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The Collector
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They were kidnapped.
Nobody knows where they are.
They all receive instructions to follow the path through the forest.
What they discover will come as a true shock.
The truth is hidden under a veil of secrets.
[image]
Nobody knows where they are.
They all receive instructions to follow the path through the forest.
What they discover will come as a true shock.
The truth is hidden under a veil of secrets.
[image]
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Start your review of The Collector
"I want to show you what some people are willing to do to fulfil their crazy dream of ruling the world. Unfortunately, your kind didn’t learn anything from its bloody past and kept repeating the same mistakes. Each superpower in the distant past, as well as a superpower in your time, used weapons until the inevitable end because they thought that weapons were the only solution. But all civilizations created by weapons eventually cave in and collapse like a house of cards."A bizarre, post-apo ...more
A fun shortish story
Ok, firstly, just a big thank you to Stjepan for giving me the chance to read this story, thanks !!
I have read 2 previous books written by Stjepan, both enjoyable, and this short story was similarly an interesting idea well written. This short story is written in the same style, that is to say it is very dialogue driven. It is an interesting premise, and Stjepan has followed the idea to a great conclusion. The story centres around a group of people who are suddenly whisked a ...more
Ok, firstly, just a big thank you to Stjepan for giving me the chance to read this story, thanks !!
I have read 2 previous books written by Stjepan, both enjoyable, and this short story was similarly an interesting idea well written. This short story is written in the same style, that is to say it is very dialogue driven. It is an interesting premise, and Stjepan has followed the idea to a great conclusion. The story centres around a group of people who are suddenly whisked a ...more
What is or who is Collector? This is what comes to mind first:
After a night in a bar George S. Braham woke up in an unfamiliar place. His first idea was the waitress put something in his drink, but gradually he realized he was abducted. Yes, I am talking about good old alien abduction.
Soon he was kicked out on a (alien) planet surface with the only instructions to follow the the path. No, I am not talking about yellow brick road.
Following the path he stumbled upon his waitress Victoria whom he ...more
After a night in a bar George S. Braham woke up in an unfamiliar place. His first idea was the waitress put something in his drink, but gradually he realized he was abducted. Yes, I am talking about good old alien abduction.
Soon he was kicked out on a (alien) planet surface with the only instructions to follow the the path. No, I am not talking about yellow brick road.
Following the path he stumbled upon his waitress Victoria whom he ...more
THE COLLECTOR by Stjepan Cobets earned 4.5 relevant and imaginative stars from me!
My Tease…
Victoria doesn’t consider herself much of a leader, except when she’s leading patrons like George out of her Berlin bar at closing. So when she wakes up on a foreign planet and reunites with George, forced to follow a path in a forest leading to a massive and mysterious dome, she feels more like a confused prisoner than one chosen for a special purpose.
Bewilderment turns to utter disbelief. Victoria learns ...more
My Tease…
Victoria doesn’t consider herself much of a leader, except when she’s leading patrons like George out of her Berlin bar at closing. So when she wakes up on a foreign planet and reunites with George, forced to follow a path in a forest leading to a massive and mysterious dome, she feels more like a confused prisoner than one chosen for a special purpose.
Bewilderment turns to utter disbelief. Victoria learns ...more
Feb 28, 2019
Stjepan Cobets
added it
· (Review from the author)
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fan of Sci-Fi
My new science fiction novella, I would like to hear the reader's opinion and I would be grateful for every review of the book.
With respect,
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets ...more
With respect,
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets ...more
This slim novelette is a quick read and very engaging. It starts off quite mysterious, and I don't want to spoil too much, but basically it opens with a man exploring his surroundings and slowly learning about the strange setting he has found himself in while meeting other people along the way...
The ending is ambitious and more than a bit mind-blowing. Author Stjepan Varasevac Cobets utilizes these words economically to describe an atmosphere, as a good short story should. In a sense, it's a to ...more
The ending is ambitious and more than a bit mind-blowing. Author Stjepan Varasevac Cobets utilizes these words economically to describe an atmosphere, as a good short story should. In a sense, it's a to ...more
Another treat from Mr. Cobets' vivid imagination
Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: February 27, 2019
Publisher: Amazon
Language: English
ASIN: B07PB9ZMNB
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 2033460
74 pages
Sort of utopian sci-fi. Humanity as a species is saved by the Collector. Well written but just a few odd word choices remind that despite his excellent English, it is not Mr. Cobets' first language. This does not really distract from the story.
I downloaded this story via Kindle Unlimited. ...more
Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: February 27, 2019
Publisher: Amazon
Language: English
ASIN: B07PB9ZMNB
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 2033460
74 pages
Sort of utopian sci-fi. Humanity as a species is saved by the Collector. Well written but just a few odd word choices remind that despite his excellent English, it is not Mr. Cobets' first language. This does not really distract from the story.
I downloaded this story via Kindle Unlimited. ...more
Each of us have wondered, at least once in our lives, who put us on this planet. Every human being craves for a life with purpose. But are we really that big and important? Or are we just a tiny dot in endless universe? Is there a future for human race or we’ll be the end of ourselves? Stjepan Varesevac Cobets wrote an interesting story with a unique point of view on this subject. Even though si-fi in not my cup of tea, I have to say that this novella cought my attention. And I would recommend i
...more
This short story reminded me of one of my favourite TV series:
The Twilight Zone
.
It starts of on the same intriguing note and keeps bringing in twists and turns up to the very end, when you get the real finale and you just have to say: Oh, boy! I did NOT see that coming!
There was a mention of grammatical errors on other reviews, but the author must have corrected those in between, because the story I read was clean. No awkward phrasing and no errors and it read like a charm.
The story its ...more
It starts of on the same intriguing note and keeps bringing in twists and turns up to the very end, when you get the real finale and you just have to say: Oh, boy! I did NOT see that coming!
There was a mention of grammatical errors on other reviews, but the author must have corrected those in between, because the story I read was clean. No awkward phrasing and no errors and it read like a charm.
The story its ...more
An unusual sci-fi story. Earthlings have been abducted from Earth and awake in an unknown place, each given a set of instructions and if they don't comply, they are promptly punished. They are each provided with some basic essentials and told to follow a path until they reach a destination, though none of them knows what awaits them there. Enroute, they slowly meet more ex-Earth citizens, and find that each of their experiences have been the same. When they finally arrive, they find a giant city
...more
Mar 21, 2019
Bernard Jan
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
science-fiction,
short-read
A story that starts with abduction of one, two, and then more and more grownups and children by alien abductors takes an unexpected and different turn from a science fiction horror story. The world under the dome is not a hostile planet where other intelligent creatures collect humans to torture them and experiment on them but a beautiful place where revelation and realization come to peace with acceptance that we, humans, with our greed and need to dominate every realm are a destructive force w
...more
This is a beautiful story about survival. Only love can heal sick minds who are willing to destroy humanity. The background of this story is a romance, which I found as unnecessary. A love story can find a place somewhere else.
The characters are well shaped, humorous and a purpose is described well. Victoria is chosen as a savior because of her attitude. Beautiful descriptions of nature give this story a special addition.
The characters are well shaped, humorous and a purpose is described well. Victoria is chosen as a savior because of her attitude. Beautiful descriptions of nature give this story a special addition.
Got the book from the author himself.
Love the idea, really interesting and should be explored a bit more. The characters are also intriguing although not too deep. The only downside is the translation itself. With every new publication it's getting better and better but there are still ways to go.
Still it's not a long piece and the idea is interesting and a nice set up for a much bigger universe so in that regard it gets a recommendation for a read. ...more
Love the idea, really interesting and should be explored a bit more. The characters are also intriguing although not too deep. The only downside is the translation itself. With every new publication it's getting better and better but there are still ways to go.
Still it's not a long piece and the idea is interesting and a nice set up for a much bigger universe so in that regard it gets a recommendation for a read. ...more
Being abducted can be a terrifying experience. Stjepan Varesevac Cobets explores this in The Collector, but it’s not what you think. After going to a bar, George awakens in a mysterious forest with several others, told to follow a path. This novel is a great mystery with good character development and interesting twists. I especially like how Cobets subverts expectations. The Collector is not what you think and is certainly worth your time, especially if you love science fiction and mysteries!
George wakes up in an empty room and doesn't remember how he got there, he only got instructions to listen to.On his way, he meets people who, like him, have been abducted from the earth.How? Why? only the collector knows the answer
An interesting, tense well-written short sf story.I like the dialogue between the characters which is charming and fun.
Thank You Mr. Cobets for this wonderful short story ...more
An interesting, tense well-written short sf story.I like the dialogue between the characters which is charming and fun.
Thank You Mr. Cobets for this wonderful short story ...more
Similar to The Day the Earth Stood Still (a warning, education, alien benevolence) but more imaginative. Several characters have English as a second language, so the dialogue matches that occasionally.
Mar 02, 2019
Chesca (thecrownedpages)
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2019,
science-fiction
The Collector must be the author's work that I liked best. It had an interesting world-building and better characters compared to his previous ones.
There's one thing that I really think should be improved: the Romance. Insta-love is never my cup of tea, and it's the most unnecessary thing in this book. I know that it's a novella, but I believe that any relationship could still be developed neatly no matter how short a piece of fiction may be. This book could and will survive without romance in i ...more
There's one thing that I really think should be improved: the Romance. Insta-love is never my cup of tea, and it's the most unnecessary thing in this book. I know that it's a novella, but I believe that any relationship could still be developed neatly no matter how short a piece of fiction may be. This book could and will survive without romance in i ...more
Thank you Stjepan Cobets for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
What a brilliant short story. This story is a great mystery with great character development and interesting surprises. The Collector is not what you expect and is absolutely worth your time, especially if you like science fiction and mysteries.
What a brilliant short story. This story is a great mystery with great character development and interesting surprises. The Collector is not what you expect and is absolutely worth your time, especially if you like science fiction and mysteries.
I really enjoyed this short sci-fi novella by Stjepan Varesevac. It is like reading a grave warning of our past, present, and future and why we are never destined to learn from our history or mistakes. What a great sci-fi imagination the author has. I really liked the setting and beautiful world building descriptions of the new world. The pacing of the story was good too and kept you hooked to the end to find out the mystery of the strange world and the collectors motives from bringing these sel
...more
What a brilliant short story. I was already a fan of Stjepan Cobets from reading his other books, and this one was thoroughly enjoyable as well. One of the standouts is not really knowing what’s going to happen to the characters, which is someone I always enjoy. Great entertainment.
It’s quite a shock for George to find himself pulled away from his life into a whole different place. Even though he has no idea where he is, it doesn’t take him long to come across Victoria, another person who is jus ...more
It’s quite a shock for George to find himself pulled away from his life into a whole different place. Even though he has no idea where he is, it doesn’t take him long to come across Victoria, another person who is jus ...more
**Actual Rating 3.5**
Overall
I had a hard time getting into the novella. I stumbled through the first half of the book; stilted sentences, poor editing, and constant head hopping all made for a confusing read. Thankfully the second half of the story was so fascinating that the earlier issues were forgotten as Victoria learns the truth. I also enjoyed the interesting twist at the end and imagination the author displayed. This is a very plot heavy story and except for Victoria, very few of the othe ...more
Overall
I had a hard time getting into the novella. I stumbled through the first half of the book; stilted sentences, poor editing, and constant head hopping all made for a confusing read. Thankfully the second half of the story was so fascinating that the earlier issues were forgotten as Victoria learns the truth. I also enjoyed the interesting twist at the end and imagination the author displayed. This is a very plot heavy story and except for Victoria, very few of the othe ...more
An interesting tale of discovery. It starts quickly and is not a long story, but it is imaginative and thought-provoking.
Disclaimer - I have edited this story. I still like it very much.
Disclaimer - I have edited this story. I still like it very much.
The story is bustling with ideas, the premise is interesting and can provide scope for many more stories. The author has plenty of imagination and will likely provide readers with plenty of thoughts to chew on and a bank of characters to get invested in, if their quirks can be worked out a little.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem we have is the language of the book. The story needs an editor / translator who has a native / fluent grasp of English. A different editor should be able to take probl ...more
Unfortunately, the biggest problem we have is the language of the book. The story needs an editor / translator who has a native / fluent grasp of English. A different editor should be able to take probl ...more
Read through KindleUnlimited.
*May contain spoilers.
George S Braham, a soldier, while enjoying his last day in Berlin before going to Afghanistan, wakes up in a white cube with a bad headache. While there, he finds that someone/thing has accessed his thoughts, and directs him (through pain) to do as they ask. He finds himself in a jungle with Victoria (the bar girl he met last night.) Before long they are joined by others, all wandering around, and although they speak different languages, they a ...more
*May contain spoilers.
George S Braham, a soldier, while enjoying his last day in Berlin before going to Afghanistan, wakes up in a white cube with a bad headache. While there, he finds that someone/thing has accessed his thoughts, and directs him (through pain) to do as they ask. He finds himself in a jungle with Victoria (the bar girl he met last night.) Before long they are joined by others, all wandering around, and although they speak different languages, they a ...more
The Collector is an absolutely enjoyable read. It's an intelligent and engaging sci-fi short story. The characters are engaging and interesting. The concepts and interactions with aliens are intriguing and don't follow the stereotypical path. Don't want to spoil but there are very well done and touching scenes between the very powerful alien and the human character, especially towards the end.
The only tiny flaw would be some of the dialogue comes of a tad clunky at times but English is not Stjep ...more
The only tiny flaw would be some of the dialogue comes of a tad clunky at times but English is not Stjep ...more
A short but exciting ride across space and time. The Collector moves at a fast pace and doesn't let you get too comfortable in one location before jettisoning you off to the next. Each plot development is grander and more outrageous than the last, right up until the final, truly alien pages.
I didn't think much about it while reading, but now that I'm finished, I look back at the early plot developments and I have a lot of questions. See, once the group congregates, and especially after it's reve ...more
I didn't think much about it while reading, but now that I'm finished, I look back at the early plot developments and I have a lot of questions. See, once the group congregates, and especially after it's reve ...more
This reminded me of a Twilight Zone or Outer Limits from the 1960's (in the best ways). And most refreshingly, there were no rogue spaceship captains, no viewscreens, no tapping on computer keyboards or losing the shields...in short, this story struck me as both fresh and puzzling. I didn't know where it was going, and combined with the cliche'-free dialogue (no instances of 'We can do this!' or 'Lock and load, people!') that's worth 4 stars right there. Then the ending hit quick and I never saw
...more
The Collector is an excellent sci-fi tale that has great world-building and something to say about human civilizations. A must-read for sci-fi fans and for those looking for intelligent fiction. It took me a while to get into it and the last third was definitely the strongest part of the story, but this was also because life kept interrupting me when I first picked it up to read so it took me a while longer to get immersed.
As I said it has excellent world-building. We open with a character, Geo ...more
As I said it has excellent world-building. We open with a character, Geo ...more
(This is a review of the second edition of the book.)
Victoria wakes up in a strange place, with no knowledge of how she came there or even where *there* is. She’s alone, with only instructions that send her out to follow a path through a forest into an even deeper mystery.
I found this short, fast read very entertaining, with an underlying, relevant message. The world-building is interesting and the future tech is well detailed without being overwhelming. The intriguing premise is what drew me to ...more
Victoria wakes up in a strange place, with no knowledge of how she came there or even where *there* is. She’s alone, with only instructions that send her out to follow a path through a forest into an even deeper mystery.
I found this short, fast read very entertaining, with an underlying, relevant message. The world-building is interesting and the future tech is well detailed without being overwhelming. The intriguing premise is what drew me to ...more
Victoria and George suddenly find themselves plucked out of their ordinary lives and dropped in a strange wilderness, on another planet. And they aren’t the only ones trekking toward a giant dome. They were chosen by the Collector to fulfill certain roles. Victoria, who worked in a bar, was selected to be the governor. Why? Uncovering the answer to that question becomes the mystery of this sci-fi novella with a twist.
The story includes some interesting takes on history, particularly around the ...more
The story includes some interesting takes on history, particularly around the ...more
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My short biography:
I was born on September 12, 1965, in Split, Croatia.
At a very young age, I started reading. I loved it because, through books, I traveled to places I could never visit in person. As a child, I loved fairy tales and adventure, but later I discovered other genres. When I found a Jules Verne book in the library, I became fascinated by science fiction. I’ve written poetry for fifte ...more
I was born on September 12, 1965, in Split, Croatia.
At a very young age, I started reading. I loved it because, through books, I traveled to places I could never visit in person. As a child, I loved fairy tales and adventure, but later I discovered other genres. When I found a Jules Verne book in the library, I became fascinated by science fiction. I’ve written poetry for fifte ...more
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“It may be just a child’s play, but in itself, this game hides something that fills you with happy thoughts.”
—
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“He clasped his hands in front of his chest, stood for a moment in silence to think, and then spoke, “Since it is obvious that you want to know the truth, I’ll show it to you in its completeness.” But then he narrowed his eyes. “What I’m about to show you, what you’re about to see, you’ll have to keep to yourself. You will be the only human being who will know the truth of why I brought you and the others here. The truth sometimes can be painful. Well, for this reason, I ask once again: are you ready for such responsibility?”
—
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