that come with that lifestyle.
June 7, 2021
Not so very long ago I singled out Peter Cawdron's
Wherever Seeds May Fall
as having met and exceeded David Brin's "anti-idiot plot" criterion — i.e., the story moves forward without recourse to the tired old trope of portraying every character in it (other than the hero[es], of course) as an incompetent idiot.
... And here's another one: Rachel Lulich's Random Walk takes us inside a mission to Mars gone orders-of-magnitude astray with authority and panache. Guess it helps to have an Air Force veteran writing this stuff.
Highly recommended!
... And here's another one: Rachel Lulich's Random Walk takes us inside a mission to Mars gone orders-of-magnitude astray with authority and panache. Guess it helps to have an Air Force veteran writing this stuff.
Highly recommended!
February 7, 2020
Random Walk by Rachel Lulich is a hard science fiction novel with heart. It effectively balances scientific detail with characters that are easily relatable and likable. The story follows a three-person crew of astronauts as they attempt the first manned mission to Mars. Though the astronauts are the number one focus of the book, the crew on the ground play an equally important role. I won’t give away the plot but suffice it to say, things do not go as planned and the crew of the Pioneer find themselves in some serious trouble. As soon as things started to go wrong, Random Walk reminded me a little of one of my favorite hard sci-fi novels, The Martian, in the way human ingenuity and team work become paramount to the survival of the astronauts.
Readers looking for a Star Wars type of tale filled with good guys and bad guys fighting it out with space weapons will be disappointed with Random Walk. This book’s main concern is to paint a complete picture of the astronaut’s world full of claustrophobic spaces and hi-tech equipment. Readers who enjoy an immersive experience, based on the real-life experiences of real astronauts, will find much to love with Random Walk. The “heart” that I alluded to earlier refers to the people that Ms. Lulich has created for her story. She does a good job of making them human and showing us how the harrowing plot affects them. As much as I enjoyed reading about the technical side of this ill-fated mission to Mars, it never would have worked without the rich characters that are present in Random Walk. Ms. Lulich did an excellent job of balancing the human element with the technical details. For that reason, Random Walk works extremely well and I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2.
Readers looking for a Star Wars type of tale filled with good guys and bad guys fighting it out with space weapons will be disappointed with Random Walk. This book’s main concern is to paint a complete picture of the astronaut’s world full of claustrophobic spaces and hi-tech equipment. Readers who enjoy an immersive experience, based on the real-life experiences of real astronauts, will find much to love with Random Walk. The “heart” that I alluded to earlier refers to the people that Ms. Lulich has created for her story. She does a good job of making them human and showing us how the harrowing plot affects them. As much as I enjoyed reading about the technical side of this ill-fated mission to Mars, it never would have worked without the rich characters that are present in Random Walk. Ms. Lulich did an excellent job of balancing the human element with the technical details. For that reason, Random Walk works extremely well and I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2.
February 12, 2020
Not bad. I would have like to see some character development. All we know is that three crew members all have brown eyes, one is Jewish and one has a family member that is blind. Maybe in the next book...
December 20, 2020
I don't read much fiction, but I'm in for sure on the rest of this series. Great writing. Imaginative and compelling narrative. Plenty of 'I can't stop reading' moments in this short novel. I look forward to getting to know the crew of the Pioneer more!
April 20, 2024
I love the parts of this book where the people on the ground are trying to solve problems in parallel with the people in space. It adds a interesting dynamic element to the story. This is a good clean science fiction read.
I did a more full review in Clean Fiction Magazine Winter 2023 Edition
I did a more full review in Clean Fiction Magazine Winter 2023 Edition
December 17, 2020
Wow, an excellent first novel with an ending both happy and suspenseful. I'm really looking forward to book 2!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews